[Blog] Has Rafa Improved Since he was 19?

[isabelle]

Nadal is the new Tommy Hilfigger's ambassador (underbriefs ???)

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Personally, I have to say I liked Rafa's backhand before 2009 better than the version he has after. It is like he uses it just to keep the rally going. It used to be a weapon. It used to ask questions, probe...

If it has not regressed, it has stagnated. I am leaning towards regression though.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Personally, I have to say I liked Rafa's backhand before 2009 better than the version he has after. It is like he uses it just to keep the rally going. It used to be a weapon. It used to ask questions, probe...

If it has not regressed, it has stagnated. I am leaning towards regression though.

Mid 2008 to mid 2009 was the peak of Rafa's backhand. It has since regressed, but is still better than what it was before. So it's an improvement over 2005-early 2008 but a regression from mid 2008-2009 pre injury.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Personally, I have to say I liked Rafa's backhand before 2009 better than the version he has after. It is like he uses it just to keep the rally going. It used to be a weapon. It used to ask questions, probe...

If it has not regressed, it has stagnated. I am leaning towards regression though.

Mid 2008 to mid 2009 was the peak of Rafa's backhand. It has since regressed, but is still better than what it was before. So it's an improvement over 2005-early 2008 but a regression from mid 2008-2009 pre injury.

I agree with that.

 

[shawnbm]

I agree with Broken and Murat on that as well. It does seem as though his BH has become more pedestrian stroke in and stroke out over the last three years.

 

[Front242]

I much preferred his flatter forehand in his early days, especially in that match against Hewitt at the AO '2004. While there's no denying it's more effective now I'm just talking aesthetically I preferred it better 10 years ago. You can see here he hit plenty of loopy ones with higher net clearance too but threw in more flatter aggressive forehands also that he does less these days.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nE3Z_mWI6Ik[/video]

 

[the AntiPusher]

I much preferred his flatter forehand in his early days, especially in that match against Hewitt at the AO '2004. While there's no denying it's more effective now I'm just talking aesthetically I preferred it better 10 years ago. You can see here he hit plenty of loopy ones with higher net clearance too but threw in more flatter aggressive forehands also that hit does less these days.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nE3Z_mWI6Ik[/video]

Thanks Front..

 

[Carol]

I would like to know what player has improved his game more than Rafa.......

 

[Kieran]

Welcome to the forum, Carol! Good post...

 

[Front242]

^ Federer was a slower starter than Nadal for one in terms of age. Just check their results early in their careers. Nadal may have taken longer to improve on all surfaces but he won his first slam at 19 compared to 22 for Federer so it took him longer to improve to become good enough to win a slam.

 

[Kieran]

Federer won his first slam aged 21, and the thread concerns his game, not his results. I think Rafa came further, in terms of changing his game to win slams on all surfaces...

 

[Front242]

^ I said the same that it took Nadal longer to win on all surfaces but equally so he had won 3 slams by age 22 so in that regard he was a faster starter than Federer.

 

[Kieran]

^ I said the same that it took Nadal longer to win on all surfaces but equally so he had won 3 slams by age 22 so in that regard he was a faster starter than Federer.

He was faster at winning, but he still made much greater improvements to his game. In 2005, he was still a "one-dimensioal moonballer", or whatever Wodger called him...

 

[Carol]

Welcome to the forum, Carol! Good post...

Thanks Kieran!

 

[Kieran]

Welcome to the forum, Carol! Good post...

Thanks Kieran!

You're welcome...

 

[Haelfix]

In terms of skillset learned, Rafa definitely improved his game more than any tennis player i've ever seen. He came into the league with unreal movement, great defensive instincts and a top tier albeit one dimensional forehand and pretty much nothing else. No serve, no return, no backhand, no slice, no offensive court sense or point construction etc

Roger already had a very well rounded game when he entered the league. Big serve, great net work and touch, a moderatedly effective baseline game from both wings and athleticism.

The latter improved a lot (more than most), but Rafa basically added elements from zero.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Welcome to Tennis Frontier Carol35,I take it you are a Rafa fan,the more the merrier here at TF.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Welcome to Tennis Frontier Carol35,I take it you are a Rafa fan,the more the merrier here at TF.

I think she should be banned as soon as possible....


Welcome Carol35

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Welcome to Tennis Frontier Carol35,I take it you are a Rafa fan,the more the merrier here at TF.

I think she should be banned as soon as possible....

.....


Welcome Carol35

 

[Carol]

Welcome to Tennis Frontier Carol35,I take it you are a Rafa fan,the more the merrier here at TF.

Thanks fashionista, I'm Rafa's fan forever and ever :lolz: