Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand and Pete Ziebron of Tennis Acumen preview and pick two of the men’s singles matches on Monday at the French Open. Fourth-round action includes Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Sock and David Ferrer vs. Marin Cilic.
Jack Sock vs. (6) Rafael Nadal
Ricky: This is tennis’ Revolutions Per Minute on the Forehand Bowl. Sock is the only player on tour who hits with more RPMs on his forehand than Nadal. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old American, a place in a Grand Slam quarterfinal is not decided by RPMs. That being said, he should be able to make this one competitive. Sock is playing the best tennis of his life–by far–with a fourth-round showing in Indian Wells, a title on the red clay of Houston, and French Open victories over Grigor Dimitrov, Pablo Carreno Busta, and Borna Coric. The world No. 37 has never faced Nadal and he has played only one member of the “Big 4” (lost to Roger Federer 6-3, 6-2 earlier this year in Indian Wells). He has also never been to the fourth round of slam. Nadal, of course, is a nine-time champion of this event and he is playing like it after a slow start to the season. The Spaniard has not come close to dropping a set while taking out Quentin Halys, Nicolas Almagro, and Andrey Kuznetsov. Sock’s rise has already reached new heights this fortnight; asking him to go even higher against this particular opponent on this particular surface is too much. Nadal 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.
Pete: Despite winning the U.S. Clay Court Championship earlier this spring, Sock stumbled into Roland Garros with a 1-3 mark on European clay. So how exactly is Sock in the fourth round of the French Open facing a nine-time champion in Nadal? Impressive wins over Dimitrov, Carreno Busta, and Coric have propelled Sock into the second week. Meanwhile, all sorts of questions have followed Nadal into Paris after sub-par clay Masters 1000 results. However, his play on Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen thus far has been impeccable. Expect the heavy conditions that are forecasted to give Sock an early advantage before Nadal finds his way into the match late in the second set. Nadal 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4.
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(9) Marin Cilic vs. (7) David Ferrer
Ricky: Somehow Ferrer and Cilic have not gone head-to-head in more than five years. They both play a ton of tournaments and go deep in many of them, yet they have still not met since the 2010 Madrid Masters. Cilic has done especially well to set up what will be their fifth career encounter (Ferrer leads the series 3-1, including 1-0 on clay). The 2009 U.S. Open champion is finally rounding into form with dominant wins in Paris over Robin Haase, Andrea Arnaboldi, and Leonardo Mayer. He had been a mere 4-6 on the season prior to this event. Ferrer, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency. But the veteran Spaniard is looking just a little bit vulnerable having cooled off just a bit since January and February and he needed five sets to get past Simone Bolelli on Saturday. Still, a long match (and it wasn’t even that long) will have little impact on Ferrer and it will not hurt that he is battle-tested. This a steep step up in competition for Cilic, who has not defeated anyone better than 14th in the world since the U.S. Open. Ferrer 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Pete: Entering Roland Garros, Cilic had just an 11-11 record on the ATP Tour since his U.S. Open title. However, the Croat has now won 10 consecutive matches in Grand Slam play, including 19 straight sets. Unfortunately for Cilic, up next is Ferrer–the 2013 Roland Garros runner-up who can exhale for a moment after surviving a scare in the last round from Bolelli. Expect Ferrer to get into his business as usual mode against Cilic, as the 33 year-old Spaniard lives up to his “little beast” moniker to advance to the quarterfinals for the sixth time. Ferrer 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4).
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Schedule for Monday, 1 June
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/p_schedule14.pdf
It will be sunny tomorrow
http://paris.lachainemeteo.com/meteo-france/ville/previsions-meteo-paris-3903-1.php
it will be sunny tomorrow
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGW5kqTUcAEElQq.png
Amaaaaaaaazing!
(Bot post Type 2 – mandatory Vamos pic with nothing new nor original to say about tennis.)
lol @ ‘mandatory vamos pic’ haha
This is an automated response at 8:00. Nothing new! But, at least they bring happiness into vamosrafa’s life!!! Obviously they keep coming. Stay tuned!
😆
^regurgi-post. Nothing new.
LOL
Both matches will be fun to watch….but they will NOT be long matches….Rafa in 3 and Ferrer the same.
As I predicted, Rafa is getting the late afternoon match on Lenglen.
The Chosen One followed by Djokovic (with the last match) on Chatrier.
#NID
#YoureWelcome
Vamos Sock and allez Gael!
Cheering against your ex-fav.
That is just plain sad.
The worst kind of fed fan.
Nole has two kind of fans. Fans from Serbia and ex-fedfans.
Hilarious!!!
Not a Nole fan either btw. Going for 1. Nishikori 2. Anybody but Fedal
Yes but you were a fedfan that abandoned him before he retired because he couldn’t beat Rafa.
Cheering against your ex-fav.
That is just plain sad.
The worst kind of fed fan.
Hillarious!!!
Sock has confirmed what I said on another thread: He will go after rafa’s forehand!
Sock is eager to test how his forehand stacks up against rafa’s and he will try to push rafa into rafa’s forehand corner. Like rafa, Sock is most comfortable when hitting forehands from the backhand corner.
It will be a good contest. Sock does not have the same defense on the forehand side though and his movement will be exposed by rafa. I am really happy with rafa’s backhand so far so that gives me confidence.
If rafa can get the win in 3 sets, it will be a great confidence boost.
Rafa won’t have the deep back court on Chatrier to take advantage of.
CIlic over Ferrer and Nadal over sock imo
Cilic????????
Yes, Rafa not playing on Chatrier makes me nervous. That is the biggest court and it’s the one that suits him the best.
I didn’t realize that Sock intends to go after Rafa’s forehand. Well, that’s not a new tactic. We will see how Rafa deals with it. This guy is supposed to have almost as much spin on his forehand as Rafa.
Sock is feeling it right now. He’s got zero pressure, nothing to lose. He will come out blasting and be aggressive right from the start. Rafa needs to get good court positioning so he can dictate points. He cannot afford to hang behind the baseline with this guy. Rafa needs to come out with his aggressive game.
I am not sure when it comes to predicting this match. Of course, I expect Rafa to win. But I think Sock could give him a test. He needs to be pushed before he bumps up against Novak. I would love to see a straight three sets win.
What will be, will be………….
Vamos Rafa!
To be honest a bit nervous today. Get the feeling Sock will trouble Rafa.
I’m not nervous, if Rafa is to hand over his RG crown to an upcoming talent that’s just part of life; we all knew he can’t win here forever.
