AO 2011 R32: Rafael Nadal (1) vs Bernard Tomic
- Thread starter aldeayeah
- Start date
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meg0529
Guest
I disagree with most of the rest of your post. For one, I saw his USO final with Novak just yesterday. the first serve% was in the upper 60s. Also, you've been claiming he was serving at 134 a lot. No he wasn't. His average speed was 122ish, he was at 119 last match, so not way off. It might seem NOW that he played some sort of magical tournament at the USO, but if you revisit some of the matches, you'll see it wasn't all that magical.
Today, he seemed very nervous and unsure this match. His serve was not working as well as it did in the last round, but I believe him when he said in his post match interview that Tomic didn't allow him to play well. When you watch him on TV you can only see what it LOOKS like to play him, not what it's actually like to play him. He straight setted Feli, which sure he's not the most consistent player, but straight sets?
As for the shirt, it's awful I agree, it makes him look sweatier than he actually is. It sux that they have something similar for RG.
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meg0529
Guest
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Nadal shirt looks cheap and tacky. I don't remember the sleveless tops looking this bad.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Tomic's forehand looks hit and miss to me. Like most counter punchers his best shot is his backhand.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I was talking about the serve TODAY. Nadal served great last match at 119 mph. But not today.
I just went to match stats in AO ( http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/stats/day11/1301ms.html ) : Nadal's AVERAGE serve today was 182 kmph = 113 mph. That's a 6 mph drop on AVERAGE between 2 matches!!! And 9-10 mph drop over UsO Average. Also the peak speed is around 126-127 compared to 135 in UsO. So yeah, the serve is not as good.
Furthermore Nadal;'s winning % on first serve was just 68% where as his 2010 average is close to 84% . That's a EIGHTEEN percent drop, for today's match! No wonder Tomic was breaking Nadal easily. Compare this to the UsO, where no one broke Rafa till the QF, and he set a record for being broken only 5 times in the tournament.
BTW Llyeton Hewitt was commenting, and he said Nadal needs to improve against Cilic for sure. He was also impressed by Tomic.
Well, if you think Nadal played great, then glory to you, I guess. We'll know when he faces a top player..
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meg0529
Guest
Nadal is his own best analyst. He is almost never wrong.
It's true. He is his own best critic, if he messes up he will tell you. He said his serve and forehand weren't very good, but that his backhand was working well, which is pretty much exactly what everyone on here said, and what is fact. I guess we'll find out more in the presser, but he will admit it if he was sucking and Tomic had nothing to do with it.
namelessone
Legend
Nadal's not sweating it this AO:
Techniques
Rookie
Tonight Bernard really showed the game that he could potentially have- he was absolutely destroying Nadal early in the 2nd set. Winner after winner, bang bang bang. He could only keep it up for 20 minutes but that patch of play will be alot more consistent as he ages and gets more experience/fitness. People are saying Nadal played crap but why not give Bernard some credit- Bernard's strength has always been his unpredictability and his ability to mix it up. He's shown a vast amount of improvement since last year- he's shown he DOES have the ability to hit BIG, he's added significant power to his game in the space of 1 year. I reckon this year he'll be on the fringe of the top 100, next year top 50 and the year after I really think he'll be top 20 at least if not top 10.
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meg0529
Guest
He served 135 ONCE in the entire tournament!! you act like he's served that speed every match. that was his high for the entire tournament. So far his high this tourney has been 130. Which he served last round. yes his serve was bad today, but you cannot compare one round to an entire tournament.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I compared peak vs peak and Average vs Average for today's match and the UsOpen.
Isn't that a fair comparison?
Sorry if that's not clear to you. I can do no more unfortunately
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meg0529
Guest
I compared peak vs peak and Average vs Average for today's match and the UsOpen.
Isn't that a fair comparison?
