What happened at the virtual bagel?

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
Yesterday’s match had a lot of ups and downs but was competitive for the most part. But in the last 6 games Nadal collapsed. He was 2-0 in the fourth set and 1-2 in sets. This is RG, his home court. So even at that point, while behind, many thought he could still turn it around. I know I did.

And then Nadal lost in a virtual bagel. Lost 6 games in a row. Not only that but he was pretty much demolished. In those 6 games Novak won 24 of 30 points, with Nadal winning only 6 points in 6 games. To put it in context in the first 5 games of the match, all of which Novak lost and which many thought would lead to a repeat of the FO20 final, Novak still managed to win 11 points and had game or break points in two of those games. Nadal never even came close to winning a single game of the final six. Novak ended winning 18 more points than Nadal overall and that 18 point advantage came all from the last 6 games of the match.


what happened? It’s hard to figure out. Was it mental? Physical? Did Novak simply enter some type of God mode? Can’t really figure it out.
 

daggerman

Hall of Fame
It’s hard to reduce it to just one thing, but I think the serve was the biggest factor. Novak was not only making first serves, but hitting his spots and setting up his first ball nicely. Rafa, on the other hand, could hardly buy a first serve and struggled backing up his second serve.
 

RoS

Semi-Pro
Nadal was spent.

Like he was spent against Medvedev at the USO F 2019, and if Medvedev came back at 5-5 in the fifth set, Nadal would have probably lost.

Like he was spent against Medvedev again at the WTF SF 2020.

Like he was spent against Tsitsipas at the AO QF 2021. At the fifth set, he could barely hit a FH

The Father Time finally catched Nadal, it happened to Federer and it will happen to Djokovic sooner than later. No one can beat The Father Time.
 

Djokinho

Rookie
Nadal mentally broke down when Djokovic managed to score 2-2 and pulled off superbly in 3-2.

When it was 0-2. Djokovic made a quick and perfect serve game. Then he broke Nadal and later made another very good serve game:

Ace
Great first serve, setting with smash
Ace
Serving in the body and Nadal returning in the net.

After losing 3 games in a row, 2 of them being zero, with Djokovic serving masterfully (88% of first serve). He knew he would succumb.
 
D

Deleted member 629564

Guest
Tsitsipas virtually bageled Zverev yesterday as well.

He won 7 consecutive games from 6-3 0-3 to 6-3 6-3 1-0.
 

mwym

Professional
Playing against Djokovic for 4 hours made him tired.

It is not him. It is Djokovic. Just like 40-15. Then it was mental pressure. Here it was physical.
 

Phenomenal

Hall of Fame
Nadal didn't hit almost any First serve he was probably tired after that epic third set. In third Djokovic was not even making UE was better but Nadal fought well to get SP just played bad Tie break.
I think there was one moment in Nadal's serve game maybe 2-3 30-30
He didn't hit the empty court he hit his forehand into the Novak.
Djokovic win the point and then i think he lost mentally there.

Same happened in 2015 RG (Nadal was losing anyway) Last set first games he hit into the Djokovic very easy shot maybe even smash not sure if he hit empty court then he would have won the point.
But he lost point after that it was 6-1 last set for Djokovic

Similiar thing also happened to Djokovic i think.
In US open 2013 first games last set Djokovic hit into the Nadal then lost the point. This time it was more possible to hit there i mean was just wrong decision. Nadal won last set 6-1.
 

Texas Tennis Fan

Professional
Everyone keeps talking about his age, but you just don't lose your stamina at that age if you are still practicing as hard and are lean. He didn't seem to have good stamina at the YE championships against Medvedev or the AO against Tsitsipas either.

His body shape is one that will tend to put on weight more easily than say Djokovic who is lean. I still think Nadal is carrying 10 pounds or so of weight that he shouldn't.

I remember in the 1990s when Agassi hired a nutritionist and had an end-of-career renaissance because he lost about 15 pounds. If I am right and Nadal is carrying 10 extra pounds against Djokovic or Tsitsipas in a prolonged match of three sets or longer, this could start to take its toll at the end of the match.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
Yesterday’s match had a lot of ups and downs but was competitive for the most part. But in the last 6 games Nadal collapsed. He was 2-0 in the fourth set and 1-2 in sets. This is RG, his home court. So even at that point, while behind, many thought he could still turn it around. I know I did.

