Nadal: Fear Factor

[nehmeth]

Just two days ago, Martin Kilzan dropped his head in his hands and cringed when he was drawn Nikkie K. in Dubai. It was caught on video.

:snicker While I agree with just about everything you wrote, using Klizan to make your point wasn't the best. Martin is one of the more expressive fellows on tour and his face is never without some kind of reaction.

I don't think after Kyrgio's long flight and 15 hours to recover, that Martin is shaking in his boots. After his run in Rotterdam, he will probably be going for his shots. Should be a fun match to watch

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The dream of any Roger's fan, 'Rafa Nadal is mangled and can't win any more title' :snicker
Wait, I don't see him off yet, he still could give you more than one dislike and honesty I will enjoy a lot, he just has to 'click' and he could do it anytime

When did I say he won't win any other title? See, there you go again making up things I never said. I said it's not looking likely he'll win the bigger tournaments on clay against much better and much higher ranked opponents than he faced in the last 2 tournaments. I don't see how you could really disagree with that based on what we've just witnessed at the last 2 smaller events.

Who cares about those smaller events, yes, Rafa is playing bad but it doesn't mean he couldn't play better tomorrow and I hope he will, why not?

Ya, Rafa could not care about these smaller events. That is why he travelled all the way from Mallorca to South America and played there. Sour Grapes! :lolz:

 

[Kieran]

Oh I'd say he got well paid for those sojourns in pretty cities. As a man who often comes here bragging about how much Federer gets for doing nothing, you above all here should appreciate that...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Oh I'd say he got well paid for those sojourns in pretty cities. As a man who often comes here bragging about how much Federer gets for doing nothing, you above all here should appreciate that...

He might have got appearance fee for Rio, but most probably not for BA. He requested a wild-card from BA at the last minute as he had early exit at AO and it is not a prearranged deal for a big check.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Just two days ago, Martin Kilzan dropped his head in his hands and cringed when he was drawn Nikkie K. in Dubai. It was caught on video.

:snicker While I agree with just about everything you wrote, using Klizan to make your point wasn't the best. Martin is one of the more expressive fellows on tour and his face is never without some kind of reaction.

I don't think after Kyrgio's long flight and 15 hours to recover, that Martin is shaking in his boots. After his run in Rotterdam, he will probably be going for his shots. Should be a fun match to watch

Fair enough. What I meant is that nobody wants to play a winner...you know they are brimming with confidence, and Nikkie is not one without a natural strut to begin with...

It will be a good match. I like Klizan's game..if he let's it go..he can jump on NK and catch him cold...

 

[Kieran]

Oh I'd say he got well paid for those sojourns in pretty cities. As a man who often comes here bragging about how much Federer gets for doing nothing, you above all here should appreciate that...

He might have got appearance fee for Rio, but most probably not for BA. He requested a wild-card from BA at the last minute as he had early exit at AO and it is not a prearranged deal for a big check.

Oh I understand that, brother, I'm just smarting like Carol. We'll get over it, and Rafa can comfort himself with making maybe only half a lifetimes earning for the rest of us in BA...

 

[El Dude]

In case y'all wanted to see Rafa's matches in order of ranking this year, here you go. Bold are losses, italics are walkovers.

1 Djokovic
19 Thiem
33 Dolgopolov
45 Cuevas
45 Verdasco
52 Lorenzi
53 Almagro
55 Monaco
63 Busta
66 Haase
67 Busta
79 Kuznetsov
94 Marchenko

So Rafa fans could freak out about the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50, but it is a pretty small sample size and at least he hasn't been horribly upset. Novak is one thing, and Thiem is on the rise, but the Cuevas and Verdasco losses are more troubling.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

In case y'all wanted to see Rafa's matches in order of ranking this year, here you go. Bold are losses, italics are walkovers.

1 Djokovic
19 Thiem
33 Dolgopolov
45 Cuevas
45 Verdasco
52 Lorenzi
53 Almagro
55 Monaco
63 Busta
66 Haase
67 Busta
79 Kuznetsov
94 Marchenko

So Rafa fans could freak out about the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50, but it is a pretty small sample size and at least he hasn't been horribly upset. Novak is one thing, and Thiem is on the rise, but the Cuevas and Verdasco losses are more troubling.

But should we also not look at matches from Sept/October of last year as well..as the pattern basically continues from then...

 

[herios]

In case y'all wanted to see Rafa's matches in order of ranking this year, here you go. Bold are losses, italics are walkovers.