It would be painful, yes, but no shame whatsoever.
What a bundle of joy you are. 🙂
https://rafanaticsph.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/vamos-logo-2.jpg
thx Nadline, I take that as a compliment 😉
Yes he wont win here forever and will start losing like it happened at MC and Barcelona and Rome , however would still like to see La Decima before he starts losing. I will not even bother how he fares at RG once he has La Decima.
The higher the RG count, the more difficult to achieve for some future player (at any slam).
And it is more difficult, in a somewhat exponential fashion: it is harder to get one more after you got 6 then getting the sixth. Harder to get from 6 to 7 than getting from 5 to 6, And so on. Just ask Roger about it getting harder to get each of the last slams at tail end of a career.
Yes, and the one who knows that best is Borg. He held the record of six titles for thirty years. So if it was easy, then someone would have done it before Rafa.
For what it’s worth, I will not be okay if Rafa loses to this young talent. For one thing, he will drop a ton of points and then go outside the top ten. I don’t want to see that. I know that he can’t win forever. But I want to see him at least go deep and give it a run if he has to go down.
Some are talking like it’s already over. I am not thinking it’s over at all. Not until it happens.
Some? As in more than one???
I want names!
Who? Who would dare talk this way and say it is already over???
#NameNames
At this point I have more hopes that Rafa gets the Decima this year than I would have a few weeks ago… even with the rather overt pro-fed and simultaneously anti-rafa rigging.
Does it mean I think Rafa is VERY likely to achieve La Dixieme this time around? No. But here’s hoping.
If Rafa finds a way out of the kinds of trouble he’s had this year confidence / mind wise and regains the ability to have stretches of strong months on the ATP then he’ll likely get The Tenth sooner or later.
You’re right, 9 RG is kind of lame 😉
^^ LOL
Its not lame..Its credit worthy..but imagine the greatness if its La Decima. It will be unparalleled in tennis history.
Nine IS unparalleled already.
I watched quite a bit of the Popsocks’ match yesterday. Sock was a less potent than normal. Some might say he was saving himself for today but I think he’s showing the effect of playing so much tennis over the past weeks. In fact he looked pretty knackered.
If Rafa keeps his nerves under control I suspect this afternoon will be less of a battle than many fear.
Sock doesn’t move that well IMO.
Sock vs Dimitrov RG 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VssK1tG03TU
I’m nursing the hope that Rafa has been hiding his light under a bushel and is going to unleash some surprises for us à la the run up to the 2010 USO when he lost to Bagdatis in the Montreal QF and struggled at Cincinnati before losing to Murray in the SF.
I’ve been very impressed with Rafa so far. My only reservation is that this year he has started tournaments looking very impressive then for some reason plays a bad match. If he can keep his current level going he’ll do well here.
He lost to Baggy in Cincinnati QF and Murray in Montreal SF 🙂
Somehow that doesn’t sound like something Rafa would do. If he unleashes surprises I think it will be because his mindset has snapped back where it ought to be.
^^^Are you forgetting the magic serve he unveiled in NY? What a weapon that was!
Sadly never to be seen again.
I tend to agree with RITB’s theory: the worrying drop-off in his serve this season could be a legacy from the back injury. If this is the case then it’s understandable he is being cautious and not taking unnecessarily risks.
I’m further encouraged by Uncle T’s demeanour. He has looked surprisingly sanguine during all the matches to date.
I’d be interested in how you all see Djokovic’s performance to date. I’ve deliberately avoided seeing any of his matches so far.
Djoker has been pedestrian; efficient – yes, but he hasn’t been stretched. Not overly impressed, however.. The way both Rafa and Djoker have played here so far, Rafa will beat him. I watch his matches in mute mode because I get tired of hearing the superlatives.
I’m banking on the prospect that a Calendar Slam at stake will get to him and he will choke ? ? ?
“I watch his matches in mute mode because I get tired of hearing the superlatives”……I thought I was the only one!!!
With today’s technology, there should be an alternate audio stream sans commentators.
I, for one, would only listen to JMac, Chris Fowler, Navratilova and Cliff Drysdale. There are probably a small number of European/British commies that are pretty good that I’m unaware of. Everyone else is federazzi drivel.
Djokovic does not have _any_ gears of play and confidence to go to _easily_ for the bigger matches coming up. Is that what you’re saying, nadline?
#DenialIsYourFriend
At least we still have clay coloured glasses, no?
Djokovic has been ruthless and has only been broken twice in his first three rounds.
Nadline’s posts and cheesy use of gifs hve been pedestrian. Nothing pedestrian about Djokovic when it comes to tennis. But nadline has forgotten everything she knew about tennis (as have the federazzi).
hawkeye,
Keeping it real and being honest. Novak is playing stellar tennis right now and has been throughout the year. It’s unfortunate that some see only what they wish to see. I don’t have to like Novak at all. But I do have to be true to what I see.
As a matter of fact, Rafa has said the same. He has said that Novak is the best player. That’s because he is also always honest.
You mean nadline if I’m not mistaken, for sure, no? 🙂
hawkeye,
I like your list of commentators! We think alike! Otherwise, there should be an alternate audio stream without commentators! Now that is a great idea! 🙂
nativenewyorker7 says:
June 2, 2015 at 2:33 am,
—there should be an alternate audio stream without commentators!—
===================================
There is an audio stream without commentators. It’s Eurosport Player.
I wish I’d have your optimism Nadline.
I haven’t seen Djoker play at all this year but Tsonga was strong yesterday against Berdych.
When Fed was the dominant one I used to watch his matches now and again but I can’t stand watching Dkokovic with his Histrionics and tactics. I guess that he’s become too much the villain in my view…
+6
Substitute the word hate in the Elizabeth Barratt Browning poem ‘Let me count the ways’ and it sums up my distaste for him…………..he is a dreadful role model for the younger generation of players.
Ferrer demolishing Cilic. Chardy chucks away his serve in first game with consecutive double faults…..
I haven’t seen anything from Djoker yet to make me fearful if they met in the QF. It will be business as usual should they meet; the best man on the day will win but I give Rafa the nudge seeing he is 6:0 in their h2h at RG and has won their last 4 slam meetings.
Rafa just needs to be consistent.
Your two thoughts put together is the think, no?
If we have a repeat of the Rafa of other RG’s, even some where he was more shaky, the edge is to him (some years a huge edge).
But if they meet Wednesday (I’m sure they will), will Rafa, on the day and facing Nole, have much of that great lack of confidence he’s had often this season? That is the biggest question of this RG on the men’s side, no?
