Nadal [2] vs. Monaco

[Tchocky]

I believe ESPN2 will broadcast this match live at 1 p.m. EST. Monaco beat Lopez yesterday in 3 sets. He should be warmed up to take on Rafa. I think Nadal will win in straight sets but I think Monaco will make this a competitive match. Monaco can play on hard courts. Although Nadal is favored by 5 games I don't think he'll cover.

 

[Tchocky]

Monaco looks like he's playing pretty well. He had 2 break points to go up 4-1 but blew it. Nadal looks really flat and lost.

 

[edberg505]

ok people, pay attention. This is a match where Nadal "is" playing bad. Not these other matches last week where people were claiming he was playing bad. I gotta tell ya. It would suck for me to have Nadal lose here for my Fantasy team, but it will do wonders for me in the bracket challenge. Manaco is trying everything in his power to throw this match away. He should be up 5-0 right now.

 

[Andres]

Triple BP, Monaco.
Nadal serving 2-3, 0-40

 

[Andres]

Nadal shanks, and Monaco breaks at love.

 

[Breaker]

First time Monaco puts a second serve in play on break point and he takes it.

 

[TennisandMusic]

ok people, pay attention. This is a match where Nadal "is" playing bad. Not these other matches last week where people were claiming he was playing bad.

Of course all the commentators talked about how he was playing well below his level all last week throughout the tournament.

But yeah this is pretty bad. They just referred to it as a "horror show."

 

[8PAQ]

No worries. Nadal will wake up soon and Monaco will start choking.

 

[Breaker]

Serve and volley from Monaco? What's going on here!?

 

[8PAQ]

I have never seen Nadal serve percentage that low. 39% after 1st 3 games. Is he injured or something? What are the commentators saying?

 

[TennisandMusic]

18 UFE's and 2 winners for Nadal so far...

 

[Andres]

Monaco holds at 15 and lerads 5-2
Nadal is playing awfully :?

 

[tennis08tarheels]

No worries. Nadal will wake up soon and Monaco will start choking.

Start choking? START choking? He lost 2 break points in Nadal's first service game, and 2 more in Nadal's second service game.

 

[8PAQ]

18 UFE's and 2 winners for Nadal so far...

Wow he is almost as bad as Federer in MO final!

 

[Breaker]

I have never seen Nadal serve percentage that low. 39% after 1st 3 games. Is he injured or something? What are the commentators saying?

Pretty much same thing Edberg is saying, Nadal playing like utter crap, can't keep a ball in play for more than 5 shots and shanking like crazy, he could have easily been bagelled in this set but Monaco missed four easy second serve returns on break points.

 

[8PAQ]

Start choking? START choking? He lost 2 break points in Nadal's first service game, and 2 more in Nadal's second service game.

LOL. Ok I am not actually watching the match. I just started looking at the live score.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

i don't think i've ever seen nads play this bad before

 

[fastdunn]

I think Nadal has a bit less motivation in this tourney.
He's pretty warmed-up in canada and he should think about
his injuries on knees and arm....

 

[rafan]

This sounds like Nadal wants out unless he is injured

 

[8PAQ]

Wow he is almost as bad as Federer in MO final!

Correction. Nadal is playing almost as bad as Fed did last time in Cincy. Maybe he is tanking for whatever reason.

 

[8PAQ]

I still think Nadal will win. There is just no way he will lose to someone like Monaco.

 

[Fries-N-Gravy]

saving his body for the USO?

 

[Andres]

Incredible backhand DTL from Nadal.
15-15

 

[8PAQ]

There we go. Nadal is back.

 

[TennisandMusic]

Correction. Nadal is playing almost as bad as Fed did last time in Cincy. Maybe he is tanking for whatever reason.

Nadal doesn't seem like the type to want to go out in the first round. Either he's hurt, it's just a totally off day or he REALLY hates hard courts.

 

[Andres]

I still think Nadal will win. There is just no way he will lose to someone like Monaco.

Monaco is #25, and won 3 titles this year. I still think Nadal will one, but it's not like he's playing World's #287

30-30

 

[Andres]

Nadal earns a BP with a sick forehand passing

Monaco serves a HEAVY KICKER 2nd serve right to the middle, and puts away the ball with a forehand.

Deuce.

 

[Breaker]

Nice serve and volley but excellent pass by Nadal for break point.
Then amazing kick serve followed by a huge forehand winner for deuce.

lol Andres beating me to everything, anyway Nadal playing like himself now.

 

[8PAQ]

I'll be surprised if Nadal doesn't break now and then again and take this set 7-5.

 

[TennisandMusic]

Nadal breaks back...interesting.

 

[Andres]

Indeed, Nadal breaks with yet another backhand passing shot

 

[8PAQ]

As promised.

 

[Andres]

Monaco starts hitting backhands with authority. 0-15
The umpire overrules a point, when Monaco has already won with a sharp angled crosscourt backhand.

And 2nd serve winner, 15-15

And... 30-15

 

[ubel]

Anybody see the amount of kick on that breakpoint's second serve Monaco hit? It went about 2 or 3 feet above Nadal's head to his backhand, I'd love to get a video of it if anyone has one, that was so insane

 

[TennisandMusic]

5 all now. Nadal got a lucky break on a ball he hit out, but I guess what goes around comes around considering Monaco hit an ace after the ball broke on a rally he could have easily lost.

 

[Andres]

Great point! Forehand to the corner, Monaco takes the net, Nadal tries the pass, Monaco pulls out a half-volley dropshot, Nadal gets to it, counterdropshots, and Monaco misses the lob.

Nadal takes the game, 5-5

 

[Dimonator133]

has Monaco done ANYTHING on a non-clay surface this year?

 

[Andres]

Anybody see the amount of kick on that breakpoint's second serve Monaco hit? It went about 2 or 3 feet above Nadal's head to his backhand, I'd love to get a video of it if anyone has one, that was so insane

It was fantastic. The serve was so short, yet kicked so much. Exploded off the ground

Serves and volleys, and takes three points at the net, 40-0
Double fault, 40-15

 

[8PAQ]

has Monaco done ANYTHING on a non-clay surface this year?

Yes. He ALMOST won a set from Nadal at Cincy.

 

[Andres]

has Monaco done ANYTHING on a non-clay surface this year?

Nope. QF at Auckland, on hard, but that's it.

 

[8PAQ]

So I guess Nadal will win the tie break now. Probably 7-3. Monaco will have some doubles and no 1st serves and Nadal will ace him and hit only 1st serves.

 

[Andres]

Tiebreak time.
Monaco holds his service point, Nadal nets the backhand.

 

[TennisandMusic]

So I guess Nadal will win the tie break now. Probably 7-3. Monaco will have some doubles and no 1st serves and Nadal will ace him and hit only 1st serves.

I wouldn't be so sure at all.

 

[Andres]

Serve & Smash by Nadal. 1-1

 

[Andres]

Return error by Monaco. Juan serves 1-2
Nadal gets the first minibreak, with a miracle: a stretch dropshot off a return of serve. 1-3
S&V by Monaco. Nadal serves now 3-2
Another slice serve outwide. Nadal leads 4-2

 

[Andres]

Monaco gets the minibreak back, with a strange passing shot right AT Nadal's body. Rafa miscalculated the volley.

Monaco plays S&V again. 4-4

 

[TennisandMusic]

5-4 Monaco.

 

[Andres]

Service winner. Nadal serves 4-5

 

[edberg505]

Manaco must have been watching some old Stefan Edberg matches before he came out to play Nadal.

 

[Andres]

Bad bad BAAAD unforced error by Monaco. 5-5