Nadal v Nishikori - Mutua Madrid Masters Final

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks Pavlik, that's fast!

May I suggest you have a 'stiff drink' when you watch that match

 

[Front242]

Well, that is just a shame. I hope Kei can play Rome.

I´d already written him off for that one. Even before this match.

Me too.

 

[Kieran]

What a shame. I won't even congratulate Rafa. :nono

Agreed, this was embarrassing..this is worst than a defeat, a Rafa victory due to his opponent's injury retirement. This is not how this Rafa fan rolls.

Come on, buddy, let's not lapse into unnecessary hyperbole. It's not "worse than a defeat." It's a pity Kei got injured but he's made huge strides and hopefully his injury isn't anything that'll affect him long term...

Mr K Rafa play was dreadful, it's been like this all year, this was so reminiscinic of Miami but Djoker's injury came a week later..Rafa plays with no real Drive these days. His serve is WTA at best, his service returns are at a high college level and bh is just a rally counter punch..however, his movement is great but m thing real special about Rafa 's game these days..( good grief, I am turning into Darth Fed, all due respect to that poster )

You're worse than Darth - you're sounding negative but you're a Rafa fan! :snigger

He's not playing great but this was bound to occur eventually on clay, that he has an off-season. he's been dire - but not all week. There are promising signs, he's getting more depth and pace on his shots, and he seems much more cocky and keen than he was. true, there's work to do, but I recall last year in Paris and he was abysmal the first week, until (ironically, as it happens) until he face Kei in the fourth round, and things began to get better.

However, his win today wasn't worse than a defeat. Unless, you mean that it was worse than a defeat for Kei, who was playing well in the final...

 

[Kieran]

Thanks Pavlik, that's fast!

May I suggest you have a 'stiff drink' when you watch that match

Duly noted!

But the highlight clip there shows a guy playing without fear, lamming the ball and really, there's not much anyone can do against that. It's high level but it's not designed to last. Rafa looks okay, in the few minutes of the clip. I would be more disappointed in him if he lost heart over this...

 

[the AntiPusher]

What a shame. I won't even congratulate Rafa. :nono

Agreed, this was embarrassing..this is worst than a defeat, a Rafa victory due to his opponent's injury retirement. This is not how this Rafa fan rolls.

Come on, buddy, let's not lapse into unnecessary hyperbole. It's not "worse than a defeat." It's a pity Kei got injured but he's made huge strides and hopefully his injury isn't anything that'll affect him long term...

Mr K Rafa play was dreadful, it's been like this all year, this was so reminiscinic of Miami but Djoker's injury came a week later..Rafa plays with no real Drive these days. His serve is WTA at best, his service returns are at a high college level and bh is just a rally counter punch..however, his movement is great but m thing real special about Rafa 's game these days..( good grief, I am turning into Darth Fed, all due respect to that poster )

You're worse than Darth - you're sounding negative but you're a Rafa fan! :snigger

He's not playing great but this was bound to occur eventually on clay, that he has an off-season. he's been dire - but not all week. There are promising signs, he's getting more depth and pace on his shots, and he seems much more cocky and keen than he was. true, there's work to do, but I recall last year in Paris and he was abysmal the first week, until (ironically, as it happens) until he face Kei in the fourth round, and things began to get better.

However, his win today wasn't worse than a defeat. Unless, you mean that it was worse than a defeat for Kei, who was playing well in the final...

The reason why I said it worst than a defeat because I just don't feel we will see the arafa of ole or at least last year . Rafa play on clay wasn't excellent but it was stellar.. this year Rafa is just playing looking for his opponents to make eras instead of forcing his opponents to commit them. Do u feel that Rafa can turn it around in 3 weeks, I am hopeful but very caustic

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks Pavlik, that's fast!

May I suggest you have a 'stiff drink' when you watch that match

Duly noted!

But the highlight clip there shows a guy playing without fear, lamming the ball and really, there's not much anyone can do against that. It's high level but it's not designed to last. Rafa looks okay, in the few minutes of the clip. I would be more disappointed in him if he lost heart over this...

I will be very interested to see how Rafa plays in Rome.I felt soo sad for Kei today having to retire.Poor guy his body seems to be made of glass.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, I'm more sorry for Kei, his biggest match. But he shouldn't be too down over it, he's having a terrific season so far...

 

[Kieran]

Agreed, this was embarrassing..this is worst than a defeat, a Rafa victory due to his opponent's injury retirement. This is not how this Rafa fan rolls.

Come on, buddy, let's not lapse into unnecessary hyperbole. It's not "worse than a defeat." It's a pity Kei got injured but he's made huge strides and hopefully his injury isn't anything that'll affect him long term...

Mr K Rafa play was dreadful, it's been like this all year, this was so reminiscinic of Miami but Djoker's injury came a week later..Rafa plays with no real Drive these days. His serve is WTA at best, his service returns are at a high college level and bh is just a rally counter punch..however, his movement is great but m thing real special about Rafa 's game these days..( good grief, I am turning into Darth Fed, all due respect to that poster )

You're worse than Darth - you're sounding negative but you're a Rafa fan! :snigger

He's not playing great but this was bound to occur eventually on clay, that he has an off-season. he's been dire - but not all week. There are promising signs, he's getting more depth and pace on his shots, and he seems much more cocky and keen than he was. true, there's work to do, but I recall last year in Paris and he was abysmal the first week, until (ironically, as it happens) until he face Kei in the fourth round, and things began to get better.

