The Rebirth of Rafa

[123456789]

When Rafa was down 3-5. I told myself, if Rafa loses this match, he will never win a tournament ever again. It will deliver a complete blow to that last drop of hope. But he came through. Rafa heard my prayers. In Rafa's veins runs the blood of someone who never gives up. In his veins, runs the blood of a true champion, nothing but toil, tears, and sweat. He hasn't give up on us fans, and I will never give up on him. While the last few years were not the most hopeful and optimistic for Nadal, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about his future. And I believe, that with God's hands upon the tennis world, Rafa will be the victor again.

VAMOS

 

[bullfan]

Rafa doesnt believe in god.

 

[every7]

If Nadal could recapture the French Open, regain his claycourt dominance, defeat his inner demons and vanquish the most despised Number 1 in the open era, 2016 could be an incredible year. It is a heroic narrative even by Nadal's standards.

 

[Bender]

I know he hasn't been playing well so this is some good news for all of us, but Jesus, he escaped by the skin of his teeth against an 18 year old upstart, not grind out a marathon five set victory against Djokovic...

It's a match he should have won 7-6, 6-0. He blew that tiebreak massively.

 

[123456789]

I know he hasn't been playing well so this is some good news for all of us, but Jesus, he escaped by the skin of his teeth against an 18 year old upstart, not grind out a marathon five set victory against Djokovic...

It's a match he should have won 7-6, 6-0. He blew that tiebreak massively.

An upstart who had loads of momentum, and playing top notch tennis.

 

[VexlanderPrime]

If Nadal could recapture the French Open, regain his claycourt dominance, defeat his inner demons and vanquish the most despised Number 1 in the open era, 2016 could be an incredible year. It is a heroic narrative even by Nadal's standards.

Yah this could happen L O L

 

[LETitBE]

rebirth or afterbirth?

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Rafa doesnt believe in god.

But he is pretty superstitious
He was good, but too early to predict anything. But hey, he is the comeback king in tennis, so never know.
The closest he comes to God is to be God of clay

 

[VexlanderPrime]

I know he hasn't been playing well so this is some good news for all of us, but Jesus, he escaped by the skin of his teeth against an 18 year old upstart, not grind out a marathon five set victory against Djokovic...

It's a match he should have won 7-6, 6-0. He blew that tiebreak massively.

Rafa didn't win the match so much as accept a huge gift from a 18 y/o who ,elated down from lack of experience. I mean the match was over if he hits even an average volley there. Rafa had no control over his fate. And Rafa's serve... My god he's going nowhere with that softball garbage

 

[123456789]

Yah this could happen L O L

It could. The New American Nadal Century

 

[Bartelby]

So he beats the number 56 in the world due to the latter's meltdown and he's reborn?

The fact is that Nadal remains a top 10 player, he's just not in the dress circle any more.

 

[every7]

Yah this could happen L O L

We gonna find out, no?

 

[ultradr]

When Rafa was down 3-5. I told myself, if Rafa loses this match, he will never win a tournament ever again. It will deliver a complete blow to that last drop of hope. But he came through. Rafa heard my prayers. In Rafa's veins runs the blood of someone who never gives up. In his veins, runs the blood of a true champion, nothing but toil, tears, and sweat. He hasn't give up on us fans, and I will never give up on him. While the last few years were not the most hopeful and optimistic for Nadal, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about his future. And I believe, that with God's hands upon the tennis world, Rafa will be the victor again.

VAMOS

it is actually a divine achievement not to drop out of top 10 after 7 month lay-off with injury/surgery.
top players often drop to #100-200. sometimes comeback from challenger level.
Agassi did. recently almagro did.

Since he never had this type of hiccups in his career, he is very anxious right now but he doesn't need to.
He made couple of quick comeback after 6+ month layoff with injuries and thus he expected it this time too.
But those were miracles. Already divine inteventions couple of times, IMHO.

This guy at the age of 17 beat then #1 Federer at first meeting in straight set like nothing, won french Open at debut.
Tennis has been too easy for him (thanks to God).
Maybe God wants him to know it this time,no?

