Rafa blew it like a champ

[merlinpinpin]

Most bouncy grass at Wimbledon for ages thanks to no rain since forever, not a single big server in his half of the draw because, ahem, reasons, an exhausted pigeon in the final, the player whom he was mortally afraid of who lost on Wednesday, and he still managed to lose despite having a gazillion opportunities (three set points in the third, five BP's (or was it more?) in the fifth...). And yet, it's not a bad defeat per se. For once, he had an opponent who was ranked in the top 25. Just. And we all know how these slam matches generally end with him (except when the other guy is named Del Potro).

Jokes aside, the pressure clearly got to him, and although he was clutch when he needed to save BP's, he turned into a choke artist when he needed to convert. So, he came within striking distance of Fed's slam record after RG 2014, when he was but 3 slams behind. Fast forward more than four years and, 17 slams later, he is *still* 3 slams behind. From 28 to 32, he gained a big fat 0 on Fed. And as the new generation is now poised to take over...

(Well, okay, they're not (big surprise there!), but Nadal is definitely running out of time...)

 

[Feather]

I have always maintained that Rafa will not overtake Roger. Even with 18 here, I don't think he will win three more to reach 21

 

[merlinpinpin]

Oh, and very happy that the 10th anniversary thing fell apart in every possible way. Maybe they'll stop tampering with the draws, now (yeah, I know, who am I kidding...)

 

[wim2015]

Do't worry. The next generation is crap. Nadal and Djokovic still have 2-3 good years left, though Federer is really old and can hardly win a slam without a cake walk draw.

 

[merlinpinpin]

I have always maintained that Rafa will not overtake Roger. Even with 18 here, I don't think he will win three more to reach 21

Same here. People think it's easy to win four or five slams. Newsflash, it isn't. And even with no serious competition (especially among the younger players), the older you get, the harder it gets.

 

[1HBHNation]

i was shocked he didn't take that bp opportunity in the 5th. nole was looking down and out. but guess not.

 

[Bartelby]

Yes, it does seem as if Nadal and Djokovic do have quite a few years left at the top ... and maybe Murray if he makes it back.

 

[Omega_7000]

Do you even know how many break point chances Djokovic had?

 

[merlinpinpin]

Do you even know how many break point chances Djokovic had?

Yep, and he was exactly the same. Basically couldn't make a return in each time he was BP up. But because your opponent chokes each time he gets an opportunity is no excuse for doing the same.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I have always maintained that Rafa will not overtake Roger. Even with 18 here, I don't think he will win three more to reach 21

Most figured this out ages ago. The slam differential remains insurmountable for a 32 year old player, regardless of Rafa’s greatness. And with Djoker again beating him in slams, RG is no lock anymore either.

 

[Gazelle]

With matches as close as this the loser gets called a choker, or said that he blew it...

You guys must realize one had to win, and one had to lose. If Djokovic had lost he would have 'blown' it according to TT logic.

Both guys were fking mental titans in this match, just not relenting at any moment.

 

[Mustard]

Nadal was the better player for most of the second set, the third set and the fourth set, twice had 15-40 on Djokovic's serve deep into in the fifth set, and lost it. Making it worse as a Nadal fan was yesterday's farce, the indoor conditions of the match and that third set tiebreak. One of the worst pills of all to swallow as a Nadal fan this match.

 

[Wander]

With matches as close as this the loser gets called a choker, or said that he blew it...

You guys must realize one had to win, and one had to lose. If Djokovic had lost he would have 'blown' it according to TT logic.

Both guys were fking mental titans in this match, just not relenting at any moment.

Making too much sense for around these parts.

 

[merlinpinpin]

Funny thing is, I think they both got "oldies' shakes" today, ie when an old champ figures he's maybe getting his last chance and musn't screw up... which has him screwing up big time, of course (like Fed at USO 2015, for example). In the end, Djokovic probably choked a bit less because he had much less to lose, and Nadal couldn't handle the pressure (shades of AO 2012 there). Problem for him is, this will get worse and worse, now. A younger player rising now would probably be enough to put all three of our old ATG's to the sword, but there's no-one coming, so they will still be able to enjoy some time in the sun.

Also, should Anderson be able to keep the match tight tomorrow, some serious choking from Djokovic is not out of the question. At all.

