Nadal Admits Mental Block against Djoker

[OddJack]

Rafa is chickening out,

"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change..."

Well well well, very few of posters, if at all, and none of his fans suspected this part of the problems for him, Mentally weak.

I am not buying it though. I did not see any sign of tightness or mental block. I saw the whole match and yet again there was this Novak who defended everything, returned deep and made him run left and right.

This is yet another excuse.

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/sto...lock-against-novak-djokovic-wimdbledon-070411

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

You're an idiot.

 

[CMM]

........................

 

[TennisBatman]

Oudin in 2...

 

[Mustard]

What's blocked can be unblocked.

 

[OddJack]

You're an idiot.

what part you didnt like fiberglass?

why are you so angry? or maybe disappointed at your master for making chicken excuses? You better get used to it buddy.
Take it easy.

 

[OddJack]

What's blocked can be unblocked.

Depends where the block is.

He can unblock his rear easily, but up in the head is a horse of another color.

 

[HunterST]

Djokovic is just a bad stylistic match up for Nadal, just as Nadal was for Federer. Roger has a better shot at taking Djokovic out in the slams than Nadal does.

 

[tusharlovesrafa]

Depends where the block is.

He can unblock his rear easily, but up in the head is a horse of another color.

.................................

 

[tusharlovesrafa]

Depends where the block is.

He can unblock his rear easily, but up in the head is a horse of another color.

You are a chicken Pox..

 

[Kunohara]

^

Hey look, another inept that just so happens to have his head up Rafa's butt.

 

[OddJack]

You are chicken Pox..

heehee

And it's contagious, just watch out!

 

[tusharlovesrafa]

heehee

And it's contagious, just watch out!

You will sneeze and every rafa fan will fall prey to it..:twisted:

 

[OddJack]

Djokovic is just a bad stylistic match up for Nadal, just as Nadal was for Federer. Roger has a better shot at taking Djokovic out in the slams than Nadal does.

Stylist match up,

this one is new. But sorry, Nadal Djoker is no match up problem, least of all the sudden change in the H2H direction points to Novak doing things differently, confidence and fitness two obvious reasons.

 

[BobFL]

I wouldn't call it 'mental block'. Imho, it is something totally different. Nadal played great in the 1st set for example. I think it is his 'no-plan B' issue plus his inability to improvise and adjust in real-time. He is trying the same thing over and over again and hope for different outcome. Not going to happen. Nole reads his game very well. His serve in particular, especially 2nd. When I watch Nadal I see the same stuff in every match. However, Nole played 2 completely different games against Tsonga and Nadal both tactically and executively (flat vs spinny shots). Imho again, Nadal needs to find completely new game for Nole. Simple adjustments won't work.

 

[Russeljones]

"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change..."

What part of this statement suggested to you, that Nadal was admitting a mental block vs Djokovic? This is either a bad troll post, or you believe that any motive not mentioned by a player when analyzing past results is "the reason" behind said past results :-|

 

[OddJack]

I wouldn't call it 'mental block'. Imho, it is something totally different. Nadal played great in the 1st set for example. I think it is his 'no-plan B' issue plus his inability to improvise and adjust in real-time. He is trying the same thing over and over again and hope for different outcome. Not going to happen. Nole reads his game very well. His serve in particular, especially 2nd. When I watch Nadal I see the same stuff in every match. However, Nole played 2 completely different games against Tsonga and Nadal both tactically and executively (flat vs spinny shots). Imho again, Nadal needs to find completely new game for Nole. Simple adjustments won't work.

I dont know if you are Nadal fan or not, but this is true. Especially the " doing the same" thing. He looks like someone with no plans, no A no B.

Has anyone see any difference between these 5 matches he played?

 

[OddJack]

"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change..."

What part of this statement suggested to you, that Nadal was admitting a mental block vs Djokovic? This is either a bad troll post, or you believe that any motive not mentioned by a player when analyzing past results is "the reason" behind said past results :-|

Please read the whole article, I gave you the link. Dont be so quick to conclude.

 

[Fedace]

Depends where the block is.

He can unblock his rear easily, but up in the head is a horse of another color.