 

[123456789]

So he beats the number 56 in the world due to the latter's meltdown and he's reborn?

The fact is that Nadal remains a top 10 player, he's just not in the dress circle any more.

Its divine intervention. No doubt about it. He would have retired right after the FO had he lost today.

 

[Checkmate]

Can Djokovic beat him 6-0 6-0 this time ? That would be fun to watch.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Amazing match, I was on edge for the last 2 sets #Bamos

 

[123456789]

Rafa will never succumb to the frustration, hatred, and underestimation. ALLEZ BAMOS FORZA

 

[StannisTheMannis]

WOOHOO. he beat a scrawny little 18 year old that's ranked in the 50s. VAMOS RAFA

 

[123456789]

No need to be snarky. Shoo away now. Go back to your couch and watch your Game of Thrones. @StannisTheMannis.

 

[sbengte]

This is probably material for that Astrology thread but I strongly feel Nadal with get his 10th RG this year. It is not exactly based on logic/facts, just a strong intuition. Just the way last year I had a strong intuition right from the beginning of the year that Djoko will NOT win RG, even if he beats Nadal - I had posted several times about it - and we know how that turned out.

 

[Chadillac]

Nadal was too happy in victory today. His expectations are low

 

[big ted]

I saw the last set and a half of his match and he looks nowhere near the level of Djokovic or even Federer. His balls don't look like they have sting to them and it looks like he hits everything a millisecond late.. I don't know if it's lack of confidence or something else but he still doesn't seem "special" at the moment imo.. at least he's still in the tournament tho...

 

[MichaelNadal]

WOOHOO. he beat a scrawny little 18 year old that's ranked in the 50s. VAMOS RAFA

Lol, but I bet you sat closer to the screen than everyone else here though.

 

[junior74]

Zverev crumbled under pressure. Nadal´s legacy won the match, not his game.

 

[ArcspacE]

He's finished

 

[MichaelNadal]

He's finished

Zverev d. Dimitrov:
6-4, 3-6, 7-5 sure is.

 

[The_Order]

WOOHOO. he beat a scrawny little 18 year old that's ranked in the 50s. VAMOS RAFA

Something Federer couldn't do...

 

[Dave1982]

As much as I love Nadal and would absolutely love for him to win more Slams, I just can't see it happening.

I think injuries have just taken their toll and as they tend to do have just made the comebacks more and more difficult each time.

I think he'll still be a contender on occasions and naturally you'd never dismiss him from calculations on clay...his days of utter dominance on the red dirt however are well and truly over and in reality probably have been for a few years now, whilst he's won Slams and significant tournaments in that period, he certainly hasn't been the unbeatable force he once was.

 

[ArcspacE]

Zverev d. Dimitrov:
6-4, 3-6, 7-5 sure is.

Is that a protein shake you're holding in your pic?

Do you even lift, bro?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Is that a protein shake you're holding in your pic?

Do you even lift, bro?

It's a butterbeer, and hell no I don't, I'm lazy and happier with my body than you are with yours clearly

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Rafa doesnt believe in god.

Rafa only believes in the victory.

 

[NoZak Djokovic]

Oh jesus Christ! Wait until he faces someone in the top 10 or 5 and can beat them consistently.

He beat an 18 year old who while he has the ability to become super awesome in the future, Rafa should be beating comfortably

 

[MichaelNadal]

Oh jesus Christ! Wait until he faces someone in the top 10 or 5 and can beat them consistently.

He beat an 18 year old who while he has the ability to become super awesome in the future, Rafa should be beating comfortably

It's 2016, standards for his career have changed. Believe me in a few years, beating the same kind of opponent will be a big deal for your beloved robot.

 

[tennisfan2015]

rebirth or afterbirth?

dead cat bounce.

 

[tennisfan2015]

So he beats the number 56 in the world due to the latter's meltdown and he's reborn?

The fact is that Nadal remains a top 10 player, he's just not in the dress circle any more.

