2018 Rogers Cup QF: Rafael Nadal vs Marin Cilic

[abmk]

Nadal really goes for the 2nd serve and misses.
4th SP Cilic

 

[I Am Finnish]

Cilic looking strong.

And will win Toronto

 

[The_Order]

Umpiring has sucked.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Opening for Nadal to get back in the match. At least in 2nd set.

Level kinda drop.

 

[MugOpponent]

Whoa Nadal bad or cilic good?

Both.

Because he probably won’t play like this now that there's pressure..

Cilic plays better as a dark horse. Underperformed heavily at Wimbledon this year when he was the 2nd favorite if not the favorite for the title.

True. I do wonder if he got to finish the Pella match on the same day if the whole tournament would have been drastically different. Doesn't excuse him losing but he certainly would have won that match.I guess we'll never know.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

@MugOpponent nt and @Rafa.the.Magnificent the only good Nadal fans watching in this thread? Where is everyone else?

This is like the final of Toronto.

Obligatory qualifier.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Cilic is in god mode right now.

Like in 2014 during the uso?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Come on, where is the customary Petchy pic to turn this into a five star thread?

Marin Cilic is taking his game right to the edge of the line tonight. Rafa Nadal is looking helpless at the moment.

 

[stringertom]

Who's that guy?

 

[abmk]

Cilic misses the FH on SP.
unreturnable from Nadal on next point.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

Toni's warming up the weather machine!

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Like in 2014 during the uso?

Maybe even a tad bit better.

We'll see if he can keep it up.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I wonder how much belief that AO win has given Cilic against Nadal.

If Cilic wins this match, he will still be the only player to have beaten Nadal on hardcourts this season.

 

[AndyM]

What a backhand return by chili he wants to spread stick with a bowl of chili

 

[The Green Mile]

Whoa Nadal bad or cilic good?

It's much more Cilic than Rafa, but Rafa does look a little rattled at this form Marin's showing, also too many 2nd serves....

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Marin Cilic is taking his game right to the edge of the line tonight. Rafa Nadal is looking helpless at the moment.

My night is complete.

 

[abmk]

Cilic crushes 2 2nd serves to get to SP.
saved by Nadal with serve+fh+volley

 

[AndyM]

Chili man makes the return and the dial doesn't even go for it

 

[West Coast Ace]

Cilic is beating up that 2nd serve like it’s a big eared, rented farm animal....

 

[Slightly D1]

Rafa using the wristbands instead of the towel to adapt to the shot clock.

 

[AndyM]

Nadal second serve to about what's 75 miles an hour

 

[NBP]

This is unreal man

 

[abmk]

good point that. Cilic really wants to break him to close the set, eh ?

deuce.

 

[The_Order]

Nadal really goes for the 2nd serve and misses.
4th SP Cilic

Cilic misses the FH on SP.
unreturnable from Nadal on next point.

Cilic crushes 2 2nd serves to get to SP.
saved by Nadal with serve+fh+volley

You know Nadal's losing when the commentator appears...

 

[AndyM]

What a cat-and-mouse

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

There are couple of good points.

 

[abmk]

woah ! what a point ! great dropper from Nadal. He holds.

5-2 Cilic.

 

[The Green Mile]

Rafa had to do so much to win that game, gutsy hold in the end, 11 minutes. Forces Marin to try and serve it out.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Brilliant from Nadal. Not ready to concede the set yet.

 

[clout]

Respect to Rafa for still fighting despite being down 1-5. Had this been Kyrgios, there's no doubt he would've tanked it long time ago

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Rafa not going down without a fight.

Cilic serving for the set.

 

[AndyM]

Chili better not choke you better serve this s*** out

 

[clout]

Let's see if Cilic can keep this up for another set. He sort of has a history of GOATing for a part of the match before coming back to earth

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I think Cilic knows that Nadal is the only real hurdle for him to overcome this week, with so many others falling off. No Del Potro, No Djokovic, No Zverev. Probably treating it as the final out of respect to Nadal, in theory all other matches will be easier.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Brilliant from Nadal. Not ready to concede the set yet.

Nadal learning from his idol.

Spoiler

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Lapse moment.

 

[FHtennisman]

This is up there with the best ball striking Cilic can offer.

Also, recently, like since Wimby, Nadal has had unreal touch on his dropshots, seems to get almost every one on a dime, exactly where he wants them.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Nadal learning from his idol.

Spoiler

Nadal is the John Cena of tennis.

 

[Fedeonic]

I'll be killed here for sure, but Cilic is one of the best volleyers on the tour.

 

[clout]

I think Cilic knows that Nadal is the only real hurdle for him to overcome this week, with so many others falling off. No Del Potro, No Djokovic, No Zverev. Probably treating it as the final out of respect to Nadal, in theory all other matches will be easier.

Not sure how Cilic plays when he's the favourite to win a tournament though. He seems to thrive in the underdog position more than being the fav, like against Rafa here and at the AO or at the 2014 USO against Fedr

 

[BeatlesFan]

I wonder how much belief that AO win has given Cilic against Nadal.

If Cilic wins this match, he will still be the only player to have beaten Nadal on hardcourts this season.

To be fair, Nadal has played less than 10 HC matches this entire year. I think it's about 7 total matches!?

 

[abmk]

good point that. Cilic finishes it off with a FH CC winner. 2 SPs.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Nadal is the John Cena of tennis.

Djokovic is CM Punk.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Nadal saw his Cincy draw.

 

[AndyM]

It's chilly man would beat

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I'll be killed here for sure, but Cilic is one of the best volleyers on the tour.

The Hitman does all the professionally killing around here, and I not killing you....you are an anime lover like myself. So don't worry.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Nadal learning from his idol.

Spoiler

I'm imagining Rafa Nadal cutting that promo. It's wonderful.

Tonight Broadway Joe is being played by Marin Cilic.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Superb from Marin.

 

[stringertom]

ESPN/TC to rename SpyderCam after that Nadal bump...crew will call it RosolCam from now on.

 

[AndyM]

This chilly man would destroy Peak fed

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I'll be killed here for sure, but Cilic is one of the best volleyers on the tour.

How can I kill a fellow weeb?