ATP500 Barcelona Open 2024

Choose your Champion


  • Total voters
    32
  • Poll closed .

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Rafa not moving well at all. Cobolli needs to work the DTL FH.
Definitely horizontal movement is his weakness. Quick changes of direction. That point at 15-0 ending in an error seemed to be the upper ranges of his side to side movement didn’t look comfortable at all.

Overall though to be expected. I think he’s probably a bit tight from lack of match play and doesn’t fully trust his body yet either, could be more psychosomatic than purely physical as well.
 

NYTennisfan

Hall of Fame
Serve and movement look a little rough but it's going to take time for him to get in match shape so expectations should be tempered early. I'm just happy to see him on court.
 

GAS

Hall of Fame
Looks like Cobolli has the same strength coach as Sinner and Berrettini... are squats illegal in Italy or something???
 

>17

Rookie
rafael-nadal-celebrate.gif
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
I think the likes of Sinner and Novak, elite returners with great change-of-direction skills will be tough for this version of Rafa as I’m really not liking his side to side movement here, seems easy to stretch him. But if you aren’t an elite mover or precision player capable of changing direction easily with your BH, you’ve got no chance vs Nadal on clay, and that’s been true for ages.

The race for RG is on, boys. This is a player capable of winning it all.
 

GodlessEndeavor

Professional
I think the likes of Sinner and Novak, elite returners with great change-of-direction skills will be tough for this version of Rafa as I’m really not liking his side to side movement here, seems easy to stretch him. But if you aren’t an elite mover or precision player capable of changing direction easily with your BH, you’ve got no chance vs Nadal on clay, and that’s been true for ages.

I also feel that Sinner and Djokovic would eat these serves alive. But who knows, maybe Nadal's serve won't be like this if he plays them.
 

robyrolfo

Hall of Fame
Definitely horizontal movement is his weakness. Quick changes of direction. That point at 15-0 ending in an error seemed to be the upper ranges of his side to side movement didn’t look comfortable at all.

Overall though to be expected. I think he’s probably a bit tight from lack of match play and doesn’t fully trust his body yet either, could be more psychosomatic than purely physical as well.
Anyone who has come back from an injury, who is a little older, or both, can tell you that no matter how sure you are about being fully healed and fit, you will always take it easy early on and give yourself ample, ample time to warm up.

Even then, it's not until the the first time when you are really forced to go all out (because the point/game dictates it) and you feel OK afterwards that you can really let go and play normally.
 
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I think the likes of Sinner and Novak, elite returners with great change-of-direction skills will be tough for this version of Rafa as I’m really not liking his side to side movement here, seems easy to stretch him. But if you aren’t an elite mover or precision player capable of changing direction easily with your BH, you’ve got no chance vs Nadal on clay, and that’s been true for ages.

The race for RG is on, boys. This is a player capable of winning it all.
Djokovic? He lost to Nardi who isnt as good ranking wise as Cobolli!! Forget names, look at current form. Obviously Nadal some way short of Sinner alcaraz Tsitsipas and zverev currently.
So far though must say Nadal looks way better than i thought.
 
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