2024 Swedish Open ATP 250 R32 matchup - Rafael Nadal (SPN) v/s Leo Borg (SWE)

Win Prediction poll

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  • Poll closed .
Borg looks like Brody, I guess that makes Nadal Jaws

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Just when you thought it was safe to step back on the clay....
 
I'm noticing Nadal lunging more to his forehand side when he is trying to get to a ball more than run towards it.
 
Nadal will win this more on the errors of Leo which is not a great standard of player but good that Nadal gets a match in. The more I see Nadal more I realise he can’t get that movement back which is of course normal for his age I always have that hope he will switch into that first half 2022 mode but he is a shadow of that even that version of himself was competitive with anyone on tour. He is a shadow of his former self just can’t get to those balls anymore timing is all off so he can construct the winning combination of shots we are all so accustomed too. Cam will be a big test I hope he can raise his level for that match as it will be extremely tricky for this version of Nadal it’s a coin flip. I hope Nadal is still capable of playing a couple levels above what I see here today
 
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DIMI_D said:
Nadal will win this more on the errors of Leo which is not a great standard of player but good that Nadal gets a match in. The more I see Nadal more I realise he can’t get that movement back which is of course normal for his age I always have that hope he will switch into that first half 2022 mode but he is a shadow of that even that version of himself which was competitive with anyone on tour. He is a shadow of his former self just can’t get to those balls anymore timing is all off so he can construct the winning combination of shots we are all so accustomed too. Cam will be a big test I hope he can raise his level for that match as it will be extremely tricky for this version of Nadal it’s a coin flip. I hope Nadal is still capable of playing a couple levels above what I see here today
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Rafa wont be giving it everything today, he isnt going to destroy Borg for obvious reasons. This is a practice session to an extent.
His movement looks as good as 2022 tbh, i thought he was laboured at AO and FO 2022. in 2022 though there was no mature Sinner and Alcaraz and clearly he is a way off their level.
 
Norrie is the type of guy, should he beat this Nadal, he will say he that he beat a well playing peaking Nadal.

I still cannot get over how he spoke about Alcaraz post Rio final last year, when Raz could not move at all and Norrie saying how Raz was moving perfectly and playing his best.
 
weakera said:
Watching this, I'm worried for Rafa against Norrie next round. He is going to have to play a lot better. Borg is not a serious player at all.
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Rafa isnt going to be going full gun against Borg, who is a practice partner. 6-0 6-0 helps nobody. This is a practice session really.
Rafa has a break now he will just cruise now.
 
messiahrobins said:
Rafa isnt going to be going full gun against Borg, who is a practice partner. 6-0 6-0 helps nobody. This is a practice session really.
Rafa has a break now he will just cruise now.
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I agree completely, but I'd still like to see the occasional point or rally with a little more fluidity from Rafa. Then again to play devils advocate, it would be unnecessarily dangerous to go close to full bore in these conditions.
 
Hitman said:
Norrie is the type of guy, should he beat this Nadal, he will say he that he beat a well playing peaking Nadal.

I still cannot get over how he spoke about Alcaraz post Rio final last year, when Raz could not move at all and Norrie saying how Raz was moving perfectly and playing his best.
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Norrie is not liked in the locker room apparently, there was needle in his match with Draper as well.
Norrie a perfect match for rafa at this stage i think. A good test to see where he is at.
 
weakera said:
Watching this, I'm worried for Rafa against Norrie next round. He is going to have to play a lot better. Borg is not a serious player at all.
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In a way I think the organizers did him a disservice with this. He’s getting match play sure but the step up in intensity is going to be huge next round.
 
weakera said:
I agree completely, but I'd still like to see the occasional point or rally with a little more fluidity from Rafa. Then again to play devils advocate, it would be unnecessarily dangerous to go close to full bore in these conditions.
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Thing with Rafa his whole career, and he is a bit like Alcaraz in this respect, is he he raises his level when his opponent plays well, but if his opponent is hopeless, as Borg is, the intensity drops off.
Rafa is already now coasting and not running down balls. Given he plays tomorrow i think, that is sensible
 
messiahrobins said:
Norrie is not liked in the locker room apparently, there was needle in his match with Draper as well.
Norrie a perfect match for rafa at this stage i think. A good test to see where he is at.
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I was really annoyed at him after that Rio final.

Raz was in serious pain in that match, but he kept playing on for the fans, knowing full well he wasn't winning. Norrie could clearly see Raz was not moving and just smacking winners to compensate, when asked, he said he saw no hampered movement. LOL
 
Kralingen said:
In a way I think the organizers did him a disservice with this. He’s getting match play sure but the step up in intensity is going to be huge next round.
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I think Norrie is the perfect opponent next up. If he wins, and say wins the event he wont play next week. Lose and he will play next week but the point is surely he is looking for good tests not Borg type opponents.
 
I wonder if Leo will ask for Rafa's shirt after this match as a memorabilia for playing his idol for the first time in a pro level match.
 
Hitman said:
I was really annoyed at him after that Rio final.

Raz was in serious pain in that match, but he kept playing on for the fans, knowing full well he wasn't winning. Norrie could clearly see Raz was not moving and just smacking winners to compensate, when asked, he said he saw no hampered movement. LOL
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Yeah i remember that, Norrie has a massive chip on his shoulder. Novak called him out on being a jerk a while back.
 
messiahrobins said:
Rafa wont be giving it everything today, he isnt going to destroy Borg for obvious reasons. This is a practice session to an extent.
His movement looks as good as 2022 tbh, i thought he was laboured at AO and FO 2022. in 2022 though there was no mature Sinner and Alcaraz and clearly he is a way off their level.
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He is at best now top 20 player his shot making is still there but yes movement is gone at least the serve is getting better. I agree this is just a practice and not going all guns blazing here holding back a bit. Hopefully he raises his level for cam and that will be more telling as to where he is now with this extended block of training if he can’t beat him he is truly done as he hasn’t progressed since Rome and RG
 
DIMI_D said:
He is at best now top 20 player his shot making is still there but yes movement is gone at least the serve is getting better. I agree this is just a practice and not going all guns blazing here holding back a bit. Hopefully he raises his level for cam and that will be more telling as to where he is now with this extended block of training if he can’t beat him he is truly done as he hasn’t progressed since Rome and RG
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Id like to see Rafa at some point play Rublev or Ruud. Norrie is a good test but he is a lefty so its a bit different to guage things.
Rafa id like to see get to say where Djokovic and Zverev are, i.e better than everyone else not named Sinner and Alcaraz. He is never getting to their levels now but get back to top 5-10 level will be great. With a bit of luck if at that level, he could win titles as nobody can predict sickness and injury, look at sinner at Wimbledon for example.
 
Why is Rafa not going for the second break, I don't get it. He needs to push his body to a certain degree so that he would be ready for tougher opponents.
 
mehdimike said:
Why is Rafa not going for the second break, I don't get it. He needs to push his body to a certain degree so that he would be ready for tougher opponents.
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Because he is about 20 levels ahead of Borg and knows it so just isnt that intense. Everytime he zones in he wins the point easily.
 
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