Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand and Steen Kirby of Tennis Atlantic preview and pick the four best men’s singles matches on Tuesday at the Australian Open. Rafael Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt are the headliners.
(5) Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco
Ricky: 2009 ain’t walkin’ through that door. Nadal is no longer the player he was when he beat Verdasco in one of the best matches ever played, a five-set thriller in the ’09 Australian Open semifinals. Unfortunately for Verdasco, he is even further from his prime at this point in time. Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series 14-2, and Verdasco’s two wins can be easily explained. One came on a joke of a surface (blue clay, Madrid 2012) and the other came when Nadal was a shadow of his real self early in 2015 (Miami). The world No. 5 is much-improved now–at least against anyone except Novak Djokovic. This should be beatdown city. Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Steen: This Australian Open rematch is almost certain to come nowhere close to their 2009 semifinal epic. Verdasco beat Nadal in Miami last year and that should give him some belief, but they have been trending in opposite directions since then. With Nadal looking motivated to boost his ranking this year, I doubt he’ll want to dance much with a troublesome countryman. Look for Rafa to roll. Nadal 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
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(WC) James Duckworth vs. (WC) Lleyton Hewitt
Ricky: Something is wrong if this one does not result in a five-set marathon. It is, of course, Hewitt’s last hurrah. And nothing screams “five-set marathon” quite like Hewitt vs. Duckworth at the Australian Open. Combined, five of their last eight matches at this event have gone to five sets. Given the fact that Hewitt is probably focused on more on his upcoming Davis Cup duties and general life after tennis than on his actual game, there are not a whole lot of players in this draw whom he would beat. But Duckworth may be one of them. Don’t be surprised if Hewitt wins an epic before David Ferrer sends him on his way. Hewitt 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.
Joey: At his age, Hewitt could be blitzed by the heavy pre-Australian Open farewell schedule (Hopman Cup, Sydney, Adelaide). This may well turn into his swan-song if Duckworth simply plays a consistent match and stays focused on winning amidst all the fanfare surrounding this one. But given the circumstances, it’s more likely Hewitt will put up a great fight and Duckworth will accede to his countryman under the lights. It would be far more fitting for Hewitt to be sent off by Ferrer, and thus I have him winning this one–somehow…regardless of form, record, or anything else. The former world No. 1 truly has nothing to lose now. Hewitt 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
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Gilles Muller vs. (20) Fabio Fognini
Ricky: Fognini did not win a single hard-court match in 2015 until the U.S. Open. He has already won two this season (reached the Auckland quarterfinals before losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga). The Italian is obviously off to a much better start this season, but his third hard-court victory may not come Down Under. This is a bad first-round draw against Muller, who advanced to the Sydney semifinals last week. The 32-year-old Luxembourgian also made a run to the Aussie fourth round last season. In what should be a competitive contest, Muller will have the mental edge. Muller 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 7-5.
Steen: Both veterans have started this year with winning records (4-2 for Muller and 2-1 for Fognini). Fognini’s performance at the U.S. Open last year demonstrates that when focused, he can be a top 20 hard-court player. Muller is more consistent as a cracking serve-and-volleyer, though, and the Sydney semifinalist reached the fourth round of the 2015 Australian Open. This one should be close, but Muller’s consistency will help him get the upset. Muller 5-7, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
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(25) Jack Sock vs. (Q) Taylor Fritz
Ricky: Is it more than a coincidence that Sock withdrew from the Auckland final due to illness right after his favorite restaurant–Chipotle–announced it is shutting down for one day in February to hold a food-safety meeting? Hopefully not. If Sock is healthy (and he should be with two full days of rest), this all-American showdown is going to be straightforward. Fritz’s rise in the last half-year has been meteoric, but he is nowhere near ready from primetime. Although the 18-year-old came back from 4-0 down in the final set of the final round of qualifying against Mischa Zverev to win six games in a row, that had a lot more to do with Zverev than with Fritz. Sock 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.
Steen: This match would be easier to predict and more interesting if it wasn’t somewhat likely to end in a retirement. Sock has been playing well to start the season, he’s more experienced, and currently at a level well above Fritz. But the Auckland finalist had to retire this past Saturday due to the flu and looked miserable. Fritz is exhausted, as well, but making his first slam main draw as a qualifier should boost his spirits. He was lucky to qualify, and he may get lucky again if Sock is still sick. But Sock should grab a win if healthy. Sock 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
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Patrick Serenas coach take on Rafa is very interesting.
Read the article. He says that Rafa always in past 10 years has continuously dropped balls short with his FH and he has been saying it all along but people did not dare to step inside the court and hit the short balls respecting Rafas speed. He feels its all about Rafa being a step slower now and that’s root cause of all issue. He says Rafa knows his speed and reflexes have gotten slower. He also says Rafa wants to come inside court, stay at baseline and play attacking but the minute he is nervous, he steps behind the baseline and retreats to older style and due to lack of speed, gets brutally hit for winners.
I think he is spot on. I always loved hearing Patrick. He is insightful.
Here is the article. It is in English and not translated, so hopefully we will not have baseless arguments about speculation/interpretation and actually discuss the merits/demerits.
http://www.si.com/tennis/2016/01/20/rafael-nadal-patrick-mouratoglou-australian-open
@ sanju,
That’s exactly what I have been saying all along…lack of speed it is…
The short balls issue happens all along, we Rafa fans already knew about it, that’s nothing new. Its just like Fed’s BH, the flaw is/was already there, but he was quick to cover that flaw against most players because they’re simply in awe with him, until one day a youngster named Rafael Nadal exposed Fed’s backhand flaw and showing everyone else how to do it and that Fed wasn’t/isnt perfect.
Rafa’s footspeed wont just deteriorate so much for no reason.Remember how quick he was against Murray during FO2014? How could it deteriorate so quickly come Jan 2015? Aging and injury would affect his movement but the effects wont be so sudden or so drastic.
