2022 Roland Garros R128: [5] Rafael Nadal vs Jordan Thompson

[ACE of Hearts]

Moulet won in 4 sets against Wawrinka.

Lefty, French crowd behind. I would have liked Wawrinka instead as the next round opponent.

meh.

 

[ibbi]

The key thing here is the badass outfit (and that he whipped an Aussie in his own colours). Hopefully we get to see it for a few more matches. 6 ought to do it.

 

[TheNachoMan]

I guess the foot is healed now

 

[ACE of Hearts]

You misunderstood me. Of course he has a chance. Hell - to me he is a SOLID second favorite behind Novak. And favored over Alcaraz easily despite the over-the-moon hype on the youngster.
If Novak were to lose, or get a freak injury - I would bet my house on Nadal winning the French Open. And if Nadal somehow manages to beat Novak in the QF - he will not be stopped from winning the trophy.

My overall point is that given Nadal's decline - he is no longer the #1 favorite in RG. A few years ago things were different and Novak (or anyone else) was always 2nd to Nadal in RG.

I think nadal goes into this grand slam with nothifn to lose. Novak on the other hand is a different story. We shall see.

 

[TennisFan3]

I guess the foot is healed now

We don't know that unless he plays long matches.

 

[SonicNirvana]

I like the kit. Way better than whatever that 2020 one was…

 

[TheNachoMan]

We don't know that unless he plays non mug players.

FTFY

 

[DSH]

No chance. If such a match takes place it will be played in the night session.

****!

 

[Beulah Jesus]

I like the kit. Way better than whatever that 2020 one was…

funny

 

[ibbi]

Moulet won in 4 sets against Wawrinka.

Lefty, French crowd behind. I would have liked Wawrinka instead as the next round opponent.

Rafa does not care one bit about the crowd Never has, never will. The lefty-lefty matchup definitely makes things a little trickier for him. Maybe we'll get another Mannarino Set 1 type match.

 

[NeutralFan]

Lmao Fakovic fans whose hero won AO with a stomach tear taking a dig at limping Rafa

 

[Terenigma]

We don't know that unless he plays long matches.

Yes. Foot injuries are well known for only appearing after playing for 4-5 sets. It's one of those special injuries that is fine with with you running and sliding around the clay for 3 sets but when it's 4-5 sets, injuries are like "Y'know what? I don't like this"

 

[TennisFan3]

I think nadal goes into this grand slam with nothifn to lose. Novak on the other hand is a different story. We shall see.

When you're a 13 time champion - you always have something to lose.
But yeah, Novak will have pressure too.
A RG 2022 win will formally cement Novak at GOAT. Given he would have won 3 Career Grand slams. That no one has done before or is likely to do.

 

[Kralingen]

Rafa does not care one bit about the crowd Never has, never will. The lefty-lefty matchup definitely makes things a little trickier for him. Maybe we'll get another Mannarino Set 1 type match.

Moutet is easily top 5 most petulant and annoying players on tour lol. Expect lots of grunts, complaints to the umpire, and general chicanery which Rafa will surely dislike. He also has a lot of energy and honestly might push Rafa in some rallies.

fortunately his serve is a shambles and he is prone to falling apart. Rafa in straights but maybe a 75, 76 type of set thrown in though.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

Tennis channel said Rafa is hitting harder and with more spin than average but didn't show the numbers or say what the baseline they're comparing to is.

I said that earlier too!! I thought he was hitting FH harder than usual but not 100% really…

 

[ArcspacE]

I guess the foot is healed now

Hahahahaha

Watch it miraculously reappear again after Djok crushes him in 3

 

[DSH]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1528737778443472898

Nadal will have to fly high as a butterfly to win his fourteenth Musketeers Cup.

 

[DSH]

Alert Nadal threw his racket @vive le beau jeu !

18 years late, but it was necessary.

 

[DSH]

I don’t see how nadal doesn’t make the QFs barring injury but if he faces novak he’s gonna have to hit with depth and the first serve will have to be on point.

Can he serve better in the final stages against the best players?

 

[ACE of Hearts]

When you're a 13 time champion - you always have something to lose.
But yeah, Novak will have pressure too.
A RG 2022 win will formally cement Novak at GOAT. Given he would have won 3 Career Grand slams. That no one has done before or is likely to do.

Nadal has a slam under his belt already so that’s the different.

 

[Cupcake]

I said that earlier too!! I thought he was hitting FH harder than usual but not 100% really…

IIRC, they (TC announcers) also said his serve was averaging 5 mph faster too.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Strong opening win for Rafa!

 

[aldeayeah]

2 2 2 triple duckies

6 6 6 single satan

 

[ChrisRF]

In case you haven't figured, I don't like Alcaraz that much. All the non stop hype has turned me off the youngster, a pity, since he's a talented player.

So you dislike him for something totally outside his own influence? That's weird to say it friendly.

 

[DSH]

So you dislike him for something totally outside his own influence? That's weird to say it friendly.

What happens is that the wonder boy is not only a threat to Nadal but especially for Djokovic, who being number 1 in the world, is the favorite in the Majors tournaments until the opposite is said.
That, to some fans of the Serbian player, makes them very uncomfortable.

 

[Rozroz]

I guess the foot is healed now

so how did he look? ran ok? as usual?

 

[Mustard]

105-3.

106-3 now. Of the 106 wins, 104 have ended without a fifth set being played.

 

[DSH]

106-3 now. Of the 106 wins, 104 have ended without a fifth set being played.

PhenomenaDal!

 

[DSH]

I like the kit. Way better than whatever that 2020 one was…

But he won with that outfit.
That's the only thing that matters in the end.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Anyone who believes Nadal can actually win FO this year must be an optimist of the highest order.

 

[DSH]

Lmao Fakovic fans whose hero won AO with a stomach tear taking a dig at limping Rafa

'Phonyvic'!

 

[DSH]

Anyone who believes Nadal can actually win FO this year must be an optimist of the highest order.

Nadal is among the three candidates to win the title.
Although it is true, his preparation has been far from adequate, and his perennial foot problems have worsened, with which there is a cloak of doubts about his state of form, this is his surface, his favorite tournament, his ideal court.
Having fallen on the side of Djokovic's draw and also Alcaraz a round later, without a doubt, has reduced his chances of winning the title but if the Spaniard finds in the next three matches the pace and fitness required to opt for the best in this edition of the French Open, be careful, because despite everything he has achieved, almost nobody gives him a chance to beat Djokovic and eventually Alcaraz (if he beats Zverev, presumably) in a row, and when Nadal is not the favorite is precisely when he plays the best.
This is when he is most dangerous and difficult to defeat, especially at Roland Garros.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The key thing here is the badass outfit (and that he whipped an Aussie in his own colours). Hopefully we get to see it for a few more matches. 6 ought to do it.

I like the kit. Way better than whatever that 2020 one was…

It really is fantastic @MeatTornado

 

[SonicNirvana]

It really is fantastic @MeatTornado

0 double faults today, i'm surprised by that

 

[Milanez82]

106-3 now. Of the 106 wins, 104 have ended without a fifth set being played.

So 104 times he didn't play with a foot injury?

 

[Mustard]

So 104 times he didn't play with a foot injury?

On the contrary. 102 of 109 times he played with the foot problem.