Queen's Club - ATP 500 - June 15th to June 21st

[Kieran]

Rafa lost the first set. Dolgo had match point in the second set tiebreak...

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa lost the first set. Dolgo had match point in the second set tiebreak...

Thanks! I totally screwed that up! Dolgo had the MP!:nono :cover - (Fixed) - Cilic in trouble now!

 

[Puppet Master]

I am in disbelief. It is miraculous that this man has won so much in the past, but his game today was beyond ugly. Didn't see a single good forehand in the highlights. I understand that if anyone, he is beating himself up about it the most, but Jesus Christ. I think Nadal would have trouble winning his service games even if they allowed him to serve anywhere on the court. This is worse than yipps.

 

[Carol]

The worse part when Rafa loses is not just what his "antis" say but also what some of his fans say

 

[Puppet Master]

Am I wrong Carol? A bit harsh on him, yes, but it has been a long time since I have seen anything close to his best level and it's driving me mental.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa gets the most extreme reactions from tennis fans, and this site is no different. We've seen it all, Puppet, you're just another. But you're close to hysteria most of the time. Try some chamomile tea, it's calming. Rafa wasn't so bad as you describe, actually, and Dolgo was quite exceptional...

 

[DarthFed]

At times it's been difficult to withhold how happy I am to see Rafa suck so far this year. I'm just hoping for 12 more bad months, that should put an end to him once and for all.

 

[Haelfix]

Rafa gets the most extreme reactions from tennis fans, and this site is no different. We've seen it all, Puppet, you're just another. But you're close to hysteria most of the time. Try some chamomile tea, it's calming. Rafa wasn't so bad as you describe, actually, and Dolgo was quite exceptional...

Agreed, Rafa has looked good all week. Even the forehand is less bad than people make it out to be. When he is in proper position to hit it right, he really hits it pretty darn well. It's just that he isn't quite as sharp with the feet as he used to be so has a tendency to take something off it.

Serve has been mostly excellent as well, a little less good today but then I think he'll live with that.

 

[Puppet Master]

Rafa gets the most extreme reactions from tennis fans, and this site is no different. We've seen it all, Puppet, you're just another. But you're close to hysteria most of the time. Try some chamomile tea, it's calming. Rafa wasn't so bad as you describe, actually, and Dolgo was quite exceptional...

Yeah, keep telling me how his backhand is going to win him matches, or the best one that people say: His movement looked good.
Newsflash: It hasn't been good since 2012.
It's not hysteria, but he should still be thriving to reach new heights, and here he is, losing routine matches to nobodies, who always happen to play inspired tennis against him. And no, one match is not a problem, he isn't a machine, but come on. Unlike Darth, I just can't watch it anymore.

 

[Kieran]

Who said "his backhand is going to win him matches?"

The thing about your over-reaction is, it's not reasoned. It's hysteria. You get involved in name-calling and "Disgusted from Tunbridge Wells" kinda rants, which don't take into consideration the fact that this dip isn't sudden, and nor should we expect him to return to the game and slide mercilessly and seamlessly back to his allotted slot in the top 2, clicking W's the way the Fonz used to click his fingers. He's working hard, so we have to be patient, but we also have to be reasoned in how we analyse his game.

You're too emotional about it. Anyone would think you bet your gaff on him and the bailiffs are due to chuck you out any minute...

 

[Carol]

Am I wrong Carol? A bit harsh on him, yes, but it has been a long time since I have seen anything close to his best level and it's driving me mental.

I understand your frustration, I'm feeling the same way. Rafa has gone through a difficult year but right know he is healthy (very important) and according to him he is feeling more motivated so I can't finish to understand either why today having the third set in his hands he made those errors and playing so bad including his serve, I agree that Dolgo has played pretty well but even that if Rafa would have his confidence at 100% and playing just a little better he never would had lost that set, he could do it better than that :nono :cover

 

[Kirijax]

Just woke up to see that Nadal lost. A bit surprised. I thought he looked pretty good last week. Maybe this will be good for Nadal in the long run. He has a grass court title, and he a nice two weeks off now before he moves on to the Championships.

 

[Puppet Master]

Who said "his backhand is going to win him matches?"

The thing about your over-reaction is, it's not reasoned. It's hysteria. You get involved in name-calling and "Disgusted from Tunbridge Wells" kinda rants, which don't take into consideration the fact that this dip isn't sudden, and nor should we expect him to return to the game and slide mercilessly and seamlessly back to his allotted slot in the top 2, clicking W's the way the Fonz used to click his fingers. He's working hard, so we have to be patient, but we also have to be reasoned in how we analyse his game.

You're too emotional about it. Anyone would think you bet your gaff on him and the bailiffs are due to chuck you out any minute...

You make it look like I said that he should win Wimbo. He lost to the dog in his opening match, and this, no matter what he did on court, can't be a good result. Had he faced him in Stuttgart he would have lost as well. The problem won't fade away, but no one said that it's forbidden to improve in your matches.

