Nadal vs Rosol: Swiss Indoors Basel 2015

[Clay lover]

Historically it has always been those who are able to find that extra gear who's able to upset Nadal. For players not named Djokovic or Murray, going for broke is basically the only viable option and most players know that. It just depends on the execution. Even a guy like Ferrer doesn't beat Nadal with his defense.

 

[Meles]

What are you, some kind of raconteur?

How serious is Nadal about winning this tournament? Whatever he says in press conferences, he didn't look like he prepared well for this tournament. He was mis-timing the ball so much in first set. Didn't look like he practiced much on this court before the match. Rosol on the other hand came for a war and hit the ball so well. I couldn't believe how hard he was hitting the ball without making errors! That was 1st set.
Rosol easily broke Nadal to lead in 2nd set. Nadal looked embarrassed. That's when the crowd started to cheer louder for him. With the crowd behind him, Nadal started to come in more and his shots found more depth. Just when Rosol was about to serve out the match, Nadal was able to break back. He went on to win the set 7-5.
In 2nd set Nadal served bigger, came in more to hit with more depth. And Rosol started making more forced and unforced errors.

In 3rd set, Rosol tried all he could to distract Nadal. Moving a lot and hitting the court twice with the racquet before a Nadal serve. Nadal initially ignored it but when Rosol kept doing the same, complained to the chair umpire. Rosol succeeded in distracting Nadal and broke back in the decider. Nadal went on to win the decider tie breaker. It was a great escape for the Spaniard and the crowd loved it. Nadal is quite popular with the Swiss fans. Only the local boy superstar Roger would be more popular.

It was only a round 1 win but gave Nadal a good test and much needed practice on indoor hard court. He can only get better from here on. I doubt he can win the tournament but if he keeps improving he has a chance.

The court is very fast. I like Federer's chances of defending his title. Doubt Wawrinka will do much. He won't like the court speed.

Thanks @Backspin1183 for that invaluable report from courtside! Raconteur indeed. Well done. This will be invaluable for a Rosol thread and my Power Play league choices. So this was a case of Nadal's poor play allowing Rosol to take command? So what of Rosol choking; just at crunch games? Rosol seemed to enjoy the gamesmanship and play better while doing so?

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

another good win for nads just scraping past the world #66...confidence inspiring for sure!

Stop hatin' and let it be.

 

[ArcspacE]

Nadal almost lost What happened? I didn't watch the match

Rosol was GOAT-ing and hitting mad winners

Then choked

 

[vernonbc]

Rosol was GOAT-ing and hitting mad winners

Then choked

It's so strange the powers that Rafa has over all his opponents that they all choke when they come up against him. No other player on tour can cast that kind of spell on so many of his opponents.

 

[ArcspacE]

It's so strange the powers that Rafa has over all his opponents that they all choke when they come up against him. No other player on tour can cast that kind of spell on so many of his opponents.

Yeah, take that mighty Lukas, ranked #66 in the world

 

[tennis_ocd]

In 3rd set, Rosol tried all he could to distract Nadal. Moving a lot and hitting the court twice with the racquet before a Nadal serve. Nadal initially ignored it but when Rosol kept doing the same, complained to the chair umpire.

I drove a bit for several tour players this summer and it'd be fun to listen to them talk tennis; *always* polite until Rosol's name happened to pop up (he'd just gotten remarried.) "He's just a little punk who will do anything to try and get under your skin," -- a former #14 player. Amusing.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

I drove a bit for several tour players this summer and it'd be fun to listen to them talk tennis; *always* polite until Rosol's name happened to pop up (he'd just gotten remarried.) "He's just a little punk who will do anything to try and get under your skin," -- a former #14 player. Amusing.

haha
I am assuming you won't give the name of the player, but a guess: Janowicz?

 

[sbengte]

I only got to watch the third set TB and I don't believe Rosol choked there. He was leading 3-0 and then 4-2 in that TB and was fully pumped up when Nadal played intelligently to get the mini break back. That rattled Rosol and he lost focus after that point and made a string of FH UEs unable to put the ball across the net. I would only call it a choke if he imploded purely based on nerves due to being very close to the win. I didn't see that being the case here.

That said, I don't know what happened in the second set when he was up 30-0 serving for the match. Maybe that was a choke, but I didn't watch it. Rosol is obviously very streaky and he is either zoning or completely useless. And obviously all of Nadal's experience will come into play in crunch situations.

 

[tennis_ocd]

That said, I don't know what happened in the second set when he was up 30-0 serving for the match.

Wasn't that were he made perhaps the ugliest, wildest atp volley I've ever seen? Put a rather easy volley into the seats.

 

[TahoeTennis]

error after error for Nadal. If you're not convinced that you're seeing just the shell of a former great one, you should tune in and have your mind changed.

Not former. Current and always great. Vamos!!!!!

 

[TahoeTennis]

Rosol to serve for the match then. To be fair to any Nadal fans watching, yes he's not played great but Rosol has been excellent the whole match. Served well and played as well as he can. He took the match to Nadal and fully deserves the win, should he serve it out here.

He shall not.

 

[heninfan99]

Nadal should get some confidence from this comeback. He's hitting deeper through the court and now he's really utilizing the slice.
The highlights were fantastic.