Rafa Post Final Press Conference

irishnadalfan1983 · Jan 27, 2019

Not too sure what to make of this - makes some valid points - not enough prep/matches for playing someone like Nole....

However I don’t fully agree - he was more nervous and some of the shots particularly at the start were simply awful/due to nerves and nothing to do with Nole....That 2nd or 3rd shot were he floated it back spoke volumes for his mental state - bizarre.....

Tennis_Hands · Jan 27, 2019

What is the "something else" that he needs to compete at the "super-high level"?

Is that a case of hiding something in plain sight?

Benben245 · Jan 27, 2019

His defense was non-existent, really slow when stretched to the corners trying to head back to the center of the baseline. His legs, footwork, and consistency were lacking. Look at the unforced errors on rally points, very unusual.

Badabing888 · Jan 27, 2019

He was nervous because he didn’t have the tough matches up to the final to find the necessary level to compete with Novak. That I agree with. Doesn’t mean if he did he would have won. But at least he would have made it more competitive. If he loses to Novak at RG and repeats the same excuse after playing Acapulco/IW/Maimi? and a full clay schedule plus playing on PC then yes he has no excuses.

FiReFTW · Jan 27, 2019

Like all other Nadal press conferences, tries to find out as much excuses as possible for losing the match.

Paulreedsmith · Jan 27, 2019

What´s the name of that big river.... the one in Egypt?

robthai · Jan 27, 2019

This confirm to me that a healthy Rafa is still undefeated.

George Turner · Jan 27, 2019

He played with the same inhibiting fear that Zverev has been unable to overcome in majors.

Tennis is played so much between the ears, we saw that today. All those hard court losses to Djokovic affected Nadals performance today.

Tshooter · Jan 27, 2019

It’s clear from this interview that he doesn’t put the work in. Rafa and Thiem are well known as two of the lazier players and their results reflect it.

TennisaGoGo · Jan 27, 2019

FiReFTW said:
Like all other Nadal press conferences, tries to find out as much excuses as possible for losing the match.

At least he couldn’t use the roof as one of them.

moonballs · Jan 27, 2019

Agree with most of what he said. Maybe Fed let him down. The Fedal SF would have hardened the winner for the final.

tennis_pro · Jan 27, 2019

Rafa the talker.

MAPE · Jan 27, 2019

Never lost a match when healthy....always the injury card!!

icedevil0289 · Jan 27, 2019

i did chuckle at that tsitsipas bit, he's young so he doesnt have a lot of experience with being destroyed. rofl

Zebrev · Jan 27, 2019

Nadal can't admit thst he lost because of the younger, fitter and better player on the other side of the net. Watching him scrabble for any excuse he had come up with is just embarrassing frankly.

weakera · Jan 27, 2019

Zebrev said:
Nadal can't admit thst he lost because of the younger, fitter and better player on the other side of the net. Watching him scrabble for any excuse he had come up with is just embarrassing frankly.

How many times did he have to say he lost to a player who was too good for him? He even said that at his best he may just as well have lost.

Rubens · Jan 27, 2019

Nadal has to face it. His style was not impetuous. And his defense got impregnated.

MarcusInKensington · Jan 27, 2019

He lost against the better player. Simples.

He may have entered the AO with new aggressive tactics, but they were nowhere to be seen against Djokovic. It’s almost as if he was too scared to use them.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 27, 2019

weakera said:
How many times did he have to say he lost to a player who was too good for him? He even said that at his best he may just as well have lost.

Which "best" is he talking about?

Pablo1989 · Jan 27, 2019

It was the worst GS final performance by Nadal, no doubts. 2015 level. That's why it makes me laugh that people only praise Djokovic...any top 20 player would beat this Nadal.

Tshooter · Jan 27, 2019

Pablo1989 said:
...any top 20 player would beat this Nadal.

You don’t think Novak’s play had a wee bit to do with Rafa’s.

A large part of Rafa’s level was due to Novak’s. Just like Tsitsy said Rafa made him play poorly and there wasn’t much he could about it. Rafa just experienced the same feeling. Novak was too good today.

Nostradamus · Jan 27, 2019

irishnadalfan1983 said:
Not too sure what to make of this - makes some valid points - not enough prep/matches for playing someone like Nole....

However I don’t fully agree - he was more nervous and some of the shots particularly at the start were simply awful/due to nerves and nothing to do with Nole....That 2nd or 3rd shot were he floated it back spoke volumes for his mental state - bizarre.....

Extremely honest and accurate assessment. He didn't have that Extra due to all the layoff and injury and lack of matches so novak won. RAFA if he has all the matches and that extra confidence would beat Novak 9 out of 10 times.

beltsman · Jan 27, 2019

I don't understand the hate. He was clearly hampered by an injury that has kept him out for months. It's a testament to his greatness that he was able to get to the final without dropping a set, given the circumstances. I hope he is healthy by RG.

