2018 French Open Men's SF: Nadal v Del Potro

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I hope nobody shows up injured. I don't think this match has happened before so I am excited about it.

Nadal barring the last match has been amazing this tournament. If we are stating anything below-peak that relates to any of his matches other than his last match, we are really not saying the right thing. Nadal has been amazing.

And to the think he plays at this level here even today is amazing. Wow.

At the least, I am happy that Del Potro is back to the big stages. We can be really happy about this. I think many fans wanted to this alike.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nadal barring the last match has been amazing this tournament. If we are stating anything below-peak that relates to any of his matches other than his last match, we are really not saying the right thing. Nadal has been amazing.

Did you see the first match?

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Did you see the first match?

I did. I didn't find that Nadal was anything less than amazing. Bolelli was playing good himself at times. But, Nadal was awesome too.

I am not saying that Nadal is unbeatable. I think he is beatable. But, I think he still plays great at RG at 32. And, he can still win matches on his own terms.

 

[DarthFed]

Sunny as hell...this match is over

 

[britbox]

Let's get ready to rumble... for the main event of the evening...

Jake Garner in the chair.

Nadal leads the H2H 9-5

2017 US Open SF Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2
2016 Olympic Tennis SF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 5-7 6-4 7-6(5)
2013 Shanghai Masters SF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4
2013 Indian Wells Masters F Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6 6-3 6-4
2011 Spain v Argentina - DC WG - F 0 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(0)
2011 Wimbledon R16 Grass Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4
2011 Madrid Masters R16 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro WO
2011 Indian Wells Masters SF Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-4
2009 US Open SF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-2 6-2
2009 Canadian Masters QF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 7-6(5) 6-1
2009 Miami Masters QF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 7-6(3)
2009 Indian Wells Masters QF Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-2 6-4
2007 Queen's R32 Grass Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-4
2007 FO - RG R128 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 7-5 6-3 6-2
2007 Miami Masters R16 Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-0 6-4

 

[kskate2]

Sunny as hell...this match is over

:lulz2: Give DP a chance. That sun will also ensure he fires some FH bullets

 

[DarthFed]

:lulz2: Give DP a chance. That sun will also ensure he fires some FH bullets

If he still had a backhand it'd be game on, but Nads knows he just has to hit it there and the point is his. Roger could learn a thing or two against DP. With that backhand the top guys should never lose to Del Po at this point.

 

[DarthFed]

Looks like he already hurt himself. This will be a short one. No saviors of mankind in 2018

 

[atttomole]

Del Potro's backhand has become innocuous but I think if he can hit heavy forehands accurately, he can make it a match. Nadal will obviously try to keep the ball on the court and prolong the points, and Del Potro will be cooked by the end of the first set.

 

[britbox]

Looks like he already hurt himself. This will be a short one. No saviors of mankind in 2018

Delpo always looks on the verge of death.

 

[kskate2]

Looks like he already hurt himself. This will be a short one. No saviors of mankind in 2018

Yeah. I saw that. Maybe he just needs a taping and it will work itself out. Can't be easy playing 3 days in a row

 

[DarthFed]

Quickly blown leads in all of Nad's service games. Not promising when Rafa seems far from his best so far.

 

[Moxie]

He looked liked he maybe wrenched his back a bit reaching awkwardly for a ball, then grabbed his back. They gave him a pain pill, sounds like.

 

[DarthFed]

Making Walphy move a lot which is nice but still hard even for him to hit through the Bull.

 

[mrzz]

I don't think this match has happened before so I am excited about it.

For some odd reason a classic clay encounter between del Potro and Nadal on Davis Cup is frequently forgotten. JMdP gave a helluva of a fight that day, won the first set 6x1, and was a up a break and 40-0 while serving in the second... (strangely enough, DS was also 40-0 and a break up in the second in their match. You cannot give nothing to Nadal...).

This one has "classic" written all over it, even if both are not playing their absolute best. But both are playing quite good, it is a big stage, both really want it. Barring injury -- which for some reason I keep thinking will happen quite soon in the match to one of them -- it could be a hard fought and entertaining match, specially if del Potro manages not to go down 0-2.

One odd thing about this matchup is that the both forehand-backhand cross court rallies are completely favorable to the forehand side. The DTL forehand will probably appear just as a point finisher, because it would be in general a quite silly rally shot.

The two keys for me for the match are Nadal's number of UFE's and del Potro's serve. If Nadal is connecting, only a field day on serve can save del Potro, while if del Potro is serving well, Nadal cannot afford to miss much.

(just realized I haven't posted this earlier when I finished writing it, now the match is under way, better late than never).

 

[atttomole]

Del Potro is serving well so far.

 

[DarthFed]

This Nadal so far looks more like 2014 or even 2015. The one I saw yesterday and early against the Martyred one looked like the kind I pray I never see again. Beatable at least this set but Del Po blew a lot of chances.

 

[kskate2]

there's a beauty

 

[Moxie]

A little bit of S&V from Rafa today.

 

[DarthFed]

And right on cue, Nads plays his best game of the match after that last post. Ugh, just go away Ralphy