Indian Wells SF: Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal

[Terenigma]

What's wrong with Rafa's left shoulder?

Same thing that's wrong with every body part of his when he's in a match he could possibly lose. It's common name is Excuseyitus.

 

[James P]

This kid is on another level with his defense. Incredible to extend that rally.

 

[dapchai]

Insane court coverage from Alcaraz.

 

[aussie]

What a rally!

 

[mike danny]

most likely yes. alcaraz mid 20's is djokovic well over 40. him and rafa- unlikely to be around and federer will be late 40s and living the domestic life. he has to face guys like medvedev, tsitsipas, berretinni, faa, rublex fritz to win tournaments. Some improvement on his serve and he's winning grand slams with that kind of weak competition.

Well, Fed never lived a wild life anyway

 

[ADuck]

Doesn't that grunt remind anyone of Djokovic's grunt? It's the exact same

 

[happyandbob]

OMG what defense by Alcaraz

 

[bluetrain4]

I've always loved Nadal's flat two-hander. His backhand game overall - spin, flat, slice - is too often forgotten in light of his forehand.

 

[mike danny]

Yeah, the guy who almost won 4 slams last year is going to retire anytime soon. Sure.

Well, Alcaraz is not even 19 yet.

 

[Sabrina]

Well Nadal can barely play 2 good points in a row now lol.

 

[Rafa4GOAT]

Ooo lala

 

[dapchai]

Aaaaaand another crappy FH.

 

[bluetrain4]

This is brutal.

 

[Halba]

Yeah, the guy who almost won 4 slams last year is going to retire anytime soon. Sure.

he's talking about when alcaraz matures. tennis maturity is in the mid 20's stage of the career. Djokovic of 2011 is djokovic at age 24. thats mid 20s. Thats 5-6 years from now. Federer in his prime was roughly the same age. around 23-24. djokovic will be in his 40s at same equivalent for Carlos. how confident are you that djokovic will be playing and winning grand slams in his forties. i somehow very much doubt it. no player in the open era has won grand slams after the age of 40! in fact the best player over the age of 38 in the open era, has been federer who was close to beating djokovic at wimbledon in 2019.

 

[James P]

My goodness, that was Rafa's best point of the night.

 

[Third Serve]

Whoa, great net play from Rafa!

 

[Aabye5]

RN - Rafa @ Net

 

[weakera]

Rafa super clutch at the net but not sustainable

 

[Rafa4GOAT]

bruhhhhh

 

[Milanez82]

Great stuff by Rafa but really poor bh by Carlos, line was open.

 

[flyingboris]

Second time this match that Carlos aims perfectly for Rafa's racket

 

[James P]

Clutch hold

 

[StrongRule]

Why is Nadal rushing to the volley so much when Alcaraz has such good passing shots? Reminds of Roddick in AO 2007.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

Lob him

 

[Aabye5]

Rafa super clutch at the net but not sustainable

Why not? He should have become a net guy in his early 30s. His net skills are awesome.

 

[bluetrain4]

I thought McEnroe retired. Lol.

 

[dapchai]

Something is really wrong with his left pec.

 

[Pablo1989]

What a match (with no wind).

 

[mike danny]

Why is Nadal rushing to the volley so much when Alcaraz has such good passing shots? Reminds of Roddick in AO 2007.

Nadal has had some amazing gets at the net.

 

[Ray Mercer]

Still taking Nadal to win. He almost never loses these close ones. When he loses he gets blown out.

 

[aussie]

Nadal's net reflexes have not diminished with age. Phenomenal.

 

[Nostradamus]

if RAFA can volley this well, he should just serve and volley all the time at Wimbledon and he would win easy

 

[Third Serve]

Ned’s left pec hurting?

 

[El_Yotamo]

Couldn't fall asleep and just came back...is Nadal getting treatment?? WTF????

 

[James P]

I hate that set 2 was such a sh*tshow, because this has been an otherwise blockbuster match.

 

[ark_28]

Nadal calls the trainer before Alcaraz serve lol

 

[weakera]

Never seen what the trainer is doing on court right now

 

[Third Serve]

awww, that’s adorable, Nadal hugging the physio!

 

[mike danny]

Man, that looks like a big hug from the doctor.

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal has had some amazing gets at the net.

He did, but that's a big risk. Also lost many such points.

 

[Terenigma]

Sigh...

Nothing ever changes with Nadal or any big name player and once again everyone falls for it. Yeah because he is actually injured...

 

[weakera]

Man, that looks like a big hug from the doctor.

It looks like he is cracking his back although seems like a chest thing

 

[bluetrain4]

I want the Ben Stiller seat.

 

[lordlosh]

Just as usual Nadal cheating stuffs.
How to like this guy ?
Serving in 40 seconds, ATP allowing ho to continuously time violation, instructed the umpire to start his clock 15 seconds later, what is next ? 20 seconds between first and second serve.
What is next ? Allow him to have 5 first serve?

 

[mike danny]

It looks like he is cracking his back although seems like a chest thing

I think he'll be fine now. But who knows by tomorrow if he wins?

 

[D.Nalby12]

Nadal senses defeat and he pulls MTO. Got injury excuse ready for potential loss..

 

[Milanez82]

Alcaraz 39 winners Rafa 19 so far
A classic match where Rafa wins

 

[StrongRule]

Well, you did call it the Djokovic Open right before Nadal bageled Novak at RG 2020. And at least I owned up to it. Last I checked, you were still making excuses for Novak’s loss (“Nadal would have blown the match if he had lost the third”, etc.)

The night conditions definitely help Djokovic, this is a fact. Nadal winning one indoor match doesn't change that. In 2017-2019 outdoors Djokovic wasn't even reaching the final.

 

[mike danny]

Sigh...

Nothing ever changes with Nadal or any big name player and once again everyone falls for it. Yeah because he is actually injured...

Alcaraz needs to hold here.

 

[happyandbob]

Alcaraz just cranked a 119 mph second serve