Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be hoping to snag spots in the Paris semifinals when they take the court on Friday. Standing in their respective ways are Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych.
(4) Stan Wawrinka vs. (7) Rafael Nadal
Nadal and Wawrinka will be facing each other for the 16th time in their careers and for the second time this fall when they meet again in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday night. Nadal extended his head-to-head series dominance to 13-2 by hammering Wawrinka 6-2, 6-1 in last month’s Shanghai quarters. The Spaniard is 8-1 on hard courts (2-0 indoors), with his only such loss coming in the 2014 Australian Open final. Wawrinka’s second victory came earlier this season on the clay courts of Rome via a 7-6(7), 6-2 decision.
Nadal is through to a fourth consecutive quarterfinal, having previously reached finals in Beijing and Basel in addition to the Shanghai semis. But the world No. 6 almost bowed out of Paris on Thursday, when he saved one match point to overcome Kevin Anderson 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 in two hours and 26 minutes. Wawrinka has advanced with straight-set defeats of Bernard Tomic and Viktor Troicki. The fourth-ranked Swiss is 11-2 this fall and bouncing back nicely from a first-round Basel loss to Ivo Karlovic. Although the surface is conducive to Wawrinka’s game, by hard-court standards it also plays into Nadal’s hands. The world No. 1 should be able to bounce back in fine fashion from his third-round tussle, just as Anderson recovered to come within one point of beating Nadal after getting past Dominic Thiem in two hours and 44 minutes one day earlier.
Pick: Nadal in 3
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) Tomas Berdych
A similarly lopsided “rivalry” will be taking place when Djokovic and Berdych collide for the 22nd time on Friday. Djokovic owns a 19-2 record in the head-to-head series, including 16-0 on hard courts and 6-0 indoors. Both of their 2016 showdowns have required decisive third sets. Berdych pushed his opponent the distance in both Dubai and Monte-Carlo but lost 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 at the former and 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at the latter. The Czech’s victories have come in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals and at the 2013 Rome Masters.
Berdych had been thriving at 250-pointers while struggling at more prestigious events of late, so his 6-3, 6-4 rout of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Thursday came as a minor surprise. The world No. 5, who preceded that performance with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 defeat of Edouard Roger-Vasselin, is 57-18 for the season and 12-3 this fall. Djokovic has not yet reached peak form in Paris despite having showcased more than enough to see off Thomaz Bellucci and Gilles Simon in straight sets. The top-ranked Serb has not lost prior to the final of any tournament since the first tournament of the year in Doha (l. to Karlovic). Nothing suggests Berdych will be the one to end that impressive streak of Paris’ two-time defending champion.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 8-10 games
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I did not see the match but I am alarmed at so much negativity here. It almost looked like he lost 6 1 6 1
I frankly am not at all sad that he lost. He needs rest.
Sanju,
It’s better if you at least get to see the match. Then maybe you might understand some of the comments here. It was ugly from both guys. Not their best at all. But the simple fact is that Rafa got the early break in the first set and also had a chance to break again. But he couldn’t get it done. Then when he was serving for the first set he was broken. So they were even. From there it went to a TB. Rafa did have at least one set point. I am not sure if he had another. But he blew it and Stan won the TB. Rafa let that first set get away.
It’s not a disastrous loss by any means. However, it is a reminder that Rafa is not yet all the way back. He did hang in there in the second set after he was broken and got the break back. That took it to another TB, where Rafa again had more than one set point.
For myself, I didn’t want to see Rafa battling in another three setter. It was already about 2:00 am in Paris.
The problem is that you are judging the comments from people who saw the match. If you can’t see it, then don’t judge. I thought both Stan and Rafa were not at their best at all. I don’t think Stan in this kind of form is going to trouble Novak tomorrow.
This match is just a reminder that there is a good deal more work for Rafa to do.
One more point. Rafa has had a lot of time this year to rest. It’s true that he’s played a lot recently, but he needed it. Rafa said it himself about needing match play. That’s how he gets better. Winning is a good thing.
Now he will have a week off before the WTF. So that will give him some rest. But overall, rest now is not what he needs. Rafa did the right thing in playing all these tournaments. He’s gotten the best results of the year during a time when he normally does not do well.
