The Fall of Rafael Nadal

[ClayDeath]

Andy just has to maintain his belief now and finish this deal.

This is his opportunity. He has to capitalize.

This will be good for Rafa and his camp if Andy can derail Djokovic.

It may inspire him.

 

[ClayDeath]

An opportunity like no other for Andy.

He has never beaten Djokovic on clay.

He is about to change that.

 

[ClayDeath]

It had to be in straights and it had to be this way.

Now where the hell is general britbox?

Time to start paying more attention to Andy old sport.

He keeps knocking on the door.

He knew he would get his chances for an ambush. This may go a long way for Andy. So he stayed with it.

It may land Andy in the final at RG.

And of course it may inspire Rafa.

 

[masterclass]

If you don't practice hard you don't deserve to win. -Andre Agassi

 

[masterclass]

Rafa lost to Novak in Rome because he, Uncle Toni, and whomever else is responsible failed Tennis Geometry 101.
Pro players don't serve from nearer the sideline in singles for many reasons, especially lefties from the ad side.
Yet Nadal did, and lost all of his set point opportunities.

Memo to Uncle Toni & Rafa, etc.: Novak's backhand return is more solid than his forehand and he can sit on the backhand all day when a lefty like you serves from close to the doubles alley, since a serve down the T is out of the question, and if he can hit it down the line while you are finishing your service follow through, you'll be lucky to get a racquet on it running like a headless, mindless buffoon to catch up to it.

Solution: Serve from close to the center line and keep Novak guessing and stretching like you did on the deuce side by varying placement and spin. Don't worry, as a lefty you can still swing it out pretty wide on the ad side every now and then, and you'll also force Novak to cover the whole box instead of 1/2 of it and win your share of critical points on the ad side.

Get it together for RG, Team Nadal. Your window of opportunity is surely closing fast.

Disappointingly,
masterclass

 

[ClayDeath]

If you don't practice hard you don't deserve to win. -Andre Agassi

 

[ClayDeath]

Rafa wanted time fart around more.


He could have gone to a couple of smaller clay events and he could have put in the longer, harder yards on the practice courts.

Going to Miami was a very bad idea.

One has to believe that he doesn't really want to win.

You heard uncle tony: they rather rely on luck.

And they rather run and hide from Andy, ferru, and Djokovic.

They are even terrified of ferru because he wears Rafa out.

 

[ClayDeath]

Rafa lost to Novak in Rome because he, Uncle Toni, and whomever else is responsible failed Tennis Geometry 101.
Pro players don't serve from nearer the sideline in singles for many reasons, especially lefties from the ad side.
Yet Nadal did, and lost all of his set point opportunities.

Memo to Uncle Toni & Rafa, etc.: Novak's backhand return is more solid than his forehand and he can sit on the backhand all day when a lefty like you serves from close to the doubles alley, since a serve down the T is out of the question, and if he can hit it down the line while you are finishing your service follow through, you'll be lucky to get a racquet on it running like a headless, mindless buffoon to catch up to it.

Solution: Serve from close to the center line and keep Novak guessing and stretching like you did on the deuce side by varying placement and spin. Don't worry, as a lefty you can still swing it out pretty wide on the ad side every now and then, and you'll also force Novak to cover the whole box instead of 1/2 of it and win your share of critical points on the ad side.

Get it together for RG, Team Nadal. Your window of opportunity is surely closing fast.

Disappointingly,
masterclass

How do you waste 5 set points?

This was a match he had to have. And had his opportunity right there in front of him.

 

[ClayDeath]

Andy was 13 for 17 at the net.

He is not afraid to go forward. He is not terrified of the net.

The net is afraid of Andy.


that is just one of the many things that hold Rafa back. He never even bothered to learn to volley.

 

[Tennis Fan]

It had to be in straights and it had to be this way.

Now where the hell is general britbox?

Time to start paying more attention to Andy old sport.

He keeps knocking on the door.

He knew he would get his chances for an ambush. This may go a long way for Andy. So he stayed with it.

It may land Andy in the final at RG.

And of course it may inspire Rafa.

Well, you were right about Andy's new clay prowess. His results are no fluke. Way to go, Andy!

 

[Carol]

Muzz got a good clinic practicing with Rafa in Mallorca but I think it's about time for Rafa to go back to be the greatest again!

 

[Tennis Fan]

Muzz got a good clinic practicing with Rafa in Mallorca but I think it's about time for Rafa to go back to be the greatest again!