Its all due to his FH; he’s mistiming his FH because he couldnt impart the topspin to get the same results he had previously. After reading about what Rafa said about the balls during his interview, its not difficult to understand why Rafa’s FH is/was badly affected. By the end of last year, Rafa had gotten used to the balls and getting his FH timing back. Notice that his footspeed was more or less back to normal by then. He was also learning to hit a flatter FH to deal with the ball changes. He changed his racket strings during IPTL and so had to get used to them again.
I think its still a WIP, he will get used to all these changes -strings, flat FH, BHDTL, serve and ROS, playing close to baseline and moving inside the court, etc. The AO is too soon for him, as he hasnt enough time to figure things out, like when to hit flat and when with topspin and to get the switching right and naturally. He was also caught between defence and offence, probably still getting used to playing closer to the baseline and trying to force himself not to fall back to defensive play well behind the baseline.
Sanju JANUARY 21, 2016 AT 1:55 PM
—so in that Spanish article, is Rafa saying his string and changed racquet connect with newer balls is an issue? What can he do to correct it?…—
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I already wrote that Rafa didn’t say this. I post the translation made by a Spanish speaker.
¤¤ Question: “The experts ensure that your forehand is not the same as before, that it has lost the characteristic topspin that unhinged your rivals.”
RAFA: ” It is so. Against Verdasco, it did not have it, for example. There are different factors causing this. The balls have changed a bit and are now hollower. The balls are less lively. A few years ago, the ball came out very fast off the racket and nowadays they stay longer on the strings. The rivals who hit the ball flatter feel the error less with these balls. And this favors playing in a ‘going for broke’ way. With the other balls, it was more complicated because you felt that when it came with top spin it was difficult to hit it because the ball was going away from the strings fast.”
Question: “Things have changed.”
RAFA:” Things have changed and I have tried to adapt to the change…” [and so on…]
.
P.S. I have written multiple times that there is no confirmation that Rafa has changed his racket frame.
luckystar JANUARY 21, 2016 AT 4:18 AM
—I read a google translated version of his Spanish interview done before he left Melbourne. … When asked about his serve problem, he said something like now he’s not given much time to think and prepare so his serve is not as good as before.—
luckystar JANUARY 21, 2016 AT 5:27 AM
Its at http://www.elespanol.com. Its in Spanish, the Googled translated English headline is : ‘I have no fear of my date’.
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Rafa gave this interview after his match in Melbourne. He wasn’t asked about serve, it’s incorrect translation (Spanish: ¿Ya no sirve lo que hacía el antiguo Nadal? Google: “You no longer serves that made the old Nadal?”).
I post the translation made by a Spanish speaker.
¤¤ Question: “Does what the old Nadal did no longer work?”
RAFA: ” Currently, tennis is played in a faster way. Before there was more time to prepare the points. The same game of today, with my version of eight or nine years ago… I sincerely believe that I would still be at the very top.” ¤¤
Yep, I read a properly translated one too. I think Rafa certainly feels rushed by this TV rule implementation, so his serve is somehow affected. The pace of play is also quickened and Rafa is affected the most as his game is based on constructing points before winning them, not first strike tennis.
Perhaps that explains the rise of hard hitting, quick winners brand of tennis. Rafa is certainly at a disadvantage here unless he plays this way too which I doubt he will. He moving more inside the court to take control of points, the way Fed and Novak do, is the way forward for him imo.
Luckystar (AT 10:12 AM)
—Yep, I read a properly translated one too.—
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There is a short version in English published by EL ESPAÑOL and the whole article in English translated by Genny. Which one did you read?
Haven’t read in detail the one from Genny though I have that version.
Luckystar (AT 11:00 AM),
The translated text I posted AT 8:29 & 8:56 AM comes from Genny’s one.
There’s been a concerted and we’ll orchestrated effort to stop Rafa from catching fed that started with draw rigging in 2008 and continued with the new Rafa time violation rule.
As I predicted, it exacerbated Rafa’s anxiety preventing him from finding calm with his rituals between serves. Over the years he’d added more and more.
Didn’t know about the ball change but not surprised.
All about protecting Rogers slam record.
Yep. I think while Rafa was away during 2nd half of 2014, they meddled with the balls to make them more difficult to hit with high rpm. Those who hit the hell our of the ball, like Sock for eg., was still able to hit with high topspin as he’s a hard hitter. The TV rule was implemented while Rafa was away injured but he stormed back in 2013 to win two slams and regained no.1. This time they tried something else to stop Rafa and it appeared they have succeeded, for the time being.
Rafa doesnt play that way, ie hard hitting, so his FH is severely affected. No wonder Rafa is now practicing hitting flat shots with his FH, its just that he’s not used to do that in actual matches. It takes time and practice makes perfect so I believe Rafa will get it and soon.
…but they’ve never expected Novak’s rise. Novak is going to break Fed’s records one by one and setting his own records.
Also the lefties that Rafa once owned are turning the tables on him. He has lost to verdasco, Klizan, Berrer, Lopez in quick succession.
If Rafa can overcome the present problems and comes out the winner at the slams again, the next thing they will do is speed up all the courts and make them all low bouncing.
Rafa is already feeling the quickening of pace of play now with the tv rule and shorter time between points and on top of that, the changes to hollower balls.
If Rafa can conquer all these problems and emerge a more aggressive player on all surfaces and winning at the slams again, then I think he’s really the greatest of this era.
Perhaps, all these changes will finally force the re-emergence of that fierce and fearless little Rafa of 2004, and I’ll thank all those who put such adversities in front of Rafa, forcing him to turn aggressive and fight off all adversities.
