French Open Final: [1] Rafa Nadal vs [7] Dominic Thiem

[MatsPhilander]

Not even going to watch it-Nadal will win this for as many years as he is fit.

 

[Meles]

Rafa debuted at the age of 15.
How come there are only 3 guys who beat Rafa 3 times ?
They probably exclude challenger tour records but still... Its not possible...

Uh, Nadal won RG the first year he played it at age 18. I believe Nadal was a really top prospect in his early teens (played Exho with Gasquet when they were both about 13). His weakest year on tour would have been 2004 and nobody played him enough to get a lot of wins. I recall pretty vividly watching him at 2004 US Open thinking he would be a pretty good clay courter, but not a great player overall. It seemed like by the Spring he went from this strong muscle bound clay courter who wouldn't succeed on other surfaces to a greyhound with longer legs and better court coverage and someone to stop the dominance of Federer.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

Delete

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

I think these records will stand for a very, very long time.

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Probably. Nadal is now at a stage in which he will be more beatable, is normal. It would not bother me if he loses tomorrow. But it will be silly calling a new king of Clay when clearly the record dont show it yet.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

That is not quite how it works. You are confusing King of Clay for Greatest of all time on clay.

Nadal was King of Clay back in 2005, when he only had one RG title to his name. He didn't break Borg's record until 2012, that was seven years later. King of Clay is the one who is reigning at that top on that surface at the current time undisputed. I do agree that even if Thiem wins this RG, Nadal remains the KOC, but if then Thiem backs it up by dominating next year, beating Nadal everywhere, then he will have taken over the throne.

Coria was KOC back in 2004
Ferrero was KOC from 2002-2003
Kuerten was KOC of clay from 2000-2001

None of them had broken Borg's records.

You made a good argument. I will concede.

 

[ultradr]

Nadal is the Emperor of Clay. King is too small a title.

"King" would a bit of insult.

Something like the honorable Rafa the greatest emperor of universe Nadal ?

 

[ultradr]

Uh, Nadal won RG the first year he played it at age 18. I believe Nadal was a really top prospect in his early teens (played Exho with Gasquet when they were both about 13). His weakest year on tour would have been 2004 and nobody played him enough to get a lot of wins. I recall pretty vividly watching him at 2004 US Open thinking he would be a pretty good clay courter, but not a great player overall. It seemed like by the Spring he went from this strong muscle bound clay courter who wouldn't succeed on other surfaces to a greyhound with longer legs and better court coverage and someone to stop the dominance of Federer.

You were not the only one who thought he wouldn't be a great all around player(althoughy he wasn't exactly clay courter initially).

Casual fans, serious players, coaches and tv commentators. I remember everybody had been saying he wouldn't last long. In fact, some of those people still say he won't last long. After 13-14 frigging years of world top class tennis.. amazing.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

The Prince of Darkness in 5 sets tomorrow!!! I have foreseen it!

 

[Russeljones]

Not terribly excite, no?

 

[MatsPhilander]

Probably. Nadal is now at a stage in which he will be more beatable, is normal. It would not bother me if he loses tomorrow. But it will be silly calling a new king of Clay when clearly the record dont show it yet.

He has still only lost one set this year-where his opponent had to kill himself physically to do it & then Rafa picked him apart. Thiem has aside from Nishikori had a cakewalk draw-Zverev was injured in the last eight, he beat a nobody who had a good run in the semi & has lost three sets, while Nadal has had to beat Del Potro, Diego & Gasquet.

 

[D.Nalby12]

And is a much bigger choker than the hype around him suggests.

100 % Agreed.

 

[Gary Duane]

The only winner I see tomorrow is the weather. Match is scheduled for 3 PM. Thunderstorms predicted by around 4 PM. Lack of a roof is going to make it clear what a disadvantage it is.

 

[Deleted member 512391]

The Prince of Darkness in 5 sets tomorrow!!! I have foreseen it!

Angel Heart? Great movie.

 

[Nostradamus]

Weather forecast is Cloudy with 75-78 degrees, no wind. chances of shower at 4 pm and after. Who does this favor ?

