Death, taxes and Nadal playing subpar at AO

[terribleIVAN]

Probably three of the most certain things in life.

Rafa's been quite poor up to now.

Physically he's OK, but his shots are loopy and land short and he seems unable to take charge during rallies which forces him into long, drag out exchanges.

I would wish for his form to improve, but even then it wouldn't be enough vs Fed or Novak.

Why does it have always to be like this at AO for him?

 

[FedIsBoat]

Has he lost a set?

 

[Rabin]

The court is dead, which Rafa hates, no doubt that plays into it. Also in each match he played so far he had to adapt to the conditions (day + night match) and significantly improved throughout the match, the third set being the best he played both times. I don't think it will matter either way, if he has to do a Kyrgios/Thiem/Med run to the final only to face one of the two players who have consistenly beaten him on courts like these in the last few years, even a lively court might not have been enough to tip the scales in his favor. But we'll see. Anything can happen in a slam.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Probably three of the most certain things in life.

Rafa's been quite poor up to now.

Physically he's OK, but his shots are loopy and land short and he seems unable to take charge during rallies which forces him into long, drag out exchanges.

I would wish for his form to improve, but even then it wouldn't be enough vs Fed or Novak.

Why does it have always to be like this at AO for him?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MichaelNadal]

The court is too slow for him imo, the shots he hits here that would be winners at the USO are just sitting up.

 

[TennisFan3]

Why does it have always to be like this at AO for him?

Because the surface SUCKS for his game. It doesn't bounce. It doesn't take spin.
So Nadal's shots just SIT UP in the court. He CANNOT get penetration from his forehand as he doesn't hit flat.

Ever wondered why Nadal gets INJURED so many times during the Australian Open? Because he plays TOO MUCH defense here.
His shots don't go through. They land short and sit up. He ends up losing court and retreats. He runs, defends and slides laterally all the time. Until he ends up injuring himself..

Nadal will probably never win the AO again. Perhaps not even make the final.

 

[Born_to_slice]

The court is too slow for him imo, the shots he hits here that would be winners at the USO are just sitting up.

Court is obviously faster than USO. Nadal is playing shorter ball, less precise. That's all.

 

[Sport]

I would wish for his form to improve, but even then it wouldn't be enough vs Fed or Novak.

Against Fed? You kidding? Federer looks slow and erratic. He almost lost to Millman, while Nadal destroyed Millman in 3 sets in the first round of the USO 2019.

 

[TennisFan3]

Court is obviously faster than USO. Nadal is playing shorter ball, less precise. That's all.

That is not true. This court is NOT faster than the UsOpen. Is there empirical data to prove it? Yesterday JMac/PMac said that UsOpen is faster and favors big servers and big hitters.

Also it's not just the speed. Nadal needs a surface which takes bounce and spin. This court doesn't. Where as the UsOpen does. Just a simple examination of how Nadal's forehand zips of the surfaces in both courts would be easy.
They showed a graphic of the bounce and spin Nadal gets from UsOpen vs Australian Open.

Also Nadal doesn't always like slow courts. In fact ESPN commentators also said that some hardcourts are slower than clay. Nadal wants a court where his forehand can push back his opponent and move them laterally with the spin.

 

[Born_to_slice]

That is not true. This court is NOT faster than the UsOpen. Is there empirical data to prove it? Yesterday JMac/PMac said that UsOpen is faster and favors big servers and big hitters.

Also it's not just the speed. Nadal needs a surface which takes bounce and spin. This court doesn't. Where as the UsOpen does. Just a simple examination of how Nadal's forehand zips of the surfaces in both courts would be easy.
They showed a graphic of the bounce and spin Nadal gets from UsOpen vs Australian Open.

Also Nadal doesn't always like slow courts. In fact ESPN commentators also said that some hardcourts are slower than clay. Nadal wants a court where his forehand can push back his opponent and move them laterally with the spin.

It's definitely faster. Djokovic is raking in aces like crazy and even a shorty like Ito made 9 in their match. We just had Raonic beat Tsitsipas in straights. Cilic beat RBA. 1st serve won percentages are very high. Check out number of winners too. It's actually pretty easy to make a winner on this court. Nadal is just not anywhere near in form like last AO or USO. Also, usually slower courts have higher bounce and there is no slower HC court than clay, at least in masters-slam competition.

