3 Reasons Stan Wawrinka Will Win

[Day_Tripper]

1. Stan is an absolute beast when it comes to Grand Slam finals. He is absolutely dialled in, has no fear, no expectations, no pressure and consequently brings his A game time after time. When Stan plays at his absolute best there is no-one bar Federer who can hang with him.

2. Nadal has a HUGE amount of pressure on him. The expectation of him reaching 'La Decima' the need to try and close the gap again on Federer and the pressure that comes with the realisation that his chances of claiming Grand Slams are fast running out and that he has blown his last couple of Grand Slam finals.

3. Nadal has throughout his career been revered for his mental fortitude however it is this aspect of his game that has declined the most in recent years. Time and time again in Grand Slams especially when the heat has gone on Nadal has wilted. You can bet the longer this match goes the more those demons will begin to play a part.

My pick. Wawrinka to win in 4 or 5.

 

[Sentinel]

Poor Nadal. Feel so sawrry for him. Lost before the match has even begun.

"He should just forfeit the match " - 90s Clay.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Really good assessment actually. Especially #2. Stan just doesn't give a f*** and Nadal feels more pressure the older he gets and the fewer his opportunities seem. When he was younger he seemed to relish the fact that he was young and had many years ahead of him.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Poor Nadal. Feel so sawrry for him. Lost before the match has even begun.

"He should just forfeit the match " - 90s Clay.

LOL! Sources close to the Nadal camp say he has a trio of real estate brokers on retainer in Helsinki, Finland and an appointment at the Finnish Consulate.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

If Stan wins, I wonder how much love Roger will give him for keeping Rafa at 14 slams, hehe!

 

[Big_Dangerous]

LOL! Sources close to the Nadal camp say he has a trio of real estate brokers on retainer in Helsinki, Finland and an appointment at the Finnish Consulate.

Paging @I Am Finnish , Paging @I Am Finnish !

 

[cc0509]

1. Stan is an absolute beast when it comes to Grand Slam finals. He is absolutely dialled in, has no fear, no expectations, no pressure and consequently brings his A game time after time. When Stan plays at his absolute best there is no-one bar Federer who can hang with him.

2. Nadal has a HUGE amount of pressure on him. The expectation of him reaching 'La Decima' the need to try and close the gap again on Federer and the pressure that comes with the realisation that his chances of claiming Grand Slams are fast running out and that he has blown his last couple of Grand Slam finals.

3. Nadal has throughout his career been revered for his mental fortitude however it is this aspect of his game that has declined the most in recent years. Time and time again in Grand Slams especially when the heat has gone on Nadal has wilted. You can bet the longer this match goes the more those demons will begin to play a part.

My pick. Wawrinka to win in 4 or 5.

My response to Stan winning:

1. Not going to happen
2. Not going to happen
3. Not going to happen

But seriously, regarding your first point that when Stan plays his best there is nobody who can hang with him except Roger. How do you know that? In slam finals Stan has played and defeated Djokovic twice and Nadal at the AO 2014. Djokovic is his pigeon lately and Djokovic is a completely different match-up for Stan than Nadal is on clay. The AO 2014 Stan win over Nadal was in part due to the fact that Nadal was injured. Now I know I joke a lot about the truthfulness of Nadal's many injuries but, come on, he was clearly injured in that match.

Regarding your second point, what huge pressure does Nadal have on him? He already has 9 FO titles, lol.

Re your third point, I don't think Nadal's mental fortitude has dwindled. I think we only saw that because his confidence was low but now his confidence is sky high.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Paging @I Am Finnish , Paging @I Am Finnish !

Yo

 

[FederErizeD]

2 & 3 are pretty much the same. And they're completely wrong IMHO.

You guys fail to see that those players have went through tons of experience, that every situation or scenario imaginable they have already been through at some stage of their carrers .. It has come to a point that nothing matters except the very moment they are in, in every moment of the match.

Also, this is Philippe Chatrier, Nadal's undisputed kingdom where no body has the right to even come close. What would exactly dare to put pressure on him in this circumstance?!

Finally, Stan will be tired from his prolonged semi's battle .. This is the way it's going to be. Yes he's a beast, but he's also human, and he's 32.

Really it's unreasonable to favor Stan over Rafa considering such circumstances.

 

[FederErizeD]

My response to Stan winning:
The AO 2014 Stan win over Nadal was in part due to the fact that Nadal was injured. Now I know I joke a lot about the truthfulness of Nadal's many injuries but, come on, he was clearly injured in that match.

Could we please agree on stopping this nonsense talk about Nadal's injury in the AO14's final?

There was absolutely nothing wrong with him until the very moment he got broken at the start of the second set. He was fine, and was getting utterly pummeled by Stan and no way in hell he was going to win it even if it was AO09 Nadal.

