China Open

[Kieran]

Rafa's celebrating this one. Tremendous dtl bh pass won it. Shake hands with the ballboy too, ya messer! The kids were great and he should never have been cranky with them. "Banana!" The bag was beside you, Ralphy, just reach over, ya know? :nono

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^ drama queen rafa..??

did captain vamos really bark out "Banana" to a ballboy ??, uncool goings on ?..I think so.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Another warning down the same end and Rafa is furious with the ballboys. "They're slow and I'm tryna go fast. Doesn't matter!" Ordered some fresh water from room service and barked at the kid who handed him one, then he lifted the lid off the fridge and pointed at another bottle: "red one, red one!"

He's fired up, but shouldn't be blaming the kids! He gets these warnings elsewhere too, and it's him who's at fault. He has two now, I think, and I wonder what the next one will mean. Forfeit the point?

Its him who's at fault? The umpires have given Nadal warnings despite the delay being the ball-pickers inability to transfer the balls. That is the fault of the umpire and the ball-pickers, not Nadal. And I'm not sure if other players are treated this way, or if the umpire is trigger-happy because its Nadal.

 

[Kieran]

^^ drama queen rafa..??

did captain vamos really bark out "Banana" to a ballboy ??, uncool goings on ?..I think so.

Yeah. For about 3 successive changes he was cranky and tetchy. Blamed the ballboy for the warnings he got for being slow between points. Refused towels that were placed for him, then turned on a ballboy who gave him water - he wanted the bottle with the red label instead and almost tore the door off the freezer to show the kid.

Then he muttered "banana" with the same intensity he brings to baseline fist pumps. His bag was literally a small lean to the side away from him... uzzled

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

 

[Kieran]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

:huh: Djokovic is the world #1...

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

:huh: Djokovic is the world #1...

That's my point. Nadal has been having to hear that all year, despite Djokovic looking like the world number two for the last 6 months. That's got to frustrating. And this week, is the end of that, so you can understand why he might be on edge.

 

[Kieran]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

:huh: Djokovic is the world #1...

That's my point. Nadal has been having to hear that all year, despite Djokovic looking like the world number two for the last 6 months. That's got to frustrating. And this week, is the end of that, so you can understand why he might be on edge.

You don't think he'd have been more frustrated when he was out for seven months? fact is, the rankings don't lie - Rafa knows that as much as anyone...

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Huh? Nadal is over the 7 month absence frustration. The 7 month absence frustration ended this year in March.

Nadal knows that as much as anyone? Of course, the rankings are there on the ATP site and the tennis channel. Everybody knows it. My point is, when you win 10 titles in 6 months and still hear the other kid being referred to as 'number one', I'm pretty sure it would feel frustrating/annoying.

 

[DarthFed]

Lol, the clown somehow equates this to the frustration of being referred to as the ranking he is at this Mickey Mouse tournament. Someone is searching for attention...

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

This is extremely irrelevant. How on earth does that justify being rude to ball boys?

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^ drama queen rafa..??

did captain vamos really bark out "Banana" to a ballboy ??, uncool goings on ?..I think so.

Yeah. For about 3 successive changes he was cranky and tetchy. Blamed the ballboy for the warnings he got for being slow between points. Refused towels that were placed for him, then turned on a ballboy who gave him water - he wanted the bottle with the red label instead and almost tore the door off the freezer to show the kid.

Then he muttered "banana" with the same intensity he brings to baseline fist pumps. His bag was literally a small lean to the side away from him... uzzled

lol wut :nono the ballboy/girl should've said.."eh..how do you expect ME to know Where YOU keep your bananas".

rafa/wafa's lopsided frown and wild eyebrows would be working overtime. lot

 

[Kieran]

lol wut :nono the ballboy/girl should've said.."eh..how do you expect ME to know Where YOU keep your bananas".

rafa/wafa's lopsided frown and wild eyebrows would be working overtime. lot

They must be trained in banana hunting cos the kid went straight to the bag and ripped off a banana. What they really should have said was, "eh, what did your last slave die from? You can get your own freaking bananas!" :wave

 

[Iona16]

I'd be cranky too if I had to watch Djokovic being referred to as "world number one" while I'm winning 10 titles.

