2018 AO Men's QF: Nadal - Cilic

[brokenshoelace]

Weak mentality or not, Cilic's serve alone will make this set, at worst, close. Nadal needs to figure things out as one break of serve and we're going to a fifth.

 

[Federberg]

I give Nadal a lot of grief for his overrated volleys, but that punch volley to set up the overhand that sealed the set was class.

Rafa's volleys are very opportunistic, but normally superb. He would be frightening if he built serve and volley into a strategy

 

[Denis]

If he's going to mount any type of resistance it has to be in one of the next 2 Rafa service games. I just don't see it though

Actually I think it could happen later as well. But it's all rather hypothetical isn't it?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Cilic played well? Are we watching the same set? Nadal looked terrible, I mean there is nothing on his shots and he is barely returning anything. And Cilic still found a way to make enough errors

I mean, how much better is Cilic capable of playing?

 

[Moxie]

It's over. He doesn't have the right type of genitals for this kind of tennis. Never has

I'm fully of that opinion, but Cilic has 2 sets to prove differently. I'm hoping I'll just be nodding my head with you at the end of this one.

 

[Federberg]

This is exactly what he needed to do. Rafa has to have some sort of let down after getting out of jail there

 

[brokenshoelace]

This will be a close set at worst. Let's not kid each other. Cilic is clearly still up for it.

 

[Moxie]

I mean, how much better is Cilic capable of playing?

Yes, let's face it. That was Cilic at his best, and he lost the set. Doesn't mean he can't still keep on like that, but that TB rips the heart out a bit...I hope.

 

[DarthFed]

I mean, how much better is Cilic capable of playing?

A lot. His stats are pretty atrocious if you didn't notice and Nadal is seriously not hitting the ball well at all.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Some much needed free points on serve for Nadal. He'll at least need to do that to compensate if he won't get his groundies together.

 

[Federberg]

I'm fully of that opinion, but Cilic has 2 sets to prove differently. I'm hoping I'll just be nodding my head with you at the end of this one.

I know what you're going through. As a Rafa fan it must be terrifying seeing as the match is not really in his control. But I'm watching Cilic blowing chance after chance. Even if you can't muster up faith in Rafa, have faith in Cilic to blow this

 

[Moxie]

Cilic played well? Are we watching the same set? Nadal looked terrible, I mean there is nothing on his shots and he is barely returning anything. And Cilic still found a way to make enough errors

Hell will freeze over when you ever admit that some errors come from the opponent, when Rafa is playing.

 

[DarthFed]

I think you guys are exaggerating a bit here, Cilic is not a talentless hack. Also factor in the return where he's struggling to get any of Nadal's mediocre first serves back in play

 

[brokenshoelace]

A lot. His stats are pretty atrocious if you didn't notice and Nadal is seriously not hitting the ball well at all.

I've been complaining about Nadal all match, but really, you think Cilic can play much better than that against a top player at a major? I'm not talking about the US Open one off, but his usual level. And he's made a lot of UE's? Yeah, not shit. As would most trying to play this aggressive against Nadal. Of course, some of his UE's were at an atrocious time, but that's a different story.

 

[Federberg]

Look at that volley there. Even Novak would have buried that. As Stephen A Smith would say about the Dallas Cowboys...

 

[DarthFed]

Hell will freeze over when you ever admit that some errors come from the opponent, when Rafa is playing.

Of course errors come but he's on pace for 90 of them on a fast hard court

 

[Moxie]

I know what you're going through. As a Rafa fan it must be terrifying seeing as the match is not really in his control. But I'm watching Cilic blowing chance after chance. Even if you can't muster up faith in Rafa, have faith in Cilic to blow this

I always have faith in Rafa. Even if this is stressful. (Aren't you the guy that spends Fed matches smoking cigars on the porch? At least I'm watching.) I'm saying, dispassionately, that Cilic has a chance to step up. Cilic's problem is that he is the lesser player, when the rubber meets the road.

 

[Federberg]

I've been complaining about Nadal all match, but really, you think Cilic can play much better than that against a top player at a major? I'm not talking about the US Open one off, but his usual level. And he's made a lot of UE's? Yeah, not shit. As would most trying to play this aggressive against Nadal. Of course, some of his UE's were at an atrocious time, but that's a different story.

He's missing shots that he would bury against a lesser player. And the sad thing is that it isn't like Rafa is forcing the errors. He's manufacturing them all by himself. That's why DF and I have no doubt about the outcome

 

[Federberg]

I always have faith in Rafa. Even if this is stressful. (Aren't you the guy that spends Fed matches smoking cigars on the porch? At least I'm watching.) I'm saying, dispassionately, that Cilic has a chance to step up. Cilic's problem is that he is the lesser player, when the rubber meets the road.

Lol! That's a fair point. But I won't let my epitaph be..."he died watching Federer playing a big final"

 

[DarthFed]

I've been complaining about Nadal all match, but really, you think Cilic can play much better than that against a top player at a major? I'm not talking about the US Open one off, but his usual level. And he's made a lot of UE's? Yeah, not shit. As would most trying to play this aggressive against Nadal. Of course, some of his UE's were at an atrocious time, but that's a different story.

Yes he is capable of a lot better. Clearly we know he's inconsistent and not always the most mentally tough guy out there but there's a reason everyone would at least admit he's dangerous. When he's on or even at a steady level he is better than what we are seeing.