Is this evidence of a mental block?

[jl809]

In his last 3 matches on hard courts against Fedovic, in Nadal’s opening service games of the matches, he has made a total of 8 unforced errors (2 in the Shanghai 2017 F, 3 in the Aussie Open 2019 F, 3 in the ATP Cup 2020 F) and has been broken in every single one. He has then lost the opening set from there every time, offering minimal resistance.

Is this too small a sample size / a statistical anomaly, or evidence that he is walking out there far too nervous about who’s on the other side of the net?

 

[Sudacafan]

Injections take time to produce effects?

 

[Kralingen]

First time he sees players who can actually take the ball early or hit with depth without falling over, and is understandably unprepared.

It's not his fault, you don't get a lot of practice against players of their caliber.

 

[ibbi]

He is a fairly slow starter in general. Kind of always has been. It's presumably one of the reasons that up until the last few years he always chose to receive when he won the toss.

 

[GabeT]

Fed and Novak are simply better than Nadal at HC/grass. Peak Nadal could compensate but a player is only peak for a little while

 

[JasonZ]

He is a fairly slow starter in general. Kind of always has been. It's presumably one of the reasons that up until the last few years he always chose to receive when he won the toss.

he breaked djojovic at djokovics first service game at their last 3 french open meetings. but in general you are right.

 

[Kralingen]

he breaked djojovic at djokovics first service game at their last 3 french open meetings. but in general you are right.

Djokovic as well has become a bit of a clown in old age. He needlessly drops a lot of opening sets these days.

Usually when he is broken, it includes some terrible UEs and/or poor second serves. Donations.

Of course, it only follows that these old guys should be having their best seasons of their entire careers.

Their level, clearly, is worthy of it.

 

[Zara]

First time he sees players who can actually take the ball early or hit with depth without falling over, and is understandably unprepared.

It's not his fault, you don't get a lot of practice against players of their caliber.

I take it your beloved as in Andre would slaughter Nadal outside clay by taking the precious time away from the Bull.

 

[Kralingen]

I take it your beloved as in Andre would slaughter Nadal outside clay by taking the precious time away from the Bull.

Well, if Davydenko could go 6-1 on HC against Rafa...

It's hard to see Andre doing worse. Of course it would depend on whether Andre was 'on the pipe' pre match or not, he was not very consistent.

 

[Deleted member 791948]

Also Zverev broke Nadal's serve in the first game of their recent RG semi-final and Nadal made 2 unforced errors-