Have you ever seen Nadal adjust his tactics to beat an opponent?

[tennis_hack]

If so, when?

Nadal is like a shark at the moment - no need to think about anything, no need to adapt, because his game is perfectly suited to breaking down everyone else's. Heavy topspin. To the backhand. Repeat x100,000,000,000.

Even with guys who have great backhands and unreliable forehands such as Gasquet or Paire, I never see Nadal bother to change his tactics. Why bother thinking? Just hit more spin to the backhand and it'll break down eventually, right?

I'm not hating on Nadal for doing this, but, all the same, this is why I'd be so fascinated to see someone who loves taking a backhand at head height and looping it over Nadal's head. Or crush it early for a winner every time. Just to see how he would adapt? Or if he's so comfortable out there making everyone play by his rules, that he doesn't even know how to adapt to anyone?

The closest we've come is Djokovic, but again, the way Nadal dealt/tried to deal with Djokovic in 2011 and onwards is by breaking down Djokovic's backhand. That's not really an adaptation, that's just sticking to the original plan win or lose.

Have you ever seen Nadal target someone's forehand? Or slice to make them hit uncomfortably low instead of high? Or, generally, do anything different, ever?

 

[ruerooo]

If so, when?



Have you ever seen Nadal target someone's forehand? Or slice to make them hit uncomfortably low instead of high? Or, generally, do anything different, ever?

All the time. He's adapted his game to his opponent the entirety of his career -- go back and watch his 2005 Madrid final against Ljubicic back when Madrid was hardcourt, or his 2006 & 2007 vs. his 2008 Wimbledon finals against Roger, or watch how he plays the big servers like DelPo (and Johnny Isner when he must, LOL). It's one of the things that's made him so successful.

What have *you* been watching? :shock:

 

[dr. godmode]

And he slices the ball to Djoko's backhand a lot now and has flattened out his FH to quicken his matches

 

[skiracer55]

Yep, sure has..

...his match against Djoker at either Rogers Cup or Cincy, he played a lot more like a hard-courter...closer to the baseline, more serves to the forehand, flattening out his groundstrokes, shortening the point...

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Yes. He does it during a match(hit to one side more depending on the errors generated) and also long term. He's adjusted to Djokovic by hitting loopy backhands down the line and then blasting backands cross-court to Djoker's forehand.

 

[ibbi]

He was in danger of being run out of the top of the game by guys like Soderling, and Del Potro a couple of years ago. He's made a concerted effort to step more inside the court, and be more aggressive, shorten points, and not resign himself to being a human backboard the way that he used to.

 

[Finesse4sum]

If so, when?

Nadal is like a shark at the moment - no need to think about anything, no need to adapt, because his game is perfectly suited to breaking down everyone else's. Heavy topspin. To the backhand. Repeat x100,000,000,000.

Even with guys who have great backhands and unreliable forehands such as Gasquet or Paire, I never see Nadal bother to change his tactics. Why bother thinking? Just hit more spin to the backhand and it'll break down eventually, right?

I'm not hating on Nadal for doing this, but, all the same, this is why I'd be so fascinated to see someone who loves taking a backhand at head height and looping it over Nadal's head. Or crush it early for a winner every time. Just to see how he would adapt? Or if he's so comfortable out there making everyone play by his rules, that he doesn't even know how to adapt to anyone?

The closest we've come is Djokovic, but again, the way Nadal dealt/tried to deal with Djokovic in 2011 and onwards is by breaking down Djokovic's backhand. That's not really an adaptation, that's just sticking to the original plan win or lose.

Have you ever seen Nadal target someone's forehand? Or slice to make them hit uncomfortably low instead of high? Or, generally, do anything different, ever?

I've seen Nadal slice a lot vs Delpo in that 4 setter they played at Wimbledon.
You have to comb through a lot of Nadal's rallies to find anything "different".

He does change the pattern of the points in order to get ahead early for an eventual winner or he'll draw something into the doubles alley and then follow up with a short angle forehand which will work against people with less foot speed.

 

[RNadal]

Yes, against the Novak. Also when he plays left handers, he has to do something different by your logic that he only hits FH to BH. Close thread.

 

[tennis_hack]

Yes, against the Novak. Also when he plays left handers, he has to do something different by your logic that he only hits FH to BH. Close thread.

Against lefties he can hit forehands down the line to their backhand all day long.

 

[RNadal]

Against lefties he can hit forehands down the line to their backhand all day long.

Hahahaha mate, just quit whining. Your hero always loses to him due to mental lapses, not by this FH to BH dream you guys made up.

 

[tennis_hack]

Hahahaha mate, just quit whining. Your hero always loses to him due to mental lapses, not by this FH to BH dream you guys made up.

Who's my hero, then? Federer?

Lol, you're so wrong it's untrue.

