Rafael Nadal has not been seriously tested through three U.S. Open matches and he will hope to keep it that way with Lucas Pouille on the other side of the net on Sunday. Gael Monfils and Marcos Baghdatis are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (24) Lucas Pouille
Nadal and Pouille will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. Their only previous meeting came last spring on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where Nadal cruised 6-2, 6-1. A hard court will obviously give Pouille a better chance, but the Spaniard is certainly no slouch on this surface. Nadal is a two-time champion of this tournament, he is coming off a fourth-place performance at the Rio Olympics, and he has not dropped a set through three matches in Flushing Meadows. The world No. 5 blitzed Denis Istomin 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, cruised past Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1, and made similar 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 work of Andrey Kuznetsov on Friday night.
Pouille punched a ticket to the last 16 of a second straight major (he went all the way to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon) in dramatic fashion. After taking care of Mikhail Kukushkin in four sets, the 25th-ranked Frenchman overcame Marco Chiudinelli 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-0 and outlasted Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Prior to Roland Garros this spring, Pouille owned just a single main-draw win at a Grand Slam; he has since picked up eight such victories. The 22-year-old will be unafraid of the big stage, but Nadal is in stellar hard-court form this summer and should have way too much game for an opponent coming off consecutive five-setters.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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(10) Gael Monfils vs. Marcos Baghdatis
Monfils and Baghdatis went more than nine years without facing each other. Now the two veterans are set to square off for the second time in a three-week span. At last month’s Cincinnati Masters, Monfils took a modest 2-1 lead in the head-to-head series by rolling over the Cypriot 7-5, 6-0. Interestingly, their first-ever showdown also came in Cincinnati–way back in 2006 when Baghdatis prevailed 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-1. They also met at the 2007 Australian Open, where Monfils got the job done 7-6(5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-0.
A second Grand Slam encounter between them was not expected given that Baghdatis found himself in the same section of the draw as a red-hot Milos Raonic. But Ryan Harrison ousted a hobbled Raonic in four sets and Baghdatis promptly took care of Harrison 6-3, 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-1 on Friday. The world No. 44 preceded that victory by beating Facundo Bagnis and Benoit Paire in mostly routine fashion. Monfils has not dropped a single set in wins over Gilles Muller, Jan Satral, and Nicolas Almagro. The Frenchman is an awesome 38-11 for the season and currently in position to qualify for the World Tour Finals. Nothing suggests Baghdatis, who is in the last 16 of a slam for the first time since 2009, will be the one to slow Monfils down.
Pick: Monfils in 3
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Too bad for Rafa, tha’s what lack of match plays would do for him. He has so many chances but he throws them all away!
I feel sorry for his big family. Rafa will have to deal with the nightmare of losing in five sets this time at R4.
I am really at a loss for words. This is terrible.
I don’t know what justifies that miss at 6-6.
Yes, that was just shocking. Wide open DTL forehand. His trademark shot was right there to give him match point and he missed it.
I am sure his family is not disappointed. He fought well and I am proud of him. I knew Pouille was dangerous ( though somebody here chose to attack my opinion saying we needn’t worry about Pouille).
Rafa is still not at the level at which he can beat Nole or Muzz but now I am fairly confident that if he remains fit he is going to win RG 2017. He is adjusting his game to protect his body from old injuries so he doesn’t have the unconscious excellence and ease of execution which he would have had if he was executing strokes practised for thousands of hours and mastered. Obviously as anyone knows when you are still at the stage of excellence where you have to consciously play your strokes, you may miss in tight situations. But he is progressing and getting there (to that level of unconscious excellence).
I hope his wrist heals soon. If his wrist doesn’t heal, then it is curtains for Rafa’s career and I am sure he will not take chances except at RG where I am sure it would be do or die for him.
For 2.5 years now.
Please.
Yes, it can take years. Delpo took years recovering from injury and we still do not know whether he is back. It is very odd that you (hawk) discount Rafa’s injuries and seem to think he can play like before and the only reason he is losing is because of mental problems. Rafa himself had warned his return in 2015 would not be the return of 2013. He is very aware of his limitations and his level. Definitely not in denial. It is also odd that everybody and his wife seems to think they know better than Rafa and his team what is good for him. Puh-lease
Sorry for Rafa losing today Mary.
don’t know how many more losses even Rafa can take… confidence will be at all-time low now. I am sure he was expecting at least a semi final showing.