 

[Wilsonpro]

The court is too slow for him imo, the shots he hits here that would be winners at the USO are just sitting up.

Not only is court dead so are balls. Rafa cannot win this event. Really his best case scenario is neither Federer or Djokovic winning either which means he would somehow need Kyrgios to make the final as he only one who could do it possibly. Even that is remote but at least there is a small chance. Nobody else has a prayer.

So failing that next best for Rafa is Djokovic winning as he still 2 away but Rafa has 2 pet slams to play novak just one .

 

[malbaker86]

He wasn't/isn't going to win the AO even if he was playing at his peak but point taken

 

[Wilsonpro]

It's definitely faster. Djokovic is raking in aces like crazy and even a shorty like Ito made 9 in their match. We just had Raonic beat Tsitsipas in straights. Cilic beat RBA. 1st serve won percentages are very high. Check out number of winners too. It's actually pretty easy to make a winner on this court. Nadal is just not anywhere near in form like last AO or USO. Also, usually slower courts have higher bounce and there is no slower HC court than clay, at least in masters-slam competition.

I dont know the answer to this and frankly standard of analysis by experts is pathetic as we should be given details of AO hard v USO Hard.

If though courts are fast like you say yet Federer took 4 hours to beat Millman then that really is worrying for Federer.

Have any players commented?

 

[Born_to_slice]

I dont know the answer to this and frankly standard of analysis by experts is pathetic as we should be given details of AO hard v USO Hard.

If though courts are fast like you say yet Federer took 4 hours to beat Millman then that really is worrying for Federer.

Have any players commented?

Courts are definitely somewhat slower in the evening. Federer won his other matches easily, while Millman doesn't suit him and always plays him tough. Even last year in Halle was 76 63 - not exactly a walk in the park.

 

[Wilsonpro]

Courts are definitely somewhat slower in the evening. Federer won his other matches easily, while Millman doesn't suit him and always plays him tough. Even last year in Halle was 76 63 - not exactly a walk in the park.

Has Millman underachieved in his career then i wonder. Didnt know that about halle. Thank you.

 

[Mike Sams]

Because the surface SUCKS for his game. It doesn't bounce. It doesn't take spin.
So Nadal's shots just SIT UP in the court. He CANNOT get penetration from his forehand as he doesn't hit flat.

Ever wondered why Nadal gets INJURED so many times during the Australian Open? Because he plays TOO MUCH defense here.
His shots don't go through. They land short and sit up. He ends up losing court and retreats. He runs, defends and slides laterally all the time. Until he ends up injuring himself..

Nadal will probably never win the AO again. Perhaps not even make the final.

You do realize Nadal won AO in 2009 and made the finals 4 different times with 2 of those finals going deep into the 5th set, right?

 

[Wilsonpro]

You do realize Nadal won AO in 2009 and made the finals 4 different times with 2 of those finals going deep into the 5th set, right?

AO 2009 was much different conditions. In his book at the time he said AO was sloeer and bounced higher than USO.

The balls this year i think are deplorable and may risk elbow injuries. I have never liked fluffy balls.

 

[TennisFan3]

You do realize Nadal won AO in 2009 and made the finals 4 different times with 2 of those finals going deep into the 5th set, right?

Well, this is his WORST slam by a considerable margin.
Nadal is an time great, so he would do well comparatively speaking.

Has Nadal lost as badly in other slams? He's never been straight setted in a slam final other than AO. Never been injured so much and had so many withdrawals in any other slam.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Has Millman underachieved in his career then i wonder. Didnt know that about halle. Thank you.

Tennis is like that. It's hard to break through and many guys get stuck in challengers for half of their career, far way from glamour and fame of top tennis. He had some good results over the years in early rounds of big tournaments but still flew under the radar. Doesn't have big weapons but is clearly well rounded baseliner, hard worker and a fighter.

 

[Mike Sams]

Tennis is like that. It's hard to break through and many guys get stuck in challengers for half of their career, far way from glamour and fame of top tennis. He had some good results over the years in early rounds of big tournaments but still flew under the radar. Doesn't have big weapons but is clearly well rounded baseliner, hard worker and a fighter.