 

[junior74]

Lots of cafe; will avoid Suri surfing so I can stay out of the toilet.

Better safe than Suri

 

[mightyjeditribble]

He has still only lost one set this year-where his opponent had to kill himself physically to do it & then Rafa picked him apart. Thiem has aside from Nishikori had a cakewalk draw-Zverev was injured in the last eight, he beat a nobody who had a good run in the semi & has lost three sets, while Nadal has had to beat Del Potro, Diego & Gasquet.

Didn't pick the best argument for a tough draw there ...

I agree Delpo could have been a real danger in the SF, as the first set showed, and Nadal handled it superbly.


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[mightyjeditribble]

"King" would a bit of insult.

Something like the honorable Rafa the greatest emperor of universe Nadal ?

Lord God Overlord, Master of all things clay.



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[FatFedererFanTurnsSlim]

Couple of breaks each to get to 5-5.
Thiemanator gets to 0-40 on Wapha's serve.
Wapha saves 'em all.
Thiem gets 3 more avantage Thiem.
Wapha brings it back to egalite each time.
Survives.
Thiem serves an ace, then proceeds to lose 4 straight points with a couple of DFs and with it the set.
1 break in set 2 makes it 6-3.
Thiem collapses in 3rd set to get breadsticked or bagelled.
La Undecima biting commences.
The End.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Muster was 65-2 on clay in 1995, and 46-3 on clay in 1996, meaning 111-5 in 1995-1996. 18 tournaments won on clay in 19 months, at all levels of the ATP tour.

Still only one RG title.
If Thiem beats RAFA he'll be the better Austrian.

 

[ultradr]

Weather forecast is Cloudy with 75-78 degrees, no wind. chances of shower at 4 pm and after. Who does this favor ?

Accuweather forcasting a bit different from other forecasters. They pushed thunderstorms further later.

 

[Nostradamus]

Accuweather forcasting a bit different from other forecasters. They pushed thunderstorms further later.

So then weather delay won't affect the match. but if Rafa is down early, Tennis gods will bring the rain early, I am sure of it.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Nadal is the Emperor of Clay. King is too small a title.

Sure, why not?

 

[ultradr]

So then weather delay won't affect the match. but if Rafa is down early, Tennis gods will bring the rain early, I am sure of it.

I don't know which forecaster is right.
AccuWeather is saying 6pm thunderstorms, only for about an hour.
My guess is that whole afternoon will be windy. This RG is basically soggy even with sun out, i think.

 

[Nostradamus]

Will it be Thiem's year Next year ?? surely Rafa can't win 12 French opens ? and Thiem seems to be the next best clay court player other than Rafa.

 

[Nostradamus]

I don't know which forecaster is right.
AccuWeather is saying 6pm thunderstorms, only for about an hour.
My guess is that whole afternoon will be windy. This RG is basically soggy even with sun out, i think.

Accuweather is very not accurate. Weather.com is the best in accuracy.

and what is Rafa eating and what is he doing right now to prepare for the match ? how early does he go to bathroom before the match ?

 

[ScottleeSV]

Don't mind if Nadal wins but hope it's close at least because last year's final was absolute rubbish.

 

[sarmpas]

Has there ever been a miracle in our life times of biblical proportions?..........No. So there you go then.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Jesus says Nadal in 4

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Jesus says Nadal in 4

Jesus better be wrong.

 

[Otacon]

Has there ever been a miracle in our life times of biblical proportions?..........No. So there you go then.

Greece winning the Euros and Leicester winning the PL.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Anyone else feel Thiem has a shot?..

 

[MichaelNadal]

Jesus better be wrong.

Rooting against Nadal on Chatrier on finals day, is asking to be dissappointed. Nadal has lost 2 BO5 matches on clay in his entire life

 

[maxrenn]

Anyone else feel Thiem has a shot?..

Yes, based on what I've seen throughout this tournament but if Rafa brings his A game then no.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Rooting against Nadal on Chatrier on finals day, is asking to be dissappointed. Nadal has lost 2 BO5 matches on clay in his entire life

Yeah I know but I want Domi to win so badly! Forgetting Fed and all that malarkey I just want Thiem to win, he’s gotta be the nicest guy on tour.