A Nadal hater (and this thread is not even Nadal hating) is not a Federer fan by default.

 

[kishnabe]

He serves out wide to Djokovic Forehand. He adjusted when he needs too....but his primary strategy is good that he rarely has too.

Djokovic is the only guy right now who can neutralize his topspin forehand on the backhand corner.

 

[Bender]

If so, when?

Nadal is like a shark at the moment - no need to think about anything, no need to adapt, because his game is perfectly suited to breaking down everyone else's. Heavy topspin. To the backhand. Repeat x100,000,000,000.

Even with guys who have great backhands and unreliable forehands such as Gasquet or Paire, I never see Nadal bother to change his tactics. Why bother thinking? Just hit more spin to the backhand and it'll break down eventually, right?

I'm not hating on Nadal for doing this, but, all the same, this is why I'd be so fascinated to see someone who loves taking a backhand at head height and looping it over Nadal's head. Or crush it early for a winner every time. Just to see how he would adapt? Or if he's so comfortable out there making everyone play by his rules, that he doesn't even know how to adapt to anyone?

The closest we've come is Djokovic, but again, the way Nadal dealt/tried to deal with Djokovic in 2011 and onwards is by breaking down Djokovic's backhand. That's not really an adaptation, that's just sticking to the original plan win or lose.

Have you ever seen Nadal target someone's forehand? Or slice to make them hit uncomfortably low instead of high? Or, generally, do anything different, ever?

Pretty much this. Nadal attacks Djokovic's forehand nowadays.

Same thing against Murray.

Not sure what OP has been watching.

Yes. He does it during a match(hit to one side more depending on the errors generated) and also long term. He's adjusted to Djokovic by hitting loopy backhands down the line and then blasting backands cross-court to Djoker's forehand.

 

[josofo]

He was in danger of being run out of the top of the game by guys like Soderling, and Del Potro a couple of years ago. He's made a concerted effort to step more inside the court, and be more aggressive, shorten points, and not resign himself to being a human backboard the way that he used to.

this.

god for 1 tournament he went heavy on the steriods and served 135 for 7 matches.



(but seriouslly a lot of times he will go for more lines if his usually junk isnt working.

 

[monfed]

Yes he does, spam Fed's BH when he's playing Fed and spam Gasquet's FH when he's playing Gasquet. :lol:

 

[firepanda]

He does adapt. He's been trying several tactics to get around Djokovic most notably, running around his backhands (more than usual), moonballing more, playing to his forehand, coming in to net etc.

 

[tennis_hack]

Yes he does, spam Fed's BH when he's playing Fed and spam Gasquet's FH when he's playing Gasquet. :lol:

Nope, he still spams Gasquet's backhand, not Gasquet's forehand.

 

[zebedee]

His time wasting or medical timeout are obvious tactics he'll use if he needs to.
Some tactics don't require technical changes to game play.

 

[veroniquem]

Why would Rafa worry about adjusting right now? Nobody can defeat him on hard (17-0 and counting with total domination over the whole top 10)

 

[Sim]

Why bother responding to this TROLL? You don't just become more successful by hitting more topspin forehands to the backhand...

Seriously lol, not even worth the effort.

 

[citybert]

Nole used to throw that FH down the line to nadals BH in 2011 not working this year due to what some have said here.

His slice worked so terribly in the 2011 USO final hes been somehwat reluctant to go back to that since on HC vs Nole. Clay is different story though.

Have to disagree - he does change tactics during a match its just not always noticable. Its not like he SVs.

 

[Messarger]

If so, when?

Nadal is like a shark at the moment - no need to think about anything, no need to adapt, because his game is perfectly suited to breaking down everyone else's. Heavy topspin. To the backhand. Repeat x100,000,000,000.

Even with guys who have great backhands and unreliable forehands such as Gasquet or Paire, I never see Nadal bother to change his tactics. Why bother thinking? Just hit more spin to the backhand and it'll break down eventually, right?

I'm not hating on Nadal for doing this, but, all the same, this is why I'd be so fascinated to see someone who loves taking a backhand at head height and looping it over Nadal's head. Or crush it early for a winner every time. Just to see how he would adapt? Or if he's so comfortable out there making everyone play by his rules, that he doesn't even know how to adapt to anyone?

If they're good enough they wouldn't need to "play by his rules" as you mentioned. I mean, since he's been playing the same way for so long as you suggested, why cant the others find a way and "adapt" to his game?

The closest we've come is Djokovic, but again, the way Nadal dealt/tried to deal with Djokovic in 2011 and onwards is by breaking down Djokovic's backhand. That's not really an adaptation, that's just sticking to the original plan win or lose.

Have you ever seen Nadal target someone's forehand? Or slice to make them hit uncomfortably low instead of high? Or, generally, do anything different, ever?

