2022 Australian Open Men’s Quarterfinal: Rafael Nadal vs. Denis Shapovalov

[MargaretMcAleer]

That's it...point construction. As I said, he was talking about patience, but he's not applying it yet. People give Rafa a hard time for "grinding," but he knows what he's going for. He has patience in abundance. It tends to pay off for him.

Well being brought up on clay....patience just comes to you,the points are usually long and you know when to play offensive shot,
or defensive shot,Rafa plays defensive first usually then turns around the point with an offensive shot

 

[rafanoy1992]

That's it...point construction. As I said, he was talking about patience, but he's not applying it yet. People give Rafa a hard time for "grinding," but he knows what he's going for. He has patience in abundance. It tends to pay off for him.

Interestingly enough, I think that's what Toni Nadal is trying to implement to FAA right now. Both Canadian players are aggressive and have firepower, but they lack point construction and discipline.

 

[Moxie]

Great 2nd serve, though.

 

[Moxie]

Is he going to gift over the break?

 

[rafanoy1992]

Is he going to gift over the break?

Nope, Shapo will help him hold serve because those are awful returns, Moxie!

Wow, three straight awful returns from Shapo!

 

[Moxie]

That's going to discourage Denis the Menace, not to break there.

 

[rafanoy1992]

That's going to discourage Denis the Menace, not to break there.

Those were awful returns too! He did not put the ball in play in any one of them...

 

[Moxie]

Somebody tell Denis that it wasn't his box that missed that shot?

 

[rafanoy1992]

Darn it, Rafa! You have that!

 

[Moxie]

Another FH miss from Rafa. Also not great.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Nadal has to pounce this game right now or else he will start to get nervous himself!

 

[Moxie]

Business end of the set now. I think Rafa gets the break, or wins the TB.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Business end of the set now. I think Rafa gets the break, or wins the TB.

That will be nerve-wrecking, Moxie!

 

[Moxie]

Oh, boy, was THAT what the doctor ordered!

 

[Moxie]

That will be nerve-wrecking, Moxie!

Better than a 4th set.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Unless Shapo implodes or Nadal gets super tight, this set will go to a 3rd set tiebreaker.

 

[Moxie]

Have you noticed that Denis has the same between the legs tick before his serve that Isner has?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Thank effing God he won a set. Not sure he can turn this around, but he at least took a set off Nadal.

 

[Moxie]

Thank effing God he won a set. Not sure he can turn this around, but he at least took a set off Nadal.

Some limp garbage there from Rafa. (Channeling my inner Darth.) But let's face it.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Let's see on how Nadal will handle this 4th set now.