 

[icedevil0289]

If Stan wins, I wonder how much love Roger will give him for keeping Rafa at 14 slams, hehe!

i think the fed fans, myself included, care about that wayyy more than he does. not going to happen anyway

 

[cc0509]

Could we please agree on stopping this nonsense talk about Nadal's injury in the AO14's final?

There was absolutely nothing wrong with him until the very moment he got broken at the start of the second set. He was fine, and was getting utterly pummeled by Stan and no way in hell he was going to win it even if it was AO09 Nadal.

Listen, I'm the first one to question Nadal's mountain of injuries but he was clearly injured in that AO 2014 match unless you believe he purposely served 70 m/hr serves? That's why I don't think we can take away much from that match and that Wawrinka win.

 

[icedevil0289]

Listen, I'm the first one to question Nadal's mountain of injuries but he was clearly injured in that AO 2014 match unless you believe he purposely served 70 m/hr serves? That's why I don't think we can take away much from that match and that Wawrinka win.

I definitely think he had something going on, but with that being said I think stan also came out guns blazing as well and that factored in as because iirc stan starting playing much worse when he let the injury affect his play imo. I still think it was a legitimate win no matter how you slice it. With that being said, people who reference AO are giving me a migraine because even if you take away the injury, its rafa on hc, vs rafa on clay. like there is a reason he has 1 gs at AO and freaking 9 at rg. he is far more vulnerable in the former, and a beast at the latter.

 

[deBroglie]

1. Stan is an absolute beast when it comes to Grand Slam finals. He is absolutely dialled in, has no fear, no expectations, no pressure and consequently brings his A game time after time. When Stan plays at his absolute best there is no-one bar Federer who can hang with him.

2. Nadal has a HUGE amount of pressure on him. The expectation of him reaching 'La Decima' the need to try and close the gap again on Federer and the pressure that comes with the realisation that his chances of claiming Grand Slams are fast running out and that he has blown his last couple of Grand Slam finals.

3. Nadal has throughout his career been revered for his mental fortitude however it is this aspect of his game that has declined the most in recent years. Time and time again in Grand Slams especially when the heat has gone on Nadal has wilted. You can bet the longer this match goes the more those demons will begin to play a part.

My pick. Wawrinka to win in 4 or 5.

1 is a legitimate reason. Stan Wawrinka is, if nothing else, someone who always rises to the occasion. The chance that the plays a poor match is nearly negligible. However, the fact that Stan hasn't lost a Slam final yet is not a reason. Everyone has to lose a Slam final at some point. Federer was 7-0 until Nadal snapped it 11 years ago (wow, it's been that long).

2 is sort of a reason, Nadal always downplays the pressure on him "I am happy already with 9", but it's reasonable to believe he's a bit nervous before the match. However, Stan will probably be more nervous; even though he was at the same stage 2 years ago, he is now playing the man who is synonymous with clay court history. I don't see why Nadal will be reminded of the AO final this year, except for the fact that both of his opponents are Swiss.

3 is unfounded. Nadal was incredibly mentally strong in the 2017 AO final. Almost every occasion where Federer had a break point in the fifth set, Nadal swiped it away with an ace, a service winner, or a forehand winner. As the match goes on, Nadal's mental strength becomes a bigger factor.

 

[cc0509]

With that being said, people who reference AO are giving me a migraine because even if you take away the injury, its rafa on hc, vs rafa on clay. like there is a reason he has 1 gs at AO and freaking 9 at rg. he is far more vulnerable in the former, and a beast at the latter.

LOL, you're funny but I agree.

 

[70後]

people like dropping coins into the wishing well

 

[icedevil0289]

LOL, you're funny but I agree.

i'm not sure how to take that lol

 

[LETitBE]

So......will the conditions be quicker and bouncier now? a bit more like the AO14 conditions than mud?

 

[cc0509]

i'm not sure how to take that lol

Just the way you phrased it was funny but dead on. I don't know what some people are smoking on this forum to equate an AO win for Stan on hc against an injured Nadal with a healthy and in top form Nadal at the FO.

 

[icedevil0289]

Just the way you phrased it was funny but dead on. I don't know what some people are smoking on this forum to equate an AO win for Stan on hc against an injured Nadal with a healthy and in top form Nadal at the FO.

oh okay, i still dont like bringing up injury for nadal at AO, obviously you feel other wise, because imo its not like nadal is unbeatable on that court, heck stan beat the king of AO, djokovic that year, sooo it kind of rubs me the wrong way ngl. i feel like it takes away from stan and his amazing play, but because he was playing really great and well i cannot stand nadal fans still going on about that match 3 years later and whining about it, i'm sorry.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Listen, I'm the first one to question Nadal's mountain of injuries but he was clearly injured in that AO 2014 match unless you believe he purposely served 70 m/hr serves? That's why I don't think we can take away much from that match and that Wawrinka win.