Until he makes some real noise again, it is pointless to have expectations from him now. What a disappointment!
This is getting embarrassing now.
He’s no longer that gutsy, clutch player he was in the past.
I think Monfils will beat Pouille easily in the next round.
He has to be done this time. Easy picking for Monfils.
Chapeau Rafa and Lucas
Pouille has now played three five setters…he’ll get a beating from Monfils. What a kind draw for Djokovic!!
Same old shit now… hoping Djokovic doesn’t win bla bla….
what is your problem with Djokovic? it is not his fault your idol lost.
@Mr.bean, I have no problems with Djokovic 🙂 he is a legend of the sport and I respect his achievements a lot. However, it is no secret that I would like to see Rafa ahead of him in slam count for as long as possible and that is totally fair lol.
Agree with Lucky.
Pouille is a good young talent but any good fit experienced Top 20 player should handle him ok.
As should have Rafa.
Practicing with Rafa defo helped him.
Americans. Fighting over Poiille’s towel.
Every time Rafa lost the hard fought match I said it was the sadest moment but I think this one will deffiniitely break my heart…The same as in his match with Delpo, Rafa misses an easy shot which would have given him the match point…
Rafa is lost his mental strenght, his confidence and he has become a target because his opponents know he will break in key moments…I am devastated…
Rafa was so close and now he is most likely lost for the season..,hard to recover from this…if ever…
Seriously, I think Rafa’s slam winning days are over. He cant even beat a guy who went five sets for his previous two matches!
Again how can his serve be so bad?? What is his team doing? His FH and BH failed him big time here, netting them on crucial points!
What I cant stand is he losing to young guns like Pouille and Coric! I would rather he lost to Monfils! I am losing hope in Rafa now, when he’s so defensive and not wanting to strike first. His brand of tennis may be outdated now, when everyone is going for winners everywhere.
This is an embarrassing loss, when he managed to lose from a winning position. I bet he’ll be asked the question regarding changing of coach all over again.
I’ve now dreaded watching Rafa’s matches, not so much that he loses but the way he loses, its so painful to watch. I think I feel more relaxed watching other players!
I completely agree with you on all points…
???
That is the key for me – the way Rafa is losing matches. How many chances did he have to win this? I lost count! Two games from winning, up a break. Yet he manages to get broken. Again! How many times have we seen this movie?
There were chances to break him late in the fifth set. Then Rafa was behind in the TB but he came back to tie it up. Then he misses a wide open DTL forehand to give him match point!
These are matches that Rafa used to win. It was his trademark. He was the one who came up with the great shots when the match was in the line.
I don’t recognize this Rafa. I don’t know how he comes back from this loss. Rafa had a great draw here. I worried about the lack of slam match play and how it would affect Rafa. He did not have the confidence or the mental strength when the match was on the line.
Somebody just please tell me how Rafa managed to lose this match when he was two games from winning!
Exactly, NNY!
Rafa’s mental strength is not there any more…we will just have to accept that he may just as well get fed up with losing like this and call it a quit…I don’t know if I am more angry at Rafa for not being strong mentally and missing an easy shot or at myself for once again expecting too much from him and ending with unbearable dissapointment…
Natashao,
Yes, I hear you. I do get upset with myself got letting my expectations get too high. I keep putting myself through this agony and urns getting to be too much.
I just have this sad, heavy feeling in my heart right now.
?
Oh goodness, I am so upset that my comments are getting all garbled! I can’t even type anymore!
that miss is inexcusable
Unbelievable! When would we ever expect Rafa to miss that shot with the match on the line!
Oh my god that forehand miss at 6-6. What the hell! It’s the Rio match point miss but worse. Amazing moment for Pouille but Nadal… That’s really sad for him. First time he makes no slam QF in a season since 2004. He’s made just one slam QF in the last ten slams. He looked so good heading into the match too. Pouille played great though I don’t think Nadal that poorly or anything I mean I didn’t see the match til the last five or six points but I heard Pouille was hitting the ball really well but still that forehand miss… And I almost put Monfils over Nadal in the QF when I made my draw too. Now Gael is gonna make the semis but over Pouille. Unless Pouille backs it up but even if he plays well I think Monfils is gonna win. Pretty confident la monf is into the semis which is good. But man. Nadal. Really feel bad for him. Fought so hard too. I really hope he can get back to a slam QF sometime next season. Preferably the aus open or at least RG.