:huh: Djokovic is the world #1...

That's my point. Nadal has been having to hear that all year, despite Djokovic looking like the world number two for the last 6 months. That's got to frustrating. And this week, is the end of that, so you can understand why he might be on edge.

I'm pretty sure it bothers you more than it bothers Rafa. At this precise moment Novak is no.1. in the ATP world rankings. That is just a fact. It will be Rafa again soon enough.

Rafa was obviously a bit cranky today but I'm pretty sure that it had absolutely nothing to do with Novak being referred to as the world no.1.

 

[Moxie]

He started with the fake injury timeouts, illegal coaching, etc. long before Wimbledon 2008. The whining about the schedule, his knees, and the constant excuses actually came later on.

Not to get into a question over "fake," but what injury TOs are you even remembering? I've got blisters v. Ferrero in Rome in 2008. And I don't remember hearing about coaching before 2009 or later. It's OK you don't like the guy, but you can't revise history. I don't remember any of those knocks coming against him before around 08-09, earliest. Feel free to remind me.

2006 Monte Carlo, 2008 Hamburg were matches where Rafa took MTO's out of nowhere, the former right after dropping a set and the latter came at 5-1 when he was getting his ass kicked. He showed no sign of injury before or after as he won both matches following the "unintentional" break of momentum.

And the coaching was constant since the get go. Everyone knows it but it's one of those things that is very rarely called now (and there is a lot of players getting on-court coaching).

Well, alright then. I won't look them up or debate them, but I'll put you in the category of "never liked Nadal, and didn't start inventing excuses to dislike him just because he was beating my guy."

You give me too little credit Moxie. I'm not petty enough to only dislike a player for beating Roger. There'd be a whole hell of a lot of players I'd hate the last few years, no? As a lesser example of players who are now beating Roger more often than not, I like Berdych and Djokovic.

I always think you're a fair person, Darth. And clearly I picked the wrong day to question how you feel about Rafa's behavior, and when you think that started. :s I didn't see the match, but have to trust Kieran's account, if Rafa was tetchy and rude to the ball kids. That, specifically, however, doesn't seem normal to me. I expect he'll get an earful from Toni.

^^ drama queen rafa..??

did captain vamos really bark out "Banana" to a ballboy ??, uncool goings on ?..I think so.

Yeah. For about 3 successive changes he was cranky and tetchy. Blamed the ballboy for the warnings he got for being slow between points. Refused towels that were placed for him, then turned on a ballboy who gave him water - he wanted the bottle with the red label instead and almost tore the door off the freezer to show the kid.

Then he muttered "banana" with the same intensity he brings to baseline fist pumps. His bag was literally a small lean to the side away from him... uzzled

This is aberrant behavior. I've never seen him act the way you describe. Overworked? Jet-lagged? The fact that Kohlscreiber pressures him, and he's got the stress to get to the final and #1? Whatever people think about his supposed "antics" and slow-play, I've never seen him abuse the ball kids. And he usually doesn't get flustered by a time-violation warning. But if he's pissing off a faithful like Kieran, I have to hope he cleans up his act next round, and going forward. :nono

 

[Riotbeard]

Huh? Nadal is over the 7 month absence frustration. The 7 month absence frustration ended this year in March.

Nadal knows that as much as anyone? Of course, the rankings are there on the ATP site and the tennis channel. Everybody knows it. My point is, when you win 10 titles in 6 months and still hear the other kid being referred to as 'number one', I'm pretty sure it would feel frustrating/annoying.

It's a blessing that Nadal is a mature adult, and respect what Novak has achieved. And just a reminder, 2 years ago rafa was trying to get a 2 year ranking system which would certainly leave him far from #1 with no reason to complain. When nadal gets number 1 (very soon), he will have earned it just like, Novak earned it for years. Be more like rafa please, show some respect.lease:

 

[zalvar]

Not to get into a question over "fake," but what injury TOs are you even remembering? I've got blisters v. Ferrero in Rome in 2008. And I don't remember hearing about coaching before 2009 or later. It's OK you don't like the guy, but you can't revise history. I don't remember any of those knocks coming against him before around 08-09, earliest. Feel free to remind me.

