Smasher08
Legend
Lol you're only pointing out the obvious, but methinks you're about to be labelled a "hater"! :lol:
Wimbledon 2014 R64: Lukas Rosol vs Rafael Nadal [2]
- Thread starter aldeayeah
- Start date
Lol you're only pointing out the obvious, but methinks you're about to be labelled a "hater"! :lol:
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I meant no dangerous opponent. Rosol was only so because of the 2012 prior. Rosol is not a top player or doesn't have any kind of special records on grass. You want to argue about Stepanek, Simon and Tsonga (or even Querrey) being in a different class than Rosol, Kukushkin and Vesely (or Krygios)? I'm sorry but you really don't want to go there (and I could do the same for RG). I'm a fan but I'm also very objective about that kind of stuff, so don't try to troll me. Nadal has no name left in his draw until quarter. He has a soft 1st week draw and it happens. Good for him.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
LOL. What were they saying for the FO? Not exactly that accurate were they? What about the AO?
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Murray might be Djokovic's biggest threat to the title. Murray IMO has a better chance against Djokovic than Fed or Rafa have.
I do agree that I'm not super confident about Murray making the SF. He's just not the same "yet" after his injury I feel.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
What is sad is that you actually care what the haters say?
Djokovic haters( a few of the Nadal fan group) act this way?
There are Federer haters who do the same. It jus the boards I doubt they actually hate.
There are others things life way more important that a millionaire wins and losses.
I dislike Nadal for sure...but I am not clown to become Nadal opponent fan. I am a fan of Federer.
Rosol win was just as surprising and funny as Gulbis win over Federer a few weeks ago.
Not all Nadal haters are shallow.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
sure thing
Nole has been the favorite, according to gamblers, for the last 5 slams.
how many has he won?
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
When you're up a mini-break in the TB, with two serves at 5-4 and you're 88 % on first serves won for the set while putting 66 % in play, wouldn't you say the set and the match was on his racquet?
I sure would.
If Rosol's forehand hadn't caught a bit of the net and lost it's pace at 5-4, they might be playing a 5th right now (or Rosol could have won it already). Tennis is a game of small margins, Rafa had them on his side today, Rosol had them on his side two years ago.
Great mentality and play from Rafa to get back into the match at all though, great escape indeed.
He's my favorite to win it all now.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
I agree. I did not see any gamemanships like 2012. It was clean match....Rosol(tiebreak and 2nd set) and Nadal(first set) both played a few tight points on key moments.
Probably why Rosol lost the match.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't know if I agree with that at all.
Michael Essien
Semi-Pro
I'm not trying to troll you, I'm a big Nadal fan, you need only look at my posting history to see that.
But recent years have shown that anybody can be dangerous for Rafa on grass. Just because on paper you look at Stepanek, Simon and Tsonga and yes they are undoubtedly better players than Rosol and co, that doesn't mean these players like Rosol, Darcis etc are just a rollover for Rafa, again, recent years at Wimbledon have shown this, the fact that you could be a fan of Rafa and just come out with "Nadal has nobody until the quarters!" in light of recent history is absolutely absurd.
But recent years have shown that anybody can be dangerous for Rafa on grass. Just because on paper you look at Stepanek, Simon and Tsonga and yes they are undoubtedly better players than Rosol and co, that doesn't mean these players like Rosol, Darcis etc are just a rollover for Rafa, again, recent years at Wimbledon have shown this, the fact that you could be a fan of Rafa and just come out with "Nadal has nobody until the quarters!" in light of recent history is absolutely absurd.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Berd has an outside chance. He's super tricky when his big serve clicks on grass. He wasn't a finalist here for nothing. The point is not that Djoko WILL lose before semi but he will have to work hard just to get there and I agree he will most likely fall to Murray in semi.
Smasher08
Legend
^This. But to be fair, I genuinely believe that many of the worst ones only became Nadal fans out of an all-consuming hatred for Federer.
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
ruerooo
Legend
IDK if that's going to be who will show up. Tsonga is slugging it out with Querrey on Court 2 right now and one of the comms said he's been the only player in the tournament who's had to play every day because his matches have been running late. So I think he'll be an easy beat for Novak if he gets through it but I'm not sure he will.
And Berdych is great of course, but he's streaky. And Marin wasn't coached by his idol Ivanesevic last year, and he's a lot healthier both mentally and physically, imo. So we'll have to see who actually shows up.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
LOL, yesterday you said Rafa was playing well, now a bit down in the score and all of a sudden he has a movement problem. Couldn't possibly be that Rosol is playing well?
