2018 Rome, R16 Nadal vs Shapovalov

  • Thread starter Deleted member 756514
  • Start date

So?

  • Routine win with bakery product(s) for Rafa

    Votes: 18 31.6%

  • Shapo shows some spark early on, only to taper off later

    Votes: 24 42.1%

  • Close 3 setter

    Votes: 4 7.0%

  • Shapo becomes the new prince of clay by beating Rafa

    Votes: 8 14.0%

  • Team Europe

    Votes: 4 7.0%

  • Team World

    Votes: 6 10.5%
  • Total voters
    57
mightyrick

mightyrick

Legend
Im(moral) Winner said:
But RAFA has also used MTOs for gamesmanship.
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Not so sure about that one. Certainly, if you have a video of an example where Nadal was faking before an opponent's serve, I'd love to see that. But then again, I've also been a proponent of a one-game penalty for any MTO taken before the opponent's serve. But I'm still not sure of what your point is. If you are saying that Shapovalov is a wanker just like Nadal... then what is your point? In your eyes, does Nadal being a cheating wanker make it fine for Shapovalov to also be a cheating wanker?
 
veroniquem

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
George Turner said:
Three return points won this match.

For such a talented player to be so mediocre at returning is surprising.
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1- he’s only (just) 19, 2- I doubt clay will ever be his best surface, 3- I feel like the constant overhyping of him by some people on this board is rather a disservice to him in the end. It raises expectations too much. He may be getting there but he’s not there yet by any standard. Not a top player yet. Leave him some time.
 
Im(moral) Winner

Im(moral) Winner

G.O.A.T.
mightyrick said:
Not so sure about that one. Certainly, if you have a video of an example where Nadal was faking before an opponent's serve, I'd love to see that. But then again, I've also been a proponent of a one-game penalty for any MTO taken before the opponent's serve. But I'm still not sure of what your point is. If you are saying that Shapovalov is a wanker just like Nadal... then what is your point? In your eyes, does Nadal being a cheating wanker make it fine for Shapovalov to also be a cheating wanker?
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I just found it weird to complain about gamesmanship in a RAFA match.
 
Backspin1183

Backspin1183

Talk Tennis Guru
Krish872007 said:
It's either 2 set win or 3 set win IMO. 3 set if Rafa is off and FOG is firing.
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I think Fognini had a good run against Rafa in 2015-2016. Not before or after. He'd hit some good winners and may even break Nadal's serve once or twice but Nadal in this form would be too much for the Fog imho.
 
mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Legend
Nadal a physically transformed teen at 19 beat Puerta in the final?Puerta was physically mature and proven doper... What's to prove? What are you suggesting? I'm just stating facts...
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Shaps plays a bit like Gulbis plays against Rafa - serve as wide and as hard as possible and hit every ball for a winner. Shaps hardly won any points on Rafa's serve.
 
mightyrick

mightyrick

Legend
Im(moral) Winner said:
I just found it weird to complain about gamesmanship in a RAFA match.
Click to expand...

I don't get it. Your logic is pretty weird. It's like saying, "It's weird for you to complain about a guy who murders someone in a town full of murderers."

I guess what you are saying is that if one guy is known to be a cheater, then it's perfectly fine for the opponent to go ahead and be a cheater too when he faces him? If that is your point... then all I can say is I disagree. Definitely not my values. To each his own. That's the logic that dopers use.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
mellowyellow said:
Nadal a physically transformed teen at 19 beat Puerta in the final?Puerta was physically mature and proven doper... What's to prove? What are you suggesting? I'm just stating facts...
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Raf also beat Federer in the SF before playing Puerta in the final at RG in 2005 - remember?
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
mellowyellow said:
Good learning experiences, remember he really hasn't been in these positions in Master on clay last year... Hopefully he learns from this.
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Shapo played ZERO ATP/slam level MD clay matches in '17. He was 0-3 at Challenger level and lost 1R at RG qualies. These last two weeks are the first time since 2016 RG Boys he has played multiple matches on clay at the same tournament.
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Backspin1183 said:
Nadal just too talented.
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This win has ZERO to do with talent. It has everything to do with the fact that Rafa is 13 years older than Denis, that much more experienced, and he's played and won on clay for over a decade. Denis is still learning clay, and he's been amazing in Madrid and Rome. I expected him to lose today, but he was quite good in the first set, but of course, Rafa wore him down in the second. Denis still made a good showing. If this had been grass or HC, I would have given Denis a real shot to beat Rafa. He won because it was on clay.
 
Krish872007

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
Backspin1183 said:
I think Fognini had a good run against Rafa in 2015-2016. Not before or after. He'd hit some good winners and may even break Nadal's serve once or twice but Nadal in this form would be too much for the Fog imho.
Click to expand...

Definitely looking better than in Madrid.
And with a full week of rest between Rome and Roland Garros it's the perfect preparation
 
Backspin1183

Backspin1183

Talk Tennis Guru
prairiegirl said:
This win has ZERO to do with talent. It has everything to do with the fact that Rafa is 13 years older than Denis, that much more experienced, and he's played and won on clay for over a decade. Denis is still learning clay, and he's been amazing in Madrid and Rome. I expected him to lose today, but he was quite good in the first set, but of course, Rafa wore him down in the second. Denis still made a good showing. If this had been grass or HC, I would have given Denis a real shot to beat Rafa. He won because it was on clay.
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I was talking about Nadal at 19. Nothing about Shapovulov. :rolleyes:
 
vive le beau jeu !

vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
helixx said:
https://twitter.com/SportsHorn/status/967208193356124162 :)
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veroniquem said:
Thanks!!!! I'd been wondering. I thought it was a husky :)
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... shapolawolf ! :eek:

DWw1XofUQAAfECv.jpg
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Rosstour said:
This is a VERY dangerous match for Rafa.

Shapo is at the stage where he will lose to someone at his own level or below, but will go lights-out/'nothing to lose' against a better player.

If Shapo stays relaxed, and then starts to believe...Rafa could get blown out.
Click to expand...

What say you now? I told you on clay young Shap wouldn't make a dent vs Nadal. I didn't see the match but the scoreline is close to what I predicted. Playing Nadal on hardcourt in Canada is a far cry from playing Nadal on clay in Rome.
 
Gary Duane

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
cc0509 said:
What say you now? I told you on clay young Shap wouldn't make a dent vs Nadal. I didn't see the match but the scoreline is close to what I predicted. Playing Nadal on hardcourt in Canada is a far cry from playing Nadal on clay in Rome.
Click to expand...
Shapo threw everything he had at Nadal, and even then he faced something like 8 or 9 BPs in the first two games. I just watched for the first break and said, "That's it". Shapo won two more games in the first set, but after that he was done. Bear in mind that Nadal only lost one game yesterday.

It will be different on HC and grass, but on clay Nadal is still playing as well as anyone has ever played on clay.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Sudacafan said:
Federer was the second best clay player during Federer peak years. He was very good. Only that Nadal ruined it all..
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Just because Federer was the second best player on clay, doesn't mean he was Nadal's equal on that surface. There was a big gulf between them. Have to disagree with you here.
 
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