Could Rafael Nadal beat both Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep 2 on 1 on Court Philippe-Chatrier?

[Mike Sams]

Rafael Nadal, holder of 12 Roland Garros titles and a living legend Vs the world no 1 women's player Ashleigh Barty (RG 2019 winner) and the world no 2 women's player Simona Halep (RG 2018 winner) in a 2 on 1 match on Roland Garros clay. Both of the women playing as a doubles team against Nadal. How would you envision this match panning out?

 

[Mainad]

Probably best to do them one at a time. His movement isn't what it was.

 

[weakera]

Yes

 

[Red Rick]

Do they use doubles alleys?

But the answer, imo is very obviously yes.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Rafael Nadal, holder of 12 Roland Garros titles and a living legend Vs the world no 1 women's player Ashleigh Barty (RG 2019 winner) and the world no 2 women's player Simona Halep (RG 2018 winner) in a 2 on 1 match on Roland Garros clay. Both of the women playing as a doubles team against Nadal. How would you envision this match panning out?

Yes.

Probably best to do them one at a time. His movement isn't what it was.

Even with declined movement, he'd just blast them off the court with his insane racquet head speed and serve.
I seriously doubt women players would be able to handle nadal's heavily hit balls off both wings. It's never easy even for Roger or Novak on clay.

 

[Feddelpo20]

Yes 0, 0 and 0

 

[Start da Game]

yes and very easily......it would be a straight set beatdown by rafa.......good thread btw.......

 

[Mike Sams]

How about Nadal vs both Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, 2 on 1, on RG clay with the doubles alley in play?

 

[junior74]

Rafa is not a player, so this is tough to handle. Lots of confusion, no?

Outgrunted by Simona and outfoxed by Barty.

 

[Midaso240]

Probably,because of the difference in serving quality and high bounce/spin. There would be some female combinations that could possibly win,but it wouldn't be these two

 

[ForehandCross]

Honestly yes with doubles alley . Maybe yes with no doubles alley. Not present Nadal maybe. But say 2012 Nadal? Definitely.

Why ? Nadal's RPM in those days was higher than anything anyone on WTA tour can hope to produce and also the men's ball is heavier, how will they even tackle it? How will they hope to have a good strike on it ? The ball will be bouncing at their shoulder height like a lasso.

They won't be getting decent strikes--> Nadal gets more soft balls to pounce on--> Winners.


You can try dropshotting him, and serve and volleying him e.t.c, but this is clay and Rafael will eventually start getting his range.

Nadal will tee off on their serve, and they won't return his serves well.

Are the girls ready to stay on Charrier for 6 hours trying to get a racquet on those lasso FHs ? I don't think so.

 

[Red Rick]

Honestly yes with doubles alley . Maybe yes with no doubles alley. Not present Nadal maybe. But say 2012 Nadal? Definitely.

Why ? Nadal's RPM in those days was higher than anything anyone on WTA tour can hope to produce and also the men's ball is heavier, how will they even tackle it? How will they hope to have a good strike on it ? The ball will be bouncing at their shoulder height like a lasso.

They won't be getting decent strikes--> Nadal gets more soft balls to pounce on--> Winners.


You can try dropshotting him, and serve and volleying him e.t.c, but this is clay and Rafael will eventually start getting his range.

Nadal will tee off on their serve, and they won't return his serves well.

Are the girls ready to stay on Charrier for 6 hours trying to get a racquet on those lasso FHs ? I don't think so.

Yeah especially on clay this is much easier cause it negates the movement advantage the ladies have by being with two, and the high bounce is super abusable by Nadal. I think clay makes this easier for every guy basically. And Nadal especially is probably the most obvious easy win on the men's Tour, while Barty and Halep aren't exactly the women that be troublesome.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty's got an epic doubles game and is great at the net. The fact that they'd have both parts of the court covered would make it very challenging. Halep would stay at the back, Barty at the front. Dropshots would be out of the equation for Nadal, any short balls would easily be gotten by Barty. Can't say with any certainty how it would go but saying it would be 0, 0 and 0 is ludicrous.

