Barcelona Open 2018, ATP 500

[herios]

Grigor also eliminated

 

[Moxie]

Klizan bageled in the first set. Nice phrase from Annacone to describe Nadal's play: that he was "just ripping the grounds with bad intentions."

That said, then Rafa kinda broke himself the first game of the 2nd, and Klizan consolidated.

 

[Andy22]

That was a awesome game by nadal to save 3 set points and break, 42 sets in a row now great victory.

 

[Moxie]

Klizan did a lot right in that 2nd set, and I was sure it was going 3, but Rafa gritted that set out.

 

[Carol]

Klizan bageled in the first set. Nice phrase from Annacone to describe Nadal's play: that he was "just ripping the grounds with bad intentions."

That said, then Rafa kinda broke himself the first game of the 2nd, and Klizan consolidated.

Looking the result I see that Rafa kind broke himself gave some hope and confidence to his opponent , but......

 

[MartyB]

Oh, admit it...you're having a peak to see what's going on, even though you claim to be done with tennis until the grass season. Anyway, yes, that happened last year. It is kind of weird that they did it while Nadal is still active, but my secret theory is that they didn't want Madrid (and the vile Tiriac) to get to it before they did in Barcelona. It's the right place, and I'm sure it would be what Rafa would most have wanted. You know Basel is going to do the same for Roger, but there's no competing tournament that would scoop them there.

You caught me Moxie I watched three games last night on tennis channel...LoL..He looks unbeatable and in peak form. Nothing the rest of the field can do about it. My only question is how does he sustain this level playing with so many consecutive clay tournaments leading up to Paris? It's astonishing. As for the naming I did read that it was proposed that Basel change it's name to Federer but they decided to wait until he retires.

 

[Andy22]

I hope Nadal does lose a set at before RG, so it won't be hanging over his head, great if he can to 50 we see.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Who has the record for most consecutive games won on clay? Now that matches and sets are done, we need to check on that as a remedy to idleness problems.

 

[Moxie]

You caught me Moxie I watched three games last night on tennis channel...LoL..He looks unbeatable and in peak form. Nothing the rest of the field can do about it. My only question is how does he sustain this level playing with so many consecutive clay tournaments leading up to Paris? It's astonishing. As for the naming I did read that it was proposed that Basel change it's name to Federer but they decided to wait until he retires.

Lol, Marty...it's hard for a tennis fan not to at least keep half an eye out, I get that. It's worth keeping in mind that Nadal has probably never come into the European clay swing so rested, since he didn't play between AO and MC. He is looking rested and confident. I hope he assesses his freshness and body before deciding about Madrid/Rome. Skipping either will drop him back to #2, but the important thing is to protect his defense of RG. Additionally, he will be more rested than he has been going into Wimbledon, especially if he skips a tournament.

 

[britbox]

You caught me Moxie I watched three games last night on tennis channel...LoL..He looks unbeatable and in peak form. Nothing the rest of the field can do about it. My only question is how does he sustain this level playing with so many consecutive clay tournaments leading up to Paris? It's astonishing. As for the naming I did read that it was proposed that Basel change it's name to Federer but they decided to wait until he retires.

Help us Stefanos Tsitsipas, you're our only hope...

 

[Moxie]

Help us Stefanos Tsitsipas, you're our only hope...

:lulz2: Good one, BB. Wow, and I was worried that I was bandwagoning Tsitsipas. I would say, though, that he probably has the best chance of anyone left in the draw. He's very close to his goal for this year of breaking into the top 50, which I think he will do if he beats PCB tomorrow.

 

[the AntiPusher]

It's not that cut and dried, but it was similar with Gaudio. The 2004 RG final was a line of demarcation, in a way. The last time, to date, that two pure clay-courters disputed the RG final. The result crushed Gaudio, though it took a little time for the effects to be seen, and it didn't do Gaudio any favors, either. To the extent that most of us care, it was effectively the end of both of their careers. Nadal swept in the next year, and everything was different. In a way, it was rather as quaint as Vinci and Pannetta playing each other in the USO final a few years back. It was the last time that a men's Major looked even vaguely provincial.

I think you meant to say the loss crushed Coria ..Coria 's frail body wasnt able to endure the grueling ATP tour schedule. When he faced the last of the super teen agers, Rafa..his career was over.

 

[Moxie]

I think you meant to say the loss crushed Coria ..Coria 's frail body wasnt able to endure the grueling ATP tour schedule. When he faced the last of the super teen agers, Rafa..his career was over.

Yes, that's what I meant to say. It has always seemed odd how both went away after that final, though.

 

[Carol]

Why the Roger’s fans have the desire to see Rafa losing in this tournament? Roger is not playing!...but maybe because the #1? who cares, to me the most important thing is that he keeps healthy, skipping at least ONE tournament, winning the RG, going to the grass season more rested than the previous years and playing much better in Wimbledon

 

[herios]

:lulz2: Good one, BB. Wow, and I was worried that I was bandwagoning Tsitsipas. I would say, though, that he probably has the best chance of anyone left in the draw. He's very close to his goal for this year of breaking into the top 50, which I think he will do if he beats PCB tomorrow.

Let's not exagerate. Until a few weeks back really nobody talked about Tsitsipas, less me when I was putting out the new career highs, but that is not bandwagoning, just a statistic statement.
Now that one or two posters are commenting positevely about him, is that already "bandwagoning"?
I saw nothing exaggerated until britbox called him "only hope"...lol

 

[Carol]

My goodness, watching the replay that 4-5 wan’t suitable for cardiac

 

[mrzz]

Until a few weeks back really nobody talked about Tsitsipas

Actually you, me and @El Dude had a conversation about him as early as October, 2016 (1.5 years ago). 6 months before that El Dude included him in some of his young hopes lists. (you can do wonders with the search tool).

 

[Moxie]

Why the Roger’s fans have the desire to see Rafa losing in this tournament? Roger is not playing!...but maybe because the #1? who cares, to me the most important thing is that he keeps healthy, skipping at least ONE tournament, winning the RG, going to the grass season more rested than the previous years and playing much better in Wimbledon

Oh, come on, Carol...you know better by now. Britbox was being funny, but Darth isn't. It's actually a compliment that Roger fans fear Nadal so much.

 

[DarthFed]

Why the Roger’s fans have the desire to see Rafa losing in this tournament? Roger is not playing!...but maybe because the #1? who cares, to me the most important thing is that he keeps healthy, skipping at least ONE tournament, winning the RG, going to the grass season more rested than the previous years and playing much better in Wimbledon

We want Rafa back where he belongs, #2. That's his favorite and deserved spot.

 

[herios]

Actually you, me and @El Dude had a conversation about him as early as October, 2016 (1.5 years ago). 6 months before that El Dude included him in some of his young hopes lists. (you can do wonders with the search tool).

We did, but only as a potential player to make some mark in the future. I know myself, I never start gushing about the next gen. Players, because we never know how they turn out.