He does not win with fans in attendance.Sorry for Diego there are no fans today. That was a win to savor in a full court
Wow. I only saw the last four games. Congrats to Diego, and Rafa has some work to do.Vamos !
Dude he had the ONE fan that he needed there that he had to please. The cameraman was on point.Sorry for Diego there are no fans today. That was a win to savor in a full court
Nadal was rather slow, hitting too many short moon balls that were waiting to be punished, hitting too many drop shots, hitting so many forehand long or wide.I missed the match. Was he really good or was Nadal really bad?
He was outstanding. Took it to Nadal. That said Nadal served like an amateur and was very sluggish movement wise. His BH return off the deuce side was dreadful. Basic issue was Nadal too deep in the court which gave Diego the time to dictate and he did so brilliantly. Fully deserved win.I missed the match. Was he really good or was Nadal really bad?
He was outstanding. Took it to Nadal. That said Nadal served like an amateur and was very sluggish movement wise. His BH return off the deuce side was dreadful. Basic issue was Nadal too deep in the court which gave Diego the time to dictate and he did so brilliantly. Fully deserved win.
There are a lot excuses that can be made if one is a Nadal fan: 44% first serves is perhaps the forst that comes to mind. But what should worry Nadal fans, is the sluggishness you mention. Rafa was just too slow at times, and that will not go unoticed.
Same goes for Novak. Not as sharp and quick as before.
There is blood in the water and sharks are hungry.
I agree. Very concerned about how slow he looked.
LolExpected loss for Nadal, you can see he won't find form until the 2nd week of Roland Garros.
Its more the consistency, not the actual level.
He's striking the ball beautifully for several points in a row, but not for long enough.
Agassi was only 29 when he won RG. I'd have to explore to see who was older than Rafa (last year) to win it - or maybe, someone knows.Still the overwhelming favorite at RG, but clay is the most physically gruelling of all surfaces. We are in completely uncharted waters here with a 34 year old going for #13?!! at RG... Who is the oldest man to win RG recently?... Agassi?
Agassi was only 29 when he won RG. I'd have to explore to see who was older than Rafa (last year) to win it - or maybe, someone knows.
Expected loss for Nadal, you can see he won't find form until the 2nd week of Roland Garros.
Schwartzman was amazing today. There are some areas where Nadal was demonstrably under-par (ie serve) but he has been like that all week and still won easily.
Schwartzman is a phenomenally good returner on clay, and he made Nadal pay today.
He was also amazingly patient in rallies and he had the margin for error dialled in perfectly. There arent many people who can get the rally lengths long with Nadal without either making a mistake, over-hitting, or seeding too much court position, but Schwartzman got the balance spot-on.
it would be impossible to play Nadal like that in a Bo5 match, as it is too physically taxing, but Schwartzman showed the absolute textbook way to approach Nadal in Bo3. it was a great effort.
I don't know, but poor Ferrer was the whipping boy for all 4 of the Big 4. Combined 17-73 record against them lmao.LOL your title made me think about Roddick. Didn't he say after he beat Federer in Miami 2008 that nobody could beat him 12 times in a row?
Anyone knows what's the biggest number of consecutive wins of 1 player against the same player? I have Federer Youzhny 17-0. Fedeerer-Ferrer also17-0. Djokovic Monfils is also 17-0. Someone has more?
It's so bizarre, he's literally been playing like absolute garbage since the restart and somehow manages to GOAT against Nadal...and he really did perform at a high level, I wouldn't dream of taking that away from him. But, it was very, very strange given his recent performances.
I really can’t tell until I listen to him speaking in English.Diego berry good opponent. Play berry good, no?