 

[Tennisanity]

Nadal didn't choke at all in that match, stop kidding yourself. That match was about Djokovic being clutch.

 

[tennisaddict]

Nadal missed a golden chance to bridge the gap with Fed. That is going to hurt real bad

 

[abmk]

Funny thing is, I think they both got "oldies' shakes" today, ie when an old champ figures he's maybe getting his last chance and musn't screw up... which has him screwing up big time, of course (like Fed at USO 2015, for example). In the end, Djokovic probably choked a bit less because he had much less to lose, and Nadal couldn't handle the pressure (shades of AO 2012 there). Problem for him is, this will get worse and worse, now. A younger player rising now would probably be enough to put all three of our old ATG's to the sword, but there's no-one coming, so they will still be able to enjoy some time in the sun.

Also, should Anderson be able to keep the match tight tomorrow, some serious choking from Djokovic is not out of the question. At all.

Nadal didn't have any problem handling the pressure in this match.
He came up with brilliant clutch stuff.
He didn't blow anything.

 

[kevaninho]

You do realize OP that Djokovic had a lot more break point chances, and Nadal had a much higher break point success in the match...

 

[jm1980]

You do realize OP that Djokovic had a lot more break point chances, and Nadal had a much higher break point success in the match...

4/19 on BP for Djokovic. This is Federer level stuff.

Nadal ended up at 4/11.

 

[Deine VS]

He didn't blow anything, it was a toss up.

 

[kevaninho]

4/19 on BP for Djokovic. This is Federer level stuff

Nadal was at 4/11

Yep so really Djokovic is the one who should've ended the match a lot sooner by those stats.
Strange how people think Nadal was the one who threw this away.

 

[zverev2018]

Most bouncy grass at Wimbledon for ages thanks to no rain since forever, not a single big server in his half of the draw because, ahem, reasons, an exhausted pigeon in the final, the player whom he was mortally afraid of who lost on Wednesday, and he still managed to lose despite having a gazillion opportunities (three set points in the third, five BP's (or was it more?) in the fifth...). And yet, it's not a bad defeat per se. For once, he had an opponent who was ranked in the top 25. Just. And we all know how these slam matches generally end with him (except when the other guy is named Del Potro).

Jokes aside, the pressure clearly got to him, and although he was clutch when he needed to save BP's, he turned into a choke artist when he needed to convert. So, he came within striking distance of Fed's slam record after RG 2014, when he was but 3 slams behind. Fast forward more than four years and, 17 slams later, he is *still* 3 slams behind. From 28 to 32, he gained a big fat 0 on Fed. And as the new generation is now poised to take over...

(Well, okay, they're not (big surprise there!), but Nadal is definitely running out of time...)

Djokovic had a big advantage because it was an indoors match. Despite that it was extremely close.

 

[jm1980]

Yep so really Djokovic is the one who should've ended the match a lot sooner by those stats.
Strange how people think Nadal was the one who threw this away.

Before the fifth it was 4/6 BP converted for Nadal vs 3/16 for Djokovic. Basically a mentally stronger Novak wouldn't have let this get to a fifth in the first place

 

[tennisaddict]

Yep so really Djokovic is the one who should've ended the match a lot sooner by those stats.
Strange how people think Nadal was the one who threw this away.

Nadal was the better player in set 2,3 and 4 .

He had good chances to break in the 5th.

 

[merlinpinpin]

You do realize OP that Djokovic had a lot more break point chances, and Nadal had a much higher break point success in the match...

That's beside the point. There was a slight difference that you may have overlooked--Djokovic *won*, so the chances that he missed had no impact in the end. Nadal will probably be haunted for a long time by all these BP's in the fifth, though (and by this TB that he should never have lost). He was the slightly better player in this match (imho) and ended up losing it, just like Fed at USO 2015. But he should have won, and he definitely knows it, imho.

 

[Steve0904]

The underlying point of the OP hits the nail on the head IMO. Rafa deserves massive props, and he was incredibly clutch at times when saving BP/MP, but ultimately he didn't convert in order to serve for it, and you could tell so easily that he was nervous even if he was trying not to show it.

Nadal is a mental giant, but even he is human. That's 2 huge chances he had now, AO 2017 (against Federer no less), and here at Wimbledon to get within true striking distance of Federer, and he's lost them both. Can't be good for him, especially now that Djokovic looks good again.

