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

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Good result I hope Rafa makes at least the quarters

I think he’s going to rapidly come into form now, I do. I have faith!

 

[The Guru]

I think he’s going to rapidly come into form now, I do. I have faith!

After last year anything is possible. Nakashima going down is nice bonus.

 

[Nadal_King]

Rafa looks better and in place than indoors but still too much of rust or casual misses in his game but surely they will improve by second week

 

[D.Nalby12]

Surely Draper is very annoying opponent but he has got no tools to trouble Nadal on slow court like this. All he can do is to force Nadal to play 3 hours match.

Told ya Lol..

 

[MichaelNadal]

Now we just need Rafa's draw to fall apart

 

[Spencer Gore]

A win is a win. There will be tougher challenges ahead.

 

[DSH]

Now we just need Rafa's draw to fall apart

No, he just needs to trade his draw for Tiley's protégé.

 

[chrischris]

Its obvious that Draper has not got his stamina in order. He has to get that fixed by training better off court. What have they missed here..? Is his coach not aware..?

 

[DSH]

Its obvious that Draper has not got his stamina in order. He has to get that fixed by training better off court. What have they missed here..? Is his coach not aware..?

He needs to ask Djokovic for the magic potion to recover his energies in an untimely manner.

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[vanioMan]

How did Rafa play guys? Can anybody give me a brief review? The match started around 5-6 AM where I live so I couldn't watch.

@MichaelNadal

 

[MichaelNadal]

How did Rafa play guys? Can anybody give me a brief review? The match started around 5-6 AM where I live so I couldn't watch.

@MichaelNadal

It was extremely messy from Rafa. But Draper is a tough R1, Nadal really needed this match to get some confidence rolling. Tons of UE's but luckily he came through.

 

[Wesling]

Damn rafa is stinking up the place just like he did last year haha

 

[Deleted member 629564]

The most popular poll answer (3-1, 44%) was correct.

 

[optic yellow]

Draper's BH looked super legit I'm going to study it.

 

[Deleted member 629564]

Thank you Rafa for making sure I enjoy my breakfast burritos this morning

This is so unhealthy to eat that kind of meal for a breakfast.

 

[Larry Duff]

Fair play I really thought he would lose.

 

[MichaelNadal]

This is so unhealthy to eat that kind of meal for a breakfast.

It was soooooo goodddddd. Now im abt to sleep

 

[SonicNirvana]

Fair play I really thought he would lose.

It was the kind of match i expected. Happy to see him play well in stretches of this match.

 

[bigjimbofan]

Good hard match for a couple of sets that should pay off for Nadal. Rafa really needs to shave his head though. That's looking pretty bad.

 

[King_ Zeglan12]

He will raise his level by then. I expect raga to improve the longer he can stay in the event.

Yess but given how Med played today, Rafa is not gonna beat him

 

[King_ Zeglan12]

we’re talking about Daniil Medvedev right? not some other Medvedev?

Yess , Rafa is gonna lose to Medvedev

 

[Jonesy]

Good hard match for a couple of sets that should pay off for Nadal. Rafa really needs to shave his head though. That's looking pretty bad.

He should just paint black that spot with waterproof ink.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Yess but given how Med played today, Rafa is not gonna beat him

It’s a long way to go. We also know Nadal is not a good matchup for Meddy. If that match happens it will be good battle but Rafa won’t be phased by the challenge. Hopefully both make it and we get a high level match like last year.

 

[nam416]

Good on you ball boy for stealing Nadal's racquet. Keep it up.

Is there no limit to how low Craig Tiley would stoop?

 

[DSH]

Is there no limit to how low Craig Tiley would stoop?

Tiley is now on Djokovic's payroll.

 

[Nostradamus]

Never fear, i have analyzed this match, took 2 hours but RAFA is going to win it. It has to do with matchup issues that Draper has with this. I can explain this to you but it will take 3 pages of TW forum. Only Geniuses like me understand so just know that RAFA will win this one

When you are genius, you can make prediction like this and make come true 100 %

 

[Larry Duff]

Good hard match for a couple of sets that should pay off for Nadal. Rafa really needs to shave his head though. That's looking pretty bad.

Agassdal

 

[DSH]

Agassdal

'BalDal'!

 

[Federer_pilon]

Good hard match for a couple of sets that should pay off for Nadal. Rafa really needs to shave his head though. That's looking pretty bad.

I don't know why you guys are so obsessed with the hair (or lack of). Just watch the tennis...

 

[bigjimbofan]

I don't know why you guys are so obsessed with the hair (or lack of). Just watch the tennis...

Are you bald too ? Will say what I want to say. Deal with it.

 

[mahatma]

If Nadal didn't play well vs. Norrie and De Minaur, he would have lost in straight sets.
Instead, those matches went the full distance, and Nadal was experimenting with serve-volley anyway, not something he'd do at the AO much.
Nadal is willing to die for this AO, not for the united cup.

Die he did for a R2 finish. Great prediction as usual

 

[Deleted member 629564]

I don't know why you guys are so obsessed with the hair (or lack of). Just watch the tennis...

When you watch tennis you watch Nadal.
When you watch Nadal you watch his head.
When you watch his head you watch his hair.

 

[Rattie]

Good hard match for a couple of sets that should pay off for Nadal. Rafa really needs to shave his head though. That's looking pretty bad.

Actually off court, when it’s not soaking wet, Rafa’s hair is fine. So no he doesn’t need to shave his head. The fact that you focus on a physical trait that no man can control I find petty and wonder why you need to bring up a physical characteristic when it has sod all to do with tennis. I thought body shaming was a thing of the past. Not on here it seems.
And btw I’m a woman, not a man, just in case you don’t know.