NNY: Good on you for keeping it real.
I tried not to have overly high expectations beforehand but that didn’t stop me from a sense of bitter disappointment when he messed up on that smash which sealed the loss in two sets. Koenig kept rabbiting on about the brilliant tennis and what an exciting match it was. I agree with you – it was more about mistakes from both players. In other words an ugly match rather than exciting.
ed,
Yes, I feel the same as you. Many times you express exactly what I am thinking. Rafa missing that smash to give him four set points did sting quite a bit.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to listen to Koenig!
If he has an ankle issue, why stress it further and endure another marathon with Novak and further get crushed? Its okay..losses happen all the time. Rafa is not the 1st won to squander set points or match points. He would have lost against Anderson, he pulled it off there. Stan is a better player this year and no shame in losing to him.
Regarding Novak, did Novak not struggle against Berdych? He took 2 tight TBs to win too. Its not as if he walked all over Berdych and nobody expected him to have such a tough encounter with Berdych.
I am not judgemental but I feel we are just too harsh and negative all the time and forever highlighting whatever is wrong.
So right Sanju. But being judgemental is most people’s way of dealing with their disappointment as you my dear well know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember demanding you ‘put a sock in it’ during one match some years back because you were being so hyper critical ?
Rewind back to 2013. Rafas WTF win against Stan. It was 7 6 7 6 too and very tight and that was one of Rafas best years. 2015 is Rafas worst year and he lost 7 6 7 6. It is not that bad. He made mistakes which he should not have but it happens.
I am more worried about the knee than the loss. What is wrong with knee/ankle?
Those days are long gone ed. I think I am least critical now compared to all except nadline and augusta who ofcourse wont say a word against Rafa.
Yes the very same Alex. Like Deucy, he’s always been a sympathetic supporter when Rafans are down in the dumps so I’m cutting him some slack for this momentary lapse!. He’s enjoying a whole year of Andy in good form – after years of riding the switchback of being an ardent Muzza fan – and has got a bit above himself. ?
ed..Whole year of Andy in good form? What exactly great did Andy do this year except winning 2 Masters? He lost to Novak 5/6 times he played.
I would say Andys chance of winning a slam is the same as that of Rafa and Fed now as things stand. He is no way better placed than both of them.
If Rafa has to lose let it be against Stan the man.. Seeing the comments I’m glad I couldn’t see the match. Now Stan…. Please trash all of them, you’re rarely in the zone but when you are it’s bliss to watch.
So too was your wife I would imagine Shirling 😉
I hope too that Stan will win this tournament as he will be after Agassi, the first person to win the FO plus Paris Masters in the same year. I do hope Rafa can do it next year!
It was so late last night took my computer up to bed to watch the 2nd set. Fell asleep feeling deeply depressed and woke up this morning even more depressed. I prefer to think it was mental more than physical. If it is the former he can regroup and put last night behind him. The latter will be harder to fix.
Ed, please dont be depressed. Rafa certainly didnt have it in him last night to go the distance. Yes, he let slipped two winnable sets but TBH, I dont think he played well. I feel all the long matches had finally caught up with him. With a week’s rest next week, whatever ailing him (I think he twisted his ankle somewhere though not a major issue but with all the long matches, he wont have enough time to rest and recover) should be healed and he should be rested emough and be ready to start the WTF.
One thing about the WTF, there’s a one day break between the RR matches so there’s enough time to rest and recover. I think Rafa can deal with most of the top eight if not Novak. I think Ferrer, Murray, Stan and Novak are still battling it out there at Paris so they’re not exactly that fresh. If the draw is kind to Rafa, Rafa may make it to the SF stage at the WTF. Fingers crossed.
Thank goodness for the sake of all the players there is the extra week now between Paris and London.
Thanks lucky. I’ll pull myself together before next week. Promise.
When does the draw happen?
I dont know when the draw will be made, probably next Thurs or Fri?
One more thing to add, Rafa’s fighting spirit is back; even when under adversity, he still kept/keeps battling till the end, which is why he’s so captivating to watch out there and wins all the support and love from the spectators.
luckystar, I agree with you. I am not at all down by this loss; I even see it as a draw to be honest. Two TBs going to 9:7 is a draw IMO. I am actually pleased that Rafa is home now, getting some down time after a gruelling few weeks this fall, managing to see off some very tough competition. I take my hat off to him for fighting to the bitter end when most of us were already resigned to a loss in the beginning of the 2nd set. He is a true champion worthy of my sleepless nights and angst.