If someone else has a mental edge against you. That is NOT a excuse. If you play competitive tennis at all, you should know this. Even in amateur tennis, if someone beats you several times in a row and the players are about similar levels,,, that is called having a mental edge over someone.

It can be turned around if Nadal finds a way to beat Novak during summer, then likely Nadal will start to beat him several times in a row.

 

[OddJack]

If someone else has a mental edge against you. That is NOT a excuse. If you play competitive tennis at all, you should know this. Even in amateur tennis, if someone beats you several times in a row and the players are about similar levels,,, that is called having a mental edge over someone.

It can be turned around if Nadal finds a way to beat Novak during summer, then likely Nadal will start to beat him several times in a row.

Nope, this is not what he said.

He was talking about their last match and said he couldnt take the break in the last set because of " mental" reasons.

 

[Russeljones]

He didn't use the words "mental block" anywhere. Nor did he imply in any way playing Djokovic caused him to hesitate at those points.

 

[namelessone]

Rafa is chickening out,

"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change..."

Well well well, very few of posters, if at all, and none of his fans suspected this part of the problems for him, Mentally weak.

I am not buying it though. I did not see any sign of tightness or mental block. I saw the whole match and yet again there was this Novak who defended everything, returned deep and made him run left and right.

This is yet another excuse.

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/sto...lock-against-novak-djokovic-wimdbledon-070411

LMAO.

Oddjack trolling away.

Nadal admits to having a mental block against Djoko and you bash him. Classic.

What's so hard to get?

Nadal played a very good 1set(90% first serves, hardly had any trouble on his serve before 5-4, 30-0) and still lost it.

Played a good third set and having the momentum(had BP early in the 4th set and after getting broken, re-broke), got tight and couldn't do anything.

Nadal's mental block comes because he has to serve damn near perfect against Djokovic's return. So again, where is Nadal lying in that article?

Basically he is saying that because Djoko beat him many times this year, he is getting tight in the crucial moments, which is pretty much the definition of mental block.

 

[OddJack]

LMAO.

Oddjack trolling away.

Nadal admits to having a mental block against Djoko and you bash him. Classic.

What's so hard to get?

Nadal played a very good 1set(90% first serves, hardly had any trouble on his serve before 5-4, 30-0) and still lost it.

Played a good third set and having the momentum(had BP early in the 4th set and after getting broken, re-broke), got tight and couldn't do anything.

Nadal's mental block comes because he has to serve damn near perfect against Djokovic's return. So again, where is Nadal lying in that article?

Basically he is saying that because Djoko beat him many times this year, he is getting tight in the crucial moments, which is pretty much the definition of mental block.

nameless,

He was never ahead in that match.

You are yet to come and announce Novak as the better player. When you do that we talk again.

 

[tlm]

I wouldn't call it 'mental block'. Imho, it is something totally different. Nadal played great in the 1st set for example. I think it is his 'no-plan B' issue plus his inability to improvise and adjust in real-time. He is trying the same thing over and over again and hope for different outcome. Not going to happen. Nole reads his game very well. His serve in particular, especially 2nd. When I watch Nadal I see the same stuff in every match. However, Nole played 2 completely different games against Tsonga and Nadal both tactically and executively (flat vs spinny shots). Imho again, Nadal needs to find completely new game for Nole. Simple adjustments won't work.

I think there is a lot of truth in this post.

 

[TMF]

I want to hear rafa fans admit Novak is a better player than Nadal, not b/c Nadal isn't 100%, injured, playec C game, decline, etc.

 

[namelessone]

I wouldn't call it 'mental block'. Imho, it is something totally different. Nadal played great in the 1st set for example. I think it is his 'no-plan B' issue plus his inability to improvise and adjust in real-time. He is trying the same thing over and over again and hope for different outcome. Not going to happen. Nole reads his game very well. His serve in particular, especially 2nd. When I watch Nadal I see the same stuff in every match. However, Nole played 2 completely different games against Tsonga and Nadal both tactically and executively (flat vs spinny shots). Imho again, Nadal needs to find completely new game for Nole. Simple adjustments won't work.

No he's not.

