Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa and company did play possum, what with Uncle Toni saying the conditions didn't favor Rafa, Rafa complaining about the balls etc.

One the other hand, I would say some gave Rafa even more incentive, (as if he didn't have it already) by downplaying his chances. Have to say it was almost insulting the pundits saying that the heavier conditions favored Novak, as if to imply that without excessive topspin Rafa couldn't win at Roland Garros. The insinuation that Rafa was not "match tough", and that a closed roof and the cold weather naturally favored others . How in the world would outside weather conditions impact Rafa MORE Than the other players, he's a master of playing in the elements. Plus the closed roof was for red clay for goodness sake. IT's not like the other players had had soo many more clay court tournaments, many of them coming from the the 2 tourney HC season, so they had to adjust to the surface. How many pundits said this year was "different" so Rafa was almost an underdog to many.

The piece of resistance was Goran Ivanisevic, one of Novak's coaches saying publicly "no chance" of Rafa winning this year. WTF was he thinking , I'm sure Carlos Moya showed that clipping to Rafa.

I read that comment from Goran and thought 'loose lips sinks ships' I am certain he will not be making that comment anytime soon especially at Roland Garos and if Rafa is involved in another final in the future.

 

[Bonaca]

Haha Bob and his team complaining about the conditions and balls at the beginning, they quickly realised it’s even more in his favour, because it ales everything just slower.
Now he could run down even more balls and hold them in play.
Be realistic and don’t put more into it.
I think just NadalGoat2 was clever and honest enough to mention that in the middle of the tournament. Chapeau.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I read that comment from Goran and thought 'loose lips sinks ships' I am certain he will not be making that comment anytime soon especially at Roland Garos and if Rafa is involved in another final in the future.

BTW it was not only Rafa that made the comment about the balls used in the tournament.....other players also complained.
Why would you use a 'heavier ball' in conditions that were already heavy to begin with? just insane
We always played with light balls on clay regardless of the conditions.Rafa does not like slow conditions period.

This was a quote from after match with Nishikori

"Some of those balls we were using you wouldn't give a dog to chew'.

In saying that players, had to adjust to the heavier balls and the conditions.Rafa adjusted well.

 

[Bonaca]

There is no reason, but Why complaining when it’s that much in your favour?
Preparing excuses? Cheap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kieran]

I read that comment from Goran and thought 'loose lips sinks ships' I am certain he will not be making that comment anytime soon especially at Roland Garos and if Rafa is involved in another final in the future.

Goran was an idiot for saying what he said. He should remember that he’s only an employee. He made promises that Novak was to keep. I like goran, everybody does, but like uncle Toni (who I wish was still Rafa’s coach), he says things in the media which draw the wrong sort of attention...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Herwig Straka,tournament director in Vienna,

"We are trying everything to get Rafael Nadal to come and play the Erste Bank Open.He's still to decide on his schedule and whether he wants to gain points for the No1 spot".

 

[rafanoy1992]

Herwig Straka,tournament director in Vienna,

"We are trying everything to get Rafael Nadal to come and play the Erste Bank Open.He's still to decide on his schedule and whether he wants to gain points for the No1 spot".

At this point, I do not think Nadal really cares about the number 1 ranking at this point of his career. If he gets it, he will be glad, if he doesn't, he will be okay with it. After what he did in 2019 and 2020, he literally just wants to do well at Slams and some of the Masters 1000 tournaments.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At this point, I do not think Nadal really cares about the number 1 ranking at this point of his career. If he gets it, he will be glad, if he doesn't, he will be okay with it. After what he did in 2019 and 2020, he literally just wants to do well at Slams and some of the Masters 1000 tournaments.

I agree at this stage of his career his main focus will be GS and Masters tournaments.
Rafa said after his win at RG ,he will decide in a few days if he was to play any further tournaments this year.
Rafa and his team are aware that they will have to arrive early in Australia next year,go into a quarantine period,before playing.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I agree at this stage of his career his main focus will be GS and Masters tournaments.
Rafa said after his win at RG ,he will decide in a few days if he was to play any further tournaments this year.
Rafa and his team are aware that they will have to arrive early in Australia next year,go into a quarantine period,before playing.

