Rogers Cup Final - Nadal v. Raonic

[Kieran]

And would you also agree that maybe Rafa's serve is approaching 2010 levels? I think it is...

 

[tented]

And would you also agree that maybe Rafa's serve is approaching 2010 levels? I think it is...

It's getting there. The first set was his best serving since then, but it fell off a bit in the second. (I think he was serving around 71% in the first, and 60% in the second.) He's mixing it up well, too.

Mostly I LOVE that he's not serving 90% of the time to a righty's backhand. That worked with Roger's one-handed BH, but not with Djokovic's two-handed weapon. This tactic will also work well against Murray, who also has a better BH than FH.

 

[Kieran]

And would you also agree that maybe Rafa's serve is approaching 2010 levels? I think it is...

It's getting there. The first set was his best serving since then, but it fell off a bit in the second. (I think he was serving around 71% in the first, and 60% in the second.) He's mixing it up well, too.

Mostly I LOVE that he's not serving 90% of the time to a righty's backhand. That worked with Roger's one-handed BH, but not with Djokovic's two-handed weapon. This tactic will also work well against Murray, who also has a better BH than FH.

That's true. And also, his first serve has enough pace to get him some cheap points. He's standing in closer to the baseline and all in all playing a more hands-on game, trying to grapple control from the off. Against Novak, he began to move backwards a little towards the end of the 2nd set, as he tightened a little, but in the 3rd he came forward again and served a lot better too.

I wonder how much nerves will affect Milos. He looked very ropey in the match against Pospisil. Maybe he felt more pressure there than he will against rafa, where he has nothing to lose...

 

[the AntiPusher]

I will be doing something else with my Sunday. It's sickening to have to root for Raonic but as I've said before I would root for Satan if he is playing Whafa.

I believe now that that's true, and it makes me sad. After how disgusted you were with Milos's behavior, you STILL prefer him over Rafa? That's a deep dislike. But...to each his own. You're too smart for me to try to coerce you.

Dislike is a weak word. I've seen that man win a couple hundred too many matches for my liking. And P.S. it is a real hard choice for me to root for Raonic if that makes you feel better.

We've banned the "H" word, if you get my point, so 'dislike' is all I've got. I know you don't like him because of the times/ways he's beaten Roger, but would you otherwise just completely object to the number of matches he's won? There is a reason he has won them, and there are a fair number of reasons he won today. Just asking, because I know you're a fair poster.

I know most here wouldn't believe it but Rafa's H2H vs. Roger is somewhat far down on the list for why I "dislike" the guy. I won't pretend it isn't a reason, consciously and sometimes subconsciously. If you remember back in 2011 Nole beat Roger 4 out of 5 including the crushing loss at USO, I didn't suddenly dislike him due to the losses.

You already know what I think of Nadal's on court antics and his character in general. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. And then the style of play does little to make up for it. He is one of the all time greatest and unlike some of his fans I think he is going to surprise and age very well. Better than Roger who has aged in an overrated way as weird as that sounds. I'd be pleasantly surprised if Rafa doesn't end up hitting 19 or 20 but I think he will when all is said and done.

Roger who has aged in an overrated way as weird as that sounds I find this very interesting because I have never seen a player play so well into their early 30 without taking significant time off due to injuries or etc as well as Federer. DarthFed, can you expand your thoughts on this

 

[kskate2]

Mox. Thanks for a variety of choice on the poll. I voted for the last 3 options myself. But on the real, Nadal in straights. Even a tired Nadal will find a way to muscle Milos today.

 

[DarthFed]

I believe now that that's true, and it makes me sad. After how disgusted you were with Milos's behavior, you STILL prefer him over Rafa? That's a deep dislike. But...to each his own. You're too smart for me to try to coerce you.

Dislike is a weak word. I've seen that man win a couple hundred too many matches for my liking. And P.S. it is a real hard choice for me to root for Raonic if that makes you feel better.

We've banned the "H" word, if you get my point, so 'dislike' is all I've got. I know you don't like him because of the times/ways he's beaten Roger, but would you otherwise just completely object to the number of matches he's won? There is a reason he has won them, and there are a fair number of reasons he won today. Just asking, because I know you're a fair poster.

I know most here wouldn't believe it but Rafa's H2H vs. Roger is somewhat far down on the list for why I "dislike" the guy. I won't pretend it isn't a reason, consciously and sometimes subconsciously. If you remember back in 2011 Nole beat Roger 4 out of 5 including the crushing loss at USO, I didn't suddenly dislike him due to the losses.

