Rio Open - 500

[Moxie]

Sousa played reasonably well, and lost the set 1-6. Maria Francisca is in the house. That's rare. I guess she wanted to see Rio.

In other news, the very handsome Pablo Andujar beat Robredo 6-1, 6-1. Surprising.

 

[Front242]

That's some beatdown. Poor Tommy.

 

[Moxie]

Sousa dropped his racquet after what would have been a winning smash and lost the point, and therefore, the game.

Can anyone clarify this rule for me?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Sousa dropped his racquet after what would have been a winning smash and lost the point, and therefore, the game.

Can anyone clarify this rule for me?

You cannot throw your racquet on the ball to make a play. That is the intent of
the rule. If the ball is far away from you and you cannot reach it, sometimes players
used to throw the racquet at the ball.

You are supposed to have "control of the racquet" when the racquet makes
contact with the ball. But, there is nothing wrong if you lose the racquet after
the contact. I did not see the match and so I cannot comment on what
happened in this match.

 

[Moxie]

^ Thanks, GSM. I'm not clear, then, why Sousa lost the point, though there seemed to be no controversy. He may have lost the racquet as he was hitting the smash.

Anyway, Rafa won 6-1, 6-0, though Sousa played better than the score indicates.

 

[herios]

Also Dolgopolov upset in form Fognini, ironically with the same score 6-1, 6-1. like Pablo Andujar dismissed Tommy with.
Ferrer prevailed in 3 sets against Beliucci.

 

[Moxie]

Good point. Did anyone see that Fognini match?

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Good point. Did anyone see that Fognini match?

Yes, miserable effort. The Dog was flawless however.

 

[TsarMatt]

Nadal only dropped one game.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

^ Thanks, GSM. I'm not clear, then, why Sousa lost the point, though there seemed to be no controversy. He may have lost the racquet as he was hitting the smash.

Anyway, Rafa won 6-1, 6-0, though Sousa played better than the score indicates.

I watched it live. He tried to hit an overhead and the racket left his hand after contact, but flew into the net.

There was no controversy because he was getting an absolute beat down.

Rafa for a split micro second actually felt sorry for him.

 

[Moxie]

^ Thanks, GSM. I'm not clear, then, why Sousa lost the point, though there seemed to be no controversy. He may have lost the racquet as he was hitting the smash.

Anyway, Rafa won 6-1, 6-0, though Sousa played better than the score indicates.

I watched it live. He tried to hit an overhead and the racket left his hand after contact, but flew into the net.

There was no controversy because he was getting an absolute beat down.

Rafa for a split micro second actually felt sorry for him.

Yes, but did he lose the point because he lost control of the racquet, or because it went into the net? Just curious about the rule.

And it wasn't as bad as it looks in the scoreline, to be fair to Sousa. He had too many ill-timed DFs, and UFEs, which would be usual playing such a high-ranked player, but he didn't acquit himself poorly. He was over-matched.

 

[isabelle]

Nadal"ll win this easilyeven if the very handsome Andujar is very good on clay

 

[tented]

Awesome job by Dolgopolov. I'd love to see him play Rafa in the final.

 

[Moxie]

Awesome job by Dolgopolov. I'd love to see him play Rafa in the final.

He did do a great job. But Rafa's going to have to start playing better if he's going to make it to the final. Andujar got the first set, and Nadal looks off his game, frankly.

 

[Riotbeard]

Awesome job by Dolgopolov. I'd love to see him play Rafa in the final.

He did do a great job. But Rafa's going to have to start playing better if he's going to make it to the final. Andujar got the first set, and Nadal looks off his game, frankly.

Agreed Rafa is playing mediocre. Nothing specific off, just everything below standard.

 

[Kieran]

Of all the top players, when he's off, Rafa looks the lousiest. Struggles and sweats like a swine against fellas who could be park players. But now, I think he'll fix in on the backhand and take this from here...

 

[Front242]

Of all the top players, when he's off, Rafa looks the lousiest. Struggles and sweats like a swine against fellas who could be park players. But now, I think he'll fix in on the backhand and take this from here...

I take it you missed the first set of the Brisbane final this year so :laydownlaughing

 

[Riotbeard]

Of all the top players, when he's off, Rafa looks the lousiest. Struggles and sweats like a swine against fellas who could be park players. But now, I think he'll fix in on the backhand and take this from here...

It's a depressing affair when Andujar is the player making the exciting shots on court.

 

[Front242]

Haven't been watching but very surprising that Andujar took the first set 6-2.

 

[Front242]

Just tuned in there and hell of a return from Andujar.