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

[Kralingen]

Djokovic is definitely the favorite to win the event right now, by far. That doesn't mean this isn't where the younger players have their best chance.

In before Djokovic wins it all LOL.

I don’t think he’s the favorite at all. I don’t get it.

He got the nightmare scheduling with the Friday RR match, meaning he’s got 3 straight days of tennis, beginning with his torturer Medvedev on Friday… Med will take his legs on Friday and he’ll be gassed by Sunday.

 

[weakera]

I think it might be time to abandon the fast serve. It looked nice in the early going at AO but hasn't helped him anywhere else this season. Or otherwise take it back to the drawing board.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal is just awful.

 

[RF-18]

I don’t think he’s the favorite at all. I don’t get it.

He got the nightmare scheduling with the Friday RR match, meaning he’s got 3 straight days of tennis, beginning with his torturer Medvedev on Friday… Med will take his legs on Friday and he’ll be gassed by Sunday.

If Djokovic wins in straights tomorrow he has basically secured the 1st place. He can go on vacation on friday.

 

[MeatTornado]

Rafa playing like he needs to take a giant dump.

 

[weakera]

Oh man.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I don’t think he’s the favorite at all. I don’t get it.

He got the nightmare scheduling with the Friday RR match, meaning he’s got 3 straight days of tennis, beginning with his torturer Medvedev on Friday… Med will take his legs on Friday and he’ll be gassed by Sunday.

I’d have been much more confident had he went first. I agree with this. Still he has a good shot but yeah the scheduling could stop him again at age 35.

 

[mike danny]

I don’t think he’s the favorite at all. I don’t get it.

He got the nightmare scheduling with the Friday RR match, meaning he’s got 3 straight days of tennis, beginning with his torturer Medvedev on Friday… Med will take his legs on Friday and he’ll be gassed by Sunday.

Djokovic will probably tank if he's already qualified.

 

[weakera]

Thank you Felix, bailed Rafa out temporarily.

 

[ibbi]

This means nothing without the context of how Rafa's rpm usually is indoors which I don't know offhand

Don't try bringing common sense to this place.

You're right it would make sense for it to be intentionally lower, but something tells me that is not what is happening here.

 

[Kralingen]

Felix is just pumping him on the second serve now. Rafa is playing totally reactive tennis when he can’t land that first serve. He looks awful…

And what exactly the **** was that? Stumble on the serve and volley like a drunk Michael Stich? Match over.

Jesus Christ

 

[NoleFam]

This is some ugly tennis.

 

[weakera]

Don't try bringing common sense to this place.

You're right it would make sense for it to be intentionally lower, but something tells me that is not what is happening here.

Would love to see his typical RPM's to know

 

[RF-18]

Nadal is pathetic lol.

 

[mike danny]

It couldn't have ended worse.

 

[UnforcedTerror]

Mugdal gonna Mugdal LMAO

 

[weakera]

Sorry to say, there is no improvement from the Fritz match. If anything regression.

 

[Hitman]

A chance at a 6th year ending number one slipping away....

 

[zvelf]

It's surprising that quite a few people here thought Nadal could win this tournament. He's nearing the end of his career at age 36, indoor hard is his worst surface, and he has to go through 8 of the very best players in the world.

 

[MeatTornado]

The guy is 36 and won 2 slams this year, so I'm not going to be too hard on him.

But damn this is u g l y

 

[Nostradamus]

That traitor uncle toni is sitting in FAA coaching box............ he said he would never coach against his nephew.......... RAFA must disown him now

 

[WarriorRafa]

Does Rafa need to hit the practice courts or take a vacation I can't tell

 

[TennisFan3]

You say that just because of the scores.

I said this a month ago. See my posts.
Even in his prime, Nadal was bad here. Obviously to play at 36 with injury made no sense.

 

[mike danny]

Does Rafa need to hit the practice courts or take a vacation I can't tell

He has taken a vacation. Only 8 matches since Wimb.

 

[Beerus]

FAA knows how huge the YEC is.

 

[mike danny]

In typical FAA fashion, he'll probably lose to Fritz after this.

 

[jimjam]

36 yo Fed >>>>>> 36 yo Nadal

 

[Hitman]

Alcaraz on the verge of history, can anything change it now?

 

[mike danny]

36 yo Fed >>>>>> 36 yo Nadal

We knew that even before the YEC.

