ATP500 Barcelona Open 2024

[StrongRule]

Vamos, Cobolli.

Imagine hating a player who is retired for 2 years.

 

[Kralingen]

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]

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]

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

 

[Hitman]

Imagine hating a player who is retired for 2 years.

Retired player just hit a very good drop shot.

 

[NaDjoFed]

that slice!

 

[Kralingen]

Tasty little sliced dropper there.

Rafa might have a top 3 slice in the world more I think about it. I’d still take the one handers like Dim and Evans over him, but aside from that?

 

[KantenKlaar]

@MichaelNadal I went out and got wings with a smoked paprika dip and a lovely bottle of cap classique.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nadal will improve match by match. Just needs to shake off the rust and get used to the match play slowly. He looking decent considering how long he’s been out.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I am investigating.

 

[Hitman]

Look at those two forehand winners.

 

[TheSlicer]

I wasnt sure i would see Nadal on a court again, its a nice feeling

 

[Kralingen]

Go and place those Nadal for RG bets folks. +500 was a gift. Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Vamos

 

[Hitman]

Nadal breaks.

This is his first match on clay since he went up two slams in the race at RG 2022.

 

[I get cramps]

Nadal breaks 3-1.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

681 days. Wow.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

I wasnt sure i would see Nadal on a court again, its a nice feeling

It sure is!

 

[Znak]

Vamos Rafa.

 

[>17]

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nadal doing what he does best back on the clay! Early break.

 

[TheSlicer]

Hot take, if he wins this match he wins two more RG lol

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Liquid tennis, highly reminiscent of Spurs' start to the season when the dreams were alive. iykyk

 

[The Blond Blur]

It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to say that RAFA gets the:

 

[>17]

Topspin to the backhand: engaged

 

[Kralingen]

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.

 

[jl809]

Ned serve speed seems fine?

 

[malbaker86]

Rafa has the longest active win streak on clay

 

[Rattie]

Nadal will improve match by match. Just needs to shake off the rust and get used to the match play slowly. He looking decent considering how long he’s been out.

Exactly. Lots of rust and some understandable nerves

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Hot take, if he wins this match he wins two more RG lol

If he can stay physically healthy and get back that rhythm with more matches you can still never back against him on clay. He’s a god on this surface.

 

[GAS]

Cobolli playing like he's the 644th player in the world.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Nadal will improve match by match. Just needs to shake off the rust and get used to the match play slowly. He looking decent considering how long he’s been out.

He'll cruise to the Final, and obliterate Tsissypants on the way, Rafa's IQ is too high for everyone else, so rarely ever needs full conditioning to win...

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

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.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I don't like Rafa's kit, but he's playing surprisingly well considering everything. Great to see him back!

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Just outside the prestigious top 640 club.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Exactly. Lots of rust and some understandable nerves

Totally agree. We have to realise how long he’s been out. For him to still be playing pretty good, 4-1 up is impressive. He will be nervous about his body and needs that timing back but overall looking good.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

The King is having his way.

 

[robyrolfo]

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.

 

[Hitman]

Cobolli playing like he's the 644th player in the world.

Cobolli looks like he grew up on stale bread and water out of the well.

 

[TheSlicer]

Cobolli is hitting very Close to the lines, but on the outside...

 

[Kralingen]

Liquid tennis, highly reminiscent of Spurs' start to the season when the dreams were alive. iykyk

Don’t bring that dead club and boring sport in here.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Rafa is playing with two second services.

Rafa had 2 very weak 2nd serves and still beat Fritz at Wimbledon 2022

 

[Rattie]

Ned serve speed seems fine?

I don’t know as it’s not being shown on the stream I’m watching. First serve percentage is 76% so far though

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

It nostalgia watching those Rafa FHs again. His FH is fire and a huge weapon. Never gets old.

 

[jl809]

If Nadal won’t come in for 2nd serve returns then I’m afraid we can’t help him

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Don’t bring that dead club and boring sport in here.

Get your tsits out.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Hot take, if he wins this match he wins two more RG lol

I've been saying he'll win 2024 and 2025 RG for the last 2 months... not a hot take at all.

 

[jl809]

I don’t know as it’s not being shown on the stream I’m watching. First serve percentage is 76% so far though

From what I can see, 175-185 kmph

 

[Rattie]

I don't like Rafa's kit, but he's playing surprisingly well considering everything. Great to see him back!

Clashing colours I agree, but that’s Rafa and I don’t care as he has by far the best legs of the whole tour

 

[messiahrobins]

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.