BARCELONA - ATP 500 - Apr. 19-27, 2014.

[tented]

Djokovic better put in the work! I don't think he could ask for a better French Open opportunity with Rafa's game being slightly off.

"Slightly" is being very kind.

But I'll bet Novak has already opened a bottle of champagne.

 

[Kieran]

I enjoy Nishi, Ernie, and Nico, so I will be happy if any of them wins it!

Exactly. New names on the clay trophies this year, that's a plus for the sport, whatever about Rafa...

It's very tough to watch your guy play baffling tennis. Novak has done it off and on since 2011, but it's weird for mr. mental consistency to get upset on clay.

It's true, but the reason why we all smirked at Almagro before is that he'd get into that position (I think once) and choke. Which means Rafa has been on borrowed time in some sense. His armour isn't holding up, his shots look stale, he's overplayed the money-shot (crosscourt forehand) and The Clipper (DTL forehand) is barely net-high. He has to work hard again, and meantime, it's proper he should lose, if he's playing like this. No complaints here, I think the guy is wonderful, the best I've seen, but still only human...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I needed a stiff drink,a Bex and a good lie down after watching Rafa's match earlier.

 

[Moxie]

Doh. That sucks. I like Kohli though he always has a dense look on his face when photographed.

Haha. Aside from that, he is a really nice guy. Have had the chance to meet him a couple of times at Indian Wells. Takes time to talk to his fans/supporters, always gives his wristbands and stuff to people in the crowd.

Good to know, as I like him. (And I've neglect to say it, but welcome to the boards, Moose! Glad to see you posting regularly, too.)

Anyway, that stinks. Kind of a lot of retirements this week, between the two tourneys.

 

[Front242]

Doh. That sucks. I like Kohli though he always has a dense look on his face when photographed.

Haha. Aside from that, he is a really nice guy. Have had the chance to meet him a couple of times at Indian Wells. Takes time to talk to his fans/supporters, always gives his wristbands and stuff to people in the crowd.

Nice. Here are two trademark examples

 

[GameSetAndMath]

A consoling tidbit for Nadalites. Rafa won in most of the stats.

Rafa had more first serves in (67% to 53%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won more first serve points (70% to 66%)than Nicolas.
Rafa won more second serve points (46% to 44%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won a total of 8 more points (110 t0 102) than Nicolas.
Rafa won one more break points (5 to 4) than Nicolas.

Rafa just did not win the match. That's all.

While I did not see the match, from the above stats, I can only infer
that it was an anti-choke by Nicolas i.e, It is not that Nicolas just
did not choke, he actually went out and won the match.

But, we cannot write off Rafa as yet. He still has enough time to
find his groove before FO.

Rafa has never lost more than 2 clay matches since 2005. This
may be the year in which it happens.

 

[Moose]

Nice. Here are two trademark examples

Haha. Yea, that's a pretty common expression. But he has a few others - like this one, from the night he hit over 100 winners in a match to take out Roddick at the 3rd round of the Aussie back in 2008.

 

[Fiero425]

A consoling tidbit for Nadalites. Rafa won in most of the stats.

Rafa had more first serves in (67% to 53%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won more first serve points (70% to 66%)than Nicolas.
Rafa won more second serve points (46% to 44%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won a total of 8 more points (110 t0 102) than Nicolas.
Rafa won one more break points (5 to 4) than Nicolas.

Rafa just did not win the match. That's all.

While I did not see the match, from the above stats, I can only infer
that it was an anti-choke by Nicolas i.e, It is not that Nicolas just
did not choke, he actually went out and won the match.

But, we cannot write off Rafa as yet. He still has enough time to
find his groove before FO.

Rafa has never lost more than 2 clay matches since 2005. This
may be the year in which it happens.

Did you really think Rafa was going to able to defend all those points? He's had his great seasons, but his down ones are usually due; esp. in this circumstance trying to repeat all those victories from last year! He has not looked good in his matches; even if he wins them! Rafa's been struggling against players I don't even know, barely getting past the more familiar, and losing to his elite contemporaries of late! It has to be all downhill from here if we're lucky! :clap :nono :angel:

 

[Kieran]

A consoling tidbit for Nadalites. Rafa won in most of the stats.

Rafa had more first serves in (67% to 53%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won more first serve points (70% to 66%)than Nicolas.
Rafa won more second serve points (46% to 44%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won a total of 8 more points (110 t0 102) than Nicolas.
Rafa won one more break points (5 to 4) than Nicolas.

