Has Nadal been holding back waiting to unload on Djokovic

[Beckerserve]

Lets be honest. Rafa has not looked great. Very passive and subdued. Yet every time he has got in trouble he has just stepped up a gear.
In his presser while he did not mention djokovic by name he accidently let slip he was expecting to play him as he referred to the semi final as THAT semi final.
Against Diego at 3-4 in 3rd set i thought he was in big trouble. Then suddenely he just unloaded. Started moving way quicker started running around his BH to smite FHs, got the serve to swing away violently and taking ball a lot earlier.
Hard to know what form Nadal is in.
I do hope he watched Djokovic after match reaction. If i were his coach id have it on a loop in Rafa bedroom

 

[StrongRule]

Thing is, I'm not sure Nadal is able to do this anymore. His game is very limited right now, and he has been pretty bad on big points in this tournament. For example, Schwartzman converted 3 BPs out of 4, and part of it was because Nadal played these points very bad. Every time when it got close he started making strange decisions, like hitting terrible drop shots. Against Djokovic he will not get away with it.

 

[GoldenMasters]

XD

 

[MichaelNadal]

Rafa needs to serve well. The rest of the game I'm not worried about, it's torture for everyone on Chatrier.

 

[StrongRule]

Rafa needs to serve well. The rest of the game I'm not worried about, it's torture for everyone on Chatrier.

Nadal will not be able to do anything against Djokovic's servebotting.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

The only difference from last year is the he plays another guy after Sinner-Schwartzman-Djokovic

Lot of people are underestimating Tsits and Zverev. They have a better chance against Rafa than Novak at this age. Rafa has to make a quick work out of Novak, last year's final was a straight set drubbing and yet it went nearly three hours. Fatigue levels will be important for Rafa going into the finals

 

[maratha_warrior]

Novak already won Australian Open this year .

RG is like bonus points for him . So he will play without any fear or stress .
Rafa is huge favourite and should win in 3-4 sets ..

Lets hope for a competitive match !

 

[FatHead250]

Things you only read here or on reddit

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal will not be able to do anything against Djokovic's servebotting.

If Nadal wins RG you have to stop this mess

 

[Cashman]

So you are saying Rafa is watching videos of Djokovic in his bedroom while he waits for him to take his load?

 

[StrongRule]

If Nadal wins RG you have to stop this mess

Worst thing is arrogance and overconfidence, especially for someone who calls himself a Nadal fan.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

So you are saying Rafa is watching videos of Djokovic in his bedroom while he waits for him to take his load?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Worst thing is arrogance and overconfidence, especially for someone who calls himself a Nadal fan.

We're supposed to act like he will lose every match?

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Thing is, I'm not sure Nadal is able to do this anymore. His game is very limited right now, and he has been pretty bad on big points in this tournament. For example, Schwartzman converted 3 BPs out of 4, and part of it was because Nadal played these points very bad. Every time when it got close he started making strange decisions, like hitting terrible drop shots. Against Djokovic he will not get away with it.

Even if he beats Novak, an impossible opponent is waiting for him in the final...

 

[StrongRule]

We're supposed to act like he will lose every match?

He should have lost to Djokovic in Rome (saved by a fluke), so it is obvious he is not beating him in BO5.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

The only difference from last year is the he plays another guy after Sinner-Schwartzman-Djokovic

Lot of people are underestimating Tsits and Zverev. They have a better chance against Rafa than Novak at this age. Rafa has to make a quick work out of Novak, last year's final was a straight set drubbing and yet it went nearly three hours. Fatigue levels will be important for Rafa going into the finals

This

 

[MichaelNadal]

He should have lost to Djokovic in Rome (saved by a fluke), so it is obvious he is not beating him in BO5.

Should have lost how?

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I think the plan is with most opponents play at a base level and then move up gears when needed.
I think versus Nole it will be play in gear B to start and then go to gear A, then A+ if necessary.
If A + doesn't work, all hell breaks loose.
Nadal, have mercy on us.

