US Open, Flushing Meadows, NY USA - Grand Slam (Men)

[DarthFed]

My thinking too. Abysmal. He gave a funny interview after last match though.

I only like Shapovalov somewhat so far.

I hope Novak returns quickly and manages to stay healthy. This is just horrible.

Yeah I didn't see the match but it was expected. The kid is just a basher right now and the courts are playing slow. I have hopes for Shap and Zverev both. Hope they make the next step in 2018 and I too am hoping Nole comes back strong and sends Nadal back in the box.

 

[10isfan]

Rublev might regress for a while after this whipping. He is like Coric in some ways but mentally weaker for now.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Yeah I didn't see the match but it was expected. The kid is just a basher right now and the courts are playing slow. I have hopes for Shap and Zverev both. Hope they make the next step in 2018 and I too am hoping Nole comes back strong and sends Nadal back in the box.

As far as physically being ready, Shapo is ahead of the game for sure...He does not give up on the points and there were some points this week where his defense was Rafa-like. That is saying a lot , I know but the kid is almost there.

 

[El Dude]

I think he's got more weaponry than Coric, and I see him progressing quicker. Coric has been stalled in the 40-60 range for the third year in a row.

But clearly Rublev has his work cut out for him. The next year will probably be about consolidating a top 50 ranking, and maybe edging up to 30ish. Hopefully he doesn't do a Fritz or Chung and drop back quickly.

 

[10isfan]

Raining in NYC. Roof will be closed for Fed v Potro.

 

[crystalfire]

didnt catch rafas match...was rafa playing lights out or was it just rublev just not ready for a match of this level or both

 

[Front242]

didnt catch rafas match...was rafa playing lights out or was it just rublev just not ready for a match of this level or both

Neither played great imo. A lot of errors from Rublev. Loads of highlights on Youtube. Roger would eat up what I saw today if healthy. That's the if though.

 

[Busted]

didnt catch rafas match...was rafa playing lights out or was it just rublev just not ready for a match of this level or both

I saw most of the match. Rafa was Rafa - and I don't mean "lights out Rafa." Just regular hard courts Rafa. Rublev couldn't get a serve in, had a bunch of double faults and UEs. I stopped watching about early in the 3rd set (2+ sets more than my usual quota of non-Federer Nadal matches) and the kid had about 40 unforced errors. Doesn't play much defense and isn't the greatest mover either. Plus you can see he needs to bulk up. He's 6'2" and weighs about a buck-forty with stick legs. Needs a lot more lower body strength - especially for his serve.

 

[Busted]

Neither played great imo. A lot of errors from Rublev. Loads of highlights on Youtube. Roger would eat up what I saw today if healthy. That's the if though.

That's if he gets past DelPo. You never know...DelPo may be inspired tonight and just bash his forehand like crazy and try to hit Roger off the court. Stranger things have happened...

But Nadal? ITA...I wasn't impressed. If he plays Roger, even an injured Roger, he's going to have to do a helluva lot more than that to win.

 

[Front242]

Nadal went up 2-0 then played a muck service game. Rublev punished the weak serves with decent returns. Back to 2-1 and then played a rubbish game himself and dropped serve again. His own undoing. A lot of poor error ridden slop. He's young and skinny af as Busted pointed out. Like I said, Roger would eat this up if he's healthy and in good form.

 

[El Dude]

The hope for Rublev is that he looks at this as a learning opportunity - what he needs to work on. Hopefully he says, "Well, my talent got me to the QF, but holy crap playing a real player like Rafa is a whole different ball-game....I've got some work to do."

 

[Busted]

Anybody who said Murray wold be the next player to shut it down for the season the door prize. He shut it all down except for his November XO (for UNICEF) against Roger. Not unexpected at all. Just wish he'd had the decency to do it before the US Open draw was made!

 

[El Dude]

I'm going to channel my inner Carol and say that I wouldn't read too much into Rafa's performance. It would be foolish to think that he'll play the same in two days as he played today. Like all great players, Rafa conserved energy and only did what he needed to do to beat a greenhorn. Be sure that he'll up his game against Roger (or Delpo).

 

[Front242]

That's if he gets past DelPo. You never know...DelPo may be inspired tonight and just bash his forehand like crazy and try to hit Roger off the court. Stranger things have happened...

But Nadal? ITA...I wasn't impressed. If he plays Roger, even an injured Roger, he's going to have to do a helluva lot more than that to win.

Roger just needs to be ruthless and pound Del Potro's compromised backhand. But yeah, Nadal of today would be no trouble for Roger so if the 2 square off, as you say, he'll need to play A LOT better than that. The scoreline was lopsided because of Rublev's unforced errors and poor serving. Watch all the Nadal fans go bananas moaning at our commentary but all you need to do is watch the highlights to see we're speaking the truth and nothing but the truth.

 

[Busted]

The hope for Rublev is that he looks at this as a learning opportunity - what he needs to work on. Hopefully he says, "Well, my talent got me to the QF, but holy crap playing a real player like Rafa is a whole different ball-game....I've got some work to do."

If he learns to play defense - I can see him as a Davydenko type player...but I'm not seeing a Slam winner...

 

[Front242]

I'm going to channel my inner Carol and say that I wouldn't read too much into Rafa's performance. It would be foolish to think that he'll play the same in two days as he played today. Like all great players, Rafa conserved energy and only did what he needed to do to beat a greenhorn. Be sure that he'll up his game against Roger (or Delpo).

Absolutely, they all do that. Just do what's necessary. But equally so, you could see from his usual grumpy scowl whenever Rublev punished a weak serve with a decent return or blasted a winner past him, he looked angry and annoyed so it's not like he couldn't have done a lot better and I'm sure he would've preferred to win on his terms, ie, blasting the opponent off the court by showing decent form ahead of the semi. Instead it was just an uninspired, though lopsided affair because of the young opponent's inexperience and slop both on serve and in rallies. Way too many errors. Unwatchable for the most part.

 

[crystalfire]

so what im getting is if fed gets past delpo tonight he has a decent shot at beating rafa?

 

[Federberg]

If he learns to play defense - I can see him as a Davydenko type player...but I'm not seeing a Slam winner...

Not so sure about that. Davydenko was an exceptional mover. Still I think the kid has potential

 

[Front242]

so what im getting is if fed gets past delpo tonight he has a decent shot at beating rafa?

If healthy of course. Beaten him 4 straight now, 3 this year, so clearly he has a good shot. Obviously Nadal can play better than he did today and he'll have to do. Roger still has to win tonight but should unless he forgets the game plan of pummeling the lack of Del Potro backhand and Roger of course needs to be as close to 100% as possible and revert back to his Indian Wells and Miami return of serve and back to basics one, two punch, big serve/nicely placed serve and follow up winner game plan. Hopefully he'll bring out his best when needed.

 

[Front242]

Here's the whole match if anyone feels like watching occasional decent shots from both, interspersed with copius chunks of carrot gawk, mostly the latter.