Insane Tennis Match from Baby Rafa
- Thread starter robthai
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MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Young Rafa is so epic 
D
Deleted member 716271
Guest
Young Rafa is so epic
damn he looked in so much better shape back then !
robthai
Hall of Fame
I miss the capri shorts and sleeveless look.
Lol, the first picture a litte Monfils-likeYoung Rafa is so epic
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
But Ralph in 2006 was still in his diapers, no?.He couldn't hit a single aggressive Forehand and run all day getting balls back.All that relentless aggression in the video is just an illusion ,no ?Paul was a journeyman,no? Weak era Journeyman,very bad, bad opponent for Ralph.So we are actually blind,he is not really playing well,no.Hypnotised to think that way. It is against laws of the universe for anyone not having very very good statistics to actually play that well.Umbelibable defects we have in our eyes.
But This is just highlights,no? All those who actually watched the match and say that the match was high level throughout are proven wrong by entire career stats of Paul.
Because it is not possible for a player ranked low to play that well,no?Even if there are literally 100 examples every year.But stats decide fate of the universe,no?
2006 Ralph on clay didn't have an backhand,no?Nor did he have a movement.Stats prove it.Video is fake umbellibable to believe in that great lie.
This video is not true. Djokovic 2015 has been replaced through photoshop by paul.Very very bad.Weak era worshipping is disgusting,no?
Too many nos, no?
But This is just highlights,no? All those who actually watched the match and say that the match was high level throughout are proven wrong by entire career stats of Paul.
Because it is not possible for a player ranked low to play that well,no?Even if there are literally 100 examples every year.But stats decide fate of the universe,no?
2006 Ralph on clay didn't have an backhand,no?Nor did he have a movement.Stats prove it.Video is fake umbellibable to believe in that great lie.
This video is not true. Djokovic 2015 has been replaced through photoshop by paul.Very very bad.Weak era worshipping is disgusting,no?
Too many nos, no?
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Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
But seriously this match made me believe Fred didn't have a chance against Rafa.
Paul gave more resistance to Rafa here than Peak Fred did and apart from 2013(Where Novak was lucky to force a 5th) even Djokovic didn't really equal Nadal like Paul for such a long stretch on Phillipe Chatrier.
I dare you to find the entire match and watch and tell me that he played any worse than current Rafa.
Edit: watch Atleast the game at 5-5 first set it is in this video.PHM applying Fred's Rome tactics and Rafa placing impossible balls not only in but for a winner.
Yep the OP is right.Insane match.
Paul gave more resistance to Rafa here than Peak Fred did and apart from 2013(Where Novak was lucky to force a 5th) even Djokovic didn't really equal Nadal like Paul for such a long stretch on Phillipe Chatrier.
I dare you to find the entire match and watch and tell me that he played any worse than current Rafa.
Edit: watch Atleast the game at 5-5 first set it is in this video.PHM applying Fred's Rome tactics and Rafa placing impossible balls not only in but for a winner.
Yep the OP is right.Insane match.
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Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Yes,but I think post 2009 injury he lost this otherworldly footspeed.Even his Forehand was still capable of generating same insane spin and bounce.While he may have become more aggressive, I think this version was as hard to defeat.The only clay years that exceed 2006 in my eyes are 2007,2008,2012,2013 not as a whole just the last 2 matches of RG.2010 always felt a bit less impressive to me.For whatever reason
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Well his speed looks greater on clay. You have to look at him on a hardcourt to get a real view of his speed. He even looks really fast on clay now but when we see him on medium hardcourt we can see that's not really the case. He's an amazing mover on clay because it is slower and his footwork and sliding is second to none. His speed in 2006 was insane though. For me it was 2014 when I noticed a clear decline in his speed.
He could generate great spin on the forehand even then but it went to another level after 2006 imo, and more consistently lethal. I would add 2017 to that list as well. I thought he was superb on clay last year.
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Personally think this year he went reverse order of 2017, He was brutally lethal in MC and Barcelona than not so much in the next three event.In 2017 he played really well but there wasn't really a player who could rally with him like bolleli,Diego and even Thiem did.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Yea I guess so. Yea he didn't have a Bolleli or Diego but he also was off in both those matches, in heavy conditions. Last year he just bulldozed from start to finish. He didn't look as confident in RG at times this year compared to last year to me.
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
This is something I have noticed too, he was a bit rattled against Thiem in the 1st set in final as well.After the first two event He also made uncharacteristic errors in every match.Couple this with his talk of doubting his next year's presence, I think the injury in the first section of the year after having to retire in last year's WTF.Has put some doubts in his mind.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
The injury and the loss to Thiem stopped his momentum that he had through the clay season, and then his game just fell apart against Zverev in Rome. That put doubts in his mind I think going into RG.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Wasn't this the match where RAFA got a MTO for choking on a banana?
robthai
Hall of Fame
it would be like the 2009 Madrid Semi except extended by 1 more set.
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
As a teenager he didn't spin the forehand all that much off clay. He can hit it pretty flat too if he needs, and I think that as he slows down physically he'll need to do that more and more
robthai
Hall of Fame
yeah I noticed he is following through across the chest more often here rather than the lasso follow through. He only does this now when hes confident. Maybe he just had nothing to lose back in those days so confidence was less of a factor.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
vanioMan
Legend
Young Rafa is so epic
Young Rafa = epic
Grown Rafa = epic
Old Rafa = epic
Conclusion: Rafa was born epic and on clay
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Young Rafa = epic
Grown Rafa = epic
Old Rafa = epic
Conclusion: Rafa was born epic and on clay
Amen
like old and young HBK 
Julian Houston
Semi-Pro
LOLOL young Nadal only 1 UE on clay whole match..
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Epiccccc
clout
Hall of Fame
Teenage Nadal was other worldly, but his game has clearly evolved A LOT since his younger days. His fh is flatter, his bh is stronger, his net game has improved, his serve has became much more of a weapon over the years, he's became a much better all-court player and overall, he's learnt to play more aggressive in general. The only thing Rafa declined in over the years was his god-like speed, and I guess he's a bit more error prone now, but that could be because he's actually going for a lot more of his shots these days.
I’ll take 2005-2009 Rafa anyday on clay and grass. 2009 AO Rafa on slow HC too.
2013 Rafa on faster HCs.
clout
Hall of Fame
He was definitely better on grass in his younger days, but his game has definitely improved a ton on HCs since around 2008/09. On clay, it's pretty close, I mean Rafa has a wider range of weapons to beat you with since 2010, whereas prior, his main option was to simply out-grind you.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Bull was sick that day. That's the only reason why it was close.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Rafa is ranked #1 and is without question one of the "old players" these days. He's ancient by tennis standards.
And 2006 Rafa isn't baby Nadal, that was 2004 and 2005.
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
I agreed initially but I have watched some matches of Nadal in 2005-06 last weekend and I am not sure I agree anymore. Apart from 2007,2008,2012,Later stages of 2013 I do not think there is much difference. Hell this new aggressive version of Nadal is similar to the one in playing style of 2004-05 HC
Baby Nadal with 11 titles, RG, 2 HC masters with another 5 setter vs peak Fed, one of his best win %.
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