Also a crazy fact here. Frickin Pouille has made two slam QFs this year and Rafa has made none. Jeez.
It may be a change of generations…the young guns taking charge obviously at Rafa’s expense…sad, so sad for Rafa… I really thought he had it in him to win a couple of more slams…
And the worst thing is Rafa would still say positive thing about this loss! He’s in denial if he’s still positive about this!
I really feel that if Rafa couldnt pick up any major title, he will be gone soon. It will be a shame as I see him as not fulfilling his potential, when they(his coaches) didnt concentrate on his serve when he was young; not developing his BHDTL; instilling fear in him instead of giving him confidence; not helping him to retain and develop his flatter FH of his younger days and finally not updating and upgrading his game to stay relevant in current conditions.
I thought that Rafa could win one or two more slams. But now I just don’t know. He can’t even go deep enough in any tournaments to win rankings points! He got knocked out early in Cincy. He hand to withdraw from RG with another injury. Then he missed Wimbledon.
I truly never thought that the twilight years of Rafa’s career would be the kind of nightmare. And it is a nightmare. ?
it is a shame to see his net game being more reliable than his baseline game…that was the case in this match…I am gutted.. feeling so bad..
no shame in getting external help JUST for the serve may be?!
I do feel its more his mentality that’s affecting his serves. He still could serve well when under threat when its do or die situation. Its always when he was starting slow, more relaxed that his serve was having problems.
Perhaps he really needs 100% focus before producing a good serve and he feels rushed nowadays with the TV rule. He was serving better before the enforcement of the TV rule.
Rafa seems unwilling to adapt to changing playing conditions and game style, preferring to stick to his traditional point construction clay court style tennis. If he still prefers to defend more than turning aggressive and hitting hard and going for winners, he will find it tougher and tougher to survive in the tour esp when he’s getting old(er) in physical age.
Its adapt and survives or become irrelevant and retires. Fed himself is trying hard to change and adapt to stay competitive, time for Rafa to do the same if he still doesnt want to quit yet.
Agree with your first two paragraphs.
However the game really hasn’t changed since Rafa had one of his best years in 2013 but his serve was so much better and he was more aggressive. Or better said, more CONSISTENTLY aggressive and more CONSISTENTLY mentally strong.
☹️☹️☹️☹️ I was driving and following the scores up here in Maine and again Rafa loses one match before I could catch a glimpse of him. Gutted for rafa. ☹️?
So sorry vmk1…every year I say I will travel to Rome or Paris to watch Rafa play…but I couldn’t find time for it…back in 2009 I saw Novak and Murray in Miami final but missed Rafa as he lost in the quarters…
Now I sadly think Rafa will most likely retire before I could see him play live…?
I feel sorry for Rafa’s grandma who’s there supporting him, not to mention his whole big family. Why must he embarrass himself when they are watching? I mean, the whole family wont be in good mood now, really feel that Rafa has let them down when he’s losing in such a manner.
I know, and what’s even worse Rafa will feel guilty for letting them down which will further destroy his shaken confidence and his belief…
I guess Rafa will not even qualify for WTF…this is the worst year in his career..,just when I thought that it could not get any worse than 2015…
But from his presser, he seemed rather positive and mentioned that he enjoyed playing out there. Perhaps, he is like Fed now, ie playing because he enjoys playing and not expecting to win majors but can sometimes wins a title or two when he’s at the right place and right time.
Fed is also losing to young up and comers too but that doesn’t deter him from wanting to continue playing in the tour. I guess Rafa is at a similar stage as where Fed is at now despite he being five years younger.
Maybe, just maybe, we his fans have to learn to appreciate him more and not expecting too much from him; just learn to enjoy his tennis and his presence on the tennis court regardless of whether he wins or he loses. We have to learn to accept that from now on he’s going to lose to younger next gen opponents more often but not without producing some of his signature fight till the very end scintillating yet sometimes frustrating tennis.
No. Not like Fed.
Fed has made three slam finals and three slam semis last two years only going out before quarters once. Rafa has made two slam quarters over that same time period.
Nah, like Fed, that he will find it hard to win major titles, but still play on to enjoy tennis and hopes to win something big.