Not young anymore Rafa is lucky that he has time to become the fearless 2004 Rafa
No, then that has only meant that Federer has been and will be the greatest of this era because he has adjusted to conditions tailor made for defenders and manufacturing rivals for him. The conditions of now are really not THAT fast. Maybe the time between points but that is due to a pre-existing rule. That rule was not written because RAFA turned pro. It was present well before then. And let’s face it, towelling off after hitting an ace is pretty annoying (not referring to Nadal here).
How do you know Rafa wont emerge the winner next time? They have not ended their careers yet.
When did I say Nadal can’t win? I said conditions cannot be used to crown Nadal when the courts were made for his type of game. And they still are. I have seen no real improvements in court speeds.
Wrong, courts are not made for Rafa to win. I wonder where you get that. Rafa doesnt like slow conditions, he likes conditions where the ball can be lively after the bounce. Its a musconception that Rafa likes and strives on slow surfaces. He’s excellent on clay not because of slowness of the surface but because of the high bounces.
Note that Rafa’s records at the slower HCs aren’t that fantastic; he managed only one AO, 3 IWs and zero Miami. He won 3 Canada, 1 Cincy, 1 Olympics gold, 2 USO, 1 Madrid indoors, 1 Dubai and 1 Tokyo, all on medium to fast surfaces.
Indoor HCs are not his forte as they’re usually low bouncing surfaces.
Wut? What conditions have favoured him pray tell? Everything is slow now. And he’s won more than enough at the few tournaments that play in remotely quick conditions as also ones that didn’t favour him-which is basically a majority of the tour.
Luckystar Nadal likes to play on any surface that gives him time to react to the ball and takes his spin well. Basically defense. You call it a slow surface/ high bouncing surface, it’s all the same in terms of connotation….As long as he can rely on defense as his trump card. And most surfaces today allow for it. He will likely still struggle on HCs because big hitters with a decent height are never out of the picture. But he got a much much better chance at winning than he would have in the past. So he’s already won a lot there.
Fedfan what are you talking about? As I’ve mentioned, Rafa won on medium to quick HC surfaces more than on slower HC surfaces like AO, IW and Miami. Slow surfaces doesnt equate higher bounces as the O2 arena in 2015 had shown – its slow and low bouncing.
Rafa DID not benefit from slowing down of HCs, in fact its Novak who benefited from it, winning 5 AOs, 4 IWs and 5 Miami!!
I would even say that Fed was the one who benefited the MOST when they slowed down Wimbledon from 2002 onwards and most HCs in general after the 1990s so dont come here and tell us that Rafa is the biggest beneficiary of the present playing conditions. It’s Fed who benefited the most from conditions being slowed from 1990s pace to pace that suited him most during 2004 to 2008!
Luckystar (AT 2:58 PM),
—Fed was the one who benefited the MOST when they slowed down Wimbledon from 2002 onwards and most HCs in general after the 1990s so dont come here and tell us that Rafa is the biggest beneficiary of the present playing conditions. It’s Fed who benefited the most from conditions being slowed…—
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Fed fans repeat what their maestro says. Fed has admitted that he has benefited from slower courts, but he has said that Rafa has benefited more.
Fed’s interview in Stockholm on Oct. 20, 2010.
(An excerpt, from the 2:36 to 3:13 minute marks in the video below)
Question: “Lately conditions have become worse for you: the surfaces [are] slower, the balls are heavier. What do You think of that development ?”
FED: “I mean, I think, it’s been also a bit benefit for me, because the faster the court, the smaller the margins are in some way. So, I became such a great athlete from the baseline that I could defend and attack so well with my footwork, and then with my technique that allows me to do so many things. I think, actually slow surface maybe also helped me a little bit, but I really feel like it’s getting a little bit too extreme and I am sure it HELPED Rafa, but he has adapted as well to the faster courts…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nX2K-B1qX4
Exactly augusta.
Rafa played on the same surfaces as Fed during 2004 to 2008 for eg.and he won at Beijing, Montreal and Madrid Indoors Masters in 2005; won Dubai 2006 beating none other than Fed in the final. He also won Toronto and Beijing Olympics in 2008. He reached the finals at Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007 playing on the same grass surface that Fed played(and won).
I just dont see how the slowing of surfaces, presumably after 2008, benefited Rafa, when he didnt win much on the HCs or grass, but continued his dominance on clay. After 2008, Rafa did win on quick HCs at Montreal and Cincy in 2013 and Tokyo in 2010, medium paced ones at USO2010/2013 if some insist that the USO has been slowed down.
All in all, he won only 5 titles on slower HCs – 1AO, 3 IW and 1 Doha – how’s that for ‘benefiting’ Rafa??
I will come here and tell you whatever I please. You don’t own the website.
There is no way any remotely informed person will argue that Fed somehow benefitted out of a slowdown. He may have adjusted to it and worked on his fitness accordingly but his style/game is an out and out evidence of his nature to attack.
Fed trained on indoor hard after leaving Basel and his most formative years were spent learning the Aussie all-court tennis under Carter.
His volleying/ net game of today is something he ALWAYS had and didnt use as often because it simply wasn’t a winning strategy all these years. Right now, it is his means of compensating what he has lost physically. Even in terms if equipment Fed used half gut instead of full poly which is mainly characteristic of the modern defender/baseliner.
Nadal by contrast got his best ever chance to win on HCs due to a combination of slow conditions/strings. Even Nadal knows he got the chance of his life due to slow conditions leaving him with more time to reach balls that would normally END a point.
So no. Conditions are the last parameter to proclaim Nadal the greatest. Because he simply isn’t.
Preach
Fedfan, read again. I said greatest of this ERA, not GOAT.
You CAN’T deny that Fed won most of his titles on already slowed down surfaces during 2004-2008. Did he S&V to win his titles? No! The surface speed during 2004-2008 suited his play to the T, when prior to that he wasnt winning anything major while both Hewitt and Safin won their majors before him, in 2000 and 2001.
