2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[Nekro]

Can someone give an objective comment on the speed of the surface this year?

I felt it has dramatically slowed down. :/
I might be biased, but yeah, slowed down.

Fed says it's pretty much the same, and it felt fast to him, he also added at the nighttime it's usually slower but it was fast for him, it's right at the start of this vid:

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal is REALLY struggling to put away short balls. He's just guiding the ball as opposed to hitting through it, or if it's a volley, just be extremely heavy-handed.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Since the outcome isn't really in doubt Rafa would be well-served to just up the aggression, and dictate with the forehand a little more.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Awful game by Nadal. 4 unforced errors and gets broken.

 

[Moxie]

Schwartzman is playing well, and serving better. But Nadal should have grabbed him by the neck by now, and is laying back.

 

[10isfan]

Nadal might be a bit more nervous than usual. If he beats Schwartzmann, he keeps the number 1 ranking.

 

[Moxie]

Nadal might be a bit more nervous than usual. If he beats Schwartzmann, he keeps the number 1 ranking.

How can Rafa be thinking about that if I'm not?

No, Schwartzmann is taking the ball early and taking Rafa's time away, and throwing off his timing. He blew it there, but it's a good strategy.

 

[brokenshoelace]

29 unforced errors in 2 sets for Nadal...Insane.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal terrified to go up the line with the forehand. This is a pathetic performance honestly.

 

[Moxie]

A lot of slop from Nadal.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal has broken, and been broken back 3 times this set. Tie-break.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Also it doesn't help that Nadal is serving like crap. In fairness Schwartzman is playing really well.

 

[Moxie]

He's letting Schwartzman beat him to the punch. Stop moon-balling it and waiting for errors, man!

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal just deliberately moonballed a routine rally backhand like he's Wozniacki. Unbelievable. He's legitimately terrified to hit through the ball.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Maybe the outcome is in doubt after all...

 

[brokenshoelace]

4 unforced errors from Nadal in the tie-break alone. Loses the set, deservedly.

 

[Moxie]

Bloody hell. Rafa will wear him down, but he really has to stop making that his game plan. They guy's clever and game and on fire, but there is no excuse for letting him take so much charge.

 

[brokenshoelace]

This is really painful to watch. Nadal literally isn't doing anything right. Not a single aspect of his game is clicking, and he's making all the wrong choices as well, coupled with indecisiveness and no game-plan.

 

[Moxie]

This is really painful to watch. Nadal literally isn't doing anything right. Not a single aspect of his game is clicking, and he's making all the wrong choices as well, coupled with indecisiveness and no game-plan.

Why do you think that is? Off-day? Under-estimated Schwartzman and now he's on the back foot? What?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal definitely serving better this set. It's helped him enormously despite the fact that Schwartzman is still playing very well.