I have not checked lately but he could not get passed No. 45 earlier this year.

 

[Rozroz]

his hair needs taken care of before "rebirthing"

 

[tennisfan2015]

his hair needs taken care of before "rebirthing"

If I may, ....he should go after your avatar hair style.

 

[un6a]

I think Rafa did Ok vs Zverev, it was not bad match, but to put it into perspective, for example Goffin vs Wawrinka match had much higher quality.

 

[Rozroz]

If I may, ....he should go after your avatar hair style.

so you're saying he should go for Federer's?! (that's Fed's father face planted in his!)

 

[Diehard]

Rafa didn't win the match so much as accept a huge gift from a 18 y/o who ,elated down from lack of experience. I mean the match was over if he hits even an average volley there. Rafa had no control over his fate. And Rafa's serve... My god he's going nowhere with that softball garbage

To be fair although you dislike Rafa intensely on this post I do agree. I do not buy into the hype over zverev and see him as the next janowicz. Nadal in the main profited from the kids errors as when the kid kept the ball in play he dominated Nadal. Nadal's serve is now sub standard and nowhere near what it used to be plus is very predictable which it always has been.

However I stand by my recent thread that Nadal is back mentally as for all of his poor play the one thing that cannot be in doubt is that the fire still burns which before IW I was not sure is the case so at least mentally he is back. But his game is still way off where it needs to be and if he has to play nishikori I suspect it will be a straight sets defeat. Still some progress has been made

 

[vanioMan]

Nadal would've had a pretty good look on the pass even if the volley went over the net. Don't act like he hasn't made thousands of impossible passes before.

 

[I Am Finnish]

He's finished

Not finished but finnish

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Many good responses to this thread.

 

[elias_ch]

Rafa is losing when being too predictable with his Forehand direction.
First set he hits 70% cross court and set goes into tiebreak.
Second set he had 3 winners FH DTL in first 2 games and had 40% DTL in the set PLus +7 MPH in power.
Third set Zverev came in hard hitting and didn't miss than Rafa reverted back to his "safe" cross court loopy forehand and he only had one DTL winner in the last game.

The thing is Rafa's confidence is easily shaken with is DTL forehand when he misses one or two or when the opponent is playing agressive.

His only chance to winning GS again is being aggressive as in the second set even if he misses a couple of shots or the opponent is coming hard at him.

 

[mistik]

Rafa will never turn back to his best and this match with Zverev match despite the win is huge proof of that. Every match of Rafa regardless of the surface and opponent is a big struggle. The way he is playing he can only win couple of games of Djokovic even if he somehow outlasts the other opponents.

 

[SpinToWin]

The OP is right! Rafa was dying, no, absolutely dead in that match, and then he was reborn!

Well, not quite… He was resuscitated… By Zverev… But same difference!

 

[Rozroz]

Rafa will never turn back to his best and this match with Zverev match despite the win is huge proof of that. Every match of Rafa regardless of the surface and opponent is a big struggle. The way he is playing he can only win couple of games of Djokovic even if he somehow outlasts the other opponents.

of course. OP is delusional.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Rafa is losing when being too predictable with his Forehand direction.
First set he hits 70% cross court and set goes into tiebreak.
Second set he had 3 winners FH DTL in first 2 games and had 40% DTL in the set PLus +7 MPH in power.
Third set Zverev came in hard hitting and didn't miss than Rafa reverted back to his "safe" cross court loopy forehand and he only had one DTL winner in the last game.

The thing is Rafa's confidence is easily shaken with is DTL forehand when he misses one or two or when the opponent is playing agressive.

His only chance to winning GS again is being aggressive as in the second set even if he misses a couple of shots or the opponent is coming hard at him.

Spot on assessment.

 

[ArcspacE]

It's a butterbeer, and hell no I don't, I'm lazy and happier with my body than you are with yours clearly

Some of us need to stay ahead of the curve

 

[tennisaddict]

Has Rafa won against top 30 this year ?