 

[MeatTornado]

Most figured this out ages ago. The slam differential remains insurmountable for a 32 year old player, regardless of Rafa’s greatness. And with Djoker again beating him in slams, RG is no lock anymore either.

Idk how you can rail against the NextGen so much and still be confident that Rafa won't keep racking up slams. Would you truly be shocked if Rafa won 3 more French Opens and Roger never won a major again?

Novak barely beat Rafa on indoor grass, and you think he might beat him at Roland Garros?

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Brutal loss. Everything lined up for him.

Hard to see him bouncing back at the USO with the shot clock in operation.

 

[helterskelter]

Idk how you can rail against the NextGen so much and still be confident that Rafa won't keep racking up slams. Would you truly be shocked if Rafa won 3 more French Opens and Roger never won a major again?

Novak barely beat Rafa on indoor grass, and you think he might beat him at Roland Garros?

She's not confident Nadal won't catch Federer. She's saying she is to mask her own anxiety about it. Same with most other Federer fans confidently proclaiming that what's clearly relatively likely is absolutely impossible. They were saying Nadal had no chance to make it to 17 a few years ago, but he did make it to 17, and only Federer's recent three kept him ahead.

 

[NoleFam]

He didn't choke. I think that 5 hour match with Del Potro started to take its toll the longer that 5th set went. He was redlining on his serve for a while there, hitting huge bombs into Djokovic's body, and then the 1st serve percentage starting dropping and he was falling down 0-30 in his service games. He was fighting hard to hold on but time was running out. That game that Djokovic broke at then end he used powerful crosscourt backhands moving Rafa acutely to that side and forced Rafa to make an error. I think Rafa started tiring that little bit and it made the difference.

 

[Rabin]

"Choke artist" what kind of nonsense. He did well to get this to a fifth and Djokovic served sharply on those BPs. You could tell Rafa was getting tired at the end and Djokovic was able to pressure him more. It's a bad loss but it's not the end of the world. And as for the Slam record...give it a rest once in a while. I think for Rafa the thing that will hurt the most is the lost chance at another Wimbledon title, not the thought that maybe this will mean Federer remains ahead.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Novak barely beat Rafa on indoor grass, and you think he might beat

Djokovic was malnourished, having worst ever season since he started dominating.
Nadal was coming off a great season, was hitting powerful strokes off both wings, grass was highly modified as slow and high-bouncy for him this year, had to face no servebot and that's why he advanced this far...
By 2019 clay, djok will be firmly back in the mix and will be in a great physique

Hard to see him bouncing back at the USO with the shot clock in operation

What is the meaning of shot clock, if umpires are not going to implement its penalty rules strictly???

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Djokovic was malnourished, having worst ever season since he started dominating.
Nadal was coming off a great season, was hitting powerful strokes off both wings, grass was highly modified as slow and high-bouncy for him this year, had to face no servebot and that's why he advanced this far...
By 2019 clay, djok will be firmly back in the mix and will be in a great physique



What is the meaning of shot clock, if umpires are not going to implement its penalty rules strictly???

The USO will have a shot clock like the NBA from now on. Starting this year. No more cheating between points on serve.

It will affect Del Potro a lot too.

I assume the rules will be enforced rigidly. They are implementing it for a reason.

 

[JMR]

Same with most other Federer fans confidently proclaiming that what's clearly relatively likely is absolutely impossible.

It is neither relatively likely nor absolutely impossible.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

The USO will have a shot clock like the NBA from now on. Starting this year. No more cheating between points on serve.

It will affect Del Potro a lot too.

I assume the rules will be enforced rigidly. They are implementing it for a reason.

If they are only going to give warning and not enforce penalty, then no.... It wont affect time cheaters like djok, delpo, nadal etc

 

[Your Hero]

Fun thread title. Many gay jokes will be considered but which one
will stand the test of time I wonder?

 

[helterskelter]

It is neither relatively likely nor absolutely impossible.

It is relatively likely that Nadal will win three more majors. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll end up level with Federer, who could win one (or more) further majors himself.

 

[Jackuar]

Wow, it's difficult to satisfy a fan. Including me.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

I have always maintained that Rafa will not overtake Roger. Even with 18 here, I don't think he will win three more to reach 21

Agreed.

