Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[Moxie]

Was this televised? I didn't find it on TTC. I would've loved to see Rafa play.

Nothing televised. Just live scores and anecdotal reporting from the sportscasters. Maybe we'll see him next week, in Doha?

 

[Carol]

There is a vid of the full match, this one is just the highlights

 

[Tennis Fan]

Nothing televised. Just live scores and anecdotal reporting from the sportscasters. Maybe we'll see him next week, in Doha?

Thanks Moxie. I was distraught thinking you guys were seeing it and I was the only one without a ticket.

 

[Tennis Fan]

There is a vid of the full match, this one is just the highlights

Thanks Carol! I can't wait to watch it.

 

[Moxie]

There is a vid of the full match, this one is just the highlights

I forgot about ol' Pavlik, who does come up with the videos. Rafa looked good. Some mis-timings, but not so bad. Excellent ROS to break in the 3rd, and some great depth on his shots. And he's really just better than Raonic.

 

[britbox]

Slightly surprised by this considering you wouldn't class Rafa as an elite server.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Nishikori Against Nadal my body starts shaking every time

Gatto Luigi - 24-12-2016

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Rafael_Nadal/39171/nishikori-against-nadal-my-body-starts-shaking-every-time-/

Kei Nishikori has never played a full season. Because of injuries, the Japanese player has always been forced to stop during the middle of the season. This year it happened in October when he had a gluteus injury in Tokyo.

He has ups and downs mentally during a match as well. 'That's my issue every year,' Nishikori told the Japanese website Nikkei. 'I need to play more consistently during a match in order to increase my concentration. There are still many shots I need to improve technically, so if I have to say, (everything) is going to be something I need to work on. If I can be more stronger mentally, I can beat top players. I need to play much, much stronger tennis.'

Speaking about how hard it was to be focused all the time in such a long season, Nishikori said. 'Even Murray and Djokovic cannot play at maximum level throughout the year. But they still make it to semi-finals and finals all the time and that’s why they are at the top of the world. It’s about not only recovering physically but also how you can stay fresh mentally facing each match. How you do not think too much of the matches and how you pump yourself up before the match but be relaxed once you are back to the hotel. It’s very important to switch on and off like that.'

No player makes him feel nervous like Rafael Nadal does. 'It happens every time I play Nadal. He is the kind of opponent I cannot win unless I play aggressive,' said Nishikori, who's lost nine of the 11 matches he's played against the Spaniard player. At Rio Olympics, in the bronze medal match, he was up 6-2 5-2 and won only in the third set.

'I know that if I play against him without taking risks, I will lose 100%. There is a pressure that I have to finish and win when I’m leading in the match. I think that’s why my body starts shaking. He is such a fighter and never gives up. He hits balls with “super” topspins, so I have to come inside (the baseline) in order to hit well. His play style is unique. I usually can hit back fine if I have the right racket face angle, but with Nadal, I have to hit through otherwise the ball goes to somewhere.'

This year Nishikori also reached the final in Miami, Barcelona, Toronto and Basel, won Memphis title, but asked where he played the best match of this season, he said, 'Against Andy Murray at the US Open.' In that match, the world no. 5, saved match points to win at the fifth set. 'I also had many matches I came back from match points down this year. It’s interesting how big one point can be, like how one point can shift the momentum and change the outcome of the match. It was only a matter of a few centimeters when I made or missed the shot to win that one point.'

 

[Moxie]

Slightly surprised by this considering you wouldn't class Rafa as an elite server.

I read a similar article the other day. Rafa's pct. on saving Bps has always been good. He hasn't got a great serve, and so it's more based on placement, and lefty spin. Because his serve isn't his best shot, he's cautious, but I'm surprised that he's done so well the last couple of years, when he'd DF'd more than usual, I would have said. Maybe @brokenshoelace can illuminate.

 

[britbox]

Can Carlos Moya Coach Rafael Nadal To Another Grand Slam Title?

 

[Carol]

Rafa-Goffin final

 

[Tennis Fan]

Rafa-Goffin final

I went and watched Rafa vs. Berdych and Raonic, because I wanted to see how he looked. Then, I checked Facebook and this guy was streaming it live. I watched that too. Now I have to go to bed. I wasn't expecting so many riches last night.

 

[Carol]

A picture of one boy from Saudi Arabia touch the Internet all around the world

 

[Tennis Fan]

A picture of one boy from Saudi Arabia touch the Internet all around the world

That is so cute. Great find!

 

[britbox]

A few snapshots of Nadal & Kyrgios at the Fast 4 event in Brisbane.

 

[britbox]

 

[Carol]

I love this picture

 

[britbox]

Moya looks like he's been super-imposed on the picture unless he's twice the size of Rafa and Uncle Toni.

 

[Carol]

Moya looks like he's been super-imposed on the picture unless he's twice the size of Rafa and Uncle Toni.

He is not but he seems to have more weight than he usually had

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]