Nadal might just have de-chickened himself mentally

RS

RS

Bionic Poster
Depends on the surface....
If it’s on grass then it is probably Federer favoured to win 4 competitive sets.
If it’s indoors then Federer to win in straights
If it’s clay Nadal to win straight even though Fed could take it to 3 if it’s Madrid.
If it’s on slower to medium HC Nadal has a chance to wear Fed down.
Problem is can Nadal find a new way to beat Federer off clay considering he has lost 6 of the 6 meetings off clay. He can’t play the same game he used to trouble Fed with consistently.
 
K

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
He's in a good place now, but it's hard to stay there. He's been there before and fallen out of it, so that'll probably happen again. I can't think of a time he's one multiple slams 2 years in a row, and it's hard to imagine that he'll start doing that now.
 
S

Start da Game

Hall of Fame
he will make fraud and ultron pay their dues before he chickens himself again, make no mistake about it......it’s a funny process with rafa mentally.......
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Start da Game said:
with his latest 5 set thriller victory at us open, he possibly has overcome his inner demons of self doubt and is once again back in the zone mentally.......
Click to expand...
He beat a player who had never come close to a slam final and who has won exactly 5 titles in his career. Nadal has no self doubt and mental demons against a player like that. When he beats Djokovic or Fed in a slam off clay, then one can say his mental issues have been solved.
 
S

Start da Game

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
He beat a player who had never come close to a slam final and who has won exactly 5 titles in his career. Nadal has no self doubt and mental demons against a player like that. When he beats Djokovic or Fed in a slam off clay, then one can say his mental issues have been solved.
Click to expand...

it was never about the opponent, it was always about himself.......otherwise there is no logical reason to explain his terrible chokes to his once pigeon fed.......he just overcame himself outside clay and all i can say now to djokerer is this - good luck beating him in your next slam encounter......
 
The_Mental_Giant

The_Mental_Giant

Hall of Fame
ReeceSachs said:
Depends on the surface....
If it’s on grass then it is probably Federer favoured to win 4 competitive sets.
If it’s indoors then Federer to win in straights
If it’s clay Nadal to win straight even though Fed could take it to 3 if it’s Madrid.
If it’s on slower to medium HC Nadal has a chance to wear Fed down.
Problem is can Nadal find a new way to beat Federer off clay considering he has lost 6 of the 6 meetings off clay. He can’t play the same game he used to trouble Fed with consistently.
Click to expand...
Fed is 38, I repeated it 1000 times, quite a few players did it to 36 playing some great level.. it seems the transition between 36-37..and more from 37-38 is brutal, next slam fed will be almost 38,5 years... wont be surprised if he bombs out at r4-qf again. Nadal still has 3 or even 4 solid years coming, if he schedules properly and adapt when its time to adapt.
 
Krish0608

Krish0608

G.O.A.T.
Start da Game said:
with his latest 5 set thriller victory at us open, he possibly has overcome his inner demons of self doubt and is once again back in the zone mentally.......

i think he will thrash fed in their next meeting regardless of the surface and outlast djoko even if the match is at aus open.......

tennis is a funny sport
Click to expand...

Well, he beat Fed in straight sets in the French. That should ideally have "de-chickened" him when they met at Wimbledon right? And what we got was Federer beating him convincingly contrary to TTW's expert predictions. Here's the bitter truth: When the backhand abuse doesn't work, Fed has got just too much game for Rafa. This was obvious even back in the days when Nadal was supposedly "owning" Federer. Whenever they met indoors, Fed laid the smackdown on Rafa, every single time. Why do you think that happened? When the backhand abuse is taken out of the equation, Rafa cannot hang with a well playing Federer. And their H2H after Fed's racket switch has only further validated that. The only way Rafa is "thrashing" Fed next time is if they meet on clay.
 
