2017 Monte Carlo Final - [4] Rafael Nadal vs [15] Albert Ramos-Vinolas

[Meles]

The Robbie Koenig Phenomena song feature the Bull and the Spanish pigeons.

Do do do do do de do do do do do do do do do
Phenomena
Do doo be-do-do
Phenomena
Do do-do do
Phenomena
Do doo de-do-do de-do-do de-do-do de-do-do-doodle do do do-doo do!

 

[Chanwan]

also, has the weather been relatively cool and heavy in MC this week? looks like it on the TV.

if so, i suspect that has also dampened Nadal's game some...

it has, 20 degrees yesterday (think that's mid 70's)

 

[Sereger]

Congrats, Rafa

 

[ADuck]

Why do you have to say that? Can't you celebrate without trying to create enemies in the process?

That would be assuming Nadal's haters aren't his enemies.

 

[La Grande]

Ramos is so skinny ,, this is Goffin skinny. how does he hit the ball so hard ??

Muscles don't seem to be the bees knees in Tennis. Timing and practice I guess. Plus the ball is pretty light.

 

[1HBH-DownTheLine]

Nice Mug win lol. Rafa won on clay. Surprise surprise. Congrats I guess on another MC title. I'll give him a real congrats if he wins the French.

 

[clayqueen]

 

[DRII]

Fantastic match. Glad I watched it

 

[K-H]

Congratulations Nadal on winning MC 500!!! Oh wait, this crap is 1000 level?

I can see why you were confused. Nadal made this look really easy. Don't worry, it's not you, Nadal has a habit of making it look easy on clay.

 

[La Grande]

It's just a crap tournament same as Shanghai and Bercy and has no business being on the same level as the other masters.

What makes a good tournament in your opinion? Which tournaments are not "crap"

 

[Meles]

I understand the Nadal fans coming out of the woodwork because this is the first thing Nadal has won in what... a year? I'm sure Fed's domination of him in 2017 has been particularly searing for them. But let's put this into perspective: it's not that Nadal is playing so well, it's that the competition here sucks. Even 2016 Djoker would have easily beaten him and a healthy 2016 Murray would also have beaten this version of Nadal.

He's still hitting short, and a high level of confidence simply isn't there, nor should it be. He had his ass handed to him on a platter all year by someone 35 years old and will win MC playing nothing but chumps. Peak Nadal had no doubts. This older, compromised version of Nadal has doubts and should have.

All respect to Nadal for #10 here and for being clay GOAT forevermore. But his play is nowhere near his peak level and his body will not hold up to the grinding and his ridiculous clay schedule for the next 7 weeks. This will be exposed by other players as Nadal gets increasingly wiped out from overplaying.

Maybe, but hard call when the Bull not really pushed much by Mugalos who was absolutely horrible today.

I could take this match if the 2nd set had been the first and then we got more out of ARV in another set, but with today's first set this was a real atrocity and mug effort by ARV. Hard to tell much with this and Goffin travesty.

 

[Nostradamus]

Muscles don't seem to be the bees knees in Tennis. Timing and practice I guess. Plus the ball is pretty light.

Are you saying they were using lighter balls in Monte Carlo ? what kind of balls were they using this year ?

 

[Meles]

What makes a good tournament in your opinion? Which tournaments are not "crap"

Its not a bad call this year as a number of the better players out of this event for various reasons. The tournament was great in my mind except for this final.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

his 10th
Incredible epic scenes.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

What happened to the blonde lady?

 

[La Grande]

Are you saying they were using lighter balls in Monte Carlo ? what kind of balls were they using this year ?

Nah, just that tennis balls are pretty light in general.

 

[clayqueen]

Rafa's next target, a dozen titles in MC.

 

[Nostradamus]

Nah, just that tennis balls are pretty light in general.

don't think so dude... the other week ,, I got hit in the nutts and almost had to go to the hospital......man......

 

[Meles]

The poor mug can't even take it to 40.

Haha. I was just trying to add some excitement to the match which was ARV mugging and cramping for most of the match followed by Bull choking out what little game ARV brought after that. This was worse than the end of the Goffin match if that's possible.