He still needs to work on his serve and fh but he is a long way from where he was this time last year and if he can end the year as #5 or 6 in his worst year he is going places in 2016.
Vamos Rafa!
lucky,
You were the one who was so critical of Rafa losing the Basel final. Yet you are not concerned about Rafa losing a match he could have easily won? I don’t get that. I am not deeply depressed by any means, but I am concerned. I said last night that it’s not a catastrophic loss by any means.
Weren’t you the one who said Rafa was birdbrain? That doesn’t sound like a compliment. So you were obviously not happy that he lost either.
NNY, you cant compare a QF match to a final! Rafa played well in that final yet made errors in one game, lost serve and thats it, lost the match. Even that match vs Tsonga was frustrating because Rafa played well.
This QF match? After the first few games, I could see Rafa wasnt playing well, he was slower and his balls were landing short. Stan up his level mid 1st set and so they went to a TB. After Rafa lost the first set TB despite having a SP, and the 1st set took more than one hour, I knew he was done. Stan threw him a lifeline in the srcond set by messing up his service game when serving for the match, if not we wont even see the second set TB.
Obviously I wasnt happy he lost and he did play poorly in the TB after having SP, not unlike Berdych. However, like I said, I could see him not playing well so he losing it was normal when Stan up his level. You cant deny that Stan was playing well as the match progressed.
I was disappointed about the loss to Tsonga and Fed because after winning the second set in both matches, he couldnt sustain that winning momentum throughout the third set.
Hey Ed, well my wife got a bit of sleep last night after three straight nights of insomnia which pretty much means I also didn’t get any sleep so I just didn’t have it in me to endure another tennis battle.
I’d skip watching it on playback if I were you!
I still miss Agassi
Why Agassi?
The draw will be on Thursday at 7.45 pm and Sky Sports will be there but I can’t see it in the programme listings so far. No doubt, our Press Correspondent, augusta, will let us know.
I did my own draw on the WTF thread. It would be interesting if others could do the same to see who is closest.
the seeds are not set yet
BTW Rafas post USO season is kinda panning out exactly like Feds post 2013 USO. Fed too then started reaching semis as Rafa is now.
I just hope Rafa is well back on track next year to grab a slam or 2.
and how many GSs has Fed won since his slump in 2013? just asking…If you do not mind I would not compare Rafa and Fed in this regard…
Who is this alex guy who is proclaiming boldly that Rafa will never win a slam? The same Alex who was Muzzas fan? Never seen him that vocal.
Sanju: I have answered you but inserted it in the wrong place. Scroll up a bit.
I think one MUST watch this match in order to make any judgements of Rafa’s game…Rafa lost it mentally not physically…Rafa did not even look wasted…He lost on KEY points mistaking shots that he would otherwise make in his sleep…I think Rafa will be utterly disappointed after this loss…
Stan did not play well…his new teeenage girlfriend was in his box so he, yes, was inspired and highly motivated to prove to her who the boss is, but he choked when serving for the match…it’s not as Rafa did anything to get that break back: Stan simply choked BIG! Yet Rafa managed to prove that his mental weakness is way bigger than anyone thought the way he lost the second set tiebreak…
missing an easy FH on the set point in the first set and then making insane errors in the tiebreak of the second set ARE the indications that Rafa’s hasn’t retrieved his mental strength…his team has long way to go in that department…working on this issue seems equally important as stem treatment IMO…if he does not fix it he will be losing close matches which will only increase his anxiety and lessen his confidence…what do you think this kind of loss will do to Rafa’s future opponents? I bet they all sit back and think: “we just need to put a pressure on him! Sooner or later he will self-destruct…”
Saying that Rafa was tired IMO is just making an excuse…while I agree on the fact that Rafa will always be at disadvantage on this surface, that hardly warrants his failure to win the first set that he had in the pocket and to do it in astonishing manner…I think one has to face some serious issues to be able to lose the set like that…I think even Berdy would have won it under those circumstances…
We are all guessing at the end of the day. Rafa had enough mental strength to overcome a series of tough matches in Beijing, Shanghai, Basel and here in Paris. Yes he shouldn’t have let the match slip but we can’t rule out fatigue. Maybe a bit of both. I think his serve wasn’t good in this match and he missed a few fhs.
