2022 Indian Wells R4: Rafael Nadal [4] vs Reilly Opelka [17]

[El_Yotamo]

Can't judge the level from playing a servebot - it's so different to anything else

That's fair I guess. Then again, Kyrgios is next...
In the meantime, that was finally a good hold

 

[Genious at Work]

Nadal acing Opelka twice in a row.

 

[ChaelAZ]

That was a confidence boost to get his serve back. Can Nads break again to get this done?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal is so epic

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Come on Rafa! Get this done!

 

[ChaelAZ]

What a fricken rip tho!

 

[Chanwan]

That's fair I guess. Then again, Kyrgios is next...
In the meantime, that was finally a good hold

Nick will give him rallies

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Great shot, Reilly!

 

[The_Order]

Pretending Nadal is playing well is quite childish.

What's childish is you pretending to be some sort of tennis know it all that thinks he's above everyone else...

The conditions are extremely difficult. Nadal has for the most part backed up his serve well... what else can he do? He played 2 bad service games all match.

On return, the ball coming from Opelka is 1.6M high... and that's with Nadal meeting it standing next to the freaking rolex signs... if he steps in to the baseline to return, that ball is 2.2M high.... nobody is returning 140mph bombs from that height with any efficiency...

Matches against serve bots are extremely difficult to find rhythm and as I've pointed out the conditions, particularly with the dry air and heavy balls makes things significantly tougher...

So in context, @Rattie isn't making an outlandish observation so stop being a *****

 

[initialize]

Nadal's strategy against Opelka... "I just hit moonball higher, no?"

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

What a point! Pro tennis in action!

 

[ChaelAZ]

Pressure back on OP. Crazy points and play.

 

[zuluzazu]

Is Nadals left foot giving problems?

 

[ChaelAZ]

OP showed some nerves in that hold so maybe Nads will have a chance again.

 

[Chanwan]

Opelka about to break himself?

 

[The_Order]

Is Nadals left foot giving problems?

I think his shoe just got out of place.

 

[ChaelAZ]

There is the pressure...

 

[Chanwan]

Opelka about to break himself?

wouldn't mind avoiding the TB tbh

 

[ChaelAZ]

wouldn't mind avoiding the TB tbh

Yup

 

[McGradey]

This is the video I’ll sometimes watch when I start criticizing pro tennis players too often. Look how fast, ffs.

Nuts. The reactions and control to direct those chip returns so accurately. Returning that serve must feel like hitting a boulder that just rolled down the side of Everest.

 

[Chanwan]

good rally from both, deuce

 

[Nadal - GOAT]

What's childish is you pretending to be some sort of tennis know it all that thinks he's above everyone else...

The conditions are extremely difficult. Nadal has for the most part backed up his serve well... what else can he do? He played 2 bad service games all match.

On return, the ball coming from Opelka is 1.6M high... and that's with Nadal meeting it standing next to the freaking rolex signs... if he steps in to the baseline to return, that ball is 2.2M high.... nobody is returning 140mph bombs from that height with any efficiency...

Matches against serve bots are extremely difficult to find rhythm and as I've pointed out the conditions, particularly with the dry air and heavy balls makes things significantly tougher...

So in context, @Rattie isn't making an outlandish observation so stop being a *****

I am surprised why people think Nadal is not playing well.
He is adapting very well to Opelka's game. Reilly normally steamrolls through opponents in his service games. Rafa is making him work really hard to hold.

 

[ChaelAZ]

dat low slice doh!

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Opelka is dumb, trying to outrally Nadal instead of net play.

 

[mightyrick]

Opelka's forehands make Del Potro's forehand look like Santoro's forehand. Just unreal.

 

[stringertom]

Wow, what a surprise! Another TB.

 

[Chanwan]

TB prediction: 7-5 Rafa

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

What's childish is you pretending to be some sort of tennis know it all that thinks he's above everyone else...

