RG R1: ZVEREV v NADAL

[mike danny]

Solid Snake voice: Damn!

 

[Jonesy]

Nadal would beat any normal round 1 mugs with this level, but Zod is just too good.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Great level by Rafa. Zverev will be broken probably more times. Rafa has seen the chink in the armour.

But can Rafa take a single set? About to be seen.

 

[Deleted member 806402]

Rafa getting a taste of the servebot Zverev that drove Djokovic insane during the 2021 Olympics.

 

[SonicNirvana]

Oh well. He competed.

 

[NatF]

Please don't lose in straights to Zverev.

 

[Kralingen]

Nadal just a quarter step off today. Really sad bc he has the level imo just he hasn’t been strong enough in the biggest moments. Mentally he has let down more than physically.

 

[Quaichang]

Sh——t!

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Zverev is not a great player. He hasn't even won a slam.
Nadal has declined and would have lost to any top player.

True but I believe Zverev can go close here. Not saying he wins it but I like his form to go close!

 

[MeatTornado]

He was never winning this match, but at least he's been steady enough physically to give us a show. It's not like the losses to de Minaur or Hurkacz earlier.

Still really want him to steal a set though.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Disgusting how Zverev won that set. Nadal practically gave that away.

 

[tennis_pro]

The ONE TIME I was rooting for Nadal to win a set (I'm on my way to watch the match on a big screen at a bar) and he dissapoints me. TSK TSK TSK.

I still think Nadal will fight to win at least one set.

 

[xFedal]

Nadal is 38 thats how

PLEASE RAFA, one more great comeback! GOD PLEASE!

 

[abmk]

2-0 Z. But, I am still interested to see how Nadal handles this third set. Hasn't looked bad physically. So still can improve and pressure.

this will end quickly I think.

 

[darthrafa]

the key is whether sasha can maintain the level of breaking rafa at set two
not easy for him but if so he is the deserving winner

 

[Hitman]

I'm actually getting emotional here....

This hurts....

 

[MichaelNadal]

Zverev looked like he was teetering on tiring out. Bad luck on a couple shots from Rafa

 

[Arak]

I still think Nadal will take the third but lose the fourth.

 

[messiahrobins]

Zverev takes the set.

Oh no...

I think this could go 5 sets. Rafa actually is getting better as time goes on almost as if this match is honing him. I think he will lose eventually but there very positive signs. However, the actual test comes tomorrow morning when he wakes up, All the legends say thats when they know its time to retire..if they cannot get out of bed!

 

[nolefam_2024]

Everybody was hoping for one last Nadal vs Djokovic showdown. Looks like that's not to be.

Not me. Not many.

 

[Frenchy-Player]

i still think this will be five sets.

Nadal hasn't played in this format for two years.

 

[Subway Tennis]

What a set. Wish Nadal had won that. Zverev post ankle recovery is a totally different beast with a much better DTL forehand to go with the serve but Nadal had his chances in that set for sure.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Please don't lose in straights to Zverev.

There is no shame in that.

 

[DSH]

Nadal is more Finnish than Ruusuvuori.

 

[The_Order]

Disgusting how Zverev won that set. Nadal practically gave that away.

Not really, when Nadal was serving for it, Zed played an unreal return game, hitting huge and not missing anything.

 

[Deleted member 806402]

It's time for Zverev to remember who he is.

 

[NYTennisfan]

Simply no stamina left for slam matches. Sad.

Stamina seemed fine in that set. This is a top 5 player in the world and Nadal has gone toe to toe with him. This is better than I expected

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Well that’s it. But what a run. I don’t care who comes and goes there will never be another Nadal

 

[MichaelNadal]

The ONE TIME I was rooting for Nadal to win a set (I'm on my way to watch the match on a big screen at a bar) and he dissapoints me. TSK TSK TSK.

I still think Nadal will fight to win at least one set.

How dare you be late? Lol

 

[Nadal15thslam]

He should've won this set... So many wated chances

 

[jss]

Sorry, but it's going to be straight sets

 

[Djokovic2011]

Strange choice of shot from Nadal in that tiebreak with the dropshots but I still have a feeling he'll find a way to win this one.

 

[fedfan24]

Not really, when Nadal was serving for it, Zed played an unreal return game, hitting huge and not missing anything.

He got lucky then. Nadal deserved that set.

 

[xFedal]

Nadal needs to be mentally strong, remember hes done this comebacks before!!! remember 2-0 down before beat Med, this is his court, his stadium, his pet slam!

 

[jimmy0slams]

I see Nadal is 2/0 down.
No longer 100% certain to win this for Nadal, it has dropped to 99.9975% ...

 

[Pmasterfunk]

Nadal looked nervous after that missed drop shot, even though he managed to save one set point with another great one. I wonder if he's starting to feel like the end is creeping in, I haven't seen him often look like this.

 

[Quaichang]

Only good thing is Rafa looks fit enough to go the distance if needed

 

[Poisoned Slice]

It's time for Zverev to remember who he is.

 

[TennisFan3]

True but I believe Zverev can go close here. Not saying he wins it but I like his form to go close!

He won't ever win a slam.
Djokovic, Sinner or Alcaraz would beat this guy in their sleep. They are a higher tier basically.
Hell, even Titspas, Rublev or Ruud could beat this Zverev.
Playing Nadal close is not a barometer of your level. This 38 yrs old Nadal is not a top player.

 

[Hitman]

I think this could go 5 sets. Rafa actually is getting better as time goes on almost as if this match is honing him. I think he will lose eventually but there very positive signs. However, the actual test comes tomorrow morning when he wakes up, All the legends say thats when they know its time to retire..if they cannot get out of bed!

You see a Z win now?

 

[xFedal]

I'm actually getting emotional here....

This hurts....

please Rafa hang on. Chainz why isn't he benched by atp or in jail?

 

[Wesling]

game is still there but he is a step slower and that makes all the difference

 

[UnforcedTerror]

Bull gifted two free points in that tiebteak with those dumb dropshots. He's not Carlitos, stop going for dropshots in big points.

 

[messiahrobins]

OK, need your thoughts here. What can Rafa do? You've been spot on with the match so far as far as tactics. What are we missing here?

Rafa needs to cut the UFEs out obviously but keep stretching out Zverev out to Zverev's FH out wide. Also punish the 2nd serve of Zverev as if he does that can bring the 1st serve percentage down. Also has to hope Zverev's level drops as he has been fantastic.

 

[DSH]

Nadal would beat any normal round 1 mugs with this level, but Zod is just too good.

Why is K-won, with a worse ranking than Nadal, was facing Ruusuvuori and Nadal is playing against the 4th in the world, how was that possible?

 

[Jonesy]

When will they release Rafa in Topspin?

 

[tennis_pro]

How dare you be late? Lol

I was about to leave an hour ago but im lazy xD

 

[Carax]

Gotta love the respect from his rivals and friends to be there with him.

 

[JFK_32]

This tiebreak is probably the greatest rafa choke in RG. I think this beat Rafa 3rd set tiebreak at SF2021

 

[Subway Tennis]

Stamina seemed fine in that set. This is a top 5 player in the world and Nadal has gone toe to toe with him. This is better than I expected

Agree. Nadal was way better in the second set than the first. Little bit worried about the energy levels and concentration / shot selection as the match extends, though. Zverev will be prepared to stand and bang from the baseline for 6 hours today.