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

[ghostofMecir]

Nadal was the better player, except for the big points which he lost because Felix served big, while Nadal hit double-faults.
Very strange match, and one of the longest matches you'll ever see for that scoreline.
Even stranger because Felix had all those service winners, so you'd think the match would be shorter than 1hr 57min.
What a paradox.

YOU can’t be the better player with a .82 dominance ratio. Yes, he had some chances but on other points, he’s getting blown off the court.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

There's always next year's exho, VB.

 

[Chanwan]

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.

You were saying?

 

[Chanwan]

Nadal needs to reset for 2023. It's only 6 weeks away.

He's going to SA iirc

 

[Mainad]

Will he play the dead rubber or just pull out and give Holger a chance to play an inaugural match at his maiden WTF?

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Why all the drama? There's no excuses. Rafa has been playing for 30 years. Read the scoreboard. Every day is different.

 

[bertrevert]

He hit 2x more winners at the end.

This seems key, from the highlights at least. FAA served well reported here, but the highlight reel is of his FH...

 

[Fedforever]

Exactly, it’s common knowledge that it’s not a great surface for his game but he also adds this level of “ugh I can’t believe I have to play in here instead of in the sun” that you can almost see him wearing like a suit.

He'd probably have got over it if there'd been a Slam at stake but while the lack of WTF is a bit of a gap in the resume it's not the end of the world.

He's just never had enough incentive to overcome the no sun factor.