And then Nadal lost in a virtual bagel. Lost 6 games in a row. Not only that but he was pretty much demolished. In those 6 games Novak won 24 of 30 points, with Nadal winning only 6 points in 6 games. To put it in context in the first 5 games of the match, all of which Novak lost and which many thought would lead to a repeat of the FO20 final, Novak still managed to win 11 points and had game or break points in two of those games. Nadal never even came close to winning a single game of the final six. Novak ended winning 18 more points than Nadal overall and that 18 point advantage came all from the last 6 games of the match.


what happened? It’s hard to figure out. Was it mental? Physical? Did Novak simply enter some type of God mode? Can’t really figure it out.
Nadal is eligible for senior tour. Legs have gone. For Novak too late to compensate for the humiliation of RG2020 which is why VB brigade celebrated so hard and still do.
Up to Djokovic now to take advantage now the Big 2 are out the way. Can he get through the door or will he choke the chance.
He has 4 shots to get 3 Majors.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
Everyone keeps talking about his age, but you just don't lose your stamina at that age if you are still practicing as hard and are lean. He didn't seem to have good stamina at the YE championships against Medvedev or the AO against Tsitsipas either.

His body shape is one that will tend to put on weight more easily than say Djokovic who is lean. I still think Nadal is carrying 10 pounds or so of weight that he shouldn't.

I remember in the 1990s when Agassi hired a nutritionist and had an end-of-career renaissance because he lost about 15 pounds. If I am right and Nadal is carrying 10 extra pounds against Djokovic or Tsitsipas in a prolonged match of three sets or longer, this could start to take its toll at the end of the match.
Nadal is way too heavy. But his diet is not that good. In between Majors he puts huge amounts of weight on.
 

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
Nadal is eligible for senior tour. Legs have gone. For Novak too late to compensate for the humiliation of RG2020 which is why VB brigade celebrated so hard and still do.
Up to Djokovic now to take advantage now the Big 2 are out the way. Can he get through the door or will he choke the chance.
He has 4 shots to get 3 Majors.
Why are you still posting?
 

Druss

Hall of Fame
When Nadal raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, I was thinking at the time it’s going to be a repeat of last year’s F.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
This isn't rocket science: Nadal has lost his stamina. He was running on fumes the last 30 minutes of the semifinals, anyone could see that. His stiff legged walk indicated he was fearing he was going to cramp up. Since 2017, Rafa has shown he's fading physically:

2017 AO final:
Lost in 5 sets to Fed
AO 2018 QF's: Loses to Cilic in 5 set and has to quit due to hip injury
Wimbledon 2018: Loses in 5 sets to Djokovic in the semis
USO 2018: Plays a draining 5 setter against Thiem and then quits against Del Potro after 2 sets
AO 2020: Loses a 2 set lead and goes down to Tsits in five sets
 
This isn't rocket science: Nadal has lost his stamina. He was running on fumes the last 30 minutes of the semifinals, anyone could see that. His stiff legged walk indicated he was fearing he was going to cramp up. Since 2017, Rafa has shown he's fading physically:

2017 AO final: Lost in 5 sets to Fed
AO 2018 QF's: Loses to Cilic in 5 set and has to quit due to hip injury
Wimbledon 2018: Loses in 5 sets to Djokovic in the semis
USO 2018: Plays a draining 5 setter against Thiem and then quits against Del Potro after 2 sets
AO 2020: Loses a 2 set lead and goes down to Tsits in five sets
This sums up the situation perfectly.

You can add UO 2019 Final to the list to: Dominates for two sets then hanging on at the end. It was reported as nerves - it looked more like exhaustion to me.

Nadal would not have hung on yesterday even if he had won the set point at 6-5. It was physical not mental.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
This sums up the situation perfectly.
You can add UO 2019 Final to the list to: Dominates for two sets then hanging on at the end. It was reported as nerves - it looked more like exhaustion to me.
I don't quite understand why many Rafa fans are in denial or insulted when his lack of stamina is pointed out. It's undeniable at this point. I think he lost 2017 AO due to fatigue as well, he was dusted by 3-2 in the fifth. I have said several times I think he's carrying too much weight (not that he is overweight). But, like Murray, he's beefier in build than both Fed and especially Djokovic. Consider that Djokovic is only one inch taller than Rafa but easily 20-25 pounds lighter than Rafa.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Djokovic's mental strength and will to win became the catalyst that lead to the breakdown in Nadal's game.

He simply refused to lose, kept Nadal out there in brutal rallies and basically sucked the life out of him to the point Nadal was physically done, and knowing he was trailing in the score made it even worse from a mental perspective for Nadal.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
I don't know if he was injured or tired. I do know Djokovic just wouldn't let himself be beaten. I'm much more inclined to give the positive credit to Djokovic than the negative credit to Nadal.
 
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