US Open 2015 R3: Nadal (8) vs Fognini (32)

[Russeljones]

This was a great match and I am glad I watched almost the full first two sets (was knackered and went to sleep). Nadal looked really sharp. I feel for his fans, though, they must really have had some hopes after watching those opening two sets. Fognini is definitely not someone Nadal enjoys playing and, love him or hate him, he's a handful when he's on.

 

[Algo]

Thank God I didn't stay up, not because Fog won, I'd have enjoyed that. But freaking 2.30am would've been too much

 

[rh310]

I predicted Fognini in 4, but qualified that by saying only if he won the first set. Never would have expected he'd win from 2 sets down.

Amazing match.

 

[Chanwan]

Here is another POV. The technology of rackets continues to improve. It's not enough to have the latest shoes, to slide better on HCs.

Fed made a decision to change rackets about a year and a half ago. But initially he had to back away from the new racket. He didn't have enough time to adjust.

Rafa changed rackets sometime in the spring, saying he needed more easy power. Then he too backed off because he could not control the new racket.

Tonight he hit one forehand at 96 mph, but Fognini was winning the battle of pace. I'd wager the shots Rafa was hitting tonight would have blasted most people off the court even a few years ago. The game is changing.

I suspect he will be experimenting again with another racket, but it's going to take time to make the adjustment.

If he doesn't do this, he simply won't be able to compete in 2015 and 2016. For him to continue using his old racket now is a bit like continuing to play with a wooden racket after everyone else has moved on.

In 2012 Fed won 92% of his service games on hardcourts. In 2004 it was the same, 92. In 2005 it was 91. 91 in 2006. 91 in 2007. It's 94 this year. I think a huge amount of that is because of the racket. He gambled, and it paid off.

Watch to see if Nadal makes a racket change between now and the next FO...

Hyperbole much?
Didn't he adjust his racquet significantly 4-5 years ago (getting more spin as well)? A new racquet could help him some, surely, but I doubt he's losing because he's playing with 'old' technology.
And what do you mean with his shots yesterday blasting people of the court a few years ago - because they would have been too heavy to control with 'old' racquets, but now are easy to handle with 'new' tech? Or that they would have been unreachable winners back then, but that his opponents have upped their running pace by 20 % or so?
I disagree with both.

 

[mike danny]

This is Nadal's earliest exist at the USO since 2005.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Has fognini a chance against lopez ?

 

[Starfury]

If this was a WTA match the people here would holding it up as a prime example of why the WTA sucks. 7service bresks in a row. Missed overhead from the net. 32 seed upsetting the #8. The higher player too mentally weak to protect a 2 set and break lead, etc...

Yes, and if the WTA hadn't lost more top ten seeds in the first two rounds than the ATP lost seeds in total, all those "WTA sucks" people would be laughed out of town.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I went to bed thinking, Nadal's hitting the ball deeper than in his first two rounds, has two sets in the bag. No way he's going to crumble against Fognini. Glad I went to bed... So sad to see how far Nadal's tennis has fallen.

 

[PeteD]

Aaaaaaaaand I decided sleep would be more important than staying up to watch this.

Sleep decided me in the 4th, and Luke Jensen and Al Trautwig saying no way Rafa is losing because Fognini can't sustain mentally . . .

 

[Adv. Edberg]

I told you he would lose, nobody believed me.

 

[LinePainter]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152996572982187

check what Nadal says at about 1:05

Now he's 151-1 in slams up 2 sets to 0

En Cre Deeb Eee Lay!

Nadolphin

 

[RS92]

Members who voted for 'Fognini in 5'

• tennisjedi
• sosa09
• tennishotdog
• Inanimate_object
• Munch

Fognini in 5 sets

I can't believe this, I went to sleep after the 2nd set thinking that Nadal was going to destroy the italian in the third.. What happened?? Fognini was amazing after the 2nd?? Nadal started to play bad again?

 

[heninfan99]

What a coincidence.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152996572982187

check what Nadal says at about 1:05

Nadolphin

 

[LinePainter]

What a coincidence.

The secret to beat Rafa is a fun vacation at Atlantis. I wish Rog knew this 10 years ago.

 

[Boom-Boom]

Members who voted for 'Fognini in 5'

• tennisjedi
• sosa09
• tennishotdog
• Inanimate_object
• Munch

I can't believe this, I went to sleep after the 2nd set thinking that Nadal was going to destroy the italian in the third.. What happened?? Fognini was amazing after the 2nd?? Nadal started to play bad again?

well done. Really surprised Nadal managed to take two sets out of Fognini on a HC.

