2021 Barcelona Open R16 :- [1] Rafael Nadal v/s Kei Nishikori

match result prediction poll

  • Total voters
    26
  • Poll closed .
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Nadal_Django said:
He should be OK for RG, but definitely got some fitness issues imo. Could barely walk after the Medvedev match at the ATP Finals, he got tired in the 3rd set in the Tsitsipas match at AO, he was absolutely gassed at the beginning of the third set against Rublev in Monaco. Like I've said, should be fine for the French, but lots of guys should feel more confident now, after seeing Nadal's level in the last couple of matches.
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As many have pointed out, key to most of hus runs is he doesn't drop sets and is fresh going into the final, let alone earlier
Day off in between is huge factor too
Through sheer will he should prevail vs most players but if he has a few tough matches early...

Sampras was a lock at Wimbledon until he lost to Federer and then all of a sudden he was done on grass.
 
Nadal_Django said:
He should be OK for RG, but definitely got some fitness issues imo. Could barely walk after the Medvedev match at the ATP Finals, he got tired in the 3rd set in the Tsitsipas match at AO, he was absolutely gassed at the beginning of the third set against Rublev in Monaco. Like I've said, should be fine for the French, but lots of guys should feel more confident now, after seeing Nadal's level in the last couple of matches.
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Excellent post. Thanks.
 
How the mighty have fallen. Nothing lasts forever I guess.
Maybe Nadal should not play so many clay tournaments. Just play 1 masters 1000 and 1 RG.
These brutal losses and sets dropped to nobodies wouldn't help his confidence and also tire out those aging legs.
I think Novak and Thiem are probably liking their chops. If I had to put odds at RG - Nadal would still be the favorite, but there is a reasonable chance that Novak (most likely) or perhaps even Thiem win.
 
I know everyone is going to write all this off and be like no matter what he’ll win RG but Nadal going into RG with absolutely no confidence and a very bad serve is going to be a recipe for disaster. It’s not like this is coming out of nowhere he’s been in poor form since late last year. Its not a recent thing. I think he is still the favourite but it won’t be a shock if he loses.
 
TennisIcon said:
I know everyone is going to write all this off and be like no matter what he’ll win RG but Nadal going into RG with absolutely no confidence and a very bad serve is going to be a recipe for disaster. It’s not like this is coming out of nowhere he’s been in poor form since late last year. Its not a recent thing. I think he is still the favourite but it won’t be a shock if he loses.
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Papa tiempo es undefeated. (Unless su nombre es Jesus) ;)
 
TennisFan3 said:
How the mighty have fallen. Nothing lasts forever I guess.
Maybe Nadal should not play so many clay tournaments. Just play 1 masters 1000 and 1 RG.
These brutal losses and sets dropped to nobodies wouldn't help his confidence and also tire out those aging legs.
I think Novak and Thiem are probably liking their chops. If I had to put odds at RG - Nadal would still be the favorite, but there is a reasonable chance that Novak (most likely) or perhaps even Thiem win.
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or tsitsipas could win too
 
TennisIcon said:
I know everyone is going to write all this off and be like no matter what he’ll win RG but Nadal going into RG with absolutely no confidence and a very bad serve is going to be a recipe for disaster. It’s not like this is coming out of nowhere he’s been in poor form since late last year. Its not a recent thing. I think he is still the favourite but it won’t be a shock if he loses.
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Yeah. Really depends on whether this is a 2015-like clay season or a 2019-like clay season. In 2019 he played himself into form and was in good shape by the time RG rolled around and he won easily. Could still happen this year. If he well and truly sucks in all four lead-up tournaments, I wouldn't be too confident about his chances at RG (well, relatively speaking, i.e. he won't be a 100% lock but will still be among the favorites).
 
TennisIcon said:
I know everyone is going to write all this off and be like no matter what he’ll win RG but Nadal going into RG with absolutely no confidence and a very bad serve is going to be a recipe for disaster. It’s not like this is coming out of nowhere he’s been in poor form since late last year. Its not a recent thing. I think he is still the favourite but it won’t be a shock if he loses.
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Late last year? He seemed pretty OK in Paris and WTF, better than this at any rate.
 
Kei is playing well. Usually, he sprays errors against Big 3.

I hope he has one good run and wins the thing that everyone is winning these days. :)
 
TennisFan3 said:
What do you think the problem is? Is he getting old? Did he get Covid? Is his wife troubling him? How does he play so poorly on the dirt?
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I think it's age. His fitness just seems completely gone now imo. Even at RG when he was wrecking Novak he seemed tired I'm the 3rd set. Had he lost it he could have very well lost in 5tbh. His energy and intensity just always seem to be gone after a couple sets now. I hope he can find a way to combat that
 
MichaelNadal said:
I think it's age. His fitness just seems completely gone now imo. Even at RG when he was wrecking Novak he seemed tired I'm the 3rd set. Had he lost it he could have very well lost in 5tbh. His energy and intensity just always seem to be gone after a couple sets now. I hope he can find a way to combat that
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So yeah - he's getting old. I mean the first time I saw him playing properly was in Miami 2004. That was 17 years ago!
I think he's earned the right to get tired and hang up his racquet..
 
In all fairness we need to remember Nadal on the court r.n is the same dude that went 5hrs with Coria in Rome 2005. Those legs have lasted way longer than they should have as it is.
 
aldeayeah said:
Late last year? He seemed pretty OK in Paris and WTF, better than this at any rate.
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Umm... he definitely he looked bad in Paris and WTF. He wasn’t horrific and he definitley looks worse here particularly his serve but his fitness and his movement seemed comprised in both of those tournaments as well as in Australia.
 
MichaelNadal said:
Exactly lol. When I think of all the epics this dude has had it's amazing he's even still playing.
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I feel old after watching him so many years. I mean since the first time I saw Nadal playing finished 2 degrees, had 7 different jobs, moved 3 countries in different continents, survived failed relationship, stopped playing tennis regularly etc etc.
I mean so much has changed. But there is one constant in life - Nadal and his clay titles. Insane..
 
Sysyphus said:
Nadal struggling so much on the clay is good for the sport. It gives us plebs a real illusion that the French Open is unpredictable this time around, before Nadal sweeps it up once more in the end.
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Something seems different this year Bc of how well Tsitsipas is playing. I really think he can take it.....but who am I kidding? Rafa is Rafa
 
TennisFan3 said:
I feel old after watching him so many years. I mean since the first time I saw Nadal playing finished 2 degrees, had 7 different jobs, moved 3 countries in different continents, survived failed relationship, stopped playing tennis regularly etc etc.
I mean so much has changed. But there is one constant in life - Nadal and his clay titles. Insane..
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It's crazy how long ago 05 was. Every Rafa match is a treasure at this point :) I remember when he skipped Barcelona in 2010 it was a big deal bc he said he needed "rest" lol. I was like oh no he's getting old. That was 11 years ago and we still expect him to wreck the field
 
Nishi could’ve been up double break by now but blew 0-40 lead and then 30-40 chance. Might be one of those matches where the better player with way more opportunities lose.

update: Nishi down 0-30 on serve
 
MichaelNadal said:
It's crazy how long ago 05 was. Every Rafa match is a treasure at this point :)
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Absolutely. Remember 2009 when he was injured and lost RG and withdrew Wimbledon. Anyone ever thought he would get to 20 slams?
Hell, I used to think he would retire in 3-4 years, and maybe never win a UsOpen or more than 1 HC slam. He's won 5 of them.
I mean it's crazy but he's done more than the wildest expectations anyone ever had early in his career.
 
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