2018 Rome, R16 Nadal vs Shapovalov

  • Thread starter Deleted member 756514
  • Start date

So?

  • Routine win with bakery product(s) for Rafa

    Votes: 18 31.6%

  • Shapo shows some spark early on, only to taper off later

    Votes: 24 42.1%

  • Close 3 setter

    Votes: 4 7.0%

  • Shapo becomes the new prince of clay by beating Rafa

    Votes: 8 14.0%

  • Team Europe

    Votes: 4 7.0%

  • Team World

    Votes: 6 10.5%
  • Total voters
    57
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
I'm not going to subject myself to derision and hate comments by saying Shapo has a chance here. Oh heck I changed my mind, Shapo has a chance here. If he does win it will be because he goes all out for it and is totally on. I have so much faith I'm gonna put three dollars on Shapo on what should be good odds.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
Great Shapo quote on Rafa: "When i was growing up it was something i dreamed of doing, nowadays it's more about trying to avoid him in the draws, especially on clay. It's going to be a fun match. nothing to lose.".

Further: "There's nothing to lose, he's such a legend, on any surface but especially on clay. There's more pressure on him for sure, we are both playing really good. I've had a couple tough matches, I'm feeling it a bit."

The King of the North versus the King of Clay
 
D

Deleted member 756514

Guest
Sparlingo said:
active players with winning records vs. Rafael Nadal:

Novak Djokovic (26-24)
Dustin Brown (2-0)
Denis Shapovalov (1-0)
Click to expand...
Dustin Brown will be alone in the list by the end of the year.
 
Rosstour

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
This is a VERY dangerous match for Rafa.

Shapo is at the stage where he will lose to someone at his own level or below, but will go lights-out/'nothing to lose' against a better player.

If Shapo stays relaxed, and then starts to believe...Rafa could get blown out.
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Rosstour said:
This is a VERY dangerous match for Rafa.

Shapo is at the stage where he will lose to someone at his own level or below, but will go lights-out/'nothing to lose' against a better player.

If Shapo stays relaxed, and then starts to believe...Rafa could get blown out.
Click to expand...

Nah. I like Shapovalov a lot but I don't think he's ready to beat Nadal on clay. I'd be happy to be wrong though.
 
gogo

gogo

Legend
I don't think Rafa will lose this. He is MOTIVATED to win this match. I think he was too relaxed when he lost to Theim last week (perhaps reading his own press) and when he lost to Shapo last year (who is this young local kid? Who cares?). He will not make that mistake this time.

Shapo, by comparison, has nothing to lose and will go for broke. The only problem is that he has played too many long matches over the past week and a half.

Of course anything can happen, but Rafa has way more on the line than a match in the third round of Rome against a non-clay 19 yo guy, a non-top 10, would imply. And, of course, he is way more talented on clay. Unless he trips on his own ego, I just don't see him losing a set here, let alone many games.

Having said that....GO SHAPO!!
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
gogo said:
I don't think Rafa will lose this. He is MOTIVATED to win this match. I think he was too relaxed when he lost to Theim last week (perhaps reading his own press) and when he lost to Shapo last year (who is this young local kid? Who cares?). He will not make that mistake this time.

Shapo, by comparison, has nothing to lose and will go for broke. The only problem is that he has played too many long matches over the past week and a half.

Of course anything can happen, but Rafa has way more on the line than a match in the third round of Rome against a non-clay 19 yo guy, a non-top 10, would imply. And, of course, he is way more talented on clay. Unless he trips on his own ego, I just don't see him losing a set here, let alone many games.

Having said that....GO SHAPO!!
Click to expand...

A sound analysis.
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
gogo said:
I don't think Rafa will lose this. He is MOTIVATED to win this match. I think he was too relaxed when he lost to Theim last week (perhaps reading his own press) and when he lost to Shapo last year (who is this young local kid? Who cares?). He will not make that mistake this time.

Shapo, by comparison, has nothing to lose and will go for broke. The only problem is that he has played too many long matches over the past week and a half.

Of course anything can happen, but Rafa has way more on the line than a match in the third round of Rome against a non-clay 19 yo guy, a non-top 10, would imply. And, of course, he is way more talented on clay. Unless he trips on his own ego, I just don't see him losing a set here, let alone many games.