 

[Boom-Boom]

↑
A little bit of the old confident Rafa out there tonight. Don't throw dirt on this guy yet.

If he can keep his confidence up and keep his form improving, he could take it all. Nole is gonna be an obstacle obviously but I think Nadal can beat anyone else in the tournament
↑
Tonight so far is probably the best Rafa has looked this year truth be told
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Only Novak stands in his way to the finals. If he beats Nole, he wins it all
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This is probably the best Nadal has looked since the French of last year (And Im sure he will get better as each round goes). I don't think he will beat Nole but if he does he will take the title IMO.
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This is probably the best tennis Nadal has brought this year. He looks fitter and and more focused than hes looked in a LONG time.
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Best form from Rafa so far this year.. I like it.

Looks like someone was trying to be a bit positive today. Kudos for that

Lol. 90's Weed is a fail machine

 

[malbaker86]

Members who voted for 'Fognini in 5'

• tennisjedi
• sosa09
• tennishotdog
• Inanimate_object
• Munch

I can't believe this, I went to sleep after the 2nd set thinking that Nadal was going to destroy the italian in the third.. What happened?? Fognini was amazing after the 2nd?? Nadal started to play bad again?

Fog stopped clowning around is what happened. You have to find the full match and watch the 4th and 5th sets; Fog's shot making was a thing of beauty. He redlined and that was the end of the Nadal chapter

 

[GhostDog]

I was lucky enough to wake up after dozing off to watch most of the 5th set. That 8th game of the 5th set was high entertainment. 10+ mins of crazy shot making, and guts. It was kinda painful to see Nadal continue get his serve broken time after time. I think he's done winning majors. A shell of his former self.

The winner disparity was just insane. Fog had 70 winners, to Nadal's 30. Really?

This match was a reminder of how good Fog can be when he puts it all together.

 

[Murrayjuannow]

I am glad I watched the whole match live comfortably. It was around lunch time where I am when the match started [emoji295] [emoji295] [emoji295] [emoji501] [emoji502] [emoji503] [emoji519] [emoji481]

After the match finished, I was jumping around the house and then played some tennis at the backyard absolutely blasted the cra*p out of the balls[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]

....then fox sports replayed the whole match again at dinner time !!!!

Thanks for the fabulous entertainment, Fabio! [emoji1] [emoji1] [emoji1] [emoji634] [emoji634] [emoji634]

 

[richardc-s]

I'm gutted Nadal lost but Fogs shot making was crazy good! It looked like he was super slow with his set up, then out of nowhere he has crazy racket head speed and the balls off like a rocket!

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Fabio just gets up to play when he sees Rafa on the other side of the net. Three wins this year with the last being a real body blow. Brutal shot making towards the end. Sadly we dont get Rafa v Novak but that is how it is sometimes.

 

[Chicharito]

Just catching up on Prochnow twitter LOL

During the match

Andrew Prochnow ‏@AndrewProchnow 10h10 hours ago
Nadal's likelihood of going deep skyrocketing, and I'm positive he will win another major before the end of 2016, maybe even this one #vamos

This guy is gold

https://twitter.com/AndrewProchnow/with_replies

 

[Steve0904]

Sure, but as great as Nadal is, he doesn't mix it up or throw different looks like Federer and, to a lesser extent, Djokovic and Murray, do.

That's why he's always been more prone to upsets to players blasting the cover off the ball. It's been much, much worse this year, but he really did play high quality tennis for the vast majority of the match. It was some really vintage stuff.

This is true. Also you'll have to forgive me. I just got in from a party last night and picked the match up at 4-4 in the 3rd. We've seen it before with him though, you're right. Tsonga, Gonzalez, Del Potro, Blake, Soderling to name a few. Even Ferrer has done it twice and Youzhny once, but even those guys I would put above Fognini.

And let's be real obvious here for a minute. Would any of Djokovic, Federer or Murray lose from 2 sets and a break up against Fognini in a major? I mean come on. Djokovic would crush him in the 3rd and not even let it go 4 sets. Murray would probably do the same and Federer would finish it by not letting Fognini back into any of his service games. It's surprising enough that Fognini won let alone the way he done it. All credit to Fabio, but seriously this is about Nadal. As I said, the other 3 aforementioned guys would straight set Fognini from the position Nadal was in.

