2017 French Open FINAL: [3] Stan Wawrinka vs. [4] Rafael Nadal

[Krish872007]

Perhaps the Grand Final that we were expecting in a way. The Stanimal coming up against an utterly dominant King of Clay.

Stanimal looking to stay perfect in Slam Finals, Nadal oh so close to La Decima, the crowing achievement of a phenomenal clay CV.

Who prevails in the final stage of this quest?

(Please note: the other match threads were made before the SF officially finished).

 

[H_Richardson]

Nadal in 4. He's on a mission and won't be stopped, even by the Stanimal.

 

[Adv. Edberg]

Gonna have to go with Wawrinka here. He simply played better today than Nadal.

 

[Krish872007]

The most number of games Rafa has dropped in a single match so far is 8. Against Robin Haase.

He's only dropped 29 games in the entire tournament.

 

[TheAssassin]

Three threads so far.

 

[icedevil0289]

poll should be changed to how many games will stan win. sigh at the lack of challengers at this slam in contrast to others

 

[Krish872007]

poll should be changed to how many games will stan win. sigh at the lack of challengers at this slam in contrast to others

Was considering that, but it's important to show respect to the opponent in case the unthinkable happens.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

the hyper rational Rafa vs the pragmatic stan or the unbelievable Stanimal?

Stanimal dictates, Rafa no answer for that... nobody has.

That said nobody has beaten Rafa in a French Open final


Dream final

 

[icedevil0289]

Was considering that, but it's important to show respect to the opponent in case the unthinkable happens.

its fine, that is still me being bitter/petty. respect to nadal.

 

[-NN-]

Nadal to snap that perfect Wawrinka Slam final record while maintaining his own perfect finals record at RG. Stan will make a game of it but will be outclassed.

btw.. GREAT final match-up. Many of us have wondered about Wawrinka-Nadal in a RG final, and now we'll get some answers. This is Peakdal though, so while I'd give Stan a chance against a couple of past iterations of Nadal at RG that weren't so dominant, I can't see a chance for him against '17Dal.

 

[Krish872007]

Regarding games won, Bjorn Borg dropped 32 games in his 1978 French Open run. So if Rafa is to make this the most dominant Slam run ever, he would need to lose less than 3 games - probably asking for too much even from him!

 

[cc0509]

How many threads do we need?

Nadal in straights.

 

[Adv. Edberg]

poll should be changed to how many games will stan win. sigh at the lack of challengers at this slam in contrast to others

I think Stan can take this in 4 tbh. He's able to change his game accordingly unlike Thiem.

 

[gn]

Stan has been there and done that in the finals. He knows what he should do to win. Stan can beat him and he will beat him in 4 sets.
Nadal has not been tested thus far. He will feel the pressure when things gets tight. The result depends on whether Stan capitalizes on that or not.

 

[icedevil0289]

I think Stan can take this in 4 tbh. He's able to change his game accordingly unlike Thiem.

oh lord give it a rest

 

[Krish872007]

I think Stan can take this in 4 tbh. He's able to change his game accordingly unlike Thiem.

You've been predicting that every one of Nadal's opponents will beat him.
The only time you'll actually say "yeah, I think Rafa will win" is after he ends up biting the trophy on Sunday

 

[icedevil0289]

people should not be referencing 2015, with a different opponent as to why stan would win this match

 

[-NN-]

Regarding games won, Bjorn Borg dropped 32 games in his 1978 French Open run. So if Rafa is to make this the most dominant Slam run ever, he would need to lose less than 3 games - probably asking for too much even from him!

He might surpass his own most dominant RG performance, however (was it 2008?).

 

[Krish872007]

^ Agree. Stan is a bigger underdog in this Final than he has been in any of his previous Finals, by a long way.

 

[Krish872007]

He might surpass his own most dominant RG performance, however (was it 2008?).

Yep. Lost 41 games there. So would need to win in straight sets and lose less than 12 games.

 

[Steve0904]

Stan will give his best, unlike Thiem, but it won't be enough. Nadal in 4.

