Nadal - Making tactical errors vs Federer, while Federer is tactically sound

[smoledman]

I think Fed went in with the idea - I WILL NOT HIT A SINGLE SLICE.

 

[Chanwan]

I think Fed went in with the idea - I WILL NOT HIT A SINGLE SLICE.

He did hit a few though and Rafa didn't hit winners on them like he often does. He hit a volley winner on one of them, a forehand long on another (short) slice iirc.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal tries playing closer to the baseline but he isn't as good up there. He made a lot of forced errors and hit weak replies when he tried to hit the ball on the rise. Nadal is first and foremost a wall who then attacks a weak reply. He isn't comfortable using S&V to break rhythm and he prefers to not hit the ball on the rise. This works great on clay and very slow hard courts but on faster hard courts and grass, it is much more difficult to win. Might be too late for Nadal to become an aggressive baseliner.

On the other hand, I don't see Federer beating Nadal on clay either unless Nadal is injured or totally off form. I think Nadal will win 80% on clay and very slow hard courts, and Federer will win 80% on grass and faster hard courts.

The WTF has been relatively slow for the last few years and this might be Nadal's best shot at WTF with Djokovic and Murray out.

Not sure I agree with the bolded as Fed's victories in IW and Miami this year suggest otherwise.

And last year the WTF was a bit faster. But generally being indoor and with a low bounce favors Federer. So as long as Fed is healthy and in form, WTF is his.

 

[Djokovic2011]

The same reason Djokovic still struggles so much against him - Federer is an expert at taking his opponent out of their comfort zone, robbing them of time and not allowing them to play the match on their terms. Still, even I was amazed yesterday seeing just how much he was rushing Nadal by practically half volleying everything that was thrown at him - poor Rafa must've constantly felt like a high speed train was heading towards him and there was nothing he could do to stop it! Roger is a truly one of a kind talent the like of which I doubt we'll ever see again.

 

[mike danny]

The same reason Djokovic still struggles so much against him - Federer is an expert at taking his opponent out of their comfort zone, robbing them of time and not allowing them to play the match on their terms. Still, even I was amazed yesterday seeing just how much he was rushing Nadal by practically half volleying everything that was thrown at him - poor Rafa must've felt like a freight train was constantly heading towards him and there was nothing he could to stop it! Roger is a truly one of a kind talent the like of which I doubt we'll ever see again.

Roger is the only one I have seen this year take advantage of Rafa's return position from Japan

 

[Djokovic2011]

Roger is the only one I have seen this year take advantage of Rafa's return position from Japan

Well if anyone can take advantage of it it's him.

 

[wangs78]

Nadal has always been vulnerable to aggressive play, especially from power hitters. A combination of the RF97, an improved backhand, and a more relaxed yet aggressive mindset (“play the ball, not the man”), basically upgraded Fed’s offense enough to now win regularly against Rafa versus a mix of wins and close losses before all these changes. This and Rafa is also a step slower than in his physical prime.

 

[smoledman]

I wonder why Cilic couldn't get the job done in the semis, what is missing in his game? Oh yeah if his first serve isn't functioning, his entire game falls apart.

 

[TheRed]

I wonder why Cilic couldn't get the job done in the semis, what is missing in his game? Oh yeah if his first serve isn't functioning, his entire game falls apart.

Cilic isn't quite in the same league as Tomic for "most terrible serve for a tall guy" but for a guy his size and dexterity, his first serve percentage is on and off and far too low in general, though it's already much better after he worked with Ivanisevic.

 

[pame]

Ok rookie.

If Nadal wins this years AO (and he was up a break in the 5th set), the slam count was 18-17. 17 slams for the world number 1 who is also 5 years younger.

Is that enough down the wire for your taste?

If Fed pulls another muscle in his back and misses a crucial slam and goes slamless in 2018, and if Nadal wins 2 more yet again. It will be 19-18 next year. Good enough for your taste?

Nadal was closing in fast on Federer in 2013. If those 2014 AO and 2015 FO losses didn't happen, he might have been breathing on Fed's neck.

This is far from over. 22 is a safe number, 19 is not.

You sure do live in a fantasy land of "ifs"

 

[slal1984]

There was no tactical error. It was just a straight up beat down.

 

[smoledman]

One thing I noticed was Fed was hitting a lot of flat backhands down the middle, medium pace. Seemed to cause Nadal a lot of problems perhaps with bending? A risky tactic if he starts netting those backhands, but Roger is so confident right now that he's just not worried. Only 11 UFE in the entire match. If Roger can play like this every match, he'll be unbeatable.

68% first serves, decent 1st serve speed and great placement
5-6 UFE per set
flat backhands, no slicing

that's the formula.

However will that work against a 100% Djokovic? Does slicing work better against Nole or hit more flat backhands? Only the next match will tell the tale.

 

[mike danny]

One thing I noticed was Fed was hitting a lot of flat backhands down the middle, medium pace. Seemed to cause Nadal a lot of problems perhaps with bending? A risky tactic if he starts netting those backhands, but Roger is so confident right now that he's just not worried. Only 11 UFE in the entire match. If Roger can play like this every match, he'll be unbeatable.

68% first serves, decent 1st serve speed and great placement
5-6 UFE per set
flat backhands, no slicing

that's the formula.

However will that work against a 100% Djokovic? Does slicing work better against Nole or hit more flat backhands? Only the next match will tell the tale.

Nole won't be a spring chicken anymore either. He'll be 31 next year.