2018 Wimbledon Championships - Men

[the AntiPusher]

I also took a look at Rafa's section. He has a fairly easy draw. The only banana peel I see for him in the early rounds happens in 3rd round. He could potentially Misha Zverev (the serve and volleyer who took a set off of Rusty Fed) and Alex DeMinaur (the Nottingham champion and an up and coming youngster). Either of them is capable of giving Rafa a run for the money.

Once he gets past it, he has a easy run up to QF where no one can challenge him except JMDP. In the SF, I believe only Kyrgios can challenge him. But, no one knows whether JMDP / NK will be across the net from Rafa at these stages.

On the whole, a very promising draw for Rafa.

Really the weather is one of Rafa’s main adversaries.. I am hopeful that this will be a hot SW19 , dry court conditions to spawn high bouncing balls would be perfect for a Nadal 2018 campaign.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Really the weather is one of Rafa’s main adversaries.. I am hopeful that this will be a hot SW19 , dry court conditions to spawn high bouncing balls would be perfect for a Nadal 2018 campaign.

The tennis gods has force the rain clouds to go south, 10 straight days of 80 degrees weather..good for Ralphy and Rena.

 

[Front242]

Newsflash, it's usually very hot at Wimbledon for years now and he hasn't won it in 8 years. The weather means nothing at Wimbledon tbh. It's always been the same, if he makes it to week 2 his chances go way up 'cos the grass is no longer grass and just baked mud like clay and the bounce completely works in his favour by then.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Newsflash, it's usually very hot at Wimbledon for years now and he hasn't won it in 8 years. The weather means nothing at Wimbledon tbh. It's always been the same, if he makes it to week 2 his chances go way up 'cos the grass is no longer grass and just baked mud like clay and the bounce completely works in his favour by then.

That’s not what Uncle Toni feels.. Rafa played good last year but played a big server who was playing way above his head. Rafa had the wrong game plan versus Gilles Muller. I look forward to battling with you on finals Sunday

 

[Front242]

That’s not what Uncle Toni feels.. Rafa played good last year but played a big server who was playing way above his head. Rafa had the wrong game plan versus Gilles Muller. I look forward to battling with you on finals Sunday

Gilles Muller was playing his normal level. He beat Nadal in 2005 also. He's a tricky player for anyone on grass but I don't agree he played any better than usual. He'll always hit lots of aces with his very fast angled, lefty serves and I'd expect him to give anyone hell tbh. He should also have won in straight sets.

The only game plan to have against him is make sure you hold your own serve 'cos he's likely to hold his.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Gilles Muller was playing his normal level. He beat Nadal in 2005 also. He's a tricky player for anyone on grass but I don't agree he played any better than usual. He'll always hit lots of aces with his very fast angled, lefty serves and I'd expect him to give anyone hell tbh. He should also have won in straight sets.

The only game plan to have against him is make sure you hold your own serve 'cos he's likely to hold his.

I disagree.. Muller is an awkward player to face but his 2017 campaign was vastly better than 2005

 

[Front242]

I disagree.. Muller is an awkward player to face but his 2017 campaign was vastly better than 2005

He beat Andy Roddick in the first round of the 2005 USO also right after Wimbledon. More consistent results in 2017, sure, but my point was he beat top players years before last year so it was only a surprise to the bookies and hardcore fans. Anyone who watches a lot of tennis knows the guy is very dangerous, especially on grass.

 

[monfed]

As much as I want the nadal to go out in the first round or at worst lose to Zverev, I don't see it because Zverev doesn't have the pizazz like the other players before him did like Brown, Muller, Kyrgios, Rosol etc. He seems mentally frail to me.

But still wonderful watching mowgli getting exposed on the first week of grass by an attacking player, I don't know if there's a better sight in tennis.

 

[DarthFed]

Always an excuse for him sucking on fast grass. It's the weather or some weak big servers. He just sucks when the bounce doesn't kick up and he doesn't have time to retrieve. He should thank the heavens they slowed the crap down enough for him at Wimbledon to steal a couple titles there.

 

[DarthFed]

That’s not what Uncle Toni feels.. Rafa played good last year but played a big server who was playing way above his head. Rafa had the wrong game plan versus Gilles Muller. I look forward to battling with you on finals Sunday

There is no playing well and losing to Gilles frickin Muller lol. Your boy is garbage when it's faster.

 

[herios]

I disagree with both of you.
Rafa did not play bad, but his average level is not great on grass, definitely not top 10 material, but would not classify it as garbage either.
Muller was not playing above his head, it just happened that last year he finally praked, won finally titles on hard, and played with a lot of confidence. In that form he was better than average Nadal.
Among the losses Rafa suffered at Wimbledon, this was a better showing, because he lost to a quality player on grass, much more acceptable than the losses to Rosol, Brown or Darcis.

 

[Front242]

I disagree with both of you.
Rafa did not play bad, but his average level is not great on grass, definitely not top 10 material, but would not classify it as garbage either.
Muller was not playing above his head, it just happened that last year he finally praked, won finally titles on hard, and played with a lot of confidence. In that form he was better than average Nadal.
Among the losses Rafa suffered at Wimbledon, this was a better showing, because he lost to a quality player on grass, much more acceptable than the losses to Rosol, Brown or Darcis.

