Why Ferrero should have beat Nadal but didn't

[splink779]

This may have been discussed, but the reason Ferrero did not beat Nadal was because he has net-phobia. He was pushing Nadal around but was content to wait for Nadal to retrieve (which he is the best at) and simply hit another groundstroke. His great groundstrokes were on but he had to hit several winners, and he still usually lost the point when he could have come in to hit a putaway volleyt that would not have taken much skill at all. He would have probably made the same mistake against Coria. I had never realized how afraid he is of the net until now.

 

[Rodzilla]

The thing I noticed about Ferrero is that coming to the net is like a last resort kind of thing, when he has nothing left to try. Ferrero doesn't seem adept up there in the way that he doesn't look willing.

 

[VamosRafa]

This may have been discussed, but the reason Ferrero did not beat Nadal was because he has net-phobia. He was pushing Nadal around but was content to wait for Nadal to retrieve (which he is the best at) and simply hit another groundstroke. His great groundstrokes were on but he had to hit several winners, and he still usually lost the point when he could have come in to hit a putaway volleyt that would not have taken much skill at all. He would have probably made the same mistake against Coria. I had never realized how afraid he is of the net until now.

Not much skill? Ferrero has plenty of skill, not at the net, but that's not where he has made his money over the years, even on his way to the US Open final.

But as I said before, his game matches up well against Nadal's from a Nadal perspective. He can't hurt him. Other players throw Rafa out of his comfort zone more -- Ferrero can't, because that's not his game, at least not yet. At least not that I've seen this year -- and I've watched 3 of their 4 matches this year. I missed the Valencia match.

 

[Ronaldo]

According to Arias, so did the Mosquito

 

[splink779]

Not much skill? Ferrero has plenty of skill, not at the net, but that's not where he has made his money over the years, even on his way to the US Open final.

But as I said before, his game matches up well against Nadal's from a Nadal perspective. He can't hurt him. Other players throw Rafa out of his comfort zone more -- Ferrero can't, because that's not his game, at least not yet. At least not that I've seen this year -- and I've watched 3 of their 4 matches this year. I missed the Valencia match.

Oh I didn't mean he didn't have much skill. Ferrero is one of my favorites. What I meant was you don't have to be Sampras to hit volley winners off of those floaters Nadal was giving him.

 

[splink779]

According to Arias, so did the Mosquito

Lol, yeah they weren't really being nice about him.

 

[VamosRafa]

Oh I didn't mean he didn't have much skill. Ferrero is one of my favorites. What I meant was you don't have to be Sampras to hit volley winners off of those floaters Nadal was giving him.

If it's so easy, then why didn't he do it?

Afraid he'd get passed?

And Gimelstob and Wessels came to net and did just what you suggested? Did you see those matches?

And what did Rafa do in response? He made his groundstrokes deeper, and gave them less to work with.

Rafa isn't stupid. He's going with what works at the moment. If Ferrero came in, Rafa would have had to stop giving him those floaters. But obviously, he was happy with the way things were going with this match. It was totally in his comfort zone.

Don't you think Rafa would have changed things, or tried to, if Ferrero was giving him trouble?

 

[Babblelot]

Interesting. I wonder if this played a role in his 1R loss to #122 Clement at the USO two weeks ago?

 

[Breaker]

If it's so easy, then why didn't he do it?

Afraid he'd get passed?

And Gimelstob and Wessels came to net and did just what you suggested? Did you see those matches?

And what did Rafa do in response? He made his groundstrokes deeper, and gave them less to work with.

Rafa isn't stupid. He's going with what works at the moment. If Ferrero came in, Rafa would have had to stop giving him those floaters. But obviously, he was happy with the way things were going with this match. It was totally in his comfort zone.

Don't you think Rafa would have changed things, or tried to, if Ferrero was giving him trouble?

Two problems, 1- Gimelstob and Wessels are actually comfortable at the net while not being so at the baseline. Nadal giving Ferrero the same floaters he gave against them (Gimelstob, anyway) resulted in a tight 3 setter that could have went either way while Ferrero stayed back and waited an extra 3 secinds for it to drop while moving back. Nadal could easily get back into position then. 2- Did you see those floaters? Nadal was stretched into the doubles alley giving floaters right into the middle of the court that any player, maybe even Roddick would have jumped on to put away. Ferrero was just using poor tactics in this match when he had Nadal on the run.
Oh well congrats Nadal.

 

[callitout]

coming to net against Rafa is a lot like coming to net against Roger. A great strategy if your taking time away from him and hitting a sitter, but horrible if he has any time at all. You see more missed overheads and "easy" volleys vs Fed and Nadal than any other players. Why because you have to go foro so much or the ball will be going by you or over you in a hurry.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

I agree he should come in when he forces a floating ball, but he isnt comfortable doing it. His volley technique is terrable(Ferrero).

 

[aramis]

I think pre-2004 Ferrero would have tried to put away those volleys. Would he still get passed at times? Yes, because Nadal is almost as scary on the dead run as Federer; but it is still a winning percentage type of play against Nadal, as opposed to staying on the baseline, even though that is where Ferrero's comfort zone is. Besides, who's to say that Ferrero is even back at his best from the baseline. Personally, I feel he still has a little bit to work on because his baseline game doesn't seem to be as fast as it used to. Remember, Ferrero used to have some of the quickest footwork+racquet speed in the game.
But anyway, I think his biggest problem right now is not as much about getting his shots back to the way they used to be. His point construction is not so good anymore, and that is a result of lack of match play and maybe confidence issues. I think this is the reason why he lost to Coria so much on clay this year, whereas in previous years Ferrero would bulldoze him.

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

To post No1.

Ferrero couldn't beat Nadal simply. Nadal is simply better and stronger tennis player than Ferrero.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

no, I was there at the open and Clement won because he's a hell of a player.

 

[aramis]

I didn't watch the Ferrero/Nadal match, but I did watch the Barcelona final earlier this year and Ferrero played with hesitation in that match as well. Nearly all of the rallies he extended for no reason instead of coming to net, or simply stepping inside the baseline in order to take more control. I remember the commentators talked about it as well.
Nadal is a heck of a player, but I don't necessarily believe he is a better player than an in form Juan Carlos, even on clay. When Ferrero begins to play with complete self-assurance then it will be seen how the two really match up. This year there has only been one time when Ferrero played at his best, or something close, and that was in the 2nd set in the Monte Carlo SF against Coria, and for the majority of that set he ran Coria around like a ragged doll, but he took his foot off the gas pedal and allowed Coria to win.

 

[uNIVERSE mAN]

Not much skill? Ferrero has plenty of skill, not at the net, but that's not where he has made his money over the years, even on his way to the US Open final.

But as I said before, his game matches up well against Nadal's from a Nadal perspective. He can't hurt him. Other players throw Rafa out of his comfort zone more -- Ferrero can't, because that's not his game, at least not yet. At least not that I've seen this year -- and I've watched 3 of their 4 matches this year. I missed the Valencia match.

He made his money in 2003, other than that he's a bust.

 

[Adam Thirnis]

To post No1.

Ferrero couldn't beat Nadal simply. Nadal is simply better and stronger tennis player than Ferrero.

Yes peak '03 JCF could have given Nadal a game but he's way off that now.