2022 ATP Finals RR: [1] Rafael Nadal vs Felix Auger-Aliassime [5]

[Deleted member 629564]

Most of people expected both players to win in an opening round.
Meanwhile FAA lost to Ruud 0-2, Nadal lost to Fritz 0-2.

Who will prolong the chances for the SF?

Vegas odds:
Nadal R. - Auger-Aliassime F.
2.25 - 1.67

 

[TheFifthSet]

I think Felix’s serve has been too on-song this fall for Nadal to be the favourite. Straights, something like 4 and 4.

 

[PSNELKE]

Predicted Ralph to lose against both Fritz and FAA in straight sets. I stand by that. Ralph's ground game is booty

 

[TheAssassin]

At least Toni can't possibly take a double L like today lol...

 

[RS]

Sadly FAA 2-0 or 2-1.

 

[Chanwan]

FAA 7-6, 6-4

 

[DSH]

The Spanish player should retire and give his place to the Danish boy.
This will prevent further humiliation.

 

[Lauren_Girl']

The Spanish player should retire and give his place to the Danish boy.
This will prevent further humiliation.

Exactly my thought. If Nadal doesn't feel confident enough to win matches, he should leave. Rune can still beat FAA and Ruud in straight sets and qualify for the Semis. He has more chances than Nadal, at this point.

 

[Nostradamus]

FAA will beat rafa in three sets and send him packing. poor holger,, he only gets one match from all this

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

2-1 Rafa.
He'd be better than his match against Fritz for sure.

 

[Terenigma]

FAA in 3. He really really tested Rafa at RG and that was Nadal's best surface vs his worst now. Can't see him winning.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Where is Nadal?

 

[Nostradamus]

Where is Nadal?

Rafa said loser of this match will be out of the tournament

 

[Nadal_King]

I believe in Rafa to turn it around in this one

 

[weakera]

FAA in 3. He really really tested Rafa at RG and that was Nadal's best surface vs his worst now. Can't see him winning.

That logic doesn't always hold up. For example, 2019 Tsitsipas def. Nadal on clay, then Nadal def. Tsitsipas at Nitto.

With that being said, I think there is too much ground Rafa needs to make up here to win if Felix is playing well. If Felix is only playing okay, Rafa can certainly win.

 

[mike danny]

How many times has Rafa been bad in his first WTF match? I think it's pretty much a tradition.

 

[weakera]

How many times has Rafa been bad in his first WTF match? I think it's pretty much a tradition.

Just checked quickly, lifetime 7-4 in first WTF match

 

[Wesling]

Rafa is winning over ruud - casper bends over for the ATGs. its a weakness of his. too much fanboyism.
He should take a page out of Runes book. That boy doesnt respect anyone on that court.

 

[Deleted member 629564]

Nadal vs FAA to be played in a day session, Fritz vs Ruud in a night session.

Felix as a bookmaker's favourite to win:
Nadal 2.2
FAA 1.7

 

[Nadal_King]

I expect Rafa to play better than against Fritz but will that be enough is the question.

 

[weakera]

Nadal vs FAA to be played in a day session, Fritz vs Ruud in a night session.

Felix as a bookmaker's favourite to win:
Nadal 2.2
FAA 1.7

lol. Imagine having night session tickets. I'd be pissed

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

This is basically due or die match for both players as I'm almost certain whoever goes 0-2 will not advance in the Round Robin stage.

However, Felix will give Nadal all sorts of problem.

Felix in 3 sets.

 

[Mivic]

Hoping for a Nadal win because I'd rather see him in the SF than FAA from a Djokovic fan's perspective, but I think FAA's serve plus forehand will be too much for Ralph in these conditions.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Just checked quickly, lifetime 7-4 in first WTF match

Shocked it’s that good, lol

 

[weakera]

Shocked it’s that good, lol

Same

 

[Chanwan]

FAA 7-6, 6-4

Heard Felix was blowing his nose a lot and looking at the stats (missed most of the match) doesn't make me this confident in Felix. He was 0-13 in winners vs. UE on the BH side against Ruud. That could get a whole lot worse against Rafa.