When did Clay queen hack this account? Nadal wasn't serving slow from the beginning. He was just as good as semis against Federer till Wawrinka broke him in second with cruising BH return winner.

 

[icedevil0289]

When did Clay queen hack this account? Nadal wasn't serving slow from the beginning. He was just as good as semis against Federer till Wawrinka broke him in second with cruising BH return winner.

lol I think cco509 kind of exaggerates at times, I'm kind of in the middle. do i think nadal was a 100% probably not, do i think nadal was crippled the way some nadal fans do so they can take away the win from stan, absolutely not. he deserved that win through his amazing play. plus its not like nadal at AO isnt unbeatable, so.....i mean its not completely unfathomable that stan, who was able to beat djokovic who imo is far more better at AO than nadal, could also beat nadal there fair and square.

 

[Gazelle]

Howw long till the final?

 

[cc0509]

oh okay, i still dont like bringing up injury for nadal at AO, obviously you feel other wise, because imo its not like nadal is unbeatable on that court, heck stan beat the king of AO, djokovic that year, sooo it kind of rubs me the wrong way ngl. i feel like it takes away from stan and his amazing play, but because he was playing really great and well i cannot stand nadal fans still going on about that match 3 years later and whining about it, i'm sorry.

Oh, I completely understand your points and yes the Nadal fanatics always say Nadal is injured when he loses which is unbearable but in this case with that AO 2014 final I actually do think Nadal was injured. But Stan won and a win is a win. I just don't think that Stan's AO 2014 win over an injured Nadal will translate to a Stan win over a healthy Nadal at the FO and I think you agree.

We'll find out soon. If Stan can beat a healthy Nadal at the FO it will be his best win ever.

When did Clay queen hack this account? Nadal wasn't serving slow from the beginning. He was just as good as semis against Federer till Wawrinka broke him in second with cruising BH return winner.

Ha ha. Nadal was serving much slower after the injury. Believe me, I'm the most skeptical person around when we're talking about many of Nadal's injuries but for me he injured himself in that AO 2014 final.

 

[icedevil0289]

Oh, I completely understand your points and yes the Nadal fanatics always say Nadal is injured when he loses which is unbearable but in this case with that AO 2014 final I actually do think Nadal was injured. But Stan won and a win is a win. I just don't think that Stan's AO 2014 win over an injured Nadal will translate to a Stan win over a healthy Nadal at the FO and I think you agree.

We'll find out soon. If Stan can beat a healthy Nadal at the FO it will be his best win ever.




Ha ha. Nadal was serving much slower after the injury. Believe me, I'm the most skeptical person around when we're talking about many of Nadal's injuries but for me he injured himself in that AO 2014 final.

yeah, like i said people referencing AO are not getting AO is not FO, and trust me I'm like the first person to whine about all surfaces playing slowly, but they are definitely not the same. I just, hope once nadal beats stan, we dont get a bunch of AO win wasnt legitimate. partially injured or not, stan was playing lights out, nadal at AO isnt that amazing, and stan beat the AO king that year, if that makes sense.

 

[eliars]

1. Stan is an absolute beast when it comes to Grand Slam finals. He is absolutely dialled in, has no fear, no expectations, no pressure and consequently brings his A game time after time. When Stan plays at his absolute best there is no-one bar Federer who can hang with him.

2. Nadal has a HUGE amount of pressure on him. The expectation of him reaching 'La Decima' the need to try and close the gap again on Federer and the pressure that comes with the realisation that his chances of claiming Grand Slams are fast running out and that he has blown his last couple of Grand Slam finals.

3. Nadal has throughout his career been revered for his mental fortitude however it is this aspect of his game that has declined the most in recent years. Time and time again in Grand Slams especially when the heat has gone on Nadal has wilted. You can bet the longer this match goes the more those demons will begin to play a part.

My pick. Wawrinka to win in 4 or 5.

Delete

 

[hugobosstachini]

2 & 3 are pretty much the same. And they're completely wrong IMHO.

You guys fail to see that those players have went through tons of experience, that every situation or scenario imaginable they have already been through at some stage of their carrers .. It has come to a point that nothing matters except the very moment they are in, in every moment of the match.

Also, this is Philippe Chatrier, Nadal's undisputed kingdom where no body has the right to even come close. What would exactly dare to put pressure on him in this circumstance?!

Finally, Stan will be tired from his prolonged semi's battle .. This is the way it's going to be. Yes he's a beast, but he's also human, and he's 32.

