How so?Interesting how he is hitting the ball.
How so?
Say more for people like me please....what do you conclude by his hitting in that video?Take a look at where he is making contact with the ball, and the direction he is aiming on giving the ball, even taking steps back to do when he could another type of swing.
Say more for people like me please....what do you conclude by his hitting in that video?
Wow, glad I asked! Thanks a lot for that, Hitman, I love that kind of analysis. Thanks for taking the time.Just going by what he is doing in that video with the way he is hitting that ball, I think he is being very very smart.
He looks to me that he is thinking not only about his game, but conditions at RG in late September and early October. At that time of the year, conditions are going to be a lot milder than they are in June meaning the ball isn't going to jump as high as much as he would like, the sun is going to be a lot lower, and he could even be playing in indoor conditions where trying to hit the with more top spin isn't always the best thing to do. The ball is going to be coming back at him much lower than normal also, which means Nadal is going to step more forward into the court and focus on more aggressive tennis but with a lower margin for error...kind of like what he did at Wimbledon 2018.
Another reason is, at his age and coming back from 8 to 9 months without competitive tennis means, it is very possible that he will not be ready for best of five wars of attrition, where he would be looking to extend rallies and then suffocate his opponents with his physicality and continuous top spin bouncing high. He will probably be looking to be ruthlessly aggressive, cutting the rallies down, and impose pressure first strike tennis on his rivals before they get a chance to do it to him. Smart if what I think he is going to do, is what's running through his mind in preparation.
Wow, glad I asked! Thanks a lot for that, Hitman, I love that kind of analysis. Thanks for taking the time.
Very interesting take and without you pointing it out it would just be another practice video to me. It is true though that Nadal's much more aggressive during practice than come game-time, but the adjustments you pointed out make complete sense. Yea, atmospheric conditions will def impact the ball bounce thus his positioning on the court. I guess it escapes me just how detailed their training gets based on the situation that's being faced. Nadal's prepping to lift no. 20. Thank you for the thorough explanation @HitmanJust going by what he is doing in that video with the way he is hitting that ball, I think he is being very very smart.
He looks to me that he is thinking not only about his game, but conditions at RG in late September and early October. At that time of the year, conditions are going to be a lot milder than they are in June meaning the ball isn't going to jump as high as much as he would like, the sun is going to be a lot lower, and he could even be playing in indoor conditions where trying to hit the with more top spin isn't always the best thing to do. The ball is going to be coming back at him much lower than normal also, which means Nadal is going to step more forward into the court and focus on more aggressive tennis but with a lower margin for error...kind of like what he did at Wimbledon 2018.
Another reason is, at his age and coming back from 8 to 9 months without competitive tennis means, it is very possible that he will not be ready for best of five wars of attrition, where he would be looking to extend rallies and then suffocate his opponents with his physicality and continuous top spin bouncing high. He will probably be looking to be ruthlessly aggressive, cutting the rallies down, and impose pressure first strike tennis on his rivals before they get a chance to do it to him. Smart if what I think he is going to do, is what's running through his mind in preparation.
Fantastic analysis, Hitman, thanks. Jim Courier was mentioning yesterday while commentating on the Murray-Zverev match that clay conditions at RG will be "significantly different" in late Sept-early Oct because of the weather. He mentioned Rafa's spin "won't explode off the court" as it does in late spring in Paris.Just going by what he is doing in that video with the way he is hitting that ball, I think he is being very very smart.
He looks to me that he is thinking not only about his game, but conditions at RG in late September and early October. At that time of the year, conditions are going to be a lot milder than they are in June meaning the ball isn't going to jump as high as much as he would like, the sun is going to be a lot lower, and he could even be playing in indoor conditions where trying to hit the with more top spin isn't always the best thing to do. The ball is going to be coming back at him much lower than normal also, which means Nadal is going to step more forward into the court and focus on more aggressive tennis but with a lower margin for error...kind of like what he did at Wimbledon 2018.
Another reason is, at his age and coming back from 8 to 9 months without competitive tennis means, it is very possible that he will not be ready for best of five wars of attrition, where he would be looking to extend rallies and then suffocate his opponents with his physicality and continuous top spin bouncing high. He will probably be looking to be ruthlessly aggressive, cutting the rallies down, and impose pressure first strike tennis on his rivals before they get a chance to do it to him. Smart if what I think he is going to do, is what's running through his mind in preparation.
Fantastic analysis, Hitman, thanks. Jim Courier was mentioning yesterday while commentating on the Murray-Zverev match that clay conditions at RG will be "significantly different" in late Sept-early Oct because of the weather. He mentioned Rafa's spin "won't explode off the court" as it does in late spring in Paris.
Just ordered a face mask from the RNA.Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor
Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in Manacor
The academy is part of the sports centre
Custom-made face masks with the sports centre logo are now available for the visitors of Rafa's sports centre/academy:
The director of communications at Rafa's sports centre/academy, Antonio Arenas, and Rafa's sister show off the masks:
You can also buy masks online:
ACCESSORIES
shop.rafanadalacademy.com
Vamos Rafa and his sports centre!
