V
Vamos Rafa Nadal
Guest
Thank goodness that's over!!! Congrats Rafa!!!! 
18-0!!!!!
18-0!!!!!
2022 Indian Wells R4: Rafael Nadal [4] vs Reilly Opelka [17]
- Thread starter Jokervich
- Start date
dapchai
Legend
Just been realistic. I was wrong; that was two very close sets instead of 3. And Rafa didn't have a good returning day; he only broke Opelka once and had 3 minibreaks overall.Always so pessimistic. You would think Nadal had lost every match this year judging by the posts you make.
Rattie
G.O.A.T.
Thank you! I couldn’t have said it better.
I don’t think anyone except Choccoviche would have returned those monster kickers better than Nadal did today.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
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...
Weight of shot, bro. Also one bad game against a bot is one too much, although Nadal seemed to get better after that by the end but Opelka should have won the set being up a break, if he had balls. Too bad.
V
Vamos Rafa Nadal
Guest
Really hoping we get an Alcaraz vs Nadal semi!!!! It will either happen or not happen, but I am hoping for it!
It will either happen or not happen, but I am hoping for it!
dapchai
Legend
Maybe, but I think he could do better. There were several moments he missed good chances to create/convert BP.
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
Choccoviche couldn't return Vesely's serve.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Those saves of the double break at 2-4 were the difference between a straight set win and Opelka rolling in the third. Not a tidy win at all.
Now we get the epic QF that seemed highly unlikely at the time of the draw.
Now we get the epic QF that seemed highly unlikely at the time of the draw.
dapchai
Legend
It's Chocoviche, the greatest French tennis player in Men's Singles.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
fish today…so much better than wings….yaaas! Bon apetit! Smaklig spis!
Yes and tmrw, chicken Alfredo
Obviously I was talking about Novak on his best day. Nadal also in his best day would return better. I am not telling that Novak will always return better lol
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Very closely fought match! Only a couple of points decided the tiebreakers! Rafa done this all his life! 
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Alcaraz is a student at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy!Really hoping we get an Alcaraz vs Nadal semi!!!!
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
Rafa is a better returner than Novak. Stop trying to rub off Rafa's triumph on Djoker.
Incognito
Legend
The_Order
G.O.A.T.
Weight of shot with these balls and in these conditions with an opponent hammering the ball... lmfao... you've got nfi... bro... and there goes all your credibility...
It's almost as if you're commenting on his match with Korda...
" So many unnecessary errors " - " one bad game against a bot is one too much, although Nadal seemed to get better after that by the end"
These two sentences are perfect examples of your bs...
2 UEs in the 1st set... he seemed to get better after being broken... except he almost got broken again in his very next service game (the two I was alluding too obv)
He gave Opelka nothing in the first set and in the second after a bad patch of 2 service games, he raised his level back up and won it. Opelka shouldn't have even been up a break... but of course, Nadal played a terrible service game.
Still nothing justifies your smart arse behaviour toward @Rattie ... it's not like the comment was made to suggest Rafa was playing his best tennis ever which you foolishly compared it to...
D
Deleted member 788697
Guest
What a grind.
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
Bro, don't call this good tennis for Nadal lol. How many runs in history were played at a higher level than this? Hundreds. Not great for an ATG, evidently it doesn't need to be with these opponents. Like sure you can do whatever for all I care, it's foolish is all.
Mark-Touch
G.O.A.T.
Man this guy Opelka sucks really badly.
I watched a few games and reminded myself why I shun him.
He's essentially a serve-bot just like the sign the little kid was holding up during the match said.
But these days you can get really rich being a bot!
I watched a few games and reminded myself why I shun him.
He's essentially a serve-bot just like the sign the little kid was holding up during the match said.
But these days you can get really rich being a bot!
The_Order
G.O.A.T.
Like I said... in context he played well. I've already justified that tenfold whilst proving your claims to be utter bs...
Comparing it to the best level of tennis ever produced is just dumb.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
In the context that this is Rafael Nadal, known for astonishing defence, ridiculous passes and stunning forehands, no he did not. You're free to choose whatever context you feel suits best, of course.
Rattie
G.O.A.T.
When I said he was playing well, it was at the end of the first set when Opelka had only managed to take three points in all of Rafa’s service games and yet Rafa had made inroads on each of Reilly’s albeit not breaking him.
As you said, he was virtually in the stands returning balls at over head height. I made my comment in that context at that moment in the match. As I saw it that was playing well. Appreciate your comments btw
The_Order
G.O.A.T.
It's 35.5 yr old Rafael Nadal, known for being about 2 steps slower than his peak... still hit some nice passes and fhs...
Again, learn the difference between playing well and playing peak level... I'm sure even you can figure it out...
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah so it's not a very good Nadal let's say.
What is well? Sure he's playing well by this field's standards lel. But that is irrelevant. As he is a contender, what should matter is the historical winning standard (with adjusted cross-era comparisons, naturally), which shows the level of tennis normally demonstrated by title winners. By that standard, Nadal isn't playing well at all currently, he's like the worst potential winner. Of course, these have been early rounds and he may improve yet, although it doesn't seem too likely but who knows.
