Nadal ........ in shock.....
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Forehand Of Doom
Banned
Nothing shocking about this, really. The AO Final was shocking, but this is within expectations, given Rafa's current form.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Exactly! Nadal should have lost last round to Stepanek, if Stepanek hadn't choked.
LazyNinja19
Banned
Exactly! Federer should have lost last week to Stepanek, Djokovic & Berdych. All of them choked!
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
It's probably good Nadal lost. He scheduled himself for too many tournaments.
Wynter
Legend
I didn't find AO shocking at all, Nadal hadn't been playing good at all over the whole tournament, meanwhile Stan played amazing from day one.
chjtennis
G.O.A.T.
I wouldn't take this as such a shock. No one can win all the time. Also, Dolgo is a good player who had to beat Nadal one day. I think Wawrinka did a great favor to everyone on ATP tour. When he broke big-4's stranglehold of the slams, that aura of invincibility has been weakened significantly. I expect big 4s to struggle more and more from this point onward, as everyone will believe in their chances more and will not be beaten even before they step onto the court.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Exactly! Djokovic is known to choke in every close match. Look at what happened in the 2012 Aus Open final against Nadal. And against Federer in the 2010 and 2011 US Open semis.
F
FedererWinsWimbledon2014
Guest
Not surprised at all. Nadal has been awful this year, fair play to him for grinding out the wins (and opponents choking).
He should skip Miami and rest till clay.
He should skip Miami and rest till clay.
Vensai
Professional
This. It was stunning, but shocking isn't the word I'd use.
D
Deleted member 512391
Guest
Dolgopolov played him like it was Davydenko/Djokovic: pummel his backhand (in this case with the Dolgo moonballs) and open up his forehand side. When a shorter ball comes, which is inevitable, rip flat backhand down-the-line and go for the winner.
And it was all about it.
Nadal was defensive, he didn't have enough courage to hit the forehands down-the-line after the Dogopolov flat backhands - he would rather hit high-percentage CC forehand. And he lost - partially because of that.
And it was all about it.
Nadal was defensive, he didn't have enough courage to hit the forehands down-the-line after the Dogopolov flat backhands - he would rather hit high-percentage CC forehand. And he lost - partially because of that.
irishnadalfan1983
Hall of Fame
Anyone else feel this was inevitable?
Just feel he is not at the top of his game.
Just feel he is not at the top of his game.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Not shocked. Picked The Dog in my poll which was taken down.
1. Nadal's back isn't right
2. The Dog has shocking power and shot making just too inconsistent.
3. The Dog has been due for a big win. It's been a long time since he beat Soderling.
1. Nadal's back isn't right
2. The Dog has shocking power and shot making just too inconsistent.
3. The Dog has been due for a big win. It's been a long time since he beat Soderling.
namelessone
Legend
Top players may not always perform at top level.
Shocking, I know.
Shocking, I know.
J
JRAJ1988
Guest
I suppose for Nadal playing Miami might be a blessing in disguise. He's lost a lot of points via his loss to the Dog but I still wouldn't put it past him to win Miami.
Everyone knows what Dolgo is capable of, is it such a surprise after seeing another Nadal pigeon beat him at the Australian Open?
Everyone knows what Dolgo is capable of, is it such a surprise after seeing another Nadal pigeon beat him at the Australian Open?
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
At present, it's difficult to imagine Federer and Murray struggling more lol
Edgecrusher
Professional
Hahaha, a good one!
I don´t know why poeple expect this all the time. Maybe they are at top level their whole life? Very realistic :lol:
chjtennis
G.O.A.T.
They are still winning. They may start losing a bit more down the track. Not that I want to see that. But I get your point. They are not playing that well right now.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
Nadal had been dealing with the blisters, which had bothered him up to Federer's match, and he played quite well against Federer. Then, he was playing somebody who had never taken a set off him. Yes, it was shocking. Even Nadal is still kind of shocked. That back injury lost Nadal his 14th slam, and I'm not sure he has fully come to terms with it yet.
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Forehand Of Doom
Banned
You have one of the coolest avatars, and Magnus is the biggest Nadal hater around, and he belongs in the sewer. I wouldn't feed this troll.
Wynter
Legend
Yeah but look at WTF 7-6 7-6 Stan got very close in that match, even if he didn't win a set.
It's not like every time he played it was a mass beatdown, I think Stan has just hit his peak now, while Nole and Nadal are declining a little, I wouldn't be surprised to see Stan snatch one more slam this year/next.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
He hasn't had the intensity he had before Paris. Yes, this was sort of expected. Hopefully he uses this break to rest and motivate himself.
Nadal needs that insane intensity he is known with to win. When he doesn't have the killer instinct he loses.
