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

[tented]

This may sound strange, but I like the way this umpire is issuing the time violations. Unlike other umpires (OK, unlike Pascal Maria), this guy isn't waiting for an important point before handing out the first one. The second one today was also given fairly.

 

[Front242]

^ Yeah, he's doing a good job alright.

 

[tented]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

 

[tented]

Good grief, that backhand went into the stadium.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Many claimed that Ferrer is better than Federer on clay against the field.

Who on earth said that?

I am not going to name the folks. However, folks who said so can post a message
saying "Sorry, I am wrong" 100 times (no cut and paste, they have to type it themselves
100 times).

 

[Kieran]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

 

[Moxie]

Many claimed that Ferrer is better than Federer on clay against the field.

Who on earth said that?

I am not going to name the folks. However, folks who said so can post a message
saying "Sorry, I am wrong" 100 times (no cut and paste, they have to type it themselves
100 times).

"Many" didn't say it…I did. I said I thought he might be better against the field going forward. It may not be that well thought out. :laydownlaughing But we'll see.

 

[Front242]

The good news for Novak is he'd easily beat him dodgy wrist or not unless Rafa really gets out of this slump.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

Let me do some speculation (at my peril). I think after losing AO, Rafa estimates
that his chances of surpassing 17 GS to be slim. In view of that, he faces deep
motivation problem in the matches of this year after the AO final.

Toni needs to calm Rafa down and tell him that it ain't over and he can still
surpass 17. But, it should not be a pep talk. Toni should really believe it in order
to convince Rafa and make him believe too.

 

[Front242]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

Let me do some speculation (at my peril). I think after losing AO, Rafa estimates
that his chances of surpassing 17 GS to be slim. In view of that, he faces deep
motivation problem in the matches of this year after the AO final.

Toni needs to calm Rafa down and tell him that it ain't over and he can still
surpass 17. But, it should not be a pep talk. Toni should really believe it in order
to convince Rafa and make him believe too.

Good call. Sounds bang on to me.

 

[tented]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

I agree. He's not injured or anything; it's mental.


[DID EVERYONE TAKE NOTE OF THAT? HE'S NOT INJURED! ]

 

[Kieran]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

Let me do some speculation (at my peril). I think after losing AO, Rafa estimates
that his chances of surpassing 17 GS to be slim. In view of that, he faces deep
motivation problem in the matches of this year after the AO final.

At your peril, indeed. I doubt very much Rafa spends his time thinking in these terms. He took a blow at Oz, certainly: I mean, you get Stan in the final and your back goes. I'm sure there was disappointment because of that, but I'm equally sure he's past that stage (speculating, of course, at my peril)..

More likely, he's suffering the effects of burnout. He's said himself he lacks intensity. I keep banging the same drum, but he shouldn't have gone to South America last December. He'll get his appetite back, and who knows, he'll take the Channel Slam and start to think about 17, though why he should, is beyond me...

 

[Front242]

Nice from Ramos.

 

[Front242]

Rafa shanks like a Catalan butcher.

 

[Kieran]

Nice from Ramos.

Vamos Ramos?

 

[tented]

Help me out, I can't remember: Has Rafa hit a winner today?

 

[Front242]

Nice from Ramos.

Vamos Ramos?

Yeah, the commentator on this Spanish stream here said that earlier

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

What can Toni possibly be saying to Rafa after these dreadful performances lately?

It looks like it's more a mental than technical issue. It looks like he's going through the motions out there. Rafa just doesn't look hungry for war any more...

Let me do some speculation (at my peril). I think after losing AO, Rafa estimates
that his chances of surpassing 17 GS to be slim. In view of that, he faces deep
motivation problem in the matches of this year after the AO final.

At your peril, indeed. I doubt very much Rafa spends his time thinking in these terms. He took a blow at Oz, certainly: I mean, you get Stan in the final and your back goes. I'm sure there was disappointment because of that, but I'm equally sure he's past that stage (speculating, of course, at my peril)..

More likely, he's suffering the effects of burnout. He's said himself he lacks intensity. I keep banging the same drum, but he shouldn't have gone to South America last December. He'll get his appetite back, and who knows, he'll take the Channel Slam and start to think about 17, though why he should, is beyond me...

yes..alot of folk were agog when he ponced off to south America, he needed a mental break as much as a physical one, now its caught up with him a bit.

 

[Kieran]

Help me out, I can't remember: Has Rafa hit a winner today?

Yes. He smacked the guy who beat Daveed on the back and said, "eez de good, no?"

 

[Front242]

Doh Ramos. Totally let him off the hook :nono