Nadal did play well 1st rd, as he did just now!
however, he was moving awkwardly between the end of the first set and 1/2 way thru the second...
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
VAMOOOOSSSS!!!
Hahaha, priceless Ninja, priceless. Congrats on your man:
Has anyone actually looked at Rosol's grass record since his 2012 victory?
Lost to Kohly in straights.
Lost to Reister in 2013
Lost to Benjamin Becker in straights
Lost to Jan Struff last week in straights
He's won one match on grass since beating Nadal in 2012 and that was against 232-ranked Sam Groth (needed 3 sets :? )
Lost to Kohly in straights.
Lost to Reister in 2013
Lost to Benjamin Becker in straights
Lost to Jan Struff last week in straights
He's won one match on grass since beating Nadal in 2012 and that was against 232-ranked Sam Groth (needed 3 sets :? )
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Good post. I agree 100%. Nadal's made it to the 3rd round the first time in 3 years. Being overly confident or making lofy claims about his chances, doesn't sound logical at all. Every decent player IS a threat to Nadal on grass, unless proven otherwise.
This is not the Rafa of 2008/2010 - who was sublime on grass. This is a guy who is struggling against journeymen and trying to build his confidence and game on grass.
chicagodude
Hall of Fame
For Nadal, this was not a 'soft' 1st week draw. Rosol is dangerous for him on grass as shown here again today. Rosol might not have a great record on any surface, but with his style of play he is dangerous for Nadal. Nadal's draw got easier now that Karlovic lost already, so yes, now his draw is relatively easy until the SF.
As for Djokovic, not sure why he doesn't get the credit he has earned through his consistency the past years. Berdych might trouble him a little bit but I can't see him be beaten there. Tsonga isn't as good as a couple of years ago, so he shouldn't bother Djokovic much either.
irishnadalfan1983
Hall of Fame
No I wouldn't.
Every dog has his moment but just because some guy plays a good 2 sets doesn't mean the match is on their racket.
Isn't it more believable that in reality the match is ALWAYS on Rafa's racket considering he has a winning H2H against 95% of players out there?
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veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Oh ok, sorry, I didn't understand your point. I thought you were arguing Nadal had a tougher draw than Djoko. My bad.
So, about your point (anyone is dangerous for Nadal on grass), I feel it's mostly true about the 1st rounds. The longer the tournament goes, the less true it becomes. Rafa seems to be well into the tournament now. I can't imagine what weapon Kukush would use to bother him. Hopefully I'm not being overconfident.
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Chico
Banned
Good enough for grass. Much more than opponents of other big 4.
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
In football (soccer), the team prepares champion shirts, brings champagne, beer and what not before every game, where the team could potentially win the title. What's wrong with preparing for the best outcome?
Omega_7000
Legend
So? Who cares if he agreed to make it before he won it? As long as he didn't wear it before the match, there's no difference between Nadal's shoes with number 8 and Federer's jacket with number 15. Get your rose tinted glasses off.
Enjoy your favorite player while you can...Nothing lasts forever. I hope you don't disappear when it ends. ;-)
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Super outside chance imo. He will have to play the match of his life which he so rarely does unless he is playing vs Federer of course.
LazyNinja19
Banned
Thanks buddy.
But what's the point of bringing up my older posts? I still accept that i don't have faith in Nadal's ability on Grass anymore. He surprised me with his win today.
Being a fan doesn't mean that i have to have blind faith in him. He can lose as well, especially on Grass. And Rosol always gives him big trouble.
WhiskeyEE
G.O.A.T.
Tsonga's past ability to "red line" doesn't mean much when he hasn't done it in over a year.
Players stop training like they used to, get older, etc. They don't have the potential to find their previous best just because they did it before.
Stepanek was determined, volleying well, serving well, hitting VERY well off of both sides and was confident after beating Murray.
Tsonga went to 5 with Melzer who was playing poorly. He beat Querrey, who just has no return and it still took him 5 sets. That match was always a coin flip.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
i suggest you look for a better excuse!
rosol's erratic results shows his win over Nadal was quite lucky!
deal with it!
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah 4 good sets? The dog almost had his moments twice. The match wasn't on Rafa racquet till he won the last point.
Rosol had BP in the last game....you never know.
