Wimbledon 2014 R32: Mikhail Kukushkin vs Rafael Nadal [2]

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

How predictable Nadal took a "bathroom break" after losing the first set.

Absurd.

Dimitrov did it yesterday when losing 2 sets to 1, did you say something about it ? I guess not.

 

[Fiji]

The question is if he will take another sabbatical like in 2012 IF he loses today.

 

[Wynter]

Well that certainly destroyed my expectations

Anyone know when the outside courts will start again?

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

If nads wins and any of Federers match is played tomorrow I will be unhappy.

No play tomorrow.

 

[pound cat]

The young guns bring out their best game when they encounter Nadal.

 

[Down_the_line]

Good hold for Nadal. Let's see if he can start breaking away from Kukushkin.

 

[FedererDropShot]

Nadal will win in 4 like the past 2 rounds.

Don't see any point of speculation.

 

[sbengte]

How predictable Nadal took a "bathroom break" after losing the first set.

Absurd.

He took it in between sets, so where is the problem ? It is perfectly within rules as long as he made it back before the umpire called time.

 

[Terenigma]

Nadal slips but he gets straight back up, didnt look like anything to worry about.

 

[torpantennis]

Nadal will win in 4 like the past 2 rounds.

Don't see any point of speculation.

Rosol was NOT a nobody, Kukushkin is! Nadal will lose. :lol:

 

[FedererDropShot]

2 time Wimbledon champion losing the 1st set TB to a person who hasn't won a Wimbledon match until this year is interesting enough.

 

[sbengte]

The question is if he will take another sabbatical like in 2012 IF he loses today.

Irrelevant speculation because he isn't losing.

 

[Atherton2003]

Nadal fell - hope he is okay

 

[Fiji]

2 time Wimbledon champion losing the 1st set TB to a person who hasn't won a Wimbledon match until this year is interesting enough.

Read my siggie.

 

[torpantennis]

Nadal hits all balls to the center. Only 4 UEs in set1, and still losing. Call that pushing, I do! :lol:

 

[Atherton2003]

Is Nadal wearing underpants today? I don't think so.

 

[FedererDropShot]

I don't think Kukushkin can keep this up.

His go for broke hitting will break down soon enough.

 

[Fiji]

Irrelevant speculation because he isn't losing.

I said IF.

 

[malbaker86]

Read my siggie.

Would it had been called a fluke had Fed won in 2008?

 

[FedererDropShot]

Close hold.

He's gone DTL so many times. Doesn't give a damn about the low percentage play.

 

[Backspin1183]

2 time Wimbledon champion losing the 1st set TB to a person who hasn't won a Wimbledon match until this year is interesting enough.

He won both his matches in straights before this one though. And Rafa is way too nervous on grass to play his best. Can happen when you've done nothing but lose to much lower ranked players for two years in a row.

 

[Down_the_line]

Where's vero?

 

[Fiji]

Would it had been called a fluke had Fed won in 2008?

Who is the better grasscourt player?

 

[tennisaddict]

I don't think Kukushkin can keep this up.

His go for broke hitting will break down soon enough.

I think he is playing in a controlled manner. He does not have the arsenal to go for broke. He is keeping UFE in control.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Kuku isn't really threatening Nadal in his service games; maybe the quickness of that is not letting Nadal settle into his groove? He still doesn't look completely switched on yet. Intentional strategy or just good serving?

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Kukushin just needs to play his game

 

[flyingboris]

I just now after many years realize that Nadal does all his plucking and tucking while also bouncing the ball. That's actually kind of impressive.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

So the roof is close

 

[MichaelNadal]

I just now after many years realize that Nadal does all his plucking and tucking while also bouncing the ball. That's actually kind of impressive.

He's a talented guy :lol:

 

[swordtennis]

If Kukushikin had better movement then I would say yes he has a real good shot today. He is just too injured and his movement has declined to hang with Nadal for 3 sets.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

guy's got game

Kukushkin is hitting the ball beautifully. Smooth backhand and when he flattens out his forehand, boom!…

 

[corners]

I'm not a Nadal fan but the stats so far suggest Nadal wins this in four, even if Kukushkin maintains his level. Nadal is winning more 1st and 2nd serve points than Kukushkin, but loses first set in a tiebreak. Can happen, especially on grass. , but the better quality will almost always win out in the end.

 

[vicnan]

How predictable Nadal took a "bathroom break" after losing the first set.

Absurd.

I have little doubt that Nadal will go on to win this match. But this sort of dirty tactics is the reason many old timers have never really warmed up to Nadal, despite him winning almost everything. Play the game the way it was intended, win or lose.

 

[Backspin1183]

I just now after many years realize that Nadal does all his plucking and tucking while also bouncing the ball. That's actually kind of impressive.

Is it not? I don't know when exactly he started doing this. I remember in 2008 when he more hair he didn't do any of this s**t.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Bit of an accident there but still a great return.

 

[Terenigma]

First BP chance of the match...

 

[Supertegwyn]

Break point Nadal

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Kukushian is making errors

 

[swordtennis]

Match right here if K gets broken.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Good serve to wipe it out

 

[sbengte]

It is a matter of time before Kuku gets broken , he's been living dangerously on his own serve . And then it will be game over because he can't break Nadal.

 

[merwy]

Why does Nadal keep going to his forehand? Kukushkin's backhand really doesn't look that good and he's slamming his forehand like Rosol on a good day.

 

[counterloop]

Isn't this the same guy who beat Wawrinka earlier this year at the Davis cup?

 

[FedererDropShot]

Rafa punishes dat 2nd serve.

 

[Atherton2003]

Kulishkin is very good. Nadal is in shock.

 

[merwy]

Isn't this the same guy who beat Wawrinka earlier this year at the Davis cup?

I think that was Golubev

EDIT: Aaaand he gets broken. Nadal got really lucky in this game

 

[Supertegwyn]

Another break point...

 

[FedererDropShot]

Well there goes the match.

 

[The Green Mile]

I just tuned in... so Rafa has lost the first set again.... interesting......

 

[sbengte]

And that's all she wrote.

Bye Kuku. Thanks for playing.