2021 Madrid Open QF: Rafael Nadal [2] vs Alexander Zverev [6]

[StrongRule]

Was Rafa sucking in his previous matches here? This is first match I am watching of the whole tournament.

He is playing his usual tennis. He was sucking against Rublev in MC. Today he just faces a player who totally owns him.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Had Tsitsipas converted his MP in Barthelona....

 

[E36BMWM3]

Disastrous thus far... Damn your altitude Madrid

 

[SecondToNone]

Zverev's masterclass

 

[Checkmate]

Man, Zverev serves like my crush, Isner, sometimes.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Sampras on the serve, Agassi on the backhand, Fed on the forehand. Prime Zedzilla is like something from another dimension dude.

 

[Hitman]

I've been going with his Barcelona performance here.

 

[RF-18]

Zverev showing how great of a player he really is.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Tsitsipas Zverev FO final will be the most unpopular final in TTW history

 

[NatF]

Nadal is basically on a constant false dawn these days. As soon as he plays someone who doesn't suck he struggles.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Basically seen 5 minutes of this match ugh

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

Wait. Zverev is playing Rafa and in the meantime Berrettini is playing Garin...?
...Oh sorry! I forgot Garin eliminated the Tsar of Clay!

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal is basically on a constant false dawn these days. As soon as he plays someone who doesn't suck he struggles.

And some trolls still think he can win RG.

 

[weakera]

It was Nadal's fault, Zverev was tentative at the beginning of the match but he let Alex gained more confidence.

That is exactly what has happened

 

[MeatTornado]

It would be quite fitting if Zed took out Nadal so that Thiem could win Madrid this time.

 

[tennisjedi]

way too many UE's from Rafa.

 

[mike danny]

Zverev showing how great of a player he really is.

Or how worse Nadal has become.

 

[Hitman]

Thanks to Sinner for that RG 2020 title. Nadal would have never won it without Sinner taking Zverev out for him.

Yes, Zverev that titanic slam giant who had mentally recovered after the insane choke in NYC...

 

[junior74]

Was Rafa sucking in his previous matches here? This is first match I am watching of the whole tournament.

No, he's been solid but not tested.

 

[TheAssassin]

Baffles me that this guy hasn't won even a Masters event for two and a half years. Well, two years taking the covid break into consideration. The guy has the most spectacular self destructions and he's got strong competition in that.

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

Djokovic was right in 2007 when he said Rafa is beatable on clay.

 

[mike danny]

It would be quite fitting if Zed took out Nadal so that Thiem could win Madrid this time.

Yeah, in 2018 Thiem took out Nadal and Z won. It's only fair the reverse happens this year.

 

[Checkmate]

Nadal is basically on a constant false dawn these days. As soon as he plays someone who doesn't suck he struggles.

He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Sascha hit 229 km/h before coming up against Rafa and something almost 220 average on firsts…

 

[Hokkaido]

Was Rafa sucking in his previous matches here? This is first match I am watching of the whole tournament.

Rafa has been playing the same way here as in Barcelona. Only in Montecarlo he was noticeably worse. This is more about Zverev playing well than Nadal having a bad day, although of course, Nadal has declined heavily in general.

 

[weakera]

Damn Rafa is awful right now. There's nothing to take from this match, just hit the reset button.

 

[Sabrina]

Lol Nadal, go home. You're horrendous today.

 

[mike danny]

And some trolls still think he can win RG.

There is nobody even remotely good to trouble him in BO5 today. It's why Nadal has been winning RG easier than ever before.

 

[junior74]

Zverev showing how great of a player he really is.

... and Nadal giving us a flashback to his great form of 2015

 

[StrongRule]

Yes, Zverev that titanic slam giant who had mentally recovered after the insane choke in NYC...

It doesn't matter. Against Nadal he always brings his absolute best, no matter how he does against others. A week ago he lost to Ivashka. Tomorrow Thiem will beat him like 6-0 6-1. But against Nadal he will ALWAYS show up.

 

[TennisFan3]

Will still win RG easily.

Hmm. You never know.
I think Djokovic might be the sleeper here.

 

[Hitman]

Disastrous thus far... Damn your altitude Madrid

So a little attitude brought the clay GOAT to his knees. Lol

 

[weakera]

Rafa has been playing the same way here as in Barcelona. Only in Montecarlo he was noticeably worse. This is more about Zverev playing well than Nadal having a bad day, although of course, Nadal has declined heavily in general.

Zverev was completely mediocre in set 1, good but not great in set 2.

 

[E36BMWM3]

Rafa can blame no one but himself... and he will, cause he's a gentleman

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Berrettini's tournament to lose if Rafa is felled today.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Zverev is really crushing his serve games, very hard to get even a look in…

 

[StrongRule]

There is nobody even remotely good to trouble him in BO5 today. It's why Nadal has been winning RG easier than ever before.

Zverev will destroy him there in straight sets if they meet. Nadal is so done in this matchup. Can't even win a set anymore.

 

[mike danny]

Zverev will destroy him there in straight sets if they meet. Nadal is so done in this matchup. Can't even win a set anymore.

Yeah, Z the BO5 beast.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Rome's crowd is so much better and nicer than Madrid's, I can't stand them

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

@MichaelNadal

 

[Nadal_Django]

Nadal to produce a massive comeback in the next few minutes

 

[Hitman]

It doesn't matter. Against Nadal he always brings his absolute best, no matter how he does against others. A week ago he lost to Ivashka. Tomorrow Thiem will beat him like 6-0 6-1. But against Nadal he will ALWAYS show up.

Always huh?

 

[NatF]

Zverev bricking that volley.

 

[StrongRule]

Yeah, Z the BO5 beast.

He pushed Nadal very hard in AO 2017 when he was 19 years old. Today he is at his prime and totally owns Nadal on all surfaces. I have no doubt Sinner saved Nadal last year in RG by taking Zverev out.

 

[Checkmate]

Popyrin at the net!

 

[mike danny]

Next Gen net skills on display there.

Who is willing to bet that Nadal breaks back after holding here?

 

[Kralingen]

Rafa’s service games are a huge cause for concern

 

[junior74]

Nadal to produce a massive comeback in the next few minutes

Zverev has a rare gift of gifting, so it would be no surprise in this match.

 

[MichaelNadal]

@MichaelNadal

No crisp today

 

[Hitman]

Next Gen net skills on display there.

Who is willing to bet that Nadal breaks back after holding here?

Yep....yep.