Brown is most definitely a quality player on grass. It's a shame he doesn't bother trying to play properly rest of the year and most of his memorable clips of trick shots, etc are from mickey mouse challenger events. He should, however, be routinely getting to the latter stages in grass events with his serve, volleying and overall touch on grass imo. A true waste of talent that he doesn't seem to care enough to knuckle down and become more consistent all year to have a ranking high enough to make it into main draws. Problem is he's ranked too low year round to play most ATP events but if he played Nadal again on grass I wouldn't think twice about backing him. He's beaten him twice now on grass.

Rosol was a beast in fairness that day when he played Nadal. He was hitting 100mph backhands and forehands as well as serving unreal. Nadal actually finished with more aces that day though which many hardcore Nadal fans seem to ignore when they try and claim Rosol won because of aces, etc. Again, another case of a guy who could definitely do better on the tour if he got more consistent and a better team to help him. I've seen him play like complete crap too, mind you, missing balls left, right and centre.

 

[Fiero425]

Nadal's problem in that Rosol match and others when he's in dire straights is he's not in control of anything! The pace of the match as well as the conditions were taken away from Rafa when there were rain delays, then a huge break to close the roof! In essence, the match went from outdoors to an indoor slash-fest! That's one of reasons Nadal's never won a YEC! He's terribly vulnerable on a fast court; esp. if the person's a big server! I always played so much better indoors under the lights; the serve coming off the racket with an explosive sound that scares the opponent! Rosol's no slug since he did perform well under the limelight that day, but his name didn't stay long in draw from what little I saw of him after that match! His rematch wasn't in question and all he did was try to PI$$ off Rafa and get his goat by making fun of his antics on court like Soderling in the past! :whistle::cuckoo:

 

[lob]

..
Among the losses Rafa suffered at Wimbledon, this was a better showing, because he lost to a quality player on grass, much more acceptable than the losses to Rosol, Brown or Darcis.

Correct and the Muller match was not one-sided and could easily have gone the other way. It went to 15-13 in the fifth. Muller played gutsy tennis at some crucial moments. Nadal doesn't give away matches. Looking at the 2018 draw, it looks like we will see RN in the second week this year. There isn't anyone dangerous in his quarter. As to Schartzman, Nadal is already forewarned from his RG QF.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I disagree with both of you.
Rafa did not play bad, but his average level is not great on grass, definitely not top 10 material, but would not classify it as garbage either.
Muller was not playing above his head, it just happened that last year he finally praked, won finally titles on hard, and played with a lot of confidence. In that form he was better than average Nadal.
Among the losses Rafa suffered at Wimbledon, this was a better showing, because he lost to a quality player on grass, much more acceptable than the losses to Rosol, Brown or Darcis.

Agreed Muller played that well but Nadal also played way too passive during that match.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Brown is most definitely a quality player on grass. It's a shame he doesn't bother trying to play properly rest of the year and most of his memorable clips of trick shots, etc are from mickey mouse challenger events. He should, however, be routinely getting to the latter stages in grass events with his serve, volleying and overall touch on grass imo. A true waste of talent that he doesn't seem to care enough to knuckle down and become more consistent all year to have a ranking high enough to make it into main draws. Problem is he's ranked too low year round to play most ATP events but if he played Nadal again on grass I wouldn't think twice about backing him. He's beaten him twice now on grass.

Rosol was a beast in fairness that day when he played Nadal. He was hitting 100mph backhands and forehands as well as serving unreal. Nadal actually finished with more aces that day though which many hardcore Nadal fans seem to ignore when they try and claim Rosol won because of aces, etc. Again, another case of a guy who could definitely do better on the tour if he got more consistent and a better team to help him. I've seen him play like complete crap too, mind you, missing balls left, right and centre.

What's Rafa's h2h vs Rosol

 

[the AntiPusher]

Always an excuse for him sucking on fast grass. It's the weather or some weak big servers. He just sucks when the bounce doesn't kick up and he doesn't have time to retrieve. He should thank the heavens they slowed the crap down enough for him at Wimbledon to steal a couple titles there.

Well know there's a date in july 2008 that Rafa didnt suck on grass for 5 hours

 

[Front242]

What's Rafa's h2h vs Rosol

Who cares? What's Novak's v Stan? Stan has deprived him of 2 big titles. h2h means nothing, it's how you play on the day. If it all came down to h2h everyone would be a millionaire from betting.

 

[the AntiPusher]

He beat Andy Roddick in the first round of the 2005 USO also right after Wimbledon. More consistent results in 2017, sure, but my point was he beat top players years before last year so it was only a surprise to the bookies and hardcore fans. Anyone who watches a lot of tennis knows the guy is very dangerous, especially on grass.

Rosol..now you mentioned Roddick..Fronty you really are talking ABOUT some of the top tennis talents that ever appeared on the tennis courts..huh

 

[Front242]

Rosol..now you mentioned Roddick..Fronty you really are talking ABOUT some of the top tennis talents that ever appeared on the tennis courts..huh

I'm not even gonna bother debate that nonsense with you again re Roddick. Yes, he was a great player despite the fact that you've tried to tell this whole forum he was no better than a college player. He would've won 5-6 slams if not for Federer and had Novak's number in his prime and finished with a winning h2h. Not too shabby. Many people have poor, selective memory when it comes to Roddick as he was a mere shell of his former self in his last years on tour. Like Federer, Roddick's forehand was once a beast and turned to crap as he got older but in his prime his serve and forehand were beastly. It went all loopy and crap in his latter years but when he hit it flat and hard in his prime he was an animal.