Sorry if that's not clear to you. I can do no more unfortunately
Do you have stats for every match at the USO? If you do, then I'll shut up. But what i'm saying is comparing this one rounds averages, to the USO tournament average is not fair. But yes, there is no arguing that his serve was a bummer today. The issue is can we take that to mean he's doomed for the rest of the tournament?
nadal_slam_king
Banned
I knew it wouldn't be easy. Tomic and Rafa practiced last year and Rafa smashed a racquet during it.
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meg0529
Guest
btw, did anyone see, rafa had his rackets restrung midmatch. Maybe that was a contributing factor for the serve?
LameTennisPlayer
Professional
^^^^^^
Those pics up there are really really gross.... arghhhh!
the ones where he is drenched with sweat....... yuck!!!
Those pics up there are really really gross.... arghhhh!
the ones where he is drenched with sweat....... yuck!!!
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namelessone
Legend
Bernards's interview:
"Q. Looked pretty encouraging. How did it look for you?
BERNARD TOMIC: Great. Played a wonderful match. The experience that I had, it was great today. You know, I played really good in that second set, felt really good. But overall the way I played I'm happy with where my level was and where I need to improve.
Q. What did you learn about what you need to improve specifically?
BERNARD TOMIC: Definitely when I get up 4 Love. That's one (laughter).
But he's a very competitive player. You know, I thought it was over at 4 Love. You know, just shows how much he can come back. Against these guys, especially in the top 10, you can't afford to lose concentration. That's the important part.
You know, physically wise he's a machine. He just wears you down. That's where, you know, I'm going to need to improve on in the next few years. I'm improving on that since the last year and the year before. It's getting better for me physical wise. I think there's a lot more to improve on like that.
The way I'm hitting the ball, I can't say I'm not hitting it good, I'm hitting it really good.
Q. Do you think you've given other players a bit of a blueprint the way you managed to test him?
BERNARD TOMIC: Well, uhm, I don't know about that. These players have seen him a lot. Can't just rate it on my match. I can definitely say the players that play him, the guys that give him a lot of time, that's his weapon. The guys that give him a lot of time are the guys that are not going to do so well against him. He's unbelievable when there's a lot of time around him. The only way to beat him is step up and hit the ball hard, go for your shots.
But rallying wise, if you rally with him a lot, he's going to drain you out. He's too fast, too quick.
Q. Did he say anything to you after?
BERNARD TOMIC: He says, Very good play, keep working hard in the future. That's something I'll take from a player like that. He's a true champion. Very nice to get that advice from him.
Q. What tournaments have you got coming up? Take it as it comes?
BERNARD TOMIC: I don't know. I'll see the schedule. I'm definitely going to go to America and play more of the big tournaments. You know, I don't have a lot to defend now till the middle of the year. I can get my ranking up. Always worried me defending my points down in Australia because I always have like 130 points to defend. That's going to be my biggest task. I've defended a fair few. I can focus on building my points up and ranking until the end of the year.
Q. Is top hundred a goal this year?
BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah. I think absolutely, if I play well, you know, I'll definitely be in the top hundred. If I'm healthy during the year and I play a lot of tournaments, there's no doubt about it, I can break the top hundred.
Q. In hindsight, should you have played more last year?
BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, I should have. You know, I spent a lot of time in Europe, for two and a half months. I think I played the wrong tournaments. That's why when I came back to Australia, it was tough for me to go back to Europe again, back to America. I gave a lot of time between Wimbledon and the US Open where I didn't play any tournaments. That gap, I'll play more tournaments. That's what I need. I know where my level is at now. It's just getting my points to get in the top hundred.
Q. Before the match you were waiting in the corridor for Rafa to come out. Was that quite difficult to be waiting around?
BERNARD TOMIC: No, no problem. He has his thing. Didn't really bother me.
Q. There's been a lot of hype about you this week, particularly the last couple of days. What have you done to chill out, take your mind off it?
BERNARD TOMIC: Uhm, well, you know, I tried to sleep last night. I couldn't till about 1. It was very hard for me. But I've been relaxing in my hotel. This is a very big match for me. As much relaxing as I could have got, I needed it.