2006 Monte Carlo, 2008 Hamburg were matches where Rafa took MTO's out of nowhere, the former right after dropping a set and the latter came at 5-1 when he was getting his ass kicked. He showed no sign of injury before or after as he won both matches following the "unintentional" break of momentum.

And the coaching was constant since the get go. Everyone knows it but it's one of those things that is very rarely called now (and there is a lot of players getting on-court coaching).

Well, alright then. I won't look them up or debate them, but I'll put you in the category of "never liked Nadal, and didn't start inventing excuses to dislike him just because he was beating my guy."

You give me too little credit Moxie. I'm not petty enough to only dislike a player for beating Roger. There'd be a whole hell of a lot of players I'd hate the last few years, no? As a lesser example of players who are now beating Roger more often than not, I like Berdych and Djokovic.

I always think you're a fair person, Darth. And clearly I picked the wrong day to question how you feel about Rafa's behavior, and when you think that started. :s I didn't see the match, but have to trust Kieran's account, if Rafa was tetchy and rude to the ball kids. That, specifically, however, doesn't seem normal to me. I expect he'll get an earful from Toni.

^^ drama queen rafa..??

did captain vamos really bark out "Banana" to a ballboy ??, uncool goings on ?..I think so.

Yeah. For about 3 successive changes he was cranky and tetchy. Blamed the ballboy for the warnings he got for being slow between points. Refused towels that were placed for him, then turned on a ballboy who gave him water - he wanted the bottle with the red label instead and almost tore the door off the freezer to show the kid.

Then he muttered "banana" with the same intensity he brings to baseline fist pumps. His bag was literally a small lean to the side away from him... uzzled

This is aberrant behavior. I've never seen him act the way you describe. Overworked? Jet-lagged? The fact that Kohlscreiber pressures him, and he's got the stress to get to the final and #1? Whatever people think about his supposed "antics" and slow-play, I've never seen him abuse the ball kids. And he usually doesn't get flustered by a time-violation warning. But if he's pissing off a faithful like Kieran, I have to hope he cleans up his act next round, and going forward. :nono

I didn't get to watch Rafa's match against Kohls but .... regarding the ballpersons it does seem like the players are getting irritated with them. Serena was moaning today while waiting for a slow ballboy to pass her balls. And Venus had to actually call out to one after standing there waiting for 5 seconds and the ball guy wasn't looking at all ... plus having to to their "towel" sign so exaggerated is lol. Anyway, Kohls is a hard guy to play against ... must have added to the mood.

 

[Kieran]

Great win for Querry over Stan.

And Nole's match looks like a tussle. Anyone watching?

 

[NADAL2005RG]

It's a blessing that Nadal is a mature adult, and respect what Novak has achieved. And just a reminder, 2 years ago rafa was trying to get a year ranking system which would certainly leave him far from #1 with no reason to complain. When nadal gets number 1 (very soon), he will have earned it just like, Novak earned it for years. Be more like rafa please, show some respect.lease:

You aren't listening/reading. I never disputed that Djokovic was ranked #1 or that he'd earned it according to the ranking system. I said Djokovic had been playing like a #2 since March (only one title).

I'm pretty sure it bothers you more than it bothers Rafa. At this precise moment Novak is no.1. in the ATP world rankings. That is just a fact. It will be Rafa again soon enough.

Rafa was obviously a bit cranky today but I'm pretty sure that it had absolutely nothing to do with Novak being referred to as the world no.1.

Remember a few weeks ago a reporter asked Nadal if he thought he could regain the #1 ranking this year, and Nadal told them the exact numerical margin between him and Djokovic? Not even I knew the exact margin - I rarely ever look at the rankings - and when I do look I certainly don't memorize the margins. Nadal is very goal-driven, and plays to win and be the best, rather than just for the enjoyment. It would be foolish to rule out the possibility that Nadal would feel annoyed seeing Djokovic's name in front of his. I'm pretty sure that is the case.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Nadjok final is still alive, as Djokovic def. Verdasco 6-2 in the 3rd. China Open sure is living up to the hype, although Wawrinka is out.