Nadal News 2.0

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Deleted member 763691

Guest
Amritia said:
I wouldn't mind indoors as long as it means the conditions are cool and dry to be honest.
Today Rafa seemed to be struggling with the humidity.
Aus Open are re-laying the surface, using another company. The last few years have been very fast surface, now if it's a bit slower that could benefit Rafa a little bit, even if it's indoors.
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Rafa has a lifelong medical issue with humidity, and it was made even worse by the fact that he played in dry heat in Perth and then suddenly had to play in high humidity in Sydney without time to acclimatize.
While Goffin spent the whole week in Sydney, and still almost lost both sets to Rafa :)
Rafa lost the biggest points probably because of the mental fatigue (fighting the humidity), but overall Rafa played well enough to beat Goffin in straight sets if only he converted that 0-40 in the 1st Set.
 
Amritia

Amritia

Hall of Fame
Raphael Nadal said:
Once Rafa made himself available for the ATP Cup, it became even more important than the Australian Open, because he's playing for his country.
So he has to play a lot of matches, because he refuses to let Spain lose :)
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I’m sorry, I still don’t think you’re actually a Nadal fan, and this sort of stuff is why.
 
TennisFan3

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Amritia said:
I’m sorry, I still don’t think you’re actually a Nadal fan, and this sort of stuff is why.
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The poster is not. It's been the same poster with multiple user names over the past several years. What they typically do is just say totally unrealistic stuff about Nadal - that he cannot ever lose etc etc.
 
MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Raphael Nadal said:
Once Rafa made himself available for the ATP Cup, it became even more important than the Australian Open, because he's playing for his country.
So he has to play a lot of matches, because he refuses to let Spain lose :)
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Lol we know you're trolling, you don't have to make it SO obvious, then it's not as funny. Just a tip ;)

source.gif
 
WarriorRafa

WarriorRafa

Hall of Fame
MichaelNadal said:
Lol we know you're trolling, you don't have to make it SO obvious, then it's not as funny. Just a tip ;)

source.gif
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This is the same guy who used to post here years ago with the FO 2013 semifinal Rafa pic right? Posting styles are way too similar. I dont remember the username.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
 
MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
WarriorRafa said:
This is the same guy who used to post here years ago with the FO 2013 semifinal Rafa pic right? Posting styles are way too similar. I dont remember the username.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
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I wish I knew posters here that well lol, everyone is mostly the same to me, spare about 12 people, im getting old :p whoever he is, it'll get old if he doesn't switch it up lol
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
I have not seen Nadal play, just the highlights on YouTube.
Can any of you tell me a summary of the Spaniard's performances, especially his defeat against Goffin.
How is his serve, forehand, backhand, volleys, movement and how do you think he will be prepared from here at the beginning of the AO?
 
MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
DSH said:
I have not seen Nadal play, just the highlights on YouTube.
Can any of you tell me a summary of the Spaniard's performances, especially his defeat against Goffin.
How is his serve, forehand, backhand, volleys, movement and how do you think he will be prepared from here at the beginning of the AO?
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From the highlights it looked like too many UE's
 
D

Deleted member 763691

Guest
Amritia said:
I’m sorry, I still don’t think you’re actually a Nadal fan, and this sort of stuff is why.
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Because you don't understand patriotism. Ok..... :)

MichaelNadal said:
Lol we know you're trolling, you don't have to make it SO obvious, then it's not as funny. Just a tip ;)

source.gif
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That's because you've never understood Rafa, and never understood how much Spain means to Rafa.
Do you really think Rafa cares more about himself than he cares about Spain?
Representing Spain is the ultimate for Rafa, and it always has been.
Are you implying that Rafa is a troll too?
Maybe just stick to fake wrestling....
 
D

Deleted member 763691

Guest
irishnadalfan1983 said:
I’d imagine today is going to be a WAR and if Spain got through then another WAR tomorrow- not sure he needs that a week out from a slam - wouldn’t be used to that kind of prep....A singles Masters is different possibly less tiring prep....
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As Rafa said, the ATP Cup is not a warm-up for the Australian Open.
He's playing to win no matter what, and weaker minds don't seem to understand Rafa :)
 
aditya123

aditya123

Hall of Fame
irishnadalfan1983 said:
I’d imagine today is going to be a WAR and if Spain got through then another WAR tomorrow- not sure he needs that a week out from a slam - wouldn’t be used to that kind of prep....A singles Masters is different possibly less tiring prep....
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Exactly... But you realized it too late..
 
