Rafael Nadal vs Tall players

[valiantgame2009]

It first happened in the US Open 2009. Rafael Nadal got beat pretty bad by Juan Martin Del Potro who later went on to clinch the Us Open title. Even though Rafa was injured in that match there was something I just could not get out of my head, Nadals gameplan. What was his gameplan? To feed Del Potro with short topspins to allow him to come in and attack with his huge forehand? I would like to think that Rafa is a smart player, I mean it has to take some of it to become a No. 1 ranked player in the ATP Worldtour, but he didn't do anything to take Del Potro out of his comfort zone.

But hey, he was injured right? Don't give the man too much of a hard time when he could not play at his best.

What about the Beijing 2009 Semifinals against Marin Cilic then? I saw that match and I was completely shocked by how Rafa got dominated for two straight sets and at the same time very impressed by Marins game and how well it has developed. The only thing that really halted him was the mental aspect of his game.

Marin Cilic seems to have a hard time finnishing the matches, especially when serving for match. Cilic dominated Rafa with power, with deep groundstrokes and seemed to have an answer for everything Rafa had to offer both of his forehand and backhand side.

So What is Rafa going to do in order to be able to win against these tall, strong players who often have huge serves aswell? I think that he has to get them out of their own comfortzones and mix up his game a little more. I did not see him hit one single drop during the whole match, sure that is not Rafas game but he has to try new things in order to keep up with these guys. How about hitting an approach shot and comming to the net?
Even if you don't succeed, you are letting your opponent know that you are for real and that you are going to do anything to beat him, that gets into their head and hopefully gives you a mental edge, at the same time it forces them to hit passing shots, it forces them out of their comfortzone and perhaps makes the opponent go for too much. It seems that Rafas usually, pressuring heavily topspinned forehands are the perfect shots to go after for these tall players, they are completely feeding off it.


What do you guys think Rafa is doing wrong? And what do you think about Marin Cilic? Is he a future Top5 player?

[sureshs]

Same as what Federer was doing wrong when he lost to Del Potro. A new breed of players has arrived. Fed and Nadal are old news and their tennis will be considered "slow motion tennis" like we think of the black-and-white tennis clips of the past.

[valiantgame2009]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Same as what Federer was doing wrong when he lost to Del Potro. A new breed of players has arrived. Fed and Nadal are old news and their tennis will be considered "slow motion tennis" like we think of the black-and-white tennis clips of the past.

Haha, I think that is a little is a little exaggarated, sure these new guys hit hard and with lots of pace but You can't possible say that Federer is hitting slow-motion shots, or that nadal is moving slowly? Come on..

[TheMagicianOfPrecision]

The recepie for beating Nadal is having a huge 2handed-backhand from shoulder-height just like Del Potro in Miami, Soderling in Paris, Del Potro in USO and Cilic in Beijing, Nadals extreme forehand-cross spin is a treat for these guys, im even sure they love too hit it that way!
I dont see Nadal beating Del Po ever again besides maybe on clay. Sure he can beat Soderling and Cilic but it will be a lot tougher these days. Imo Soderling sent a big message to the World in Paris-"This is how it should be done"!!

Cilic, i see a great Future for him on fast surfaces, not on clay. He definetely got game, and a very competent coach who knows what its all about (Bob Brett)

[BajeDuane]

I think that the thing with Nadal vs Tall Players is that his extreme topspin that would normally bounce around shoulder height or higher on a player of average height would be right in the strike zone of the players around 6'6", that is provided that tall player has good footwork as Del Potro does.

[Blinkism]

Originally Posted by TheMagicianOfPrecision

Cilic, i see a great Future for him on fast surfaces, not on clay. He definetely got game, and a very competent coach who knows what its all about (Bob Brett)

He's not so bad on clay, either, IMO.

[TheMagicianOfPrecision]

Originally Posted by Blinkism

He's not so bad on clay, either, IMO.

Absolutely not, but imo he has a much bigger chance of achieving great things on fast surfaces.

[aphex]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Same as what Federer was doing wrong when he lost to Del Potro. A new breed of players has arrived. Fed and Nadal are old news and their tennis will be considered "slow motion tennis" like we think of the black-and-white tennis clips of the past.

comparing a 5-setter with the brutal beatdown delpo put on nadal...

