2018 AO Men's QF: Nadal - Cilic

[DarthFed]

Nice backhand there from Cilic

 

[Moxie]

Lol this is funny if it wasn't sad

I'm picturing the crocodile tears.

 

[Federberg]

It wouldn't shock me if Rafa finds a way to break back

 

[DarthFed]

Today. You should look at the H2H, though.

He is saying on paper it should be a lot tougher than it has been historically. And given the guy's height and backhand it's pretty easy to see. He also usually returns serve a lot better than today, and that's the main reason he isn't a game away from winning.

 

[Denis]

If Cilic manages to break the next game, he starts serving in the fifth. Marginal gains that could be important.

 

[Federberg]

I'm picturing the crocodile tears.

This will surprise you, but to me Rafa getting knocked out would be a distraction. If it happened in the semis that's one thing. But it's the sort of thing that could somehow infect Roger's match against Berdych. So I'm not secretly hoping that Rafa loses this

 

[brokenshoelace]

He is saying on paper it should be a lot tougher than it has.

No he's saying it's a "nightmare." Not to be overly pushy on this because we all have bigger fish to fry, but Cilic's forehand is historically inconsistent. You guys are acting like he's Del Potro on that side. His backhand is his better shot and his forehand has always held him back on a week to week basis, and he's only achieved good results when that shot is clicking, which isn't often. Nadal has always been able to exploit that. That should factor in the match-up. Again, you guys are acting like he should play a perfect game, then yeah, he's a nightmare for most.

 

[Moxie]

He is saying on paper it should be a lot tougher than it has been historically. And given the guy's height and backhand it's pretty easy to see. He also usually returns serve a lot better than today, and that's the main reason he isn't a game away from winning.

That's complete bullshit. Nadal has 16 Majors. Cilic one. He's tall. He won once against Nadal ages ago, and has mostly been pasted and mostly on hcs. He has no more business beating Nadal than he ever has.

 

[Federberg]

No he's saying it's a "nightmare." Not to be overly pushy on this because we all have bigger fish to fry, but Cilic's forehand is historically inconsistent. You guys are acting like he's Del Potro on that side. His backhand is his better shot and his forehand has always held him back on a week to week basis, and he's only achieved good results when that shot is clicking, which isn't often. Nadal has always been able to exploit that. That should factor in the match-up. Again, you guys are acting like he should play a perfect game, then yeah, he's a nightmare for most.

I concede that that's what I said. But I was being overly emphatic. DF is correct, what I meant was that he should be a tough match up for Rafa

 

[brokenshoelace]

Speaking of nightmare, that forehand shank by Nadal...

 

[Denis]

If Cilic manages to break the next game, he starts serving in the fifth. Marginal gains that could be important.

Nice.

 

[brokenshoelace]

annnnnnd Cilic is serving first in the fifth, on fire, against an ailing Nadal. Great.

 

[mrzz]

Another one! Another one!

 

[Federberg]

That's complete bullshit. Nadal has 16 Majors. Cilic one. He's tall. He won once against Nadal ages ago, and has mostly been pasted and mostly on hcs. He has no more business beating Nadal than he ever has.

You're missing our point. We know the reality. It's a reality that flies in the face of what Cilic is capable of. The point is, if we were designing a player to trouble Rafa, we could do worse than constructing a Cilic. Problem is his faulty genitalia

 

[Moxie]

Where's Cilic's blister now?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Just asking, if Cilic wins this and Rafa is physically struggling, can we use that as a reason, or will the narrative shift to Cilic playing very well, which everyone was denying prior to the injury?

 

[DarthFed]

That's complete bullshit. Nadal has 16 Majors. Cilic one. He's tall. He won once against Nadal ages ago, and has mostly been pasted and mostly on hcs. He has no more business beating Nadal than he ever has.

Please direct me to where Federberg or myself said Cilic "should" beat Nadal or have a better career than him. We are just saying he has the type of game that can trouble Nadal a lot more than he has. Seriously it's nothing to be upset about.

 

[Denis]

We can all agree that Cilic is not a mental giant, but surely he is not going to pull a Monfils on us.

 

[DarthFed]

Just asking, if Cilic wins this and Rafa is physically struggling, can we use that as a reason, or will the narrative shift to Cilic playing very well, which everyone was denying prior to the injury?

Nadal was looking hurt or fatigued before this. So absolutely. Are you guys also willing to admit the difference between this and the Wawrinka match when he was down a set and break before the injury?

 

[Denis]

Who was the one poster who predicted Cilic in 5?