Besides, Djokovic will not lose points either. In a way, Nadal has a disadvantage because he will basically chase Djokovic until March 2021. At this point of his career, he just want to prepare mentally and physically for Slams especially now that he has the golden opportunity to surpass Federer in 2021.

 

[Jelenafan]

At this point, I do not think Nadal really cares about the number 1 ranking at this point of his career. If he gets it, he will be glad, if he doesn't, he will be okay with it. After what he did in 2019 and 2020, he literally just wants to do well at Slams and some of the Masters 1000 tournaments.

My guess is he's going to balance what works best for his conditioning/health/body.

I've also thought Rafa likes his practice/conditioning set and in a regular routine throughout his career. What happens when that is suddenly taken away?
What makes me speculate that he won't shut down this season was his admission that it was hard for him during the COVID sheltering, his body didn't respond well and he couldn't train and then afterward it was hard to maintain it without a specific goal. Admitted he personally struggled a lot with that physically and psychologically. Even now Spain has one of the highest cumulative death rates from COVID in the world. Now that things are opening up and Rafa can get training partners, practice time, etc, IMO it's hard to keep up that training and conditioning if he doesn't have a set tournament schedule to aim for.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa and company did play possum, what with Uncle Toni saying the conditions didn't favor Rafa, Rafa complaining about the balls etc.

One the other hand, I would say some gave Rafa even more incentive, (as if he didn't have it already) by downplaying his chances. Have to say it was almost insulting the pundits saying that the heavier conditions favored Novak, as if to imply that without excessive topspin Rafa couldn't win at Roland Garros. The insinuation that Rafa was not "match tough", and that a closed roof and the cold weather naturally favored others . How in the world would outside weather conditions impact Rafa MORE Than the other players, he's a master of playing in the elements. Plus the closed roof was for red clay for goodness sake. IT's not like the other players had had soo many more clay court tournaments, many of them coming from the the 2 tourney HC season, so they had to adjust to the surface. How many pundits said this year was "different" so Rafa was almost an underdog to many.

The piece of resistance was Goran Ivanisevic, one of Novak's coaches saying publicly "no chance" of Rafa winning this year. WTF was he thinking , I'm sure Carlos Moya showed that clipping to Rafa.

I don't think they played "possum, " do you? The conditions were absolutely the formula that everyone thought for beating Rafa at RG. (Granted, everyone has been looking for it for years.) As when Soderling beat him...cold, heavy. Then they added the heavy balls. Even Novak said that the conditions favored him over Rafa. I get when you say that it's a bit insulting to Rafa to insist that, without the otherwise perfect conditions for him, he loses his edge. Because, seriously, you don't win 12 times there because every day is your perfect day. But given age, weird season, lack of prep, etc., it did start to look like the deck was stacked against him winning another one. He just worked with the obstructions, and proved that he's still the best there is at Roland Garros.

Ivanisevic should have kept that buttoned up, for sure. Red to a bull....

 

[Kieran]

A big issue - as he mentioned after the final - is the quarantine requirements for each country, most especially Australia. That starts 18 January, but the 14 day quarantine after arriving in Australia shoves everything back to maybe before Christmas?

I doubt he’s thinking of the number 1 spot, even though the protected ranking system favours him, but he may want to play the WTF. A benefit for Rafa is that he’s playing so well heading into November - when have ever said that?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A big issue - as he mentioned after the final - is the quarantine requirements for each country, most especially Australia. That starts 18 January, but the 14 day quarantine after arriving in Australia shoves everything back to maybe before Christmas?

I doubt he’s thinking of the number 1 spot, even though the protected ranking system favours him, but he may want to play the WTF. A benefit for Rafa is that he’s playing so well heading into November - when have ever said that?