Really it's unreasonable to favor Stan over Rafa considering such circumstances.

People are right to insist on that particular fact. In sport psychology, environment plays a quintessential role in player performance. The reason why Nadal is nearly unbeaten on PC is because he feels extremely comfortable there and players know that he feels like that which in return tend to alter their performance negatively.

The OP is wrong. The pressure is on Wawrinka because the environment is 100% in Nadal's favor. A specific familiar environment tends to naturally relax people, not stress them. Wawrinka is the one who has to find a specific set of solutions to disrupt the environmental factor to uplift and maintain a clean performance. And, while he has won majors and won RG already, facing Nadal in RG on PC in a GS final is a whole different configuration that even more experienced players like Djokovic or Federer have still not handled.

The discussion is about somebody who's won a specific tournament 9 times and created a specific emotional connection to it which allows him to almost always be at his best. You can have all the game you want, when somebody's emotions drives them to perform great in a specific closure almost all the time, it's nearly impossible to beat unless you match that enthusiasm for 3-4+ full hours, knowing that the person you're facing always has his chances.

Upsets are always possible obviously but the advantage is overwhelmingly to Nadal.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Oh, I completely understand your points and yes the Nadal fanatics always say Nadal is injured when he loses which is unbearable but in this case with that AO 2014 final I actually do think Nadal was injured. But Stan won and a win is a win. I just don't think that Stan's AO 2014 win over an injured Nadal will translate to a Stan win over a healthy Nadal at the FO and I think you agree.

We'll find out soon. If Stan can beat a healthy Nadal at the FO it will be his best win ever.




Ha ha. Nadal was serving much slower after the injury. Believe me, I'm the most skeptical person around when we're talking about many of Nadal's injuries but for me he injured himself in that AO 2014 final.

What about before so called injury? Didn't Stan out play him fair and square to win a set?

 

[ANDYbhGENIUS]

Could we please agree on stopping this nonsense talk about Nadal's injury in the AO14's final?

There was absolutely nothing wrong with him until the very moment he got broken at the start of the second set. He was fine, and was getting utterly pummeled by Stan and no way in hell he was going to win it even if it was AO09 Nadal.

I agree with you, saw it happen, everyone I spoke afterwards agreed with it, the way he walked off court and bully bare chested way he walked back on, the way he played like a devil in that first set, had three break back points there end first set, to see Wawrinka force those away and clinch victory in the first set, brilliantly breaking Nadal with that insane cross court BH return.... That IS WHAT BROKE NOT ONLY HIS BaCK, but also hiiiiiiis.....???

 

[veroniquem]

1 reason Wawrinka will lose: Nadal at RG. That would have been a better thread
And I still think Wawa would have lost to Nadal in 2015. Djoko just has a block against Wawa.

 

[Gary Duane]

1 reason Wawrinka will lose: Nadal at RG. That would have been a better thread
And I still think Wawa would have lost to Nadal in 2015. Djoko just has a block against Wawa.

I think Waw had a chance in 2015, for sure.

But not this year.

It was delusional to expect Stan to win, period, and as a few of us already predicted, once he lost the first set it was over.

 

[kishnabe]

1 reason Wawrinka will lose: Nadal at RG. That would have been a better thread
And I still think Wawa would have lost to Nadal in 2015. Djoko just has a block against Wawa.

Nadal would have lost in 2015...Stan would have eaten those short balls.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Nadal would have lost in 2015...Stan would have eaten those short balls.

Yeah I have to agree. If Stan was good enough to hit through Djokovic and beat him in 4 sets, then he would have beaten Nadal, no question.

 

[TripleATeam]

Does anyone remember when Federer won 7 grand slams in a row without ever finishing runner up? That was a man who was invincible in finals. Stan Wawrinka got less than half that and people were touting him as indestructible at the end of a grand slam.

 

[70後]

r.i.p the stanimal + 100% in finals tt's favourite bookmark.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Does anyone remember when Federer won 7 grand slams in a row without ever finishing runner up? That was a man who was invincible in finals. Stan Wawrinka got less than half that and people were touting him as indestructible at the end of a grand slam.

Haha, nice. I do not remember seven in a row! But i like it. Time for some grasscourt tennis. Allez Roger!

And as for Stanley...
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."
-samuel beckett

 

[Zara]

Only Djokovic is somewhat vulnerable to Wawrinka. Anything else is overrated.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Poor Nadal. Feel so sawrry for him. Lost before the match has even begun.

"He should just forfeit the match " - 90s Clay.

Rafa plays even when injured! Not a guy that gives up a match...not even a point if he can help it! AO is a good example of playing while injury and it was against Stan too!