2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[GameSetAndMath]

Fair enough. It took a lot of fandom to wake up for a 3am match. So you might have to trust me on how well Rafa played, and how well he moved.

But you could look at the point I'm talking about here, starting at minute 2:10. This will tell you something about how comfortable Rafa is feeling about his knees:

Thanks for the highlights. Rafa's game is looking good despite the terrible outfit.

Now, there is a serious danger of Rafa being lulled into sleep by weak opponents and then finally it may be difficult to wake up
when a bad boy shows up.

 

[Moxie]

I can't believe Nadal pulled that sleeveless shirt out of the files... And pink too

Look, I'm going to be honest. While I do think that Rafa intimidates the competition with the gun show, I thought the gray shirt looked just dirty, and the pink made him look like a frat boy who rolled out of bed. I like the sleeveless, but I'd rather he looked prepped for battle and not on the practice courts. IMO, it's sloppy. There, I said it.

 

[Moxie]

Thanks for the highlights. Rafa's game is looking good despite the terrible outfit.

Now, there is a serious danger of Rafa being lulled into sleep by weak opponents and then finally it may be difficult to wake up
when a bad boy shows up.

I agree about the outfit, which I addressed above. However, I disagree that Rafa will be lulled into complacency. This is not his way at all. That's just wishful thinking. The more likely scenario is that he's going to arrive to the SF and F fresher than anyone else on offer. This is the advantage of his draw.

 

[DarthFed]

It's not a lull but at the business end of slams it hurts if you go from 5 cupcakes to a strong opponent. Of course it's still preferable to have 5 cupcakes because it guarantees you a spot in the semis but not having any decent competition to leave you battle tested is actually a negative. Miami isn't a slam but I remember thinking the same going into the final last year. Rafa ended up playing no one and then faced Federer in the final.

 

[Moxie]

It's not a lull but at the business end of slams it hurts if you go from 5 cupcakes to a strong opponent. Of course it's still preferable to have 5 cupcakes because it guarantees you a spot in the semis but not having any decent competition to leave you battle tested is actually a negative. Miami isn't a slam but I remember thinking the same going into the final last year. Rafa ended up playing no one and then faced Federer in the final.

I'll take it if you think that Rafa lost to Roger in MIA because he was startled into submission. I thought you believed that Roger had found the magic formula. In any case, I think Rafa is the last person that gets lulled into submission. He'll take the benefit of less time on court, and be looking for the battered and bloodied likes of Kyrgios/Dimitrov, and later Djoker or Roger.

 

[crystalfire]

if raonic loses i think that considerable makes fed draw easier

 

[kskate2]

if raonic loses i think that considerable makes fed draw easier

This Raonic would be no match for Fed anyway.

 

[Moxie]

if raonic loses i think that considerable makes fed draw easier

I don't think anyone considered Raonic a threat at this Major.

 

[Moxie]

Too bad for Raonic, but I do think the window has closed for him.

 

[crystalfire]

I don't think anyone considered Raonic a threat at this Major.

not a threat for sure def a dark horse if fed has a bad day

 

[GameSetAndMath]

not a threat for sure def a dark horse if fed has a bad day

I think you forgot that Milos is coming back from an injury break like many others.

 

[DarthFed]

I'll take it if you think that Rafa lost to Roger in MIA because he was startled into submission. I thought you believed that Roger had found the magic formula. In any case, I think Rafa is the last person that gets lulled into submission. He'll take the benefit of less time on court, and be looking for the battered and bloodied likes of Kyrgios/Dimitrov, and later Djoker or Roger.

I'm not saying it's a big disadvantage in the semis but if you play a bunch of lightweights and then face a heavyweight it's not always a good thing. Certainly the Miami cupcake draw didn't help Rafa even though he was way more rested than Roger going into that final.

As for this tournament I will make a bet with you, if both Fed and Rafa make the final I bet Roger is on court a good amount less than Nadal. It's a rare tourney where that isn't the case.

 

[DarthFed]

Anyone know if they are finally using a shot clock at this event?

 

[crystalfire]

I think you forgot that Milos is coming back from an injury break like many others.

wasnt aware of that so makes sense why he lost i guess

 

[kskate2]

Anyone know if they are finally using a shot clock at this event?

I don't see a clock on the court. Maybe they only used it in quali's

 

[DarthFed]

^ Fricking garbage. It'd be a welcome change. Make the peasant's matches go significantly quicker and stop rewarding grinders who need forever to recover after a long point.

 

[Moxie]

I'm not saying it's a big disadvantage in the semis but if you play a bunch of lightweights and then face a heavyweight it's not always a good thing. Certainly the Miami cupcake draw didn't help Rafa even though he was way more rested than Roger going into that final.

As for this tournament I will make a bet with you, if both Fed and Rafa make the final I bet Roger is on court a good amount less than Nadal. It's a rare tourney where that isn't the case.

I don't think Rafa takes his opponents for granted, but if that's why Roger beat him, so be it.

I'll take your bet! But I don't think we can go with vagaries. If they meet in the final, whichever one has spent the most time on court, that's how we judge it.

 

[DarthFed]

It's not about taking an opponent for granted. It's about not being tested and that possibly being a disadvantage. Ideally there is at least one decent/good player en route to the semis. That was the big break for Rafa at USO, he only played one good not great player in DP. This will only be the same situation if both Dimitrov and Kyrgios go down and then a scrub makes the finals on the bottom half.

And you really think Rafa will be on court for less time over 6 matches if they both get there? I bet even last Miami Roger was barely on court more than Rafa.

 

[Moxie]

It's not about taking an opponent for granted. It's about not being tested and that possibly being a disadvantage. Ideally there is at least one decent/good player en route to the semis. That was the big break for Rafa at USO, he only played one good not great player in DP. This will only be the same situation if both Dimitrov and Kyrgios go down and then a scrub makes the finals on the bottom half.

And you really think Rafa will be on court for less time over 6 matches if they both get there? I bet even last Miami Roger was barely on court more than Rafa.

I take your point about being tested on court, but I think things have changed for Rafa especially, who needed matches, in his younger years. They're older. What they need more than match practice is rest. And confidence. For them, I think good results and not getting beaten up on the way there is the path to success.

 

[kskate2]

Stan looks pretty good. Hasn't put on a ton of weight either. Up 2 sets to love