2015 BNP Paribas Open / Indian Wells (R4) - Rafael Nadal vs Gilles Simon

[eliars]

When you're playing someone who's just not up for it it's natural to play well and be more confident with more margin for error. That's why it's hard to gauge their performances when it's not competitive. It's the same when Fed opened against Schwartzman, who had zero weapons and it was lop-sided. Without the extra pressure from the other side players can relax more or play with more freedom.

But I don't think people realize how hard it is to time the ball that Nadal gives you on a reactive and bouncy surface such as IW. Add to that it's a windy day. Has a lot to do with Simon making all these errors.

Federer is excellent at looking excellent vs. players outside top20. It's different with Nadal. Nadal often plays his best when playing against people inside top20.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Apparently Simon did use to work out his legs!

Wonder what happened.

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

Berdych lost 17 straight matches and managed to beat Nadal in AO...

Shhhhh don't make tennis_commentator cry :twisted:

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Nadal is the J.S.Bach of Tennis.

Therefore, he can't be FINNISH.

Sorry guys.

 

[eliars]

So knew that ball was in.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Apparently Simon did use to work out his legs!

Wonder what happened.

Looks like he's had a bunch of saline injections.

And don't Google that. There are some things you don't want to watch.

 

[TommyA8X]

Lol

As expected... A mistake from the line judge

 

[The Green Mile]

Triple match point.

 

[ultradr]

i may pick raonic in next match.

 

[TheMusicLover]

Shhhhh don't make tennis_commentator cry :twisted:

The bloke already lost his house, don't make it any worse...

 

[Rock Strongo]

Shhhhh don't make tennis_commentator cry :twisted:

At least he went quiet almost immediately after Berdych took the first set

 

[Shangri La]

Good challenge Simon lol.

 

[The Green Mile]

Rafa wins 6/2 6/4. Played solid tennis throughout and a definite improvement from his match with Young. A little trouble serving it out, but did it in the end. A shame about Simon, UE machine and bad serving day from him. Wanted to see more from him, but alas...

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Simon got screwed by that line call.

 

[RF-18]

Sad to see what these courts have come to. Some of those shots should not be possible to return. Painfully slow.

Oh well, time for Rogi! Finally

 

[Mustard]

Another Nadal victory. A lot more convincing this time, although a bit nervy in closing it out

 

[JRAJ1988]

Thank the mighty tennis Gods for that.

Roll on Federer. Nadal gracious with Simon saying "Good luck in Miami" maybe he's referring to the Miami night life?

 

[tennis_commentator]

Berdych lost 17 straight matches and managed to beat Nadal in AO...

Really?.....Even Nadal said he only had a chance of winning 1 or 2 matches at the AO.
The fact he made the QF was an unexpected bonus in his comeback.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Simon got screwed by that line call.

Don't worry mate, Nadal has Raonic next. There's no chance that Nadal will cross that hurdle. I do hope you agree.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Really?.....Even Nadal said he only had a chance of winning 1 or 2 matches at the AO.
The fact he made the QF was an unexpected bonus in his comeback.

Yet you bet your life savings on this unexpected bonus. Congratulations.

 

[clayqueen]

Slowly but surely the real Rafa is on his way.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Don't worry mate, Nadal has Raonic next. There's no chance that Nadal will cross that hurdle. I do hope you agree.

The Montenegrin giant will slap Nadal around. Make no mistake... with his wimpy serve, 6' will have never felt so small.

 

[gut wax]

http://youtu.be/ci6YPGQedr0

 

[tennis_commentator]

The Montenegrin giant will slap Nadal around. Make no mistake... with his wimpy serve, 6' will have never felt so small.

Raonic is a laughing stock when he plays Nadal.
Most lopsided match-up on tour.

 

[Mkflag1]

Nadal-Raonic is the most lopsided match-up on tour.
Raonic has held serve for ONE set, that is all :lol:

What is your prediction? Is this one going to be lopsided?

 

[CrazyTennisFan]

The Montenegrin giant will slap Nadal around. Make no mistake... with his wimpy serve, 6' will have never felt so small.

Sorry he is Canadian!!!

 

[Backspin1183]

The Montenegrin giant will slap Nadal around. Make no mistake... with his wimpy serve, 6' will have never felt so small.

That's right. No need to be so frightened yet. One more hurdle before he can destroy Rogi again.
So, cheers mate

 

[TommyA8X]

Really?.....Even Nadal said he only had a chance of winning 1 or 2 matches at the AO.
The fact he made the QF was an unexpected bonus in his comeback.

Blah blah blah...