I agree…but the question arises why does Rafa have to face those though moments in the first place? Most of the time it is Rafa who puts himself in the position to have to face those critical moments…his game suddenly deteriorates when serving for the match, when having to hold, in the tiebreaks…giving the break back is a serious problem that needs attention…and it is solely Rafa’s problem, not of his opponents…It’s not as they suddenly rejuvenate and play extraordinary tennis to ensure the break back….it’s Rafa who feels the pressure in those moments and folds…he can make it work against lesser ranked opponents…he sure cannot do it yet against the top players…we have witnessed it in Shangai against Tsonga, In Basel vs Federer and now against Wawa…Rafa lost the matches that he should have won and he did it on pure mental basis…
Rafa simply does not trust his game and most of the time it takes only for his opponents to keep the ball in and wait for Rafa to make an error…it really depresses me…
Yes, he needs to back himself more. He does get nervous at crucial times. I’m sure Rafa knows more than anyone what the problem is even more than U. Toni and I look forward to him finding the solution. It he holds his own part of the match and not drop his serve so often, for no apparent reason, he’d be well on his way to domination.
However, I am pleased he is not playing in Paris until Sunday because he’ll have to be in London by Thursday for the WTF. He really needs a break. He said he didn’t expect to win any of the indoor events but sees them as preparation for 2016 so he won’t be down in the dumps.
Clearly it’s more physical than mental! He won’t miss a smash just because he’s mentally tired or mentally not there. Clearly he won’t hit so many FHs into the net when he’s more mentally tired than physically tired. If he’s mentally not there, then why was he still fighting right to the end? He would have folded before that!
Saying he’s physically tired is not making excuses, not any more than saying he’s mentally tired or mentally not there! Give Rafa a break, don’t expect him to play every match in top form match after match. Even the no.1 player was scrappy yesterday against a player he owned all the time and was fortunate not to go the distance to win. Every one left in the other half of the draw had to go the distance, Murray and Ferrer had to work extra hard too. It’s never easy at the later stage of a Masters.
No those lapses are clearly mental as nats points out.
It is not coincidence not physical that he was broken when trying to serve for the first set. On two points he left balls short allowing Stan to dictate and another was a bad UE.
Whenever he sweats like a badly dripping faucet, I know his nerves are off the charts.
Most people here saying that the score proves it wasn’t a bad match must not have watched it all.
Stan was really bad and still won.
It will be a lopsided score against Nole if he plays the same today.
With all due respect, I disagree…Saying Rafa was physically tired for me is pure speculation especially when you see him fighting to the end and running on every ball…he has endured so many five setters in his life that saying he will be physically exhausted from a couple of three setters is rather unacceptable for me…he was certainly not tired against Tsonga in Shanghai and yet managed to lose…
I never said Rafa was mentally exhausted…he clearly is not…his tennis brain works well, he mixes various shots, he even played closer to the baseline in this match and showed some agression…I never said he did not play well…I said he was clearly supposed to win this match but managed God knows how to lose it in the end…he simply does not show his mental strength on key points…Rafa of old would have never let Wawa come back into the match when serving for the set…and Wawa did nothing special in that game but waiting for Rafa to self-destruct…
we may argue here saying it’s this but knowing it’s pure speculation and subject of opinion…however, at the end, we all have to agree that Rafa keeps losing matches that he should have won, and that Rafa becomes easy self-destructive target when put under pressure…that’s the fact and it has to be dealt with…
No it’s not mental exhaustion. It’s mental anxiety.
I don’t think it’s exhaustion because he played far worse at critical moments. The overhead into the net wasn’t from physical exhaustion.
Nats, what do you expect? You expect Rafa to win every match he played?? So he couldnt lose?
This is not the Rafa of old and to expect him to do things as if he’s that Rafa is asking for too much. Check his 2013 season and see how he performed during this part of the season. He struggled to beat Fog at Beijing, and was fortunate Berdych retired in the next match, and got despatched by Novak easily in the final. At Shanghai, he even needed to battle against Berloq, I mean the ‘elderly’ clay court player Berloq? He got handled easily by Delpo in straight sets, Delpo playing some inspired tennis the way Tsonga played at Shanghai this year.
If you put everything into perspective, you’ll realize that Rafa is doing well this part of the season despite the year that he has. Yes its frustrating how he lost to Tsonga, just like how he lost to Fed, but in retrospect, he wasnt doing badly compared to the past, even to his 2013. After seven long matches from Basel to Paris, I can certainly see tiredness in his legs, the way he was slow in reaching the balls and by the end of the second set, he was looping his shots, not hitting them hard. Its Stan throwing him a lifeline at the end of the second set that Rafa found some last burst of energy to push the TB into a tight one.
I’m sure after a week’s rest, he should be more energized and will cut down on those errors. Its crazy to doubt his mindset when he had proven how clutched and gutsy he was when facing MP against Anderson.
lucky,
Again I do not agree. In 2013 one could understand those losses after the brilliant year he had. So there is no comparing these two years and his results. This year Rafa has not won a single slam or Masters title. He was routinely getting knocked out of matches earlier than usual. So talking about him being physically tired after a few best of three set tournaments really doesn’t seem reasonable.
I agree with nats and hawkeye on this issue. It was all mental, between the ears. Not physical.
@ lucky,
I expect Rafa to win the matches that he had under control…he had break point for double break in the first set…he was serving for the set for God’s sake…he had a set point in the tiebreak…it’s only that his first return points won were low, but his first serve was at 75% which was way better than Wawa’s …he had two set points in the second set tiebreak…he had so many chances and he lost those due to his inability to play well on key points…
so what do I expect? I expect Rafa to take the set he deserved not to give it away…if he had won the first set the pressure would have lessen and he would have most likely beat Wawa in 2
BTW, the anxiety increased early in the second set as he was broken by Wawa…and what I think you are misunderstanding about the anxiety: the negative effect of it becomes clear when Rafa is afraid of losing the advantage he has…he gets extremely nervous and self-destroys…its why he missed that easy FH…
No hawkeye, its not mental anxiety imo. How do you explain that FH into the net when he had SP in the first set TB? He’s a bit slow to get into position to hit that FH thus hitting into the net. The mental anxiety should have started right during the second set, afrer losing tge first set in that manner, not till he had SP in the TB. Anixety also should happen when he’s about to lose the match, not when he had the chance to win the set. He’s not Berdych!
It’s mental frailty when he can’t serve out the set as he should have in the first set.
Hawkeye, like I said, dont expect Rafa to be in top form match after match. After scrapping past Anderson, his level could dip in the next match and that’s exactly what happened. He played poorly and lost, and again like I said, I saw and knew he didnt play well so he losing it and in this manner, though disappointing but not surprising to me.
@ lucky 5:04pm,
not suddenly…he has been doing it the whole year now…
beating Stan in Shanghai: not to take anything away from Rafa but Stan did not look himself in that match…TBH Rafa did not have to do much..
in the Basel final Rafa played well and lost because Fed was better in key moments..
in Paris he played worse yet he could have beaten Wawa but self-destructed when it mattered…he lost the match due to his insane errors…
The failure to serve out sets happened since last year, its nothing new.
Nats, Rafa lost the first set and so had to go the distance to win. Having to go the distance meant Rafa wasnt good enough to win in straight sets, simple as that, nothing to do with exhaustion. However, there’s the cumulative effect after four weeks of extended play match after match.
nats.
I pretty much agree with your thoughts. This loss was a step back as far as I am concerned. People here saying that Rafa needs rest is also scary. Yes, he’s played a lot now but that’s what he would normally do this time of the year. The truth is that Rafa hasn’t played much this year simply because he’s been knocked out of tournaments much earlier than usual. So saying he’s tired as though this is the end of a normal season when he would be in the semis and finals of slams and Masters events, is kind of concerning.
Yes it’s good that he will get a week of rest, but some here don’t seem to realize that Rafa is a tennis player and has to play. Not playing enough this year is why he didn’t have the rhythm and timing on his shots and why he didn’t have confidence.
Rafa said himself that he needed more match play. So this was a good thing. The little niggles like the knee and the ankle don’t seem to be a big concern. I think the bigger concern is that Rafa has to play all these three setters. He kept losing the first sets of matches in Basel. He was battling and playing longer to win in that tournament. While it was great to see him fighting back, I don’t know that he can do this on a regular basis at this point in his career.
@ native,
very well said!
And the tiredness excuse makes even less sense when you observe the fact that Rafa ended up playing long matches because he kept losing first sets…one can certainly not state that Rafa would have been physically exhausted in the first set of the match…
We have to agree to disagree. Why would Rafa suddenly get nervous when serving for the set and lost serve, when in the previous match, he could even save MP? Unless he’s suffering from some physical ailment that caused him to feel anxious, i dont see the logic, esp when he had beaten Stan at Shanghai.
And i find it strange that when he faltered in that Basel final, everyone was not so disappointed but not when he played poorly this QF and lost serve?
luckystar, you and I are on the same page here. Rafa played below his best yesterday, making too many UEs and not getting his first serve in. He needs to button down the his serve.
He’s been doing that all year uncharacteristlically failing to serve out matches. A rookie mistake.
All nerves. Same as when a rookie gets ahead of a top ranked players but gets tight trying to hold.
You see this all the time in tennis.
Rafa played a much better match against Fed in Basel. Last night was no comparison other than he lost both.
It’s not that he lost, but how.
Yes, agree to disagree.
Im not sure he’s playing fewer matches this year; hes winning fewer matches and losing many matches. Todate, he has played 77 matches and there’s still WTF to play. In 2013 he played 82 matches including 5 at WTF, so effective he had played 77 matches up to Paris Masters, no difference from 2015. The difference may be that he plays more 3 setters in 2015 and hence spends more time on court.
I dont think we can rule out physical exhaustion after four weeks of long matches.
No doubt he’s tired. I’m sure Stan is too by the way he played. He had many more UEs than Rafa (who had around 30 or so).
I rule it out as the biggest factor because of the moments in the match where he had critical UEs.
And Fed indoors at 80% career W-L record is a different kettle of fish altogether than Stan who is a mediocre 50% career indoors losing as often as he wins.
sanju, it doesn’t seem as if there is a knee or ankle issue. Yes he had his knee taped halfway through 2 matches because he felt something but he said later on that it was nothing. and he didn’t practice or play with the tape in his recent matches. He also felt something in his right foot during practice before the Anderson match but he and U. Toni confirmed that it nothing.
augusta posted a video of the interviews on R3 match thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rnhvrN8c6I
U.Toni said ‘It was nothing serious………I hope’
But then if there really was any kind of problem he wasn’t going to let on before the match, was he?
#The is the Eeyyore in me speaking
All I can say is that if Rafa is physically exhausted after four weeks of matches, then that is concerning. I don’t think its how many tournaments he’s played, it’s how hard he’s had to work to win matches. While it’s great to see him coming from behind, it means that he also has to work harder. He’s fighting so hard to win these best of three matches and it takes a toll on his body.
There is also no question that Rafa hasn’t played as much this year, unless we are trying to kid ourselves. Rafa did not get to one semi or final in a slam this year. He wasn’t able to go deep in a majority of the matches he played. Should we recap the record this year?
AO – quarterfinals
RG – quarterfinals
Wimbledon- second round
USO – third round
I rest my case.
hawkeye,
I agree with you post @ 5:08 pm. You got to the heart of it. We all know that Rafa is going to lose. That’s a given. But it’s how he loses that matters. In Basel he gave it his best and pushed Fed to three sets. He was in it all the way and then Fed got the break that would allow him to serve out the match. That was a loss I could live with, absolutely!
There is no comparison between that loss and last night. Rafa gave that match away. It’s how he lost, not the fact that he lost.
Do I think it’s the end of the world? No! But it reminds us that Rafa has more work to do. I think there will be ups and downs as Rafa works to get back to his best. Last night’s loss is one that I find tough to live with, but it is what it is.
Rafa will have some rest and then get ready for the WTF!
Agreed. Basle loss was indeed a good loss.