UnderratedSlam

UnderratedSlam

G.O.A.T.
Krish0608 said:
Well, he beat Fed in straight sets in the French. That should ideally have "de-chickened" him when they met at Wimbledon right? And what we got was Federer beating him convincingly contrary to TTW's expert predictions. Here's the bitter truth: When the backhand abuse doesn't work, Fed has got just too much game for Rafa. This was obvious even back in the days when Nadal was supposedly "owning" Federer. Whenever they met indoors, Fed laid the smackdown on Rafa, every single time. Why do you think that happened? When the backhand abuse is taken out of the equation, Rafa cannot hang with a well playing Federer. And their H2H after Fed's racket switch has only further validated that. The only way Rafa is "thrashing" Fed next time is if they meet on clay.
Click to expand...
Cherry-picking facts and blatant bias aren't constructive. This is a Disneyland/Fedland version of ATP.
 
Tenez101

Tenez101

Banned
Start da Game said:
with his latest 5 set thriller victory at us open, he possibly has overcome his inner demons of self doubt and is once again back in the zone mentally.......

i think he will thrash fed in their next meeting regardless of the surface and outlast djoko even if the match is at aus open.......

tennis is a funny sport
Click to expand...
Not AO for Novak, but anywhere else maybe.
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Huge update! Just got some inside fashion info from Octo and The Queen of the clay.
Rafa is going to uncover his new nike kit at the tour finals.
Apparently it include crotchless shorts.
Seems his hands were cramping during the final and crotchless shorts might reduce fatigue.
Stay tuned for more updates!
 
MeatTornado

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
BeatlesFan said:
He beat a player who had never come close to a slam final and who has won exactly 5 titles in his career. Nadal has no self doubt and mental demons against a player like that. When he beats Djokovic or Fed in a slam off clay, then one can say his mental issues have been solved.
Click to expand...
And an opponent with zero 5 set victories to his name. A guy who openly complains about not liking Bo5 matches.
 
ADuck

ADuck

Legend
Start da Game said:
with his latest 5 set thriller victory at us open, he possibly has overcome his inner demons of self doubt and is once again back in the zone mentally.......

i think he will thrash fed in their next meeting regardless of the surface and outlast djoko even if the match is at aus open.......

tennis is a funny sport
Click to expand...
I was thinking the opposite... but I like your positivity. I'm hoping this win motivates him to continuing improving
 
ElChivoEspañol

ElChivoEspañol

Hall of Fame
ReeceSachs said:
Depends on the surface....
If it’s on grass then it is probably Federer favoured to win 4 competitive sets.
If it’s indoors then Federer to win in straights
If it’s clay Nadal to win straight even though Fed could take it to 3 if it’s Madrid.
If it’s on slower to medium HC Nadal has a chance to wear Fed down.
Problem is can Nadal find a new way to beat Federer off clay considering he has lost 6 of the 6 meetings off clay. He can’t play the same game he used to trouble Fed with consistently.
Click to expand...

It’s not Federer the player he should be worrying about today. Something tells me Fed is done winning slams and will sharply decline if Rafa and others start beating him on a regular basis. It’s Novak the one he should worry about and the coming next gen guys who I think will feel motivated by what Medvedev accomplish at the USO.

Rafa has seen a slow mental decline since 2011 when Novak got in his head, then again in 2015 and 2016. 2017 AO was the catalyst to make him believe he could fight for the biggest titles again. He has only really suffered at the hands of Djokovic and Federer since then, and I attribute it 100% to his mental state when those two are across the net. This epic victory at the USO19 may very well be the next catalyst to make him believe he can win vs Djokovic outside of clay again.
 
