Nadal's chances in NY

[fedfan]

Obviously, he's the hottest player playing with the most confidence and has won it before.

My question is, is it possible he played too much HC tennis coming in to the event?

 

[ClayDeath]

we wont know and it may not matter if all plays out just right:

1. he has a week off to rest and recover. he can start with light practice on Wednesday or Thursday. he may not play his first match until Tuesday.

2. his first 3 opponents could be weak so he gets rid of them quickly and efficiently. that means in straight sets. his 4th match needs to be a decent/tough test.

3. he gets just the right draw. andy needs to land in nole`s 1/2 for a change.

4. he hits his stride by the time his 5th match rolls around.

5. he demolishes his semifinal opponent and gets ready for the final.



I think it is going to all work out.

my biggest worry never happened: I thought he would limp his way out of cinci.

 

[the AntiPusher]

we wont know and it may not matter if all plays out just right:

1. he has a week off to rest and recover. he can start with light practice on Wednesday or Thursday. he may not play his first match until Tuesday.

2. his first 3 opponents could be weak so he gets rid of them quickly and efficiently. that means in straight sets. his 4th match needs to be a decent/tough test.

3. he gets just the right draw. andy needs to land in nole`s 1/2 for a change.

4. he hits his stride by the time his 5th match rolls around.

5. he demolishes his semifinal opponent and gets ready for the final.



I think it is going to all work out.

my biggest worry never happened: I thought he would limp his way out of cinci.

Amen to all that you posted especially to Murray landing in Djoker's half and Rafa is healthy..

 

[ClayDeath]

we can deal with andy if we have to but we rather let him be our ally in this assault on flushing meadows.

he can be our ally and take down nole or inflict very heavy casualties.

 

[brokenshoelace]

The "peaking too soon" theory is possible but really, would anyone seriously argue that it would have been better for him to lose at one of -- or both -- the two tournaments he won? Didn't think so.

Plus, I fear if he were to lose in NY, people are going to automatically subscribe to the fact that he "peaked to soon." It's possilbe that he'll just lose, because he got outplayed or whatever...

 

[ClayDeath]

he did not really play his best tennis in montreal and cinci.


he can play a lot better and a lot smarter. I have a feeling that he is going to play as clean as he can in new York. that means good clean tennis with very few errors.

that also means very high percentage tennis. let the others go home with the winners and the errors. he will take the wins.


he will use these 2 tournaments as building blocks.

 

[brokenshoelace]

he did not really play his best tennis in montreal and cinci.

Meh, only if we're taking the absolute most literal definition of "best." Yes, techincally, he is capable of playing better and that wasn't the best he's ever played. But, on a match-to-match basis, on average, he did play really, REALLY well.

 

[Kieran]

If his levels dip drastically or he physically runs out of steam or mentally can't rise a challenge, then he'll have peaked too soon. But, he's grinding through hards as if they're clay, so mentally he's actually on familiar ground.

However, he has no pedigree for this kind of haul on hards, whereas Murray and Novak shouldn't be depressed about their summer showing. Which only means it should be a great tourney. Federer found his range, but that's not the same as finding form, and there'll be others. But Rafa has earned the tag of favourite: I'd still wait and see before I'd get too cocky, however. Let him get through a few rounds comfortably. It could still go down like Wimbledon.

In terms of the draw, Murray in Djokers half would be fine, but if Rafa reaches the latter stages playing as well as he is now, I'm not worried about Murray.

Or Djoker...

 

[the AntiPusher]

The "peaking too soon" theory is possible but really, would anyone seriously argue that it would have been better for him to lose at one of -- or both -- the two tournaments he won? Didn't think so.

Plus, I fear if he were to lose in NY, people are going to automatically subscribe to the fact that he "peaked to soon." It's possilbe that he'll just lose, because he got outplayed or whatever...

Amen Brotha, Amen:angel:

 

[ClayDeath]

he did not really play his best tennis in montreal and cinci.

Meh, only if we're taking the absolute most literal definition of "best." Yes, techincally, he is capable of playing better and that wasn't the best he's ever played. But, on a match-to-match basis, on average, he did play really, REALLY well.

he has more gears mate. he can do a lot better.

there is a lot more pain and grief to be dished out at flushing meadows.

 

[Riotbeard]

How do Nadal fans manage to find negativity in dominating two Masters in a row going into the last slam of the year, including a win in a final over his biggest relevant rival? I love the nadal fans here (really do). But this is like a thread saying what are Bill Gates chances of succeeding in the tech industry? Nadal's chances at NY are better now than any of us could have imagined. He is the clear favorite going into it, and has been the dominant hardcourt player this year since his return.

Leave the worrying right now to Djokovic, Murray, and Fed fans.

 

[Asmodeus]

He is definitely playing very well but my main concern for him would be that he did not really play too many quality hard court players. I mean, even a diminished Federer played him pretty well until 4/4 in the second. So, Nadal took advantage of a relatively absent top-ranked field. I guess his best opponent was Del Poo Poo in Canada. Though, again, he is playing very well.

 

[Riotbeard]

He is definitely playing very well but my main concern for him would be that he did not really play too many quality hard court players. I mean, even a diminished Federer played him pretty well until 4/4 in the second. So, Nadal took advantage of a relatively absent top-ranked field. I guess his best opponent was Del Poo Poo in Canada. Though, again, he is playing very well.

He played all the real contenders save murray. Djokovic not Federer is his big relevant rival (although fed played better than any of us expected).

 

[sid]

If his levels dip drastically or he physically runs out of steam or mentally can't rise a challenge, then he'll have peaked too soon. But, he's grinding through hards as if they're clay, so mentally he's actually on familiar ground.

However, he has no pedigree for this kind of haul on hards, whereas Murray and Novak shouldn't be depressed about their summer showing. Which only means it should be a great tourney. Federer found his range, but that's not the same as finding form, and there'll be others. But Rafa has earned the tag of favourite: I'd still wait and see before I'd get too cocky, however. Let him get through a few rounds comfortably. It could still go down like Wimbledon.

In terms of the draw, Murray in Djokers half would be fine, but if Rafa reaches the latter stages playing as well as he is now, I'm not worried about Murray.

Or Djoker...

Murray went out of both Masters early last year 2,so he will be fresh @ the USO.Watching Murray of late,i don't think he try's as hard in the Masters leading upto Slams.These days i think Murray puts more stock into Slams,he will have worked hard with Ivan Lendl.Murray will have a goal here & try win 2 Slams in the same year.

 

[Nekro]

we wont know and it may not matter if all plays out just right:

1. he has a week off to rest and recover. he can start with light practice on Wednesday or Thursday. he may not play his first match until Tuesday.

2. his first 3 opponents could be weak so he gets rid of them quickly and efficiently. that means in straight sets. his 4th match needs to be a decent/tough test.

3. he gets just the right draw. andy needs to land in nole`s 1/2 for a change.

4. he hits his stride by the time his 5th match rolls around.

5. he demolishes his semifinal opponent and gets ready for the final.



I think it is going to all work out.

my biggest worry never happened: I thought he would limp his way out of cinci.

if that happens he can still run into someone like delpo on fire so it will be hard for him even with a good draw........