And what’s with Rafa having the best chance to win on slowed down surfaces when he was playing on similar surfaces as Fed as early as 2004, unless you agree Fed has also benefited on such surfaces.
Again, Rafa hadn’t win much on surfaces other than on clay, how then would he benefit from the slowed down surfaces??
And what is this ‘you dont own this website’??? Why such a comment??
In the first place, this greatest of the Era talk was on the assumption that IF Rafa could overcome all the problems and adversities, including the ball changes, quickening of pace of play AND the speeding up of the courts (should they do that next), to continue winning at the slams. So that encompasses winning on any type of surfaces, slow or quick.
It doesnt matter what Rafa has already won but what he is able to win, on all kinds of surfaces, quick or slow; only if he can do that, then we talk about GOTE.
No, the TV rule is not new but the enforcement, lately, is because of Rafa. When the rule was first introduced it was 30 seconds between points and it was to stop players deliberating wasting time by engaging with the spectators, undoing and tying up their shoelaces unnecessarily to annoy their opponent and arguing with the umpire. Stand up Nastase and Mc Enroe.
But Nadal does waste time. As did Djokovic for a long time. Maybe it’s not deliberate but if it stalls the game for the other guy, then yes the rule has to be enforced. It’s not like some persecution drive. Nadal can serve quickly if he puts his mind to it. I think Nadal’s problem is either pressure driven (to win big tournaments) or speed related, meaning he can no longer fall back on his defense like he used to.
I would totally agree with you if the rule was enforced for everyone, every time the go over the time limit with a shot clock for all to see when the time starts and ends. It’s no use letting some go over the time because they are not serial offenders or because they are not Rafa. Similarly, if they don’t enforce and punish ALL code violations including swearing and smashing equipment, including the sponsor’s bench, then the enforcement is unfair.
Many a time Murray is guilty of audible obscenities and all that happens is an apology by the commies on his behalf. What’s that about?
Not only is racquet smashing not punished, but the players are allowed more than 25 seconds between the points in order to get another one from their bag.
Wrong. It is new. It was redefined with a different penalty so it could be called more acceptably while still rushing Rafa..
Fedfan is consistently wrong.
As Murray, Nole and Agassi has said, Rafa is the GOAT.
No fed fan boy can change that.
Federazzi are a comical lot.
Fedfan..I don’t think any Rafan is now even bothered about whether he will be called greatest of his era or GOAT..All we want now is for him to start winning again the bigger matches and tournaments. The rest will follow.
After Rafa won USO 2013 and his 13th..there was unanimous voice that its matter of time before Rafa touches 17 and he has won just 1 slam in past 9 slams and has seriously derailed. So right now we will talk of 17 when Rafa wins 16. Till then 1 at a time.
To be honest, Djoko has more chance of crossing Rafa than Rafa has of crossing Fed as we speak BUT things can change . No one thought Rafa will dominate 2010 and 2013 like he did , similarly no one thought after 2010 and 2013 , he would have the years 2011 and 2014 as he did.
In 2014, Rafa only played for half a year and even in that first half of the year he had back injury.
Yes nadline..he maybe limited due to injury..what I am trying to say is things change..no one thought injury will havoc his 2014 after 2013 like it did.
2009 injury created havoc after his 2008..2014 injury created havoc after his 2013..and 2011 Novak created havoc after his 2010.
And how’s Fed being the greatest of this era when he’s also not winning in conditions that’s supposed to not favoring him?
Wut? What conditions have favoured him pray tell? Everything is slow now. And he’s won more than enough at the few tournaments that play in remotely quick conditions as also ones that didn’t favour him-which is basically a majority of the tour.
Fedfan, please read carefully. I said ‘conditions that’s supposed to NOT favoring him’. You understand the meaning of my comment?
And what had he won enough on conditions that didnt favor him? His game worked better on HCs and on grass, so how’s him winning on them considered not favoring him? Its on clay the slowest surface that he didnt do well; I mean winning only 11 clay titles in 17 years?
Also, conditions during day time maybe quicker relatively (even with the so called hollow balls) but they’re as slow as ever at night.
And what’s your point? Its not whether the balls are heavy or light, but whether they’re lively or not. Heavier balls may not be topspin friendly.
Rafa is adjusting to hitting flatter shots, he did hit flatter during his younger days in 2004.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/nadal-content-in-the-direction-he-is-going-australian-open-2016
Rafa is positive which is good news. But he is still only talking about competing and working hard which is upsetting.
Sanju (AT 5:28 AM),
The article you posted is based on Rafa’s interview with EL ESPAÑOL that has been cited (& quoted) many times here, you included (JANUARY 21, 2016 AT 1:55 PM).
There was never a better translation that what was provided above.
Why is there an issue if it is getting discussed and quoted again madam?
Sanju (AT 10:02 AM),
My comment was intended for informational purposes, sir. 🙂
Why is it upsetting?? Didnt you see his progress during end of last season? Its a matter of getting the balance right.
I seriously doubt a new coach could do anything as according to you Rafa is old at 30 and had no time left to change. A new coach is not a magical formula, it may end up worse as Rafa has to adjust again.
Rafa knows what the problem(s) is/are and he’s addressing them. Working hard and training hard may not be just doing the same thing; he may be working to get the balance of defence/offence right; getting the switch between flat and topspin shots right; getting used to returning serves from a more aggressive position and working on his serve.
Why because of one match we all gone so upset again? Yes, we were all frustrated because he was tentative, hesitant, served poorly and made some poor shot selections during the match, but once he upped his aggression he went on to win set 2 & 3. At least he knows he should play better in set 1 to win it so he now should know he cant afford to start slow esp when everyone these days are hitting hard and playing aggressively from the get go.
