Did that just happen? and what does it mean? (Rafa's 1R loss)

[Riotbeard]

And if you listened to his interview, Steve said that he knew he had a chance coming into this match, being Wimbledon first round, thus his mental fortitude throughout te whole match, very unusual, for a guy ith such a poor resume (2 titles to date and never been higher than 44 in the world)

True. He also said: "Of course, he didn't play his best tennis," "Of course, you don't beat Nadal if he's playing his best tennis, I think," "Of course, Rafa didn't play his best tennis, like I said. I could see it. So I took advantage of it," and "Maybe he was not in the best shape ever. Maybe he didn't play his best match. But I have to be proud of me, I think."

The propagandists (not you) would have everyone believe this was all on Darcis' racquet. Please. Rafa is a two-time Wimbledon champion, five-time finalist, not to mention all of his other accomplishments. He was way, way off, so Darcis took advantage and won. And even Darcis repeatedly mentioned how Rafa wasn't playing well. But, as the expression goes, why let the truth get in the way of a good story?

Almost nobody (I guess Cali...) says rafa played his best tennis, people are just pointing out that against most 1st round opponents, nadal would have won even at the level he played yesterday, which was not great, but not until the third set was nadal at his worst. Darcis played really well and beat a subpar but not terrible rafa that would have beaten most top 50 players. As you point out though, Darcis said rafa "did not play his best" which is a far cry from "way, way off." You are taking away credit from a guy who would have given anybody trouble. Rafa didn't bring his best, but he still played ok for the first two sets.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ alright, let's be fair - as far as i can see, Cali didn't call this his best tennis

i agree though, that "did not play his best" is not "way, way off". and Darcis of course has to say it anyway, otherwise he'd be guilty of hybris.

that said, it's also true that it'd be silly to assume that this match was on Darcis' racquet at all times, and that Rafa, if feeling/playing/... better/near his average SW19 form of the pre '12 era, wouldn't have found a way - or twelve - to win this one.

 

[Riotbeard]

^ alright, let's be fair - as far as i can see, Cali didn't call this his best tennis

i agree though, that "did not play his best" is not "way, way off". and Darcis of course has to say it anyway, otherwise he'd be guilty of hybris.

that said, it's also true that it'd be silly to assume that this match was on Darcis' racquet at all times, and that Rafa, if feeling/playing/... better/near his average SW19 form of the pre '12 era, wouldn't have found a way - or twelve - to win this one.

This is all I am trying to say, and I think most people agree with this.

 

[Haelfix]

That said, Nadal was off this match. Some of it was his opponent and some of it had to do with his left knee. I don't want to make excuses for Nadal, but if you watch the match closely you can see he's having trouble planting with the left leg. I don't know why this didn't crop up when he won Roland Garros, but grass is an entirely different animal; you really have to get low and bend your legs to be successful whilst on clay you can slide. At one point in the match Nadal was avoiding his BH to such a degree that he ran around it awkwardly and mishit a forehand as a result.

I finally watched the match, and I definitely think that planting was a problem. In fact, its been a problem all year long, it just shows up less on clay b/c there is a bit more time to get there and you have to do less body contortions to generate torque as the bounce is higher.

Another thing. Rafa has always struggled in the first 3 rounds of Wimbledon and usually the early rounsd of the warmup tourneys as well. The grass is much more slick in the early part of the tournament, and for a guy like him who generates such a complicated kinetic chain, absolute precision in the footwork is vital. Since he doesn't have a killer serve to fall back on, it has always stood to reason that he'd be more vulnerable to upsets on this surface (actually more or less everyone is).

 

[shawnbm]

Haelfix makes a good point about the difference between clay and grass. I saw certain parts of the match again and think this is one of those things that befalls top players--rust never sleeps and sometimes you wake up and find yourself painted over and unable to get out from under it. Nadal likely thought he would play his way through and win in four sets. He played some quality tennis when needed--like being down three set points in the second set. He eventually had se

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I don't know why the box here cut my post off, but that is okay. Rafa was not super sharp but he was good enough to beat a lot of players. I don't think he felt comfortable with the Darcis service or his way of constructing points. Rafa missed some shots we are accustomed to him hitting. I can recall many here saying things about Roger four or so years ago when he'd miss shots and lose matches to people like Simon and Cañas. I said then and I'll say now--it happens to all of them, and it happened to Rafa in the first round this year--sadly enough.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

darcis seemed to serve and volley a lot, or at least sneak towards the net on a regular basis in general play.

rafa couldn't cope..he was 9 miles behind the baseline moonballing it back into play where darcis would pounce at the net uzzled..

unusual goings-on. :s

 

[Ilovetennis2]

I'm not saying Nadal played his best, but it's obvious someone of Darcis' rank would say the things he said. Imagine the hate he'd get saying "I beat Nadal because I played superior tennis" or "I didn't allow him to play his best tennis."

 

[Mog]

^ as shawnbm rightly said that it happens to all of them and it happened to Rafa in the first round sadly enough.
All these top players never play their best tennis all the times but they managed to somehow come out winners.
We are making bit too much of " Rafa did not play his best tennis".
Darcis said " Rafa did not play his best" was just a respectful statement or what else he would have said.
Some mentioned he was tired but he successfully won everything on clay including RG and had two weeks after that RG semi,enough time.
He had always knee problem but it was not that comfortable on grass and could have troubled.
Credit to Darcis for his excellent performance and bit unfortunate for Rafa to lose.

 

[Ricardo]

To add salt to injury, Darcis just withdrew from the tournament citing shoulder injury. He said he injured it in the first set but pulled through it, then it got to painful after the match he couldn't sleep the night before round 2 match. Wow, it sucks... he played an incredible match to take out Rafa, only so that he could go home the next day. Either way it's no good, Rafa beaten by an injured man...

 

[isabelle]

It means that Nadal was beaten by an injured Darcis who pulled out 2 days later..maybe they should move Wimbly, it comes to soon after clay season
5 weeks before 2 GS could be helpful

 

[herios]

It means that Nadal was beaten by an injured Darcis who pulled out 2 days later..maybe they should move Wimbly, it comes to soon after clay season
5 weeks before 2 GS could be helpful

They will move Wimby, but not by 5 weeks.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

This is the first time that I remember we are talking about injury to a Rafa opponent after a Rafa loss. Strange...

 

[britbox]

This is the first time that I remember we are talking about injury to a Rafa opponent after a Rafa loss. Strange...

Lol.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

rafa was lucky darcis had an 'injury',

if he was at his maximum level nadal would've been eating doughnuts in all three sets.

 

[SF Nadalite]

nonsense - if anyone saw the match and how Darcis served, there was no injury impairing his play.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

think we're gonna have to get used to stuff like that.

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nonsense - if anyone saw the match and how Darcis served, there was no injury impairing his play.

have to agree here. Darcis fell on his shoulder - while it probably hurt a bit, it didn't hinder him. it's usually the next day that the swelling starts, and that's when the movement of the joint is impaired seriously.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

nonsense - if anyone saw the match and how Darcis served, there was no injury impairing his play.

but for injury..nadal would've been wasted 2,2,1..darcis wasn't at his maximum..we know this.

rafa needs a break anyway..too much tennisytennisy maketh the knee poorlypoorly.

 

[Postpre]

Love the insight from Uncle Toni:

http://www.supersport.com/tennis/wimbledon/news/130626/Coach_blames_Nadals_defeat_on_poor_attitude

 

[isabelle]

Toni was still in England yesterday, He said that his nephew was not injured and would start to train again next monday...really strange indeed !!