Big advantage to Nole that this would be a quarter final meeting.
It’s no coincidence that the one time Nole took Rafa to five sets was when it wasn’t a final.
Beating Rafa AND winning RG at the same time has historically been too much pressure for him to handle.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen a big improvement since last year’s USO loss to Special-Klei in Nole’s ability to handle pressure.
Rafa will have to be at his very best to beat Nole this year. A 70-90% Rafa just won’t do.
In a sense, playing Sock on Lenglen maybe just what the doctor ordered and it will force Rafa to play closer to the baseline.
Vamos Rafa no matter what!!!!!
chloro and hawkeye,
Yes, you are quite right in asking the question about Rafa. His inconsistency has cost him dearly this year. His serve is not what it needs to be either.
I do agree that Rafa is going to have to be better to beat Novak. This is a different Novak. Traditionally, he has not peaked at the quarterfinals.
I am hoping that Sock will push Rafa and get him to go up another gear. He needs it now.
Wonder why no-one is talking about Ferrer. He has a great chance to beat Murray. On British tv their viewer’s poll has huge numbers saying Murray will either get to the final or win.
They are only interested in bigging up Djoker and Murray. Because Rafa’s form has exceeded their expectations, they don’t spend too much time talking about the matches he’s played only about likely pitfalls he might encounter against his next opponent. Ferrer isn’t even an ‘also ran’ on their list of topics.
(As opposed to nadline who’s been going on and on about the rest of the field.)
Hilarious!!!
The crowd is a bit subdued because Roger is winning.
ok, i take my words back. POOR from monfils . lol
Sock will lose in easy straight sets. Lets not hype sock for no reason. He is known more for the Doubles title he won at Wimbledon last year rather than anything he has done in singles.
Djokovic hasn’t been overly impressive so far that’s true. He has won most sets by a single break of sets against mediocre opponents. But he has the ability to raise his game when there is more on the line, we have seen it many a times.
Chardy outplays Murray in second set. One set all – British tv implodes with misery….
Ferrer wins match easily.
Chardy breaks Murray at beginning of third set – Britsh tv going into meltdown
I hear this fellow Sock is playing the best tennis of his life, but I am sorry I can’t see how he could upset Rafa at his favorite surface…I doubt Sock can keep up with Rafa in the rallies and while some doubters may see this as interesting one due to Rafa slump of late I still see Rafa winning in an easy manner…However, the only problem I see for Rafa is Novak and nobody else…if he beats Novak he will win the title….
Rafa’s only threat in this match is Rafa.
YES!!
The story, alas, of the entire clay season this year.
it seems both rafa and Novak are saving their best for the Quarters.
dont call me follish but something inside tells me that Rafa might win FO without dropping a set this year
If Rafa and Nole play each other (they will), you are saying Rafa wins that in straights? I will eat my keyboard and my mouse if that happens, atul. (Example chosen to recall threads from TT.)
From where such optimism for Rafa, Atul? Rafa even winning is far, far from certain this year. Rafa winning in 4 or even 5 against Nole this year will be an upset already.
Or does your prediction come simply from a bit of worry? That would be entirely natural and nothing to hold against you. Rafa to win his 15th slam just when Roger has been offered all the chances in the organizers’ control for an outside possibility at an 18th slam to increase the distance from Rafa’s count, and a double-career slam. (I imagine Roger was not too displeased when the back injury at AO 13 prevented Rafa to get a double slam and his 14th.)
suspect antijinxings at work.
You are also predicting that Rafa will win in straights in the semifinal and the final. We’ve seen Rafa do this at RG before but how many times in 9 victories? Once?
Atul – I would say your hunch is wishful thinking .unless Novak retires rather than accept a straight set loss – something he was prone to doing earlier in his career but gave up many years ago.
S.Stephens taking to S.williams!
Murray wins third set – way more because of Chardy’s flakiness than his own good play….
British tv happy now….going on and on and on about his wins over Kei and Rafa – I have to mute the sound when that idiot Petchey gets going….yeah I know he played well against Kei but Rafa didn’t turn up that day……
I have refrained from speculating on matches so far and I think I’ll stick to that.
Cloro, I just think he is not showing his true self in this CC season. I think, he is fooling us all.
Something tells me that Rafa is about to step it up in a big way. While everyone has written off rafa, he has been very upbeat about his performance in all tourneys with the exception of Barcelona.
chloro says:
June 1, 2015 at 1:23 pm
If Rafa and Nole play each other (they will), you are saying Rafa wins that in straights? I will eat my keyboard and my mouse if that happens, atul. (Example chosen to recall threads from TT.)
From where such optimism for Rafa, Atul? Rafa even winning is far, far from certain this year. Rafa winning in 4 or even 5 against Nole this year will be an upset already.
Or does your prediction come simply from a bit of worry? That would be entirely natural and nothing to hold against you. Rafa to win his 15th slam just when Roger has been offered all the chances in the organizers’ control for an outside possibility at an 18th slam to increase the distance from Rafa’s count, and a double-career slam. (I imagine Roger was not too displeased when the back injury at AO 13 prevented Rafa to get a double slam and his 14th.)
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http://www.animaatjes.de/bilder/l/lachen/30.gif
My prediction comes from the fact that Rafa’s performance and his post match commentary have not been congruous.
He has been upbeat about his performance although the results have not been great.
Maybe he is about of unleash himself in the quarters
You are likely right that Rafa hopes and perhaps will show better play in the big matches this week, and is saving some of that in matches that are going well against ‘weaker’ and less experienced players. Nothing unusual there.
But I don’t think that he did anything deliberate in being VERY non-confident at various matches in the CC season, some that he was in danger of losing, or in which he lost many games or a set he shouldn’t have lost, and especially in the matches he did lose: add all of these up and it happened very often. I have a hard time believing that any one of those occasions was deliberate. It’s one thing to keep some newly tweaked stroke under wraps or to reserve some energy in the first weeks, but what rafa went through this CC season is something else entirely.
If I remember correctly that you are a fedfan (of the sane kind – of which the majority of fedfans are), are your thoughts not born simply from worrying that rafa gets to the final on Sunday?
Then Djokovic’s strategy is way off the target cause he’s been winning everything he plays…
Rafa’s strategy is very similar to 2014, isint it?