I'm happy the way I played again. You know, I've learnt a lot."
"Q. Looked pretty encouraging. How did it look for you?
BERNARD TOMIC: Great. Played a wonderful match. The experience that I had, it was great today. You know, I played really good in that second set, felt really good. But overall the way I played I'm happy with where my level was and where I need to improve.
Q. What did you learn about what you need to improve specifically?
BERNARD TOMIC: Definitely when I get up 4 Love. That's one (laughter).
But he's a very competitive player. You know, I thought it was over at 4 Love. You know, just shows how much he can come back. Against these guys, especially in the top 10, you can't afford to lose concentration. That's the important part.
You know, physically wise he's a machine. He just wears you down. That's where, you know, I'm going to need to improve on in the next few years. I'm improving on that since the last year and the year before. It's getting better for me physical wise. I think there's a lot more to improve on like that.
The way I'm hitting the ball, I can't say I'm not hitting it good, I'm hitting it really good.
Q. Do you think you've given other players a bit of a blueprint the way you managed to test him?
BERNARD TOMIC: Well, uhm, I don't know about that. These players have seen him a lot. Can't just rate it on my match. I can definitely say the players that play him, the guys that give him a lot of time, that's his weapon. The guys that give him a lot of time are the guys that are not going to do so well against him. He's unbelievable when there's a lot of time around him. The only way to beat him is step up and hit the ball hard, go for your shots.
But rallying wise, if you rally with him a lot, he's going to drain you out. He's too fast, too quick.
Q. Did he say anything to you after?
BERNARD TOMIC: He says, Very good play, keep working hard in the future. That's something I'll take from a player like that. He's a true champion. Very nice to get that advice from him.
Q. What tournaments have you got coming up? Take it as it comes?
BERNARD TOMIC: I don't know. I'll see the schedule. I'm definitely going to go to America and play more of the big tournaments. You know, I don't have a lot to defend now till the middle of the year. I can get my ranking up. Always worried me defending my points down in Australia because I always have like 130 points to defend. That's going to be my biggest task. I've defended a fair few. I can focus on building my points up and ranking until the end of the year.
Q. Is top hundred a goal this year?
BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah. I think absolutely, if I play well, you know, I'll definitely be in the top hundred. If I'm healthy during the year and I play a lot of tournaments, there's no doubt about it, I can break the top hundred.
Q. In hindsight, should you have played more last year?
BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, I should have. You know, I spent a lot of time in Europe, for two and a half months. I think I played the wrong tournaments. That's why when I came back to Australia, it was tough for me to go back to Europe again, back to America. I gave a lot of time between Wimbledon and the US Open where I didn't play any tournaments. That gap, I'll play more tournaments. That's what I need. I know where my level is at now. It's just getting my points to get in the top hundred.
Q. Before the match you were waiting in the corridor for Rafa to come out. Was that quite difficult to be waiting around?
BERNARD TOMIC: No, no problem. He has his thing. Didn't really bother me.
Q. There's been a lot of hype about you this week, particularly the last couple of days. What have you done to chill out, take your mind off it?
BERNARD TOMIC: Uhm, well, you know, I tried to sleep last night. I couldn't till about 1. It was very hard for me. But I've been relaxing in my hotel. This is a very big match for me. As much relaxing as I could have got, I needed it.
I'm happy the way I played again. You know, I've learnt a lot."
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meg0529
Guest
Aw Tomic<3 thanks namelessone! That is very sweet.
forthegame
Hall of Fame
would love to have heard hewitt's commentary!!
chrischris
G.O.A.T.
I agree. The guy is a huge talent and showed a great deal of nerve and will power today... like his game a lot.
LetsGoRoddick
Professional
Yeah, this guy really stuck it to a lot of haters.
This was the most fun early round match I can remember for Nadal in a long, long time.
Go Tomic!
This was the most fun early round match I can remember for Nadal in a long, long time.