He tried to go DTL with fh more in IW/Rome and he had matches in which he served so-so(or even horrid) against Djoko but also periods where he was big serving and aggressive(see IW 1st set or WB 1st set). He tried slicing in a couple of matches off his BH but Djokovic ate it up, he even tried slapping the BH CC but it often landed short.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what Nadal tries as long as Djokovic has Nadal's BH wing to work with. He can batter it to with high percentage balls to give up short balls by Rafa, which he can then re-direct to any part of the court and he can also serve out wide to Rafa's BH, who slices or floats the ball, a lot of times short. Then again it's Djoker's point from then on. To realize just how desperate Rafa is to get away from his BH against Djoker, watch how many times he gives up real estate just to hit with his fh or as was the case in Rome, moonballing to get some depth on his balls cause he knows that most times his BH will give up a short ball and that's all Djoko's waiting for.

Djoker only lost points against Nadal when Rafa hit a big serve which Djoko barely got to and then stepped in to finish the point.

Both Rafa and Djoko are approaching each other with the same gamestyle of old but the difference is that Djokovic is more focused now(rarely makes errors) and Nadal's BH is way more prone to battering.

In short, both guys move very well, but one is solid off BOTH wings whereas one guy is only solid on his FH side. Thus, there can be only one winner.

 

[namelessone]

You are yet to come and announce Novak as the better player. When you do that we talk again.

Well of course he is the better player, he won didn't he?

Now do you want to know if water is wet as well?

 

[ivan_the_terrible]

Djokes out-Nadalled Nadal - He ran around the baseline and sent everything back with interest. Nadal's plan to grind it out didn't work, because Djoker wasn't going away.

One dimensional Nadal is exposed when a guy with talent can stand toe to toe with him. Pretty much the same thing that happened to Mike Tyson, he was beaten by the first guy that took it to him & could box.

Nadal needs to get bigger, stronger & faster. Without that, he's toast; all of his big losses have shown this.

 

[namelessone]

I want to hear rafa fans admit Novak is a better player than Nadal, not b/c Nadal isn't 100%, injured, playec C game, decline, etc.

At the moment, clearly.

But I don't think you needed Nadal fans to tell you that.

 

[namelessone]

Djokes out-Nadalled Nadal - He ran around the baseline and sent everything back with interest. Nadal's plan to grind it out didn't work, because Djoker wasn't going away.

One dimensional Nadal is exposed when a guy with talent can stand toe to toe with him. Pretty much the same thing that happened to Mike Tyson, he was beaten by the first guy that took it to him & could box.

Nadal needs to get bigger, stronger & faster. Without that, he's toast; all of his big losses have shown this.

Yes, yes, we know, Nadal dopes. Take that crap to THASP.

Talk tennis while you are here.

 

[OddJack]

Isnt Nadal's mental prowess what you Nadal fans been blowing in a trumpet last 5-6 years around here? That what a fighter he is, that he never gives up, that he plays the big points better than anybody?

Now all of the sudden it comes natural to you that he admits to mental weakness...oh by the way, if you lose 5 times in a row it is called mental block...

Muhahahaa.. you guys are full of it.

 

[ivan_the_terrible]

Yes, yes, we know, Nadal dopes. Take that crap to THASP.

Talk tennis while you are here.

Huh? Sorry to ruffle your feathers, but why should I take it elsewhere? isn't he a tennis player? Was he not the fittest, strongest guy on the circuit?

BTW, I never mentioned anything about illegal substances in my post above. I said he must get bigger, stronger, faster; either you agree or disagree.

There's endless speculation about Nadals antics re MTOs, time wasting, gamesmanship etc etc. Should discussion of PEDS be excluded? Should PEDS be excluded when discussing any other player? If so why?

 

[rommil]

Isnt Nadal's mental prowess what you Nadal fans been blowing in a trumpet last 5-6 years around here? That what a fighter he is, that he never gives up, that he plays the big points better than anybody?

Now all of the sudden it comes natural to you that he admits to mental weakness...oh by the way, if you lose 5 times in a row it is called mental block...

Muhahahaa.. you guys are full of it.

Pay attention sir, at this point, the "official" reason is a hairline fracture on Rafa's mental strength. Tomorrow it will be a mental fracture on his hair. These are serious matters you see. You can laugh how much ever you want but when Rafa is not injured, every strand of his hair exudes 100% warriorness, each strand having it's own heartbeat that collectively wills itself to victory.