Crionics · Jan 27, 2019

Of course he was more nervous, but why would he say this openly in the press conference and therefore admit that Djokovic is completely in his head?

mistik · Jan 27, 2019

beltsman said:
I don't understand the hate. He was clearly hampered by an injury that has kept him out for months. It's a testament to his greatness that he was able to get to the final without dropping a set, given the circumstances. I hope he is healthy by RG.

Hate the performance hate the lack off fight and hate the disbelief on his face that ı have seen from the start.Never hate the guy himself never.

irishnadalfan1983 · Jan 27, 2019

Nostradamus said:
Extremely honest and accurate assessment. He didn't have that Extra due to all the layoff and injury and lack of matches so novak won. RAFA if he has all the matches and that extra confidence would beat Novak 9 out of 10 times.

Are you serious?

davced1 · Jan 27, 2019

What we know for sure about Rafa is that he always tries his best and today this was his best, as simple as that.

Nostradamus · Jan 27, 2019

irishnadalfan1983 said:
Are you serious?

RAFA said it not me. He didn't have that extra to bring his level up 1/2 level to counter Novak today. ... This is normal. He had no match play due to injury layoff. and he made it to the final beating everyone all the young guns. So this was a great 2 weeks, and RAFA should be super confident now and will DESTROY novak in Rolland garros.

Zardoz7/12 · Jan 27, 2019

When Nadal said he "practised it" I thought he kept saying Brexit, no hate as he speaks better English than me most of the time.

BeatlesFan · Jan 27, 2019

Zebrev said:
Nadal can't admit thst he lost because of the younger, fitter and better player on the other side of the net.

Is Novak physically fitter than Nadal? That's debatable. The age difference is "only" one year, but after 32-33, that one year becomes significant, as both Ndal and Djokovic fan bases will learn. The Rafa fan base already saw how his schedule was reduced to practically only clay in 2018 when he was 31-32.

I've been saying since Wimbledon it's a mental thing with Nadal. He has that haunted look that Fed used to have with him and that Andre almost always had when playing Pete. The match is lost before even taking court. Can Rafa turn that around? Doubtful, but we'll see soon enough in clay. I think clay season will be like 2011, with Djokovic defeating Nadal in all the tune ups prior to RG.

MeatTornado · Jan 27, 2019

I was so relieved that Federer didn't face him this tournament. But realizing his mental & physical state now, I have to wonder...

vive le beau jeu ! · Jan 27, 2019

beltsman said:
I don't understand the hate. He was clearly hampered by an injury that has kept him out for months. It's a testament to his greatness that he was able to get to the final without dropping a set, given the circumstances. I hope he is healthy by RG.

both rusty and injured... no doubt allowed: it's definitely the peak nadal.

Zebrev · Jan 27, 2019

BeatlesFan said:
Is Novak physically fitter than Nadal? That's debatable. The age difference is "only" one year, but after 32-33, that one year becomes significant, as both Ndal and Djokovic fan bases will learn. The Rafa fan base already saw how his schedule was reduced to practically only clay in 2018 when he was 31-32.

I've been saying since Wimbledon it's a mental thing with Nadal. He has that haunted look that Fed used to have with him and that Andre almost always had when playing Pete. The match is lost before even taking court. Can Rafa turn that around? Doubtful, but we'll see soon enough in clay. I think clay season will be like 2011, with Djokovic defeating Nadal in all the tune ups prior to RG.

I agree. Novak is about to hoover up some tournaments. Nadal, Thiem and Zverev are his main competition for the first half of 2019. I'm interested to see what Federer can do at Indian Wells. Maybe the expectations are off a bit now and he can play free. Also BO3 sets might suit him better. Could be a dark horse.

Paulreedsmith · Jan 27, 2019

Nostradamus said:
RAFA said it not me. He didn't have that extra to bring his level up 1/2 level to counter Novak today. ... This is normal. He had no match play due to injury layoff. and he made it to the final beating everyone all the young guns. So this was a great 2 weeks, and RAFA should be super confident now and will DESTROY novak in Rolland garros.

Guess you have to tell yourself that to be able to cope with the loss today. Must really sting.

AceSalvo · Jan 27, 2019

Shouldnt have skipped Brisbane when there was no "injury"

Rafa fans were saying after the SF "see how Nadal is fully fresh". Fully fresh for this beat down??

Nostradamus · Jan 27, 2019

Paulreedsmith said:
Guess you have to tell yourself that to be able to cope with the loss today. Must really sting.