Atul, please explain what you mean by strategy. Being more interested in winning RG than non-slam clay tournaments? OK, sure. But .. playing with extremely low confidence and losing matches you have no business losing – as a deliberate strategy? Really? If you believe that, please help me understand why you do, or why Rafa would make such a choice repeatedly? Was he ‘acting’ his over distress during and after those matches? A very unusual interpretation you have there, Atul. Or perhaps some anti-jinxing as hawk says.
Also, if there is nothing wrong with your confidence or otherwise, while you are a 9 time defending champion, what’s wrong with playing well leading up to RG, as Rafa has successfully done in earlier years, and then playing well again in the second week of RG?
Chloro – I am a die hard Rafa fan!!
I stand corrected re being a fedfan,
Still, please answer my questions, if you don’t mind. Your tennis comments always make a lot of sense to me… just not today’s. Curious mind would like to know.
This is what the experts think
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s6zs3_30-05-15-rafael-nadal-vs-andrey-kuznetsov-roland-garros-analysed-by-avantage-leconte-hd_sport
You feeling ok nadline? You usually are very dismissive of the experts.
#Rhetorical
denial is breaking down a bit
#Wed-day
Not when they talk sense.
Nadline sense.
#Oxymoron
Happy to be not able to watch Rafajack today.
#Nervrous
PERFECT START. VAMOS!
ROS, backhand, and esp the forehand, all on full throttle in game 1
Chloro Sorry, let me eloborate….by strategy I mean not exerting too much energy into winning all clay tourneys before French. Rafa is growing old and he knows he cant continue winning 3-4 clay tourneys and be fresh for RG at the same time.
He has been playing well within himself and not getting irritated by the losses. He said Monte carlo, Madrid and Rome were positive tournemants from him.
For example, the same strategy was adopted in the Rome final 2014. If you watch the video again, Rafa hit some greats forehands DTL and saw the great trouble it caused Nole. But he lost the match as he really did not want to get into a dog fight before French. He adopted the same play again in the RG final, only thing was he was more consistent. PPl. hyped up Nole after the Rome finals and we know what the result was in RG.
I think he is doing the same this year. Thats my reasoning.
BUT I could very well be wrong.
I think I see what you’re saying: rafa was not deliberately playing with less comfortable all those times, just as much as possible not let any of the bad days get to him. He did keep saying that he is in the process of getting the confidence and other things back and only time will tell when that’ll happen. Sure.
Where I see things differently than you is I would actually bet a lot of money, if I were into betting, against rafa winning in straight sets against Nole this Wednesday – that seems a very remote scenario, much more so than any of the other possible ones (winning in 4, 5 sets, losing in 3, 4, 5 sets). This year, that is.
–> playing with less _confidence_
I cannot believe they are not showing Rafa match! I am going to get an ulcer with the coverage in the states. On the tennis channel they just picked up the coverage from ESPN and all they did was update the score while they are showing Serena and Sloane! If Serena is on anywhere, anytime, then the world stops and nothing else can be shown!
All I know is that Rafa got the early break on Sock! But I can’t see it!
That’s why, no offence, I always cheer against the US players, so coverage is forced to show better tennis (at least in mens).
Unless, of course, they are playing fedole.
Native, I just moved to the States from India.
The tennis coverage here sucks BIG time. Was 1000 times better in India
Atul,
Yes! So true, unfortunately. Tennis the stepchild of sports in the states. It’s very difficult for tennis fans to get decent coverage.
Honestly, I am just sick of seeing Serena on my tv screen. It’s getting to be too much!
The tennis channel is offering some kind of plus package, in which you pick the screen you want to watch. I may check it out to see how much it costs after this craziness.
I am furious that I can’t see Rafa. All I know is that he was up two breaks. The last time I checked online the score was 3-1 Rafa.
that package costs 80 bucks, so its not too bad.
I think I will take that package.
I meant 80 bucks for the full year
Going bonkers because I can’t see the Rafa match!! we are being forced to watch Serena…updates please vamosrafa!!!
Rafa blew two chances to go up a double break at 15-40.
Third time lucky?
http://www.definish.com/tennis/
#ScoreboardWatching
you can read match live comments on theguardian dot com
or perhaps you will be watching replay later….
I’m watching Nadal vs. Sock via Tennis Channel Plus (cost me 12 bucks.)
Rafa is up two breaks in the first set and he’s looking great.
They will keep charging 12 bucks to your Credit card every month
Yes, this is correct. I checked out the Tennis Channel Plus package on their site. It is twelve dollars per month. To sign up you have to provide a credit card and it is true that they will continue to charge that amount every month. That’s why I did not sign up.
I am watching it. Sock hit the ball really well with his forehand in the third game but rafa’s defense off both wing was very solid. He gets the double break! 3-0
Rafa must continue to take command with his forehand because sock has started playing better now. So far so good for rafa
does anybody have a stream for this?
This stream is working (just don’t install anything suggested and click off the pop-up ad at the beginning)…
http://live.realstreamunited.com/players/free-live-video-streaming-sock-nadal-court-suzanne-lenglen-tennis-roland-garros-2015-76934.html
Double break to Rafa!!! Vamos!!!
But now down 0-30 on serve.
#Unconsolidated
LOL FedCrybaby on Lenglen tomorrow.
Hilarious!!!
thanks for the updates guys!! please keep them coming!
# starved of Rafa…..
A double fault and it is 0-30. Rafa’s backhand continues to spread the court so well.30-30 3-0.
argh a sloppy forehand miss by rafa. It was a low , short backhand slice by Sock and rafa netted it. and sock breaks :/ 3-1 now.
rafa’s aggression has dropped a little and sock is hitting better now.
Sock also moving up the court a little bit more now.
oh come on Rafa….keep it tight!!
Rafa give up the break.
So sock narrows the gap to 3-2. It was a comfortable hold at 15. Rafa is not dictating points like he did in the first two games. One reason is obviously sock hitting a lot better. He is now reading the bounce on rafa’s forehand a lot better.
Rafa has to step up and keep the pressure on Sock because the american settling.
ah, that’s more like it! great first point by rafa ,15-0
Sock hit a booming forehand DTL winner in response to an off forehand by rafa. Rafa finishes the game with a BIG forehand winner inside-out ! take that ! 4-2
sock holds to love. Rafa made a couple of mistakes in the fore court when handling drop shots.
First set for Rafa, yeaaahy !
And Serena has won her match so mabye they’ll now swap to this one.
Ok we finally get to see the match! just seen Rafa break Sock again to take the first set!
I liked that Rafa broke Sock to take the set.