1 Djokovic
19 Thiem
33 Dolgopolov
45 Cuevas
45 Verdasco
52 Lorenzi
53 Almagro
55 Monaco
63 Busta
66 Haase
67 Busta
79 Kuznetsov
94 Marchenko

So Rafa fans could freak out about the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50, but it is a pretty small sample size and at least he hasn't been horribly upset. Novak is one thing, and Thiem is on the rise, but the Cuevas and Verdasco losses are more troubling.

Basically the so called "incline" has ended with the season end and now the decline resumed. With the year end break, his momentum disappeared and he started the season at a lower level than 2015, being unable to defend all his points at the AO, BA and Rio.
My projection for this year, he may be struggling to remain in the top 10.

 

[Fiero425]

In case y'all wanted to see Rafa's matches in order of ranking this year, here you go. Bold are losses, italics are walkovers.

1 Djokovic
19 Thiem
33 Dolgopolov
45 Cuevas
45 Verdasco
52 Lorenzi
53 Almagro
55 Monaco
63 Busta
66 Haase
67 Busta
79 Kuznetsov
94 Marchenko

So Rafa fans could freak out about the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50, but it is a pretty small sample size and at least he hasn't been horribly upset. Novak is one thing, and Thiem is on the rise, but the Cuevas and Verdasco losses are more troubling.

I heard them mention this stat a couple days ago about Rafa not defeating anyone in the top 50! I guess he can hang on for a while waiting to win something, but sooner or later, probably by Wimbledon, he very well might drop out of the top 10! There are so many players out there performing well, winning tournaments, and definitely on an incline; Thiem, Goffin, & Kazan! Milos and Kei have made some noise of late and I look forward to them competing in the majors; maybe that breakthrough will occur! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[El Dude]

But should we also not look at matches from Sept/October of last year as well..as the pattern basically continues from then...

But that's not true. In Oct-Nov he beat tons of good players, including Wawrinka twice, Raonic, Cilic, Gasquet, Murray, and Ferrer.

Actually, from October onward, he only lost to four excellent players: Wawrinka, Tsonga, Federer, and Djokovic.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

But should we also not look at matches from Sept/October of last year as well..as the pattern basically continues from then...

But that's not true. In Oct-Nov he beat tons of good players, including Wawrinka twice, Raonic, Cilic, Gasquet, Murray, and Ferrer.

Actually, from October onward, he only lost to four excellent players: Wawrinka, Tsonga, Federer, and Djokovic.

I guess I was thinking of the mid period of the year where he lost to Feli, Nish, D Brown, Fabulous Fabio, etc.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In case y'all wanted to see Rafa's matches in order of ranking this year, here you go. Bold are losses, italics are walkovers.

1 Djokovic
19 Thiem
33 Dolgopolov
45 Cuevas
45 Verdasco
52 Lorenzi
53 Almagro
55 Monaco
63 Busta
66 Haase
67 Busta
79 Kuznetsov
94 Marchenko

So Rafa fans could freak out about the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50, but it is a pretty small sample size and at least he hasn't been horribly upset. Novak is one thing, and Thiem is on the rise, but the Cuevas and Verdasco losses are more troubling.

On the positive side Rafa fans could be happy that he did not lose to anyone ranked below 50. :snicker

 

[El Dude]

Ouch

 

[Carol]

You can keep making those bad jokes if you have fun with it but maybe soon it will my turn to laugh

 

[Kirijax]

I'd like to know what happened to the Nadal we saw at Basel and WTF in November. I thought he was finally moving back up. But this year so far he has been horrible...

 

[Fiero425]

I'd like to know what happened to the Nadal we saw at Basel and WTF in November. I thought he was finally moving back up. But this year so far he has been horrible...

I said people were being premature about "Rafa is back!" How ridiculous! He's a mere shell of himself with little to no confidence! His fans should get used to this level of play! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Kirijax]

I'd like to know what happened to the Nadal we saw at Basel and WTF in November. I thought he was finally moving back up. But this year so far he has been horrible...

I said people were being premature about "Rafa is back!" How ridiculous! He's a mere shell of himself with little to no confidence! His fans should get used to this level of play! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

Well, it's been poor so far but if there is one thing I've learned over the years is to never write Nadal off. Not until his left arm falls off at least!

 

[Front242]

You can keep making those bad jokes if you have fun with it but maybe soon it will my turn to laugh

Unfortunately these aren't bad jokes. What's posted above are actual stats from matches he's played and he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50 so far this year.

 

[Carol]

You can keep making those bad jokes if you have fun with it but maybe soon it will my turn to laugh

Unfortunately these aren't bad jokes. What's posted above are actual stats from matches he's played and he hasn't beaten anyone in the top 50 so far this year.

Very bad jokes between some posters and with very bad taste. But it doesn't matter, who laugh last laugh best