 

[weakera]

I said this a month ago. See my posts.
Even in his prime, Nadal was bad here. Obviously to play at 36 with injury made no sense.

You'll never be proven correct. These matches are theoretically still important looking to next season. If Nadal has a good AO, you certainly can't criticize his participation here.

 

[MeatTornado]

Does Rafa need to hit the practice courts or take a vacation I can't tell

Needs to build a tennis court on his yacht so he can do both.

 

[mike danny]

Alcaraz on the verge of history, can anything change it now?

Nice to end the year as no.1 without lifting a finger.

 

[NoleFam]

Nadal should have done like he did plenty of years before: dropped out of the tournament. Rune would have had a much better showing.

 

[jimjam]

This is why Nadal can't be the GOAT. Far too weak on fast surfaces. Imagine in a different era if all surfaces would be slightly faster. Fed and Djo would still have dominated. Nadal not really.

And if surfaces were all a bit slower, sure Nadal would have been even better, but Djo/Fed would have been near the top still.

 

[RS]

Nadal should have done like he did plenty of years before: dropped out of the tournament. Rune would have had a much better showing.

It's good to get as much match play in as possible.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal should have done like he did plenty of years before: dropped out of the tournament. Rune would have had a much better showing.

Not sure why he bothered with this meaningless Italian exhibition.

 

[Nostradamus]

It could hurt be he will have time to get more confident in the early rounds of AO and whatever nonsense warmup tourneys he plays.

Agree, warmup in january would have given him enough practice... Why is he playing this nonsense indoor event where he's Never ever done well even on years where he was playing great ?? this surface just kills his topspin shots and makes it nerf ball like

 

[Kralingen]

Nadal should have done like he did plenty of years before: dropped out of the tournament. Rune would have had a much better showing.

That’s BS. He was the world #2 and the YE #1 is on the line. He has every right in the world to compete here. Don’t be disrespectful

 

[mike danny]

It's good to get as much match play in as possible.

Not if he's losing easily.

 

[mike danny]

That’s BS. He was the world #2 and the YE #1 is on the line. He has every right in the world to compete here. Don’t be disrespectful

Somehow his matches have easily been the worst LOL.

 

[NoleFam]

It's good to get as much match play in as possible.

It's the end of the year and it's his worst conditions to play in. Doesn't look like match play is helping him. His form is terrible.

 

[mike danny]

It's the end of the year and it's his worst conditions to play in. Doesn't look like match play is helping him. His form is terrible.

What match play is he even getting when losing easily?

 

[weakera]

Agree, warmup in january would have given him enough practice... Why is he playing this nonsense indoor event where he's Never ever done well even on years where he was playing great ?? this surface just kills his topspin shots and makes it nerf ball like

Because he wants to keep at least a relatively active schedule. He believes (perhaps knows) that being a part-time, semi retired player will not bode well. If he skipped here and Paris he will have essentially been off the tour since Wimbledon.

 

[MeatTornado]

Alcaraz on the verge of history, can anything change it now?

With only 1 slam to his name (against a pretty weak draw) I was really hoping he'd at least win this tournament against the top players to make his season seem more legit. But taking #1 without having to play a single match here feels so lame.

 

[RS]

It's the end of the year and it's his worst conditions to play in. Doesn't look like match play is helping him. His form is terrible.

Don't NoleFam accuse him of ducking though?

Dunno he could have missed it but not sure it made a difference if he would have in the end.

 

[Beerus]

Still a good season for Nadal. Made me salty here and there.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nadal is just awful.

He really should give up playing indoors. It’s a shame Rune didn’t get his place to make the tournament more competitive.

 

[NoleFam]

That’s BS. He was the world #2 and the YE #1 is on the line. He has every right in the world to compete here. Don’t be disrespectful

He has every right to compete but Rune would have actually had a chance to win this. If this doesn't turn around quicky, he'll be pretty much eliminated after 2 matches.

 

[jm1980]

I don’t think he’s the favorite at all. I don’t get it.

He got the nightmare scheduling with the Friday RR match, meaning he’s got 3 straight days of tennis, beginning with his torturer Medvedev on Friday… Med will take his legs on Friday and he’ll be gassed by Sunday.

It's possible he'll already be qualified by then, allowing him to tank if needed

 

[weakera]

Still a good season for Nadal. Made me salty here and there.

It was a great 6 months followed by a nearly unbelievably disastrous 6 months.