Combination of things

[Federberg]

It was interesting listening to Pat Cash talk yesterday about what he thought is wrong with Rafa. He thinks that Rafa has a very serious technical issue with respect to his forehand. He believes that it's fixable, but he might have to rebuild the stroke. He doesn't think it's something that additional play is going to resolve. He didn't say it, but I got the impression the reason it isn't something that additional match time will fix is because his movement is not what it used to be. So he will have to construct a new stroke technique that accommodates his new reality.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Brown said himself, he wouldn't want to meet Nadal on any other surface.

When Ralf was playing Bellucci he had someone who gave him a consistent shot to hit and he handled the guy in three sets. Brown never gave him any rhythm and by the end of the match Rafa couldn't hit from either side on his groundstrokes.

This isn't bizarro Rafa, Kieran... seems a lot more like the beginning of old guy slide.

VT will play Dustin Brown differently, and then it will sink in how poor Rafa mentally of playing tennis these days is.Nehmeth is correct, Rafael looks like a ole player who can't figure out how to stay mentally tough for an match's entirety, IMO.

Players that play similarly to Brown's style can be found in almost any USTA open tournament or tennis facility in the US, I am quite sure that Brown will admit that. Rafa didn't have a Clue how to defeat this guy. There are big changes that needs to be implemented on Rafa mental approach to his match play.IMO

 

[El Dude]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

 

[Kieran]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I'm gonna answer this because I came in to reply to a pm. I've things to do, brother. I'm busy with a project and taking time off from slams gives me space to get my mind busy on other things. I'm watching the tennis - couple of losers indeed, with Grigor and Gasquet :cover - but I'm not going to post. I have something too important to keep on top of.

Enjoy it, bro, it's an entertaining one so far, and I'm enjoying it too, except for Groundhog Day. I know now why i always hated that film...

 

[Fiero425]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[El Dude]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I'm gonna answer this because I came in to reply to a pm. I've things to do, brother. I'm busy with a project and taking time off from slams gives me space to get my mind busy on other things. I'm watching the tennis - couple of losers indeed, with Grigor and Gasquet :cover - but I'm not going to post. I have something too important to keep on top of.

Enjoy it, bro, it's an entertaining one so far, and I'm enjoying it too, except for Groundhog Day. I know now why i always hated that film...

OK, my man, fair enough. Yeah, yesterday was brutal. It is hard seeing a great start to crumble, especially when it is "your" great. 2013 was brutal, but there was 2014-15...

So disappointed with Grigor...what a waste.

 

[Federberg]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

Wait wait wait... does this mean you're a Federer fan again?? :devil

 

[Fiero425]

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

Wait wait wait... does this mean you're a Federer fan again?? :devil

What is so hard for people to understand? Drinking this early, even in Europe isn't helping retention of info I see! Fed is the past! He still good, but I won't be rooting for him to win over Nole if he has a chance! This is Djokivic's time to shine; Roger already had his! He isn't exactly wiping people out, barely holding onto matches against people not even ranked in the top 30! It hasn't gotten as bad as Rafa, but it'll get there soon enough! The players will stop fearing his aura and start abusing him just like Rafa just you wait! :cover :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Federberg]

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

Wait wait wait... does this mean you're a Federer fan again?? :devil

What is so hard for people to understand? Drinking this early, even in Europe isn't helping retention of info I see! Fed is the past! He still good, but I won't be rooting for him to win over Nole if he has a chance! This is Djokivic's time to shine; Roger already had his! He isn't exactly wiping people out, barely holding onto matches against people not even ranked in the top 30! It hasn't gotten as bad as Rafa, but it'll get there soon enough! The players will stop fearing his aura and start abusing him just like Rafa just you wait! :cover :angel: :dodgy:

:laydownlaughing
I was only joshing Fiero. But remember.. the door is always open to come back to the darkside :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't think there's too much optimism at the moment, bro. Rafa is still way off the pace, and the latest edition of Groundhog Day just gave us another example. I'm gonna continue with my things and skip the rest of the tournament here, but it was great to read your views this morning, totally agree with everything...

