Nitto ATP Finals 2022, Turin, Italy

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa and Casper have arrived on court, these 2 will be seeing a lot of each other soon, as they both embark on Rafa's exho tour of South America.
May I add I cannot wait for the Aussie Summer of Tennis at least I dont have to get up at Midnight my time to watch tennis lol!

 

[tented]

Rafa and Casper have arrived on court, these 2 will be seeing a lot of each other soon, as they both embark on Rafa's exho tour of South America.

Maybe because the pressure is off, Rafa is playing better today than in his previous two matches? Then again, Ruud has never won a single set against a top 3 player.

May I add I cannot wait for the Aussie Summer of Tennis at least I dont have to get up at Midnight my time to watch tennis lol!

It must be a near-constant source of frustration to be so different to the time zones of most tournaments.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Maybe because the pressure is off, Rafa is playing better today than in his previous two matches? Then again, Ruud has never won a single set against a top 3 player.



It must be a near-constant source of frustration to be so different to the time zones of most tournaments.

I am used to the different time zones by now, I am waiting for AP to ask me when we get to the AO 'what day is it' lol!

Rafa playing better today, playing more freely.

 

[tented]

Rafa playing better today, playing more freely.

That’s for sure. Just broke for the first time this tournament, and won the set doing so.

 

[tented]

Rafa playing better today, playing more freely.

Why didn’t he play this way from the beginning this week? Is it psychological? Physical? The match-up? He seems so different today, or is it me?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Why didn’t he play this way from the beginning this week? Is it psychological? Physical? The match-up? He seems so different today, or is it me?

It is the match up, I feel, also Rafa has served 14 aces so far in this match, I had to check that stat twice lol!

 

[tented]

It is the match up, I feel, also Rafa has served 14 aces so far in this match, I had to check that stat twice lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

View attachment 7334

Make that 15 Aces lol! he just did another one

 

[tented]

Make that 15 Aces lol! he just did another one

I noticed that, right after I posted the screenshot. But yeah, 15 aces is not a typical stat for Rafa, to put it mildly.

EDIT: now 16 aces.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I noticed that, right after I posted the screenshot. But yeah, 15 aces is not a typical stat for Rafa, to put it mildly.

EDIT: now 16 aces.

Dont tell me Rafa has become a 'serve boat' all of a sudden lol!...good to see his normal serve has returned with good results

 

[tented]

Rafa wins, 7-5, 7-5. He has avoided losing 5 matches in a row, which hasn’t happened since 2002/2003 (according to Annacone on the Tennis Channel).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa wins, 7-5, 7-5. He has avoided losing 5 matches in a row, which hasn’t happened since 2002/2003 (according to Annacone on the Tennis Channel).

I know it was a dead rubber, still good result highlight was 16 aces from Rafa

 

[kskate2]

Nads says brush that dirt off my coffin, mannn!

 

[tented]

I know it was a dead rubber, still good result highlight was 16 aces from Rafa

Exactly.

Who do you think will win between FAA & Fritz?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Exactly.

Who do you think will win between FAA & Fritz?

I am going with FAA

 

[Kieran]

I know it was a dead rubber, still good result highlight was 16 aces from Rafa

I think being a dead rubber freed up Rafa, to an extent. He was awfully nervous in 2020 as well. Having nothing but pride to play for, he’d most have swung more freely. A pity, but I’m glad he got a great win over a top player before he goes back to being daddy again…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think being a dead rubber freed up Rafa, to an extent. He was awfully nervous in 2020 as well. Having nothing but pride to play for, he’d most have swung more freely. A pity, but I’m glad he got a great win over a top player before he goes back to being daddy again…

Yep, confidence booster as well finishing the season with a win
Ruud never won a set against a Top 3 player now 0-20?
Rafa also had 37 W to 16 UFE.

 

[Kieran]

Yep, confidence booster as well finishing the season with a win
Ruud never won a set against a Top 3 player now 0-20?
Rafa also had 37 W to 16 UFE.

Rafa’s a mystery.

Ruud better learn fast how win sets against the big boys. And learn how to win matches against them at the same time, too!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa’s a mystery.

Ruud better learn fast how win sets against the big boys. And learn how to win matches against them at the same time, too!

Well if Ruud wants to keep his high ranking going forward in 2023, agree, he has to get wins against the Top players, or else....
Being a mystery, I guess thats why Rafa keeps us interested lol!

 

[tented]

Yep, confidence booster as well finishing the season with a win

He got what he wanted — matches against top players — it’s just too bad he started finding his rhythm after being eliminated. There are positives to be found here nevertheless.