Brasil Open 2013

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Rocky89

Almagro took a healthy and confidant Nadal to a tiebreak in the FO last year, I wouldn't be so confidant about him winning at the moment when he still has so many kinks in his game.

Now you stop talking sense there, Rocky89. You might make Vero's head explode.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Well, Zeb took me by surprise, sorry. This post was before the Chile final of course and I must say I couldn't see Zeb winning it. But who could have predicted Zeb would goat all of a sudden?

I'm just saying I don't get why people get cocky before events even when it is Nadal on clay. Anything can happen - I didn't think he'd lose either and it was a close one but there's a difference between being like "really he should have this one in the bag" and being like "this is so fun, no one can even test the clay goat, he will wipe everyone off court" or something like that.

Originally Posted by Rocky89

Almagro took a healthy and confidant Nadal to a tiebreak in the FO last year, I wouldn't be so confidant about him winning at the moment when he still has so many kinks in his game.

not to mention RG 2010 7-6 7-6 6-4. A really close straight sets match.

[Rocky89]

Originally Posted by Towser83

I'm just saying I don't get why people get cocky before events even when it is Nadal on clay. Anything can happen - I didn't think he'd lose either and it was a close one but there's a difference between being like "really he should have this one in the bag" and being like "this is so fun, no one can even test the clay goat, he will wipe everyone off court" or something like that.



not to mention RG 2010 7-6 7-6 6-4. A really close straight sets match.

Yikes I forgot about that one, well in that case Rafa ain't got a chance. Unless he drastically improves during this tournament, which I doubt will happen that quickly.

[Fiji]

Almagro is a better player than Zeballos.

Draw your own conclusions.

[veroniquem]

He he, onions is a mental giant compared to Mugro!

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Rocky89

Yikes I forgot about that one, well in that case Rafa ain't got a chance. Unless he drastically improves during this tournament, which I doubt will happen that quickly.

Nico could be hurting over that AO loss though and he could choke when he realises he has a chnace to win. But Almagro's game is certainly good enough to beat Nadal at the present time. After the AO I said that if that loss didn't kill him, he would be a danger to Nadal in these events.

Originally Posted by veroniquem

He he, onions is a mental giant compared to Mugro!

Please, Nico might choke matches but some respect. He's not a mug, he's a very good player. And won't you look silly if he doesn't choke and actually beats Nadal? How long before you act as humble as your hero? I much prefer you when you are lol.

[veroniquem]

Did you watch the Almagro/Ferrer match at AO? I don't trust Almagro for any kind of significant upset.

[Clarky21]

Doesn't Nadal have to actually make it to Nico in order to lose to him? I think this argument is futile since Nadal will lose long before he gets that far.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Did you watch the Almagro/Ferrer match at AO? I don't trust Almagro for any kind of significant upset.

and what did Zeb do before this? Dude never even won a title. Nadal is still trying to find his game, so all bets are off really.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Towser83

and what did Zeb do before this? Dude never even won a title. Nadal is still trying to find his game, so all bets are off really.

Well, for one, he didn't build up a reputation of choking away important matches. Overall skill level is one thing, mental weakness another. In the Ferrer match, Almagro had the game, he was playing way better than Ferrer even but he kept folding mentally on important points. Can't see why it would be different against Nadal even if he played well but I guess we'll see sooner than later. I am not saying Rafa will win Brazil (I'm gonna be cautious this time!). Obviously, the indoor part won't help. But if somebody beats him, I just doubt it will be Almagro, that's all. At the last minute, Almagro will remember who is across the net and his arm will shake.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Well, for one, he didn't build up a reputation of choking away important matches. Overall skill level is one thing, mental weakness another. In the Ferrer match, Almagro had the game, he was playing way better than Ferrer even but he kept folding mentally on important points. Can't see why it would be different against Nadal even if he played well but I guess we'll see sooner than later. I am not saying Rafa will win Brazil (I'm gonna be cautious this time!). Obviously, the indoor part won't help. But if somebody beats him, I just doubt it will be Almagro, that's all. At the last minute, Almagro will remember who is across the net and his arm will shake.

Hmm wasn't there some other Spanish choker who somehow beat a match sharp Nadal on clay last year after losing 12 matches out of 12 vs him? It was something like Fiasco... oh but that was ice right?

Even chokers win sometimes and now that Nadal has lost that could dent the aura. I give Almagro a decent chance, but we'll see.

[veroniquem]

It was blue goo. Hardly counts as clay

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

It was blue goo. Hardly counts as clay

Verdasco beating Nadal on a mountain of s*** would have been a major shock, so I don't think the surface even matters

[veroniquem]

Nadal has lost to worse people off of clay. It's on clay, he's been a mountain to climb.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Nadal has lost to worse people off of clay. It's on clay, he's been a mountain to climb.

But clay is where he has his only chance to win. Nadal losing to some one and done mug who has never won a title on hardcourts is no surprise, but on clay, it's a whole different story.

[Rocky89]

Great. Now there are reports that the courts in Brazil are in terrible condition according to Fognini‘s coach, Jose Perla.

http://www.tennispanorama.com/archiv...medium=twitter

“The only problem with São Paulo are the courts. They are in terrible conditions and the balls are from the supermarket. (…) We hope no one gets hurt.”

Just what Nadal needs, to play on crummy courts with crummy knees

[hersito]

viña del mar was n really bad conditions too, it's a complaint players have every year, you people only notes this now because Nadal is playing them. The best courts for the southamerican tour are the ones in Bs As, too bad nadal is not playing, lost a lot of respect for him, he is only after the money, he went to play to where he was payed most skipping Bs As, his fan base here diminished for him doing that considerably.

[veroniquem]

I don't understand why Rafa chose an indoor clay court. He should have played Buenos Aires instead.

[TheF1Bob]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I don't understand why Rafa chose an indoor clay court. He should have played Buenos Aires instead.

It's OK, he'll probably withdraw to save the embarrassment of losing in the first round anyway.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I don't understand why Rafa chose an indoor clay court. He should have played Buenos Aires instead.

He chose it because of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Doing what's best doesn't compute to Nadal if it doesn't come with a gigantic payday.