Wynter
Legend
Are you sure it couldn't just be a case of Nadals injuries finally catching up to him, he's played nothing like 2013 at all. It's sad, but everyone declines, I was surprised Rafa hadn't sooner with his knees. Maybe he's feeling the grind more since AO as you said, he'll either get out of it or maybe it's a physical toll and he just can't do it, sharp declines sometimes happen :|
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
True, but there is a big difference between that and winning a slam final. Without that back injury Nadal would have been the champion.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
No, I really don't think that's what it is. He has lost that hunger and that spark he had last year up to the USO. Now, in the AO things were different, as he was dealing with a lot of physical problems.
Nadal hasn't been performing uncharacteristically for this time (end and beginning of the year). As a matter of fact, he has won more points since Paris than most other years. It's just that compared to his level (up the the USO) he has come down a lot.
But no, I don't think it's his knees.
Wynter
Legend
That is very debateable
Djokovic played 100% and couldn't beat Stan, I think that says something as to where his game is now
How Stan goes vs Fed etc; Maybe Djoko if he reaches the final will be a good barometer of where he's at level-wise
OTMPut
Hall of Fame
Good points.
J
JRAJ1988
Guest
I reckon the YT user called "SunSeeker" is on this site also.
Obsessive hatred of a person who's killed nobody, done jack other than play tennis and have an ego. Same with Federer the hatred is on a personal level...YOU KNOW that same moronic madness of ones mind caused Seles to get stabbed!
Why don't you people go after the dictators and genocidal maniacs which walk this world? have that same passionate hatred? no no you wouldn't do that!
The human race has really evolved since the days of idol worship haven't they? (Sarcasm)
Obsessive hatred of a person who's killed nobody, done jack other than play tennis and have an ego. Same with Federer the hatred is on a personal level...YOU KNOW that same moronic madness of ones mind caused Seles to get stabbed!
Why don't you people go after the dictators and genocidal maniacs which walk this world? have that same passionate hatred? no no you wouldn't do that!
The human race has really evolved since the days of idol worship haven't they? (Sarcasm)
Wynter
Legend
It'll be interesting to see anyway, I'd say come next year he may have to decrease his schedule, if he wants another 4-5 years near the top. Just to use Fed as an example,he's won 2 slams since he turned 28, Rafa hits that this year.
I'd put him down for 2 FOs the rest are question marks atm he's still a great chance though
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
That is very debateable
Djokovic played 100% and couldn't beat Stan, I think that says something as to where his game is now
How Stan goes vs Fed etc; Maybe Djoko if he reaches the final will be a good barometer of where he's at level-wise
Definitely, Stan the Man is to be congratulated. But it's Nadal we are talking about. If Nadal had been 100% healthy, I am confident he would have won.
Stan is having a strange career. Peaking at 28 is strange. Then again, Ferrer about peaked at 31.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
You are right, Wynter. I think he needs to modify his schedule from now on to maximize his chances of suceeding at the slams. But 4/5 more slams are fully doable, in my opinion.
Losing early in Indian Wells has many advantages, actually.
Wynter
Legend
Is it really a case of Ferrer peaking though? Or those around him declining/just being so inconsistent?
The man defends points like an absolute monster though to be fair to him.
Wynter
Legend
You are right, Wynter. I think he needs to modify his schedule from now on to maximize his chances of suceeding at the slams. But 4/5 more slams are fully doable, in my opinion.
Losing early in Indian Wells has many advantages, actually.
Yeah, apparently now he can focus on Miami
He won't ease off in Clay season but the tournaments between USO and WTF may decrease or something, it's all about finding a good balance.
If he can win 4-5 slams then I'll be happy for him, I doubt it, but Nadal often proves doubters wrong.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
Sure, Nadal just sat on his porch waiting to see the corpses of his enemies drive by.
Everybody else declined, but Ferrer kicked it up a notch.
M
monfed
Guest
Very original dude.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
Yeah, apparently now he can focus on Miami
He won't ease off in Clay season but the tournaments between USO and WTF may decrease or something, it's all about finding a good balance.
If he can win 4-5 slams then I'll be happy for him, I doubt it, but Nadal often proves doubters wrong.
Last year this time nobody thought Nadal capable of winning again. This is 2 slams and 5 masters (including 3 HC masters) later. I never doubt Nadal.
M
monfed
Guest
Yes, Ralph had one of his lucky escapes.
smoledman
G.O.A.T.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
He has more points now than he had last year at this time.
furryballs
Banned
he has to defend a mountain of points as well and he wont be fresh off a 7 month lay off like last year.
furryballs
Banned
and now no one believes in his exagerated injury claims anymore.especially since he's moving better than ever with the stem cell treatment on his knees.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
I am not concerned about Nadal keeping #1, and I don't think that's his priority either.
Forehand Of Doom
Banned
What don't you believe?
furryballs
Banned
hard to believe anything nadal fans say....one says he's injured....another says he's moving better than ever.its hard to move better than ever if youre injured.
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