There have been (mostly) some heavy hitters taking out Nadal in the past, but not Fognini.

 

[PeteD]

I'm gutted Nadal lost but Fogs shot making was crazy good! It looked like he was super slow with his set up, then out of nowhere he has crazy racket head speed and the balls off like a rocket!

I saw same thing. Fog would lock on and ease into position, then barely move his center line as he whipped the ball. When you saw Fog sort of casually drop into position, you knew a winner was coming. Rafa wasn't pushing him out of that zone enough.

 

[richardc-s]

I saw same thing. Fog would lock on and ease into position, then barely move his center line as he whipped the ball. When you saw Fog sort of casually drop into position, you knew a winner was coming. Rafa wasn't pushing him out of that zone enough.

It was mad, I've never actually seen somebody hit so effectively and look like he's hardly trying! Like you said his centre line was almost completely stationary, looked odd but super effective.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

Nadal is finnish for good im afraid
Hè should emigrate to Helsinki and playing challengers there

This one stupid comment.

 

[I Am Finnish]

This one stupid comment.

it was a joke

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

The 5th set drama was real!

And it shouldn't have to happen. This reminds me the match with Raonic. I think he had match point then he lost.

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

it was a joke

Gotcha.

 

[heninfan99]

When Nadal was down a break in the 5th he came out and played like prime Nadal. Perhaps his recent play is not injury based as I thought.

 

[I Am Finnish]

What are the w/UE ratio

I heard fognini made 70 winners

 

[I Am Finnish]

Gotcha.

 

[I Am Finnish]

I underestimated fognini on hc
Hè is not so bad

 

[tennis_pro]

Thank God I didn't stay up, not because Fog won, I'd have enjoyed that. But freaking 2.30am would've been too much

Lol 2:30 a.m. I've watched tennis until 7 a.m. when the match was interesting.

Not the Nadal-Fognini match, unfortunately, sleeping 3 hours a day cought up with me yesterday.

 

[stringertom]

What are the w/UE ratio

I heard fognini made 70 winners

IIRC it was 70/57 for Fog.

 

[Algo]

Lol 2:30 a.m. I've watched tennis until 7 a.m. when the match was interesting.

Not the Nadal-Fognini match, unfortunately, sleeping 3 hours a day cought up with me yesterday.

Where the fuq are you going with this.

Now I've the obligation of staying up late for a match that seemed to go nowhere but the obvious outcome. F-off.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Looks like someone was trying to be a bit positive today. Kudos for that

So many jinxs

 

[I Am Finnish]

IIRC it was 70/57 for Fog.

And how many made Rafa?

 

[70後]

Wow, so much BS I've read in this thread, I have to give my 2 cents... Let's start with the most ridiculous stuff:
1- Nadal is back to his best level and would give a tough match to Djoko. Are you kidding me???? Or on drugs???
Nowhere close. Not only has his serve become cream puff and even mediocre hard court players like Fog can walk all over it but he's way too defensive and hits wayyyyyyy too short. How many of his shots landed inside the service box? You cannot get away with that on hard courts, not happening. He's also lost his stamina and gets tired in long matches. Rafa is in NO shape to threaten either Djoko, Fed or Murray this year on hard. It would be a total demolition job. Thank God, it won't be happening.
2- Fog would have beaten anyone today. LOL, he would have been straight setted by Djoko and the match would have been more lopsided than vs Seppi who is a much better hard court player than Fog. Look at how weak Fog's serve is and how many times he got broken tonight and you'll understand why (luckily for him, Rafa's current serve is equally weak). As for Fog's "phenomenal shotmaking", it is partly due to Rafa's lack of depth on most of his shots. It is that lack of depth that allowed Fog to consistently unleash winners. With someone like Djoko, who hits so long and paints lines more often than not, he would not have had the same opportunities.
3- Best tennis match of the year. Hum no. It was fantastic in terms of suspense, emotion and drama but technically it was a terrible match. Just 2 guys playing a classic clay court match on a surface like USO. What sense does that make? Very little. Look at Fed's most recent matches to have an idea how one is supposed to play efficiently on fast hard. (Jeez, I can't believe I am the one saying this...)
4- Fog will beat Lopez. I seriously doubt it. Unlike current Nadal, Lopez can serve. He won't get broken at will. Lopez will actually be a tougher opponent for Djoko if he makes quarter. Fog is so easy to break, it's not even funny. Lopez, not so.
5- Rafa just needs to get some confidence going. Don't think so. His current strategy on hard is plain wrong. It's not even a matter of execution. It simply DOES NOT work. Either Nadal finds a way to change it or he'll keep getting the same outcome vs worse and worse guys. They're all gonna get the memo in the end. It's not a matter of playing BETTER but of playing DIFFERENTLY. Either he and his camp finally get it or I don't see a bright future for the Bull, sorry.