Thiem has been demolished every time he's played Rafa at the FO and Djokovic only beat 2015 injured/bad Rafa on Chatrier.Pretty much only Nole or Thiem can challenge him these days there unless I am maybe forgetting someone...
Except September will be likely warmer and drier than it is in late may early june. I expect Nadal will revert to pre 2010 Nadal to ensure he hammers the field by playing proper clay court tennis like he used to. In recent years he has played more hard court type tennis on clay and consequently has lost more games in sets than he would if playing his old game. As for judging him in practice , given i have seen him practice up close numerous times and in matches i can tell you he hits the FH very differently.Just going by what he is doing in that video with the way he is hitting that ball, I think he is being very very smart.
He looks to me that he is thinking not only about his game, but conditions at RG in late September and early October. At that time of the year, conditions are going to be a lot milder than they are in June meaning the ball isn't going to jump as high as much as he would like, the sun is going to be a lot lower, and he could even be playing in indoor conditions where trying to hit the with more top spin isn't always the best thing to do. The ball is going to be coming back at him much lower than normal also, which means Nadal is going to step more forward into the court and focus on more aggressive tennis but with a lower margin for error...kind of like what he did at Wimbledon 2018.
Another reason is, at his age and coming back from 8 to 9 months without competitive tennis means, it is very possible that he will not be ready for best of five wars of attrition, where he would be looking to extend rallies and then suffocate his opponents with his physicality and continuous top spin bouncing high. He will probably be looking to be ruthlessly aggressive, cutting the rallies down, and impose pressure first strike tennis on his rivals before they get a chance to do it to him. Smart if what I think he is going to do, is what's running through his mind in preparation.
If Nadal plays his old clay game which he may well do given its the last Major this year he should win FO without losing a set. The sad reality is the standard on the mens tour now is abysmal. No question Federer had a much harder era in his pomp than Rafa is facing now.Thiem has been demolished every time he's played Rafa at the FO and Djokovic only beat 2015 injured/bad Rafa on Chatrier.
Rafa has played on clay in DC numerous times in the autumn and he's never lost a match. These commentators just say things without any basis.Fantastic analysis, Hitman, thanks. Jim Courier was mentioning yesterday while commentating on the Murray-Zverev match that clay conditions at RG will be "significantly different" in late Sept-early Oct because of the weather. He mentioned Rafa's spin "won't explode off the court" as it does in late spring in Paris.
Rafa has played on clay in DC numerous times in the autumn and he's never lost a match. These commentators just say things without any basis.
Thiem has been demolished every time he's played Rafa at the FO and Djokovic only beat 2015 injured/bad Rafa on Chatrier.
Fantastic analysis, Hitman, thanks. Jim Courier was mentioning yesterday while commentating on the Murray-Zverev match that clay conditions at RG will be "significantly different" in late Sept-early Oct because of the weather. He mentioned Rafa's spin "won't explode off the court" as it does in late spring in Paris.
There is a lot of panic about Nadal getting no.20. It looks very likely now though. Even on hard courts the players are all looking way off. On clay they will be all over the place with so little time to prepare. Djokovic will not be a threat and will not be surprised if he pulls out if he wins US open as he is already looking spent and has a neck issue so he is definitely not going to win the FO. Thiem is the biggest danger but unclear what form he is in.Also I wonder what this break has done for Rafa...Kind or hoping/thinking mid break at 34 would be good for him - give the body a complete break/get rid of any niggles...Might really pay off for the next 12/18 months - that is what I am hoping anyway!
Don't get your hopes up. Did you even read the recent interviews with Rafa? I'll be surprised if he'll even play the FO.There is a lot of panic about Nadal getting no.20. It looks very likely now though. Even on hard courts the players are all looking way off. On clay they will be all over the place with so little time to prepare. Djokovic will not be a threat and will not be surprised if he pulls out if he wins US open as he is already looking spent and has a neck issue so he is definitely not going to win the FO. Thiem is the biggest danger but unclear what form he is in.
Really Nadal should win FO without dropping a set. Everything has fallen perfectly for him. If he plays that is.
No not seen most recent. Have you a link please?Don't get your hopes up. Did you even read the recent interviews with Rafa? I'll be surprised if he'll even play the FO.
Why do you say that?Don't get your hopes up. Did you even read the recent interviews with Rafa? I'll be surprised if he'll even play the FO.
"He's going to come out like a raging bull", says Jim Courier on Tennis Channel feeling sorry for player Rafa has to play in the 1st round in Rome.
I have been missing that raging bull like you guys won't believe! Will be glued to my seat for all of Rafa's matches
Me too man, miss seeing my boy hit dat ball
Not 100% on how he will respond but I miss him massively
Seeing how he copes with towelling himself and getting it done within time allocated should be interesting
Orange PJ on Rafa racquet!Practice in Mallorca
September 07, 2020
Rafa practiced with Grigor Dimitrov, who came from New York. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily and they had to practice indoors. It's not the first time Grigor trains with Rafa in Mallorca, he was there also in July 2017.
Vamos Rafa & Grigor!
Rafa's academy doesn't have indoor clay courts. Currently, the academy is building new clay courts, seven of which will have a roof.Good to see Dimitrov come to Mallorca and practice with Rafa. But surely they have indoor clay courts?