Barcelona Open 2019, Spain, ATP 500

[GameSetAndMath]

I want e-surance break.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

overcooked it

 

[the AntiPusher]

Thiem is the heir apparent to the clay throne..I am a big fan of his game... however I don't want him to beat my top DAWG like the Night King vs Jon Snow.. come on Rafa fight

 

[Federberg]

it's getting to the point where even clay might not be a sanctuary for Rafa anymore. This is stunning to watch. His incremental progression continues

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I got to leave. Hope Thiem finishes off in straight sets.

Except for the very first game of second set, Thiem had easy holds and so should finish it off.

 

[tented]

I should have carried tree trunks through the forest when I was young.

 

[tented]

I have a feeling Rafa isn’t going to hold.

 

[the AntiPusher]

it's getting to the point where even clay might not be a sanctuary for Rafa anymore. This is stunning to watch. His incremental progression continues

Huh..he just made it to the AO final without a warm up tourney..you are a bit prematurely trying to send Rafa into retirement

 

[GameSetAndMath]

That serve and volley was fun!

One more game to wrap it up.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I have a feeling Rafa isn’t going to hold.

He will I feel hold.but just like Madrid last year Dominic is just out playing him

 

[Federberg]

Huh..he just made it to the AO finsl without a warm up tourney..you are a bit prematurely trying to send Rafa into retirement

not at all. That's not what I'm saying. No matter how the rest of the season has gone (and it's not been a terrible one) we always say that when Rafa gets back to the red dirt he can re-set and regain his confidence. These first two tournaments are starting to put that to the question. That was my only point. No question Rafa is still a boss, but like with Federer it's getting harder and harder to hide

 

[tented]

And can anyone justify Moya’s continued presence?

 

[tented]

He will I feel hold.but just like Madrid last year Dominic is just out playing him

I’m so glad I was wrong!

 

[the AntiPusher]

not at all. That's not what I'm saying. No matter how the rest of the season has gone (and it's not been a terrible one) we always say that when Rafa gets back to the red dirt he can re-set and regain his confidence. These first two tournaments are starting to put that to the question. That was my only point. No question Rafa is still a boss, but like with Federer it's getting harder and harder to hide

No, I disagree..There no one whom ever played was gonna defeat Novak at the AO final..just like RG 08. Nobody whom ever lived was gonna defeat Rafa..Again winning Barcelona for the 12th time would be great but it's not the GOAL

 

[tented]

Thiem showing some nerves. And Rafa actually hit a FH winner!

 

[kskate2]

@tented I don't know how much of this you can blame on Moya. Nadal is older and the other guys have gotten better and closed the gap a little. He can't win everything and with that said he still has chances to win 2 other tournaments. Besides, he hasn't been dethroned at RG yet. Someone still needs to beat him consistently at BO5 at RG.

 

[Federberg]

No, I disagree..There no one whom ever played was gonna defeat Novak at the AO final..just like RG 08. Nobody whom ever lived was gonna defeat Rafa..Again winning Barcelona for the 12th time would be great but it's not the GOAL

Interesting... what I saw was a terrible performance from Rafa, not an especially brilliant one from Novak. To my mind that match was a mental one, and the match up against Novak is finally breaking Rafa down. Nothing all time about Novak's performance in my view

 

[Federberg]

Wow! Clutch serve there

 

[tented]

@tented I don't know how much of this you can blame on Moya. Nadal is older and the other guys have gotten better and closed the gap a little. He can't win everything and with that said he still has chances to win 2 other tournaments. Besides, he hasn't been dethroned at RG yet. Someone still needs to beat him consistently at BO5 at RG.

But we haven’t seen any significant improvements, such as what Roger has done with his BH.

I’ve always had the feeling Moya is only there because he’s from Majorca.

 

[tented]

Congrats to Thiem!