You already know what I think of Nadal's on court antics and his character in general. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. And then the style of play does little to make up for it. He is one of the all time greatest and unlike some of his fans I think he is going to surprise and age very well. Better than Roger who has aged in an overrated way as weird as that sounds. I'd be pleasantly surprised if Rafa doesn't end up hitting 19 or 20 but I think he will when all is said and done.

Roger who has aged in an overrated way as weird as that sounds I find this very interesting because I have never seen a player play so well into their early 30 without taking significant time off due to injuries or etc as well as Federer. DarthFed, can you expand your thoughts on this

2 slams since age 28 AP. I think people go a little overboard with how well he has played. Most realized he wasn't going to turn into some sort of scrub at age 30. Look at how the man played in his mid 20's, even being past his prime he was going to be in the picture for awhile. And this year has caught me off guard, I figured maybe if he plays at age 35-36 this would be his level. 32 is very old but he is currently way worse than I expected and I'm not sure he is coming back from the dead this time.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Milos has to play first strike tennis all night and serve with a huge percentage to get a set, and even then it is not guaranteed. He is also tired. In addition to that, he must be mentally tired too, with all that happened, being at home, having to edge a fellow Canadian...I would go with one competitive and one easy set for Rafa.

 

[Front242]

7-5 6-3 Rafa or 6-4 6-3.

 

[Didi]

Why is the final scheduled so early? I'm aware that the finals in Montreal have always been day sessions as I remember watching the finals Agassi-Nadal in 05, Federer-Djokovic in 07 and Murray-Delpo in 09 taking place on an afternoon but this time they should have made an exception and put it in the night session. Djokovic-Nadal finished close to midnight in Montreal time, yet the final is scheduled to start in 15min which is afternoon in Montreal. I'm going to cinema right now and was hoping to watch the final in the night session. Oh well too bad.

 

[calitennis127]

I will go with Raonic 7-6, 4-6. 7-6.

EDIT: Actually, I will go with 7-6, 7-6 Raonic.

 

[Kieran]

I'm going to cinema right now and was hoping to watch the final in the night session. Oh well too bad.

They might flash the score in the cinema!

What you going to see?

 

[calitennis127]

And would you also agree that maybe Rafa's serve is approaching 2010 levels? I think it is...

Not even close....at least if you're talking the 2010 US Open.

His serving is where it has always been. It has been his PED, his steroid, that inflates his wins and success. What Andro was to Mark McGwire, first-serve percentage and lack of double faults are to Rafael Nadal.

 

[DarthFed]

I will go with Raonic 7-6, 4-6. 7-6.

EDIT: Actually, I will go with 7-6, 7-6 Raonic.

Is this an actual prediction or your dream. If my "prediction" followed what I want to happen Rafa would be the worst player on the ATP

 

[Kieran]

And would you also agree that maybe Rafa's serve is approaching 2010 levels? I think it is...

Not even close....at least if you're talking the 2010 US Open.

His serving is where it has always been. It has been his PED, his steroid, that inflates his wins and success. What Andro was to Mark McGwire, first-serve percentage and lack of double faults are to Rafael Nadal.

I think he's serving as hard, actually. Would love to see some speed gun reads...

 

[calitennis127]

I will go with Raonic 7-6, 4-6. 7-6.

EDIT: Actually, I will go with 7-6, 7-6 Raonic.

Is this an actual prediction or your dream. If my "prediction" followed what I want to happen Rafa would be the worst player on the ATP

I don't like Raonic's game at all. I root against him at pretty much every turn. But if he serves great and moves like he did at times against Del Potro, he undoubtedly has enough game to beat the gnat. It is a simply a matter of consistency.

 

[Moxie]

You just knew Milos would go with the red shirt today. Ok, Vamos, folks! I just don't see Rafa working that hard to get Novak only to lose to Raonic today.

 

[atttomole]

I think Rafa will be too crafty for Raonic, even though the latter has a great serve. Raonic will rely mostly on his serve. As for Nadal's serve, I do not understand why it fluctuates. It was great at the US Open in 2010, then went away, and some people think it may be now coming back to 2010 levels.

 

[Kieran]

I don't like Raonic's game at all. I root against him at pretty much every turn. But if he serves great and moves like he did at times against Del Potro, he undoubtedly has enough game to beat the gnat. It is a simply a matter of consistency.

Cali, for the record, is there any player you think Nadal can beat? (Apart from the obvious one)...

 

[Kieran]

We'll see a lot of lame shots from Milos, stuff where he hits the net (ball or foot)...

 

[zalvar]

Anyone watching?? Such a huge discrepancy between them from the baseline.