Tenez101

Tenez101

Banned
Would ppl say AO 2014 is when Rafa kind of fell off the mental tracks? He’s been choking in 5 set matches since then until a few days ago.
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Tenez101 said:
Would ppl say AO 2014 is when Rafa kind of fell off the mental tracks? He’s been choking in 5 set matches since then until a few days ago.
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That is when the wheels kinda fell off for nole and rafa really. That FO 2014 puking scene was ugly. He had a vulnerable nadal and he got sick. Djokovic had all sorts of mental problems in finals. Nadal left his peak in that ao 2014.
If he did not win that wimbledon 2014 i truly believe his career would have dropped off a cliff.
It took becker and a game retooling for nole to get back on track.
Nadal got moya and got back on track. Two hot messes lol.
 
Tenez101

Tenez101

Banned
swordtennis said:
That is when the wheels kinda fell off for nole and rafa really. That FO 2014 puking scene was ugly. He had a vulnerable nadal and he got sick. Djokovic had all sorts of mental problems in finals. Nadal left his peak in that ao 2014.
If he did not win that wimbledon 2014 i truly believe his career would have dropped off a cliff.
It took becker and a game retooling for nole to get back on track.
Nadal got moya and got back on track. Two hot messes lol.
Click to expand...
I remember watching the Wimby final in 14 thinking that this was make or break for Novak. He fought for his life in that fifth set after dropping championship pt in the fourth. The fact he came through showed he is a warrior deep down, and reawakened his courage. He drew on memories of the 2014 final in 2018 and 2019 against Fedal for sure, and that’s what got him to the finish line.
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Tenez101 said:
I remember watching the Wimby final in 14 thinking that this was make or break for Novak. He fought for his life in that fifth set after dropping championship pt in the fourth. The fact he came through showed he is a warrior deep down, and reawakened his courage. He drew on memories of the 2014 final in 2018 and 2019 against Fedal for sure, and that’s what got him to the finish line.
Click to expand...
It really did! The us open loss was not that big of a deal to him. If he lost that wimby that us open loss would have finished him.
Also i think he lost the edge after that ao 2012. Nadal fed and murray solved him too.
 
Tenez101

Tenez101

Banned
swordtennis said:
It really did! The us open loss was not that big of a deal to him. If he lost that wimby that us open loss would have finished him.
Also i think he lost the edge after that ao 2012. Nadal fed and murray solved him too.
Click to expand...
Yeah I feel like Nadal and Muzz both took a lot of confidence from AO 2012. From getting beat down by an untouchable god in 2011 to taking him to the brink, they must’ve done a lot of prep work in the off season. Nadal almost lost RG 2012 if not for the rain, Djoker took 8 straight games starting from the thurd set iirc, but Rafa regrouped after the day long rain delay.
 
S

Start da Game

Hall of Fame
Krish0608 said:
Well, he beat Fed in straight sets in the French. That should ideally have "de-chickened" him when they met at Wimbledon right? And what we got was Federer beating him convincingly contrary to TTW's expert predictions. Here's the bitter truth: When the backhand abuse doesn't work, Fed has got just too much game for Rafa. This was obvious even back in the days when Nadal was supposedly "owning" Federer. Whenever they met indoors, Fed laid the smackdown on Rafa, every single time. Why do you think that happened? When the backhand abuse is taken out of the equation, Rafa cannot hang with a well playing Federer. And their H2H after Fed's racket switch has only further validated that. The only way Rafa is "thrashing" Fed next time is if they meet on clay.
Click to expand...

you can’t cherrypick some elements of a player’s game and cite them as the ONLY reasons for loss.....what backhand abuse? fraud’s one handed backhand is way overrated......for the large part he makes up for it with a great slice......and we know how rafa murders the slices.......it’s all part of the game.......backhands of youzhny, blake and recently stan handled rafa on occasions.......hitting stylish backhands for rolex ads doesn’t necessarily equate to strength.......
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Tenez101 said:
Yeah I feel like Nadal and Muzz both took a lot of confidence from AO 2012. From getting beat down by an untouchable god in 2011 to taking him to the brink, they must’ve done a lot of prep work in the off season. Nadal almost lost RG 2012 if not for the rain, Djoker took 8 straight games starting from the thurd set iirc, but Rafa regrouped after the day long rain delay.
Click to expand...
That 2012 match i felt djokovic had to win or he was going to struggle there. Esp after 2011 he needed to jump on rafa there when he had the momentum. He was so close. Nadal and the french open gods he just dug in.. Or he was going to struggle. Nadal got the upper hand in the matchup after that.
Totally he was an unplayable tennis god. I was in rome during the rome tournament and was like this is unreal.
Nadal stated back then not much he could do he just had to wait noles form would eventually drop.
Many fans still can not accept that run lol same for the 2015 run.
 
