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

[Front242]

Never saw the final stats for Nadal but can't have hit many winners today.

 

[Moxie]

Well, that wasn't pretty, but his 40th successive win in Barcelona. Just passed his 50th at MC and his 300th on clay. Maybe that partly explains the jaded attitude. Hopefully he soon remembers how much he likes playing in Barcelona and finds his mojo again.

 

[Front242]

Didn't realize it was Gabashvili who beat Ferrer. He's playing well at the moment.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Looks like the "Fog" rolled out as the sun rolled into the stadium at Barcelona:blush:

 

[tented]

Never saw the final stats for Nadal but can't have hit many winners today.

Kieran supplied this information on the previous page.

 

[Front242]

Never saw the final stats for Nadal but can't have hit many winners today.

Kieran supplied this information on the previous page.

Just the one then

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Looks like Rafa needs a Federer match to get his confidence back...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^rafa cannot have been that poor can he ?.

 

[Kieran]

^^rafa cannot have been that poor can he ?.

He wasn't great, not too poor, but he lacked urgency, just looping it back and without any great spite...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Urgh, shaky confidence Nadal is my least favorite Nadal, as his game becomes quite putrid to watch...especially on clay, ironically enough.

 

[Front242]

^^rafa cannot have been that poor can he ?.

A few down the line forehand attempts were parallel with the umpire's chair No joke. Rally shots were very often just moonballed junk with no pace and falling short, no angles and no venom or bite in many of his shots. Considering it's his best surface it's no wonder there were looks of sheer horror on Toni's face. His trademark inside out forehands were off a lot too. He hit a lot of shanks by his standards too. I thought it was pretty bad anyway but really there's no one left who can challenge him here now as far as I can see. His celebration was pretty emotional after today's win as well but he can only get better from here on.

 

[Moose]

Fabio. smh

Giraldo's win sets up a pretty interesting scenario for Thiem (who is my newest ATP fave, joining Nole and Kohli). Clearly a winnable 3rd rounder, which would set up a 1/4 versus his "mentor", Jurgen, or Kohlschreiber, in a battle of one handers.

I got to see Thiem twice at Indian Wells, he was rock steady against Simon, which I had found impressive. Think the kid is a keeper, and greatly enjoying how his season has been unfolding.

 

[Front242]

^ Welcome Moose. Yeah, only seen one match by Thiem so far and he looks very promising alright. Hope it's realized potential for once.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^rafa cannot have been that poor can he ?.

He wasn't great, not too poor, but he lacked urgency, just looping it back and without any great spite...

oh.

 

[Moxie]

Worth mentioning also that Cervantes (ranked 841) upset Tursunov!:
5-7, 6-0, 6-3.

There is something interesting with Cervantes, he was ranked as high as 130 in 2010, he must have been absent or something that he fell so low.

I found something in the Spanish press. He had 4 operations in 8 months last year: 2 hip, 1 elbow and Achilles tendon. That's some mala suerte!

 

[Front242]

Worth mentioning also that Cervantes (ranked 841) upset Tursunov!:
5-7, 6-0, 6-3.

There is something interesting with Cervantes, he was ranked as high as 130 in 2010, he must have been absent or something that he fell so low.

I found something in the Spanish press. He had 4 operations in 8 months last year: 2 hip, 1 elbow and Achilles tendon. That's some mala suerte!

That's nasty Sounds like poor Brian Baker. When is he due back actually? Incidentally, Brian Baker should change his name by default to Bian Braker.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

8 of the 16 seeds who are supposed to reach R16 reached R16. Exactly 50% success
rate for the seeds to grow.

 

[golds girl]

Well, that wasn't pretty, but his 40th successive win in Barcelona. Just passed his 50th at MC and his 300th on clay. Maybe that partly explains the jaded attitude. Hopefully he soon remembers how much he likes playing in Barcelona and finds his mojo again.

Oh Moxie, just watched that match again and suffice it to say, it was....uncomfortable. I never felt secure at any point during the match except at match point. Not sure what's going on, you intimated a possible jaded attitude, I guess I just don't know why he would have one???

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well, that wasn't pretty, but his 40th successive win in Barcelona. Just passed his 50th at MC and his 300th on clay. Maybe that partly explains the jaded attitude. Hopefully he soon remembers how much he likes playing in Barcelona and finds his mojo again.

Oh Moxie, just watched that match again and suffice it to say, it was....uncomfortable. I never felt secure at any point during the match except at match point. Not sure what's going on, you intimated a possible jaded attitude, I guess I just don't know why he would have one???

I agree with your thoughts.I am at a loss actually what is going on with Rafa....Head Funk??

 

[Moxie]

Well, that wasn't pretty, but his 40th successive win in Barcelona. Just passed his 50th at MC and his 300th on clay. Maybe that partly explains the jaded attitude. Hopefully he soon remembers how much he likes playing in Barcelona and finds his mojo again.

Oh Moxie, just watched that match again and suffice it to say, it was....uncomfortable. I never felt secure at any point during the match except at match point. Not sure what's going on, you intimated a possible jaded attitude, I guess I just don't know why he would have one???

I agree with your thoughts.I am at a loss actually what is going on with Rafa....Head Funk??

Yeah, head funk. Mental fatigue. Trouble finding the magic. Sort of like the middle part of last year when Djokovic seemed to lose his killer instinct in the big moments. Where'd the motivation go? How does it come back? Novak got it back when he lost his #1 ranking.