If you want to see Nadal target someone's forehand, watch the 2010 Wimbledon semi final between him and Andy Murray, or the recent Montreal semi final vs Djokovic.

A lot of you jokers are NOT watching Nadal enough. Just because he plays Federer that way doesn't mean he always attacks the backhand. It really depend on who he is facing.

It's the same as those guys who still think his volleys suck because he doesn't come to the net often enough when in actual fact he's made some incredibly difficult volleys that Sampras would be proud of. Is he the best volleyer out there? Of course he isn't. But don't assume he automatically sucks at the net if 1) you haven't been watching him closely throughout his career and 2) you cant accept the fact that a clay court specialist is able to develop other parts of his game.

 

[Chico]

Not really. Nadal's plan is always the same, pound opponents backhand with his cross court heavy spin lefty forehand. And run run run...
Lather rinse repeat.

Quite boring and one dimensional.

 

[Clay lover]

You get this same bull over and over again from guys who don't like him. Newsflash: if you hate a guy enough' you either don't watch his matches or have selective memory of his matches against your hero. I think this is the case for many nadal haters--they only watch his matches vs fed and only remembers his cc forehands. The truth is--Nadal is only like that vs fed and only in the period from 2006-2009. Against other players he plays just like any old player but with a better, more consistent game.

 

[jackson vile]

Sure, he just asks his uncle really quick and then makes the suggested changes right then and there.

 

[Magnus]

Why would Rafa worry about adjusting right now? Nobody can defeat him on hard (17-0 and counting with total domination over the whole top 10)

Keep thinking that lol, you're hilarious, can't be beaten on hard. He's on a hot streak, yes, that hardly makes him unbeatable. Nole almost did, Fed almost did, Isner almost did, etc. Nadal has been more lucky than anything tbh.

 

[Steve0904]

Sure, he just asks his uncle really quick and then makes the suggested changes right then and there.

I LOLed at this. Pretty funny.

 

[Andres]

There was a hardcourt slam (I think it was 2011 USO) against Murray, where ESPN showed the stats of Nadal's shot direction.

He was directing almost 65% of his shots to Murray's forehand, and then they compared it with a Roland Garros match against Federer, in which he was hitting around 72% of his shots against Fed's backhand.

 

[tennis_hack]

I think Nadal should always go after the backhand, regardless if his opponent has a much better backhand than forehand.

If Nadal changes his tactics, he's essentially acknowledged that he needs to adjust his own game in order to play his opponent, and that should never happen - he should make everyone adjust their games to play his.

 

[monfed]

Keep thinking that lol, you're hilarious, can't be beaten on hard. He's on a hot streak, yes, that hardly makes him unbeatable. Nole almost did, Fed almost did, Isner almost did, etc. Nadal has been more lucky than anything tbh.

Yea he keeps having lucky escapes and it never seems to end, Rome 13,RG 13,Montreal 13, Cincy 13. :lol:

 

[bullfan]

I think Nadal should always go after the backhand, regardless if his opponent has a much better backhand than forehand.

If Nadal changes his tactics, he's essentially acknowledged that he needs to adjust his own game in order to play his opponent, and that should never happen - he should make everyone adjust their games to play his.

You mean the way Fed adjusted his tactics against Nadal in Cincy.

 

[namelessone]

There was a hardcourt slam (I think it was 2011 USO) against Murray, where ESPN showed the stats of Nadal's shot direction.

He was directing almost 65% of his shots to Murray's forehand, and then they compared it with a Roland Garros match against Federer, in which he was hitting around 72% of his shots against Fed's backhand.

I know, imagine that, in tennis you have to hit to your opponent's weak points if you want to win.

 

[monfed]

Well IDK where this notion of Ralph playing the same game comes from. From what I've seen he really varies up his CC FH quite a bit , moonball ,moonball, marsball,plutoball,marsball,moonball.. they're all there just need to be a bit more observant than other players. :lol:

 

[veroniquem]

Keep thinking that lol, you're hilarious, can't be beaten on hard. He's on a hot streak, yes, that hardly makes him unbeatable. Nole almost did, Fed almost did, Isner almost did, etc. Nadal has been more lucky than anything tbh.

A really long streak then (6 months).

 

[Federer20042006]

Well, it's not just breaking down the backhand. It's stepping around his backhand and hitting the IO forehand as soon as he gets a look.

 

[ubi1]

Yes Nadal adjusted nicely against Nole in Montreal.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

His good friend Dr Fuentes helps a lot his tactical changes

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Rafa adjusted his tactics to belt Joker in 5 of their last 6 matches, now it's up to his opponents to adjust their tactics or use bigger racquets to try to beat him.

 

[ubi1]

Yea he keeps having lucky escapes and it never seems to end, Rome 13,RG 13,Montreal 13, Cincy 13. :lol:

You need to understand you cannot keep being lucky theres something right that he does. Vamos!!!