Nadal is officially Epic

[Yugram]

I’ve been following Rafael since Roland Garros 2010 and I must say, I have NEVER seen him rising his level so dramatically in just one match, especially on the first week of a Slam. And the fact that it’s grass makes it even more impressive.

Just look at some stats from his match against Sugita:

And now from his match against Kyrgios:

Special attention to the winners and unforced errors of course. From 26-24 (only +2) to insane 44-16 (+28)!

Not to mention that Nadal was a depressing 0-5 against Kyrgios on tiebreaks before the match. What were the chances that he will win not one, but two TB against Kyrgios on grass today?

What a desire to win, what a fighting spirit and what a match.

Folks, Rafael Nadal is officially epic.

 

[Sport]

Yep, incredible will to fight.

 

[Zebrev]

Yes, now he has reached the third round, its official.

 

[Milehigh5280]

I don't root for him but Nadal has always been epic

 

[Yugram]

Yes, now he has reached the third round, its official.

And maestronians can officially be salty

 

[Zebrev]

And maestronians can officially be salty

Yes, maestronians are furious.

 

[weakera]

The Nadal.

 

[StrongRule]

I didn't think you are watching tennis for so long, pentiumdream.

 

[terribleIVAN]

Yep.

But Kyrgios had this match on his racket, as Rafa couldn't return at all.
Lucky win.

 

[Yugram]

I didn't think you are watching tennis for so long, pentiumdream.

By TTW standarts it might even be not that long. When did you jump on the tennis boat?

 

[StrongRule]

By TTW standarts it might even be not that long. When did you jump on the tennis boat?

I started watching from the clay season in 2008. Well, maybe just a bit earlier.

 

[Yugram]

I started watching from the clay season in 2008. Well, maybe just a bit earlier.

Have you been a fan of Nadal from the beginning or maybe you was in another camp for some time?

 

[StrongRule]

Have you been a fan of Nadal from the beginning or maybe you was in another camp for some time?

No, lol.

 

[MeatTornado]

Player has to play better as level of opponent rises.

Truly remarkable stuff. Quite unique from the Bull. Probably the first guy to ever do that.

 

[TennisHockey]

Folks, Rafael Nadal is officially epic.

Yep, he has now officially become epic by making the 3rd round of Wimbledon. Totally not because of his previous 18 grand slam wins though.

 

[Yugram]

Player has to play better as level of opponent rises.

Truly remarkable stuff. Quite unique from the Bull. Probably the first guy to ever do that.

If you know Rafa well, you’d understand what I am talking about here. His momentum and level of play always rises slowly, that’s one of the reasons he never won WTF, where you can face a player like Djokovic or Federer immediately.

Maybe Federer (you’re his fan IIRC) does that kind of level rise more often, idk, but certainly that’s not a common thing for Nadal.

 

[hipolymer]

I’ve been following Rafael since Roland Garros 2010 and I must say, I have NEVER seen him rising his level so dramatically in just one match, especially on the first week of a Slam. And the fact that it’s grass makes it even more impressive.

Special attention to the winners and unforced errors of course. From 26-24 (only +2) to insane 44-16 (+28)!

Not to mention that Nadal was a depressing 0-5 against Kyrgios on tiebreaks before the match. What were the chances that he will win not one, but two TB against Kyrgios on grass today?

What a desire to win, what a fighting spirit and what a match.

Folks, Rafael Nadal is officially epic.

Awe-inspiring what one can accomplish with tactical-30-second-time-outs before every vital point and having your professional evil-eye uncle giving your opponent the constant mental stress of being death-stared down from afar

 

[Deleted member 77403]

So it is only official after today?

 

[tennis_pro]

I see it's a Nadal fan thing to go for the top shelf word when describing a 1st or 2nd round win.

Yes, I'd like to think that Nadal has maxed out in this tournament too.

 

[Yugram]

So it is only official after today?

Not really. But maybe some forgot how epic he can be on grass as well.

All this "2018 was a statistical error" theme etc.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Not really. But maybe some forgot how epic he can be on grass aswell.

All this "2018 was a statistical error" theme etc.

He was one point from winning it last year, everyone knows that if he gets his teeth into the tournament he is very tough beat practically anywhere.

 

[Yugram]

Yes, I'd like to think that Nadal has maxed out in this tournament too.

One can hope. The road of epicness is not even half way to end here.

 

[StrongRule]

He was one point from winning it last year, everyone knows that if he gets his teeth into the tournament he is very tough beat practically anywhere.

It was like that before. Now it isn't really the case. Nadal hardly won anything off clay in years. Being "one point away" is not the same thing. Prime Nadal knew how to win against his main rivals.

 

[MathGeek]

Nadal has been epic for a long time.

Enjoyed his victory today. There was some great tennis out there.

