Nadalgaenger
G.O.A.T.
Useless against Murray, whom
he beat last week? Useless against Fed, whom he has a winning record against? Useless against Nadal, whom he beat in a clay final last year?
I'm not saying he will win but he has a chance.
2017 Madrid Open Final - [4] Nadal vs [8] Thiem
he beat last week? Useless against Fed, whom he has a winning record against? Useless against Nadal, whom he beat in a clay final last year?
I'm not saying he will win but he has a chance.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
I think Thiem will probably get more games than Djokovic did today. I'm going to guess Thiem will get about 8 games or so.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Nadal better slay 
Nadalgaenger
G.O.A.T.
Thiem will throw the kitchen sink at Rafa in the first set. Watch out!
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
+1.
Lord Anomander
Professional
I voted Nadal in 3 and I hope we get to see one or two very competitive sets. I think Thiem has it in him to take one set from Nadal, but it will be really difficult. Still easier here in Madrid than in MC, Rome or RG.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
If Nadal is red hot, he wins in two. But if he is off a little, and Thiem redlines, it could be interesting.
I think he'll do better than Novak, and he certainly is a lot more dangerous than Foggy. Everyone has an off day. Nadal can't win forever.
It's a win/win for tennis. If Nadal wins, he's undefeated and will have one of his best years in terms of winning matches, even if he does not get RG.
If somehow Thiem wins it would shut up a lot of people with big mouths and small brains.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
Rooting for Nadal, but if SOMEONE has to beat him, I would love that person to be Thiem, because then finally we would have someone young winning a M1000...Nadal better slay
Lord Anomander
Professional
To be fair, I have criticized Thiem quite a lot lately, especially on hard court. But not because, I think he is pathetic, but because I know he has great potential and due to stupid shot selection underperformed. However, on clay he found the confidence he obviously needs to go for his shots without committing a ton of UE. I believe he can do much better on HC than what he showed so far, but his clay court season is phenomenal. At RG he only has to watch out for Goffin and Nadal, these two are his greatest threats in my opinion.
Hitman's Gurl
Professional
Rafa to win very easily.
No one is close to him. I think David Goffin is second best on clay this year and even he lost in straight to the KOC.
No one is close to him. I think David Goffin is second best on clay this year and even he lost in straight to the KOC.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
The current view is that no one can be a great player without being great on all surfaces, but that was not always the case. Nadal started out as a great clay court player, and I don't think most people ever expected him to have amazing results on grass and HCs.
Thiem at this moment looks to me like a clay specialist. I have to admit I don't see why he can't adapt his game to faster surfaces with that big serve, but he loves to wind up with huge swings from way behind the baseline...
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
Thiem's offensive game should work on fast surfaces as he should be able to hit through anybody. Just needs to flatten out the forehand a bit more with control, and transition into net well.
It's his defensive game I have doubts about. Thiem doesn't do great when he's getting rushed. Fast courts are made for rushing opponents.
It's his defensive game I have doubts about. Thiem doesn't do great when he's getting rushed. Fast courts are made for rushing opponents.
Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
Thiem's won titles on all surfaces, so he's a good player overall, but specialises on clay.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Except for these surfaces are not what one expects of them. At least one born in the previous millennium.
acintya
Legend
.u are little underestimating him
TheMusicLover
G.O.A.T.
Nadal in straights. Thiem to win more games than Djok, but less than Goffin.
... and may the winner find good use for that goddamnugly trophy.
... and may the winner find good use for that goddamnugly trophy.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A horny GF??? Oh wait, we're talking Rafa.Nadal in straights. Thiem to win more games than Djok, but less than Goffin.
... and may the winner find good use for that goddamnugly trophy.
TheMusicLover
G.O.A.T.
A horny GF??? Oh wait, we're talking Rafa.