I’m getting my hopes up for Thiem, my soul is ready to be crushed and smited into oblivion but that’s okay..

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yeah I know but I want Domi to win so badly! Forgetting Fed and all that malarkey I just want Thiem to win, he’s gotta be the nicest guy on tour.

I’m getting my hopes up for Thiem, my soul is ready to be crushed and smited into oblivion but that’s okay..

Imagine how comforting and epic it is when you actually ROOT for Nadal at the FO years of satisfaction.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Imagine how comforting and epic it is when you actually ROOT for Nadal at the FO years of satisfaction.

Eww.

 

[sarmpas]

Anyone else feel Thiem has a shot?..

I think the echo-chamber is rather empty on this one.

 

[TheAssassin]

Domi shows supreme mental strength in

 

[Sysyphus]

A rejoinder to the "Can Thiem grind down Nadal" thread.

The common sentiment seems to be that Thiem has to blast through Nadal, whereas Hafa will grind Domi down when the rallies get longer.

Eurosport's 'the Coach' goes in the opposite direction, and boldly pronounces that "to prevail, Rafa has no other choice than being the most aggressive of the two." As he points out, in Madrid Nadal actually won the majority (56%) of the rallies under 5 shots, but only won a poor 34% of rallies over 5 shots. (Same story was true in the Rome final.)

https://video.eurosport.co.uk/tenni...-to-beat-dominic-thiem_vid1099241/video.shtml

@Meles

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Imagine how comforting and epic it is when you actually ROOT for Nadal at the FO years of satisfaction.

Rafa has spoiled us

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Rafa has spoiled us

more importantly (and tragically) he has spoilt tennis as a dog does with the carpet

 

[Deleted member 756486]

more importantly he has spoilt tennis as a dog does with the carpet

LOL.

 

[arvind13]

if thiem wins, he'll be the only nextgen player so far to live up to all the hype about nextgen. because so far the nextgen have fallen abysmally short of the hype. none of them have reached semifinals or more of a major with the exception of thiem. if thiem really is next king of clay he has to prove it by beating nadal at french. and this is not nadal of 2008. he is older and slower and not nearly as explosive. so if thiem is a great clay courter on the level of say, even a Kuerten, he should be able to beat 2018 nadal at french oopen.

 

[fednad]

Lot of rain expected.
Nadal and Thiem unfortunately may slip on the same point and both may retire from the match.
ATP will be in confusion. TT will be in riot. Finally, they will be made to flip (Hindi known as pugam pugai ! ).
Riots will continue here

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Lot of rain expected.
Nadal and Thiem unfortunately may slip on the same point and both may retire from the match.
ATP will be in confusion. TT will be in riot. Finally, they will be made to flip (Hindi known as pugam pugai ! ).
Riots will continue here

cancel it ? i'm in

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I love both Nadal and Thiem and this is my dream final!

I am hoping that Rafa comes out all business and stays mentally tough. I really want this to be a quick 3 set victory for him. I have not done my daily swim today and I won't go over there until after the match has completed and Rafa has his 11th FO trophy!

 

[fednad]

cancel it ? i'm in

Doesn't matter.
Moral champion will be Nadillio only.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

more importantly (and tragically) he has spoilt tennis as a dog does with the carpet

Hahahahahahaha its millions that love him.

Youre only jealous

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Doesn't matter.
Moral champion will be Nadillio only.

always is...... *whisper*

 

[ewiewp]

if thiem wins, he'll be the only nextgen player so far to live up to all the hype about nextgen. because so far the nextgen have fallen abysmally short of the hype. none of them have reached semifinals or more of a major with the exception of thiem. if thiem really is next king of clay he has to prove it by beating nadal at french. and this is not nadal of 2008. he is older and slower and not nearly as explosive. so if thiem is a great clay courter on the level of say, even a Kuerten, he should be able to beat 2018 nadal at french oopen.

Kuerten is a great clay courter. Besides Borg, if a player won 3-4 RG, that's all time great on clay.
Rafa did spoil us.