Zverev is the only one who can beat Nadal at Roland Garros
- Thread starter RoS
- Start date
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Zverev has shown mental strength with that epic USO final choke, two sets up and even served for it and still lost, and it was not like his opponent was playing great either. You think Zverev would not blink if he comes close to a historical feat in beating Rafa at RG, and being only one of three men to do it? I can see double fault city if he approached the finish line.
It was 2018 Nadal, which was much better. 2018 Nadal is underrated, he was also strong as 2017. We are talking about 35 years old 2021 Nadal...
And Zverev nearly beat Nadal in Rome 2018. He has figured how to play Nadal. If Zverev hangs with Nadal, engage him in a war of attrition and brings him to a fifth set, everything is possible. We have seen against Stefanos in Melbourne that Nadal cannot outlast physically his opponents anymore. He was totally spent at the end of the match. Already in the 2019 USO Final, he barely beat Medvedev. If the russian came back to 5-5, Nadal would have lost. He was on his last legs...
Last edited:
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
OP wrote about that as well. It doesn't matter how Zverev plays against others. He lost to Ivashka last week after failing to serve for the match. But when he met Nadal today he served it out without any problems. He just always plays his absolute best against Nadal.
So looking at the match against Thiem (who is a tougher matchup for him) makes no sense.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
One thing is for sure..... no matter who wins the FO, TTW Is going up in flames lol, the only question is who's holding the torches.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
skypadq
Hall of Fame
yeah , i so much agree with youCan't believe I even miss 2018 Nadal these days.
nadal has no game plan that agianst zverev
Druss
Hall of Fame
How is it flawed? Give me Safin’s, Djoker’s or Agassi’s BH over Wawa’s, Gasquet‘s or Fedr’s any day. And don‘t get me wrong, as I love the 1H-BH, especially that of the aforementioned...but we’re not talking about being aesthetically more pleasing here.
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
I see no evidence Zod can do much in slams let alone beat Rafa at RG.
Druss
Hall of Fame
Can’t believe what I’m reading...Nadal loses an insignificant match, and this place including his fans go on as though he’s going to lose RG. How many times has this happened (where is that Jerzy Janovic clip “how many times” when you need it) were he loses the odd FO tune-up event, then blasts everyone on PC court.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Call me when he wins at least one set against Zverev on any surface. He can't do it for 3 years now. So stop writing about "insignificant" matches.
Druss
Hall of Fame
It is insignificant for Nadal, especially Madrid.
Zverev also challenged nadal bo3 at rome 2018.
Look at their sole clay bo5 match at Davis cup 2018 - zverev had nothing for nadal. Obviously 2021 nadal vs zverev would be more of a grind so nadal on a cool off day at rg might be in a little trouble but doubt he’ll lose otherwise.
Look at their sole clay bo5 match at Davis cup 2018 - zverev had nothing for nadal. Obviously 2021 nadal vs zverev would be more of a grind so nadal on a cool off day at rg might be in a little trouble but doubt he’ll lose otherwise.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
When you can't win a set against your opponent for 3 years it IS significant. Zverev just owns the matchup.
Druss
Hall of Fame
Ok. Come back to me on 13th June.
Krish0608
G.O.A.T.
That is probably one of the worst hot takes you can take when it comes to tennis lol. Tennis is all about matchups. That’s what makes the sport so interesting.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Interesting post from a person who TOTALLY ignores the obvious fact that Zverev owns the matchup against Nadal.
Krish0608
G.O.A.T.
Matchups matter, but nothing matters against Rafa at RG. Djokovic matches up well against Rafa, but we all saw what happened last year.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Right now Zverev is maybe even a tougher matchup than Djokovic. Even on clay Nadal can't win a set. I don't see why anything should change in RG. When Nadal was playing well he dominated in all clay tournaments. Now he is on a heavy decline, and is being totally owned by young players.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, keep making wrong predictions. You know Djokovic is a lock for RG this year, just as for the other slams, but you keep acting like it isn't the case.Naturally
Tennisfan339
Professional
I regret Zverev lost to Sinner in 1/8 last year. He clearly has the game to beat or at least challenge Nadal on clay, today proved it if there was any doubt. He almost did it in Rome 2018 (until the rain stopped him). A 1/4 between them would have been more than interesting last year. I hope they're in the same 1/4 this year again.