 

[MurraysMetalHip]

Lols. Of course he wouldn’t.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Probably best to do them one at a time. His movement isn't what it was.

Rafa is not a player, so this is tough to handle. Lots of confusion, no?

Outgrunted by Simona and outfoxed by Barty.

sounds like a kyrgios thread...

 

[Hitman]

Rafa is the Feral Kid who fought on the clay wastelands side by side with Mad Max, killing punks on bikes. He ain't losing to nothing....

 

[ibbi]

Barty's got an epic doubles game and is great at the net. The fact that they'd have both parts of the court covered would make it very challenging. Halep would stay at the back, Barty at the front. Dropshots would be out of the equation for Nadal, any short balls would easily be gotten by Barty. Can't say with any certainty how it would go but saying it would be 0, 0 and 0 is ludicrous.

I think this question is just generally stupid, but does Nadal have to hit dropshots? If he just keeps hitting his groundies at full pelt is Barty going to be any use at net other than as a human shield for Halep? Her mixed dubs results don't suggest so.

 

[Standaa]

only Barty and Halep serve?

 

[mikej]

Rafael Nadal, holder of 12 Roland Garros titles and a living legend Vs the world no 1 women's player Ashleigh Barty (RG 2019 winner) and the world no 2 women's player Simona Halep (RG 2018 winner) in a 2 on 1 match on Roland Garros clay. Both of the women playing as a doubles team against Nadal. How would you envision this match panning out?

Ha, yes and I’d say easily, as they’d have major difficulty with returns, and women’s volleys < ATP passing shots if they tried to play tactically and not trade groundstrokes with him

He’d just need one break a set, as he’d be ending most service points no later than an easy second ball - would get several breaks a set

 

[Deleted member 735320]

A

Yes 0, 0 and 0

Amen

 

[mikej]

Probably,because of the difference in serving quality and high bounce/spin. There would be some female combinations that could possibly win,but it wouldn't be these two

Historically, I’d give henin-Hingis the best chance, need a team that 1) absorbs pace well 2) moves extraordinarily well and 3) uses the angles to make Nadal run

It’s tempting say Serena and someone, but knowing a little bit about how she does against some of her male college training partners, having her try to match pace for pace or movement for movement with Rafa would look silly

Much better to put a team out there that won’t try to match pace, will slice and be crafty, and in hingis’s case has maybe some potential of winning some points at the net with quick hands

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

He wouldn't beat them one on one.

 

[junior74]

only Barty and Halep to serve?

Two is nothing for Nadal. Their serves would suffer as they would fear touching the balls after being witnesses to those dominant courtship rituals.

 

[Red Rick]

Barty's got an epic doubles game and is great at the net. The fact that they'd have both parts of the court covered would make it very challenging. Halep would stay at the back, Barty at the front. Dropshots would be out of the equation for Nadal, any short balls would easily be gotten by Barty. Can't say with any certainty how it would go but saying it would be 0, 0 and 0 is ludicrous.

WTA player against greatest passer the men's game has ever seen?

I know with 100% certainty what would happen

 

[Aussie Darcy]

WTA player against greatest passer the men's game has ever seen?

I know with 100% certainty what would happen

2x WTA players... not saying Barty or Halep alone would have a chance but you really think it’d be 6-0 6-0 6-0?

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Nadal would beat them without problems. Maybe not 0-0 as he would do in singles but still handily.

 

[Red Rick]

2x WTA players... not saying Barty or Halep alone would have a chance but you really think it’d be 6-0 6-0 6-0?

I think it depends on what tactics work and what not. I think the ladies have no chance in hell to be competitive. Whether they win games or not is another discussion, and I guess triple bagels just require too much dominance and consistency.