Nah, Fed has been much closer.
Yeah Fed has been much closer but still has not won a slam in four years. Fed will keep trying so does Rafa.
Yeah but not like Fed. Not even close in slams last two years.
True but bear in mind he suffered injuries, illness etc. Fed had his bad year in 2013 and occasional surprise loss too at AO last year.
Rafa was unforunate at the FO, which he should progress deep in the draw if not for his wrist injury. As long as Rafa still has the motivation to play tennis, he will continue to work hard to overcome his problems.
His family was there to support him. I don’t know about yours, but in my family support means win or lose. Did Rafa have a temper tantrum? Insult his opponent? Break his rackets or draw blood from a linesman? Scream at a ballboy? No? Then I do not think his family is embarrassed. He gave his best – it wasn’t enough – and that’s the sport. You really think his grandmother loves him less because he lost a tennis match?
Nah, not his family feeling embarrassed; its Rafa feeling embarrassed about this loss. He’s disappointing them by giving them hope when he’s about to win and then dashed their hope by losing in that manner.
I don;t think that Rafa is embarrassed for the same reasons Ramara listed.
This is not Rafa’s fault.
I agree with both Hawkeye and Ramara. I am sure that Rafa’s family is very proud of him for fighting hard and trying to the end to win. They will always support and love him no matter what.
Having his family with him will help Rafa deal with this latest loss. They all seem to be such a close family and Rafa will be comforted by their presence.
Nah, its an embarrassing loss for a 14 times champion; its the way he lost.
Huh? Not Rafa’s fault?
Why would Rafa feel embarrassed? He fought well. He has always said that it is not the result but how well he fought which determines how he feels about his matches. Ramara seems to be of my way of thinking.
Sorry but that’s kind of a dumb comment. I don’t think Rafa embarrassed himself. And his family may be sad for him but not embarassed or even disappointed in him. He fought hard as usual. That’s all they can ask of him. I mean he’s won 14 slams so I don’t think they’re feeling let down or anything just because he lost a match he fought his hardest to win.
I’m mentioning his 14 slams because they’re probably not super let down or embarrassed from his loss and are the opposite which is super proud of his achievements aka 14 GS.
Benny, who said that his family is disappointed or embarrassed by him? Strange how words can be twisted so easily and get the wrong meaning out of it!
I said Rafa embarrassed himself, NOT his family feeling embarrassed! You see the difference there???
Its an embarrassing loss thats what I meant, for Rafa, NOT his family. Rafa managed to lose from a winning position to a guy who had two long five sets matches prior to this match. Yes, he had already done his best but that didnt change the fact that its still embarrassing for a 14 times slam champion to lose in such a manner.
Oh yeah sorry you’re right I read it wrong. But I don’t think he has necessarily let them down like u said either. It is a pretty bad loss for Rafa though. Still Pouille was playing very solid aggressive tennis.
Let them down in the sense that giving them hope when nearing the finishing line and then destoying it with his own silly mistake.
Im sure his family feel sorry for him and would all support him and console him after the match.
Yeah. That miss really was atrocious.
A loss is never embarrassing if Rafa has done his best.I am really surprised at all the negative comments about Rafa and his family by fans most of whom, I have no doubt, love Rafa. Get hold of yourselves guys. Rafa is coming back from an injury and is still not fully healed. Remember Delpo who everyone thought would be the next # 1? He has still not won another slam and I wouldn’t dream of saying he has mental problems or that he embarrassed himself or his family. Rafa’s words are being twisted ad nauseam by one of the posters here. If a guy has physical limitations because of injury he would be anxious. English is not Rafa’s first language but one can sense his meaning if one keeps one’s mind open. But somebody is determined to classify Rafa as mentally weak. Rafa was never confident about winning. Never, not even in 2008 or 2010 or 2013.He was only confident about his level. He is very self aware. He knew his level was low in 2015. He knew he is still not at his best at this USO. But he was and still is mentally strong. If somebody is relaxed and confident about winning when he knows he is not at top level, then you have to conclude he is in denial or delusional.
I am sorry if we sounded negative…it was just the huge disappointment talking…
I went to bed at 3.30am and felt like being beaten up after watching Rafa’s match…the worst thing is I wake up four hours later feeling even worse…that’s the impact Rafa’s loss makes on me…
I agree Rafa’s injuries have shaken his confidence and his belief…I have been saying the same thing this whole time…but Rafa is 30 and he has no time left for a big shift in his game…his level will not improve tremendously so that he starts being super confident again… it just won’t happen…
Unlike many of you here I was confident Rafa would win this match…I thought he could lose the first set as he always starts slowly and his serve may be questionable, while this kid would start aggressive…But I never ever expected Rafa to lose this way…it’s my own fault, I know, to be expecting so much, but that is just the way I am… Rafa the warrior and the mental giant he has always been made me this way… and that’s why while he is on tour I will keep being optimistic about his prospects…and will definitely have hard time living with his losses…
This loss is something I see as a big step back…I could tell Rafa also had high expectations from this USO…he wouldn’t have brought his grandmother to NY to watch his matches if he was low on confidence and if he did not see himself going deep…missing the shot that Rafa would hit in his sleep (Gosh how many times have we been saying this?) must HURT!
Let’s be clear: I am not criticizing Rafa! Who am I to do it? He is great champion, he has his legacy and his wonderful achievements and nobody can take it away from him! He is made us proud so many times and I am honored to be a witness of his great career and to be his devoted fan!
I am not sure the team Nadal has the answers…keep trying, keep working hard but failing to bring results is difficult to handle especially when he is constantly plagued with injuries…all I want is Rafa to be happy…and he had tears in his eyes just like many of us last night… that’s not happiness…losses like this cripple his fragile confidence…hope he recovers from this and comes back strong…
Vamos Rafa no matter what!
natashao, you sound really really upset. i hope you’re ok?
Nats I understand how you feel. I was once like that even though now I wasnt as upset as I once was, just a bit disappointed.
I think we all have high hopes and expectations of Rafa but we sometimes make the mistake of wanting him to fulfill our expectations when they may not be what he himself wanted.
After reading his presser transcript, I note that he’s a lot more realistic than many of his fans. He said he’s sad about this loss and thought he missed a good opportunity of progressing further here but I think he’s not expecting himself to win the whole thing. I do believe he knows his own limitations and what he has to work on.
I think we have to be happy for him for what he has already achieved, given his limitations – in terms of injuries, the way his game was developed from young, his brought up to be one who’s not superconfident, etc. We should take it that anything he wins from now on is additional bonus. He may never match Fed in terms of overall achievements, or he may be overtaken by Djoko, but he already has his own legacy and his own place in history.
natashao
“the shot that Rafa would hit in his sleep”
not any more…. as I pointed out, he is not playing his forehand with unconscious excellence ( sleep , as you put it) but consciously. What he is playing now is not his “sleep” shot. He is relearning his forehand. If his wrist holds up then by constant practice this forehand too will elevate to the “sleep” level. Then we can see the vintage Rafa consistently, not one who pops in and out of sets one, two, three…
” I am not sure team Nadal has all the answers..”
No, no one has. I am sure they are consulting the best doctors and trying to adjust his game to minimize injuries. A change of coach may not be the answer as he may end up with more injuries. You have to accept that Rafa may never be the “invincible” warrior again. He is 30 and also his body is battered. But even with these limitations, if anyone can rise above them, Rafa can. So keep hoping till he calls it quits. He still thinks there is hope and one more RG. No one knows better than Rafa how to handle career threatening injuries. Ask Tipsarevic..
Natashao,
I just read your comment and felt the need to reach out and give you support. No one here should ever feel embarrassed or ashamed to say what they feel. That is why we have this forum. You do not have to apologize for your feelings! I thought that Rafa would win this match even after he lost the first set. I did not take Pouille lightly at all in my pre-match comments. I did think he could be trouble for Rafa and test him and said so. But I did not think he could beat Rafa in a best of five set match. I still believed even after Rafa was down two sets to one.
I tried to keep my expectations realistic, knowing that Rafa did not have much slam match play. He is still coming back from the wrist injury, but I thought he was hitting his forehand better.
Rafa ran into s buzz saw named Pouille. A young kid having a great year who came out with nothing to lose and played like it.
This loss did get to me, because time is not Rafa’s friend now. He us getting older and opportunities may not present themselves as much. He had a great draw. Even Rafa admitted that he lost an opportunity here.
You want the best for Rafa, as all of his hand do. I don’t like seeing him with so much pain in his eyes. These losses are hurting him and don’t help him regain his confidence.
If you listen to Rafa’s own words, you will hear his honesty. He doesn’t try to sugarcoat his losses or make excuses. He was aware of where he fell short on this match. He did not have the confidence to make the shots in the crucial moments of the match. He admitted that Pouille was able to do it. He gave his opponent credit.
I love Rafa’s honesty and how he tells it like it is. I think as a fan, you should give yourself a break and feel bad for as long as you need to. There is nothing wrong with feeling bad after watching a tough loss for Rafa.
You are human. Feelings aren’t right or wrong, they just are. ?
Mary W (12:21 PM) says: ”’What he is playing now is not his “sleep” shot. He is relearning his forehand. If his wrist holds up then by constant practice this forehand too will elevate to the “sleep” level.”’
===
.
Yep, Rafa & U.Toni have explained several times that Rafa made changes to his FH to avoid wrist pain and now he needs to ‘re-educate’ his FH — to get rid of these changes (“bad habits”).
In this video, Rafa talks about his FH between the 3:10 and 3:24 minute marks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJxQkuGVloI
.
EL ESPANOL on August 28, 2016:
¤¤ Rafa: “…I’ve got some automatisms for hitting the ball wrong to protect me from the pain & now I have to GET RID OF these bad habits that I’ve acquiring to avoid the pain…”
U.Toni: ” In Rio he was [hitting the FH] very carefully. He was correcting gestures all the time not to speed up & force all the way, blocking the wrist more often than usual. Ultimately, that’s not the natural shot. When you want to restart again & play as you were doing BEFORE you have to REDO the movements that have been previously corrected to protect the wrist…” ¤¤
(Translated from Spanish by genny_ss)
But all the “experts” here aren’t interested in facts or stats. They just want to believe whatever fiction suits them. Anyway keep up the good work augusta. cheers
Mary W (AT 6:33 PM),
🙂
Holdserve the strawman.
#hawkeyetrollingagain
#revvedUpByADeuce
#DrawingNatashaointoyournetwithfakeSympathy
#sorryNatsIsBeingWooedByTrolls
Holdserve has nothing intelligent to say.
Comparing Rafa to Delpo is hilarious on every level.
natashao (AT 9:49 AM) says:
1) “I agree Rafa’s injuries have shaken his confidence and his belief…I have been saying the same thing this whole time…”
2) “he wouldn’t have brought his grandmother to NY to watch his matches if he was low on confidence…”
===
.
1) Rafa’s coach U.Toni has said this several times.
2) Rafa brought 32 members (!) of his extended family to New York.
Vamos Rafa no matter what! ?
hawkeye please stop trolling. I am going to email Ricky about the harrassment yoiu are subjecting me too. I cannot express an opinion without you, native and vr attacking me.
Mention your own trolling to Ricky while you’re at it Holdserve.
#PotAndKettle
#NothingNew
#RevvedUpByAHawkeye
Well I just hope that you not comparing your opinion to trolling others. Don’t you? Or do you holdserve.
Mary W (AT 4:59 AM),
?
hawkeye, You drove away ritb and now you are hellbent on driving me away. I am really tired. So if Ricky allows you to troll, I am leaving. I think preventing you from stalking augusta is Ricky’s job. You cannot stalk me hereafter as I am leaving ( unless Ricky stops you)
Good.
Pouille made it three guys from France in the QF by the way. All three in the top half so there’s technically a 75% chance of a French finalist but at the same time there is Djokovic up there. There is a 100% chance of a Frenchman being in the semis though. #allez
Monfils hasn’t dropped a set. In fact the tightest three sets were in his first match vs Muller. Tsonga has played 2 four setter matches: Sock and Duckworth got a set. Tsonga will play the winner of Nole vs Edmund. Monfils gets Pouille. Pouille has gone through 3 five set matches and 1 four set match 1st round to Kukushkin!
My predictions for the ATP draw have been especially wrong.
Kerber won the first set. There’s that.
Rafa can still win a GS if:
1. He is healthy
2. It’s FO
3. Nole Murray Stan Delpo not playing or lose early
4. He plays Roger in final
I agree with 1, 2 and 4. Not 3. He can beat any of them in the final if conditions 1 and 2 are satisfied.
