BARCELONA ATP 500 - 20th April to 26th April

[Denis]

I have not seen Broken Shoelace in ages.

Would like to read his views on all of this, he was quite pessimistic at the AO. Has he given up on Nadal?

 

[pavlik89]

Fabio Fognini vs Rafael Nadal Highlights HD BARCELONA 2015

http://www.tennishdhighlights.com/atp/barcelona/

 

[DarthFed]

I'm starting to be too worry about Rafa's game. Now he is healthy but what is going on? his mind? his new racket? bad patch? whatever is there problem I hope it's not going to last too long, he must to be out of that hole and maybe to hire a Doctor/Mentalist like others have done before uzzled :nono :huh:

About that ... was this really the best time to begin using a new racquet? Why not wait until, say, the NA hard courts? Perhaps he should do what Roger did a couple of years ago, and switch back (at least temporarily) to his old racquet, and try the new one again later.

He started to play with that racquet last December, but maybe it's not working so well on him and he should get back to the old one. If that's the problem I'm sure he will

Any new racquet Rafa tries would be designed to get more spin (I was unaware he switched to a new one until recently). I doubt he will want to go back to one he feels will have a negative effect on his precious spin.

 

[nehmeth]

Some things jumped out at me today from Rafa that I have not seen from him before, like being not ready for certain shots, getting caught in the no man's land...He needs to work on the footwork. Those forehand shanks do not happen out of nowhere. They happen because you are not there at the right time to hit them properly.

I said this before, when Rafa loses foot speed, the shank-fest on the forehand side will be biblical. His grip has zero room for error.

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

 

[Federberg]

About that ... was this really the best time to begin using a new racquet? Why not wait until, say, the NA hard courts? Perhaps he should do what Roger did a couple of years ago, and switch back (at least temporarily) to his old racquet, and try the new one again later.

He started to play with that racquet last December, but maybe it's not working so well on him and he should get back to the old one. If that's the problem I'm sure he will

Any new racquet Rafa tries would be designed to get more spin (I was unaware he switched to a new one until recently). I doubt he will want to go back to one he feels will have a negative effect on his precious spin.

That's crazy! Surely he should have waited until after RG for a racquet change?? Not to talk of after he got his confidence back following a lay off

 

[Denis]

Some things jumped out at me today from Rafa that I have not seen from him before, like being not ready for certain shots, getting caught in the no man's land...He needs to work on the footwork. Those forehand shanks do not happen out of nowhere. They happen because you are not there at the right time to hit them properly.

I said this before, when Rafa loses foot speed, the shank-fest on the forehand side will be biblical. His grip has zero room for error.

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'? :snicker

 

[Federberg]

Rafa will need to sort this out quickly or he's going to fall into the same trap Roger is in now. Far too many people think they can beat him now. There was a time when he had a good few games in his gift before the match started. Rafa still has that now, but any more of this and he'll be in the same boat as Roger

 

[nehmeth]

I'm starting to be too worry about Rafa's game. Now he is healthy but what is going on? his mind? his new racket? bad patch? whatever is there problem I hope it's not going to last too long, he must to be out of that hole and maybe to hire a Doctor/Mentalist like others have done before uzzled :nono :huh:

About that ... was this really the best time to begin using a new racquet? Why not wait until, say, the NA hard courts? Perhaps he should do what Roger did a couple of years ago, and switch back (at least temporarily) to his old racquet, and try the new one again later.

Possibly he thought he would need the extra power to be competitive against the top guys??

 

[Kieran]

I think the new racket was all about power. I remember in 2012 he added weights to his old racket, and it gave him more power. Now he's got something where the strings are further apart, or something. Read about it til I got bored, which was after I read the headline about him having a new stick, actually... :snicker

I think the timing is interesting, but these chaps ain't mugs, they know what they're up to...

 

[tented]

I'm starting to be too worry about Rafa's game. Now he is healthy but what is going on? his mind? his new racket? bad patch? whatever is there problem I hope it's not going to last too long, he must to be out of that hole and maybe to hire a Doctor/Mentalist like others have done before uzzled :nono :huh:

About that ... was this really the best time to begin using a new racquet? Why not wait until, say, the NA hard courts? Perhaps he should do what Roger did a couple of years ago, and switch back (at least temporarily) to his old racquet, and try the new one again later.

Possibly he thought he would need the extra power to be competitive against the top guys??

That's a good guess, but I question the timing.

Like Darth, I was under the impression Rafa only recently switched to a new stick (within the last month or two), so I think it's bizarre to have picked this time of year to make such a transition. It can take a long time for a top player to adjust to a new one, so why begin such a journey with RG on the horizon? It makes no sense.