malbaker86

malbaker86

Hall of Fame
swordtennis said:
That 2012 match i felt djokovic had to win or he was going to struggle there. Esp after 2011 he needed to jump on rafa there when he had the momentum. He was so close. Nadal and the french open gods he just dug in.. Or he was going to struggle. Nadal got the upper hand in the matchup after that.
Totally he was an unplayable tennis god. I was in rome during the rome tournament and was like this is unreal.
Nadal stated back then not much he could do he just had to wait noles form would eventually drop.
Many fans still can not accept that run lol same for the 2015 run.
Click to expand...

By the time Rome 2011 rolled around, I was like "If Rafa doesn't make a dent in Novak at Rome, forget the FO"....but Fed saved the day lol.
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
malbaker86 said:
By the time Rome 2011 rolled around, I was like "If Rafa doesn't make a dent in Novak at Rome, forget the FO"....but Fed saved the day lol.
Click to expand...
LOL! and after the french semi i was like o for the love of god what have you done fed?!
Do you know what you just did!
Now after 12 french open titles. There was a chance to at least attempt to break those up a tad! Argghh Naaaadal(khan!)!
 
malbaker86

malbaker86

Hall of Fame
swordtennis said:
LOL! and after the french semi i was like o for the love of god what have you done fed?!
Do you know what you just did!
Now after 12 french open titles. There was a chance to at least attempt to break those up a tad! Argghh Naaaadal(khan!)!
Click to expand...

To this day I believe had Novak pushed it to 5 and got a night's rest, he would have beaten Fed on Saturday and won the title on Sunday.
 
swordtennis

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
malbaker86 said:
To this day I believe had Novak pushed it to 5 and got a night's rest, he would have beaten Fed on Saturday and won the title on Sunday.
Click to expand...
I think you are right on that. He needed to get it into the 5th.
Just bad luck at the french. He had 5 days of no match play before that semi as well. Cahill talked about that match during the nadal dkokovic 2015 french open match. Djokovic came in cold and fed just swarmed him.
Unreal how one match can change so much of history. Crazy times.
 
Big Serve

Big Serve

Rookie
Start da Game said:
with his latest 5 set thriller victory at us open, he possibly has overcome his inner demons of self doubt and is once again back in the zone mentally.......

i think he will thrash fed in their next meeting regardless of the surface and outlast djoko even if the match is at aus open.......

tennis is a funny sport
Click to expand...

...says a guy who's never played a meaningful tennis match in his life.
 
U

undecided

Semi-Pro
Krish0608 said:
Well, he beat Fed in straight sets in the French. That should ideally have "de-chickened" him when they met at Wimbledon right? And what we got was Federer beating him convincingly contrary to TTW's expert predictions. Here's the bitter truth: When the backhand abuse doesn't work, Fed has got just too much game for Rafa. This was obvious even back in the days when Nadal was supposedly "owning" Federer. Whenever they met indoors, Fed laid the smackdown on Rafa, every single time. Why do you think that happened? When the backhand abuse is taken out of the equation, Rafa cannot hang with a well playing Federer. And their H2H after Fed's racket switch has only further validated that. The only way Rafa is "thrashing" Fed next time is if they meet on clay.
Click to expand...
It's all about Fed's serve. It's just too good. When it's on he cruises through games and then he can concentrate on abusing Nadal's service games. On clay, Fed's serve is negated a bit.
 
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