 

[Front242]

I am in disbelief. It is miraculous that this man has won so much in the past, but his game today was beyond ugly. Didn't see a single good forehand in the highlights. I understand that if anyone, he is beating himself up about it the most, but Jesus Christ. I think Nadal would have trouble winning his service games even if they allowed him to serve anywhere on the court. This is worse than yipps.

Happens to them all as they get older. Nadal fans are now seeing the same inconsistency Federer fans are seeing match in, match out. Both of them can play very high level for a set and a half or so and then it all too often goes pear shaped. From what I saw against Troicki Nadal played very well that match. Serve was excellent and most things were very good except the terrible backhand slice. Same with Federer, one match he plays very well and the next he doesn't. Doubtful either guy gets that consistency back, once it's gone, it's gone for good. Both guys forehands have regressed although Roger's is much worse currently than Rafa's. Roger's has no power at all these days.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

nadal played ok, some good serve and placement, some classic bh winners down line etc..

fair amount of dross though, shanked forehands is a 2015 phenomena that is going to feature a bit more going forward. the dog found his ommlette and rafa lost 4 in a row.

off fishing in his big tub now I suppose ?. catch a few tadpoles or great white sharks.

 

[ftan]

Wawrinka beats Kyrgios in straights! Took only 49 minutes! Apparently Kyrgios was sick or something. It's always something with that guy. :cover

Yea, and later in the interview Stan even commented on that, saying the Teen said he was ready and excited for the match.. lmao

 

[lacatch]

As I posted the other day on the Stuttgart thread when folks were somewhere between cautiously optimistic and ecstatic that Rafa won a 250, let's see what happens at Queen's Club before claiming he's on his way. I saw most of the match against Dog, and as someone said earlier, the Rafa we know would NEVER have let that third set lead dissipate. But he's doing that more frequently these days. The Dog is a tricky customer, and gave Djoker a very tough time for a set and a half earlier this season. But folks, it's time to accept that Rafa has started down the slippery slope, and he's basically playing consistent with his rank: a top 10 player. Yes Roger has been in that mode for several years, but he has a bigger array of weapons than Rafa, whose game depends on being fast enough to make his opponents hit one more shot (and he's certainly lost a step or two), and of course his unmatched (at least up until the last year plus) determination/will.

 

[Moxie]

I have to say, thinking about it, there's something I like a lot more about Rafa now than I did during his horrendous clay season. He looks a lot more aggressive, in the main, he's going for it on the backhand and his serve looks fairly strong, and often it's a real surface-friendly weapon. He was 4-2 up in the third today, and I can't see this as anything other than an opportunity lost to get more matchplay in, the way he went down was more disappointing than anything else. He tightened, but that can happen.

But apart from the errant forehand, which we'd hope will kick in at some stage, I'm happier with his largely aggressive demeanor and effort, and most of his play, than I was during the clay part of the season...

Paul Annacone, commentating on TC in the US, thinks that the grass season can help Rafa because it forces him to be more aggressive, to your point. Today was disappointing because Rafa was up the break, but D-Love was also very good today. He's a weird and ornery player. After Rafa's very solid Stuttgart, it's unfortunate that he's still feeling tentative in the big moments, but that can be worked out. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[lacatch]

Q. What's the longest river in the world? A. De Nile

 

[Carol]

As I posted the other day on the Stuttgart thread when folks were somewhere between cautiously optimistic and ecstatic that Rafa won a 250, let's see what happens at Queen's Club before claiming he's on his way. I saw most of the match against Dog, and as someone said earlier, the Rafa we know would NEVER have let that third set lead dissipate. But he's doing that more frequently these days. The Dog is a tricky customer, and gave Djoker a very tough time for a set and a half earlier this season. But folks, it's time to accept that Rafa has started down the slippery slope, and he's basically playing consistent with his rank: a top 10 player. Yes Roger has been in that mode for several years, but he has a bigger array of weapons than Rafa, whose game depends on being fast enough to make his opponents hit one more shot (and he's certainly lost a step or two), and of course his unmatched (at least up until the last year plus) determination/will.

The sorrow of many is a fool's consolation? :nono
I wouldn't be so fatalist. Each player is diferent and they have diferent reasons to play better or worse, ones play better during their younger age, others play better older (Wawrinka is a good example and Ferru which after 29 are playing better than ever)
Maybe it would be better to wait to Wimbledon and even better to the USO. Nadal has had a very bad year and for that reason he doesn't have points to defense the rest of this year and also the next year. He is playing much better than in clay. it's true that today he was more erratic playing against probably the player with the most unorthodox game never seen and who can give tough time to anyone, Dolgo has played good today but with a lot of help of Nadal with his not so good serve and many erros but personally I don't think it means something terrible or something that Nadal can't fix it, his problem is not his age, remember my words.....