Anyone else watching tennis channel classic of 2006 French open with Nadal -federer match and noticed that rafa's forehand and backhand were better then than they are now? Rafa was hitting his forehand and backhand with more aggression. He was flattening out both his forehand and backhand at times and was hitting his forehand with more angle. His tactics were clearly better as well. He wasn't 10 feet behind baseline and looping the ball back like he does play now on clay which is exhausting him. I think this is his biggest problem. It was quite striking the difference in play. This Rafa was much better and exciting to watch. No butt picking or nervous ticks. Just pure agression. Inside the court looking to attack. Movement was also better. The only things better nowadays are his serve and net game.
2006 Nadal forehand and backhand
- Thread starter PaceKing
- Start date
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Nadal forehand was primarily CC topspin shot till 2009. After that he consistently has improved technique of shot. In 2012 AO and FO, his IO forehands were huge. In 2012 injury break he took one step further improving it so that he can now hit DTL shot with ease in neutral rally but his CC forehand has lost the same topspin bite. Backhand is better now than 2006 but in 2009 it was very flat shot.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Than 2015? Yes. Than 2014? No.
NatF
Bionic Poster
Nadal of 2006 on clay was better than 2014. I don't think 2014 Nadal beats Federer in Rome and MC...
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I just don't agree with the everything part.
Charlemagne
Hall of Fame
He also moved better, had better anticipation and was more confident. His forehand now, often lands short on the baseline.
TommyA8X
Hall of Fame
Compared to today, so yes, 2015.:razz:
His 2006 clay game was better than anything from 2011 to 2015.
I agree with this 100%. Nadal/coria Rome final in 2005 was just incredible shot making from both players. Nadal was hitting more across his body flattening out his stroke. Too much buggy whip now landing short from too far behind baseline and can't play the angles which he is so good at with the buggy whip. His problems are not technical but tactical. He needs to get closer to baseline and he will win the French.
Similar threads
