Barcelona 500 - 18th April to 24th April 2016

[Kieran]

Good old Ralph, that's another box ticked off... :clap

 

[rafanoy1992]

Rafa's made this a helluva lot more difficult than it needed to be, by dumping those two service games in a row. Up a set and 2-0, he brain-cramped. Good test for him now, obviously a bit of residual still there from the matches last year...

That's why I'm baffled and frustrated because he should kill off Fognini right about now but he is allowing Fognini to dictate the point.

No, that's just tennis Rafa didn't let Fog off the hook , he earned those points to win that game to hold his service. Sometimes you have to give the opponent credit for playing great under pressure:clap

The last game, I gave Fognini full credit for saving all of those match points.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Crikey, Rafa's dad looks really old now...

Yeah he has the silver fox look these days, I guess in ran out of hair coloring dye.. maybe young Ralphy will by his dad a new supply that will last a little bit longer:snicker

 

[the AntiPusher]

At this point for Nadal, it is just matter of finishing any match in a positive way. In my opinion, one of his main problems is that he allows his opponents to stay around after playing a marvelous set of tennis. And when his opponents start firing in all cylinders then he gets nervous and starts playing tentatively.

The past two tournaments , Rafa has been able to handle his business as for as finishing sets very strong.. This will build with confidence.. very good point "1992"

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, at 5-3 down, I thought Rafa was going to struggle in a ditch of a final set, shanking and bluffing his way through slogging service games, but actually, his game became more crisp and clean. At 0-40 with three match points, he possibly could only have won the first one, but the rest of that game FFS was sublime. It's another positive win for Rafa, but really this week is only positive if he wins the tourney...

 

[rahulpawar]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

 

[Front242]

Crikey, Rafa's dad looks really old now...

Yeah he has the silver fox look these days, I guess in ran out of hair coloring dye.. maybe young Ralphy will by his dad a new supply that will last a little bit longer:snicker

Ralphy himself I predict may be very bald this time next year.

 

[Front242]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

Kinda touché for those claiming this is not a weak era lol.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

Kinda touché for those claiming this is not a weak era lol.

Here we go again

 

[Carol]

I've just read that Muzz is going to stay in Mallorca during this clay season. It seems that he wants to practice and been close to Rafa, I don't blame him

 

[Carol]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

Kinda touché for those claiming this is not a weak era lol.

Here we go again

He sounds like a old 'broken record' :snicker

 

[Front242]

I've just read that Muzz is going to stay in Mallorca during this clay season. It seems that he wants to practice and been close to Rafa, I don't blame him

After his recent comments about doping, he's probably just keeping an eye on his "buddy" since he's suspicious of players who don't get tired after 6 hour matches

 

[Kieran]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

Kinda touché for those claiming this is not a weak era lol.

It must be a weak era if Rafa's been sh1t this year and he's still #2 in the race...

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIKPDo57yY4[/video]

 

[Front242]

Nadal is 2nd in the Race to London now

Kinda touché for those claiming this is not a weak era lol.

It must be a weak era if Rafa's been sh1t this year and he's still #2 in the race...

Exactly my point and yet 3 of you numpties "liked" AP's "here we go again" retort to my factual response

 

[Carol]

I've just read that Muzz is going to stay in Mallorca during this clay season. It seems that he wants to practice and been close to Rafa, I don't blame him

After his recent comments about doping, he's probably just keeping an eye on his "buddy" since he's suspicious of players who don't get tired after 6 hour matches

Not my "dearest poster", he wants/needs to learn from the best clay player, if he would want to keep an eye to some suspicious he should go maybe to Swizerland?

 

[Front242]

I've just read that Muzz is going to stay in Mallorca during this clay season. It seems that he wants to practice and been close to Rafa, I don't blame him

After his recent comments about doping, he's probably just keeping an eye on his "buddy" since he's suspicious of players who don't get tired after 6 hour matches

Not my "dearest poster", he wants/needs to learn from the best clay player, if he would want to keep an eye to some suspicious he should go maybe to Swizerland?

Not if you read his interview. He's suspicious of players playing 6 hour matches and not getting tired. That narrows it down to 2 players.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I've just read that Muzz is going to stay in Mallorca during this clay season. It seems that he wants to practice and been close to Rafa, I don't blame him

After his recent comments about doping, he's probably just keeping an eye on his "buddy" since he's suspicious of players who don't get tired after 6 hour matches

Here we go AGAIN.. do I need to give the Front "Dr Seuss 's Green Eggs and Ham " post a bump again for you

 

[the AntiPusher]

After his recent comments about doping, he's probably just keeping an eye on his "buddy" since he's suspicious of players who don't get tired after 6 hour matches

Not my "dearest poster", he wants/needs to learn from the best clay player, if he would want to keep an eye to some suspicious he should go maybe to Swizerland?

Not if you read his interview. He's suspicious of players playing 6 hour matches and not getting tired. That narrows it down to 2 players.

narrows down to 2 players

you are excluding the all time GS titles leader..he has had some 5 hour matches (also Verdasco)

 

[rafanoy1992]

At this point for Nadal, it is just matter of finishing any match in a positive way. In my opinion, one of his main problems is that he allows his opponents to stay around after playing a marvelous set of tennis. And when his opponents start firing in all cylinders then he gets nervous and starts playing tentatively.

The past two tournaments , Rafa has been able to handle his business as for as finishing sets very strong.. This will build with confidence.. very good point "1992"

And that's why he has all this confidence in the world right now, AP. He is finishing matches he is supposed to finish and not letting his opponents beat him to the finish line. Last year, he could not sustain any momentum even if he was playing well because he could not finish his matches at all.

This year, especially since Monte Carlo, he is finishing off his opponents even after he started a great match.

Let's just hope he could do this all the way to Roland Garros...