Even if Rosol wins the 2nd sets it not on his racquet as Nadal can make a brilliant comeback.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Same reply as I did the others. This is grass. If you haven't noticed that Berd and Tsonga's game is perfectly tailored to grass, then you haven't been paying attention. I fail to see who in the draw at that stage of the tournament would be more difficult to face (ha ha cue in the Dimitrov nonsense now, sorry but Berd and Tsonga have proven themselves in slams, Dimi hasn't).
Smasher08
Legend
Oh the usual stuff. Stalling in between points, OTT celebrations for an opponent's errors (from both Nads and Toni), all-too-convenient bathroom breaks or MTOs, ample coaching.
Yes it's true that there was no injury faking today, but really, if that's how low the bar is. . . .
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Yep, who knows if they will show up and if they do, I have a hard time seeing how they will beat Djokovic even though Djokovic is not great on grass. I mean anything is possible but I am not going to bet on it.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
McEnroe at one point said that
'so what if Nadal takes too long to serve 5-10 times in a match' - can't believe if he doesn't know that it's more or less on every single serve. I clocked him at 55 seconds on one today.
Didn't see any time violations though - anybody did?
Expected result. Rosol could have been two sets up (led by a break in second set) and had two points on serve to win TB. He was agressive, punishing both of Nadal's serves and short balls ruthlessly. Nadal was nervous, dumping a weak FH into the net to get broken - the only service break in 1st set.
After Nadal won the second, he visibly relaxed and as the match went on, became more and more untouchable on serve, while Rosol looked visibly frustrated, his level dipping. One break in 3rd and 4th is all it took to lose - he lost his serve to love in 4th set,
Match verdict: best I've seen nadal play on grass in a long time. 3rd and 4th set was 2013 USO level serving and he started hitting flatter and deeper as the match went on.
After Nadal won the second, he visibly relaxed and as the match went on, became more and more untouchable on serve, while Rosol looked visibly frustrated, his level dipping. One break in 3rd and 4th is all it took to lose - he lost his serve to love in 4th set,
Match verdict: best I've seen nadal play on grass in a long time. 3rd and 4th set was 2013 USO level serving and he started hitting flatter and deeper as the match went on.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
of course.
Smasher08
Legend
If Rosol wins the 2nd, he can start swinging freely without any pressure, and Nads starts running out of time and options.
IMO, and obviously we'll never know, but if Rosol took the 2nd, he would've won in straights.
And judging by Nads' celebrations at the end, I'd say he may have thought the same.
Finesse4sum
Semi-Pro
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
Me too, he's stepped up big time and he's the favorite to win it now. No doubt about that imo
chicagodude
Hall of Fame
I have no idea why you'd come to that inference....
Are the hard-core Djokovic fans his fans because they hate Nadal so much?
Anyway, I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have so much hatred for any particular player, especially BEFORE you're a fan of another.
I mean, if you're a Federer fan and Nadal starts beating him, sure I can kinda understand hatred for Nadal building. But to start hating a player first and then become a fan of his main opponent seems odd (and sad), seems very unlikely.
aldeayeah
G.O.A.T.
I agree. I think this level will be enough to reach the second week, with all respect to his R3/R4 opponents.
TahoeTennis
Legend
Vamos!!
Just woke up, but let me guess what people are saying:
Nadal cheated/got lucky?
Rosol choked/was hurt?
Am I close?
Either way, another win for the good guys!!!! Rafa!! #teamRafa
Just woke up, but let me guess what people are saying:
Nadal cheated/got lucky?
Rosol choked/was hurt?
Am I close?
Either way, another win for the good guys!!!! Rafa!! #teamRafa
objectivity
Banned
Nadal has overachieved by virtue of playing professional tennis in the first place. As usual, we should just be thankful he is trying his best to win, despite overwhelming odds against him. Go Rafa!
irishnadalfan1983
Hall of Fame
Considering his H2H against pretty much every tennis player out there all the matches are on Rafa's racket and on his mind.
I deal with stats - I don't deal with hypothetical what if type situations.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
Rosol could have felt the nerves of repeating a 2012 performance. It not easy.
Yeah maybe with 2 sets under the belt....Rosol can slap away but you never know.
Just pretty annoyed how Nadal fans are acting like children. Give credit to how Rosol played.
aldeayeah
G.O.A.T.
Nadal raised his level near the end of the second set, and Rosol's started hiccuping on serve, but it was still really close until the third.
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