2024 Swedish Open ATP 250 Quarter Finals matchup - Rafael Nadal (SPN) v/s [4] Mariano Navone (ARG)

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DIMI_D said:
I don’t know if these type of matches these days help or hinder him with match fitness and reps as his recovery abilities aren’t what they use to be. I have no idea about the next opponent and how he will stack up against him it’s no where near what we are all use to expect from Rafa would love to see him lift another trophy but regardless nice to see our boy competing and going out on his own terms
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There's no way it helps him for this tournament, even if all the remaining prospective opponents should technically be lesser challenges, he's unlikely to be able to recover from that, but it might help him going forward. He spoke yesterday about his struggles with getting mentally locked in, and he displayed that exact problem in abundance today, so we can say it's something he'll know even more that he still needs to work on, as much as such a thing can be worked on.
 
The_Order said:
Yeah, great effort at his age. Oh and he's racked up his 3rd win v a top 50 opponent this season now. There's that...

Hopefully he's not cannon fodder for tomorrow's match lol
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I don't know anything about his opponent, but hopefully Nadal is ready to play. I am sure this 4 hour match will be a shock to this system, a match like that is draining even on athletes in their peaks.
 
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NYTennisfan said:
Rafa is freaking epic. 38 years old, barely any recent match play and pulls out a 4 hour match win against a somewhat decent player. I'm just enjoying every little bit of Rafa that we have left to watch even knowing that he'll never be what he was again.
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!!!!!!!!! Wish I had wings r.n
 
ibbi said:
There's no way it helps him for this tournament, even if all the remaining prospective opponents should technically be lesser challenges, he's unlikely to be able to recover from that, but it might help him going forward. He spoke yesterday about his struggles with getting mentally locked in, and he displayed that exact problem in abundance today, so we can say it's something he'll know even more that he still needs to work on, as much as such a thing can be worked on.
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The way he got broke multiple times in a row in all three sets was some tough viewing, especially that third set, went from 5-2 to 5-5. giving both breaks back.
 
Well I thoroughly enjoyed that! Super rusty Rafa wins against a tricky clay counter and while there were way too many unforced errors and lapses, I feel he needed a battle. It was a rollercoaster but there was also lots of great tennis. He moved a hell of a lot better than I thought he could as well.
I haven’t read back….it might spoil my take on this lol.
 
Hitman said:
I don't know anything about his opponent, but hopefully Nadal is ready to play. I am sure this 4 hour match will be a shock to this system, a match like that is draining even on athletes in their peaks.
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I'd fancy my chances of winning a couple games against him tomorrow :P

Can't see him recovering well enough to play both matches...
 
Rattie said:
Well I thoroughly enjoyed that! Super rusty Rafa wins against a tricky clay counter and while there were way too many unforced errors and lapses, I feel he needed a battle. It was a rollercoaster but there was also lots of great tennis. He moved a hell of a lot better than I thought he could as well.
I haven’t read back….it might spoil my take on this lol.
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Best not to then. LOL
 
On a lighter note, there were some seriously beautiful looking forehands out there today, and reader... Isn't that what REALLY matters?
 
Let's just hope that Nadal doesn't get injured by overplaying.
4 hours today and singles/doubles tomorrow. He shouldn't overdo at the risk of injury/exhuastion.
Olympics is around the corner. His whole reason for sacrificing Wimbledon was to give himself the best chance at the games. It would be a shame if this 250 tournament endangered that.
 
GabeT said:
It’s funny how in a Nadal match thread you can’t control yourself and end up with dumb comparisons with Novak
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Go easy on him, Novak has destroyed him mentally by winning all those slams, that even in a Rafa match that lasted four hours, all he could think about was Novak.
 
TennisFan3 said:
Let's just hope that Nadal doesn't get injured by overplaying.
4 hours today and singles/doubles tomorrow. He shouldn't overdo at the risk of injury/exhuastion.
Olympics is around the corner. His whole reason for sacrificing Wimbledon was to give himself the best chance at the games. It would be a shame if this 250 tournament endangered that.
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If he wants to challenge then he has to put himself through this. He knows more than anyone what his limits are.
 
Hitman said:
Go easy on him, Novak has destroyed him mentally by winning all those slams, that even in a Rafa match that lasted four hours, all he could think about was Novak.
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Hitman said:
Go easy on him, Novak has destroyed him mentally by winning all those slams, that even in a Rafa match that lasted four hours, all he could think about was Novak.
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Your friend is the one speaking nonsense on a Rafas match thread
 
I saw like 40 minutes of the middle of the match. Nadal is playing at like 30%, if that and these mugs still can't beat him.