Berdych beat Nadal after 17 straight loses, end of story. It's not impossible to imagine Raonic beating him. ( he "only" trails 4-0 and Nadal isn't in magnificent form).

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Sorry he is Canadian!!!

He was born in Montenegro. Ergo he's Montenegrin.

 

[tennis_commentator]

What is your prediction? Is this one going to be lopsided?

Yeah, because its Raonic.
Nadal in 2.

 

[eliars]

The Montenegrin giant will slap Nadal around. Make no mistake... with his wimpy serve, 6' will have never felt so small.

I agree. Given Nadal's terrible record vs big servers like Raonic, Karlovic and Isner he's doomed tomorrow.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Yet you bet your life savings on this unexpected bonus. Congratulations.

By life savings, you mean his weekly allowance?

 

[tennis_commentator]

Blah blah blah...

Berdych beat Nadal after 17 straight loses, end of story. It's not impossible to imagine Raonic beating him. ( he "only" trails 4-0 and Nadal isn't in magnificent form).

Nadal was in his COMEBACK EVENT at the AO (only played one match at Doha).
In 2013, Nadal lost his COMEBACK EVENT on clay to the world #73 :lol:

 

[Deleted member 77403]

That's right. No need to be so frightened yet. One more hurdle before he can destroy Rogi again.
So, cheers mate

LOL!

10 char

 

[WhiskeyEE]

I agree. Given Nadal's terrible record vs big servers like Raonic, Karlovic and Isner he's doomed tomorrow.

When was the last time Nadal beat a top 10 player?

 

[Rock Strongo]

Nadal was in his COMEBACK EVENT at the AO (only played one match at Doha).
In 2013, Nadal lost his COMEBACK EVENT on clay to the world #73 :lol:

In 2006, Nadal in full force lost to the world #691.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Nadal was in his COMEBACK EVENT at the AO (only played one match at Doha).
In 2013, Nadal lost his COMEBACK EVENT on clay to the world #73 :lol:

Did you bet your life savings then too?

 

[CrazyTennisFan]

He was born in Montenegro. Ergo he's Montenegrin.

Moved to canada @ 4 y/o trained through Canadian funding and wears the maple leaf for DC...

 

[CrazyTennisFan]

Deleted post

 

[Deleted member 77403]

When was the last time Nadal beat a top 10 player?

FO 2014. Djokovic. The next time he played a top ten player, I believe he lost ten games in a row.

 

[CrazyTennisFan]

And speaks better English than Montenegrin

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Moved to canada @ 4 y/o trained through Canadian funding and wears the maple leaf for DC...

I'm Canadian. I have more say on who is Canadian than some alligator eater from Florida.

 

[eliars]

When was the last time Nadal beat a top 10 player?

How many top 10 players have Nadal played since post Wimbledon last year?

 

[RF-18]

He was born in Montenegro. Ergo he's Montenegrin.

He is not fully montenegrin. They guy was raised in Canadia and their culture. I think he sees himself as Canadian, otherwise he wouldn't play for them. You can say he is both Canadian and Montenegrin, half half.

 

[Rock Strongo]

I'm Canadian. I have more say on who is Canadian than some alligator eater from Florida.

You seem too salty to be Canadian...

 

[Sirius Black]

Apparently Simon did use to work out his legs!

Wonder what happened.

This was before his cut.

 

[Gary Duane]

Don't worry mate, Nadal has Raonic next. There's no chance that Nadal will cross that hurdle. I do hope you agree.

I don't agree at all. I've seen Nadal do this before. It's not 2013, but Rafa does everything the hard way. I don't see him getting through Fed and Novak, but I think he can take care of Raonic. All he has to do is hammer his backhand, which he can do by driving to his forehand, wide.

Biggest weakness right now is his serve timing. He's now trying to do his twitchy face-butt thing while bouncing the ball with his racket, then limit the hand-bounce to about 4 bounces. This is cutting down on time, but it's throwing his OCD into semi-panic. It will take him months to develop a new routine and get OK with it.

 

[ultradr]

When was the last time Nadal beat a top 10 player?

#2 Djokovic at RG. Also beat #5 and #8 in its way.

Outside clay since 2014 AO, only top 10 player he beat was #7 Berdych at Miami.
He has not beaten any other top 10 player since 2014 AO.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

You seem too salty to be Canadian...

The stereotype that we are peaceful confrontation avoiding nancies is untrue. Actually Americans are friendlier in my experience, although I'm sure the difference is negligible.

 

[Sirius Black]

I'm Canadian. I have more say on who is Canadian than some alligator eater from Florida.

By that logic I am an anthropologist since I'm a mammal.