 

[JoelSandwich]

Nadal in 5
Both playing great tennis and Rafa looking to remain perfect in French Open finals, while Stan is looking to remain perfect in Grand Slam finals.
Rafa has been playing well, but he hasn't really faced an opponent playing well yet, and Stan always gets up for Grand Slam finals.
Think this will be a classic with Stanimal pushing Rafa to the very limit, but Rafa ultimately proves that he's unbeatable at Roland Garros at his best. Rafa is also a bad match up for Wawrinka, which is why I think he'll ultimately prevail.
Wouldn't be surprised though if Wawrinka wins in four like 2015 or if Rafa curbstombs like 2008, but whatever happens just looking forward to a great match.

 

[cc0509]

Stan has been there and done that in the finals. He knows what he should do to win. Stan can beat him and he will beat him in 4 sets.
Nadal has not been tested thus far. He will feel the pressure when things gets tight. The result depends on whether Stan capitalizes on that or not.

Stop, I'm begging you!

 

[gn]

Stop, I'm begging you!

Oh! Come on! I have got couple of nights to sleep.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Nadal to snap that perfect Wawrinka Slam final record while maintaining his own perfect finals record at RG. Stan will make a game of it but will be outclassed.

btw.. GREAT final match-up. Many of us have wondered about Wawrinka-Nadal in a RG final, and now we'll get some answers. This is Peakdal though, so while I'd give Stan a chance against a couple of past iterations of Nadal at RG that weren't so dominant, I can't see a chance for him against '17Dal.

i dont think this is peak Nadal, i could be wrong but it seems like his opponents are self destructing


Stan has improved his return game... not many are talking about it but its important

 

[Krish872007]

Nadal in 5
Both playing great tennis and Rafa looking to remain perfect in French Open finals, while Stan is looking to remain perfect in Grand Slam finals.
Rafa has been playing well, but he hasn't really faced an opponent playing well yet, and Stan always gets up for Grand Slam finals.
Think this will be a classic with Stanimal pushing Rafa to the very limit, but Rafa ultimately proves that he's unbeatable at Roland Garros at his best. Rafa is also a bad match up for Wawrinka, which is why I think he'll ultimately prevail.
Wouldn't be surprised though if Wawrinka wins in four like 2015 or if Rafa curbstombs like 2008, but whatever happens just looking forward to a great match.

Would be fantastic if we got a 5 set match, really not feeling it at the moment. Unless Stanimal shows up right from the beginning and catches Rafa off guard by taking the first set.

 

[Sysyphus]

Sadly, hard to see anything but the Creature in three, four tops.

 

[Adv. Edberg]

oh lord give it a rest

You've been predicting that every one of Nadal's opponents will beat him.
The only time you'll actually say "yeah, I think Rafa will win" is after he ends up biting the trophy on Sunday

Yeah, true. I still think PCB could've been dangerous had they played in the bad weather without his injury.

But either way Stanimal is a different animal to Thiem and PCB. He's actually won here before. Nadal is the favourite of course but Stan can easily go all the way too.

 

[skip1969]

Does anyone know what time the final starts? Women's is at 9AM USA Eastern time. Just curious cos today's start time killed my *ss.

 

[Nostradamus]

Head to head really favors RAFA. but Stan is such an animal in the final. so does head to head even matter ?

 

[NoleFam]

I think it's going to be sunny on Sunday and the ball will be kicking up. It will be hard for Stan to redline and tee off on balls at shoulder height. This is a whole other ball game and this is Nadal on Chatrier. Nadal is the big favorite but I give Wawrinka a chance if he can somehow reign in that power and push Nadal back. Advantage Nadal though. It's hard to see anyone beating him on Chatrier this tournament. Nadal in four.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Nadal destroyed wawrinka back in 2013. I hope wawrinka plays a lot better than he did in that match

 

[Fed881981]

They split the last 6 matches. Nadal won the last two.

 

[cucio]

I think #2 ranking is also on the line, here.

Nadal looking way too comfortable, and pulling nasty Mr. T. faces whenever he misses an easy shot even if he is two points short of closing out a landslide match. The second best player of this clay season couldn't even make a contest out of it, although his relative inexperience at the big stage probably had something to do.