Rafa said it himself, he was tired, that explains everything.
No it really doesn’t. It’s about when he tightened up.
I thought we agreed to disagree.
@ native,
agreed. I was encouraged by his tennis in Basel…last night I realized that there is much more to be done in Rafa’s camp…and it is so disappointing…
ed251137 says:
November 7, 2015 at 9:28 am
Why Agassi?
This was just a reflection from Lucky’s post at: Luckystar says:
November 7, 2015 at 8:41 am
Agassi, like Rafa, was also full of charisma and a crowd favorite who fought against the odds.
Agassi was the last great tennis love of my life until Rafa came along.
legend
Great player but Sampras owned him.
Great player but Sampras owned him.
What’s that got to do with it?
I don’t choose my favourites on the basis of h2h results.
I have the feeling that a good serve is crucial to Rafa nowadays. if he can’t get it going then his mental strength starts to wane during the match. It has never been easy for him but now it’s, like I say, crucial.
Off clay, I’d say that’s always been the case.
He’s sorely in need of a reliable 2nd serve. These days Nole is able to summon up a lethal 2nd seemingly at will when he needs it most. Rafa does occasionally when he is full of confidence but not with Nole’s regularity.
Yes, the serve is the key. He makes life difficult for himself by having to work too hard to hold his serve.
ed,
Absolutely! I’ve been saying this for some time.
I understand that Rafa is open to all suggestions regarding his game, maybe he could have a seminar with his fans to iron out what needs to be done. We are happy when Rafa is winning so we have a vested interest in his prospects.
Face to face with Rafa? Book a date and a venue and I’ll be there.
Nadline10 that’s an awesome kewl idea!!!!
I’ve sent it along to Benny!!!!
Let’s see where this goes!
Nadline10 that’s an awesome kewl idea!!!
I’ve passed it along to Benny!!!
Let’s see where it goes!
@at 2:59 pm,
.
Someone keeps writing fantasies about his imaginary friend (Benny) – it must be mental.
Respectfully, please keep this about tennis and not about posters (as most here have done) including yourself except when it comes to me.
For your reference…
I. No personal insults.
A. Calling someone an idiot is an insult. Telling someone that they made an idiotic comment is not an insult (although the post will likely be deleted).
II. No personal attacks.
A. Insensitive comments about someone’s family.
B. Constant harassment (saying they are are an idiotic tennis fan, etc.)
@ 4:51 pm
X (should be). No the player’s PR manager-related fantasy stories.
Please keep this about tennis and not about a player’s PR manager-related fantasy stories.
It’s only a little joke. I don’t see what the problem is. It’s not directed towards anybody and there is no harm.
However, you are directly insulting me and I have done nothing insulting to any Rafans since site rules are established.
Again, I kindly request that you show me the same respect.
I’ve since apologized to you if you’ve been offended by what I’ve saiid and if you missed it, I do it again here.
@ 5:52 pm
.
I am kindly joking too.
.
May I ask again, what (&when) you apologized for?
When you call me “mental” and the connotations that invokes, I take offence to that. It is a very different context than saying that Rafa is struggling mentally with anxiety as even he has admitted. There is nothing wrong with that.
I tried to find the link but could not which is why I apologized again for anything I’ve said in the past about you that you’ve been offended by.
I would hope that would be acceptable to you.
If you cannot accept my apology then, at the very least, I again kindly and repectfully request that you respect the site rules.
@6:08 pm
.
I commented your fresh “joke”, not the past.
Respectfully, it was an insult directed to a poster here (myself) and a violation of the site rules as opposed to my joke.
my post at 3:06 pm was the response to luckystar 12:38 pm,
Rafa said he felt tired:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTOaxnlUcAAqT3_.png:medium
of course he felt tired when he lost the first set and the way he lost it…
Rafa’s first sentence says it all…
I read that on VB. So Rafa is being honest as always, saying he did not deserve to win when he missed so many big points. He also did admit to feeling tired.
Rafa had his work cut out with the draws he had having to beat the giants and big hitters one after the other. The only one he escaped was Isner. Federer looked invincible until he met Isner and he lost. Rafa is bound to be mentally and physically exhausted.
Did Rafa have a post match interview?