Amritia

Amritia

Hall of Fame
Poor first set, mediocre second set, and good third set. Just about enough to win it.

I really think that Rafa still hasn't coped with the schedule, he said that once again today he went to sleep at 5:30am. 3 hour time difference with Perth and late matches contributing to that.
 
K-H

K-H

Hall of Fame
It's Gonna be sooo tough tomorrow. Perfect conditions for Novak.

Worst for Rafa. And rafa hasn't settled yet in Sydney. Hasn't got much sleep. Don't know how he's going to get up for it.
 
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Sabrina

Sabrina

Hall of Fame
K-H said:
It's Gonna be sooo tough tomorrow. Perfect conditions for Novak.

Worst for Rafa. And rafa hasn't settled yet in Perth. Hasn't got much sleep. Don't know how he's going to get up for it.
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I don't see Nadal beating Djokovic tomorrow but Spain still has a better chance to win IMO.
 
O

Old Gregg

Rookie
K-H said:
It's Gonna be sooo tough tomorrow. Perfect conditions for Novak.

Worst for Rafa. And rafa hasn't settled yet in Perth. Hasn't got much sleep. Don't know how he's going to get up for it.
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They're in Sydney. Rafa had been in Perth for the group rounds.
 
Sport

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Raphael Nadal said:
As Rafa said, the ATP Cup is not a warm-up for the Australian Open.
He's playing to win no matter what, and weaker minds don't seem to understand Rafa :)
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Yeah, quite ridiculous to think that Nadal considers the ATP Cup mainly a "preparation" for the AO. Nadal sees the ATP cup as a goal in itself. He loves to compete for Spain and feels a great responsability when doing so. And it is false that team events do not add to a player resume. To have many Davis Cup titles and ATP Cups in the resume is definetely good not only for Spain as a country but also for Nadal as an individual.
 
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octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
ATP Cup in Australia

January 11, 2020
SF in Sydney,
Rafa vs A. De Minaur (Australia)

Rafa's full post-match press conference:

Rafa's quotes from the press conference:
¤¤ "It was tough at the beginning of the match as Alex was playing at a very high level and my energy was a little lower than usual. Yesterday was a very long day in heavy conditions."
“You need to have the mind open and clear to find solutions, and I was not able to win many points on the return during all the second set.
I needed to change something, and that's what I did. I think I advanced my position around one metre, one metre and a half on the return, on the Deuce [side] especially, and I take the first point. And then the game change, because then the pressure is on the other side of the court.
I just tried to change a little bit the dynamic, tried to change a little bit the energy of the match in that moment and tried to make the opponent feel something different that it's not going the same way that it had been going for the last 30 minutes." ¤¤
Source:
www.atptour.com

Rafael Nadal beats Alex de Minaur to clinch ATP Cup final berth for Spain in Sydney | ATP Tour | Tennis

Rafael Nadal beat Alex de Minaur to clinch an ATP Cup final berth for Spain in Sydney, where they will meet Serbia and Novak Djokovic.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

Vamos Rafa!
 
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octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
ATP Cup in Australia

January 11, 2020
SF in Sydney,
Rafa vs A. De Minaur (Australia)

A warmup, in action, spectators, "vamos!":

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1215928126435418112

Focused:
83012505_2689422317789643_4076722235115569152_o.jpg

Via RNKOTFB

82775855_2689423684456173_2905064176198090752_o.jpg

Via RNKOTFB

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1215966284187193345
Translated from Spanish via Google:
ATP Tour en Español: "Rafa at his best."

Packed stands:
82333566_2689429604455581_489445264642277376_o.jpg

Via Tennis Australia

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1215967652088143874

Vamoss!
81636356_2689431014455440_7625233539444768768_o.jpg

82967552_2689432277788647_6925823837850304512_o.jpg

Via RNKOTFB

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1215967706480025600

Vaaaaamooooos Rafa!!!!!
fist-pump-smiley-emoticon.gif
 
Amritia

Amritia

Hall of Fame
Really poor first set from Rafa, but good second set.
Overall he will take some confidence from the match given he headed into it on such poor form.