Rafa just did not win the match. That's all.

While I did not see the match, from the above stats, I can only infer
that it was an anti-choke by Nicolas i.e, It is not that Nicolas just
did not choke, he actually went out and won the match.

But, we cannot write off Rafa as yet. He still has enough time to
find his groove before FO.

Rafa has never lost more than 2 clay matches since 2005. This
may be the year in which it happens.

Almagro was break point down in the last game, having had match point, and he served and followed it with a forehand drive volley winner! It was the anti-choke, indeed, and very impressive to see...

 

[Front242]

Nice. Here are two trademark examples

Haha. Yea, that's a pretty common expression. But he has a few others - like this one, from the night he hit over 100 winners in a match to take out Roddick at the 3rd round of the Aussie back in 2008.

I remember that match. He played fantastic. Also recall having him in far too many accumulator bets a few years ago and had he won I'd have been minted

 

[golds girl]

I enjoy Nishi, Ernie, and Nico, so I will be happy if any of them wins it!

I've been really enjoying Nishikori lately. It's been a quiet (re?)surgence as of late. Unfortunately we couldn't see what could have been in Miami but maybe he has a chance to take a 500 here.
Since my guys is out, he would be my choice to win

 

[Front242]

Nishikori is so frail though and often injured. Look no further than when he beat Federer. Couldn't even play the next match.

 

[golds girl]

Nishikori is so frail though and often injured. Look no further than when he beat Federer. Couldn't even play the next match.

Yeah but didn't he play a bruiser before the Fed match? Anywho, hopefully Chang is trying to toughen him up, because back-to-back matches are par for the course in Majors

 

[Front242]

^ Hope so for his sake. He can be great to watch except when he beats Federer

 

[nehmeth]

Djokovic better put in the work! I don't think he could ask for a better French Open opportunity with Rafa's game being slightly off.

"Slightly" is being very kind.

But I'll bet Novak has already opened a bottle of champagne.

... and re-sprained his wrist. :nono

 

[Moxie]

A consoling tidbit for Nadalites. Rafa won in most of the stats.

Rafa had more first serves in (67% to 53%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won more first serve points (70% to 66%)than Nicolas.
Rafa won more second serve points (46% to 44%) than Nicolas.
Rafa won a total of 8 more points (110 t0 102) than Nicolas.
Rafa won one more break points (5 to 4) than Nicolas.

Rafa just did not win the match. That's all.

While I did not see the match, from the above stats, I can only infer
that it was an anti-choke by Nicolas i.e, It is not that Nicolas just
did not choke, he actually went out and won the match.

But, we cannot write off Rafa as yet. He still has enough time to
find his groove before FO.

Rafa has never lost more than 2 clay matches since 2005. This
may be the year in which it happens.

Almagro was break point down in the last game, having had match point, and he served and followed it with a forehand drive volley winner! It was the anti-choke, indeed, and very impressive to see...

In my own defense of yesterday, I said that Almagro was too sturdy in the top levels to be labeled a complete choker. Sadly, today, he proved me right.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

rafa lost to ferrer and mal aggro on clay..its enough to make a chaffinch fly off.

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic better put in the work! I don't think he could ask for a better French Open opportunity with Rafa's game being slightly off.

"Slightly" is being very kind.

But I'll bet Novak has already opened a bottle of champagne.

... and re-sprained his wrist. :nono

I sense that you're not feeling the wisdom of playing Madrid?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Holy Moly! Almagro actually beat Nadal, in a tight match, on clay????????

I must eat my hat, as I candidly had no faith. First Ferrer and now Almagro--these other Spaniards getting tired of Nadal. Felicidades Nicolas--bien echo--y con fuerza. Ole.

No shame in your inability to predict Almagro's win today. Nobody in the right
mind would have picked Almagro to win today despite the fact that Nadal
was playing poorly. Nobody can predict earthquakes either. But, the faultline
seems to be widening. I bet lot of folks smell the blood now.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

rafa is the bird swimming at night running on the beach with that bloke who passes out like a ponce and she goes swimming with zero clothes on, the atp players are like JAWS in the film you mean ?.

maybe more like that macho oaf who slides down the boat and ends up to his waist in shark teeth. and the shark is still the atp players

..this metaphor is losing confidence too I think. lol.