Khachanov - Nadal: Instant Classic or...

RaulRamirez

Legend
I had a feeling that Khachanov would not be an easy opponent for Nadal, but I didn't expect it to be this tight -- about as competitive as a 4-set match can be. While not flawless, it did feature some amazing shots and rallies. Tons of drama: It's hard to rate it below an A-minus.

As for Khachanov, he has lots of game. My closest comparison is probably Cilic. Cilic may be a little bigger off the forehand, but Khach moves just a little better and his backhand may be stronger, or will be. I really like his game, though as a Rafa fan, I'm happy and relieved about the result.
 

Plamen1234

Hall of Fame
The match was very good and I liked it.But the winner was never in doubt.At the end Khachanov doesnt have the needed mentality to beat Nadal.I mean failing to serve out the second set,DFs in the TB and such stuff.Anyway it was worth watching it.Tomorrow I expect the same with Federer and Kyrgios.
 

MugOpponent

Hall of Fame
The point to send it into the third set tiebreak was one of the best of the year for sure. Very odd match though. KK clutching up but then making critical double faults. Nadal had some brilliant points but also missed a lot of shots that he typically makes. Still a highly entertaining match.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
The match was very good and I liked it.But the winner was never in doubt.At the end Khachanov doesnt have the needed mentality to beat Nadal.I mean failing to serve out the second set,DFs in the TB and such stuff.Anyway it was worth watching it.Tomorrow I expect the same with Federer and Kyrgios.

The haters could have fooled me :p or is it Satan that fooled them? ;)
Very deep, sarcastic devil voice: "Oh u want some false hope today, fool?" lmao
 

Tommy Haas

Hall of Fame
Nadal's DTL FH was spot on. If he keeps it this good for the remainder of the tournament, he's got a very good shot at defending his title. Everyone leans toward his cross court forehand and his DTL FH will win him many points. The same way Djoko's DTL BH does.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Got broken 3 straight times at the end of the 2nd set and DF's 3 times in the 3rd set tie break. Then played poorly in the 4th set tie break.

There wasn't that much drama either. From 5-5 in the 2nd, you knew Nadal was going to win.

The Muller match last year was far better than this one.
 

Druss

Hall of Fame
As a Federer and Nadal fan , I disagree

Can we stop with the “as a Federer & Nadal fan” BS? There is no such thing! You’re either a ‘true’ fan of one, or the other. You can also be a fan of one and respect the other...but to be a big fan of both, that’s not happening.
 
WHAT HAPPENED: In a taut, tense and titanic battle, played largely under a closed roof in Arthur Ashe Stadium Friday afternoon, No. 1 Rafael Nadal withstood a tall challenge from the 6-foot-6, hard-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov, coming back from one set and a break down in the second, to emerge with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6 victory and advance to the fourth round.
 

Mack-2

Professional
This match debunked Rafa’s myth that the serve clock will prevent great matches from taking place.
 

Ann

Hall of Fame
Can we stop with the “as a Federer & Nadal fan” BS? There is no such thing! You’re either a ‘true’ fan of one, or the other. You can also be a fan of one and respect the other...but to be a big fan of both, that’s not happening.
BS :D
 

Shaolin

Talk Tennis Guru
Khachanov was always gonna fold at the end so it had no drama for me, even when he was leading.

Also, he hits hard but way too much margin. Half his shots are down the middle of the court and he's terrified of hitting close to the line. His shots are always 4'-5' from the lines...that's not gonna beat a guy like Rafa.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Khachanov was always gonna fold at the end so it had no drama for me, even when he was leading.

Also, he hits hard but way too much margin. Half his shots are down the middle of the court and he's terrified of hitting close to the line. His shots are always 4'-5' from the lines...that's not gonna beat a guy like Rafa.

I noticed the same thing. His 'down the line' shots are down the middle line. The T. I wasn't that impressed.

Nearly every shot he hits is CC/inside out and Nadal was waiting every time. He doesn't have Del Potro's power either due to his western grip. But he moves much better.
 

True Fanerer

G.O.A.T.
Got broken 3 straight times at the end of the 2nd set and DF's 3 times in the 3rd set tie break. Then played poorly in the 4th set tie break.

There wasn't that much drama either. From 5-5 in the 2nd, you knew Nadal was going to win.

The Muller match last year was far better than this one.
Everyone kept waiting for Khachanov to fold and totally go away and he didn't. Can't assume at the end of the 2nd set at one set all that the match is over when the next two sets go to tiebreakers :rolleyes:. Get real.
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Khachanov was always gonna fold at the end so it had no drama for me, even when he was leading.

Also, he hits hard but way too much margin. Half his shots are down the middle of the court and he's terrified of hitting close to the line. His shots are always 4'-5' from the lines...that's not gonna beat a guy like Rafa.

Noticed he hits with too much margin as well. Got in trouble on a few Nadal passes like that. Match had more drama than I expected, but the winner was NID after Khachanov blew the 2nd set IMO.
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
It's rare to see someone's greatest strength and biggest weakness be the same attribute. In this case, Karen's mentality.

On the one hand, he played like a nervous rookie in the biggest points. But on the other hand, he played with a short memory and moved on from the 2nd & 3rd set collapses like a seasoned pro, keeping the pressure on Nadal all day.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
It's rare to see someone's greatest strength and biggest weakness be the same attribute. In this case, Karen's mentality.

On the one hand, he played like a nervous rookie in the biggest points. But on the other hand, he played with a short memory and moved on from the 2nd & 3rd set collapses like a seasoned pro, keeping the pressure on Nadal all day.