He can now make use of the smaller events at SA to build up his confidence and implement all those changes he has made. There are 8 tournaments for him to get everything right and be ready for the FO, I’m confident he can get there in good shape and good mind.
All of a sudden I am in tune with hawkeye regarding Rafa’s situation. I can’t deny that I’m not upset. In fact I am unable to watch any of the top guys playing without welling up about the fact that yet again Rafa is not among them. The other day, I watched a ladies’ match between players I’d never heard of because I couldn’t bring myself to watch the men.
Let’s hope the sun shines for Rafa again and his fans have something to smile about in the near future.
Vamos Rafa!
^^^^^Wrong!!!!!!!!!!! Not hawkeye.
It’s Luckystar I am agreeing with above! I thought hawkeye had been to Damascus. 🙂
nadline10 (AT 8:36 AM),
LOL
You’re true hidden feelings betray your outer persona nadline.
Come to the Dark Side nadline. Join Me and together we can rule the TG universe.
Or something to that effect.
#FreudianSlipsAreEverywhere
Upsetting as in I would like to hear something different than just more practice and more hard work. Maybe he is doing more and not telling.
I am not saying a new coach is the solution. That is a easier and popular opinion. Like we all know our bodies best and what works and what does not, similarly Rafa knows himself best and what will work for him from a support system perspective. All I am saying is the positivity is very good and working hard is great but more of the same old thing may not be sufficient.
Tht said the clay events in 2013 set him up for the massive year, hopefully it will be the same again. I remember start of 2013 after Rafa returned from the 7 month layoff, we all were shocked with his play in initial matches and all commented on how he was just a shadow of his former self but come Acupalco(the Mexico tournament0 and he just transformed and even beat Ferrer 6 0 6 2 in final and ofcourse Indian Wells where he beat Fed, Berdych, Delpo to win it.
I don’t say that Rafa should add someone else to his team lightly. I take that seriously. Also, I am not taking anything away from Uncle Toni, who should get well deserved credit for helping Rafa to win 14 slams. But I also believe that there are times when a change is needed. Things change over a player’s career. Rafa is struggling mentally now in a way that he never did in his career up to now. His serving has been abysmal. Opponents seem to read him like a book, knowing where he is going to serve and where to hit before he does it.
It’s not about being popular. It’s about being able to express what each of us feels about Rafa’s situation and what he can do about it. I do not think that sticking with practicing hard, harder, hardest is going to get it done. It’s true that we don’t know what is going on behind the scenes with Rafa and his team. But all one has to do is watch that loss to Verdasco and realize that this is a dire situation.
As a matter of fact, it’s not a popular opinion to speak out as some of us have on this site. As far as this loss being a one-off, I beg to differ. What about the loss to Fog at last year’s USO in the early rounds? The early round loss to Brown seemed to follow this unfortunate pattern of the last few years with Rafa getting knocked out early at Wimbledon.
What about the lopsided nature of Rafa’s loss to Novak in the Doha final? That was the least competitive Rafa has been. So there is a pattern here. In the closing months of last year, Rafa seemed to be getting himself together but it has not translated to the beginning of this year.
If the other top players can make changes as their careers progress, there is no reason why Rafa cannot do the same. Someone to help him with his serve would be nice. His serve is hurting him big time right now. Sometimes a new person can give a fresh perspective and have new ideas. It’s not about changing Rafa’s basic game. That cannot be done. But there are incremental changes that can be implemented.
I guess we will have to wait and see if these changes are being put into place and it will just take a bit longer to see the results. What happens during the clay season, should give us more answers.
Just seeing Verdasco lose to Sela, tells us that he was absolutely beatable.
Nny, left you a note on the Williams vs Kasatkina thread 😉
rc,
I can’t find the thread. Should I look in WTA?
Here ya go:
https://tenngrand.com/2016/01/21/australian-open-r3-previews-and-picks-williams-vs-kasatkina-sharapova-vs-davis/#comment-80242
Comment below on article says. Who was this strategist?
future_goat
Nadal parted ways with a consultant who worked on his strategy in 2014. He needs to bring that guy back. Uncle Toni can stay.
Sanju (AT 5:30 AM),
Address your question to the author of that comment (on the ATP site).
Are you the monitor of this thread? Don’t tell me what to do or what to ask . If you don’t know the answer, kindly don’t respond. God you behave like some warden of a hostel 🙂
Sanju (AT 10:04 AM)
This applies to you too! 🙂
I never tell anyone what to do or not to do 🙂
If someone on that thread said he had some strategist and frankly I have never read about that, so I asked if anyone knows.
Sanju (AT 10:45 AM),
—I never tell anyone what to do or not to do :-)—
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You did AT 10:04 AM. 🙂
Sanju, don’t mind augusta. It’s not her fault. She can’t help it.
She has a ritual “situation” like Rafa.
More articles on Rafa from maybe the same source which will infuriate augusta further 🙂 Talks about retirement etc.
http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadal-Retirement-doesnt-scare-me-I-have-nothing-to-prove-articolo29678.html
Lol too funny. 🙂
I was first to post the English translation from the original source but I don’t think I deserve any special Rafa points. 🙂
Do you????
Sanju (AT 11:22 AM),
Yep, it’s from the same source.
Nicolas Almagro has spoken very positively about his compatriot Rafael Nadal. The Former World No. 9 does not think the World No. 5 is finished and invites journalists to think the same.
‘All the things you write, there are all an extra because Rafa will be always there and no one will take away what he has done. I bet my head that today he is running in the airplane doing sprint in order to arrive in Mallorca to practice and I don’t bet the fingers of my hands, but almost surely we will see him playing in Buenos Aires. What he wants is winning and at the end he will win, because that’s the mentality he has’.