 

[tented]

Some things jumped out at me today from Rafa that I have not seen from him before, like being not ready for certain shots, getting caught in the no man's land...He needs to work on the footwork. Those forehand shanks do not happen out of nowhere. They happen because you are not there at the right time to hit them properly.

I said this before, when Rafa loses foot speed, the shank-fest on the forehand side will be biblical. His grip has zero room for error.

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'? :snicker

Nehmeth has demonstrated for years he's capable of appreciating more than one player.

 

[nehmeth]

Some things jumped out at me today from Rafa that I have not seen from him before, like being not ready for certain shots, getting caught in the no man's land...He needs to work on the footwork. Those forehand shanks do not happen out of nowhere. They happen because you are not there at the right time to hit them properly.

I said this before, when Rafa loses foot speed, the shank-fest on the forehand side will be biblical. His grip has zero room for error.

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'?

Yes I would much rather see Novak beating a healthy Nadal playing well... not a knackered version hobbling about.

 

[Fiero425]

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'?

Yes I would much rather see Novak beating a healthy Nadal playing well... not a knackered version hobbling about.

It probably won't matter! Rafa's always given the benefit of the doubt when he loses; esp. on clay! Something must be wrong; injury, confidence, change of rackets! It's terribly insulting to his rivals which is why he probably has a rotten repoire with a lot of them! I know I couldn't be bothered with his whole act; toweling off, stalling, ticks, getting coaching from Tony, and challenging every close call! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover

 

[Kieran]

It probably won't matter! Rafa's always given the benefit of the doubt when he loses; esp. on clay! Something must be wrong; injury, confidence, change of rackets! It's terribly insulting to his rivals which is why he probably has a rotten repoire with a lot of them! I know I couldn't be bothered with his whole act; toweling off, stalling, ticks, getting coaching from Tony, and challenging every close call! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover

How do you think Vitus Gerulaitis would do against Rafa on grass, Fiero?

 

[Fiero425]

It probably won't matter! Rafa's always given the benefit of the doubt when he loses; esp. on clay! Something must be wrong; injury, confidence, change of rackets! It's terribly insulting to his rivals which is why he probably has a rotten repoire with a lot of them! I know I couldn't be bothered with his whole act; toweling off, stalling, ticks, getting coaching from Tony, and challenging every close call! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover

How do you think Vitas Gerulaitis would do against Rafa on grass, Fiero?

If he couldn't get past Borg on the old choppy and slick stuff, he probably has NO CHANCE against the pace of shot of Rafa these days! Vitas was a solid enough player, but his only real weapon was his court movement and speed! His serve, strokes, and mental toughness were "serviceable!" The only reason he has a major is because top players didn't go "down under" in those days! :angel::dodgy:

 

[Denis]

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'?

Yes I would much rather see Novak beating a healthy Nadal playing well... not a knackered version hobbling about.

Just jabbing you a bit Nehmeth. That would be nice, of course. But a RG trophy would be nicer. And Nadal in his prime would make that a whole lot more difficult.

 

[Denis]

This is what I was concerned about in Indian Wells. He looked like a 50 year old man hobbling about - he was so slow. Was much better at MC and seemed to be moving toward regular form. This seems to tell otherwise.

You were 'concerned'? :snicker

Nehmeth has demonstrated for years he's capable of appreciating more than one player.

Who hasn't? You?

 

[tented]

You were 'concerned'? :snicker

Nehmeth has demonstrated for years he's capable of appreciating more than one player.

Who hasn't? You?

I'll give you this, Denisovich. You have an unusual sense of humor.

 

[Carol]

I'm starting to be too worry about Rafa's game. Now he is healthy but what is going on? his mind? his new racket? bad patch? whatever is there problem I hope it's not going to last too long, he must to be out of that hole and maybe to hire a Doctor/Mentalist like others have done before uzzled :nono :huh:

About that ... was this really the best time to begin using a new racquet? Why not wait until, say, the NA hard courts? Perhaps he should do what Roger did a couple of years ago, and switch back (at least temporarily) to his old racquet, and try the new one again later.

Possibly he thought he would need the extra power to be competitive against the top guys??

He has had enough power to be competitive against the top guys having 14 GS under his belt and multiples MS so I don't understand that question :huh:

 

[tented]

You were 'concerned'?

Yes I would much rather see Novak beating a healthy Nadal playing well... not a knackered version hobbling about.

Just jabbing you a bit Nehmeth. That would be nice, of course. But a RG trophy would be nicer. And Nadal in his prime would make that impossible.

Fixed!