 

[OddJack]

Pay attention sir, at this point, the "official" reason is a hairline fracture on Rafa's mental strength. Tomorrow it will be a mental fracture on his hair. These are serious matters you see. You can laugh how much ever you want but when Rafa is not injured, every strand of his hair exudes 100% warriorness, each strand having it's own heartbeat that collectively wills itself to victory.

Muhaahhaaa

but he is losing hair, less hair means less will for victory?
hmmm that must be it.

 

[Sentinel]

If he did say that, i like his honesty and openness in admitting it.

Now what are we fighting about ?


p.s. about your poll, i really don't know. Only he does, if he does.

 

[namelessone]

Isnt Nadal's mental prowess what you Nadal fans been blowing in a trumpet last 5-6 years around here? That what a fighter he is, that he never gives up, that he plays the big points better than anybody?

Now all of the sudden it comes natural to you that he admits to mental weakness...oh by the way, if you lose 5 times in a row it is called mental block...

Muhahahaa.. you guys are full of it.

I severely doubt it's ONLY Nadal fans trumpeting it mate.

Where do you think Nadal got his reputation as a tough player to put away from?

TW forums?

Or was it not from beating the world's best players in memorable matches, standing in the top 2 of the sport for six and a half years and gaining 10 slams, 19 MS, 100 non-consecutive weeks at nr.1,Career Slam and Olympic Gold along the way?

Those don't come while being mentally weak.

Also, NOTHING is static. Just cause you were the best at something(whatever that something is, in Nadal's case playing the big points) doesn't mean you will ALWAYS be. But you can't apply what happens in the present retroactively and deny the player any sort of merit he might have had in the past.

 

[ViscaB]

Learn to read. It's clear Nadal does not have the solution to beat a Djokovic in the form of his life. Let's see if he and Toni can find the solution. Both guys were speaking of a "solution". For now he's too good. But reigns don't last forever (just ask Federer fans). As long as Nadal makes finals he's still the best of the rest ready to wait for Djokovic to have a dip in form and possibly he can raise his own level as well.

 

[namelessone]

Huh? Sorry to ruffle your feathers, but why should I take it elsewhere? isn't he a tennis player? Was he not the fittest, strongest guy on the circuit?

BTW, I never mentioned anything about illegal substances in my post above. I said he must get bigger, stronger, faster; either you agree or disagree.

There's endless speculation about Nadals antics re MTOs, time wasting, gamesmanship etc etc. Should discussion of PEDS be excluded? Should PEDS be excluded when discussing any other player? If so why?

No, but they should take it to the sites that specialize in these topics.

Here we want to talk about matches, players, matchups, what strategies players use etc.

There are a couple of PED threads still active I think so go revive those if you want to talk about the subject.

 

[Tony48]

He needs to ask Federer how he overcame Nadal.




















Wait a minute.....

 

[namelessone]

He needs to ask Federer how he overcame Nadal.

Now Rafa just needs to tank matches to avoid Djoko in order to keep his positive h2h via TW logic.

 

[HollerOne5]

I second that.
It's great that Nadal is so open and honest about this. He is not in denial and does not let his ego convince him otherwise. I'm a Federer fan as well, but it was always disappointing that Federer was never able to do the same thing during all his matches with Nadal, and addressing the clear fact that Nadal had "gotten into his head."
This is why, even non-Nadal fans, have to respect the guy. He is open and honest, and no doubt, will try his best to change his game to beat Novak. Like he said, he isn't losing to anyone else when he is healthy, so I'm sure that is his only goal.

 

[sunny_cali]

I severely doubt it's ONLY Nadal fans trumpeting it mate.

Where do you think Nadal got his reputation as a tough player to put away from?

TW forums?

Or was it not from beating the world's best players in memorable matches, standing in the top 2 of the sport for six and a half years and gaining 10 slams, 19 MS, 100 non-consecutive weeks at nr.1,Career Slam and Olympic Gold along the way?

Those don't come while being mentally weak.