 

[La Grande]

don't think so dude... the other week ,, I got hit in the nutts and almost had to go to the hospital......man......

LOOOOL if a conker hit you in the nuts, you would be rolling around on the floor in agony. But they are also very light. It's the speed they hit you which is the problem...

 

[DRII]

ARV's (or whatever yall call him) speech kinda like his game play today. LOL

but, seriously congrats to him...

 

[Rosstour]

Not gonna lie, I'm happy for him. I hope he wins the French, then sets up a Final matchup at Wimbledon and gets crushed by Fed.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

So first time in MC for him was in 2003 as qualifier reaching 3 round. How old? 16?

 

[Tiki-Taka]

Rafa has more titles in Monte Carlo than Ramos Vinolas has match wins.

 

[killerboi2]

10 m1000s in the same place is amazing to be fair. I mean normally m1000s don't matter but when you're putting up numbers like that they matter a little bit more.

 

[killerboi2]

Rafa has more titles in Monte Carlo than Ramos Vinolas has match wins.

Lmao i'm sure Ramos Vinolas has more than 10 wins in his time on tour. He's not that much of a mug.

 

[SLD76]

Meh


La Decima is not to be taken lightly

But it would have been nicer without controversy and.If some top players had made it a challenge

 

[Tiki-Taka]

Lmao i'm sure Ramos Vinolas has more than 10 wins in his time on tour.

No, three 2nd round appearances were his best results before this year.

 

[ForumMember]

Amazing Amazing feet. Same tournament 10 times. That is 10 years. Congrats.

 

[Gazelle]

Well done Rafa navigating through this tough 250 draw. Thiem would be proud.

 

[clayqueen]

Maybe, but hard call when the Bull not really pushed much by Mugalos who was absolutely horrible today.

I could take this match if the 2nd set had been the first and then we got more out of ARV in another set, but with today's first set this was a real atrocity and mug effort by ARV. Hard to tell much with this and Goffin travesty.

You are saying that Nadal rolled over Mugalos who beat the world #1.

 

[Dave1982]

Absolutely awesome effort & achievement by Nadal - 10 titles at any event s incredible, to do it at a M1000 event though - truly remarkeable!

What's even crazier is we have now have a repeat of 2006 in terms of first Slam winner & winners of first 3 M1000 events...not sure if trend will continue - anyone know what Robredo is paying to win Madrid (Hamburg)?

 

[ruerooo]

Muscles don't seem to be the bees knees in Tennis. Timing and practice I guess. Plus the ball is pretty light.

It's heavier when it's overcast and damp ...

 

[clayqueen]

Well done Rafa navigating through this tough 250 draw. Thiem would be proud.

A 250 draw including the world's top 3 who couldn't win 3 matches in a row?

 

[ruerooo]

So first time in MC for him was in 2003 as qualifier reaching 3 round. How old? 16?

Yes.

He beat Alberta Costa, who was the reigning RG champion.

 

[Chanwan]

Yes.

He beat Alberta Costa, who was the reigning RG champion.

first message to the world that here was a special talent iirc.

 

[marc45]

Absolutely awesome effort & achievement by Nadal - 10 titles at any event s incredible, to do it at a M1000 event though - truly remarkeable!

What's even crazier is we have now have a repeat of 2006 in terms of first Slam winner & winners of first 3 M1000 events...not sure if trend will continue - anyone know what Robredo is paying to win Madrid (Hamburg)?

"What's even crazier is we have now have a repeat of 2006 in terms of first Slam winner & winners of first 3 M1000 events"

that is crazy

 

[JRAJ1988]

I hope Nadal wins the French Open for one last time, if Flat backhand Federer isn't playing Nadal injury free could do the job.

 

[Charleneriva]

So first time in MC for him was in 2003 as qualifier reaching 3 round. How old? 16?

First Masters. 16yrs old. First win over a top ten player, 4th seed Albert Costa, then reigning FO champion. Went out to Coria in the third round, who then lost to Ferrero in the final.

Thought this was common knowledge?

 

[DreddyTennis45]

V happy for Rafa but it was another cupcake draw like Miami.