Satisfactory stats although would like to see Rafa reduce the UEs.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGbGGNYUQAEJe27.png
Hawkeye:
Leaving aside the hospitality section, how many empty seat can you count?
My scoreboard doesn’t show any (but Lenglen is smaller LOL).
Could be the throngs of American fans filling Lenglen. You know, the ones that booed when Rafa beat Isner several moons ago.
hawkeye,
Ooh! Good one!
I love how the tennis channel took their sweet time after Serena’s match ended. They went to a bunch of commercials and then the anchor person was blabbing, more commercials and then the three commentators were talking and finally we got to see the last shot as Rafa broke Sock in the second set! Geez!
From the little I have seen, Sock is standing too far behind the baseline. He won’t beat Rafa that way.
Rafa is socking it to him!!!
#DoingTheLittleCheesyPunnings
following the match on guardian dot com
commentator allowed himself one cheesy pee:
Is sock about to unravel?
Rafa up 3-0. Amaaaaaaazing!!!!!!
Vamos!!!
#EmptyHospitalitySeats
Wow, great overhead to get the second break in set 2
the commentators and crowd are heartbroken but Rafa is 5-0 up in set 2
Warms My little black heart.
any booing so far? (you never know but) perhaps they wouldn’t dare when rafa is playing so well…
No thank goodness. The are getting behind Sock because they would like a juicy battle.
Rafa playing with more confidence and only one UE. Has upped his service as well.
I need Rafa to break a lot more hearts!!! Especially as he his only third in line to the throne, even after Andy Murray!!!! No respect for Rafa, at al!!! I really want Rafa to SOCK it to them all!!
SOCK it to JOCK
and we’ll be happy
Sock striking the ball early to take time away from Rafa. Hence unforced error count.
From what I have been able to see since they started showing the match, Rafa is playing very well. His groundstrokes have had good length and accuracy, he seems to be controlling the baseline and dictating play. His movement is also really good.
Sock seems to have lost the plot. He looks kind of lost out there. It’s a whole different thing to play Rafa at RG than the other guys he was able to beat.
“It’s a whole different thing to play Rafa at RG than the other guys he was able to beat.” Amen, ask Roger and Novak!!
I would really like to ask Sock the question: How is that Rafa forehand?!
no,no booing but there’s a big difference in the cheering and clapping decibels depending on who wins the points.
Shocking!
Shocking!!
#Shocking
#TheyAllLoveRafa
They. All. Love. Rafa.
All.
All.
Got it?
Oh. You don’t! OK.
As usual (except in last year’s final).
Nothing new.
Rafa shiould actually have the crowd on his side if he plays Nole.
Shireling (at 3:26 pm)
During the first sets, as a rule, the crowd was cheering winners and they weren’t (almost) cheering unforced errors, no matter who made them.
As for booing, let me remind you (and anyone else) that Rafa has been booed at Roland Garros only once – in 2009 when he played Soderling. I have always said that hooligan-Fedfans booed then.
Your previous position was that the crowd had never booed him.
You are learning (albiet slowly).
He was also booed from the neighbouring court when they learned that Isner had lost.
Based on your slow progress above, you will eventually admit this truth as well.
#ArtificialIntelligence
June 1, 2015 at 7:22 pm,
You are again dishonest ! I posted this to you on May 20:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFb9y3vWIAA1lLL.png
June 1, 2015 at 7:22 pm,
https://tenngrand.com/social/player-pages/rafael-nadal/comment-page-57/#comment-193988
Just another Type C robo-post attacking real Rafans with nothing new to say.
Besides, you must have been lieing when you said you don’t CARE what I say.
https://tenngrand.com/2015/05/14/rome-qf-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-wawrinka-ferrer-vs-goffin/comment-page-2/#comment-193588
No you are moving the goal posts again.
#NothingNew
#Hilarious!!!
Rafa
http://media.giphy.com/media/xYO3aGSdc3tgA/giphy.gif
cheesy pun, please meet cheesy gif
Rafa’s playing great today 🙂
Rafa very solid. Sock’s return of serve is just inexplicable. Rafa moving very well which is a key to his whole game – very pleasing. Rafa’s backhand has been so stable this tournament…that’s a big defensive weapon against Nole.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGbNEGWU8AEplPz.png
Djoker’s first game took 9 mins.
He and Gasquet are have only played two games while Rafa has won second set and into third set!!
I would like to see Rafa closer to the baseline
He’s keeping Sock pinned back – he’s less danger there than if he has the chance to come to the net.
Actually most of the booing at all the matches is aimed at stragglers taking their time to find their seats and sit down. Have lost count of how many times play has been held up in spite of the umpires reprimands. It was particularly bad during the Murray match this morning. Time the tournament director addressed this problem.
A propos of nothing related to this match, but…. who would you consider the stronger player just on the following slam stats:
slam trophies:
AO player 1: 4 player 2: 6
RG player 1: 1 player 2: 2
WI player 1: 7 player 2: 5
UO player 1: 5 player 2: 6
Vamos Serena!!!!
It might get to:
RG player 1: 1 player 2: 3
this week
If Serena continues to play a few more years, do you think she might get to:
AO player 1: 4 player 2: 8
or:
UO player 1: 5 player 2: 8
?
three games into the Djokovic-Gasquet match and they have already played 40 points ! Djokovic got the break so that must have dented gasquet’s spirit.
Rafa did a really good job in set 2. Set 3 more competitive so far
yes, yes, Rafa breaks in the 3rd .. Gasquet seams to have run out of steam
best point of the match for Sock to break back.. hope it’s not a turning point
Rafa plays a brilliant game to break again…brilliant…
and Rafa breaks right-back !
if it continues like this, one silver lining of gasquet disappearing is Jock will not have been tested yet before Wed-day. But then, that shouldn’t matter to much to him, 2015 edition.
Into the second set and gasket has won just one more game than I’d have off Nole.
Damn :/ 5-5
oh no 🙁
What’s the better Mr. Federer had a word in the tournament director’s ear asking for the time rule to be enforced more stringently.
for better read betting.
Will Mr. Federer remind the tournament director prior to Wednesday’s fedole clash?
This is the problem that will cost him the French Open.
Yes! This is the problem that has plagued Rafa all year. Inability to close out matches. Against Sock being two sets up it’s not going to hurt him, but against Novak it will mean disaster.
http://www.changeovertennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Janowicz-Freak-Out.gif
Rafa is broken serving for the match. This was after he was called for taking too much time and lost his first serve.