But many other players are the same. You need consistency to be at the top.

 

[Born_to_slice]

But many other players are the same. You need consistency to be at the top.

But still, tennis is hard for, say, no. 200 in the world while at the same time no. 400 basketball player earns millions.

 

[terribleIVAN]

Seems my jinx worked: Rafa did play better today.

Hope he still has something left for the semi vs Medvedev.

 

[Yugram]

Seems my jinx worked: Rafa did play better today.

Hope he still has something left for the semi vs Medvedev.

Something definitely clicked in Nadal’s mind after this atrocious Delbonis match. 9 aces, 0 df, 42 winners and just 7 unforced errors over 3 sets. In terms of UE amount per set this might have been the best Nadal match in years.

 

[Biggest3]

Nadal will easily reach Sf this Ao and has the luxury of knowing beforehand if Djoker is in the final or not.If Djoker gets into the final he can easily tank it for Medvedev who has the highest chance of beating Djokovic at this tournament.

 

[DSH]

Nadal will obliterate the aussie and the winner of Monfils Thiem.
If Wawrinka can defeat Medvedev, then his path will be paved as neither the Swiss nor Zverev can defeat the Spaniard in a match to the best of 5 sets.
.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Nadal needs to up his game vs Kyrgios, methinks.

 

[BH40love]

Seems my jinx worked: Rafa did play better today.

Hope he still has something left for the semi vs Medvedev.

The match is going to be quite tough against Kyrgios and the crowd will be fully behind Nick.

keep an eye on that serve clock

 

[terribleIVAN]

I think Khachanov took away any chances Kyrgios had vs Rafa.

 

[Deleted member 763691]

Today Rafa hit 42 winners and 7 unforced errors, the greatest performance in the history of the Australian Open

The match is going to be quite tough against Kyrgios and the crowd will be fully behind Nick.

keep an eye on that serve clock

The crowd can only hurt Djokovic, not Rafa.
Rafa never needs the approval of the crowd.
Plus its Rod Laver Arena, so Kyrgios fans won't be present.
And Rafa got more crowd support than Federer when they met at 2009 AO Final, so Rafa wins the crowd anyway.
Kyrgios has a problem with the serve clock, Rafa doesn't.

 

[weakera]

Today Rafa hit 42 winners and 7 unforced errors, the greatest performance in the history of the Australian Open

Lol

 

[Hitman]

Nadal will easily reach Sf this Ao and has the luxury of knowing beforehand if Djoker is in the final or not.If Djoker gets into the final he can easily tank it for Medvedev who has the highest chance of beating Djokovic at this tournament.

Rafa will never use this coward tactic.

 

[The Blond Blur]

He looked bery bery good last night, no?

Spoiler

Will win USO

 

[Deleted member 763691]

 

[I Am Finnish]

It's definitely faster. Djokovic is raking in aces like crazy and even a shorty like Ito made 9 in their match. We just had Raonic beat Tsitsipas in straights. Cilic beat RBA. 1st serve won percentages are very high. Check out number of winners too. It's actually pretty easy to make a winner on this court. Nadal is just not anywhere near in form like last AO or USO. Also, usually slower courts have higher bounce and there is no slower HC court than clay, at least in masters-slam competition.

Djokovic made more aces than Federer

 

[Poisoned Slice]

@Federer and Del Potro

Three things in life are certain, fish. Death, taxes and count.

 

[BeatlesFan]

In fact ESPN commentators also said that some hardcourts are slower than clay.

Sorry, this is impossible and completely untrue. There is no HC anywhere that is as slow as clay. Whoever said that on ESPN is an idiot.

 

[Rosstour]

There is not one legit fast court on the tour. What a joke.

 

[BeatlesFan]

There is not one legit fast court on the tour. What a joke.

The court index speed on carpet was said to have been in the 50's-- THAT was tennis.

 

[BH40love]

Ppl on here saying that the HC at AO or USO being slower than the clay have not played tennis at a high level or their knowledge is just minimal. It’s ok to have a favorite player but jeez I’m sure someone here would say that the clay at RG is faster than Wimby or Shanghai...

 

[Day_Tripper]

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