Indian Wells SF: Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal

[Aabye5]

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

Don't get cocky. This kid is THE REAL DEAL.

 

[dapchai]

Alcaraz needs to hold here.

Ez hold.

 

[Third Serve]

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.

Cmon, don’t act like you wouldn’t have picked Novak as the favorite anyway, outdoors or not,

 

[mike danny]

Another great point at the net from Rafa.

 

[phl92]

Can someone post this meme of a ostrich having Nadals style of hair

 

[bluetrain4]

I thought Edberg retired.

 

[Terenigma]

Alcaraz needs to hold here.

It would be refreshing to see a player actually maintain focus when the BS starts flowing. I hope Nadal doesn't win another game from now on after that pathetic acting display of injury but I'm not holding out high hopes.

 

[Aabye5]

Ez hold.

Wat...

 

[Milanez82]

Don't get cocky. This kid is THE REAL DEAL.

Rafa serving for the match

 

[Sabrina]

Nadal break to serve for match. Can he do it?

 

[phl92]

My gut feeling is saying this game is decidingn the matxh. If Alcaraz holds he will break Nadal next game and wins the match. I think it would change his career like Nadals career changed when beating Coria

 

[serbiavic]

It would be refreshing to see a player actually maintain focus when the BS starts flowing. I hope Nadal doesn't win another game from now on after that pathetic acting display of injury but I'm not holding out high hopes.

Gotta get some excuses ready at the right time just in case.

 

[El_Yotamo]

Ironic that he converted #21

 

[Aabye5]

So many break chances for the kid, I almost feel sorry for him. Rafa only needs one

 

[mike danny]

Disappointing game from Alcaraz.

 

[dapchai]

Ironic that he converted #21

You lied. You haven't slept yet.

 

[robin7]

The King is serving for the match

 

[NoleFam]

Nadal pulled out the 'ol okie doke I see.

 

[Third Serve]

Well, gg lol

 

[tennisjedi]

Nadal breaks but it's not over yet. Still gotta close it out.

 

[dapchai]

Not confident about Rafa serving it out now.

 

[sliceroni]

Loving Nadal’s net play.

 

[Terenigma]

Absolute disgust.

Fake an injury, disrupt rhythm with a MTO and immediately break showing zero signs of said injury. It's the same EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I've seen it time and time and time and TIME again over the years. The fact it STILL works is ridiculous.

 

[Beulah Jesus]

Rafa doing Rafa things.

 

[James P]

Come on Carlos

 

[Aabye5]

Disappointing game from Alcaraz.

One bad game on TTW == mug, choker....yada. Yada. Yada.

 

[aussie]

Difference has been the net play if Nadal. Reflex gets and strong putaways.

 

[lordlosh]

Of course Nadal is going to break. He disrupt his opponent momentum, as he usually does. A blatant cheater !!!

 

[Tennis sensation]

Nadal serving for the match.

 

[bluetrain4]

Don't NextGen your last two games, Carlos.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

New dominant guy ehh? Cant beat a 36 year old with a strained peck? yea...

 

[mike danny]

One bad game on TTW == mug, choker....yada. Yada. Yada.

I only said it was a disappointing game from him. Didn't call him a mug.

 

[flyingboris]

Respect to Nadal, did not think the had this in him this week.

 

[Aabye5]

I only said it was a disappointing game from him. Didn't call him a mug.

Not you, the masses...

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I love Rafa but I am heartbroken - really wanted Carlos to win this match ):

 

[StrongRule]

Cmon, don’t act like you wouldn’t have picked Novak as the favorite anyway, outdoors or not,

So what? Despite what I'm writing here, I used to have hopes for RG in the past. But now with the night conditions (combined with Nadal's age) I don't have any hopes anymore. Even if Nadal dominates the clay season I will fully expect him to lose there, and not just to Djokovic. The likes of Zverev and Tsitsipas would be very dangerous for him at night.

It's annoying they made such dramatic changes.

 

[bluetrain4]

Of course Nadal is going to break. He disrupt his opponent momentum, as he usually does. A blatant cheater !!!

If Alacaraz can't deal with that "disruption," he'll never be a champion.

 

[robin7]

2 points away

 

[James P]

Ooof, one point away...

 

[El_Yotamo]

You lied. You haven't slept yet.

See above, couldn't fall asleep and came back 5ish minutes ago

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

I love Rafa but I am heartbroken - really wanted Carlos to win this match ):

You're better off betting in vegas than betting on these bum kids

 

[Third Serve]

That’s such a bummer

 

[Tennis sensation]

MPs Nadal

 

[mike danny]

Alcaraz has played a terrible last couple of games. He went away almost predictably at 3-4.

 

[Milanez82]

Djokovic lost a ton of these matches vs Rafa, while playing at a significantly higher level and took him years to figure out Rafa. Alcaraz needs more of this to learn how to win it vs someone like Rafa.

 

[NoleFam]

Absolute disgust.

Fake an injury, disrupt rhythm with a MTO and immediately break showing zero signs of said injury. It's the same EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I've seen it time and time and time and TIME again over the years. The fact it STILL works is ridiculous.

It's the one thing about him that gets under my skin. The injury excuses always when he loses. Almost always. With that said, as a pro, you have to be able to tune that out and play your game. That's something Alcaraz will have to deal with from a number of players so he will have to learn this.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

Anti climatic ending but entertaining match overall.

 

[ghostofMecir]

Sad he pulled a fake injury timeout 4-3 up.

 

[Aabye5]

Rafa did what Rafa does...

 

[James P]

Nice win, Nadal. Great match by the youngster.