Few strategy things I wasn't happy about: Firstly too much slicing. Not sure if it was out of necessity or choice, but I know if he's more confident he'd go for the DHBH more often. Secondly, the serve and volleying is a good change up if used rarely, but is so risky against the world's best returner of serve. Thirdly he was hitting too many shots to Djokovic's backhand. I wanted to see him try and rip more backhands cross court to open up the court.
 
tennisgurl

tennisgurl

Semi-Pro
Amritia said:
Really poor first set from Rafa, but good second set.
Overall he will take some confidence from the match given he headed into it on such poor form.

Few strategy things I wasn't happy about: Firstly too much slicing. Not sure if it was out of necessity or choice, but I know if he's more confident he'd go for the DHBH more often. Secondly, the serve and volleying is a good change up if used rarely, but is so risky against the world's best returner of serve. Thirdly he was hitting too many shots to Djokovic's backhand. I wanted to see him try and rip more backhands cross court to open up the court.
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Great fight in the second and I agree this will help him if they meet in AO.

Whats the final doubles line up anyone know?
 
Sephiroth

Sephiroth

Hall of Fame
The issue is the first set which the overwhelming majority of the time has been the key to Djokodal matches. Nadal needs to win the first set more so than Novak on HC to get some confidence but Novak's generally faster off the blocks these days, it's like trying to stamp your authority on the match.

Otherwise Nadal's gonna be in another dog fight.
 
WarriorRafa

WarriorRafa

Hall of Fame
Amritia said:
Really poor first set from Rafa, but good second set.
Overall he will take some confidence from the match given he headed into it on such poor form.

Few strategy things I wasn't happy about: Firstly too much slicing. Not sure if it was out of necessity or choice, but I know if he's more confident he'd go for the DHBH more often. Secondly, the serve and volleying is a good change up if used rarely, but is so risky against the world's best returner of serve. Thirdly he was hitting too many shots to Djokovic's backhand. I wanted to see him try and rip more backhands cross court to open up the court.
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Needs to improve his return. And mentally improve on BPs. Just broken him on HCs twice in 8 or so matches. Just gets under way too much pressure

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
 
Amritia

Amritia

Hall of Fame
tennisgurl said:
Wow. Who is Spain playing now for doubles? Feli and PCB?
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Correct.

Nadal's schedule in last few days has proved too much for him:
Wednesday night, flight to Sydney arriving late
Friday, played 4.5 hours of tennis overall
Saturday, 3 setter vs De Minaur
Today: Tough 2nd set vs Nole
 
Tennis Rules

Tennis Rules

Semi-Pro
if nadal want to be competetiv against djokovic, in my opinon he must do:

during ralleys:

1. FTDL - he needs to be the first one who goes down the line - especially with the forehand, but backhand to
2. get rid off these defence slice balls in the middle off the court
3. get the position at basline

on return:
1. find a position near baseline, so djokovic can`t hit easy aces because of the given angles

on serve:
1. high percentige with slice
2. be ready for the first shot after serve...it comes mostly on the baseline with backhand (djokovic got an unbelievable length in his return again and again and again - but this shouldn´t surprise nadal over and over again)


i think he got this in him...and as more of my points will do nadal, he will get more into the mind of djokovic. THEN he will be competitiv and probably win!!!

and the second set was a good sign. he could win this withe 40:0 on djokovic serve...then i really would have seen the third set. maybe with a nadal in the head of djokovic.
 
K-H

K-H

Hall of Fame
Im surprised he keeps employing the same tactics and expects different results.

He wasn't in good form this week so I'll give him the benefit. But come AO, something needs to change to make it more competitive.
 
kevaninho

kevaninho

Hall of Fame
K-H said:
Im surprised he keeps employing the same tactics and expects different results.

He wasn't in good form this week so I'll give him the benefit. But come AO, something needs to change to make it more competitive.
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Absolutely. Hes playing Djokovic the same every time.
Unfortunately its difficult for him to now suddenly change a style of play that has worked most of his career.
Its the same versus Federer. They just pummel him on hard courts.

His 2nd set he played really well, and just lost the breaker. He put more balls DTL, serve and volleyed , and served much better.
He still needs to do better returning serve, and mentally on break points, he tightens up. That 0-40 game he had was massive.

Overall, a better performance than the last time he played Djokovic on HCs.
It was painful in that 1st set again, but he gave us something to cheer in the 2nd set. He has got to take something from that.
 
E36BMWM3

E36BMWM3

Hall of Fame
Huge Rafa fan here but it’s time to admit that Novak owns Rafa. Done and done. As long as Novak is around and making finals Nadal will not win another slam outside of clay. I hope he proves me wrong, but chances are bleak.
 
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