Go Tomic!
000KFACTOR90000
Professional
Tomic definately played well, just had a brain fade at 4-0 second set playing that forehand dropshot and a loose drive for 0-30.
Good performance for 18 (+3 months) and showed he can smack the ball when required.
Good performance for 18 (+3 months) and showed he can smack the ball when required.
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meg0529
Guest
ugh, pains me to admit it, but looks like namelessone and tennisfan3 were right. Rafito still sick. Presser not out, but tweet from presser says the following
More good news
That 5 f*****g pounds in ONE MATCH???
Dammit, was it Mayamo that gave it to him? BUMMER
http://twitter.com/#!/FortyDeuceTwits
More good news
http://twitter.com/#!/MiguelSeabra/status/28825155136393217
That 5 f*****g pounds in ONE MATCH???
Dammit, was it Mayamo that gave it to him? BUMMER
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namelessone
Legend
Anyone with two functioning eyes could see that.
I've seen Nadal play bad in the past. Real bad. But that had to do with shot selection and confidence to pull the trigger at the right time.
In this match, with a kid no less, Nadal was sweating buckets at night, moving slowly left right, couldn't muster enough power on the fh and didn't have enough energy in his game overall.
As I said, he looked WEAK, like someone who has a bug.
He better pump antibiotics like crazy for his next match though I'm not sure that he has enough time to recover.
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meg0529
Guest
Don't be mean, i admitted I was wrong.
I suppose i should just congratulate Roger fugging Federer on his 17th title.
LameTennisPlayer
Professional
it was very good...
mandy01
G.O.A.T.
you guys are so full of histrionics :roll:Don't be mean, i admitted I was wrong.
I suppose i should just congratulate Roger fugging Federer on his 17th title.
Your boy has a good draw,he's won all his matches in straights,he has a day to recover for the next but you're talking like he was on the verge of being knocked out .
And I have to laugh at the way you assume that a certain player can win a slam only if poor Nadal is tired or injured.
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Well the camera caught some very uneasy looks to his team. It was as though he wasn't happy to be there. When he won the Australian Open a couple of years ago I think it was even hotter and he didn't look as fed up as he was today. If it is a virus then I don't think antibiotics will help much. Better he gets home to dream about the french open!
The-Champ
Legend
Unless Cilic gets injured, Nadal has no chance of beating him playing like he did. I'm saying that as a fan.
This is the first time I will be saying this, Nadal is freakin' lucky to have this kind of draw. What if he had to play a more experience player like Hewitt or Nalbandian in the first round?
Speranza
Hall of Fame
Don't be mean, i admitted I was wrong.
I suppose i should just congratulate Roger fugging Federer on his 17th title.
Holmes: Hmmm, not sure about that. I mentioned before the tournament started that I've a feeling neither of them will win it this year. Whether Ralph is still ill or not, or whether Roger is more aggressive or not, I just think we'll have a different champion at the AO.
Semi-Pro
Hall of Fame
I agree. Me thinks Mugza will take the title here down under:shock:
The-Champ
Legend
what does watson think?
I don't know who the winner this year will be, but definitely it will not be Nadal.
I think this could be Murray's time as well. He seems to be playing excellent tennis so far.
Semi-Pro
Hall of Fame
For sure. Watching how well he was hitting his forehand yesterday was amazing. He was hitting flat and deep(finally) and mixing it up with occasional spins and loopers.
Speranza
Hall of Fame
Watson: I'm in agreement with Holmes dearest Champ. You know when you just have that feeling? I had that feeling before the 2009 US Open too, when I thought Roger wouldn't win it. I based that on his French win, believe it or not. Confusing, I know.
Part of me does believe the same as Semi-Pro and Spider, but part of me thinks that Djokovic, and Soderling have a great chance. If Soderling takes down Murray, I'd favour him over anyone in the other side of the draw.