Oh for Christsakes……Come on Rafa hold it together…some open court misses the last game…..
This is really going to cost Rafa….why is he letting this guy hang around?!!! Serving for the match and gets broken at will!!!
Disaster!!! What is happening here!!!! Could this be deja vous?!!!
oh NOOOOOO!! what the hell! he was totally in control of that match….feeling nervous…
wow. massive blow. shaky from rafa and big finish from Sock. GUTTED
Confidence has taken a big blow
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGbZ-9jWwAAaT17.png
Perhaps it’s time for another cheesy gif, nadline, quick, before reality sinks in: Rafa is not having an easy claycourt season
LOL, idea for a new reality show:
Jpeg-bot and Cheesy-gif.
Well this is what has been happening with Rafa. When he was broken serving for the match he started making the kind of errors you don’t expect. He’s been really shaky since getting broken.
He just let Sock back in the match. This is the key problem with Rafa. Just not good.
Rafa had it all under control…and then the Rafa of 2015, the vulnerable and doubtful Rafa shows up…Rafa got afraid that he might win this easily…nothing comes easy this year for our Rafa…
woow UNREAL
Lets see how rafa responds now
Referee said nothing when Sock shouted out an f-bomb….
come on Rafa..start again from scratch…
Getting a bad, nervy feeling for the first time in this tournament
Me too.
I don’t see SOCK winning another set, let alone two.
Perhaps this is what the doctor’s ordered for rafa: an experience with rafa 2015 making an appearance and dealing with it prior to Wed-day. But I am not hopeful for Wed-day all the same.
4 break points squandered.
RAfa is playing way too much percentage tennis
The tennis channel commentators said that Rafa was playing not to lose. That’s how you end up in big trouble.
This just kind of sums up this year for Rafa. He was in control of the match, then was broken serving for the set, loses it and now is in a fourth set.
true! momentum broken
PHEW! now consolidate , rafa! COME ON!
Dictate play! you gotta finish this match playing great. Very essential
Break Rafa…come on baby…go for your shots…stop getting stuck in the predictable patterns..
PS I could feel he wasn’t going to serve it out….
0-30 . double fault
from 15-40, ace, forehand winner, forehand smash winner, forehand winner . 3-1 rafael nadal. PHEWWW
RAfa saves 3 break points. Jesus! whenever he is aggressive he wins…when he plays the percentages he loses…
thats a big hold from Rafa, down 0-40.
that sud do his confidence a world of good.
Maybe rafa thought he needed some more match practice bfore quarters…lol
cannot calm down before he wins this match. serving for the match would be nervy affair again unless he gets a double break
That was a crucial hold of serve when Rafa came back from 0-40. Now he has to close this out.
I can’t relax with Rafa only up a break. This is getting on my nerves.
NOW we can relax. 5-2 rafa. So it is going to be a Nadal-Djokovic QF !
Getting his serve broken was a disaster in the third set . But his response was solid! he stopped a red hot opponent . oh it is 5-2…not 6-2 so should wait!
Oh thank God for that…..didn’t want to see him serve it out with only one break.
Really impressed with Rafa’s fight and calm under pressure in the last few games….after the season he’s had…..great composure….]
now serve it out baby
ok Chloro, you dont have to eat your keyboard or your mouse.
my prediction falls flat on my face within a couple of hours of me making it
and glad of that am I 🙂
not the keyboard eating, ‘course
glad rafa got tested more in the last hour of match play before the showdown at O-K Corral. Here’s hoping Jock will be at least as nervous as Raf.
GSM Nadal
http://www.comments20.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/No-Socks-Day-Graphics-3.gif
Yes, yes, well done Rafa!
Reminds me of the old days – Rafa with his back against the wall and pulling out the win.
A joy to see him doing the arm pump with knee jerk.
6-2 it is! rafa’s response was like a 9-time RG champion ! he was not scared at all.
Djokovic is the favourite but rafa obviously has a very good chance too! rafa has steadied his game A LOT as compared to the clay season but I am not sure if it’s steady enough. the UE count is still too high . His forehand was better today but overall he needs more stability. May be it was good that he got tested?
I think that getting tested and coming through showing so much fight, no fear….will have been good for him actually. that gives you a lot of faith in yourself to know that you can fight in the crucial moments. otherwise there would have been a question mark in his mind…now we know that come what may he will fight like the champion he is….that, more than anything, the ability to play with aggression and composure under pressure will determine the match.
but he’s gotta learn to serve it out!!
this picking on one rule to enforce…the one which harms Rafa.. and ignoring the others…Murray and Kygrios swearing copiously and loudly match after match for example…is just utterly unfair. the umpire gave him no prior warning….when are the journalists going to do their job and actually point this out in all the columns they write….come on Ricky, start the ball rolling!!
The tennis channel commentators were going after the chair umpire for giving Rafa the code violation and docking him a first serve in a crucial moment of the match. Jim Courier was saying that Rafa is consistently taking too much time, but it’s not gamesmanship and they should not wait until a critical point in the match. They should warn him or do it early or on a meaningless point. That’s what he said. That this has to stop! I agree!
nny, yes it is ridiculous given that they don’t enforce any of the other rules. During the Murray/Kygrios match the air was blue with swear words and absolutely nothing was said by the umpire. nothing. at one point Murray turned round after a loud sweary rant and yelled at the people behind him who weren’t actually doing anything! Are there any articles in the press about this the next day??! none. No one calls out this behaviour because it is not to do with Rafa and it is just absurd…..
I mean which is worse really….!?
Does anyone know the average time between serves for Rafa in that match? I know he exceeds the limit frequently but only by 2-3 seconds. It also depends when they start the clock ticking. I understand it is from when the score is called. Mohamed Lahyani for example often waits for the dust to settle after a very long rally and tells Rafa when his average is over the limit before issuing a warning.
They could also have a 5% margin for error as they do for drivers exceeding the speed limit on the roads?
Rafa has reduced the length of his pre-serve ritual this season which might also account for the drop in his serve stats.
I thought it was negatively affecting him…he seemed to be concentrating very hard on trying to speed up and it was affecting his concentration. Is all really unfair. who is the umpire for Wed???
This rule change (yes, rule change) back in 2012 was by design to put pressure on Rafa to negatively impact his game.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGblaNmW8AEUBTC.png
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGbldJuWcAE_sY_.png
Woweeeeeee!!!!!
Actual match stats?????? And so soon after the match. I thought it was all tracked on paper? You must have inside connections at the French Open, for sure, no?