I don't think Djoker is going to win 18 either. 15 is possible for him though.

 

[JMR]

It is relatively likely that Nadal will win three more majors.

No, it's not. But it is possible.

 

[helterskelter]

No, it's not. But it is possible.

Let's agree to disagree on this one! I think it is premature to say it's unlikely, as it seems to me Nadal has a perfectly good shot of winning two more times at Roland Garros and once more elsewhere. But YMMV. And we'll never find out whether it was relatively likely or not, anyway. It not happening doesn't prove it wasn't relatively likely; it happening doesn't prove it was.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

If they are only going to give warning and not enforce penalty, then no.... It wont affect time cheaters like djok, delpo, nadal etc

lol. So you think the USO is taking the radical step to install shot clocks just to keep not enforcing the rules?

 

[helterskelter]

Agreed.

I don't think Djoker is going to win 18 either. 15 is possible for him though.

Not very likely that Djokovic will win 18, true. Especially if he wins tomorrow, he has a good shot of getting to 15.

 

[-NN-]

He didn't choke. I think that 5 hour match with Del Potro started to take its toll the longer that 5th set went. He was redlining on his serve for a while there, hitting huge bombs into Djokovic's body, and then the 1st serve percentage starting dropping and he was falling down 0-30 in his service games. He was fighting hard to hold on but time was running out. That game that Djokovic broke at then end he used powerful crosscourt backhands moving Rafa acutely to that side and forced Rafa to make an error. I think Rafa started tiring that little bit and it made the difference.

So I wasn't the only one who saw a bit of fatigue from Rafa as the 5th wore on. Ye I agree. People in the thread were saying Nadal never gets tired but he lost some sharpness in his movement toward the end.

 

[Gazelle]

The underlying point of the OP hits the nail on the head IMO. Rafa deserves massive props, and he was incredibly clutch at times when saving BP/MP, but ultimately he didn't convert in order to serve for it, and you could tell so easily that he was nervous even if he was trying not to show it.

Nadal is a mental giant, but even he is human. That's 2 huge chances he had now, AO 2017 (against Federer no less), and here at Wimbledon to get within true striking distance of Federer, and he's lost them both. Can't be good for him, especially now that Djokovic looks good again.

Seems he gets tight when getting the slam record looms like a reasonable possibility. I would add AO 2014 to your list. I believe he panicked in the face of unexpected resistance by Wawrinka and hid it behind an injury excuse. That's why his confidence was shot for so long.

 

[NoleFam]

So I wasn't the only one who saw a bit of fatigue from Rafa as the 5th wore on. Ye I agree. People in the thread were saying Nadal never gets tired but he lost some sharpness in his movement toward the end.

Yea he definitely started fatiguing which shows that he is human afterall. He had already played a 5 hour epic and you had to expect him to start to wear out at the end of that one. He still fought like a lion though.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Not very likely that Djokovic will win 18, true. Especially if he wins tomorrow, he has a good shot of getting to 15.

If he can use this as a stringboard for more greatness he could. But I don't see this being a Pete Sampras moment of sorts, morein I see Djokovic using it like the former to regain some former glory.

I did predict Djokovic was about to have an Andre Agassi 1999 style year, so two majors isn't out of the question for him this year. Nor is a return to No. 1.

 

[helterskelter]

If he can use this as a stringboard for more greatness he could. But I don't see this being a Pete Sampras moment of sorts, morein I see Djokovic using it like the former to regain some former glory.

I did predict Djokovic was about to have an Andre Agassi 1999 style year, so two majors isn't out of the question for him this year. Nor is a return to No. 1.

Return to #1 is more likely after Australia, though. It could happen this fall, but I think Nadal has too big a lead.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Return to #1 is more likely after Australia, though. It could happen this fall, but I think Nadal has too big a lead.

Yeah that's true. But he could go on a massive winning streak as well to get to the position. I don't think it's totally out of the question.

 

[Bender]

i was shocked he didn't take that bp opportunity in the 5th. nole was looking down and out. but guess not.

I’ve seen too many Djokovic matches to fall for signs that he’s “down and out”.

When he looked weary holding serve, I thought it was signs of the end for Nadal.


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