Wimbledon Day 8: Tuesday, July 1 - Order of Play

[the AntiPusher]

No Excuse but an extremely dumb ass game plan by Uncle Toni and Rafa.. I am a USTA 5.0 - 4.5 player and there is no way in Hades I WOULD let a guy serve me up the T all day long. Rafa should have changed his positioning(I am not saying this because Cahill pointed it out , but my Lord that is tennis 101.)

Rafa movement wasnt where it needs to be which was evident when he consistently missed his DTl loopy FH shot and his inside out FH. He played too passively the entire match and wasnt coming forward to take control the ralles. Rafa's bh was way too passive and his slice strokes were just for rallies not with a purpose. His Movement to the Bh side was curtsory at best.






I said it before, the grass has changed at Wimbledon to a fast sort of Rafa proof type of surface. Rafa needs another voice to listen to beside Tony and FR, these guys are still preparing Rafa for the other tournaments but playing on the low bouncing surface that has been Wimbledon has made Rafa a deer in headlights. Hire a part time consultant even if it just for the grass courts season and Wimbledon. Rafa will never win there again unless he addresses the main areas above and get another grass court expert. Look at Fed, Djoker and Murray.. They all have changed or added new tennis consultants to become more competitive at SW19.. No excused but what a piss poor effort by Rafa.. I am furcious at his play over the past few weeks.

Come on, buddy, leave uncle T alone, the guy is unimpeachably great as a coach.

As for being furious at his play over the last few weeks - bear in mind that over the last few weeks he won a major.

Also, bear in mind that every single time Rafa heads to Wimbledon, he does so after just winning the French. There's a reason why this is an almost inaccessible double to achieve. Over the last decade, we've gotten used to the great players achieving almost impossible things - but we've forgotten a few old truths of the game: winning Paris and then making the adjustments necessary to win Wimbledon is a huge task, and it's in this area that Rafa has struggled over the last few years: he just hasn't had time to find his game on grass through playing matches.

Last year, he skipped Halle altogether.

The ironic thing is that he was playing well this year but just met a guy who played the greatest tennis. I know what you mean about positioning on the return, but this kid was a very clever server and he was capable of switching it out wide too, with the same results. You think that Rafa is slow on the uptake? The guy is maybe the most intelligent player we've seen, for figuring out a way to get into his opponent.

I think that next year he'll benefit from having the extra week: he can have a week for the beach, and then more time for preparation on grass. There won't be the usual rush on everything, trying to get enough rest after RG, while combining it with cramming lessons on grass, before he has to make the trip to London.

But none of this would have made a difference yesterday. Kyrgios was that good. We have to accept that. Rafa in his presser was realistic about it and gave the right praise, because this is reality. Sometimes you play well - and the other guy is inspired. Yesterday was that day.

I don't think he needs any more coaches, he already has the best in the game...

Thanks buddy.. I guess I am just getting fustrated with Rafa at Wimbledon. Just Rafa is a smart player but stubborn to a fault..Watch how the other players take away that kid's down the T serve. Fed, I know will just block it back with ease. Even Richy G addressed it better than Rafa.. However.. I will hold to my point..I think Rafa and Toni needs an grass court guru to assist with his grass court prepartion.. not a change of Toni but to add a different voice.. The other 3 has, why not Rafa.

 

[Kieran]

The other 3 don't have uncle T.

Rafa has 2 titles (same as Andy and Djoker, combined) and 5 finals (more than Andy and Djoker, combined). It isn't grass is the problem, it's making the transition to attempt the Channel Slam is hard. But yesterday was just a guy playing mind blowing stuff. As Rafa said in his interview, the serve was hard to read. And he's as good a reader of the game as anybody...

 

[the AntiPusher]

The other 3 don't have uncle T.

Rafa has 2 titles (same as Andy and Djoker, combined) and 5 finals (more than Andy and Djoker, combined). It isn't grass is the problem, it's making the transition to attempt the Channel Slam is hard. But yesterday was just a guy playing mind blowing stuff. As Rafa said in his interview, the serve was hard to read. And he's as good a reader of the game as anybody...

You Likey u sum Uncle Toni

 

[Kieran]

Danged right! The guy is a legendary coach, he's been great. I wouldn't change a thing until Toni says it should be done...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Danged right! The guy is a legendary coach, he's been great. I wouldn't change a thing until Toni says it should be done...

However you are missing my point, the way that Toni is preparing Rafa for the faster grass over the past 4 years isnt working. That's all I am saying , there are numerous grass court specialists outthere(male and female). add someone new to the team, Toni can still remain the Alpha Dawg in Rafa's coaching ranks but a change is needed for Rafa. look at the numbers, Yes Rafa wasnt "Right when he faced Darcis... I have always felt that he really exapnds a lot just to win RG. As for loosing to a hot big hitting player, I dont subscribe to the theory that it was just the other guy's day, there wasnt a damn thing special about this kid serving down the T.. Call me Darth AP, but darn it This has got to change. or he will never win this title again

 

[Kieran]

I get your point, but I disagree. The issue is that he's taking longer to recover from majors. Look at him after last years FO: didn't play Halle.

After the USO: form dipped.

He didn't even make it to the end of Oz and he was blessed the FO final didn't go to five.

So he's not getting enough time to make the transition, which is immense and extraordinary enough as it is. Winning the FO and Wimbo back to back is difficult, more so now he's getting on, and guys are flying at him, like Nick.

I don't see anybody helping with that, but the extra week next year may...