 

[aldeayeah]

IMO, the three (!) 8-0 stretches in the Sinner and Schwartzman matches prove that Nadal still has higher gears. And Djokovic will most probably make him use them.

I expect a great match, like the Rome final was.

 

[aldeayeah]

I think the plan is with most opponents play at a base level and then move up gears when needed.
I think versus Nole it will be play in gear B to start and then go to gear A, then A+ if necessary.
If A + doesn't work, all hell breaks loose.
Nadal, have mercy on us.

Not so sure, last year Nadal started in gear A straight away.

(Gear A++ has been MIA since the fifth set of the 2012 semis, but rumours say it still exists)

 

[dapchai]

I think the plan is with most opponents play at a base level and then move up gears when needed.
I think versus Nole it will be play in gear B to start and then go to gear A, then A+ if necessary.
If A + doesn't work, all hell breaks loose.
Nadal, have mercy on us.

To me it seems that Djokovic went to gear A or even near-A+ in sets 3 and 4 last night. The guy tried his best to reach Berrettini's serve and approached for beatdown tennis to end points quickly. That might explain his frustration at the end of the match; he prolly gave everything he had but the Italian was botting to hard.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Nadal’s form looks horrible and he’s allergic to being the front runner. See all his short lived times at #1

 

[StrongRule]

Should have lost how?

He was saved by a fluke when Djokovic had a BP at 2-2 in the third set. Had Nadal got broken, he would have lost the match. So in BO5 he doesn't have any chances.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

He was saved by a fluke when Djokovic had a BP at 2-2 in the third set. Had Nadal got broken, he would have lost the match. So in BO5 he doesn't have any chances.

Nah mate, Novak had a better chance to take the first set than the third set. Rafa was saving another gear for the last one

 

[Kralingen]

Put it this way - if Nadal had gone down 2-0 to a 19 year old playing his first slam ever, the bed wetting and jinxing of him would be unending by the nervous Nadal fans.

His opponent actually did that…

 

[dapchai]

IMO, the three (!) 8-0 stretches in the Sinner and Schwartzman matches prove that Nadal still has higher gears. And Djokovic will most probably make him use them.

I expect a great match, like the Rome final was.

It's very difficult to gauge what level Nadal can reach this clay season. Even in the Rome final he wasn't that great and I don't think he brought his A- game in the third set; there are still many points where he should have done better. I don't buy the bagels he delivered to Gasquet, Sinner, and Schwartzman; Gasquet had some kind of mental block prior to the match while Sinner and Schwartzman were mentally done.

Meanwhile Djokovic seemed to give his best in sets 3 and 4 last night. Beatdown tennis on Berrettini's second serve.

 

[RoS]

It's very difficult to gauge what level Nadal can reach this clay season. Even in the Rome final he wasn't that great and I don't think he brought his A- game in third set; there are still many points where he should have done better. I don't buy the bagels he delivered to Gasquet, Sinner, and Schwartzman; Gasquet had some kind of mental block prior to the match while Sinner and Schwartzman were mentally done.

Meanwhile Djokovic seemed to give his best in sets 3 and 4 last night. Beatdown tennis on Berrettini's second serve.

This. Schwarztman played well for two sets but his game is limited and is too inconsistant.
Sinner made 11 w and 45 UE. With stats like this, Nadal can look to be a world class beater. Sinner just was very bad even in the first set.
And Gasquet has no weapons at all. He was a walking bye for Fedalovic all the time.

 

[MurraysMetalHip]

Rafa looking average - will win Roland Garros.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

The only difference from last year is the he plays another guy after Sinner-Schwartzman-Djokovic

Lot of people are underestimating Tsits and Zverev. They have a better chance against Rafa than Novak at this age. Rafa has to make a quick work out of Novak, last year's final was a straight set drubbing and yet it went nearly three hours. Fatigue levels will be important for Rafa going into the finals

They’re gonna get destroyed in the final by whoever. Give me a break.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Maybe it is the Tyson Fury thing, his game changes depending on the opponent.

 

[xFedal]

Rafa needs to serve well. The rest of the game I'm not worried about, it's torture for everyone on Chatrier.

