Rafa vs Milosh - Shanghai 3rd Round

Who wins?

  • Nadal in 2

    Votes: 17 50.0%
  • Nadal in 3

    Votes: 12 35.3%
  • Raonic in 3

    Votes: 7 20.6%
  • Raonic in 2

    Votes: 7 20.6%
  • Rafa should bring back the 2010 US Open heater serve (135 mph)

    Votes: 5 14.7%
  • Rafa should stick with high first server percentage strategy?

    Votes: 2 5.9%
  • Rafa should bring back the 2010 US Open flattened out forehand.

    Votes: 6 17.6%
  • Rafa should not complicate his game by changing forehand grips for the flat forehand.

    Votes: 3 8.8%
  • Rafa should upgrade to new racket technology.

    Votes: 2 5.9%
  • Rafa should stay with his current racket through the next year.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    34
  • Poll closed .

Meles

Bionic Poster
21raonic1.jpg


A rivalry in the making:
11/2015 QF Indian Wells Masters Hard Milos Raonic Rafael Nadal 4-6 7-6(10) 7-5 2.70 - 1.55
12/2014 QF Miami Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Milos Raonic 4-6 6-2 6-4 1.15 - 6.70

Rafa should have this one, but Raonic is tough. If Ivo can almost do it, why not Milosh?
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Federer couldn’t handle retired claycourt journeyman, yet Rafa draw is stacked with 7-foot Yugoslavs for some reason.
With Ferrer stumbling and suddenly looking vulnerable for the Masters. Rafa may end up playing two very motivated Servebot Slavs. Isner and Anderson close too and could make it to Rafa at Shanghai. Unfortunately, Servebot vs Rafa not exactly conducive to quality rallies, but tie-breaker heaven.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
I don't care much for the gangling Canadian, and I definitely want to see Nadal sweat and crawl his way into the final once again for a summary execution.
Its hard to like a Servebot, but I respect Milosh's mental game. Doubt Milos will crumble, so should make for good battle of the minds. The Nadal DF issues seem to be receding, but Raonic should put Rafa under a little more pressure.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Is Murray on Djoko's side? I think Murray has a better chance at the upset (of Djoko) than Rafa.
Anyway, Raonic in shaky form. Great opportunity for Rafa to assert himself and pass a few rounds. He needs all the points he can get too. And he needs that elusive win against a top 10 player.
 

irishnadalfan1983

Hall of Fame
Is Murray on Djoko's side? I think Murray has a better chance at the upset (of Djoko) than Rafa.
Anyway, Raonic in shaky form. Great opportunity for Rafa to assert himself and pass a few rounds. He needs all the points he can get too. And he needs that elusive win against a top 10 player.

Well said - every point is vital.

Rafa has a chance to finish the season as world number 5 - for such a horrible season that would not be such a bad end.
 

Gary Duane

Talk Tennis Guru
There is a lot of difference between Dr. Ivo's serve and Raonic's. Just check aces per game. Raonic has much better weapons to back up the serve. I think Nadal will have more plays on the Raonic serve for BPs.

By the way, I hate polls that have multiple choices that do not allow me to pick more than one answer.

I know I am in the minority, but I want Nadal to make a racket change. I think such a change might win him another FO, but he would have to take the chance NOW...
 

ultradr

Legend
Milosh can blow anybody off the court on a given day.
But Nadal should try to make the match as boring as it can be....
 
Always want something extra and was struggling. First few voters passed on extra options and I see the trend continues. Probably many are not ware of 2010 US Open Nadal.
Yes. Actually, if you pay attention to todays match against Ivo, Nadal was using the 2010 trophy position form. That may be the key why his serve has been improving lately.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Is Murray on Djoko's side? I think Murray has a better chance at the upset (of Djoko) than Rafa.
Anyway, Raonic in shaky form. Great opportunity for Rafa to assert himself and pass a few rounds. He needs all the points he can get too. And he needs that elusive win against a top 10 player.
Getting way ahead, but Murray could soften up or beat the Djokonaut for Rafa.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
There is a lot of difference between Dr. Ivo's serve and Raonic's. Just check aces per game. Raonic has much better weapons to back up the serve. I think Nadal will have more plays on the Raonic serve for BPs.

By the way, I hate polls that have multiple choices that do not allow me to pick more than one answer.

I know I am in the minority, but I want Nadal to make a racket change. I think such a change might win him another FO, but he would have to take the chance NOW...
The post got fat fingered and up quickly before I had all the poll options in. Quickly edited so you should have 4 votes. Maybe if you voted early, your stuck at 1?

In hindsight, he probably should have stuck with the racket change given that year has been poor by Rafa standards.
 

Gary Duane

Talk Tennis Guru
The post got fat fingered and up quickly before I had all the poll options in. Quickly edited so you should have 4 votes. Maybe if you voted early, your stuck at 1?

In hindsight, he probably should have stuck with the racket change given that year has been poor by Rafa standards.
I did not get to see Nadal's latest match, but as I mentioned in another thread his "weak serve" used to be good enough to totally dominate on clay. In 2010 he had the #1 record in the world for % of games won on clay, at 91%.

So he HAS to improve pace and control on his serve, and as much as the new racket has helped Fed's serve, I think it could help Nadal.
 
It's kind of funny and sad that you bring up H2H, instead of Djokovic winning Shanghai, 25th Masters, 5th Masters of the year, etc...
I can't believe that I am bringing myself to say this. But I'm starting to think he just might be worse that "Tennis Commentator". And that is is saying a lot.
 
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marc45

G.O.A.T.
was one point away from Agut....of course Rafa was a couple from not being there himself...both had wars, we'll see...injuries not unfamiliar to both
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
I guess you are right. He seems to constantly try to get a rise of Fed or Nadal followers.
To think and I was thinking JM might be the master behind HappyforThat (and Tennis commentator.) Or.... JM is some kind of complex super troll! Even calls Djokonaut Palpatovic when he is the real Palpatine of this site.:eek:
 
N

Nachiket Nolefam

Guest
Raonic is good player but not lived to his potential since his foot injury. Needs time, so Rafa in 3.
 
To think and I was thinking JM might be the master behind HappyforThat (and Tennis commentator.) Or.... JM is some kind of complex super troll! Even calls Djokonaut Palpatovic when he is the real Palpatine of this site.:eek:
Lol! Super-Troll is contention for sure! :D

Also behind "61 63 60". But that may be before your time here.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Muchacho in 2.
I am kind of shocked by the voting so far. Obviously Nadal nuts are 20% of the in two sets vote, but even then Talk Tennis has soundly voted Rafa in 2 or 3. Raonic is second in hold % on his serve and I'd think a much more capable player on Rafa's.

Raonic is coming back from injury, but it is hard to tell what is going on with that by watching him. Raonic has the demeanor of a Koala on the court, but much much faster than Ivo:
c93014d05205a7a5ec8873d5f9a9628e

Milosh would never say anything like this (only because he's quite quick!)
 
I am kind of shocked by the voting so far. Obviously Nadal nuts are 20% of the in two sets vote, but even then Talk Tennis has soundly voted Rafa in 2 or 3. Raonic is second in hold % on his serve and I'd think a much more capable player on Rafa's.

Raonic is coming back from injury, but it is hard to tell what is going on with that by watching him. Raonic has the demeanor of a Koala on the court, but much much faster than Ivo:
c93014d05205a7a5ec8873d5f9a9628e

Milosh would never say anything like this (only because he's quite quick!)
'Koala Milos". That's food for thought. Need an image
 
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