 

[125downthemiddle]

Rafa would win because if 1 can't handle his shots, then another 1 won't either lol.

 

[Red Rick]

Anyway a very big factor here is it's Nadal on clay, the ball will bounce OVER the hitting zone of the WTA player. I think his most effective tactic is literally hitting a moonball and running to the net for a smash.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

It’s kind of funny to think about but on this particular court and his particular strokes yes I think he would definitely win, regardless of doubles alleys. If they play one up one back, he would just keep hitting to the one at the baseline. That FH is going to be bouncing above the heads of Barty and Halep consistently at 5’5”, 5’6” on PC and the BH is good enough to keep the back person pinned back. The net person can’t really cheat towards the middle to poach because he can then pass DTL.

Giving up 6-7+ inches of height compared to the average male player is a brutal disadvantage when it comes to returning that kind of spin. for returning kick serves as well, forces a deeper return position

 

[Knovax]

Probably best to do them one at a time. His movement isn't what it was.

 

[merwy]

Yes his topspin forehands will bounce right through or over them.

 

[r2473]

He’d probably beat Federer and Djokovic 2 on 1.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

He’d probably beat Federer and Djokovic 2 on 1.

Lol those guys will probably be a worse doubles team than they are on their own.

 

[beard]

It's never easy even for Roger or Novak on clay.

Please, don't put Roger together with Novak when it's matter of with Nadal on clay...

 

[Deleted member 770948]

Rafa wins 6-0, 6-0, 6-0.
Look at these stats from 2019 Roland Garros, and you see it makes no difference how many women they put on the court-

Rafael Nadal = The King Of The One Shot Rally - Brain Game Tennis

The serve went in. The return didn’t come back into the court. We fail to connect the dots with this simple one-two combination. We don’t connect them to winning matches nearly as much as we should. We dismiss return errors as an aberration. Then we become indignant that this simple rally length...

www.braingametennis.com

 

[Red Rick]

Historically, I’d give henin-Hingis the best chance, need a team that 1) absorbs pace well 2) moves extraordinarily well and 3) uses the angles to make Nadal run

It’s tempting say Serena and someone, but knowing a little bit about how she does against some of her male college training partners, having her try to match pace for pace or movement for movement with Rafa would look silly

Much better to put a team out there that won’t try to match pace, will slice and be crafty, and in hingis’s case has maybe some potential of winning some points at the net with quick hands

Clay here is a problem for the ladies. Fast court would absolutely be in their interest vs ANY male player.

 

[metsman]

These two particular women probably aren't the best choice because they're so small. Put say Venus and Davenport on the other side and then it could get more interesting. Depends on the doubles alley too. Usually when you play like this the single player gets to use the doubles alley but in that case Nadal could find some really nasty angles to open the court up.

Still would favor Nadal. I'd favor a far superior player to beat an inferior one if they can only hit into half the court but it wouldn't be straightforward (approach heavy, drop volley, repeat repeat). This would be both a bit tougher (because the two women each tire less) and easier (because Nadal can hit anywhere), so I'd favor Nadal.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, after all Nadal already plays by those rules against Federer and it seems to work hehehehe

 

[stapletonj]

I will note this. In 92 a 40 year old Jimmy Connors beat then #3 Martina in a match in Vegas. 7-5, 6-3. Jimmy got only one serve, Martina also got 1/2 doubles alley on both sides.
Frankly, Jimmy looked like he was toying with her the first set to keep it close. I saw the match in person. (I even put $20 on Navratilova, just for fun. My only bet ever, I'm not a gambler guy)

there is also the aussie guy ranked #203 who crushed both Williams sisters during the '98 Aussie open 6-1 and 6-2 (one set against each)

This alleged parity always makes me smile quietly to myself.

