RG'14 R64: Rafael Nadal (1) vs Dominic Thiem

[Supertegwyn]

Nadal's defence is just keeping Thiem from putting points away

 

[aldeayeah]

Smart point.

Followed by ******** point.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

trying to beat Nadal with high, topspin balls is ... should I say "stupid"?

the boy needs to flatten in ball with Nadal, if he can (I'm not so sure of that on his FH)

You're not going to flatten out nothing that far back behind the baseline unfortunately.

 

[aldeayeah]

Bagel averted.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Thiem on the board; a clear sign of his genius

 

[sbengte]

Thiem on the board; a clear sign of his genius

I LOL'ed

10Thiems

 

[FreeBird]

Thiem needs to come forward. He ain't beating Nadal from baseline.
His serve is WTAish.

 

[The_Flying_Vulture]

Should be easy sailing from here on for Thiem.

 

[aldeayeah]

Such a loopy BH, it's Almagro-y indeed.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Almost the best forehand I have seen in a very long time

 

[maxrenn]

He wasn't far off with that FH! Still the kid is way too far back to trouble Rafa consistently

 

[sbengte]

Thiem needs to come forward. He ain't beating Nadal from baseline.
His serve is WTAish.

I somehow (wrongly) believed this guy has a big serve . The serve has been a disappointment. Not sure what weapon he really has to even take a few games off Nadal.

 

[aldeayeah]

Easy hold, Nadal in cruise mode.

 

[Lea]

Thiem is way too defensive, you can not beat Rafa like that...

 

[Supertegwyn]

Easy hold, Nadal in cruise mode.

Good thing Thiem is a cruise missile

 

[Supertegwyn]

Awful volley from Thiem; 2.5 WTA level right there.

 

[JRAJ1988]

Mark Petchy please stop being a mouthy jerk.

 

[aldeayeah]

First decent BH pass from Nadal, 0-15.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

It's looking like a nice tasty breadstick for Thiem.

 

[sbengte]

Set up so nicely only to hit that stupid long BH.
He is now going 1-5 down.

 

[FreeBird]

I somehow (wrongly) believed this guy has a big serve . The serve has been a disappointment. Not sure what weapon he really has to even take a few games off Nadal.

I have followed his matches since Rotterdam. His serve was letting him down quite often (low 1st erve percentage and mediocre 1st serve). Against Nadal, you need to run through your service games. That's why I wasn't optimistic about his chances of winning even a single set before the match started.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

3 break points for Nadal. Incredible.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Nadal breaks. What a forehand winner. 5-1.

 

[maxrenn]

w00p! There it is some Rafa magic to break.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Why the hell does Nadal wiping off of after receiving a double fault. You did NOTHING! Why do you need a full body wipe down after doing nothing?!

 

[JRAJ1988]

What a devastating behind forehand

 

[sbengte]

3 break points for Nadal. Incredible.

You can say that again ! It's a miracle !

 

[Supertegwyn]

Nadal to serve for the set 6-1.

Interestingly enough Wawrinka got a 6-1 set on Thiem before losing the match; will that same result play out today?

(No)

(No it won't)

(It really won't)

 

[Terenigma]

When Nadal hits a running FH like that to break you to love, you cant help but admire how good the guy is on clay. Rafa 5-1 and serving for the set.

 

[Rozroz]

for the life of me,
CHANGE YOUR GAME PLAN!
stop with the stupid loopy shots vs Nadal.

 

[Steve0904]

I'm sure Thiem is talented, and I don't think all that much should be taken out of this match regardless of the result, but it's quite obvious that Nadal will wear him out quickly. He's just going to rally with Nadal and after 10 or 15 shots it's curtains, and that's going to happen over and over and over. Nadal would be more concerned playing a big lumbering "untalented" servebot than playing "talented" Thiem.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Nadal opening up the angles of the court. Genius play so far.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Nadal to serve for the set 6-1.

Interestingly enough Wawrinka got a 6-1 set on Thiem before losing the match; will that same result play out today?

(No)

(No it won't)

(It really won't)

(hopefully it will)

 

[Terenigma]

Time for Thiem to reset his brain, ok it was a poor first set but take it, put it in the rycycle bin and refresh your gameplan. Plenty of the match still to play and im hoping he can somehow find a way to at least make the next 2 sets tight.

 

[sbengte]

LOL. was that a shank ?

 

[The_Flying_Vulture]

Great lob by Thiem!

 

[Supertegwyn]

(hopefully it will)

The Thiemenator is out for blood.

 

[Wynter]

Nice lob by Thiem.

 

[Rozroz]

Time for Thiem to reset his brain, ok it was a poor first set but take it, put it in the rycycle bin and refresh your gameplan. Plenty of the match still to play and im hoping he can somehow find a way to at least make the next 2 sets tight.

he's playing a total wrong game now.
depressing.
he doesn't know how to take it early.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Set point for Nadal.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Finally home.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Thiem needs to Seles Nadal if he wants to win

 

[sbengte]

Flashes of brilliance from Thiem to get a BP...which will be saved as usual...

 

[aldeayeah]

Now this is more like it.

 

[furryballs]

oooooohhhhhh

 

[sbengte]

Whoa ! What a way to break !

 

[Supertegwyn]

Thiem breaks Nadal

 

[maxrenn]

Fair play! Rafa got a bit lazy and predictable there as he has been wont to do recently.

 

[Steve0904]

That's better kid!

 

[jwjh]

Rafa fails to serve out a set again.