The Fall of Rafael Nadal
- Thread starter ClayDeath
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britbox
Multiple Major Winner
Tsonga serving for the second set with a double break (Fed won the first set, but looking rattled)
key win for Rafa if he wants to start getting some traction.
hopefully it is the start of a foundation building process for 2017.
he has to be ready to capitalize on any opportunities that present themselves. time is running out fast.
hopefully it is the start of a foundation building process for 2017.
he has to be ready to capitalize on any opportunities that present themselves. time is running out fast.
stan is not the same since winning RG. he is also pretty damn old so that doesn't help.
still this is a match that Rafa had to win to keep building his game and some sustained traction.
I hope he can capitalize. he should have gone to morocco and this would be nearly a done deal now.
still this is a match that Rafa had to win to keep building his game and some sustained traction.
I hope he can capitalize. he should have gone to morocco and this would be nearly a done deal now.
DarthFed
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Forget 2017, if Rafa does nothing this year it is over. He would be a player going on 31 years of age who has had two relatively terrible years in a row. There would be no coming back. He has a big opportunity now to gain confidence and short of an early Djokovic loss at RG, he will need tons of confidence if he wants to win another RG.
britbox
Multiple Major Winner
Stan's pretty much the same as he's always been... hot and cold... interested or disinterested... and usually far more interested if it's a final. It's a good win for Nadal, take it. Nadal usually takes Stan fairly comfortably unless the Swiss is redlining and and in the mood.
brokenshoelace
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yeah, this. Nadal's always been a terrible match-up for Wawrinka, until recently, where Stan started having hot days a little more frequently and Nadal became less equipped to deal with the onslaught from a movement and defense perspective.
Stan always had matches like these where he misses a ton of shots. The thing about him is when it happens his body language even during the point itself almost makes it seem like he's disinterested. It's just the way he is. By contrast, when he's playing well, it doesn't even seem like he's playing high risk tennis even though he's hitting the snot out of the ball.
britbox
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EdbergsGhost
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I think the little tennis playing piece of fluff he's carting around is adversely affecting his on court drive.
Stan is just old now.
He is good but he has never really been consistent enough against the top guns.
That is why all the top guns have owned him over the years.
He is good but he has never really been consistent enough against the top guns.
That is why all the top guns have owned him over the years.
Carol
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I would say that when Rafa was still playing very well but unfortunately got that back injury in the AO 2014 final then it was the best opportunity for Stan to win his first GS, same like RG last year when Rafa was playing so badly and losing against Novak before the finals
DarthFed
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Stan was taking him to the woodshed before the injury. When the Stanimal is that hot he is tough to stop. Even though Rafa got hurt while getting pounded it is accurate to say that Stan has had dominant performances at slams against every member of the big four.
clay is the wellspring from which he flows.
it is clay where he has to try to make his last stand:
it is clay where he has to try to make his last stand:
here is the script for Rafa:
1. win monte carlo
2. win Barcelona
3. win rome and beat djokovic in the process
4. take it easy in Madrid and just try to get a couple of matches in and then go do some work on the fitness front and log in some hours on the practice courts.
if he can pull this off then he can start liking his chances at RG. he needs djokovic in the opposite 1/2 there.
1. win monte carlo
2. win Barcelona
3. win rome and beat djokovic in the process
4. take it easy in Madrid and just try to get a couple of matches in and then go do some work on the fitness front and log in some hours on the practice courts.
if he can pull this off then he can start liking his chances at RG. he needs djokovic in the opposite 1/2 there.
it is still not an easy task with so much work on the fitness front and the physical work in the gym missing.
britbox
Multiple Major Winner
He didn't look unfit today, but that first serve... despite the percentages... is a liability in the current climate.
Rafa has work to do.
I will try to catch some of the highlights when I get home.
but ther is no question that immediate work is needed in the following areas:
1. Serve
2. Return
3. Backhand
I will try to catch some of the highlights when I get home.
but ther is no question that immediate work is needed in the following areas:
1. Serve
2. Return
3. Backhand