Talking hypothetically......if he does want to play the WTF,wouldn't it make sense to play a HC tournament as a lead up?

 

[Carol]

This is a special message for Goran, next time don't say anything a wait for the results......

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...842484903a886876bcd85aef9e782307abcb57854.png

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is a special message for Goran, next time don't say anything a wait for the results........

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c2e8098128d1f4df354f7ec842484903a886876bcd85aef9e782307abcb57854.png

BTW the way Carol congrats for picking Rafa to win in straight sets,I was going to,chickened out at the last minute and went for him to win in 4 sets.I was working night shift and keeping track of the scores on my phone.

 

[Moxie]

BTW the way Carol congrats for picking Rafa to win in straight sets,I was going to,chickened out at the last minute and went for him to win in 4 sets.I was working night shift and keeping track of the scores on my phone.

I was going to tell you that I went with Rafa in 4, too, like you and Kieran. I had actually voted in 5, but on Sunday morning I switched it to 4, basically because I decided I couldn't bear it if it went 5. I was just hoping for the win, but I didn't dare hope that it would be in straights. Yes, congratulations to @Carol for picking correctly!

 

[Carol]

BTW the way Carol congrats for picking Rafa to win in straight sets,I was going to,chickened out at the last minute and went for him to win in 4 sets.I was working night shift and keeping track of the scores on my phone.

Thanks Margaret, I remember that I said the day before of the final that Rafa was playing better than Novak and if his serve works better he wins and very well

 

[Kieran]

Talking hypothetically......if he does want to play the WTF,wouldn't it make sense to play a HC tournament as a lead up?

Yeah, and it would make sense anyway because he's only played 9 or 10 matches since February, and that's too few to carry over on to 18 January. He faces a dilemma, but I think he may solve it if he doesn't play too much between now and the season's end - maybe Paris and London, then hit the road for Oz. His stupidity in playing too much after season's end, and before Oz, might not happen this time, because of Covid...

 

[Jelenafan]

I don't think they played "possum, " do you? The conditions were absolutely the formula that everyone thought for beating Rafa at RG. (Granted, everyone has been looking for it for years.) As when Soderling beat him...cold, heavy. Then they added the heavy balls. Even Novak said that the conditions favored him over Rafa. I get when you say that it's a bit insulting to Rafa to insist that, without the otherwise perfect conditions for him, he loses his edge. Because, seriously, you don't win 12 times there because every day is your perfect day. But given age, weird season, lack of prep, etc., it did start to look like the deck was stacked against him winning another one. He just worked with the obstructions, and proved that he's still the best there is at Roland Garros.

Well in a sense Rafa always plays "possum" for the FO. For someone who always wins the damn thing you never hear him boasting about how he's the guy to beat, etc. He alway couches things in saying he's working hard, he likes Roland Garos, we will see what happens etc, etc. Now he was subdued I thought more than usual beforehand before the FO , but some of that in hindsight could be because of a general COVID malaise. People forget he's "older" and married now, its not like he was going to go out dancing shirtless at nightclubs during the pandemic.... Now he did complain about the tennis balls and their heaviness, a fact noted by both Novak and Theim among others, but he never said he couldn't try to work with them, as he obviously did and compensated. Rafa is a problem solver, someone who could win on Wimbledon grass could certainly compensate for heavier conditions at Roland Garos.

I picked him in 4 but I won't backtrack that I thought Novak would play him tougher, as I thought it would be 4 tight sets. After all, Novak stretched him to a titanic 5 sets once previously and Novak looked good in Rome a couple weeks before the FO.

I said before the FO that people would judge his prep after the fact, even Rafa concedes that if he had lost people would second guess his skipping the USO.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Speaking of Robin Soderling he just tweeted this regarding Rafa,

"To put things in perspective.Just to qualify for the French Open main draw 13 times is unbelievable as an athlete.Words can not describe what Rafa has done.Big up "young man"."