Madrid 2010 QF: Gael Monfils [12] vs Rafael Nadal [2]

[aldeayeah]

Fourth, no, seventh, time these two meet. Past history:

2005 MC R64 / Nadal d Monfils 6-3 6-2
2006 Rome SF / Nadal d Monfils 6-2 6-2
2008 Paris R16 / Nadal d Monfils 6-3 6-2
2009 Doha QF / Monfils d Nadal 6-4 6-4
2009 Rotterdam SF / Nadal d Monfils 6-4 6-4
2009 US Open R16 / Nadal d Monfils 6-7 6-3 6-1 6-3

The most one-sided QF in my opinion; beyond the H2H, Nadal is a horrid match-up for Le Monf.

Nadal in 2. Anything else would be a surprise, although Madrid can be a very surprising tournament :twisted:

Expect a lot of fist pumping.

 

[shadows]

Think Gael only has a chance in this match on HC (oh hey it's nadal, I might as well just say that for everyone =p), and he's still coming back from a long injury layoff, so I can't see him doing much to trouble Rafa.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Mutual best surface, if Monfils is on fire he can win. But he's gotta be on fire

 

[dropshot winner]

This could be the match with the largest average distance between players in the history of the ATP.

 

[valiant]

Has Monfils EVER beaten nadal ???

 

[valiant]

This could be the match with the largest average distance between players in the history of the ATP.

LOL .

 

[namelessone]

Fourth time these two meet. Past history:

2005 MC R64 / Nadal d Monfils 6-3 6-2
2006 Rome SF / Nadal d Monfils 6-2 6-2
2008 Paris R16 / Nadal d Monfils 6-3 6-2

The most one-sided QF in my opinion; beyond the H2H, Nadal is a horrid match-up for Le Monf.

Nadal in 2. Anything else would be a surprise, although Madrid can be a very surprising tournament :twisted:

Expect a lot of fist pumping.

How is monfils a bad match-up for Nadal?

He is tall,his strokes are usually consistent,he has a solid BH,good fh(which can be very dangerous when on),he is a very good defender and mover and so on.As Rafa said,when you are playing Gael,the ball is always coming back and back and so on. His problem against Nadal is that he tries to defend against the best defender in the history of tennis. Also,he seems to have some endurance issues,look at USO 09' for that. Nadal was playing with a tear in his stomach and still outlasted Gael,who was nowhere after that first set.

Monfils has the ability to be an outstanding claycourt player. I don't know why he hasn't tapped into that yet.

 

[shadows]

Has Monfils EVER beaten nadal ???

Doha in straights last year

 

[sdont]

Has Monfils EVER beaten nadal ???

Monfils beat Nadal in straights at the beginning of the season last year on HC, in Doha IIRC.

Yep, 6-4 6-4. It was a very aggressive Monfils.

 

[vortex1]

Rafa in straights.

 

[malakas]

Monfils coming from an injury that kept him off too long versus Nadal on clay in his homecountry when the no.2 spot is at stake??ha ha ha.Won't be much of a match imo.

 

[dropshot winner]

Monfils coming from an injury that kept him off too long versus Nadal on clay in his homecountry when the no.2 spot is at stake??ha ha ha.Won't be much of a match imo.

I agree. Nadal should withdraw.

 

[malakas]

I agree. Nadal should withdraw.

..or better retire alltogether.

 

[Sangria]

Finally a Rafa match I can watch live! Gotta love you weekend.

Of course Rafa in 2. Monfils may turn up, but Rafa is playing better each round this tourney. Vamos

 

[Justin Side]

His problem against Nadal is that he tries to defend against the best defender in the history of tennis. Also,he seems to have some endurance issues,look at USO 09' for that. Nadal was playing with a tear in his stomach and still outlasted Gael

That was an eye opener. Nadal was injured and there for the taking, yet Monfils was the one that ran out of gas by set 3. He needs to come out on fire to have any chance vs Rafa. He isn't outlasting Rafa in a tight match.

Nadal in straight sets.

 

[seffina]

Monfils beat Nadal in straights at the beginning of the season last year on HC, in Doha IIRC.

Yep, 6-4 6-4. It was a very aggressive Monfils.

It was a good match IIRC. Everyone expected him to do great at that AOpen that year, but he got sick I believe. That Monfils/Simon match from that tourny was just .... putrid.

 

[dropshot winner]

It was a good match IIRC. Everyone expected him to do great at that AOpen that year, but he got sick I believe. That Monfils/Simon match from that tourny was just .... putrid.

Don't remind me. That was one of the worst matches I've ever seen.

