Argentina Open ATP 250

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Although still winning ugly, Rafa is showing progress on the charts. QF in AO, SF in Rio and
now, at least F in BA.

Monaco is Rafa's sometimes doubles partner and will know lot about Rafa's play. He will
probably also have more courage and won't choke. But, he does not have the game to
even get in a position where courage will be needed.

Monaco has won 3 games in the last 5 sets against Rafa :nono

is that all :huh::dodgy: lolwut, maybe this final be closer seeing as rafa/wafa is abit slow at the minute.

 

[Kirijax]

In Dubai, top seed Djokovic loses in the final.
In Acapulco, top seed Nishikori loses in the final.
In Buenos Aires, top seed Nadal loses in the......nah. Not gonna happen.

 

[Carol]

Although still winning ugly, Rafa is showing progress on the charts. QF in AO, SF in Rio and
now, at least F in BA.

Monaco is Rafa's sometimes doubles partner and will know lot about Rafa's play. He will
probably also have more courage and won't choke. But, he does not have the game to
even get in a position where courage will be needed.

Srtill winning ugly? I agree that he is not still playing his best but to say that he is winning ugly in BA it sounds a little bit :nono
And not, he is not playing so slow, he simply doesn't need to run so much
Monaco could win if Rafa would play his worst, that's all and I don't think it will be the case :dodgy:

 

[mrzz]

He is slow according to his own standards, but still above average for sure. However, his ball is still too short, and not only according to his own standars.

Monaco is a much better clay courter than his abysmal results against Nadal indicate, there must be a huge match up/mental thing playing its part. Let's see what happens, but he is also far from his best so this should be a no-match.

 

[auto-pilot]

I've compared Nadal's movement at 2015 Rio to his 2014 Rio, and he's clearly moving faster this year.
And he was literally limping in 2013 clay season.
But yeah Nadal is not moving as well as he was in 2012.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I've compared Nadal's movement at 2015 Rio to his 2014 Rio, and he's clearly moving faster this year.
And he was literally limping in 2013 clay season.
But yeah Nadal is not moving as well as he was in 2012.

Nadal is not moving as well as 2014.

 

[Front242]

I've compared Nadal's movement at 2015 Rio to his 2014 Rio, and he's clearly moving faster this year.
And he was literally limping in 2013 clay season.
But yeah Nadal is not moving as well as he was in 2012.

As they say: "Should've gone to Specsavers"

 

[Carol]

I've compared Nadal's movement at 2015 Rio to his 2014 Rio, and he's clearly moving faster this year.
And he was literally limping in 2013 clay season.
But yeah Nadal is not moving as well as he was in 2012.

As they say: "Should've gone to Specsavers"

Ok guys, relax, Nadal is not moving well, he is not serving well, he is not playing well, he is almost done.... are you happy now? :snicker

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Looks like the rain has finally cleared and play should be under way soon

BTW Rafa will play doubles at IW with Pablo Carreno Busta.

 

[mrzz]

Yep, brazillian TV just re-started coverage. Players warming up.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is their H2H. Rafa leads 5-1. The only win for Monaco was in hard courts.

2014 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain Clay R32 Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-0
2012 Roland Garros France Clay R16 Nadal, Rafael 6-2, 6-0, 6-0
2011 ESP vs.ARG DC Final Spain Clay RR Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
2007 ATP Masters Series Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. Hard R32 Monaco, Juan 7-6(5), 4-1 RET
2007 Stuttgart Germany Clay Q Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-3
2005 Bastad Sweden Clay R32 Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-1

It would be a miracle if Juan can even manage to stay in the court for more than an hour.

 

[Fiero425]

Here is their H2H. Rafa leads 5-1. The only win for Monaco was in hard courts.

2014 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain Clay R32 Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-0
2012 Roland Garros France Clay R16 Nadal, Rafael 6-2, 6-0, 6-0
2011 ESP vs.ARG DC Final Spain Clay RR Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
2007 ATP Masters Series Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. Hard R32 Monaco, Juan 7-6(5), 4-1 RET
2007 Stuttgart Germany Clay Q Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-3
2005 Bastad Sweden Clay R32 Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-1

It would be a miracle if Juan can even manage to stay in the court for more than an hour.

That's the nature of my frustration with today's 2nd tier; their total inability to even consider doing something different to get another outcome vs "The Big 3!" We saw how many matches and years it took Berdych to beat Nadal playing it his way! I don't ever want to hear anything about how smart these players are because they are all mentally deficient to allow Roger, Rafa, and Nole to own the tour for 10+ years! They weren't unbeatable really if you look at matches through rough patches where upsets were or SHB more rampant, but winds up being few and far between only because most players can't finish! In the old days if Borg, Connors, or McEnroe got down in certain situations, they were done! Players like Tsonga had 4 match points vs Nole at the FO a few years ago! It's his home Slam and he found a way to give that match away; not really Nole taking it from him! I can give example after example of this occurring and it's disheartening at times! It's not like I want my faves to lose, but what does it say about the competition where you might as well forget laying any money down on "the field!" It has been and continues to be a 3 man tour plus their practice partners pretending to be opponents! :cover :nono uzzled :angel:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have seen some wet clay courts in my time,this court is quite unacceptable for both players to play on quite frankly.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

what a mess.

 

[Billie]

They are not showing this on TV here, the court is wet?? Did they stop playing?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Now they are putting more clay onto the court.

 

[herios]

So will they water polo:snicker

 

[mrzz]

You're not getting it, this is a new surface type. This is a mud court.

Nadal made it his call and made it stop, which was the right thing to do.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Light rain is now falling,the court will have to have roller's now on it,this could take awhile

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, Rafa can forget about high bouncing top spin forehand shots. The only good thing is that
he probably won't need them.