Yes, this is pretty much it. Sure Fog played great, but if the iron and weight of Nadal's shot was what it once was, could Fog really have kept just stepping into the ball and hitting everything on the rise like that?

 

[I Am Finnish]

Hè asked djokovic for advice how to beat Nadal in bo5?

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Hè asked djokovic for advice how to beat Nadal in bo5?

Well together they have ensured that Nadal has a slamless season for the first time since 2004.

 

[Sentinel]

↑
A little bit of the old confident Rafa out there tonight. Don't throw dirt on this guy yet.

If he can keep his confidence up and keep his form improving, he could take it all. Nole is gonna be an obstacle obviously but I think Nadal can beat anyone else in the tournament
↑
Tonight so far is probably the best Rafa has looked this year truth be told
↑
Only Novak stands in his way to the finals. If he beats Nole, he wins it all
↑
This is probably the best Nadal has looked since the French of last year (And Im sure he will get better as each round goes). I don't think he will beat Nole but if he does he will take the title IMO.
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This is probably the best tennis Nadal has brought this year. He looks fitter and and more focused than hes looked in a LONG time.
↑
Best form from Rafa so far this year.. I like it.


Lol. 90's Weed is a fail machine

Actually, I wasn't making fun of 90sC as someone earlier pointed out (@dParis, i think). I was pointing out that he was actually saying something positive for once. Usually, he comes across so negatively when Federer wins, or loses. The opponent is always tired, or a MUG (for AM). 90s cuts a sorry figure, no doubt.

I was really hoping to see a Nadal-Nole QF. Not expecting much from Nadal in that, but still... And it would have been really good for tennis in general.

 

[KHSOLO]

Only got to watch the highlights and totally agree that the there seems to be a new "pace" in tennis which has developed in the past 2 to 5 years, the quality of the shots but mostly the pace at which they were hitting the ball is at a new level

 

[tennisaddict]

Apparently he was a break up in the 3rd set, a break up in the 4th set, broke Fognini 3 times in the 5th set but still lost?

Hope you skipped sleep and watched. Well worth it

 

[Sentinel]

Fog stopped clowning around is what happened. You have to find the full match and watch the 4th and 5th sets; Fog's shot making was a thing of beauty. He redlined and that was the end of the Nadal chapter

I missed the first two sets. What happened there to Fognini ?

Must be painful for the Nadal fans, esp since he was up 2-0. (We Fedfans know how it feels ... How often has Fed lost after being up 2-0. I can only recall the loss to Tsonga).

 

[rh310]

And how many made Rafa?

You know you can go to the USO site and find the match stats yourself, don't you?

 

[tennisaddict]

Hyperbole much?
Didn't he adjust his racquet significantly 4-5 years ago (getting more spin as well)? A new racquet could help him some, surely, but I doubt he's losing because he's playing with 'old' technology.
And what do you mean with his shots yesterday blasting people of the court a few years ago - because they would have been too heavy to control with 'old' racquets, but now are easy to handle with 'new' tech? Or that they would have been unreachable winners back then, but that his opponents have upped their running pace by 20 % or so?
I disagree with both.

It is fairly easy to see Rafa's form is just not there. He is slow occasionally but still gets to the ball on time mostly, but it is mind boggling how many times he just dumps BH into the net and hit FH wide.

Those buggy whip FH used to paint lines before , now they go wide. Those CC BH shots used to be crazy, but inevitably they are breaking down like how it used to for Federer in crunch times. Serve was never a strength but he cannot buy any aces these days.

He has quite a way to go still to get back to form.

Field has not improved. Rafa has declined.

 

[I Am Finnish]

You know you can go to the USO site and find the match stats yourself, don't you?

• You are right but I am too lazy

 

[veroniquem]

Well together they have ensured that Nadal has a slamless season for the first time since 2004.

You forgot about Berd and Dustin Brown. It doesn't matter who right now. There are so many players who can step up vs Rafa. It's all about Rafa's decline right now, not about bad matchups.

 

[rh310]

• You are right but I am too lazy

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/stats/day11/1304ms.html