I think Rublev will also be a threat to Nadal if he meets him in 1/4.
If Nadal is seeded 3. Djokovic will also be a more dangerous threat in a semifinal.
No matter what happens Nadal is still favorite for RG thoough. But among the players who have a chance to beat him, Zverev is most certainly at the top of the list.
I think Rublev will also be a threat to Nadal if he meets him in 1/4.
If Nadal is seeded 3. Djokovic will also be a more dangerous threat in a semifinal.
No matter what happens Nadal is still favorite for RG thoough. But among the players who have a chance to beat him, Zverev is most certainly at the top of the list.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
I just saw the highlights. Nadal didn't seem to play good. I'd have given Zverev more chances for the RG upset if he had beaten a well playing Nadal. Tsitsipas almost did at Barcelona.
WhiskeyEE
G.O.A.T.
Novak has no ability to end points on clay. He doesn't match up well with post-2017 Nadal on clay at all. He matched up better with pre-2017 Nadal who refused to hit his backhand and played more defensively.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Here we go again with this bs. How is Djokovic a lock for RG when everybody and their mama can see he has declined on clay and is not the force he once was, not like RG was ever his best tournament. A number of players could beat him at RG if we are going by his recent form on clay. Djokovic's game is suited for faster surfaces now, not clay.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
So declined on clay that he won Madrid 2019, Rome 2020 and reached RG final last year. Also, young players have absolutely no idea how to play him in BO5. I don't care if Tsitsipas can win 2 sets against him if he loses the other sets 6-3 6-2 6-1 like a total mug. I'll not believe for a moment any of them can win 3 sets against Djokovic. Given that Nadal is now close to his 2015 form, yes, Djokovic looks like a lock.
skypadq
Hall of Fame
why you're not answering my qustion , thiem can beat djokoivc in RG , didn 't he 2017 and 2019 RG ?
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Madrid 2019 was 2 years ago dude. We're in 2021, at least the rest of us. Yea he looked good in RG 2020 and then had nothing left for the final. I can think of at least 4 players that could beat Djokovic at RG based on what I have seen of him this clay season. Your reverse jinxing is so freaking annoying and comical at this point if you believe the bs you write.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
2017 doesn't tell us anything, Djokovic was terrible in that match. In 2019 Thiem won, but he was choking like crazy in the last 3 sets. It's a miracle he managed to win 2 of them given that. Do you trust him to win 3 sets against Djokovic again? For sure I don't. He maybe has the best chance, but it doesn't tell much.
Ray Mercer
Hall of Fame
Always different at RG. On PC Nadal can stand 30 feet back and make serving irrelevant to the match. Zverev can't hit short wide serves on both sides consistently enough. Zverev basically needs to outdo him from the baseline on the slowest court for 3 hours to win which is damn near impossible.
Last edited:
skypadq
Hall of Fame
2020 AO final , thiem almost beat novak djokovic
do you know that ?
and why you're kept saying djokovic is lock for RG ??
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
As if Nadal was any better in this clay season. Call me when he finally wins at least one set against Zverev, on any surface. Nadal looks done. Djokovic on the other hand is for sure not done, as he already won a slam this year. Who cares about him losing in MC or Belgrade after that? In BO5 nobody can beat Djokovic in the current tour, this is what matters.
I doubt anyone even has the stamina to beat him in BO5. Watching Tsitsipas lose 6-1 in the fifth set last year was pathetic. He is 11 years younger than Djokovic and he got tired!
skypadq
Hall of Fame
strongrule , so you think wimbledon is lock for novak djokovic also ?
who will be novak 's biggest threat ? roger federer ?