“I think that Pouille can test Rafa, especially if he has any second set lapses again. I also think that Rafa has to serve better in this match. He lost the rhythm on his serve and also had too many DF’s. He cannot afford that heading into the second week.
I do not see this going five sets. I do think that Pouille will come out and play with no pressure and that could mean trouble for Rafa. I am also hoping to see Rafa play more aggressive, hitting the forehand with more confidence and authority and keep hitting his backhand well.
Rafa is capable of working himself into better form with each match. I hope that his wrist holds up and so does his fitness.
I would always bet on Rafa in a best of five set match. As long as his body is okay, I like his chances.”
Just to set the record straight, this is my original post regarding Rafa meeting Pouille in the fourth round.
I did feel that Pouille could give Rafa a test and might be trouble for him. However, I did not think the match would go five sets. But I definitely did not disagree or write off Pouille’s chances in this match.
Rafa was in the match until the end. He had a number of chances to win the match. Unfortunately, this time he wasn’t able to get it done.
This was mine…
hawkeye SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 AT 1:13 PM
Lamonf in three.
Rafa Pouille going five. Coin toss depending on Rafa’s confidence.
Coin toss it was. Rafa was not confident at all which is what I feared when I made my prediction after seeing him in the first three rounds playing fantastic in his first and third sets but shrivelling in all three second sets.
He was not consistently mentally strong and a young guy with nothing to lose like Pouille was just the guy to capitalize.
French Open remains Rafa’s only serious remaining shot to add to his slam titles IMO but even then a lot of things have to go his way when not so long ago, he didn’t have to play his best at RG (although he WOULD have to play better than he has the last 2.5 years).
Before the tournament I said Rafa might get to quarters. He was two points away.
Commies to all Rafans today. It is difficult seeing him struggle like this. He feels like a close friend and it is so hard to watch I’m sure for everyone.
Vamos Rafa. Vamos Rafa no matter what.
Rafa is the best player to ever lift a racquet in my book. I don’t see that changing for a long time.
Hawkeye,
Yes, you did call it. All credit to you. I was nervous about this kid because he’s in the midst of a breakout year and could come in with no fear and no pressure and take it to Rafa. Which he did. Rafa had it easy in his first three matches with opponents who were not my able to challenge Rafa. I thought maybe kuznetsov might do it, but Rafa seemed to take him out of his game.
It is very hard to see rafa losing like this. He does feel like a close friend. I just really wanted this win for him. I thought getting to the quarterfinals was realistic, but when Raonic lost then I thought he could get to the semis.
From Rafa’s comments, it appears that he was well aware that he had a great draw with a real opportunity to go deep. It hurts to see him go out with such a tough loss. Four hours!
Rafa has been a big part of my life for so long. I want him to have a chance to win another slam or two before he calls it a day.
Carole Bouchard @carole_bouchard 2h2 hours ago
Rafa :”attitude was great”, “I need more calm” at 4-3 5th,”Need to serve better”,”Lucas played well”.”Need to create more pain on opponents”
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg 2h2 hours ago Queens, NY
“I lost an opportunity to have a very good event here. I am sad for that.” -Rafael Nadal. #USOpen
#Yup
“This year I didn’t have one mental problem,” he said. “I was able to enjoy every practice. I was able to enjoy every match. Last year, not so.
“Last year, for seven, eight months something strange happened in my mind. I was playing with stress. I was anxious. I didn’t enjoy it.
“When you are not enjoying doing what you do, then you have a problem. The mental problems didn’t allow me to enjoy, and this year I’m enjoying.”
#Yup
Chris Fowler @cbfowler 3h3 hours ago
All credit to Pouille. Battled. Slightly better in biggest moments. But pains me to see tension get the better of Rafa’s forehand. again.
#Yup
Carole Bouchard @carole_bouchard 3h3 hours ago
OMG RAFA WHAT THE HELL !
#Yup
Oh Tiggy, you are right again….
“Can Nadal get back at 30 what he discovered at 20? Can he start to make the routine shots as well as the spectacular, and win the points he needs at the moments he needs them? For now, all we know is what Rafa told us on Sunday:
“I [am] going to keep trying to find.”
What else can any tennis player do at 30? After all, it has always been the trying, as much as the finding, that has made Rafa what he is.”
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/09/lucas-pouille-rafael-nadal-us-open-tennis/60667/