2020 ATP Finals SF: Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev

[aman92]

Nadal's volleys are really outrageous... Just so much better than anyone in the next gen

 

[Yugram]

If someone told you in 2007 that Nadal will win by Serve&Volleying his way on all the big points, would you believe him?

GOAT of variety.

 

[BeatlesFan]

That's the difference between an ATG and next gen: Rafa can't buy a first serve in the first set, is down multiple BP's, looks like Med will steamroll, but Rafa still wins the set.

These younger dudes just don't have any mental strength, Bizarre and utterly pathetic.

 

[Standaa]

Nadal just can't serve for sets/matches these days.

how come he just did?

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Haha. What a way to win set point. Such variety.
So, I said 6-3, 6-4. But I'm not confident.

 

[Gazelle]

Funny how Nadal losing his RR match against Thiem will actually make him win this tournament.

 

[mike danny]

Med has nothing to hurt Nadal with.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Mean muggin RAFA is best RAFA

 

[Yugram]

And the MOST ABSURD OUTCOME OF 1ST SET goes to...

Nadal.

Exposed again.

 

[Hitman]

Medvedev at the change of ends after losing the first set despite serving like a God and GOATing for most the set.

 

[Red Rick]

Ned with some good tactical play today.

You mean the 'roleplay like it's 90s grass'?

 

[NoleFam]

Creidt to Nadal for recovering from his slow start. Made Medvedev look like an amateur at the end of that. Will Mad Lad respond?

 

[MeatTornado]

How dare you.

I can decide based on 2 points.

I'm more of a warm-ups man myself.

 

[Daniel Andrade]

Man Medvedev was playing só well
This feels unfair...

But this is tennis, serve by serve game.

 

[weakera]

Great set of tennis from Nadal. Wouldn't give Medvedev backhand any pace to redirect, great use of the slice, waited for his opportunity on return.

GOAT!

 

[UnderratedSlam]

For all the comparisons to Novak, Med is nowhere NEAR as mentally strong as Novak.

Nobody is.

 

[TennisFan3]

For all the comparisons to Novak, Med is nowhere NEAR as mentally strong as Novak.

There is no "current" ATP player that is as strong mentally as Novak. And yes that includes Federer and Nadal.
Only Pete Sampras is of the same mental strength IMO.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nadal's volleys are really outrageous... Just so much better than anyone in the next gen

It's great to see Rafa know he can't grind forever. He's volleying beautifully today, but also predictably. Almost all of his volleys are drop volleys, but it's effective against Med.

 

[Carax]

UNPOPULAR OPINION:

Medvedev is playing well, but nothing special. Once his first serve % drops, he loses.

Amazing

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Robbie has to talk tennis now.
I like him and Petch being separated. It's like when the naughty kids at school get split up and the class can get on with work.

 

[MeatTornado]

For all the comparisons to Novak, Med is nowhere NEAR as mentally strong as Novak.

.....duh?

 

[Red Rick]

I'm more of a warm-ups man myself.

"I was clearly the better player. Then the match started"

~Robin Haase about playing Nadal at Roland Garros.

 

[ADuck]

How did Nadal win that set with such a horrid 1st serve? Hahaha

 

[PilotPete]

It's bestof3 not bestof1.

I'm not saying Nadal has won this. But based on what is Medy GOATING and Nadal playing horribly if he just won the set 6-3? You'd have to be an idiot to claim such hyperbole.

 

[TheNachoMan]

.....duh?

You’d think but there’s quite a few comparisons to 2011 Novak...lol

 

[Daniel Andrade]

Yeah Medvedev served like 16 1st serves in a row. But lost all his second serves lol

 

[StrongRule]

Surprise, Nadal managed to serve it out this time. Sudden turnaround in this set, Med was the much better player for the first 7 games. But it's not over yet. We'll see how Nadal plays now. Anyway, it is better to lose to Med than to lose AGAIN to Thiem.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Slice backhands that land low and short are Meds kryptonite.

 

[Opendaroof]

I predicted Nadal in 2. So far so good.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Med has nothing to hurt Nadal with.

I recommend calling him names. Fearhands and Beckhands may break bones, but words can hurt forever

 

[Amritia]

Someone call 911

Just witnessed a robbery.

 

[Mainad]

Nadal now looking the favourite to win this. Medvedev has to come out swinging in the 2nd set and start pushing Rafa off the court like he has done with other opponents. If he can't do it, he's toast.

 

[Leandro2045]

Extremely predictable set of tennis.

The fact that people here were hyping Daniil when he was winning games when serving at 100% tells you everything.

 

[MeatTornado]

how come he just did?

If you ignore the wins, he loses every match.

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

There's no way clay, octo and michael aren't active right now. They must be in some private chat.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[mike danny]

And now Nadal will play a tired Thiem in the final. I have no idea how things work out for Nadal so well.

 

[Rickenbacker4003]

You see how Nadal’s game troubles Med so much. The heavy spin, the lefty angles. His inside out forehand. It ruins Meds rhythm and his comfort zone. Joker hits the ball flatter and seemingly with less action . Sort of hits into Meds strike zone. The matchup favors Rafa. Indoors, outdoor hardcourt and I could only imagine clay.

 

[Nadal_King]

Really good tactical tennis from Rafa

 

[UnderratedSlam]

I'm not saying Nadal has won this. But based on what is Medy GOATING and Nadal playing horribly if he just won the set 6-3? You'd have to be an idiot to claim such hyperbole.

Nadal isn't playing horribly.

Unless you're saying you hate his playing style?

 

[BeatlesFan]

First set first serve stats:

Med: 88%
Rafa: 42%

 

[tudwell]

I know, it's a joke. He's a cheater but cheaters only get away with it because noone calls them out and noone is calling him out. Where is the shot-clock? Why is nothing being done? It makes me so fustrated when you see other players get called out because they go slightly over meanwhilst Nadal goes on holiday between points and they say NOTHING.

They’ll give him a warning when he’s serving for the match, but it won’t matter because it’ll be over two minutes later.

 

[StrongRule]

Meddy is just as good of a returner as Tsitsipas.

He broke Djokovic 3 times in this tournament. For comparison, Thiem did once.

 

[romeo8880]

Excellent live bet on Medvedev

 

[Sudacafan]

All of a sudden my thoughts of Med having the upper hand for this match, just vanished.

 

[Hitman]

Have that feeling this is Rafa's title, even a GOATing Med cannot stop a poor serving Rafa.

 

[MeatTornado]

You’d think but there’s quite a few comparisons to 2011 Novak...lol

2011 Novak?

Please show me one.

 

[TheNachoMan]

There's no way clay, octo and michael aren't active right now. They must be in some private chat.

Secret society that includes VAMOSing and chicken wings

count me in

 

[Rickenbacker4003]

And now Nadal will play a tired Thiem in the final. I have no idea how things work out for Nadal so well.

It didn’t work out for him until now. So I don’t know where you’re coming from with that.

 

[The_Order]

Nadal definitely capitalised on his chances better there.

Commentators keep harping on about how Med is missing more shots today than vs Djokovic...

Reasons are obvious, the slices are forcing Med to generate his own pace and deal with spin...

Nadal only 42% 1st serves still didn't get broken.

Med will show his mental strength here... he can't really serve better than he did in the 1st set whilst Nadal has a lot of room for improvement in that department.