2018 AO Men's QF: Nadal - Cilic

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal is just having to guess on Cilic's serve like a goalkeeper does on a penalty. Literally just pick a side and commit.

 

[Federberg]

That must be British English.

Actually it's a mixture of British English and a soupçon of hip hop thrown in

 

[Federberg]

I wouldn’t even trust him if he reaches the press conference

 

[brokenshoelace]

Wow, Rafa is really taking pace off everything. Serve, backhand, forehand, and Cilic is having a field day.

 

[Federberg]

Wow, Rafa is really taking pace off everything. Serve, backhand, forehand, and Cilic is having a field day.

might be a longer term play. Slow the pace now, and then increase it in a tie break. Cilic probably won't understand why he's mistiming until it's too late

 

[brokenshoelace]

Another uncomfortable hold by Nadal, but I legitimately don't see how he wins this set unless Cilic implodes for no reason. He's not daring the pull the trigger on anything and his serve, particularly on the ad side (normally his strength), is just harmless. He's getting no angle on his slider out wide and Cilic is returning very comfortably.

Nadal's cross court backhand has been an issue all tournament and I know I've complained about it ad nauseum, but it really is an issue.

 

[Federberg]

Another uncomfortable hold by Nadal, but I legitimately don't see how he wins this set unless Cilic implodes for no reason. He's not daring the pull the trigger on anything and his serve, particularly on the ad side (normally his strength), is just harmless. He's getting no angle on his slider out wide and Cilic is returning very comfortably.

Nadal's cross court backhand has been an issue all tournament and I know I've complained about it ad nauseum, but it really is an issue.

Have faith. I've seen this type of set in Rafa matches a million times before. It feels like robbery as Cilic will find some way to blow it. But after a while you'll just have to accept that's how Rafa does his business

 

[brokenshoelace]

Jesus Nadal played that set point so tentatively.

 

[brokenshoelace]

If Nadal loses this set he'll be kicking himself for that set point. I can't believe how scared he looked to put any pace on the ball. Really was hoping to win the point, rather than trying to win it.

 

[DarthFed]

Nadal will step up here or in the TB. Both look like they have tired legs now but that spells more trouble for Cilic

 

[brokenshoelace]

Zero faith in Nadal winning this tie-break.

 

[Federberg]

I've punted on tie breaks before, and normally I tend to think the guy who comes in serving more dominantly is the favourite. But Cilic is such a snow flake

 

[Federberg]

here we go... the snow is melting in Melbourne as expected

 

[DarthFed]

Cilic ROS is killing him this set. He's making the Nadal serve look like Sampras

 

[DarthFed]

Zero faith in Nadal winning this tie-break.

Lol he will win it and easily

 

[Denis]

Zero faith in Nadal winning this tie-break.

-100 faith in Cilic winning this tie-break.

 

[Moxie]

That was a hell of a shot from Cilic.

 

[DarthFed]

Two enormous backhand winners there from Cilic

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal looks pretty lost in terms of gameplan. Really has no idea what to do with Cilic's serve out wide, nor does he know which wing to attack.

 

[DarthFed]

And two awful points and now Nadal in control