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

That cannot possibly happen. By definition, whoever wins is your favorite. :cover:snicker

 

[Fiero425]

:huh: Come on K-Dog, you're not one of those fans that only likes your guy and when he's out you don't care about the tournament? This is Wimbledon, Kieran!

I guess I'm lucky enough to enjoy the tourney even if the fave is history! I can still get something out of watching other players go down in flames! Rafa's just 1 I can do w/o seeing ever again in the winner's circle; Andy's ugly tennis is lined up right behind him IMO! As long as Federer's in the draw, it's worth watching just in case he makes history with #8; ya never know! :angel: :dodgy:

That cannot possibly happen. By definition, whoever wins is your favorite. :cover:snicker

Well that's two comedians who aren't funny! :cover :nono :-/ :deadhorse :gross: :emperor:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa tried new racquet earlier this spring and gave it up once he lost early in Barcelona. Now that he have almost nothing to defend, it is probably a good idea for him to change the stick and stick to it instead of waiting for the off season to make the change. If he makes the change only in off season, again he would need 3 months to get used to the new racquet. Instead, if he changes it right away, he will get used to it by the end of year and he can begin to do some damage next year.

 

[Carol]

I have been thinking about his career in general (what a surprise, I know), and he is in a very tricky position, just as Murray was last year. The expectations were too high for him at RG, and he came crashing down. He is obviously working hard, but it just can't be rushed, and neither is the physical decline helping his case. If we as Rafa fans can accept that 2015 is as pathetic as can be, and just give him a pass, just like everyone gave it to Andy in 2014, it would be great. Do I think that we will see that multi-slam winning monster on court ever again?
I am not sure, but I have reasons to believe we will, at least briefly. Even Murray is not quite back to his best, but at least he is challenging the best. Nadal doesn't even face them consistently knowing how many guys dismantled him this year alone.

What a coincidence that I was thinking to comment something similar that you have said
Muzz went through even worse times than Rafa is doing now, he was losing against anyone, he changed the coach and at the beginning was even worse, but now he is doing much better though not so well that he could do. The big diference is that Muzz doesn't get all the attention as Nadal gets, then everytime that this last one loses there are a lot more talking about "his forehand, he is slower, his confidence, his age (come on) and blah blah blah.
He obviously is going through his worse time and difficult to believe to see him losing against anyone which means that he really is mentally off, if he always has had a good FH I don't think that playing with the same racquet is the problem
In my opinion he has to do something else, I don't say he has to change the coach who always has work well with him but maybe to find and add someone else like Novak and Muzz have done with diferent ideas and helping him more psychologically which I think he needs more than anything else before could be too late
But anyway I have still the hope that he is going to "comeback" soon and to forget this awful 2015 though to me Nadal started to ride this roller coaster since the AO 2014 final result :cover:nono

 

[House]

I'll say this, almost as nauseating as the anti-Rafa brigade is the false sense of optimism among some Rafa fans. Nadal will be back. Just not this year. Let's stop pretending like each tournament might be the time he unexpectedly reverses his fortunes.

It's not about injuries alone. It's just becoming difficult to re-discover his best tennis after every come back.

If you're reading the Internet, and physically becoming ill. You're doing it wrong.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Gala Leon is available if somebody is looking for a female coach like Andy.

 

[Carol]

Gala Leon is available if somebody is looking for a female coach like Andy.

Andy doesn't need Gala Leon, he is doing well with his coaches

 

[isabelle]

According to Mc Enroe, a new coach could help Nadal with some new things, a breeze of fresh air but I don't think Toni'll let his nephew try another guy.

 

[Federberg]

Uncle Toni is a very smart guy. This collapse in form is still relatively recent. Let's see how the Nadal team adapts. Who knows they might build up his muscle bulk again to try and get his explosive speed back

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^its not relatively recent though is it, its been over a year.

 

[Federberg]

^just about. We could make the case that it's been since last years RG win. But then he's had his appendicitis. So we're really only talking about this year, and particularly his clay run. They couldn't have expected him not to get back into his usual clay drive. So they are only really using this years data. Now is the time for them to try to adapt.