Barcelona Open, Barcelona, Spain, ATP 500

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa ties Vilas most clay court titles in Open Era (49) including 9 at Barcelona,MC Rolex Masters and Roland Garos

Congratulations Rafa!

 

[brokenshoelace]

On one hand, I have to admit, it's actually impressive that Rafa beat one of the best players in the world despite his backhand being off, his serve being extremely harmless, and returning like garbage. We take it for granted, but in a way, this shows how good some of these guys are. Nadal wasn't even close to his best for the past two weeks, yet he's beaten Murray, Wawrinka, Monfils and Nishikori, winning two important titles. This is good for the confidence because last year, he was losing these matches, even on clay.

On the other hand, his backhand is off, his serve is harmless, and he's returning like garbage... His forehand has been good, and I'm really impressed with the way he's moving. But there's been some poor decision making. Whenever he actually pulled the trigger on his inside out forehand, he almost always won the point. Yet, on almost every mid court ball, he chose to go cross court, and paid for it, including on some key points.

The biggest problem of course, is the fact that he just doesn't get any easy service holds. He has to fight off multiple break points routinely, and the only reason it hasn't cost him yet is because he's in all of his opponents' service games himself. So he's basically winning matches by breaking his opponents more than they break him, which sounds simple and natural, except he's getting broken A LOT. You just can't always get away with that.

Nevertheless, credit where it's due, he's won Monte Carlo and Barcelona without really ever being in trouble or looking in danger of losing a match, despite not being at his best. That's gotta count for something, especially in light of how grim things were looking not too long ago.

 

[Billie]

That was a tight match, congrats to Rafa!!! He looks like his old self.

I am sorry I missed live chat.

 

[Moxie]

On one hand, I have to admit, it's actually impressive that Rafa beat one of the best players in the world despite his backhand being off, his serve being extremely harmless, and returning like garbage. We take it for granted, but in a way, this shows how good some of these guys are. Nadal wasn't even close to his best for the past two weeks, yet he's beaten Murray, Wawrinka, Monfils and Nishikori, winning two important titles. This is good for the confidence because last year, he was losing these matches, even on clay.

On the other hand, his backhand is off, his serve is harmless, and he's returning like garbage... His forehand has been good, and I'm really impressed with the way he's moving. But there's been some poor decision making. Whenever he actually pulled the trigger on his inside out forehand, he almost always won the point. Yet, on almost every mid court ball, he chose to go cross court, and paid for it, including on some key points.

The biggest problem of course, is the fact that he just doesn't get any easy service holds. He has to fight off multiple break points routinely, and the only reason it hasn't cost him yet is because he's in all of his opponents' service games himself. So he's basically winning matches by breaking his opponents more than they break him, which sounds simple and natural, except he's getting broken A LOT. You just can't always get away with that.

Nevertheless, credit where it's due, he's won Monte Carlo and Barcelona without really ever being in trouble or looking in danger of losing a match, despite not being at his best. That's gotta count for something, especially in light of how grim things were looking not too long ago.

Fair assessment, Broken. For sure, there's a lot to clean up. I was a bit worried about Nishikori, thinking of Madrid a couple of years ago. And I absolutely thought this would be a 3-setter, so that was a bonus. As you say, he's beaten some top guys, but not faced the gorilla on tour in the clay season, and current form won't get it done. But focus and belief seems to be back, so there's hope for best of 5 in RG.

 

[calitennis127]

On one hand, I have to admit, it's actually impressive that Rafa beat one of the best players in the world despite his backhand being off, his serve being extremely harmless, and returning like garbage. We take it for granted, but in a way, this shows how good some of these guys are. Nadal wasn't even close to his best for the past two weeks, yet he's beaten Murray, Wawrinka, Monfils and Nishikori, winning two important titles. This is good for the confidence because last year, he was losing these matches, even on clay.

On the other hand, his backhand is off, his serve is harmless, and he's returning like garbage... His forehand has been good, and I'm really impressed with the way he's moving. But there's been some poor decision making. Whenever he actually pulled the trigger on his inside out forehand, he almost always won the point. Yet, on almost every mid court ball, he chose to go cross court, and paid for it, including on some key points.

Why was his backhand off today? And when has his serve ever been a serious weapon?

I am sure you are shocked that at this age Nadal is still able to play well and that he was able to outlast that great stamina monster named Gael Monfils last week.

 

[Moxie]

Nice to see you back, Cali. His serve was a weapon at the 2010 USO. Mostly he handles it with placement, not pace, when it's working. For the record, that's what Roger does, just better.

 

[Carol]

Congrats Rafa!

Very good article

https://thetennisbase.com/?enlace=noticias&accion=detalle&codigo=5232

Sorry, the article was better and longer in Spanish but the translation in English doesn't say too much

 

[brokenshoelace]

Why was his backhand off today? And when has his serve ever been a serious weapon?

I am sure you are shocked that at this age Nadal is still able to play well and that he was able to outlast that great stamina monster named Gael Monfils last week.

lol wut? This is a serious post? You're right in that his serve was only a serious weapon in literally one tournament, but for most of his career, it was never the garbage serve we're seeing now. In fact Cali, how many times, in your attempts to enlighten us all as to what makes Nadal a great player (and it's certainly not his talent, according to you) have praised his serving? You have continuously went on and on about how smart he is with his serve and how effective it is (with the exception of that one lucky ace in the 2013 US Open final, of course), only to now contradict yourself (a first for you, I'm sure).

As to why his backhand was off, it's because I watched the match. If you did, you would have spotted that as well. If you did and still failed to spot that, then it's not worth having this conversation. The amount of times he stepped up on a short ball with his backhand and try to flatten out his CC backhand only to miss hit the ball is a pretty good indicator of his backhand being off.

Why would I be shocked at Nadal's level? I never ever said he was done. In fact, if you take the time to read, you can see my replies to Samson's doom and gloom. Sometimes I wonder why do I even bother responding to your nonsense.

 

[Moxie]

That's a good one, Broken. I'd forgotten how much Cali has praised Nadal's serve pct. as one of his ways of *sneaking out* matches. He's grumpy because Nadal is winning again, and may be finding his form.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

rafa/wafa's ninepeat in Barcelona.

 

[Moxie]

Nice of you to go for the Drum-and-Banana Corps, JLLB. I know he's not your favorite. Why do folks call him "Wafa?"

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Nice of you to go for the Drum-and-Banana Corps, JLLB. I know he's not your favorite. Why do folks call him "Wafa?"

you don't know that at all. what you think you know is wrong. miss wrong of wronghampton.

 

[Moxie]

you don't know that at all. what you think you know is wrong. miss wrong of wronghampton.

Forgive me, then.

Signed,
Miss Wrong of Wronghampton
Chairwoman of Many Things Wrong (or Mistaken, except when they're not)
Waffle Queen of Wafa
"We are Waffle, except when it comes to Rafa, and we never waiver." (Our Motto)

 

[Moxie]

I wish I'd said, "we never wafer." That would have been a "sweet" pun.

 

[britbox]