China Open 500

[nehmeth]

I am not going by any fanboy logic, nor am I trying to downplay anyone, but ND is really getting outplayed a lot of times. His serve is out of this world right now. It seems as though Rafa is playing Karlovic, and this is precisely why the result is like this. Unbelievable.

Would have been nice if he had that serve in 2009 and 2010.

 

[Carol]

if Rafa would have the 2010 serve this would be a diferent story

 

[Fiero425]

When did China revert to just an exhibition tourney? That's what it looks like; neither taking it very seriously! I can understand Nole being bored and working this match as if it were routine, but Nadal looks all at sea; allowing even Djokovic's mishits to beat him and create errors! Amazing to see! ;-)

 

[Carol]

This is a gift "thanks" to the serve (hope not because the foot) . Rafa is going to lose this match but at least his game has improved a lot though his seve continues being a crap :nono :s

 

[Carol]

I don't take anything of Novak but besides he is serving and playing well he is also the most lucky guy of the tour so far :eyepop

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdJ_4HOi4lU[/video]

 

[nehmeth]

if Rafa would have the 2010 serve this would be a diferent story

:snicker Yep and there are reasons that he doesn't

 

[nehmeth]

Congratulations Novak!

(if Nadal can make it to another final Novak can even up the h2h)

 

[Kieran]

It's hard to take positives from such a one-sided score, but people whose judgment I trust have told me that Rafa looked sharper and more aggressive today. If so, it's small comfort. The score suggests his season of mediocrity has continued. Far too many gaps in his game since he came back in January. It's becoming habitual. But well done to Novak, I imagine it was an expert and clinical display...

 

[Carol]

Very poor final but even that ugly result Rafa is giving me a hope

 

[herios]

A logical outcome. Nole was not going to be challenged in his best ever tournament where he has never been defeated.
He kept Rafa at bay, I hope they will meet again soon, to finally straighten that H2H.

 

[Kieran]

A logical outcome. Nole was not going to be challenged in his best ever tournament where he has never been defeated.
He kept Rafa at bay, I hope they will meet again soon, to finally straighten that H2H.

Yeah, another few cheap wins against a Rafa looking for form after injury breaks would suit you well. I think Nole has about 7 wins this way, over the years. C'est la vie! I'd be looking for a more even match when Rafa gets better, if he ever does. At the moment it looks a long way off...

 

[Carol]

It's hard to take positives from such a one-sided score, but people whose judgment I trust have told me that Rafa looked sharper and more aggressive today. If so, it's small comfort. The score suggests his season of mediocrity has continued. Far too many gaps in his game since he came back in January. It's becoming habitual. But well done to Novak, I imagine it was an expert and clinical display...

His serve was horrible (hope his ankle is ok) which is the main thing in these surfaces but in the first set his game was much better than the result says. I don't know how he is going to finish the year but he wiil do well the next one, remember my words lot

 

[herios]

A logical outcome. Nole was not going to be challenged in his best ever tournament where he has never been defeated.
He kept Rafa at bay, I hope they will meet again soon, to finally straighten that H2H.

Yeah, another few cheap wins against a Rafa looking for form after injury breaks would suit you well. I think Nole has about 7 wins this way, over the years. C'est la vie! I'd be looking for a more even match when Rafa gets better, if he ever does. At the moment it looks a long way off...

You just have come up with another lame excuse. Now is not injured Rafa, but a subpar Rafa...
I am wondering what will be next
:laydownlaughing

 

[kskate2]

It's over already? That trophy is massive. :eyepop

 

[nehmeth]

It's hard to take positives from such a one-sided score, but people whose judgment I trust have told me that Rafa looked sharper and more aggressive today. If so, it's small comfort. The score suggests his season of mediocrity has continued. Far too many gaps in his game since he came back in January. It's becoming habitual. But well done to Novak, I imagine it was an expert and clinical display...

Nadal dictated a good bit of the match, had Novak backed off the baseline and was using his angles well. He's just not able to sustain it, and the explosiveness that used to be a hallmark of his game is only visible in spurts.

 

[Carol]

A logical outcome. Nole was not going to be challenged in his best ever tournament where he has never been defeated.
He kept Rafa at bay, I hope they will meet again soon, to finally straighten that H2H.

Remember, don't count your chickens before the hatch

 

[Kieran]

A logical outcome. Nole was not going to be challenged in his best ever tournament where he has never been defeated.
He kept Rafa at bay, I hope they will meet again soon, to finally straighten that H2H.

Yeah, another few cheap wins against a Rafa looking for form after injury breaks would suit you well. I think Nole has about 7 wins this way, over the years. C'est la vie! I'd be looking for a more even match when Rafa gets better, if he ever does. At the moment it looks a long way off...

You just have come up with another lame excuse. Now is not injured Rafa, but a subpar Rafa...
I am wondering what will be next
:laydownlaughing

I'm not sure where the excuse is, brother, it's kinda self-evident that Rafa has stunk all year since he came back. Hopefully next year he gets his game back and we see Nole hammer them easy overheads into the backstop in panic. Until then, to the victor the spoils! Enjoy it while it lasts, they won't be around forever...

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0gKSRxemgE[/video]

 

[Kieran]

It's hard to take positives from such a one-sided score, but people whose judgment I trust have told me that Rafa looked sharper and more aggressive today. If so, it's small comfort. The score suggests his season of mediocrity has continued. Far too many gaps in his game since he came back in January. It's becoming habitual. But well done to Novak, I imagine it was an expert and clinical display...

Nadal dictated a good bit of the match, had Novak backed off the baseline and was using his angles well. He's just not able to sustain it, and the explosiveness that used to be a hallmark of his game is only visible in spurts.

That seems to be it. He can't sustain the intensity, either physically or mentally. I'm not sure how players ever get that back...