[8pNADAL]

won't matter, nadal has skipped wimbledon yet is still just 2 tournament victories away from finishing 2009 ranked number one (shanghai and london will do it), and then next year he gains massive points by success at roland garros and maximum points at wimbledon, no tall player will outdo nadal anytime soon

[aphex]

Originally Posted by 8pNADAL

won't matter, nadal has skipped wimbledon yet is still just 2 tournament victories away from finishing 2009 ranked number one (shanghai and london will do it), and then next year he gains massive points by success at roland garros and maximum points at wimbledon, no tall player will outdo nadal anytime soon

those are in the bag i tell ya!

lmao

[8pNADAL]

Originally Posted by aphex

those are in the bag i tell ya!

lmao

cilic and del potro are gone, no more threats at shanghai, and then at london no cilic and a tired del potro, again no major threats, not saying its a definite, but it would be no surprise for nadal to win these events

[aphex]

Originally Posted by 8pNADAL

cilic and del potro are gone, no more threats at shanghai, and then at london no cilic and a tired del potro, again no major threats, not saying its a definite, but it would be no surprise for nadal to win these events

u heard of this guy federer?

i expect soderling to show no mercy in shanghai-prepare for another brutal beatdown

[Cesc Fabregas]

Originally Posted by aphex

u heard of this guy federer?

i expect soderling to show no mercy in shanghai-prepare for another brutal beatdown

That clown Soderling wont even get passed Tsonga.

[8pNADAL]

Originally Posted by aphex

u heard of this guy federer?

i expect soderling to show no mercy in shanghai-prepare for another brutal beatdown

both those guys hang their hat on beating nadal during his most tendinitised moments, they don't look so good against him normally though, they aren't threats according to the head-to-heads

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by valiantgame2009

Even though Rafa was injured in that match

what was his injury?

Originally Posted by valiantgame2009

What do you guys think Rafa is doing wrong?

Playing on the ATP. He should join the WTA.

[TheMagicianOfPrecision]

Originally Posted by Cesc Fabregas

That clown Soderling wont even get passed Tsonga.

You really shouldnt call Soderling a clown, he has been one of the hottest guys on tour since May, a clown doesnt beat Nadal, Davydenko and Gonzalez consecutively on his worst surface !

[JennyS]

Check out Nadal's losses for 2009...

1. Gael Monfils: 6'4'', 2 handed backhand
2. Andy Murray: 6'3'', 2hbh
3. Juan Martin Del Potro: 6'6'', 2hbh
4. Roger Federer: 6'1'': 1hbh
5. Robin Soderling: 6'4'': 2hbh
6. Juan Martin Del Potro: 6'6'', 2hbh
7. Novak Djokovic: 6'2'': 2hbh
8. Juan Martin Del Potro: 6'6'', 2hbh
9. Marin Cilic: 6'6'', 2hbh

[aphex]

Originally Posted by 8pNADAL

both those guys hang their hat on beating nadal during his most tendinitised moments, they don't look so good against him normally though, they aren't threats according to the head-to-heads

you know these tournaments are not clay, right?

a little refresher about what happens in fast HCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR7do5BFgzA

go learn something

[Cyan]

Originally Posted by 8pNADAL

won't matter, nadal has skipped wimbledon yet is still just 2 tournament victories away from finishing 2009 ranked number one (shanghai and london will do it), and then next year he gains massive points by success at roland garros and maximum points at wimbledon, no tall player will outdo nadal anytime soon

I think Rafa will only win RG in 2010. Fed will only win Wimbledon in 2010. The players like Nole, Del Po, Murray will be the winners of the HC slams in 2010. Remember Fed saying "Thank God the HC season is over" earlier this year? Fed won't win anymore HC slams and he knows it!

[TMF]

Originally Posted by Cyan

I think Rafa will only win RG in 2010. Fed will only win Wimbledon in 2010. The players like Nole, Del Po, Murray will be the winners of the HC slams in 2010. Remember Fed saying "Thank God the HC season is over" earlier this year? Fed won't win anymore HC slams and he knows it!

But if we keep hearing about injury, tendinitis or not 100% by the time RG is around, forget it, he's not going to win RG.