 

[Yugram]

I don't like that somebody as ignorant as you has a cat on the avatar. It is insulting.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

He is totally bae.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Awe-inspiring what one can accomplish with tactical-30-second-time-outs before every vital point and having your professional evil-eye uncle giving your opponent the constant mental stress of being death-stared down from afar

Against tactical hissy fits, speed serving, and trying to mentally take Nadal out of rhythm...it was a thing of beauty.

Even more epic for stellar strategy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Red Rick]

So it is only official after today?

No.

Officially y'all have to wait until I make a thread.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Federistas seething

 

[RF-18]

I didn't think you are watching tennis for so long, pentiumdream.

Since you are so concerned about Nadals play and blow stuff out of proportion every time he does something wrong, you shouldn't be the judge. Clearly your negativity blinds you how well Nadal is playing.

 

[StrongRule]

Since you are so concerned about Nadals play and blow stuff out of proportion every time he does something wrong, you shouldn't be the judge. Clearly your negativity blinds you how well Nadal is playing.

Dude, you are the guy who wrote Nadal now has a better return than in 2008. If this is not getting out of proportion then I don't know what is.

 

[Third Serve]

Congrats for the win. I'm not sure if this officially cements his "epicness" since the AO 2009 semifinal might have already done that.

 

[RF-18]

Dude, you are the guy who wrote Nadal now has a better return than in 2008. If this is not getting out of proportion then I don't know what is.

Nadal return rating:

2018: 175.5
2019: 176.1

2008: 168

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal return rating:

2018: 175.5
2019: 176.1

2008: 168

I have no idea what "stats" are you bringing here, and to be honest I don't care. Pretty sure you didn't watch tennis back then. I watch the matches and see that aging Nadal has big problems with returning against big servers, especially on fast surfaces. Against Kyrgios we saw that again.
Anyway, to say Nadal is now a better player than in 2008 is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Deon Sanders]

He is definitely one of the top 5 players to win 6 real grand slam titles

No doubt about it

 

[airchallenge2]

He was one point from winning it last year, everyone knows that if he gets his teeth into the tournament he is very tough beat practically anywhere.

100% agree. There is no way I could call this a lucky win.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

..

 

[weakera]

But I don't phrase it the same way over and over again.

Incorrect.

 

[Subway Tennis]

I’ve been following Rafael since Roland Garros 2010 and I must say, I have NEVER seen him rising his level so dramatically in just one match, especially on the first week of a Slam. And the fact that it’s grass makes it even more impressive.

Just look at some stats from his match against Sugita:

And now from his match against Kyrgios:

Special attention to the winners and unforced errors of course. From 26-24 (only +2) to insane 44-16 (+28)!

Not to mention that Nadal was a depressing 0-5 against Kyrgios on tiebreaks before the match. What were the chances that he will win not one, but two TB against Kyrgios on grass today?

What a desire to win, what a fighting spirit and what a match.

Folks, Rafael Nadal is officially epic.

Talk about going in there and getting the job done.

What a performance.

The exhalation of emotion after the handshake when he let the tension out was insane.

Check those serve stats, too.

The Bull talking the talk and walking the walk, even on his least favourite surface.

 

[Rapenj]

He is so epic that the umpires are *****ing their pants to even warn him.

Yeah, cause taking 1 or 2 more seconds to serve is a huge difference... And it has a great impact on the game.
Now, complaining to the umpire for everything is fine.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Lol late

 

[True Fanerer]

Yes, he finally figured out how to win a tiebreaker against Kyrgios.

 

[VaporDude95]

He is totally bae.

Bae means poop in Danish lol

 

[VaporDude95]

Yeah, cause taking 1 or 2 more seconds to serve is a huge difference... And it has a great impact on the game.
Now, complaining to the umpire for everything is fine.

It’s not just “1 or 2 seconds”.

Try 10 seconds. Repeatedly.

It’s blatant cheating and he’s not being held to the standard that everyone else is.

 

[augustobt]

Yeah, cause taking 1 or 2 more seconds to serve is a huge difference... And it has a great impact on the game.
Now, complaining to the umpire for everything is fine.

Mate, those are the rules. Doesn't matter if you disagree with them, you must follow then or be sanctioned.

 

[VaporDude95]

Mate, those are the rules. Doesn't matter if you disagree with them, you must follow then or be sanctioned.

Oh no but Nadal is blue collar and “epic”. Rules don’t apply to him.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

..

 

[clayqueen]

Yep.

But Kyrgios had this match on his racket, as Rafa couldn't return at all.
Lucky win.

And Rafa still won. What does that say about the rest of Kyrgios's game?

 

[Atennisone]

Tbh I feel like Nadal is the only of Big 4 who could have don it this way. It's just incredible how he always thinks he can win, no matter previous results.

 

[Moses85]

Nadal was lucky the umpire "only enforces the rules when he wants to".