I don't think there's any chance for a deep run at the Olympics, the first top 20 player he faces he's out.
 
Hitman said:
The way he got broke multiple times in a row in all three sets was some tough viewing, especially that third set, went from 5-2 to 5-5. giving both breaks back.
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Navone is a good up and coming player. He’s a very good returner and good ball striker. It’s a shame he’s shortish and has no serve. Even with a 10% better serve he would be a problem everyone on clay.
 
jl809 said:
Is Nadal broken 8 times in a 3 set match officially the most for him in a Bo3 on clay?
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I think so.

Rublev broke him 7 times at 2021 MC
Verdasco 7 times at 2012 Madrid
Davydenko 7 times at 2007 Roma (lowest % of serve points won overall vs. Davy other than against Gaudio and Coria whon he played as teenager)
Gaudio 7 times at 2004 Bastad
Greek philosopher 6 times at 2019 Madrid
Fog 6 times at 2019 MC (in only two sets — some of the best clay ball striking I’ve ever seen)
Djoko 6 times in 2014 Roma
Andreev 6 times at 2005 Valencia
Ferrer 6 times at 2004 Stuttgart

Sir Murray broke him 7 times on fast hardcourt in Rotterdam in 2009
 
Tbh not sure how this is something worth celebrating. His game is in decline but the old bull refuses to accept reality and is desperate for the dopamine rush, whatever the setting.
Next thing we know it'll take nadal 4 hrs to grind past a journeyman in the last 16 in a clay tournie on the challenger tour and we'll shower him with praise screaming "nadal is such a warrior !"
 
Rogibear said:
Tbh not sure how this is something worth celebrating. His game is in decline but the old bull refuses to accept reality and is desperate for the dopamine rush, whatever the setting.
Next thing we know it'll take nadal 4 hrs to grind past a journeyman in the last 16 in a clay tournie on the challenger tour and we'll shower him with praise screaming "nadal is such a warrior !"
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Your words are "very encouraging" for Nadal, who is playing the last tournaments of his prolific career with enthusiasm, joy, dedication and passion.
 
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Nadal is unique. Ruud and Rublev were eliminated early but Rafa who has won it all including this title 19 years ago fights like this in a 250 and it obviously still means everything to him to come through. He said somewhat jokingly it seemed in the interview after the Borg match he is there to defend his title. I take his words for it now. It’s impossible to have nothing but respect for this man.
 
Rattie said:
Well I thoroughly enjoyed that! Super rusty Rafa wins against a tricky clay counter and while there were way too many unforced errors and lapses, I feel he needed a battle. It was a rollercoaster but there was also lots of great tennis. He moved a hell of a lot better than I thought he could as well.
I haven’t read back….it might spoil my take on this lol.
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Hugely significant match that for Rafa, no negatives at all. Yes his actual level of play was all over the place, that is actually irrelevant. The fact he was able to play 4 hours is HUGE. Also tells me that if he stays fit, retirement isnt happening any time soon.
His game play will improve, today though was just monumental for him to trust in his body again.
 
Rogibear said:
Tbh not sure how this is something worth celebrating. His game is in decline but the old bull refuses to accept reality and is desperate for the dopamine rush, whatever the setting.
Next thing we know it'll take nadal 4 hrs to grind past a journeyman in the last 16 in a clay tournie on the challenger tour and we'll shower him with praise screaming "nadal is such a warrior !"
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You are missing the bigger picture. Nadal is on a comeback after 2 years out. To prove to himself (and the locker room) he can still go 4 hours is of huge importance.
 
Rattie said:
Oh I don’t intend to lol :whistle:

I’m just enjoying seeing my boy competing and savouring that while I can. I don’t have any expectations; he has nothing to prove in my book.
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Well Nadal is the only player currently active to have won all of the Big 5 events. Interesting he wants a 2nd OG so badly, perhaps doesnt want Murray having that kudos of his generation.
Nadal does look very happy with life. This is all gravy time for him now.
 
The_Order said:
I'd fancy my chances of winning a couple games against him tomorrow :p

Can't see him recovering well enough to play both matches...
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If Rafa plays tomorrow and is moving well ,that is just of massive significance. All about the body at the moment. His game will come once he is confident in his body. Another 4 hour match will do just fine, its about reps at this stage.
 
Will Rafa be dead tomorrow and totally suck in the semifinals ?? he is playing newjokivic ? is this new younger better jokovic ?
 
QF = Ajdukovic def. Moneiro 62 46 64
R16 = Ajdukovic def. Kotov 76(9) 63 36
No, Nadal won't be losing the Semi-Final.
 
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