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Ok.
NoleIsBoat
Hall of Fame
Federer to win? He will be more evolved than ever with more experience and practice.One thing is for sure..... no matter who wins the FO, TTW Is going up in flames lol, the only question is who's holding the torches.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Matchup dynamics change according to surface. Surfaces preferences > matchup dynamics. Zverev is NOT the favorite against Nadal at RG, whereas I would favor Zverev over Nadal both at the AO and WB, and roughly 50-50 at the USO.
FranzS
Semi-Pro
He's got it, just needs confidence and will. I didn't watch today's match, but he was crushing the ball against Nishikori.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
He doesn't hit with consistent power like Soderling.
Don't write off Novak. He is still one of the men to beat in Bo5. Remember everyone said Medvedev was going to beat Djokovic in Melbourne, that it was the handover, that Medvedev figured Djokovic. And Djokovic easily handled him like a third-rate Murray without breaking a sweat.
Zverev can exhaust Nadal in a QF and Djokovic can finish him in the SF. I don't think Nadal can recover a long and hard match anymore.
If Zverev serve really well and expose Nadal return court positionning from Sri Lanka, it will be a long day for the Spaniard.
Sinner outplayed Nadal in the first set of the FO QF 2020, and what Sinner did Zverev can do it better and longer. He serve and defend BETTER than Sinner, and find better angles with his top class backhand.
Zverev can exhaust Nadal in a QF and Djokovic can finish him in the SF. I don't think Nadal can recover a long and hard match anymore.
If Zverev serve really well and expose Nadal return court positionning from Sri Lanka, it will be a long day for the Spaniard.
Sinner outplayed Nadal in the first set of the FO QF 2020, and what Sinner did Zverev can do it better and longer. He serve and defend BETTER than Sinner, and find better angles with his top class backhand.
And against Federer. Zverev also isn't the classic choker. He implodes from time to time, but contrary to "classic" chokes this doesn't have much to do with not being able to handle a big match occasion. It can happen against anyone, and on another day he can serve home a match against a Big 3 player as if he was Sampras.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Against Fed it's expected considering he is 16 years younger than the Swiss LOL.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Keep dreaming.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Let Zverev prove himself at RG for a change since he's suffered some pretty nasty and bad defeats.
Old Verdasco in 1R in 2017
Demolitions at the hands of Thiem and Novak in 2018 and 2019
Loss to teenage Sinner in 2020.
Old Verdasco in 1R in 2017
Demolitions at the hands of Thiem and Novak in 2018 and 2019
Loss to teenage Sinner in 2020.
Zverev has become rather consistent in GS recently. I'am sure he can make it to QF at last...
aliceinpains
Rookie
So much pressure on Nadal this year to win the FO because of the slam race. That, and the fact he has not been playing that great all year. I'm taking the field this year.
Beckerserve
Legend
Ban this person for being libellous and risking the entire site.
Beckerserve
Legend
Not really. Its too late now
Nadal got his 20 Majors. Job done.
Beckerserve
Legend
The lack of knowledge of some on this thread is embarrassing. Conditions in Madrid are totally different to RG and big servers do much better in Madrid.It'll be like this basically:
Zverev on clay at altitude is very tough for anyone if he plays well. On PC Diego is a bigger threat to Nadal by a country mile. In fact Diego would handle Zverev easily at FO. Over 5 sets at sea level the Zverev 2nd serve will get destroyed by any top 10 player.
My concern for Rafa is his serve and on current form the likes of Djokovic Diego and Goffin if they are playing well would cause him trouble.
But that is the point. Current form with 19 days to go is irrelevant. Whoever is peaking now has peaked too early.
I also got impression Nadal did not ahow Zverev his full hand. He did not hit to zverev FH or slice the ball anywhere bear as much as he will at a slam.
Being honest ive had the feeling for a while Nadal and Djokovic are playing cat and mouse and not revealing their A game.
I expect them to destroy the field and meet in the final.
Similar threads
