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

[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??

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.

Let's see if Rafa can get out of his Head Funk in Barcelona.I have always thought Rafa plays better when he is say the 'Hunter' rather than being 'Hunted'....just my thoughts.

 

[Kieran]

I think he'll be fine. Clay is the best place for him to find his range. He's diligent, he'll work on this, and he doesn't have a strong opponent left in the draw. Nobody who should trouble him. I think he'll work hard this week and go to Madrid with better form than he had coming to Barcelona.

He could do with getting in a tussle with a star, that'd get the competitive juices flowing, because that's what seems to be missing. He has time, though, before Paris, which is the priority...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I read somewhere he had some sort of tablets..true ?, false ? prob ?, no prob ?. hopefully its a bit warmer in Barcelona, monto carlo was a bit cloudy and cool this year.

captain vamos like a bit of warm sunshine.

 

[Moxie]

I think he'll be fine. Clay is the best place for him to find his range. He's diligent, he'll work on this, and he doesn't have a strong opponent left in the draw. Nobody who should trouble him. I think he'll work hard this week and go to Madrid with better form than he had coming to Barcelona.

He could do with getting in a tussle with a star, that'd get the competitive juices flowing, because that's what seems to be missing. He has time, though, before Paris, which is the priority...

I think it'll help him to have some confidence boosting matches, and to feel that he's finding his form before he gets a big test, though. I sure hope he looks a lot better tomorrow.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa plays the winner of Almagro and Verdasco in QF. That will probably be the
toughest match for Rafa in Barcelona. He has just one more match to practice
his inside power before that.

 

[tented]

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.

Hi, Moose. Welcome to Tennis Frontier!

Some of us have been monitoring Thiem since we published this blog post about him:

"Up-and-coming Austrian and his unusual coach"

Hope you enjoy it.

 

[tented]

He could do with getting in a tussle with a star, that'd get the competitive juices flowing, because that's what seems to be missing. He has time, though, before Paris, which is the priority...

I'm assuming Ferrer doesn't fit into this category, then. :-/

 

[I.Haychew]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

nadal will stroll thru this 500. esp with ferrer out.. who has won 100% of his last one matches with rafa/wafa.

 

[Moxie]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

Even you have to be a little "phed" up with Fabio at this point. I like the guy, but, seriously, he's on my last nerve.

And now we've had two late-retirements at this tournament. (Paire at 4-6, 1-5.) Has all sportsmanship gone out of the game? I really hope I don't see Paire or Fognini in Madrid, because clearly they're deeply injured.

 

[I.Haychew]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

Even you have to be a little "phed" up with Fabio at this point. I like the guy, but, seriously, he's on my last nerve.

And now we've had two late-retirements at this tournament. (Paire at 4-6, 1-5.) Has all sportsmanship gone out of the game? I really hope I don't see Paire or Fognini in Madrid, because clearly they're deeply injured.

I'm with ya. The only way I give him (Eph 3) a pass phor retiring is iph he had a broken phemur.

 

[isabelle]

This time Daveeeed won't beat Manacor's bull...don't know what happened to him, he played a poor performance, hope he's not injured

 

[masterclass]

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

Toni Nadal in l’Equipe on Rafa’s win over Ramos:

"It’s not working. No, nothing worked. He wasn’t feeling it, he didn’t play well, he moved badly, he made too many errors, he had no forehand, no backhand. Pffft. He’s too tense to play, and that prevents him from returning to his best. His loss in Monte-Carlo affected him. He gives it too much importance. Suddenly he has doubts. He needs to win tomorrow to try and get better."

Before tackling the last game of the match against Ramos, Nadal called for the presence of physio, who gave him a pill. Asked at a press conference, Nadal confessed that it was for a few cramps in his hand, caused by: "I would say the tension," he explained.

But what produces this tension?

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[Kieran]

Thanks, Masterclass.

You know, I like uncle Toni, but just yesterday in town, I read an excerpt from rafa's auto-biography where he says that he, Carlos Costa and uncle T were walking down the street, when Toni stopped them and objected to Rafa walking in the middle, as if by doing this, Rafa was thinking he was better than they. Carlos Costa objected, but Rafa switched places, "anything to keep the peace."

It is the downside of their relationship, that Rafa doesn't seem to have this huge overwhelming confidence/arrogance that great giants of sport usually have, and I'm not even thinking Federer, I'm thinking Sampras. Rafa seems to be constantly fretting about his place. It fuels his drive - but it has a negative aspect too. Most coaches would tell him, "don't be so ridiculous - you're Rafa, and the other guy ain't..." :nono

 

[brokenshoelace]

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

Toni Nadal in l’Equipe on Rafa’s win over Ramos:

"It’s not working. No, nothing worked. He wasn’t feeling it, he didn’t play well, he moved badly, he made too many errors, he had no forehand, no backhand. Pffft. He’s too tense to play, and that prevents him from returning to his best. His loss in Monte-Carlo affected him. He gives it too much importance. Suddenly he has doubts. He needs to win tomorrow to try and get better."

Before tackling the last game of the match against Ramos, Nadal called for the presence of physio, who gave him a pill. Asked at a press conference, Nadal confessed that it was for a few cramps in his hand, caused by: "I would say the tension," he explained.

But what produces this tension?

Respectfully,
masterclass

It sounds like a case of Nadal being nervous. I think Toni made that obvious, at least as far his opinion on the matter is concerned.

 

[TsarMatt]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

I see Tomic now has a bit of competition.

 

[Riotbeard]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

I see Tomic now has a bit of competition.

Ernie is actually the best guy to hurt rafa, if he were to play his best. To be fair nobody should be really touching rafa at barcelona, but if I were to pick someone who could get in the zone and really hurt rafa, it's gulbis.

 

[herios]

So, I see that my main man Phabio retired at 0-6, 0-4. Sorry, but that's pathetic. Phinish the damn match, man!

I see Tomic now has a bit of competition.

Ernie is actually the best guy to hurt rafa, if he were to play his best. To be fair nobody should be really touching rafa at barcelona, but if I were to pick someone who could get in the zone and really hurt rafa, it's gulbis.

Nishikori who I think never played Barcelona before, looks in some good form right now, he went through Golubev: 6-0, 6-4.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, there's still a few fellows who can swing a stick. I'm hoping one of them catches fire against Rafa and spurs him on to find some spite and venom...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

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

Toni Nadal in l’Equipe on Rafa’s win over Ramos:



Before tackling the last game of the match against Ramos, Nadal called for the presence of physio, who gave him a pill. Asked at a press conference, Nadal confessed that it was for a few cramps in his hand, caused by: "I would say the tension," he explained.

But what produces this tension?

Respectfully,
masterclass

Playing with a child size grip all his life should have produced a lot of tension and cramping in his hand but it did not. I have always wondered about that. I have reduced my grip size once from 4 1/2 to 4 3/8 and I could not believe how much it affected my hand...

Anyways, Nadal is a rhythm guy. He needs a couple of solid matches and he will start rolling. I don't think anything drastic has changed in his life recently, so...