2023 Australian Open R128: [1] Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper

[MichaelNadal]

Epic FH-DTL

 

[lrdrdy]

I dont understand why the AO wanted these balls. Theyre dead on contact but bounce high, gonna be exhausting to play with and watch

 

[El_Yotamo]

My TV just restarted for no reason. I guess even my living room doesn't wanna watch this

 

[Bud]

Now he's BP down

 

[Bud]

The d@mned machine calls are so late

 

[Mustard]

Another UE!

 

[Bud]

The UE's are crazy

 

[Terenigma]

The d@mned machine calls are so late

Yeah I've started to wonder what's going on, I'm finding myself calling the balls out before its said on TV and that's with the delay. Worrying.

 

[Terenigma]

Draper breaks! Are we going 5?

 

[Mustard]

And now Nadal has been broken. Gosh, this is getting like being put on the medieval wrack.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Yep, he just can’t maintain the same intensity from set to set anymore. That dropper was a bailout shot there.

 

[Bud]

The level of this match varies so much

 

[Mustard]

Yeah I've started to wonder what's going on, I'm finding myself calling the balls out before its said on TV and that's with the delay. Worrying.

Bring back linespeople.

 

[newyorkstadium]

I'm not able to watch. Is draper still struggling with cramp?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Already closing in on 3.5 hrs, smh

 

[junior74]

RLA always looks slow (camera angle/ lens depth adds to the feeling), but this looks dead slow. Perhaps both guys are almost dead.

 

[Tennfan123]

I want to date Chad Baber.
On a serious note, not a bad first rounder!

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Vamos

 

[MichaelNadal]

Rafa literally giving games away, and Draper's special drink is kicking in

 

[SonicNirvana]

Not good but also not surprising

 

[InsideOut900]

Again, I understand the logic of it, I just need to see it to believe it.

His legs looked completely shot at the 2019 USO but what do you know, the typical chokers kept choking. In 2020 after sitting out for most of the year he looked like a player with 1 foot already in retirement, but then pulled out one of his greatest finals performances out of nowhere. And then again in 2022 it was rinse & repeat.

When it happens, it happens. I'm just so done talking about how clearly the end is near when he keeps finding ways to win.

Yeah, but he was within his norm every single time he did this.

Heroic feats are only possible if you are capable of them.

Last year he started with 20 wins, not just the AO win and let's not bring in how much better he was in 2019-2020 compared to the last 2 years. Nadal hasn't been the same since around the clay season in 2021.

And now it's not just the physical decline which will keep on happening, he has been completely out of shape and lost the last 6/7 matches he played, mostly to players he would beat in his sleep.

It's like saying 2015 Nadal has a good chance of winning Slams because he is Nadal, he is gritty and always finds a way

 

[TripleATeam]

I want to date Chad Baber.
On a serious note, not a bad first rounder!

Maybe in terms of drama. In terms of level... it's been pretty bad.

 

[NeutralFan]

And now Nadal has been broken. Gosh, this is getting like being put on the medieval wrack.

It's not about him being getting broken but being broken from 40-15 twice.

 

[junior74]

39 UEs from Nadal... this is approaching RG21 sf levels...

Won't match Djokovic' 100 against Simon - but it's pretty bad stuff this

 

[lrdrdy]

Nadal on HC and Clay are two different animals. We cant say hes not the RG favorite until its absolutely clear otherwise, but on HC hes done.

 

[Terenigma]

What was that from Nadal? It landed on the court at least just his own side haha

 

[Bud]

39 UEs from Nadal... this is approaching RG21 sf levels...

43 now

 

[Bud]

Nadal had been abominable on BP's

 

[Terenigma]

Gotta respect the volleys there. Really good

 

[MeatTornado]

Even with his dusty old wheels, you can't beat Nadal with drop shots.

 

[Oceans II]

Rafa saying Draper is plyaing ombelliable.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Ombelieveable volley

 

[Bud]

Nadal breaks back 1-1

 

[junior74]

A proper WTA opening on this 4th set

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Terenigma]

Nadal upped his level to 3/10 and Draper can't handle it.

 

[Tennfan123]

Nadal’s nervous system will be so happy when he retires!

 

[Terenigma]

According to the commentators, during that changeover Nadal looked to his team and pointed to his stomach maybe implying a problem? Or he's hungry. Who knows?

 

[The_Order]

43 now

12 more.. let's see..

 

[junior74]

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Bit of advice for you, Travis. Don't press play.

Cheers.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Surprised at the lack of drop shots from Rafa.

 

[junior74]

Bit of advice for you, Travis. Don't press play.

Cheers.

 

[junior74]

Draper is cramping. Vamos and bye-bye

 

[Kralingen]

Now that it’s capped, I gotta say that anyone who actually thought this guy would beat Rafa is officially on StrongRule level. Draper can’t even stand up

 

[MeatTornado]

deja vu all over again

Nadal playing some of his worst possible tennis but will still get away with it because his opponent cannot play more than 3 sets.

 

[King_ Zeglan12]

Did Draper have any issues coming into the match ? He's tired and cramping now

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[weakera]

Now that it’s capped, I gotta say that anyone who actually thought this guy would beat Rafa is officially on StrongRule level. Draper can’t even stand up

Draper at his best would have been all Rafa can handle today. Even with serious cramping this is going to be a four hour match.

 

[King_ Zeglan12]

Nadal on course to get destroyed by Medvedev in the QF