He did the best he could.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
The match was very good and I liked it.But the winner was never in doubt.At the end Khachanov doesnt have the needed mentality to beat Nadal.I mean failing to serve out the second set,DFs in the TB and such stuff.Anyway it was worth watching it.Tomorrow I expect the same with Federer and Kyrgios.
Right. Because Kyrgios has never beaten the big 3. He’s such a mental midget. Just like KK.
Oh wait...
:rolleyes:
 

metsman

Talk Tennis Guru
Khachanov-a 6'6" grinder who plays 10 feet behind the baseline, what a total waste of his size and athleticism. These young guys are just something else on a fundamental and technical level, it's like everyone forgot how to play and coach tennis.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
It's rare to see someone's greatest strength and biggest weakness be the same attribute. In this case, Karen's mentality.

On the one hand, he played like a nervous rookie in the biggest points. But on the other hand, he played with a short memory and moved on from the 2nd & 3rd set collapses like a seasoned pro, keeping the pressure on Nadal all day.

Agree. 3 double faults in a tie breaker is just inexcusable at their level. He fought great throughout, EXCEPT when he played that tie break. Otherwise, it was a really solid performance, he played better when he was chasing.
 

sanak

Rookie
Khachanov-a 6'6" grinder who plays 10 feet behind the baseline, what a total waste of his size and athleticism. These young guys are just something else on a fundamental and technical level, it's like everyone forgot how to play and coach tennis.

You havent watched the match. He is neither a grinder, nor did he stand that behind he baseline.
 

Feather

Legend
Agree. 3 double faults in a tie breaker is just inexcusable at their level. He fought great throughout, EXCEPT when he played that tie break. Otherwise, it was a really solid performance, he played better when he was chasing.

I loved the match. I knew the moment he lost second set that, he will lose the match too. The service game in which, he lost serve from 40-15 up and serving two double faults in a row was also pathetic. Getting broken made him lost the set. But he is just 21, he can't be expected have nerves of steel.

However I did feel that many of the time he was prolonging the rally a lot, instead of attacking more. You can't defend too much and beat Rafa
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Khachanov-a 6'6" grinder who plays 10 feet behind the baseline, what a total waste of his size and athleticism. These young guys are just something else on a fundamental and technical level, it's like everyone forgot how to play and coach tennis.

Strange isn't it? As good as he played for most of the match it's just a losing strategy in the long run for a 6'6 guy to try and beat Nadal from the baseline. The other obvious case of this problem being Zverev, and he's the highest ranked young guy who's had trouble breaking through at slams.

You understand if someone like Coric is a grinder, but those 2 mentioned above, I just don't get it.
 

Julian Houston

Semi-Pro
The rain delay screwed Khachanov up, since the delay he came out cold to get broken in the 2nd set to lose the match. Nadal is cautious playing on slippery surface. Its raindall as usual.
 

tacou

G.O.A.T.
The match was very good and I liked it.But the winner was never in doubt.At the end Khachanov doesnt have the needed mentality to beat Nadal.I mean failing to serve out the second set,DFs in the TB and such stuff.Anyway it was worth watching it.Tomorrow I expect the same with Federer and Kyrgios.
Going to have to disagree with this. Nadal was clearly rattled pretty much throughout and particularly during the second set it seemed this could be one of those coming of age matches he is often victim to.

Same about Khachanov..yes he made some costly mistakes but he also came back from some dicey situations, namely breaking Nadal to love when he was serving for match and immediately reclaiming breaks in the first and second (or possibly 3rd?) Also saved 4 set points in the first TB

Overall a high quality match with a fun narrative. If Karen continues to move/defend like that, I see his potential as higher than just about any young player.
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
I loved the match. I knew the moment he lost second set that, he will lose the match too. The service game in which, he lost serve from 40-15 up and serving two double faults in a row was also pathetic. Getting broken made him lost the set. But he is just 21, he can't be expected have nerves of steel.

However I did feel that many of the time he was prolonging the rally a lot, instead of attacking more. You can't defend too much and beat Rafa
He's 22, not 21. This is exactly when he should be stepping up (especially on a day when you catch Rafa off his game).

He's old enough that his game has developed beyond his teenage years, but still young enough that he should play fearless against the old guard.
 

what_army

Professional
The excuse was ready had he lost. Played mind games by getting his knee taped. Such a terrible human being.
 

Plamen1234

Hall of Fame
Right. Because Kyrgios has never beaten the big 3. He’s such a mental midget. Just like KK.
Oh wait...
:rolleyes:

Yeah actually he is.He is worse than Khachanov.Khachanov was fighting to the end despite knowing that he wont win but still he was fighting.Meanwhile Nick basically gave up after he lost the first set
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Yeah actually he is.He is worse than Khachanov.Khachanov was fighting to the end despite knowing that he wont win but still he was fighting.Meanwhile Nick basically gave up after he lost the first set
What I mean is that KK’s resume does not compare with KG’s and it really doesn’t. I certainly did NOT mean that KG was a lock for anything (everybody knows he isn’t reliable ). However, he’s a lot more capable of a big upset than KK and he’s proven it in the past.
 

junior74

Bionic Poster
Karen was so close, and with 5 sets it would have been a true classic. He lost focus after the rain delay, which always favours the more experienced player.

I enjoyed the match thoroughly :)
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Yeah actually he is.He is worse than Khachanov.Khachanov was fighting to the end despite knowing that he wont win but still he was fighting.Meanwhile Nick basically gave up after he lost the first set

I'd agree with you. While Kyrgios's upside/present A game is much higher, we only see that guy 2-3 times per year. Khachanov's average performance level is higher, and of course, he gave us a great effort yesterday while Nick was semi-interested Nick today.
 
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