Zebalos Back Hand

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
How many errors could you count from that wing the whole match?

I was waiting for it to break down, but it didnt. And Nadal of course didnt have anywhere else to go.

Very consistent and solid BH

You know. Zebalos won by holding serve. The same tactic Lubicic used against him in IW few years back. Hold serve, take your chances in TB.
 

mightyrick

Legend
Yep, people need to give Zeballos some credit. I realize Nadal is rusty, but Zeballos played damned good. His serve was absolutely awesome. His backhand didn't break down. He was consistently aggressive and going for all of his shots.

To me, the Nadal's biggest problem was his own serve. He is not hitting the slice well. He isn't hitting the body serve well. Not nearly enough floating returns for putaway winners. I expect this will get better with each match, though.
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Toni says its his movement, which was visible sometimes, but he simply didnt have the fire power, serve and game both.

I actually think he will get worse the more he plays. Nadal is burnt and spent. We will see flashes of his past, but I think it's over for him.
 
Seems like everyone on here is saying how Nadal lost this match. Although he should have won give zeballos credit. He kept Nadal on defense for most of the third set.
 

blackfrido

Hall of Fame
How many errors could you count from that wing the whole match?

I was waiting for it to break down, but it didnt. And Nadal of course didnt have anywhere else to go.

Very consistent and solid BH

You know. Zebalos won by holding serve. The same tactic Lubicic used against him in IW few years back. Hold serve, take your chances in TB.

what tactic is that? if you hold serve, and the have a break you win the set. If you do it again you win the match? Is it that a tactic?
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
what tactic is that? if you hold serve, and the have a break you win the set. If you do it again you win the match? Is it that a tactic?

The focus was on holding serve. Serve best you can, with variety, go for your shot on the second ball and avoid long rallies. Yes that's the strategy and he stuck with it the whole match. Zeballos had way more winners in the match.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
The focus was on holding serve. Serve best you can, with variety, go for your shot on the second ball and avoid long rallies. Yes that's the strategy and he stuck with it the whole match. Zeballos had way more winners in the match.
Yeah, but since when has Nadal ever had more winners than his opponent in any match, win or lose? His opponents always have more winners than Nadal does. Nadal wins by making fewer errors.
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, it's something to marvel about. A Lefty Federer.

I was wondering if Tony had one sleepless night about it, ...If I had him when he was 6...
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, but since when has Nadal ever had more winners than his opponent in any match, win or lose? His opponents always have more winners than Nadal does. Nadal wins by making fewer errors.

Yes, but not fewer points too. Zeballos won way more points in the match as well.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Because Federer and Zeballos are so similar...?
No, Federer is much better than Zeballos. So if even Zeballos could beat Nadal on red clay, then a left-handed Federer would double-bagel Nadal on all surfaces. :shock: As it is, even a right-handed Federer has beaten Nadal on all surfaces. So a left-handed Federer would be invincible against Nadal. :)
 

Doubles

Legend
No, Federer is much better than Zeballos. So if even Zeballos could beat Nadal on red clay, then a left-handed Federer would double-bagel Nadal on all surfaces. :shock: As it is, even a right-handed Federer has beaten Nadal on all surfaces. So a left-handed Federer would be invincible against Nadal. :)

You do realize that's all completely hypothetical, right?
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
No, Federer is much better than Zeballos. So if even Zeballos could beat Nadal on red clay, then a left-handed Federer would double-bagel Nadal on all surfaces. :shock: As it is, even a right-handed Federer has beaten Nadal on all surfaces. So a left-handed Federer would be invincible against Nadal. :)

bageled, on all surfaces.
 

BevelDevil

Hall of Fame
Almost started a thread on Zeballos after seeing him play doubles in DC, launching backhand bombs. Damn...

He's got a good drive, slice, chip, drop shot and lob. Makes me wonder why he couldn't stay in the top 50. I really want to see this guy make it to top 20. Fun to watch.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
You do realize that's all completely hypothetical, right?
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.

he had the same strategy, he played high balls to Zeb Bh, too many times. didnt work, lost
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
he had the same strategy, he played high balls to Zeb Bh, too many times. didnt work, lost
But Nadal's crosscourt backhand does not kick up nearly as high as his crosscourt forehand does. His hits his backhand much flatter than his forehand.
 
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Doubles

Legend
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.

Lol, okay.
 

FedMex

Rookie
Saw Zeballos play in Houston at the Clay Court championships. His backhand is truly a thing of beauty. I was sitting on the side where I was observing it from his backside and it looked like Federer's best extended backhand, but every time he hit it, like a butter fly opening up it's wings. Amazing he is mostly a challenger level player. Maybe he gets to 2nd/3rd round in some Masters 500's this year.
 

axel89

Banned
Saw Zeballos play in Houston at the Clay Court championships. His backhand is truly a thing of beauty. I was sitting on the side where I was observing it from his backside and it looked like Federer's best extended backhand, but every time he hit it, like a butter fly opening up it's wings. Amazing he is mostly a challenger level player. Maybe he gets to 2nd/3rd round in some Masters 500's this year.

Rankedd in the 40 so yeah he will hopefully come out as 30 by end of clay court swing
 

Andres

G.O.A.T.
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.
Nonsense BP. He has lost 7 times in his career against a left-hander. 6 before that Zeballos match. Has over .900 against lefties.

Nonsense, and you know it ;)
 

Gonzo_style

Hall of Fame
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.

..............................
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Zeb should have gone to sao polo.

Nadal was nearly got broken by a guy whos ranking was twice lower than Zeb..170

you think puppet Alma can do it?
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Nonsense BP. He has lost 7 times in his career against a left-hander. 6 before that Zeballos match. Has over .900 against lefties.

Nonsense, and you know it ;)
Um....reread my post. How many of those left-handers had a one-handed backhand?
 
Nadal's only weapon against Federer is serving and hitting every forehand crosscourt to Federer's one-handed backhand. We saw today that when that one-handed backhand player plays left-handed, Nadal no longer has a strategy and no longer has a weapon that could hurt his opponent. And since Federer is a significantly better player than Zeballos (by like a million miles), it's not a stretch to say that Nadal would have nothing that could hurt a left-handed Federer enough to beat him.

Yeh, well if Nadal faces a lefty with a 1hbh, can't he just abuse the lefty's 1hbh by hitting inside out forehands all day to the backhand?

It''s not like a forehand can only be hit to the ad court - you can hit a forehand to the deuce court as well.
 

kishnabe

Talk Tennis Guru
Zeb should have gone to sao polo.

Nadal was nearly got broken by a guy whos ranking was twice lower than Zeb..170

you think puppet Alma can do it?

Zeballos lost the first round....he retired while winning the first set.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Yeh, well if Nadal faces a lefty with a 1hbh, can't he just abuse the lefty's 1hbh by hitting inside out forehands all day to the backhand?

It''s not like a forehand can only be hit to the ad court - you can hit a forehand to the deuce court as well.
Nadal's inside out forehand doesn't have nearly the same high-kicking topspin as his crosscourt forehand does. Besides, the crosscourt forehand is the safer, higher-percentage shot. That's why he didn't hit that many inside out forehands to Zaballos' backhand.
 

Gonzo_style

Hall of Fame
Nadal's inside out forehand doesn't have nearly the same high-kicking topspin as his crosscourt forehand does. Besides, the crosscourt forehand is the safer, higher-percentage shot. That's why he didn't hit that many inside out forehands to Zaballos' backhand.

healthy in form Nadal destroyed Zeballos in RG. Your logic is stupid
 
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