‘That mentality brought him to be World No. 1: work, spirit of sacrifice and willing to win. I can already tell you he doesn’t read what you write, instead he changes page and reads about Real Madrid. If I were you, I would write that he will be back. Rafa is on the way of the comeback and you will see how he will win the 10th Roland Garros’
Nadal is playing more aggressive even if in Melbourne Verdasco dictated the point: ‘When something changes, you have to reinvent (yourself). He is closer to the baseline when he returns, it makes the difference. It will take time to feel comfortable with the changes, because he used to play from the back of the court. It’s a difficult moment but I am not worried for his long-term future, I believe he will be back at high level but I don’t know think he will win another Slam’-
Jim Courier thinks Nadal’s attitude has to change: ‘If I were his coach, the first thing I would do is remind him of his greatness, which it seems he doubts sometimes’ – he said to NY Times. And the attitude of Rafa’s opponents also changed: ‘These guys realized they had to try to take the racket out of Rafa’s hand by overpowering him. It’s a strategy that frankly has been used too rarely against the big four. Those guys have been too good for the field if you allow them to play their way. Disruption is the only option to cause an upset’.
Former Spanish player Alex Corretja revealed to BBC: ‘He can still win a Slam, it’s not easy to beat Nadal at the best of five sets. Maybe if he faced another opponent he would have arrived until the second week. It’s a while that he is unlucky with the draw. Do players believe more that they can win now? Maybe yes, even if it does not mean that they are not respectful of him’.
Both Toni Nadal and Francis Roig said that Rafa does not play his forehand with so much tospin like he was doing before he used to “kill” his opponents. ‘It’s right. With Verdasco I have not played with topspin, for example. There are different factors that cause it. The balls have changed a little bit. A few years ago balls came out very fast from the racket and nowadays they stay longer on the strings. Opponents that hit less strong make less unforced errors with these balls. Things have changed and I have tried to adapt to the change. I’m not playing with the effect I had before, I’m playing in a little different way. I was doing things well, but against Verdasco I had no time to hit where I wanted to. I didn’t have the right position on the court to dictact the rallies. I could have player deeper, using more the angles, and I didn’t succeed to do it’.
Making changes is possible, but changing drastically at 29, it’s not. ‘These are not radical changes, it’s not that we become crazy. I want to apply the changes my coaches tell me in order to stay on the top. Changes are always little. You cannot make drastical changes, not when you are 23 nor at 29. You cannot go against your game style. You can modify and do little changes, but you cannot go against your mind and your way to see the sport.’
That mind, that mental strength that has given him too many disappointments last year. And Rafa has not had any problem to admit it: ‘It’s clear that you lose matches with your mind. But you win with it, too. It ‘s not that you win 14 Grand Slams with the mind. The only way to win is to have shots that allow you to do it. When you face high level opponents and you’re at he limit, the mind is important. When mentally you are bad, you lose matches and 2015 is a proof. How can you recover that mental strength? With the wins and consistency. Last year I lost to people who I should have not lost and it’s logic they believe they can beat me. And when you believe there are more options this will happen’.
What is the success? ‘It’s something very partial. The real success is the happiness on a personal level. If you have much money, if you are No. 1 in everything they propose you, but you are not really happy with your personal life… you could have success in one thing, but probably you don’t have it under the aspect that counts more. Being happy is the true success and in order to be happy you need people you love on your side, you need people that love you. Having a stable life and being coherent. If you are not coherent you won’t be happy’.
What does the concept of talent mean for him? ‘The talent is something people confuse. Having talent does not mean play well or hit strong the ball or not making unforced errors, or because you play a one-handed backhand very well or because you run very well. In tennis, and in sports in general, the ultimate goal is to win. The summary is obvious: who wins more has more talent. It’s the same if you learn a thing in 15 minutes or in three hours. If I practice for four hours and you can do it only for 15 minutes, you will have learned for 15 minutes, while I have practiced for four hours. This is what it means to have talent. Why? Because from the mental point of view I have the talent to keep having chances, to keep working and to accept that I made errors with the mentality of doing better. There are many ways to intend the talent, but at the end the talent is winning more. It’s the same if you do it in a beautiful or bad way, in the way you want. The talent is doing a given activity in a better way’
Interesting. It’s nice that you reposted this link in its entirety for all to see.
Thank you sanju.
What I don’t understand, is why the balls were giving Rafa trouble. The other top players don’t seem to have any problem with them.
I did enjoy reading Rafa’s thoughts. I hope that things work out. That’s all I can do as a fan. I want him to have at least one more great run in this sport.
Nativenewyorker (AT 8:56 PM)
—What I don’t understand, is why the balls were giving Rafa trouble.—
===
.
Rafa explained.
Sorry, but you failed to quote my next sentence. To the effect that the new balls are not bothering the other top players
Context is everything. So it helps when you don’t just take one sentence and ignore what followed.
Nativenewyorker (AT 9:34 PM)
—Sorry, but you failed to quote my next sentence… Context is everything.—
===
.
You’ll find context in Rafa’s answer to the question he was asked.
Rafa was hitting more topspin than anyone else hence he’s the most affected. Rafa explained it in his interview.
Sanju (AT 11:36 AM)
This is from the same article:
https://tenngrand.com/2016/01/18/australian-open-day-2/comment-page-8/#comment-79625
I add to my post AT 12:08 PM that I meant the same article (= Rafa’s interview) published by EL ESPAÑOL in Spanish on January 21, 2016.
Sanju makes the most of his posts.
Best source of information on Rafa here when he posts.
Vamos Sanju!
No wonder a client of “T-X” lacks information.
As opposed to a client and supplier of excess spam.
I’m wondering who can reliably tell us where is Rafa instead of inaccurately trying to tell others that he won’t return to Spain.
As I said, sanju posts the relevant information about Rafa and it’s always reliable and accurate.
Vamos Sanju!
