Barcelona Open 2018, ATP 500

[Murat Baslamisli]

Saw a bit of the Greek guy's match. He looked impressive, but he was totally gassed at the end, no? I can see him making it competitive in the first set but losing, and then getting bagelled in the second.
What is with the names of the next gen kids by the way? All tough to pronounce...Shapovalov, Kokk, Tstisipas, Auger etc? They all need nicknames.

 

[Moxie]

If sitsipas had a 2HBH, he would've had a chance. 1HBH has no chance vs Wafa on clay unless it's probably Kuerten.

You should read back at some of @mrzz 's posts on the 1HBH v. Nadal. The Greek is 6'4", which gives him some advantage over the spin into his bh, though I do expect Rafa to try to exploit it.

 

[Moxie]

Saw a bit of the Greek guy's match. He looked impressive, but he was totally gassed at the end, no? I can see him making it competitive in the first set but losing, and then getting bagelled in the second.
What is with the names of the next gen kids by the way? All tough to pronounce...Shapovalov, Kokk, Tstisipas, Auger etc? They all need nicknames.

I agree that Tsitsipas needs a nickname. We do have "Shapo" and "FAA." I have not been a fan of the one currently used for Kokkinakis, but he's a tough one.
I agree that Stephanos will likely have run out of gas and ideas in the final tomorrow, but I will be pulling for him, going forward. (Except v Nadal at RG.)

 

[brokenshoelace]

Personally, I thought his best match and form was against Thiem at MC. Goffin pressed him today in the first, and Rafa was hitting the ball a bit short, at times, demonstrating nerves. But Goffin couldn't keep up what he was doing and completely lost heart, while Rafa stepped it up.

Like I said I didn't see the match so I was going by strictly the highlights. What impressed me is it seemed like Goffin was taking it to him early on, and Nadal just took him out of his game purely by out-hitting him. Obviously by the second set it looked like Goffin was completely done and more errors were flying in, but it was good to see Rafa fight fire with fire.

The Thiem win was against a theoretically more dangerous opponent, and obviously it was a more dominant display so I agree there.

 

[brokenshoelace]

All I know about Stefanos is I saw a video of him on Youtube where his opponent wanted to beat him up.

 

[Moxie]

Like I said I didn't see the match so I was going by strictly the highlights. What impressed me is it seemed like Goffin was taking it to him early on, and Nadal just took him out of his game purely by out-hitting him. Obviously by the second set it looked like Goffin was completely done and more errors were flying in, but it was good to see Rafa fight fire with fire.

The Thiem win was against a theoretically more dangerous opponent, and obviously it was a more dominant display so I agree there.

Goffin is good on clay, and he started the same way v. Nadal last year at MC. He takes the ball early. He hits great angles and just makes amazing shots. However, probably because he's not as strong as Rafa, and small, he can't sustain that level.

 

[Carol]

Tsitsipas says: "since I was a little boy my dream was to play vs Nadal"

And about Goffin.... after to watch the replay I've seen he started to play the match with the only way they can beat Nadal on clay, with a very good physical, very aggressive which sometimes takes a lot of risk, a lot of coordination and if Nadal is not on fire. Little by little Goffin was losing all those conditions and more after to finish the first set, in the second he was completely lost without find any solution. Rafa is playing really well same around the baseline and coming up to the net, he is moving well, his BH is better than ever, his serve is not perfect but is working enough effective. Maybe he could lose tomorrow or in the next tournament but right now he is on fire though I hope and insist that he should think twice before to play in Roma or Madrid

 

[the AntiPusher]

Tsitsipas says: "since I was a little boy my dream was to play vs Nadal"

And about Goffin.... after to watch the replay I've seen he started to play the match with the only way they can beat Nadal on clay, with a very good physical, very aggressive which sometimes takes a lot of risk, a lot of coordination and if Nadal is not on fire. Little by little Goffin was losing all those conditions and more after to finish the first set, in the second he was completely lost without find any solution. Rafa is playing really well same around the baseline and coming up to the net, he is moving well, his BH is better than ever, his serve is not perfect but is working enough effective. Maybe he could lose tomorrow or in the next tournament but right now he is on fire though I hope and insist that he should think twice before to play in Roma or Madrid

"His dream was to play Rafa "..his dream may turn into a nightmare if Rafa plays his A game.

 

[kskate2]

McFly did as well as he could today. He's been down a set in all his matches and had to go 3 to advance. He was probably out of gas by the 2nd set when he saw what kind of effort it was going to take to not eat a bagel by Nadal.

 

[britbox]

The unknown factor with Tsitsipas keeps the final faintly interesting. If PCB had made it then they might as well have inscribed the trophy yesterday.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa got his 400th win on clay today. View attachment 1769

Let Rafa win more matches on clay than Guillermo Vilas and then I will surely agree that he is the best ever on Clay.

 

[Moxie]

Let Rafa win more matches on clay than Guillermo Vilas and then I will surely agree that he is the best ever on Clay.

Who was it told me off recently for mentioning Vilas amongst the best on clay, because they said he'd just loaded up on crappy tournaments?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The kid is already finding out he has to hit 5-6 winner quality shots to get one point on clay against Rafa.

 

[Carol]

Who was it told me off recently for mentioning Vilas amongst the best on clay, because they said he'd just loaded up on crappy tournaments?

Vilas played a bunch of ATP 250 on clay during his whole career.....

 

[Carol]

Rafa is almost ready to the traditional jump to the pool

 

[Moxie]

I'm sure Tsitsipas would have preferred that his first match v. Nadal hadn't been on clay, and in a final at Barcelona. He had a great week, though, and will reach around 44 tomorrow. Also, this was his first ATP final. Coming along nicely.

 

[DarthFed]

Mr. Blue-Collar took my favorite Winston Churchill quote and shoved it up Stefanos' arse.

Good week for the young Greek nonetheless. As for Nads I had the feeling he'd gain points from last year's clay season, the competition has only gotten worse really. Is it grass season yet??

 

[the AntiPusher]

Vilas played a bunch of ATP 250 on clay during his whole career.....

Carol , Vilas played against me when I was 10 year old for our local clay court championship final ..I was able to win a game because he double faulted 3 times in a row.

My point is how many of those matches were legitimate

 

[the AntiPusher]

The unknown factor with Tsitsipas keeps the final faintly interesting. If PCB had made it then they might as well have inscribed the trophy yesterday.

Britbox..are you getting royalties from that hoisting provider using your name.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa is almost ready to the traditional jump to the pool

Yes..it is..time for me to go pick an argument with my good friend Kieran about ole Rafa’s stuff.