Also, NOTHING is static. Just cause you were the best at something(whatever that something is, in Nadal's case playing the big points) doesn't mean you will ALWAYS be. But you can't apply what happens in the present retroactively and deny the player any sort of merit he might have had in the past.

And yet when Rogi went 237 weeks as number 1, won 16 slams he was a mental midget who played in a weak era.

What goes around comes around -- till the time that Nads manages to beat Djoker again.

 

[sunny_cali]

I second that.
It's great that Nadal is so open and honest about this. He is not in denial and does not let his ego convince him otherwise. I'm a Federer fan as well, but it was always disappointing that Federer was never able to do the same thing during all his matches with Nadal, and addressing the clear fact that Nadal had "gotten into his head."
This is why, even non-Nadal fans, have to respect the guy. He is open and honest, and no doubt, will try his best to change his game to beat Novak. Like he said, he isn't losing to anyone else when he is healthy, so I'm sure that is his only goal.

Ok - you acknowledge that Nadal has gotten into his head. Now what ? The OHBH remains and the abuse will continue - Fed has made changes. This FO his BH was not a glaring weakness, but he couldn't hang in tough there -- Nadal's mental stranglehold was too strong. At his age I don't think there's much more Fed can do.

Nadal has time on his hands, and Djoker's level is likely to drop at some point. He'll have opportunities to get back.

 

[HollerOne5]

Ok - you acknowledge that Nadal has gotten into his head. Now what ? The OHBH remains and the abuse will continue - Fed has made changes. This FO his BH was not a glaring weakness, but he couldn't hang in tough there -- Nadal's mental stranglehold was too strong. At his age I don't think there's much more Fed can do.

Nadal has time on his hands, and Djoker's level is likely to drop at some point. He'll have opportunities to get back.

It's besides the point. Too little too late. It would have taken the ACKNOLEDGEMENT at the time, presumably, and especially in 2008, during the FO and Nadal's ascension to #1. All I was pointing out, is how refreshing it is to see Nadal admitting this currently, as it is happening. The mind is a tricky thing, and tennis is a MENTAL sport whether you want to admit it or not. Letting the ego take you over can really mind-f#&k you. Just look at Wozniacki. If she were to go the other route, and completely admit that she doesn't feel adequate at #1, or at least spoke a bit more truth, she might have a breakthrough. Its clear how she feels when you see her losing time after time, but her words don't match that. Food for thought.

 

[fednad]

He needs to ask Federer how he overcame Nadal.

Wait a minute.....

He does not need to ask Feddy Bear.
HE already has the ace up his sleeve - the ankle trick.
Just that Nadal is waiting for a big moment to use that trick.....heehee

 

[SLD76]

Rafa is chickening out,

"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change..."

Well well well, very few of posters, if at all, and none of his fans suspected this part of the problems for him, Mentally weak.

I am not buying it though. I did not see any sign of tightness or mental block. I saw the whole match and yet again there was this Novak who defended everything, returned deep and made him run left and right.

This is yet another excuse.

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/sto...lock-against-novak-djokovic-wimdbledon-070411

There, Nadal said it himself. I want all Nadal apologists to reference this quote whenever they attempt to bring up a knee, a foot, a leg, a wing, a thigh, a breast, whatever.

 

[PSNELKE]

The poll doesnt make any sense dude.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Novak clearly is in Nadal's head.Nadal needs to win quicker points on his serve against Novak.

 

[zagor]

LMAO.

Oddjack trolling away.

Nadal admits to having a mental block against Djoko and you bash him. Classic.

What's so hard to get?

Nadal played a very good 1set(90% first serves, hardly had any trouble on his serve before 5-4, 30-0) and still lost it.

Played a good third set and having the momentum(had BP early in the 4th set and after getting broken, re-broke), got tight and couldn't do anything.

Nadal's mental block comes because he has to serve damn near perfect against Djokovic's return. So again, where is Nadal lying in that article?

Basically he is saying that because Djoko beat him many times this year, he is getting tight in the crucial moments, which is pretty much the definition of mental block.

Nadal doesn't have mental blocks, that's for mental midgets like Roger.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Novak gets down and dirty against Nadal.Roger is too finesse.You gotta be ready to hit back and forth against Nadal.