 

[aldeayeah]

Can't believe I messed up the H2H so bad :???:

I said it's a bad matchup because their strong points are mostly the same but Nadal is better in almost all of them.

 

[Sangria]

Nico through. Rafa v Nico semi *fingers crossed*

 

[rnrockz1]

Rafa in 3 - 64 57 62

 

[sdont]

It was a good match IIRC. Everyone expected him to do great at that AOpen that year, but he got sick I believe. That Monfils/Simon match from that tourny was just .... putrid.

Don't remind me. That was one of the worst matches I've ever seen.

Ah ah ah, yeah. The most exciting moment in this match was when they stopped playing for a few minutes because of some noise disturbance coming from outside the stadium due to Australia's national day festivities IIRC.

 

[bolo]

Nadal in 2, 6-3, 6-3.

 

[shadows]

Was that the match Gael sliced half of what he hit and Gilles was incapable of providing his own pace?

 

[sdont]

Was that the match Gael sliced half of what he hit and Gilles was incapable of providing his own pace?

Sounds about right. Gael was suffering from a wrist injury (how unusual...)

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

I saw one of Monfils' matches in Madrid the other day. He is not very fit, he's not the same. He was gasping for air like I've never seen him before, I guess it's true what he said that he didn't properly practice in the last couple of months due to injury.

 

[sdont]

^^ Gael is always gasping for air (in fact I think he's rather hyperventilating). But yeah, he's not very fit at the moment.

 

[Love Game]

Mutual best surface, if Monfils is on fire he can win. But he's gotta be on fire

he was quite good against GGL yesterday ........ lookin spiffy in his new K-Swiss duds ..... looks a regular golf duffer in those ........ the blue is good!

BUT Monf will have to steel himself against the rabid rafa fans

 

[Sangria]

What's with the delay?? They're airing last nights game v Isner. Arrgh

 

[Bud]

What's with the delay?? They're airing last nights game v Isner. Arrgh

The match is scheduled to start in half an hour.

 

[Sangria]

Well I'm nearly running dry on my six-pack brew, hence my impatience

 

[bolo]

^^ Gael is always gasping for air (in fact I think he's rather hyperventilating). But yeah, he's not very fit at the moment.

Not going to have time in this match to physically fall apart, points are going to be shorter than in their last match and they are not going to play as many.

 

[dropshot winner]

Not going to have time in this match to physically fall apart, points are going to be shorter than in their last match and they are not going to play as many.

You think Monfils will beat him something like 6-1 6-1?

 

[bolo]

You think Monfils will beat him something like 6-1 6-1?

Can happen but then cesc can also become gorecki's new best friend, so :shock:.

 

[vortex1]

The only way Monfils can beat Nadal if Rafa is in a wheelchair, blindfolded and plays with his right hand..... wait... no, not even then.

 

[sdont]

The players are entering the court.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Rafa in straights sets. Monfils is just too erratic with his play to give Rafa any kind of consistent pressure, especially on a clay court.

 

[bodave2]

gael 's not wearing his blue shirt, he does not want to match nadal again with his k-swiss nadal replica outfit.

 

[seffina]

It's the battle of picnic blankets... or is that kitchen curtains.. or tablecloths. It's hard to keep up with today's kids' fashion.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Jason Goodall saying Rafa is now in the second half of his career.

 

[kournacopia]

Chris Wilkins says Nadal is playing better than he ever has in his career.

 

[forzamilan90]

i am so excited for this match, the two most athletic guys on the ATP for sure?

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Rafa the greatest sportsman Spain has ever had? That's what they are saying in Spain.

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

Finally some great commentary. Koenig and Goodall. But damn I was really into this Meshuggah I was listening.

Damn...

 

[forzamilan90]

Rafa the greatest sportsman Spain has ever had? That's what they are saying in Spain.

possibly, look at his accomplishments

 

[drakulie]

Nadal in two tight sets::: 6-1, 6-0.

 

[kournacopia]

Nadal in two tight sets::: 6-1, 6-0.

6-1??? That would imply Nadal is having movement problems.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Rafa in full flow, great movement up the court. 30-0

 

[Bud]

Rafa hitting cleanly... love game hold.

 

[forzamilan90]

based on what i saw from nadal in the 1st game of this match, i'd say he's gonna win

 

[drakulie]

6-1??? That would imply Nadal is having movement problems.

Yup, which is why I said 2 tight sets.

Seriosuly, though, this should be a cake-walk for Nadal. He is playing too good, and monfils is,,,,,,,,,well, Monfils.