Still, that serve is a thing of beauty and should guarantee him at least a TB, so I'm still picking Felix, but this one is fairly close to a toss-em for me as Felix will have trouble returning the Rafa serve as well

 

[marc45]

Toni Nadal: "I won't say who I want to win, but I will sit in Felix's box. I won't celebrate after points."

 

[Deleted member 791948]

Nadal should be sick of losing by now

 

[jl809]

Idk why, I just can’t see Nadal getting through all of a sudden

It’ll be one of Sinner, Med, Tsitsi or Alcaraz. Something freaky is going to happen to Nadal again (probably a knee injury or 3 TBs lost in 1 match)

Nadal’s not ready. Like the Coric match, he won’t be moving or serving well enough. Paul en trois

Also I missed the prematch vote, but my prediction from 3 days ago

I am saying Fritz in 2.

Since I am now a 1000000% legit oracle for predicting Nadal losses or injuries (confirmed!!!), y’all better listen to what I have to say. Felix in 3 is happening and it will be ugly af

 

[Kralingen]

Even I’m not confident about this one.

Will be a tough watch, I fear. As bad as Rafa looked yesterday I think Felix was nowhere near his best. In fact neither played as well from the baseline as Fritz which is a bit startling but 100% true.

 

[jm1980]

FAA needs to do the exact opposite of whatever Tio tells him

 

[PSNELKE]

Still hope Ralph pulls out so Rune can win his 2 matches and make the SF

 

[Chanwan]

Still hope Ralph pulls out so Rune can win his 2 matches and make the SF

we all do

 

[puiacalin91]

Rafa will take this . I feel it , it is not wishful thinking , Felix is not who he was few weeks before , Rafa is not Rafa , but both out of form Rafa wins , Fritz was a little bit lucky. Rafa is PREPPING for the next step in his career , to play close to the baseline , Rafa is not wasting time , he will sacrifice matches for 6+ months just to improve just to give himself a chance against the top players. Anyway this is Rafa's match in 3 sets , Felix will choke.

 

[Hitman]

Nadal will win and get himself into the tournament. He is still in a very strong position to qualify, Fritz was going to be toughest match regardless in this group. That is now in the past. I still see him making the semis here.

 

[JanMijer]

Toni in 5.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Hopefully Nadal slays. Im gonna nap for 90 mins, match will prob still be going when I wake up. Had to work overnight.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Huge game for Toni Nadal!

 

[Deleted member 791948]

The MC did the best introduction of Nadal ever! That is how you introduce.

 

[NeutralFan]

I am ready with no wings and fried chicken

 

[NeutralFan]

I will be happy with either result since Felix is my favourite player from next generation. May the best man wins.

 

[Kralingen]

I only bet $60 on Nadal but it’ll still hurt if I lose this.

Fight for the YE #1 Rafa. You can still do it!

 

[PSNELKE]

Blowing those BPs in the very first service game was the match for Ralph. He won't sniff another BP for the rest of the match

 

[Kralingen]

Raf has him dead to rights. Unlucky on the BPs but it’s already abundantly clear that Felix’s weak and undeveloped BH won’t withstand the onslaught.

 

[ChrisRF]

Blowing those BPs in the very first service game was the match for Ralph. He won't sniff another BP for the rest of the match

You are overrating FAA in epic fashion. Nadal will get many more chances IMO.

 

[NeutralFan]

Nadal's return strategy is quite weird, he's returning from baseline on first serve while he's returning 8 feet off baseline on second serve

 

[PSNELKE]

You are overrating FAA in epic fashion. Nadal will get many more chances IMO.

Dude this is Ralph on indoor HC, his game is booty

 

[ChrisRF]

Dude this is Ralph on indoor HC, his game is booty

I know, I know. But FAA is still overrated and he won't be able to just run away with the match. He will make enough errors to give Nadal all the chances he needs.

 

[Beerus]

Vamos FAA.

 

[PSNELKE]

I know, I know. But FAA is still overrated and he won't be able to just run away with the match. He will make enough errors to give Nadal all the chances he needs.

His serve is still way too good, especially since that dumba$$ returns even the 2nd serves from the stands. Only chance for Ralph to win this is throught TBs