Yeah, I admit, that thing puts ideas in my mind... and not so pleasant ones.
kandamrgam
Hall of Fame
Would like to see Nadal ending up winning the most titles at the third clay masters event as well. Right now Fed leads the Hamburg-Madrid combo with 6 wins. Nadal is at 4
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Charleneriva
Hall of Fame
Lol. I actually like it
. It's a meaningful and edgy design and fitting very well with La Caja Mágica - the "different" and modern theme overall. I also like how the champions lift it, quite elegantly to me.Just think that they should give them a gold-plated replica rather than a silver one, as like the Wimbledon trophy, a silver version wouldn't look anywhere near "authentic" and impressive as the original gold one, and I normally prefer silver to gold.
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6
6-3 6-0
Guest
Nothing to take away from Rafa, but he won Madrid, the clay masters, 3 times. First when he won it in 2005, it was an indoor HC event which was replaced by Shanghai in later years. So technically he has already won ShanghaiWould like to see Nadal ending up winning the most titles at the third clay masters event as well. Right now Fed leads the Hamburg-Madrid combo with 6 wins. Nadal is at 4
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kandamrgam
Hall of Fame
I always maintained that. Some folks here see it differently.Nothing to take away from Rafa, but he won Madrid, the clay masters, 3 times. First when he won it in 2005, it was an indoor HC event which was replaced by Shanghai in later years. So technically he has already won Shanghai
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junior74
Bionic Poster
Dominator's biggest weapon, his kick serve, his go-to strategy which sets up a lot of free points for him, is not that big a weapon when facing Rafa.
Still, I do belive he takes a set. Thiem ran down everything against Cuevas, it was quite extraordinary. His level looks better than Novak's, he is playing with more depth, better variety - and at the moment, he even seems to move better
Confidence-strutting on-a-roll peak healthy Hairdal rooster in three.
Still, I do belive he takes a set. Thiem ran down everything against Cuevas, it was quite extraordinary. His level looks better than Novak's, he is playing with more depth, better variety - and at the moment, he even seems to move better
Confidence-strutting on-a-roll peak healthy Hairdal rooster in three.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
Nishikori lost to Nadal in the Rome final I think
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
I thought it was Rome?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
racquetreligion
Hall of Fame
Future episode Murder in Madrid, Pepe Imaz wont even need to spill the beans about
Nadals boat trip with him and Marco
stringertom
Bionic Poster
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
If Nadal is red hot, he wins in two. But if he is off a little, and Thiem redlines, it could be interesting.
I think he'll do better than Novak, and he certainly is a lot more dangerous than Foggy. Everyone has an off day. Nadal can't win forever.
It's a win/win for tennis. If Nadal wins, he's undefeated and will have one of his best years in terms of winning matches, even if he does not get RG.
If somehow Thiem wins it would shut up a lot of people with big mouths and small brains.
Nah, Nadal has to win the FO to make this one of his top years or his top year on clay. If he wins Barcelona, MC, Madrid and Rome without winning the FO it would seem like a big waste and I'm certain Nadal would agree with that. It's all about the slams for these greats like Nadal, Fed and Djokovic at this point. The tune-ups are just preparation.
As for Thiem, until he wins big events consistently, I don't care. If he wins Madrid beating Nadal it will be a very positive step in the right direction but he will need to do more than that and continue his winning onto other Masters 1000s and more importantly, the slams, i.e. in his case the FO.
Gazelle
G.O.A.T.
No, Madrid.
Berasategui94
Semi-Pro
Future episode Murder in Madrid, Pepe Imaz wont even need to spill the beans about
Nadals boat trip with him and Marco
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Agreed. The best example is 2009. Nadal won MC, Barca and Rome and reached the final of Madrid. But it was still Federer who was the best clay court player of the year IMO, because he won RG and aclay masters.
Winning RG is what matters.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
he just has to learn to take the ball earlier ala Wawrinka.
he's trying to do so more in matches.
Meles
Bionic Poster
Meles
Bionic Poster
So Djokovic as reigning RG champ is the best, no?
ForumMember
Hall of Fame
any streaming link pls
TheGhostOfAgassi
Talk Tennis Guru
Number 2 and 3 in the race on court!
JohnnyMac Fan!
Legend
I don't usually like when Rafa start on serve, as many times he is slow to get rhythm and prone to get broken. Lets see how it goes
JohnnyMac Fan!
Legend
Number 1 and number 3
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