It really coincides with what I have been thinking…great reading! Thank you sanju!
Rafa thinks the game has changed, that players try to hit winners with every ball, but they only seem to do that against Rafa. I have watched many ping pong matches this week that Rafa would have killed for.
nadline10 (AT 1:47 PM),
I repeat: beating Rafa is everybody’s meal ticket.
It’s an all you can eat buffet and everyone is getting their fill.
They must be stuffed.
Rafa would have hit the ball short enabling those players to employ the new brand creating a blip or hitting their soft second serves into the net like he did against verdasco.
Verdasco was horrible and won. Sela proved that.
Even Rafa said he didn’t so anything special to put any pressure on verdasco.
^ This! I agree all the way!
Nativenewyorker (AT 8:58 PM),
Verdasco didn’t agree.
nadline10 (AT 1:47 PM),
Verdasco broke two nails during the match against Rafa.
Marca Jan. 22, 2015 :
(An excerpt, translated via Google)
¤¤ Verdasco, who was for nearly five hours on court with Nadal on Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open, yesterday lacked the necessary spark…[to trouble Israeli Dudi Sela].
“From the beginning I realized that I did not feel my legs. I lacked energy and spark. The match against Nadal takes your body to the limit. I ended up with two broken nails. The three times I’ve won it, I lost in the following match. It’s a bit frustrating because two days ago I felt amazing,” said Verdasco. ¤¤
http://www.marca.com/tenis/open-australia/2016/01/22/56a196ef268e3e740a8b45b2.htmlhttp://www.marca.com/tenis/open-australia/2016/01/22/56a196ef268e3e740a8b45b2.html
Poor verdasco broke a nail.
How can he beat Sela without a pedicure?
Come back sanju!!!
We need more of your relevant and accurate information on Rafa here.
The client of “T-X” is in trouble.
I do hope that Sanju continues to post relevant articles and information here. He’s done a good job of digging up some great stuff!
If verdasco can beat Rafa then almost any journeymen player can.
The federazzi plan worked to peRFection.
As usual fedfan’s federazzi revisionism is inaccurate and simply wrong.
The rule was redefined just like real tennis fans not blinded by a single player know.
http://m.tennis.com/pro-game/2012/09/atp-changes-time-violation-penalty/39398/#.VqOJKv9yLCQ
All these changes related to balls, slower/lower bouncing courts, tv time rule, etc. while probably have contributed to Rafa’s failures they are not key factors and more sound like excuses to me…
Rafa has been plagued with injuries all his life and it had to take tool on his body as well as on his mental state. The comebacks become more difficult every time. Rafa is not any younger and his style of play has always been and will remain to be taxing on his body unless he implements some changes…whether it’s new coach ( I still think it would be good to add some fresh ideas to the current team) or different strategies and game plan to counter “new brand” tennis, it’s apparent that it has to happen sooner than later…
And I don’t think Rafa winning on clay comes solely due to high bouncing balls allowing his top spin to do the damage! He is natural on clay, the slow dirt allows him to slide, to run around the ball to hit FHs, to play long rallies and win points even though he is slower than 2 years ago…the problem comes from Rafa not trusting his own game any more…
These interviews show exactly what I feared…Rafa seeing the hard hitting tennis as something that his style of play can hardly beat…Rafa of 2013 would just know his game would suffice for any of those “dangerous” opponents…Rafa has to be reminded who he is and what kind of damage his tennis can do…
natashao (AT 4:46 PM),
—All these changes related to balls, slower/lower bouncing courts, tv time rule, etc. while probably have contributed to Rafa’s failures they are not key factors and more sound like excuses to me…—
===
.
If I may ask, whose excuses?
Excuses of anyone who may think those are the reasons for Rafa’s slump…it’s rather strange that anyone, and I am not pointing at anyone here but speak in gereal terms, who has tennis knowledge would relate to those changes as main reason for Rafa’ drop in level, his mental lapses, his DFs, his defensive and rather passive game…I am sure team Nadal would never blame any of these factors for Rafa’ s downward path..,
Natashao (AT 11:47 PM),
Thank you for explanation that you don’t think these are RAFA’s excuses. 🙂
nats,
I agree with you about this stuff related to balls, slower courts, tv time rule. The other players have to do with exactly the same thing. Players should be able to adapt.
As a matter of fact, Rafa had no problem with the new time rule in 2013. I didn’t see it hampering or impairing him in any way. We know what he accomplished that year. He was playing some of his best tennis, aggressive, taking no prisoners, serving well and being mentally strong.
So I do not buy that argument. Rafa has been able to handle big strike players with aggressive games throughout his career. There have always been guys who play like that. It’s nothing new. But Rafa was able to handle them in the past. That’s what has changed. Rafa’s mentality and his game.
Nativenewyorker ( AT 9:03 PM)
—I agree with you about this stuff related to balls, slower courts, tv time rule—
===
.
If I may ask, WHAT do you agree with?
Nny already said!
AT 9:38 PM,
So, NNY meant this:
hawkeye63 JANUARY 22, 2016 AT 11:46 AM:
“There’s been a concerted and we’ll orchestrated effort to stop Rafa from catching fed that started with draw rigging in 2008 and continued with the new Rafa time violation rule.
As I predicted, it exacerbated Rafa’s anxiety preventing him from finding calm with his rituals between serves…”
No, that is not what I said! It’s what hawkeye said! That is whose quote you posted.
Well said!
My post at 11.28 PM was directed at nny
hawkeye and nats,
Thank you! That’s all I have to say!
I thanked (AT 1:01 AM) Natashao for explanation that she doesn’t think these are RAFA’s excuses. 🙂
.
(Someone’s excuses were posted on JANUARY 22, 2016 AT 11:46 AM.)
Well said nny!
Augusta thinks you’re me!
