2020 Roland Garros QF: Rafael 'Rafaello' Nadal v. Jannik 'the unrepentant' Sinner

[MichaelNadal]

What a sexy FH

 

[Sabrina]

Nadal is finding his FH again, which is good to see.

 

[The Blond Blur]

RAFA just baptized that fearhand

 

[Daniel Andrade]

I was feeling 75/25 Nadal before the tournament up until yesterday - but it could really be 50/50 if Novak does well in his next couple of rounds. There are quite a few areas he could pose problems from what I can see.

I would have to agree with tennisfan.
Djoko hás the upper hand.

 

[racquetreligion]

Foolish to write off Diego. He just beat Thiem and straight setted Rafa in Rome. His belief and confidence that he can beat Rafa will be sky high.

Rafa will want revenge to show it was a fluke win, but Diego usually pushes Rafa hard, even if he ends up losing most of the time. Diego's game gives Rafa fits, but a combination of Rafa's relentlessness and Diego's lack of belief is why Rafa dominates their H2H so much. But the 2020 version of Diego has a real chance against Rafa on clay and at RG.

Thiem looked flat and way less aggressive preferring to slive and drop shot 60 % of shots
very rare play from someone who usually likes to dominate from start to finish

Diego after 5 hrs wont have the legs for Nadal, Ive seen Diego after 4 hours and was easy
pickings for the next match as he has to run and exert more than others.

TBH expected a 5 hour match from Hugo or Diego with Nadal waiting fresh.
Would have loved to seeing Dimitrov instead on Nads side of the draw.
Dimis defence into offence is more effective vs Nadals shots than Tsitsipas missiles.

 

[romeo8880]

Nadal looking 10 times better the last couple games

 

[Opendaroof]

This is a truly champion's mindset. Every shots like match point.
Nextgen? Jeez... sigh....

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Now we just need PCB to slay

Or this woman to show up! PCB on phone arranging her flight now

 

[TheNachoMan]

Oh well, still way better performance than Korda. At least Sinner put up a fight

 

[Yugram]

Nadal found his FH. Tournament is over.

 

[-NN-]

Some glimpses of vintage Nadal in the 3rd set.

 

[StrongRule]

@Krish0608 is just a pathetic troll.

 

[Nole14_15NoPressure]

Sinner doesn't have a first serve.

 

[Jonas78]

Lol come up with another abbreviation.

 

[Opendaroof]

Nadal looking 10 times better the last couple games

He just woke up and it will only get better.

 

[a10best]

it's so cold Nadal looks like he lost the tan in his face.

 

[Amritia]

Poor match but great finish! VAMOS

 

[Krish872007]

Forehand making a cameo appearance at the end

 

[Leandro2045]

The tournament is finally over. Rafa is in the Roland Garros Semifinals once again. (24-0)

Great match mentally for Rafa, still has not lost a single set.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Wanted a bagel, but will settle for a breadstick

 

[Krish0608]

Diego will be NO MATCH for Nadal. The only obstacle Rafa faces is Djokovic if he gets there. Rafa will still win that match in 4 sets. Never buying into deluded posters like StrongRule. Rafa is the favorite here. No Thiem to stop him or soften him up.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Where has this level been from Rafa? Lol damn.

 

[cortado]

On the plus side, Sinner seems like a tennis T1000 that is learning and adapting to every match he plays. He's going to be even better after this.

 

[aldeayeah]

4 winners in a row for the match. Nice.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Rafa FH in great shape. Great way to end the match! Great test for Rafa.

 

[Krish0608]

Great match mentally for Rafa, still has not lost a single set yet.

So much for "This is the worse than 2015 Rafa". This place is nuts really.

 

[Jokervich]

Any chance Schwartzman could cause Nadal problems in the next round? That could have been a different match had Sinner not choked the first set.

 

[RS]

Great ending. Vamos!

 

[MeatTornado]

Nadal continues to prove he has no shot at this title by winning another match in straight sets.

 

[Leandro2045]

Any chance Schwartzman could cause Nadal problems in the next round? That could have been a different match had Sinner not choked the first set.

Sadly for Diego he's not going to play a Rafa that had to wait 9 hours for his match..

 

[DismalFuture]

At this rate Nadal might lose a couple of sets in a match here by 2025. You're almost there nextgen, almost there, the progress is outstanding.

 

[mike danny]

Good effort from Sinner. Still a lot to learn though.

Nadal will still be very difficult to beat if he plays like in the last set.

Sorry, @StANDAA, this match hasn't made the cut.

 

[tennis4me]

That's the challenge playing against Nadal or any of the top players - you have to be able to play at above your normal level and be prepared to do it for 5 sets in a grand slam. But Sinner showed that he can hang with the best.

 

[racquetreligion]

Nadal needs to win already so my daughter will start doing her homework instead of watching this match.

homework is overrated the less she is indoctrinated the better for her future
Tennis teaches you more than school anyway in the baking department

 

[Frenchy-Player]

100 matchs/98 victory...

 

[Opendaroof]

Never write off Nadal on Court Philippe-Chartier. Especially when he is not injured.
Every year, I get amazed how little respect people has on Rafa in Roland Garros.

 

[Daniel Andrade]

The poll was right
Nadal had to try his (current) best in 3

 

[E36BMWM3]

All the haters... EAT YOUR WORDS!!! The best to ever do it on this court just shut you the hell up. VAMOS!!!!

 

[I Am Finnish]

you don't have to be ashamed of it at all Sin thanks for testing the Nadal

 

[StrongRule]

Diego will be NO MATCH for Nadal. The only obstacle Rafa faces is Djokovic if he gets there. Rafa will still win that match in 4 sets. Never buying into deluded posters like StrongRule. Rafa is the favorite here. No Thiem to stop him or soften him up.

I'm deluded? He needed Sinner to choke hard in order to win the first 2 sets. Imagine what Djokovic would have done to him today. You are just a troll.

 

[clayqueen]

76 64 61

 

[Deleted member 21996]

What a Tarzan... Just won a monster with a gargantuan 35 ATP total career matches. Surely deserved that over the top celebration....

#pathetic

 

[Born_to_slice]

That could have been a different match had Sinner not choked the first set.

And 2nd set...

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[McGradey]

Good effort from the young lad.
Nadal FH started looking scary again in the latter stages but Schwartzman might be able to expose his movement a bit more than Sinner did today

 

[aldeayeah]

Any chance Schwartzman could cause Nadal problems in the next round? That could have been a different match had Sinner not choked the first set.

Maybe. Diego is very underrated and it wouldn't surprise me if he took a set or more. Still Nadal must be like a 75:25 favorite.

 

[Steve0904]

Any chance Schwartzman could cause Nadal problems in the next round? That could have been a different match had Sinner not choked the first set.

Doubt it. Especially not after a 5 hr match despite the 2 days he has to recover. Nadal will probably straight set him.

 

[mike danny]

homework is overrated the less she is indoctrinated the better for her future
Tennis teaches you more than school anyway in the baking department

You have a much more secure future with school than with tennis.

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal continues to prove he has not shot at this title by winning another match in straight sets.

He was terrible today. Sinner just choked in the first 2 sets.

 

[Third Serve]

At this rate, Schwartzman will be HOPELESS against Nadal. He'll struggle to even win a set. And you can practically kiss Djokovic's chances away. You can't beat Nadal when he gets in an RG semifinal or final.

But of course deluded trolls like @StrongRule will say that he is out of form.