However, his win today wasn't worse than a defeat. Unless, you mean that it was worse than a defeat for Kei, who was playing well in the final...

The reason why I said it worst than a defeat because I just don't feel we will see the arafa of ole or at least last year . Rafa play on clay wasn't excellent but it was stellar.. this year Rafa is just playing looking for his opponents to make eras instead of forcing his opponents to commit them. Do u feel that Rafa can turn it around in 3 weeks, I am hopeful but very caustic

Frankly, yes, I expect him to improve. Plus, I don't see who would beat him. If he plays like today, maybe any number of players could beat him, but I don't expect him to stay at this level. He usually improves as he goes, on clay, and I think this year will be the same...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If Rafa and Novak both reach Rome finals and he beats him, then I am ready to use the
words "Order Restored". Until then, I decide to reserve judgment.

But, I have a hunch that, it will not happen. We may have to wait until FO for the marquee
match.

If Novak has still some lingering wrist issues Novak will not go all out for a Win rome
unless it comes easily. It won't come easily and he may fall to Ferrer himself.

 

[pavlik89]

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

 

[Kieran]

If Rafa and Novak both reach Rome finals and he beats him, then I am ready to use the
words "Order Restored". Until then, I decide to reserve judgment.

But, I have a hunch that, it will not happen. We may have to wait until FO for the marquee
match.

If Novak has still some lingering wrist issues Novak will not go all out for a Win rome
unless it comes easily. It won't come easily and he may fall to Ferrer himself.

Well, in fairness to both, Novak hasn't been a factor on clay this season through injury, but Rafa's dominance and position on clay isn't dependent on him beating Nole...

 

[the AntiPusher]

If Rafa and Novak both reach Rome finals and he beats him, then I am ready to use the
words "Order Restored". Until then, I decide to reserve judgment.

But, I have a hunch that, it will not happen. We may have to wait until FO for the marquee
match.

If Novak has still some lingering wrist issues Novak will not go all out for a Win rome
unless it comes easily. It won't come easily and he may fall to Ferrer himself.

Well, in fairness to both, Novak hasn't been a factor on clay this season through injury, but Rafa's dominance and position on clay isn't dependent on him beating Nole...

Rafa position on clay is only dependent on him playing aggressively not beating one particular player

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2efLJtkAH0[/video]

 

[Kieran]

Exactly. He's the default setting on dirt, and when his settings are off, we notice. And other players might win. But when he's on, he's the benchmark and you could set a dozen Swiss clocks by him. Everybody else is just a random statistic...

 

[Riotbeard]

Just got home and read the post mortem. Disappointed for Kei! Just two more games, but Kudos to Rafa for sticking it out!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

ok, I was in football mode today..(last day of prem then la liga Live matches) and this is my least fav masters, bits I watched set one..kia-ora was in charge and rafa didn't seem too mobile ?,

I gather the Japanese wonder got v tired after yesterday or his back hurt, still a small vamos from camp rafa but presume he is still looking a bit ropey for the FO. ?.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Why would that rattle cages?

After the AO final debacle, I think anything other than congratulating the winner on a fully deserved victory is frowned upon.

The comparison is preposterous. Stan was schooling Rafa when Rafa was healthy.

Where did I make a comparison between the two matches? I was strictly talking about how people reacting after the match to anyone saying Nadal's back injury affected the way the match unfolded (which is undeniable unless you think the final 3 sets would have unfolded exactly like that without an injury).

So why bring up the AO final in the first place?

To highlight how stupid people's reactions were at the time. It has nothing to do with this match. I just need any excuse to bring up the AO final and how unbearable the narratives around here were at the time.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Exactly. He's the default setting on dirt, and when his settings are off, we notice. And other players might win. But when he's on, he's the benchmark and you could set a dozen Swiss clocks by him. Everybody else is just a random statistic...

Absolutely, Mr K

 

[Iona16]

Not sure where Rafa was for the first set and a half. I didn't recognise him out there. Happy he won but he's going to have to improve in Rome.

It's a shame Nishikori has had to pull out of Rome.

BTW how often is Chang at matches? I don't think I've ever seen him. I don't watch too many Kei matches but I'd have thought I would have seen Chang at at least one.

 

[huntingyou]

What made Rafa the KOC was not his forehand, clutch serving or even his incredible defense.........it was all that along with his relentless drive to compete. Now, he is only human and I don't blame him one second for the decay we are seeing this year.

If I told you back in 2005 that Rafa was going to dominate clay and win 95% of his matches until 2013.......you would have called me a fanboy and that would have been ok.

Many people started questioning the competition, even arguing that clay wasn't the most demanding surface to dominate day in and day out. Rafa's intensity and drive along with his game drops a bit...suddenly a skinny short guy schools him for a set and half in Madrid of all places. Perhaps now people will appreciate what Rafa has done on clay for the last 9 years and counting......