Looking ugly for The Man, but you never know, it is a slam after all.

 

[vanioMan]

Stan has been there and done that in the finals. He knows what he should do to win. Stan can beat him and he will beat him in 4 sets.
Nadal has not been tested thus far. He will feel the pressure when things gets tight. The result depends on whether Stan capitalizes on that or not.

No. If Rafa plays his best, he is unbeatable on PC. Just the way it is.

 

[mikeeeee]

For Stan, the only H2H that matters in slams is against Roger

 

[malbaker86]

Nadal in 3.

I'd be shocked if he lost a set.

Look, i LOVE Stanimal, but we've seen this before with Rafa on clay when he's on a revenge tour.

 

[mike danny]

I think Stan can take this in 4 tbh. He's able to change his game accordingly unlike Thiem.

Say what? He bashed until he left Murray without his legs. He didn't change anything. He played his usual bashing game until Murray got tired.

 

[-NN-]

No. If Rafa plays his best, he is unbeatable on PC. Just the way it is.

The only tiny chance I see is if Stan plays his best ever match and it's close at the end of sets and Rafa poos his pants a little because he hasn't won a Slam in 3 years. I do think if such a scenario occurs that Nadal may well have to fight off some of his own demons, but Stan will have to play like an almighty titan to reach such a stage and Nadal would probably have to not be quite at his very best at the same time... albeit even if he is, Stan can hit patches where any player ever would have to resist for a while and watch winners fly past them.

 

[mikeeeee]

Why does google say the match is to be played on Suzanne-Lenglen?

 

[icedevil0289]

No. If Rafa plays his best, he is unbeatable on PC. Just the way it is.

+1, dont like it but ia. doesnt mean he has to be injured to lose, he just has to have a majorly off day

 

[Gazelle]

Rafa in 3 as it seems nobody wants to put up a fight.

 

[NatF]

Nadal in 3 sets, doubt it goes 4.

 

[tennisaddict]

Nadal to lose the match in 5 sets, repeat of AO 17

 

[Krish872007]

Nadal in 3 sets, doubt it goes 4.

What are your thoughts on Rafa's form?

 

[heninfan99]

The most number of games Rafa has dropped in a single match so far is 8. Against Robin Haase.

He's only dropped 29 games in the entire tournament.

that's often a bad thing. a nice 5 set test usually helps

 

[Krish872007]

that's often a bad thing. a nice 5 set test usually helps

Well the last thing we need is another easy 3-setter. Hopefully Stan fires from the start and creates a great match.

 

[fednad]

Regardless of who wins, few things would happen with Celestial punctuality:
Naddullo will pick his butt like mad
Naddullo will arrange and rearrange the front locks to hide his balding head
Naddullo will delay between points to an extent that the umpire will start fidgeting in chair but...but...still won't be able to warn
Few new mushrooms from Mallorca massage parlour will raise heads there to attain troll-puberty.
If Nadal loses (and the probability is not very bad of that), those mushrooms will go back to parlour, few other older mushrooms will go into hibernation or commit suicide to re-appear under new user names.
Last but not the least ... Stan will beat the crap out of the fur of that tennis ball on Sunday. God save the tennis baalls that day !

 

[marc45]

the downplaying begins ...of course Stan said he didn't even watch the other semi...keep that pressure off, boys

Christopher Clarey‏ @christophclarey 4m4 minutes ago
"I think I don’t need more history. Nine is more than good" Nadal on how he views the historic opportunity to win his 10th French Open

1. Bill Simons‏ @BillSimons1 2m2 minutes ago
   #Nadal says he doesn't care that he's only lost a handful of games going into the final.
   
   #Nadal says Thiem started nervous. Had opportunities in 2nd and 3rd set.
2. 
   #Nadal says today's not moment to think bout a 10th RG. To get to the final of the most import event of my career means a lot.
3. 
   
   

 

[ZiggyStardust]

We gonna overlook Stan before a slam final again? When you're on the brink of history, he's always trying to crush you. I was so scared for Rogi this AO.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice.....