I know. He's been lights out clay court tennis since that Mallorca visit.

 

[ClayDeath]

If you don't practice hard you don't deserve to win. -Andre Agassi

Well said general.

 

[ClayDeath]

Well, you were right about Andy's new clay prowess. His results are no fluke. Way to go, Andy!

Thanks lady tennis fan of Camelot and Discuss Tennis.

I had a feeling that Andy was about get rewarded for his hard work and his belief.

He had been getting killed by Djokovic but he still refused to cave in.

He knew he would get his opportunity sooner later. He simply had to be ready for it.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Thanks lady tennis fan of Camelot and Discuss Tennis.

I had a feeling that Andy was about get rewarded for his hard work and his belief.

He had been getting killed by Djokovic but he still refused to cave in.

He knew he would get his opportunity sooner later. He simply had to be ready for it.

I was amazed at the way he kept his composure. I don't know why Novak was so irritable, but he was getting on my nerves and I wasn't even across the net. That was a good match, they had some spectacular rallies and few errors it seemed. I'm glad that Andy won on his birthday; that was nice.

Edit: I meant to ask you, how did Novak, Federer and Rafa end up on the same side of the draw? Aren't #1 and #2 supposed to be on opposite sides of the draw? I don't think I've ever seen that before in a tournament on the men's or women's tour. Head scratcher.

 

[Moxie]

I was amazed at the way he kept his composure. I don't know why Novak was so irritable, but he was getting on my nerves and I wasn't even across the net. That was a good match, they had some spectacular rallies and few errors it seemed. I'm glad that Andy won on his birthday; that was nice.

Edit: I meant to ask you, how did Novak, Federer and Rafa end up on the same side of the draw? Aren't #1 and #2 supposed to be on opposite sides of the draw? I don't think I've ever seen that before in a tournament on the men's or women's tour. Head scratcher.

Roger and Andy had been trading 2/3, so Andy ended up at #2 for the Rome draw. With Rafa at #5, he could have ended up on either side, so it ended up being top-heavy. (As someone rather graphically expressed it earlier. :lulz2

Andy would have no call to be judgmental about his opponent acting irritable. But I'm pretty sure he was just enjoying it.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Roger and Andy had been trading 2/3, so Andy ended up at #2 for the Rome draw. With Rafa at #5, he could have ended up on either side, so it ended up being top-heavy. (As someone rather graphically expressed it earlier. :lulz2

Andy would have no call to be judgmental about his opponent acting irritable. But I'm pretty sure he was just enjoying it.

Oh Ok, that's right they were trading it back and forth depending on results and I guess when it was due to the cutoff date. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

 

[ClayDeath]

I was amazed at the way he kept his composure. I don't know why Novak was so irritable, but he was getting on my nerves and I wasn't even across the net. That was a good match, they had some spectacular rallies and few errors it seemed. I'm glad that Andy won on his birthday; that was nice.

Edit: I meant to ask you, how did Novak, Federer and Rafa end up on the same side of the draw? Aren't #1 and #2 supposed to be on opposite sides of the draw? I don't think I've ever seen that before in a tournament on the men's or women's tour. Head scratcher.

that was just the luck of the draw.

as for andy and djokovic, they are 1 and 2 so they had to be on the opposite side of the draw.

 

[ClayDeath]

andy was sharp from the baseline and also sharp at the net. he came to compete, fight, and win.

he was 13 for 17 at the net.

I did not see the match as I was chilling on the beach.

but I know what andy is capable of. one thing he wont do is cave in.

you just have to be ready because you never know when your opportunity is going to arrive.

what is impressive about this is that Andy does not have a dominating forehand.

so he is not going to win many encounters with djokovic. he just has to ambush djokovic now and then and catch him off guard.

one other thing: djokovic was not tired. he does not get tired.

Andy imposed his will on him. Andy would not back down today and it worked out.

 

[ClayDeath]

Andy has a chance at RG.

here are the 3 favorites:

1. very heavy favorite is djokovic
2. andy murray


3. rafa but only if the draw is right and the other 2 top guns stumble. it is better for Rafa if they both stumble.


one obviously has to go with Rafa should he meet djokovic in the final but it can run close as rafa's fitness is suspect.

andy vs djokovic final can run close too but that is a final that is likely to happen.


rafa could improved his lot in life going into RG this year but farting around was more important. he could have been seeded 2 or 4 but don't bring up sacrifices and long hard yards on the fitness front and in the training room around Rafa.