Hahahahahahahaha
Yet another fantasy has been constructed AT 3:31 AM !
🙄
The fantasy is all yours My fan…
augusta08 JANUARY 23, 2016 AT 10:36 PM
AT 9:38 PM,
So, NNY meant this:
hawkeye63 JANUARY 22, 2016 AT 11:46 AM:
“There’s been a concerted and we’ll orchestrated effort to stop Rafa from catching fed that started with draw rigging in 2008 and continued with the new Rafa time violation rule.
As I predicted, it exacerbated Rafa’s anxiety preventing him from finding calm with his rituals between serves…”
@ 2:07 PM,
.
Summary:
1. hawk wrote that “the new Rafa time violation rule” exacerbated Rafa’s anxiety (JANUARY 22, 2016 AT 11:46 AM);
2. NNY agreed with one poster that the “tv time rule” is NOT a key factor (JANUARY 23, 2016 AT 9:03 PM).
.
Then hawk, for some unknown reason, constructed the fantasy that somebody thinks that hawk, who wrote that the rule exacerbated Rafa’s anxiety, and NNY, who wrote that the rule is NOT a key factor, are the same person (JANUARY 24, 2016 AT 3:31 AM).
🙄
Summary:
1. Someone said Rafa was going back to Majorca
2. The so-called expert said he wouldn’t return and would go directly to SA.
hahahahahahahahaha
#WhereIsRafa?
Obviously Rafa wins on clay not just because of high bounces, if not he will be dominating everywhere if the bounces are high, but, he isnt dominating everywhere except clay, right? Everyone here knows that Rafa has exceptional movement on clay, if not he wont be the king of clay!
We all know Rafa had mental frailities this past year and so his game suffered. Rafa himself said it, that the balls are different now than few years ago, so why are we doubting him and said its an excuse? If its as simple as getting back to 2013 form, then why would Rafa want to change to hit a flatter FH? Why doesnt he concentrate on his topspin FH i/o of making changes? Its because he knows that his topspin wont work well with the balls they’re using now so he has to adapt to the changes.
The injuries would take its toll on his body but he had done stem cell treatments to his knees and his back. He didnt have any injury in 2015 but its just psychologically, he still couldnt trust his body. His speed and movement were back to normal by end of 2015, (if not he wont be beating Stan, Murray and Ferrer at WTF) and there’s no coincidence that his FH was clicking again at that time, ie he’s no longer mistiming his FH.
I do believe that Rafa and his team know what’s wrong with the current situation and are working to overcome the problem(s). Last time in 2013, its about TV and speeding up play and Rafa still managed to come through on top of the rankings despite being rushed and warned so often. This time they meddled with the balls so now Rafa has to adapt the way he plays and I bet he will succeed again. Next time, I suspect they will speed up the courts and adjust them to low bouncing. Rafa may then have to up his mph on his serve and serving bombs, when he has mastered the flat FH by then.
luaky,
Rafa did not have any trouble adapting in 2013 to the change in the time rule, which was significant for him. You said it yourself. Rafa was able to handle it and had a brilliant year in 2013. That’s why I don’t buy any of this stuff about the balls or the time rule or this or that. Rafa has changed. We have discussed this here at length. He is nowhere near the level of 2013. All one has to do is go back and watch his matches that year. He looked like an entirely different player.
Sorry, my post was address to LUCKY. I spelled her name wrong. Typos!
Yes he had problem in 2013 with the TV rules hence all the warnings. However, what the TV rule did was to force Rafa to be aggressive and hence we saw that Rafa at the NAHC swing. Why Rafa was aggressive? So that he could shorten points and need not take a long time between points.
Its unrealistic to expect Rafa to be as quick as ever now that he’s two years older and had his injury issues. However, he was still very quick, almost his 2014 level by the time he played at WTF last year. How could he beat Murray and Ferrer, two of the quickest movers around,when he didnt have his footspeed?
But I thought we had already discussed Rafa’s problems in depth already? Why now we have to repeat all over again!!
Does it mean that it’s just the balls that caused Rafa’s problems?? The answer is NO! This is ONE of the problems, not the ONLY problem, and we only found out now that we read about his interview done before he left Melbourne.
This explains why Rafa is working to hit a flatter FH, which both VR and myself noticed Rafa was hitting during IPTL or during WTF. This further shown to me that Rafa is working on solving his problems one after another. He needs time, at least he has improved to be able to beat Stan, Murray and Ferrer last year.
As for big hitters, Rafa did lose to Delpo at Shanghai, Rosol & Kygrios at Wimbledon; even an aggressive Ferrer beat him in straight sets at Paris Masters in 2013, one of Rafa’s best years!
In my opinion, problem is twofold:
Rafa has lost speed and he knows it that he is not as fast and that is hurting his confidence. He almost mentioned he was not in the right position to hit his shots against Verdasco.
Rafa wants to move to an aggressive style but is not entirely committed to it. The minute he gets tight, he retreats back to his defensive style and due to lack of speed, his defense is not the strength it used to be anymore. They were playing the Rafa Fed AO 2009 final yesterday and Rafa was so aggressive, he made Federer look passive, he almost stood on baseline 70% of match. He has to be committed to stay aggressive as much as he can and not retreat when he gets tight.
You cant compare Rafa now at 29 to Rafa at 22/23 in 2009; just like we cant compare Fed now at 34 to Fed at 24 in 2005, that’s just being unrealistic!
If Rafa gets back his footspeed of 2014 Im more than happy. He appeared slower at AO vs Verdasco because of Verdasco’s aggressive hitting; shall I remind you of Rafa at Shanghai 2013 vs Delpo? Its the same scenario, against an aggressive big hitter, if Rafa starts tentative, he’ll get into trouble, this isnt the first time and wont be the last!
Fed today would win three slams in 2005-06.
yeah..he probably would