I’m glad we have gussie-bot or I’d have no way to find this on my own.
Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much more revealing than the aggregate scores for the whole match (shown above) are the variations from set to set which show how the match unfolded. I don’t know how to reproduce them here but you can still call them up on the ATP slams tracker page.
Yes I’ve seen them. They show the momentum swings (usually around service breaks).
ok just looked u the Paris weather forecast for Wednesday.
It does not look good. (cloudy with chances of rain)
I have looked at several forecasts and most just have it cloudy but around 20 in the afternoon….some have a light shower at 1….let’s see… they often get it wrong…
I hope they get it wrong. Hope its bright and sunny and hot
Well done, Rafa!
http://www.funutilities.com/files/smileys/07/02/100.gif
Rafa received a standing ovation from the crowd!
Bot-post type 2, mandatory gif from giffy-bot
#NothingNew
Rafa is a million miles from where he was in Rome. He is more steady. I hope he comes fit and ready to go on Wednesday.
So folks as feared Sock took it to him.
But its good he got tested.
Ofcourse I dont think most people expect Rafa to win on Wednesday, so hopefully he plays with less pressure and freely. Not expecting Rafa to win on Wednesday but hoping neverthless.
Rafa played Isner on the Philippe Chatrier court!
hawkeye63 has been despeartely spreading an IMAGINARY story created by somebody that somebody booed somewhere FAR AWAY FROM (!!!) the Philippe Chatrier court, where Rafa played. Spectators of Rafa’s match on the Philippe Chatrier court didn’t booed!
It’s hilarious that the authors of the imaginary stories have the ability to freely imagine why somebody is booing somewhere FAR AWAY FROM something! LOL LOL LOL
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGbybkgWgAE7btP.png
You mean Cheryl Murray, Steve Tignor, Darren Cahill who all reported it.
Who to believe? Them or a robo-poster with nothing new nor original to say about tennis.
But at least you’re finally admitting the crowd booed him (which is a change from your previous stance that he was never booed there).
Hillarious!!!
#RhetoricalQuestions
June 1, 2015 at 7:48 pm
—You mean …Steve Tignor…—
=====================================
What did Mr. Tignor report about Rafa ? Recently I read (again) his fake story about Fed. In 2012 at Roland Garros, Fed screamed ‘Shut up!’ after he hit the ball into the net and the spectators cheered on his opponent (Delpo). Two years later, Mr.Tignor made up a fake story that Fed screamed at the crowd because he was distracted “by their oohs and aahs” (i.e. because of their worship!!!). LOL
It’s alllll fake gify-bot. Anything you don’t like is fake.
Besides, you don’t CARE what I say (or were you lying then too?).
Hilarious!!!
augusta08 says:
May 16, 2015 at 6:13 pm
I don’t care what YOU said.
https://tenngrand.com/2015/05/14/rome-qf-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-wawrinka-ferrer-vs-goffin/comment-page-2/#comment-193588
Tennis reporter for The Guardian Newspaper Simon Cambers also reported the boos and hisses.
(Some-bot-y can call this a fake story if it makes them feel better.)
Speaking of fake stories, you wouldn’t happen to have one of your reliable sources for this little gem now would you?
augusta08 says:
April 16, 2015 at 3:25 pm
When the result was flashed on to the screen somewhere far away from the stadium, J.Isner got booed and hissed by American tourists. (Like it happened after his loss to Rafa at the French Open years ago).
https://tenngrand.com/2015/04/16/monte-carlo-r3-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-isner-federer-vs-monfils/comment-page-1/#comment-189432
Hilarious!!!
June 1, 2015 at 10:30 pm,
American tourists are not ‘the French crowd’.
Hilarious!
If you are not making up fake stories that it was American fans then where is your reliable source??
HILARIOUS!!!!!
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/605432159671865346/photo/1
Video by Roland Garros: Press conference Rafael Nadal 2015 French Open / 4th Round
(Click on the headline on the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoKqxAUxKb4
hawkeye,
Regarding your post @ 10:30 pm, that’s it! So busted!
What ticked me off about that comment was casting aspersions on supposed American tourists! There is no way that American tourists would be booing if Rafa beat Isner! He is incredibly popular here in the states and the absurd accusation that it was all to blame on the American tourist, was quite offensive. Who even knows if there were any American tourists there that day?
Where would anyone get something like that? In fact, a few years ago at the USO Isner played Monfils in an early round match and got mad because the fans in the stands were cheering for Monfils over him! Yep, that’s what happened!
nativenewyorker7 says:
June 1, 2015 at 10:53 pm
—There is no way that American tourists would be booing if Rafa beat Isner!—
=====================================
I have never written that American tourists booed Rafa, I have written that they booed their own player for his loss! They tend to boo their own players.
For example, a quote:
¤¤ Isner holds a 7-5 win-loss Davis Cup record with two of those wins coming in doubles. Querrey has a 1-5 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles action and has never played doubles.
Both players talked about playing Davis Cup with home court advantage at the draw.
Querrey said, “We’re both very excited as we’ve both been playing some away ties the last three or four years, so to finally get one at home is thrilling. It will be nice to have a hard court and to have the fan support, the crowd behind us instead of getting the BOOS EVERY TIME you step on the court.” ¤¤
http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/137861.aspx
enjoy – https://tenngrand.com/2015/06/02/french-open-qf-preview-and-pick-djokovic-vs-nadal/
Leta hoe Rafa gives himself something to celebrate on Wednesday by beating Novak!!! Hape, hape hooray!!!
I don’t think Rafa can get it done on Wednesday with this serve, it’s way too weak to trouble Novak. At least he’s not folding under pressure now, which is good but his serve really worries me.
ritb, agree with that. on that slow slow court his serve will be easy meat for Nole to smash around. that’s the central area the match will be decided – Nole’s ability or not to push Rafa’s serve around. If Rafa serves like that he can’t win. He’s going to have to go for a lot more with it and take his chances with double faults…
He keeps dumping 1st serves into the net, what’s up with that? Is the treatment he received for his back problem inhibiting him? His serve really has been way, way below par this season.
You know more than I do as I have not watched him in the european season. But the serve was a problem last year with the back as I recall and he still managed to serve well against Nole in the final. So he can do it. He didn’t have to today because for the first 2 sets and a half Sock was doing nothing with it. I reckon the back still is a problem but like last year he will try and go for it against Nole. Against Almagro he was pulling out really great t serves on break points…not today or last round….I hope Uncle T. has him practicing hitting coins…..
