I'm a die-hard Fed fan like yourself. I hate moonballing, like yourself. But what I read next in your message (emphasised) makes me switch the sides immediately, and not only sympathise with the "monkey" but even become Nadal's fan on this occasion. Do know why? Try to think how it could be that Chris Koziarz, a Fed fan like yourself can all of the sudden become so silly. We can strike an honest conversation about my silliness.
He's not missing the point. He's making one you don't wish to hear or acknowledge, which is that Nadal contributes to the implosion.
No around here. At the moment, it's only me. And I never speak that about your beloved Swiss goat rogerer.
The commentators exaggerated a little, I think. Cilic played his best at the US Open in 2014. His serve was almost untouchable in that tournament and did not have the lapses he had last night. He got broken from 40-15 while serving last night by missing a sitter and then hitting wide again with Nadal nowhere to be seen. It’s not like Nadal did anything much different. He did not even put pressure on Cilic’s serve. It was more about Cilic playing badly in this match.He's not missing the point. He's making one you don't wish to hear or acknowledge, which is that Nadal contributes to the implosion.
I completely agree that Cilic came in with a game plan and was executing it perfectly. I've never seen him play better, and the commies said so, as well. His level definitely dropped, nerves contributed, and there was absolutely choking involved. But, as Darth has said, that's why Cilic is who and where he is. He's a flawed player, not a great champion. I do still wonder why he even won one USO. Also, in your formula above, Rafa wasn't playing that decent; he was serving 20% below his season average the whole match, and hasn't been especially convincing the whole tournament. But in any case, you are right that Cilic was playing as if to blow Rafa off the court, but that didn't last long enough. El Dude is right that Rafa won in great part because he's a great champion and knows how to hang tough and win the big points. Anyway, it's disappointing for you that Cilic couldn't keep up his level, but not for me.
While I do agree that commentators often think what's in front of them is the best ever, I do think he was better last night even than at that USO, and this is why: it was his serve at that USO, yes, but it was his strategy and execution to counter Nadal, overall, last night. He wasn't even serving up aces until later in the match, as think his plan was a more complex approach to the match. He just got in trouble later and went for the big bombs, a little too late. Cilic did tough it out through all of the USO, but he wasn't hugely challenged, either, for the most part. He did blow Roger off the court in the SF, though, and, no, he didn't waiver in that one. But as we have seen, that's not really his usual, and as has been mentioned many times, Roger was off of a 5-setter v. Monfils in the round prior. But Cilic didn't even let him play, with the serve. Personally I don't think bombing someone off the court is better tennis than out-strategizing and maneuvering them.
I didn’t mean to say that he won at the US Open because of his serve alone. He was hitting the bell well from both wings. His forehand was scary too. At times he seemed like he was playing serve and volley because his serve was that good, and he was putting away the returns with ease.
I'd take some advice that Broken Shoelace gave everyone ages ago if Monfed is annoying you & put him on ignore. It's bliss. You don't have to see what Monfed has to say. (Talking about Broken Shoelace, he hasn't been on for a while. I hope he's o.k.)