You guys have nothing to worry about ur guy owns everybody on Chatrier.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Nadal will not be able to do anything against Djokovic's servebotting.

 

[NoleFam]

It's a combination of holding back and nerves I think. He's hiding it well but he is feeling the pressure going for #21. We know his form is there because we saw it in Rome. He's trying to do what he did in 2020 by not showing his full hand until he meets his rival. Will it work again this time? We will see.

 

[StrongRule]

Did you see how he serves? He got broken just 3 times in this tournament. The match will also be played at a late time because the organizers want to help him even more.

 

[SinneGOAT]

Even if he beats Novak, an impossible opponent is waiting for him in the final...

Tell me you are joking.

 

[Sephiroth]

Nadal has a little lapse here and there but he's literally gotten better as the matches went on

he annihilated Diego yesterday during the latter stages with a bagel, that's what happens when you play against Rafa. It's not just the tennis but your will can get shattered if you ain't on top or stay on level terms

I think Djokovic will take a set this time but Nadal will win he's gonna have far too much of a game for Djokovic to handle during the middle and end parts of the match

 

[BeatlesFan]

Against Diego at 3-4 in 3rd set i thought he was in big trouble.

Stopped reading right there. It’s obviously unimaginable that Diego (of all people) could possibly defeat Rafa on PC. He has no weapons and hasn’t the mentality to do it. Even had Rafa lost the third set, he wouldn’t have been in “trouble” and simply would have won it in five.

 

[Beckerserve]

The only difference from last year is the he plays another guy after Sinner-Schwartzman-Djokovic

Lot of people are underestimating Tsits and Zverev. They have a better chance against Rafa than Novak at this age. Rafa has to make a quick work out of Novak, last year's final was a straight set drubbing and yet it went nearly three hours. Fatigue levels will be important for Rafa going into the finals

If Zverev routines Tsitsipas i think he wins the event. He will want to bury that USO. Zverev will be fresh as well. Tsitsipas will bottle a final as his 1st one. People are underestimating Zverev.
I have a feeling he beats Nadal in 5 in final.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Tell me you are joking.

Zedzilla is a nightmare for Nadal (according to @StrongRule)

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

If Zverev routines Tsitsipas i think he wins the event. He will want to bury that USO. Zverev will be fresh as well. Tsitsipas will bottle a final as his 1st one. People are underestimating Zverev.
I have a feeling he beats Nadal in 5 in final.

If Djokovic knocks some air out of Nadal before the final, I can see Zverev having a slight chance

 

[zagor]

Probably but don't think Novak is gonna fall for the same trick twice. Not saying he'll beat Nadal but he won't be taken surprise by sudden increase in his level.

 

[ForumMember]

Nadal will not be able to do anything against Djokovic's servebotting.

Pls put some money of Djokovic. we are getting some real good odds

 

[President]

Probably but don't think Novak is gonna fall for the same trick twice. Not saying he'll beat Nadal but he won't be taken surprise by sudden increase in his level.

I don't think it was really a trick, Nadal just got really hyped up when he saw his greatest rival across the net in a final to tie the slam record.

 

[zagor]

I don't think it was really a trick, Nadal just got really hyped up when he saw his greatest rival across the net in a final to tie the slam record.

I think it was, just like he was hiding that serve prior to USO in 2010.

Nadal is so much above the CC field that he can cruise mostly and up to full intensity only when needed (if it ever is). He's saving himself and his full array of shots for those very few opponents he actually considers to be a legit threat on clay.

But as I said, Novak will expect it this time. Whether he'll able to do anything about it is a different question.

 

[zagor]

Stopped reading right there. It’s obviously unimaginable that Diego (of all people) could possibly defeat Rafa on PC. He has no weapons and hasn’t the mentality to do it. Even had Rafa lost the third set, he wouldn’t have been in “trouble” and simply would have won it in five.

Oh he has the mentality, no weapons part is correct unfortunately. Diego is one of the very few players who aren't afraid of Nadal on clay and doesn't roll over.