 

[clout]

Barty's got an epic doubles game and is great at the net. The fact that they'd have both parts of the court covered would make it very challenging. Halep would stay at the back, Barty at the front. Dropshots would be out of the equation for Nadal, any short balls would easily be gotten by Barty. Can't say with any certainty how it would go but saying it would be 0, 0 and 0 is ludicrous.

As dumb as this thread is, if he really were put in this situation, he’d just keep blasting the ball right at Barty and she’d have no response. His top spin shots would literally go over the head of Halep is only around 5’5

 

[Raizu]

Rafael Nadal, holder of 12 Roland Garros titles and a living legend Vs the world no 1 women's player Ashleigh Barty (RG 2019 winner) and the world no 2 women's player Simona Halep (RG 2018 winner) in a 2 on 1 match on Roland Garros clay. Both of the women playing as a doubles team against Nadal. How would you envision this match panning out?

No doubt about it. Yes

 

[Deleted member 769694]

2x WTA players... not saying Barty or Halep alone would have a chance but you really think it’d be 6-0 6-0 6-0?

How exactly are they going to hurt rafa?

When you play someone much better than you, you will understand the sport alot more. Nothing you do even matters, your best shot is nothing against these players. All of their shots are weaker than his practice opponents.

A good example would be to play someone who is a 2.0 or 2.5 ntrp and ask yourself, how are they even going to take a pt off me?

 

[clout]

Clay here is a problem for the ladies. Fast court would absolutely be in their interest vs ANY male player.

In that case, the women players would never get a racket on the ATP player's serve. Serena's hardest serve would be a routine ROS for an average ATP player

 

[Service Ace]

Lol at this sexist garbage thread. Really shows the insane level of emasculation of most “men” who peruse this forum.

 

[Rubens]

Make love like a man
I'm a man, well, that's what I am, no?

 

[Red Rick]

Lol at this sexist garbage thread. Really shows the insane level of emasculation of most “men” who peruse this forum.

Yes.

Nadal would win this ridiculous imaginary matchup because I hate women.

 

[Mike Sams]

Lol at this sexist garbage thread. Really shows the insane level of emasculation of most “men” who peruse this forum.

How do you see this match-up going, Service Ace? Nadal vs Barty/Halep on clay?

 

[Deleted member 769694]

How do you see this match-up going, Service Ace? Nadal vs Barty/Halep on clay?

He responded using an "ist" =

 

[Aussie Darcy]

How exactly are they going to hurt rafa?

When you play someone much better than you, you will understand the sport alot more. Nothing you do even matters, your best shot is nothing against these players. All of their shots are weaker than his practice opponents.

A good example would be to play someone who is a 2.0 or 2.5 ntrp and ask yourself, how are they even going to take a pt off me?

Female players can hit aces against men, men can hit double faults against women, women can hit a winner or draw an unforced error. I just don’t buy the BS that it’d be 6-0 6-0 6-0. Not saying they’d beat Nadal but are people really acting like one game couldn’t go the wrong way for Nadal? A couple big serves from Halep and then a smash at the net from Barty to get a game. A few lucky points etc.

 

[Deleted member 769694]

Female players can hit aces against men, men can hit double faults against women, women can hit a winner or draw an unforced error. I just don’t buy the BS that it’d be 6-0 6-0 6-0. Not saying they’d beat Nadal but are people really acting like one game couldn’t go the wrong way for Nadal? A couple big serves from Halep and then a smash at the net from Barty to get a game. A few lucky points etc.

You rarely beat someone 0-0-0. But the match would not be competitive as a whole. Rarely would you see them in control of a pt.

Match play stems on the serve and the return, rafa would control the first ball every point, you think haelp has a big serve? It may bounce twice by the time it reaches nadal

Women hit a different ball (literally) than men, theirs is much lighter and usually in the strike zone. Rarely do you a wta player returning shots over their shoulders, so they will be a bad position on most.

Have you ever played someone who hits massive top like rafa? Everything is up there and makes it very hard to come through it. Like returning a good kick serve.