Bet-At-Home Open Hamburg

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa - Nando just starting! Zoom your TV.

 

[Kirijax]

Sounds like they are playing in a cavern.

 

[Kirijax]

Verdasco breaks again for a 4-2 lead. Playing well. Nadal's short forehand letting Verdasco go for his shots.

 

[Puppet Master]

Nadal's rally forehand looks more like a dropshot now, judging by how short he is placing it. I am done with watching this match then.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I am not watching at work, but looks like Rafa woke up a bit in the second, or Nando just fell asleep?

 

[Kirijax]

I am not watching at work, but looks like Rafa woke up a bit in the second, or Nando just fell asleep?

Nadal won a 12-minute game to hold serve at the opening of the 2nd set and that got him going it seems. Playing better.

 

[Kirijax]

Verdasco letting too many chances pass by. Nadal since the 2nd set is fighting like the dickens to keep Verdasco from breaking. I think Nadal has this one. Does anyone feel that Nadal could go all the way now? Strange but this may be his toughest match in this tournament. Unless he meets F3 in the final of course.

 

[Fiero425]

Verdasco letting too many chances pass by. Nadal since the 2nd set is fighting like the dickens to keep Verdasco from breaking. I think Nadal has this one. Does anyone feel that Nadal could go all the way now? Strange but this may be his toughest match in this tournament. Unless he meets F3 in the final of course.

How the mighty have fallen! These are "some" standards being recognized for Nadal! :cover :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I did not watch the match. But, Judging by the scoreline of 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, I would say Rafa is back on groove after some initial jitters may be.

 

[Carol]

Nadal playing matches is doing like me at work, we start sloooowly :snicker :cover

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr1WvdsL73o[/video]

 

[the AntiPusher]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr1WvdsL73o[/video]

Thanks Pavlik, you are a genius. Gang, from what I could see Rafa is still hitting his returns of both services and ground strokes even shorter then anytime I could recall. I think that means he isn't moving as quickly before, it's apparently clear that he has lost a step. Any thoughts or am I being to critical.

 

[Puppet Master]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr1WvdsL73o[/video]

Thanks Pavlik, you are a genius. Gang, from what I could see Rafa is still hitting his returns of both services and ground strokes even shorter then anytime I could recall. I think that means he isn't moving as quickly before, it's apparently clear that he has lost a step. Any thoughts or am I being to critical.

No no, you are spot on with your assessment. That, and the fact that even when he goes for it, as in, hitting an aggressive forehand, in 50% of the cases I am sitting there thingking, man I could hit "bigger" than that. And these issues aren't going away anytime soon I am afraid, with the US Open being just around the corner.

 

[Moose]

Did anyone else hear Marion "Einstein" Bartoli chime in on what is wrong with Rafa?

“When you play against him [Nadal] the ball is 25 kilometres per hour slower, the opponent doesn’t have the same difficulty to play,” she told Perform.

“When he serves, he can’t go beyond 115 miles per hour.

“He is exposed in every return.

“There is an [solution] and his team need to find it because it’s vital for him.”

http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2015-07-28/20174.php

 

[Moose]

I know Benoit is hot right now, but I can't help but feel that we have entered the twilight of Kohli's career. Which saddens me, because he is among my all time favorite ATP players.

 

[Puppet Master]

Apparently the whole TF forum must have an IQ above Einstein's, seeing as we've been talking about that lack of power for a year now, excluding his FO performance last year.

 

[Fiero425]

I know Benoit is hot right now, but I can't help but feel that we have entered the twilight of Kohli's career. Which saddens me, because he is among my all time favorite ATP players.

Every time I look up I see Kohl's name in a draw! I think he had a reasonably good summer; unfortunately playing Murray back to back in a final and then Andy's first match in the next tourney IIRC was Madrid! He consistently got to where he should it seems; semi's & finals in smaller events! :clap :angel:

 

[Moose]

Apparently the whole TF forum must have an IQ above Einstein's, seeing as we've been talking about that lack of power for a year now, excluding his FO performance last year.

You do know the story behind Marion's connection to Einstein, Puppet Master, yes?

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/03/bartoli-reports-having-genius-level-iq/28412/#.VbfJHvlViko

 

[Moose]

I know Benoit is hot right now, but I can't help but feel that we have entered the twilight of Kohli's career. Which saddens me, because he is among my all time favorite ATP players.

Every time I look up I see Kohl's name in a draw! I think he had a reasonably good summer; unfortunately playing Murray back to back in a final and then Andy's first match in the next tourney IIRC was Madrid! He consistently got to where he should it seems; semi's & finals in smaller events! :clap :angel:

He's fallen out of the top 40, and Wimbledon was the first tournament in some time (I believe) that he was not seeded. He will be 32 this year, which, while not over the hill, is certainly a point where you begin to lose a step (if you name is not Ferrer). and he's had an awful year at Slams, with 1 1st R, and 2 2nd Round exits so far this year.

He's a solid hardcourt player, so perhaps the summer swing through the US will give him a chance to raise his rankings.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RnNzGo3Owg[/video]