 

[KINGROGER]

What makes a good tournament in your opinion? Which tournaments are not "crap"

IW
Miami (don't like conditions or speed though)
Madrid
Rome
Canada
Cincy

Honestly the rest I would demote to 500 if I could reshape the tour. Promote Queens and Hamburg.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Absolutely awesome effort & achievement by Nadal - 10 titles at any event s incredible, to do it at a M1000 event though - truly remarkeable!

What's even crazier is we have now have a repeat of 2006 in terms of first Slam winner & winners of first 3 M1000 events...not sure if trend will continue - anyone know what Robredo is paying to win Madrid (Hamburg)?

The Monte Carlo Center court should also be named after Rafa.

 

[clayqueen]

Rafa haters

 

[Gary Duane]

it has, 20 degrees yesterday (think that's mid 70's)

Are you sure it was that hot? Nadal hardly broke a sweat, and even this week I've seen sweat pouring off his nose. You don't put on warm clothing when the temperature is 75F.

 

[clayqueen]

The Monte Carlo Center court should also be named after Rafa.

Or the tournament should be named after him because they don't envy the Spaniards as the French do.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Well done Rafa.

The records this guy is setting on clay will probably stand the longest.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Or the tournament should be named after him because they don't envy the Spaniards as the French do.

The Monte Carlo venue is held in France though

 

[ruerooo]

Are you sure it was that hot? Nadal hardly broke a sweat, and even this week I've seen sweat pouring off his nose. You don't put on warm clothing when the temperature is 75F.

It was overcast

 

[ruerooo]

Or the tournament should be named after him because they don't envy the Spaniards as the French do.

LOL.

They're going to name the Center Court after him at Barcelona

http://www.lavanguardia.com/deporte...-barcelona-rafa-nadal-pista-central-godo.html

 

[cc0509]

I understand the Nadal fans coming out of the woodwork because this is the first thing Nadal has won in what... a year? I'm sure Fed's domination of him in 2017 has been particularly searing for them. But let's put this into perspective: it's not that Nadal is playing so well, it's that the competition here sucks. Even 2016 Djoker would have easily beaten him and a healthy 2016 Murray would also have beaten this version of Nadal.

He's still hitting short, and a high level of confidence simply isn't there, nor should it be. He had his ass handed to him on a platter all year by someone 35 years old and will win MC playing nothing but chumps. Peak Nadal had no doubts. This older, compromised version of Nadal has doubts and should have.

All respect to Nadal for #10 here and for being clay GOAT forevermore. But his play is nowhere near his peak level and his body will not hold up to the grinding and his ridiculous clay schedule for the next 7 weeks. This will be exposed by other players as Nadal gets increasingly wiped out from overplaying.

Of course his play is nowhere near peak level but it doesn't have to be for him to win clay titles as the clay competition is woeful.

As for him being exposed by other players in the next 7 weeks and him getting wiped out from overplaying, good luck with that prediction. Nadal looked extremely solid at the FO last year before he was forced to withdraw with an injury. He puts everything into this part of the clay season and there's no question he will go all out again this year and now he has some confidence winning the MC title after making so many finals in 2017 and coming up short.

I said I would give myself time to see how all players looked on clay before I was confident with a FO prediction but I may have seen enough. Who is going to beat Nadal at the FO in best of five? Thiem? Kyrgios may be a contender but outlasting Nadal in best of five on clay? Doubtful. Wawrinka? I doubt it. Murray? Nope,can't see it. Then we come to Djokovic and unless he improves his clay court game tremendously (which I admit is possible), it's tough to see how he'll stop Nadal at the FO. A couple more clay warm-ups should tell the story to see where Djokovic is at in comparison to Nadal. As for Federer beating Nadal in best of five at the FO, he may have a better shot than any player these days but I don't think he will be able to do it, that is if he decides to play the FO at all.

So for me as of right this minute(which is open to change as the clay season progresses), Nadal is the favorite to win the FO. You need to be careful making such absolute statements such as Nadal will never win another slam or he will never win another FO and I believe you said both. It may come back to haunt you.