Not at all in fact after watching that press conference. RAFA looks like he Gained confidence from today's match and he knows what he has to bring in next match against Novak. So after this match , this means novak has NO chance against RAFA if they play at the French open. So I am very very happy since RAFA winning one major at the French is all that is needed to make RAFA happy and all his fans happy. We don't care about being #1, and rafa doesnt' care either, he saids so.

aman92 · Jan 27, 2019

He is honest..it was still a good week for him despite the thrashing but he is right. The lack of being tested in the tournament hurt him.

Paulreedsmith · Jan 27, 2019

beltsman said:
I don't understand the hate. He was clearly hampered by an injury that has kept him out for months. It's a testament to his greatness that he was able to get to the final without dropping a set, given the circumstances. I hope he is healthy by RG.

He played his best match ever at AO according to himself, then had 2 days off. Did he pick up a new injury during his days off?

Plamen1234 · Jan 27, 2019

AceSalvo said:
Shouldnt have skipped Brisbane when there was no "injury"

Rafa fans were saying after the SF "see how Nadal is fully fresh". Fully fresh for this beat down??

They were saying that because they expected Nadal to win that match.But given that fact he got destroyed in the final now they are going to use the injury excuse like always

beltsman · Jan 27, 2019

mistik said:
Hate the performance hate the lack off fight and hate the disbelief on his face that ı have seen from the start.Never hate the guy himself never.

He must have some issues going on. I've never seen that lack of fight. Compare this to 2006 Wimbledon.

Paulreedsmith · Jan 27, 2019

Nostradamus said:
Not at all in fact after watching that press conference. RAFA looks like he Gained confidence from today's match and he knows what he has to bring in next match against Novak. So after this match , this means novak has NO chance against RAFA if they play at the French open. So I am very very happy since RAFA winning one major at the French is all that is needed to make RAFA happy and all his fans happy. We don't care about being #1, and rafa doesnt' care either, he saids so.

Ohhh ok now I can tell you are joking. Sorry.

beltsman · Jan 27, 2019

Paulreedsmith said:
He played his best match ever at AO according to himself, then had 2 days off. Did he pick up a new injury during his days off?

I think he always had the injury but fought through it. Bull might have aggrevated it recently.

Mainad · Jan 27, 2019

I like the fact that after Rafa made references to his comeback from injury in his presentation speech, Novak then made references to his own comeback from his elbow injury. In other words, let's not overplay the injury card because I can play it too!

California · Jan 27, 2019

[QUOTE="Nostradamus, post: 13076019, member: 235008" RAFA if he has all the matches and that extra confidence would beat Novak 9 out of 10 times.[/QUOTE]

Seriously??

dominikk1985 · Jan 27, 2019

Tshooter said:
It’s clear from this interview that he doesn’t put the work in. Rafa and Thiem are well known as two of the lazier players and their results reflect it.

Thiem is working really hard, bresnik is known as a conditioning freak. Thiem had some kind of illness.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 27, 2019

Mainad said:
I like the fact that after Rafa made references to his comeback from injury in his presentation speech, Novak then made references to his own comeback from his elbow injury. In other words, let's not overplay the injury card because I can play it too!

I hate it, when someone takes credit from his opponent's achievements!

BHud · Jan 27, 2019

Tshooter said:
It’s clear from this interview that he doesn’t put the work in. Rafa and Thiem are well known as two of the lazier players and their results reflect it.

WTF are you talking about? I was under the impression that Thiem had been advised to quit playing so many tournaments. He was running himself into the ground.

hoodjem · Jan 27, 2019

Rubens said:
Nadal has to face it. His style was not impetuous. And his defense got impregnated.

He will give birth at the USO!

Mainad · Jan 27, 2019

Tshooter said:
It’s clear from this interview that he doesn’t put the work in. Rafa and Thiem are well known as two of the lazier players and their results reflect it.

I've heard Rafa called many things, some of them rather unkind, but this is the first time I have ever heard anyone accuse him of being "lazy"!!!

Dilexson · Jan 27, 2019

MeatTornado said:
I was so relieved that Federer didn't face him this tournament. But realizing his mental & physical state now, I have to wonder...

Hindsight is everything, lol.
I too thought that Roger would have gotten a beatdown after watching their respective matches against Tsi. Now not so sure.. Is the field that worse than these guys to let Rafa steamroll his way to the finals like this.

Rafa Post Final Press Conference

Hall of Fame

Banned

Banned

Hall of Fame

Legend

Semi-Pro

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

Hall of Fame

Bionic Poster

Rookie

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Talk Tennis Guru

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Banned

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Bionic Poster

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Bionic Poster

Talk Tennis Guru

Talk Tennis Guru

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Legend

Bionic Poster

Legend

Semi-Pro

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

G.O.A.T.

Bionic Poster

Semi-Pro

Legend

Banned

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

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