I’m wondering if the changes he made that gave him the great serve at the USO 2013 led to his back problems that followed at the next slam in Australia and now he is protecting the back with his current sub-par service motion.
Luckily, he is leading the pack in percentage of receiving games won.
I think Rafa has to come out swinging, after all, what has he got to lose? Virtually all the pundits have him losinh to Novak so he should not feel any pressure. It’s Novak who has the pressure to fulfill the pundits’ expectations.
So, Vamos Rafa, hit for the fences!
Rafa & Jack Sock & the crowd:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGb5A3rWsAA0wwW.jpg
Wow the RG crowd is pathetic that they can’t even fill the much smaller lenglen court. And they call themselves fans. Don’t know why any-bot-y would defend an RG crowd known to boo a nine-time champion. Only some-bot-y that would come to the defence of CryBaby (who riled the AO crowd to boo Rafa) or a fedfan would do such a thing, for sure, no?
#EmptySeats
Actually there have been empty seats for nearly all the matches this year, including the blockbusters. Haven’t seen any boasting from RG about attendance figures so they must be down although if you try to buy tickets they are impossible to come by apart from the evening sessions when you can get in after 5pm on the day.
I’m in a prime tourist destination and all the locals depending on tourism are complaining how bad things are. The french are simply not putting their hands in their pockets this year.
Well they must be if you can’t buy them. Must be corporate seats handed out to clients that don’t bother to attend.
Good point. I’d forgotten that – so lots of ungrateful clients or they turn up and simply stay in the VIP bars! My son-in-law hosts groups for the SFs each year but says he can’t pass me off as an important business client ? ?
They probably just don’t like tennis. But should be on your ticket that seat will be given away if 90 minutes late or so.
The marshalling of spectators is nulle at RG. Nowhere else are spectators allowed to hold up play after practically every changeover sometimes for several minutes. Yesterday the umpire at the Murray match finally called out for the gates to be closed.
I think Rafa Novak will atleast go 4..I dont see it straight sets.
I just hope Rafas birthday gives him a good present.
On the other side, hope Stan and Ferrer spring a surprise 🙂
Wish : Rafa, ferrer, Tsonga, Stan in semis
What may happen : Novak, Andy, Federer, Kei 🙂
Rafa’s comments –
”Probably the toughest quarterfinal in my career here in Roland Garros, without a doubt. But (it) is not the final, you know. It’s a quarterfinal,” Nadal said. ”And, no, the winner of that match will not be the Roland Garros champion. … That makes a big difference. Even if it’s a special match, you know, (it’s) a quarterfinal.”
Rafa is trying to take the pressure off with that comment. Because it could just as well have come from Novak. That’s why I am not counting on Novak folding due to pressure. This is a quarterfinal, not a final or even a semifinal.
Both players will have to raise their game for this one. Normally a player will just start peaking at this point. But for this one, Rafa and Novak are going to have to bring their best earlier than normal.
The championship may not be on the line, but everyone knows that taking out Rafa is the key if you want to win. It’s not like Novak will have a cakewalk after this match if he wins. Should Murray get through to the semis, then that will be another physical battle. Then it could be Fed waiting in the final. It will be tough for both guys, because this match could take a lot out of both of them. The one who advances will have to still play two more matches.
I don’t know what will happen. Normally I would be optimistic about Rafa playing Novak. I would have confidence that ultimately he will prevail. But this year is something else altogether. Rafa has been anything but his normal self. Will he have what it takes in the crucial moments? Without having won a title since February? Will Novak winning so much this year give him what he needs to get it done now?
I know that almost all the pundits have predicted that this time Novak will beat Rafa. We will have to wait and see.
[polldaddy poll=8906613]
Rafa in four.
Vamos Rafa no matter what!!!!!
^^^Hawkeye
Are you convinced, or is it bravado, or simple loyalty?
I’m resisting making a prediction……..
#FearOfJinxing
Atul, I don’t think Rafa chose to lose 9 matches so far this season. He was suffering from lack of match play, lack of confidence, lack of form and lack of rhythm. He was out of condition, suffering from cramps and dehydration. He said after one of his losses that it was like starting from zero getting back his mindset, his movement his serve and his shots. The fact that he kept losing early deprived him of match play which meant he wasn’t getting any rhythm or his game back.
So far at RG he seems to be close to the Rafa we know and I hope that continues. Rafa playing at 100% is not easily shafted.
So whats your prediction nadline?
I never like to engage in predictions. All I hope is that Rafa doesn’t turn up deflated like he did against Berdy in Australia after he’d been playing very well.
rafa never played ‘very well’ during AO!!
What worries me is that Novak’s best is now better than Rafa’s best. I mean at this point in time (not if they were both completely at 100 %)
“I think I played great first two sets – very, very happy,” said Nadal. “My serve today was the worst thing. I didn’t start enough points with advantage, and that’s why he had the chance to break me. But I’m happy. I am enjoying again on court because I’m able to play more days with calm. I don’t have this problem of nerves I suffered from at the start of the year, and that gives you the possibility to compete well.
“Against Novak, it is the toughest quarterfinal in my career here in Roland Garros, without a doubt. But the winner of that match will not be the Roland Garros champion. Will be semifinalist. That’s makes a big difference. Even if it’s a special match, you know, is a quarter-final.
“He’s by far the best player in the world. He’s brimming with confidence; he has exceptional form. He’s won almost all the matches since the start of the year. He has only two defeats. I love Roland Garros. I love the tournament. I love the courts. I will pull out all the stops to win the match. I feel competitive. I will fight to the bitter end. I don’t know if it will be enough. I don’t read a crystal ball. So if I play well and if my opponent plays better than me, I will shake hands and congratulate and then I will move on.”
Rafas serve I think is the biggest weak point especially when you take at Novaks outstanding ROS
I posted the same on another thread ! haha… I agree that rafa’s first serve will decide the match.
Here is something Novak said “Playing him here and playing him in any other tournament is completely different. But the conditions are very suited to his style of game. He loves playing on Court Philippe Chatrier.”
Not sure if he is saying this out of respect or does he actually ‘fear’ rafa on PC 😛 He said said multiple times how PC benefits rafa so there must be something!
PC has 32 feet of space length wise behind the baseline and that is HUGE. As federer said, there is always a tendency on PC to stay back because it is so big. You almost have to remind yourself to stay closer to the baseline. Rafa thinks the bigger court makes it difficult for his opponents to hit winners from a mental point of view. Rafa’s defensive play surely gets elevated on PC.