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
Opelka has formed a Servebot Club. Monfils tried to join it even showing his stats to prove he qualifies but they say he is not boring he is too much of an entertainer.Man this guy Opelka sucks really badly.
I watched a few games and reminded myself why I shun him.
He's essentially a serve-bot just like the sign the little kid was holding up during the match said.
But these days you can get really rich being a bot!
Last edited:
zvelf
Hall of Fame
It's funny reading someone who convinces himself of something other than what's right before his eyes. Of course, Opelka has a very good serve. 22% of all his serves are aces! In comparison, Nadal serves an ace 4% of the time. Opelka wins 71% of service points and 91% of service games. Nadal wins 67.5% of service points and 86% of service games. So if Opelka has an average serve, then he must have better skills than Nadal elsewhere, but he clearly doesn't.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal looks injured. His foot is acting up it seems.
This very well might cost him RG 2022. Imagine him limping around and losing again to Novak in the SF/F.
This very well might cost him RG 2022. Imagine him limping around and losing again to Novak in the SF/F.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
And Rafa has a better serve than Sampras!!
A better lob than Lendl!!
A greater Wimbledon career than Fed!!
A greater carpet player than Becker!!
More hair than Thiem!
More twins than Fed!
vernonbc
Legend
No he's not. He trains at his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero's academy.Alcaraz is a student at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy!
DSH
Bionic Poster
Djokovic is not going to win RG (or the US Open either, but that's another story) and even if he reaches the semifinals, he will arrive exhausted.
He will be easy prey for whoever faces him in that circumstance.
Already 35 years old, his level will decline on all surfaces but especially on clay.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Exhausted? From playing 3 matches in 2022? He may not make a deep run but it won’t be from fatigue, it will be from rust. He has at least two 250s he can play as warmup even if border crossing regulations are not relaxed in time (Belgrade and Lyon).Djokovic is not going to win RG (or the US Open either, but that's another story) and even if he reaches the semifinals, he will arrive exhausted.
He will be easy prey for whoever faces him in that circumstance.
Already 35 years old, his level will decline on all surfaces but especially on clay.
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
As expected when a giant serves bombs every single time. Rafa held his side of the bargain well apart from the one slip in the 2nd set when he lost his serve but recovered by miraculously breaking Opelka’s serve.Very closely fought match! Only a couple of points decided the tiebreakers! Rafa done this all his life!
Opelka went for broke much more than he does against other players because he knew anything less would be certain defeat.
killerboss
Professional
Only 3 more aces and 2 more double faults than Nadal who isn't a serve player at all. It's not the first match I have seen him play where I felt his serve was overhyped. People putting him in the same league as Isner are crazy.
Ajosin
Rookie
He did say he was in pain when asked directly about his foot, so this is actually a valid post.
However, his team is aware of the risks and is adapting (no Miami). I'm sure they know Rafa's body better than anyone and will seek a balance of match play and rest try to to peak at RG.
DSH
Bionic Poster
I mean that if the Serb reaches the semifinals of Roland Garros at 35 years old (only three players of that age or older have been able to do it in the Open Era) he is going to lose several sets along the way and when he faces his rival at that stage he will arrive exhausted from the effort.
He is not a natural player on clay like Nadal so as not to suffer passing the rounds and his level compared to last year will suffer a significant drop on all surfaces but it will be even more visible on clay courts.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Wishful thinking.Djokovic is not going to win RG (or the US Open either, but that's another story) and even if he reaches the semifinals, he will arrive exhausted.
He will be easy prey for whoever faces him in that circumstance.
Already 35 years old, his level will decline on all surfaces but especially on clay.
Nadal will always be the favorite vs Novak on clay.
But Novak will not be exhausted. He never is. He is far fitter than Nadal at this stage of their careers. Novak will come with a vengeance after having missed so many tournaments. And if Nadal is less than 100 percent, a repeat of 2021 will happen except it might not be as close as Novak now believes he can beat Nadal at RG.
It will take the very best of Nadal to stop Novak. At 36 years and having overplayed, Nadal is unlikely to play his A game.
_phantom
Hall of Fame
Damn, you are really obsessed about Nadal overpaying. In every post you mention him, you also include his scheduling.
Is this a kind of trolling?
Get this straight. Nadal's foot problem got worse for inactivity during the first year of the pandemic.
zvelf
Hall of Fame
The difference is that I was citing career stats for both Opelka and Nadal and not judging based on the stats of one match. And Isner is one of the best servers ever, so saying Opelka's not in the same league as Isner just means he's average is crazy. As to whether they are actually in the same league, here are their career stats in comparison. Again Opelka in ace %, service points won, and service games won are 22.3%, 70.8%, and 90.6%, respectively. Isner's are 21.1%, 71.7%, and 91.9%, respectively. So not a big difference. Now service points and service games won aren't solely due to serves, so you may think Opelka is just so much better than Isner outside of the serve to compensate, but their similar ace % says otherwise.
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