Having said that....GO SHAPO!!
Click to expand...
Agree with this.
 
gogo

gogo

Legend
Nadal 6-2 6-1.
(I just watched the replay of Shapo's match today and he was totally spent.)
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Shapo is used to being the next match after Venus and will patiently wait and recoup some energy during the eventual three-set drama from the women. Nadal will go off the boil while waiting and start off listless. Shapo in two, 6-2 7-6.
 
D

Deleted member 512391

Guest
Schrapnel vs Ned, very interesting matchup. Though I think Nadal will win, I wanna see how will Nadal approach this match, since he's playing lefty, who's much younger than him, a very good mover and who actually has a victory against him. Entertaining match in perspective.
 
M

merwy

G.O.A.T.
Rafa will beat him in two easy sets (6-3 6-2). Not because Shapo is bad but because Rafa will play ten times better than he did last week. Normal clay reign is resumed.
 
P

Pagoo

G.O.A.T.
Lol. Nadal will beat him worse than Zverev did last week. Nadal wants the number one ranking back and he wants to prove that last week was a fluke.

Good luck to Shapo!
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
Rosstour said:
This is a VERY dangerous match for Rafa.

Shapo is at the stage where he will lose to someone at his own level or below, but will go lights-out/'nothing to lose' against a better player.

If Shapo stays relaxed, and then starts to believe...Rafa could get blown out.
Click to expand...
LIke he went lights out vs Zverev in that 2nd set in Madrid?
 
Yoneyama

Yoneyama

Hall of Fame
Nadal should win easily, unless Shapo can figure out how to exploit the tight court to his advantage. Thiem's ultra wide ad side kick serves against Fognini was a good example.
 
U

ultradr

Legend
Abhinandan said:
Excited?
Click to expand...

Shapovalov reminds me of 90's playing style(minus volleys). Long loopy swing and attack from 1st strike. Definitely 90's when he tries to hit winners off 1st serve return.

So it's sort of remote reference point for what would be 90's tennis like against Nadal.

On clay, it's not going to work.
But ironically, maybe 90's 1st strike tennis might be one way to beat the absolute clay GOAT, sometimes, not always but sometimes.
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 756514

Guest
ultradr said:
Shapovalov reminds me of 90's playing style(minus volleys). Long loopy swing and attack from 1st strike. Definitely 90's when he tries to hit winners off 1st serve return.

So it's sort of remote reference point for what would be 90's tennis like against Nadal.

On clay, it's not going to work.
But ironically, maybe 90's 1st strike tennis might be one way to beat the absolute clay GOAT, sometimes, not always but sometimes.
Click to expand...
We'll find out today
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Venus doing her best again to give Shapo extra rest before his match for the second day in a row. Gotta think she takes it to three like her match in Madrid vs Kontaveit.
 
marc45

marc45

G.O.A.T.
Bennis3037 said:
Nadal should win easily, unless Shapo can figure out how to exploit the tight court to his advantage. Thiem's ultra wide ad side kick serves against Fognini was a good example.
Click to expand...

he has to send Nadal into the boards

the play/serve is called "red roses right" :)
 
marc45

marc45

G.O.A.T.
ultradr said:
Shapovalov reminds me of 90's playing style(minus volleys). Long loopy swing and attack from 1st strike. Definitely 90's when he tries to hit winners off 1st serve return.

So it's sort of remote reference point for what would be 90's tennis like against Nadal.

On clay, it's not going to work.
But ironically, maybe 90's 1st strike tennis might be one way to beat the absolute clay GOAT, sometimes, not always but sometimes.
Click to expand...


he's the modern day LeConte
 
TennisFan3

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
If Nadal is losing to Shapalov at this stage, that should signal trouble for Rafa.

I would expect Nadal to be motivated and firing this tournament. I believe he should win the event. He has a point to prove, given his abysmal year so far (Except on clay) and the loss last week.

If Nadal does NOT win Rome, it doesn't mean that he won't win the French Open. However, the fact that his game is decline steeply and that he is aging, will be apparent.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
tumblr_p8vf11d0791xrqgt2o1_500.gif
 
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