The conditions are extremely difficult. Nadal has for the most part backed up his serve well... what else can he do? He played 2 bad service games all match.

On return, the ball coming from Opelka is 1.6M high... and that's with Nadal meeting it standing next to the freaking rolex signs... if he steps in to the baseline to return, that ball is 2.2M high.... nobody is returning 140mph bombs from that height with any efficiency...

Matches against serve bots are extremely difficult to find rhythm and as I've pointed out the conditions, particularly with the dry air and heavy balls makes things significantly tougher...

So in context, @Rattie isn't making an outlandish observation so stop being a *****

bunch of whiney excusebotting "servebots are so tough for poor rafa "
There's so much more Nadal can do. So many unnecessary errors, shanks, passive shots, missed passes. I could easily see primedal slapping this elk 6-4 6-3. It's literally in your face yet you prefer to enjoy the sweet narrative.

 

[MichaelNadal]

This is annoying af lol I'm ready to make my parmesan crusted tilapia

 

[Chanwan]

That's poor from O

 

[ChaelAZ]

I like Nads chance for grabbing points on serve in the TB. Couple holds of his own and should be good. Unless Nads fades...

 

[guanzishou]

Someone knows what happened to Sisca? One doesn't see her quite often since she married Nadal. She was always in his players lounge before.

Maybe she's happy with uncle Toni in the Academy.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Just one of the next two now on OP's serve...

 

[McGradey]

Opelka's forehands make Del Potro's forehand look like Santoro's forehand. Just unreal.

I don’t know what the RPM numbers are on the RO forehand, but when he leans into one it looks like pure pace, almost no spin. Like it’s on rails.

 

[Chanwan]

How the actual f*** do you hit a forehand like that on that return? Opelka is so epic, no?

 

[dapchai]

How the actual f*** do you hit a forehand like that on that return? Opelka is so epic, no?

Delpo FH is weak

 

[ChaelAZ]

THought OP might grab one, but again...pressure back on...

 

[ChaelAZ]

Can Nads grab this last one!

 

[The_Order]

bunch of whiney excusebotting "servebots are so tough for poor rafa "
There's so much more Nadal can do. So many unnecessary errors, shanks, passive shots, missed passes. I could easily see primedal slapping this elk 6-4 6-3. It's literally in your face yet you prefer to enjoy the sweet narrative.

Serve bots are tough for everyone... including your boy..

He hit 2 unforced errors in the first set genius... 7 in the second set, most in the 2 bad games I mentioned. So much for your observations... I guess proving you have no knowledge or credibility is your forte...

You're just a salty Fed nut and can't handle the reality that Nadal is playing well at 35.5 yrs old...

 

[heftylefty]

Wow!!! Nice pick up on match point.

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

TB prediction: 7-5 Rafa

Are you a wizard?

 

[ChaelAZ]

Wow.

 

[beltsman]

Why can't Opelka hit a FH past the service line? What an oaf

 

[El_Yotamo]

Vamos.
He took the scenic route on that 2nd set but the important thing is that he's gotten it done.

 

[Incognito]

This is annoying af lol I'm ready to make my parmesan crusted tilapia

fish today…so much better than wings….yaaas! Bon apetit! Smaklig spis!

 

[Chanwan]

TB prediction: 7-5 Rafa

@_phantom ;-)
Congrats to Rafa's fans - and congrats to the rest of us of getting Rafa-Kyrgios

 

[Chanwan]

Delpo FH is weak

Nah

 

[Nadal - GOAT]

Wow!!! Nice pick up on match point.

Yes.. but I think it was wide already

 

[killerboss]

Opelka's solid overall game kept the scoreline close and compensated for his average serve (that's right... Don't fall for the media narrative pushed by commentaors that he is a serve player. I have never seen a tall player with a more average serve)

 

[AM75]

Maybe she's happy with uncle Toni in the Academy.

Or maybe she's unvaxxed and cannot come to the US...