Looking forward to next week though, it has to be said.
angiebaby
Semi-Pro
Scores tell you very little. It's the actual game that matters. Particularly, when a experienced player plays against a new kid on the block., who makes mistakes at critical junctures. Hardly any Top 100 player would have lost the 2nd set against Rafa from 0-4 when they were so much in command.
The fact of he matter is Nadal played sub-par. This is NOT EVEN in the same STRATOSPHERE as his performance in the UsOpen where he was UNSTOPPABLE.
A casual observation proves this, moreover the stat prove it irrefutably.Compared to his UsOpen averages, Nadal's first serve % was 10-15% (55% compared to 66-70%) down, his points won in 1st serve 20-25% down and the speed down by 5-10 mph on average. He had less winners than his opponent and was defending for most of the match with 87% of the pts played behind the baseline. This stat was close to 50% or less in UsO.
Nadal is not a bad hardcourt player, but he has to play his best tennis to win hardcourt slams. Unless he improves dramatically he has LITTLE chance against anyone in the top 5, not least against Murray who's a bad matchup and can even beat peak Nadal (and who will absolutely obliterate "this" Nadal),
So you can't just look at the score, and say Oh because Rafa won in straights, he's winning the AO..
Fed's 5 set victory against Simon was 3x more impressive than Nadal's straight sets over Tomic, simply because Fed played great but his opponent played crazy good for 2 sets. Where as today Nadal played CRAP and made a rookie look like a GOD
The Simon who played against Fed would probably have beaten today's Nadal without much trouble.
Finally, Nadal needs to fire his Nike+ team designer and get some better fitting shirts which don't make him sweat buckets on court. .
I think this 4 slams in a row hype is getting to Nadal, He's feeling the pressure and it shows in his game..
Yes, it wasn't his best match by any means. All players have an off day and perhaps this was Rafa's. I do think a little perspective is in order though. People were making the same, 'he'll lose to a better player because he's playing so badly' argument at Wimbledon when he had those difficult back to back matches against Haase and Petchzschner and we all know what happened there. The important thing is he still won playing well below his best as we've all seen him do before and is into the next round. He could very well lose against Cillic but until he does (and even then he could play great and Cillic has an absolutely lights out day), it's not drinking the kool-aid or being a blind fanatic to think that one sub-par performance does not his tournament make.
AM95
Hall of Fame
Don't be mean, i admitted I was wrong.
I suppose i should just congratulate Roger fugging Federer on his 17th title.
no because nadal is a fighter and he wont lose easily. that being said tomic choked in the second set.
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Fighting is not the way to play Cilic. You gotta hit everything flat and hard. Nadal doesn't have that kind of game. Cilic will have plenty of time to set up his shots and make Rafa suffer with his flat groundies and world class backhand.
equinox
Hall of Fame
equinox
Hall of Fame
the match was great to watch. shame tomic had chances and couldn't close out the set. oh well great experience for the young bloke.
i will say that rafa was sweating buckets. even though tomic didn't win the match. maybe he did enough physical damage to nadals fitness to cause major worry to the champion. imho tomic has basically finished off rafa in this tournament, he now looks spent..
i will say that rafa was sweating buckets. even though tomic didn't win the match. maybe he did enough physical damage to nadals fitness to cause major worry to the champion. imho tomic has basically finished off rafa in this tournament, he now looks spent..
Some of you rafa fans need to get off Nadal's case. He won straight set and was never threaten. Stop being so insecure about his chance of winning this event. Sure he made mistakes, but that's normal... top players Fed, Murray, Nole makes mistakes too. In fact, Fed has more flaws in his game so far, I dont see you written him off. You expect Rafa to be perfect, forget it. Nadal is the favorite to win so stop all this worrying. Geez, nothing satisfy you rafa fans....even if he hit only one error you'll still be hard on him.
Also, Rafa is not sick. He said he was perfectly fine when first arriving to Melbourne. He's the same player as he was last year.
Also, Rafa is not sick. He said he was perfectly fine when first arriving to Melbourne. He's the same player as he was last year.
