Would Rafa Quit Had He Won The 2nd Set?
- Thread starter TMF
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All-rounder
Legend
More speculation?? He didn't win the set so lets not go through 'ifs' and 'Buts'
He's been down 2 set to 1 before, but still he continue to play hard and very confident that he'll win. In 2007 AO, he was down 2 set to 1 against Murray, but came back and won. I very strongly believe he would go the distance had he won the 2nd set tie breaker.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
I think the testosterone would have kicked up and he would have fought on had he won that 2nd set.
namelessone
Legend
Nadal would have played on no matter what but he made a bad motion on a dropper at the end of the second set. Read his presser,he tells how it happened. You really think it would have been humiliating for Nadal to be breadsticked or bageled in a slam after what he's been through since may last year(including triple 6-2 in USO)?
If Nadal had a reputation as a quitter maybe I would see it but as it is I believe Nadal. If he had somehow won the second set while having problems after the dropper he would have been in a real pickle. Rafa is tempestuous,pushed himself like a madman and I think he would have tried to bear and grin it,no matter how much it hurt(but he couldn't have possibly won because he couldn't move well off his fh side) but there is absolutely no way the adrenaline would have lasted five sets. He would have quit at one point either way.
Basically it boils down to this: Nadal saw that the old pain was back(the one that made him skip WB) and after the trainer session gave it a go and,unlike the nadal of old,decided not to go all the way. The memory of what happened to him in 09' was reason enough to make him want to quit,especially after he saw that he couldn't move properly in the third. Did the fact that he was 2-0 down play a part? Probably but not that much. Let's say Rafa was leading 2-0 and he would get pain in the knee. He could probably squeeze out a set but no more. And trust me he would need a pretty bad opponent because he would need to get a set off him on one leg.
Rafa and Andy know each other since they were 13 and Andy looks up to Rafa because they are almost the same age yet Rafa has matured before Andy. The thing Rafa did in Rotterdam was very gentleman like(though it was probably stupid in retrospect),staying a whole set on court despite having problems,just to give murray a clean win. He was probably feeling generous after AO. In 2010 Nadal is starting to take care of himself,at least that's what I hope.
If Nadal had a reputation as a quitter maybe I would see it but as it is I believe Nadal. If he had somehow won the second set while having problems after the dropper he would have been in a real pickle. Rafa is tempestuous,pushed himself like a madman and I think he would have tried to bear and grin it,no matter how much it hurt(but he couldn't have possibly won because he couldn't move well off his fh side) but there is absolutely no way the adrenaline would have lasted five sets. He would have quit at one point either way.
Basically it boils down to this: Nadal saw that the old pain was back(the one that made him skip WB) and after the trainer session gave it a go and,unlike the nadal of old,decided not to go all the way. The memory of what happened to him in 09' was reason enough to make him want to quit,especially after he saw that he couldn't move properly in the third. Did the fact that he was 2-0 down play a part? Probably but not that much. Let's say Rafa was leading 2-0 and he would get pain in the knee. He could probably squeeze out a set but no more. And trust me he would need a pretty bad opponent because he would need to get a set off him on one leg.
Rafa and Andy know each other since they were 13 and Andy looks up to Rafa because they are almost the same age yet Rafa has matured before Andy. The thing Rafa did in Rotterdam was very gentleman like(though it was probably stupid in retrospect),staying a whole set on court despite having problems,just to give murray a clean win. He was probably feeling generous after AO. In 2010 Nadal is starting to take care of himself,at least that's what I hope.
N
nikdom
Guest
We cannot conjecture. Have to take the man at his word. He doesn't have a history of retirements.
IvanAndreevich
Legend
No, because the only way he could win it if he didn't get injured towards the end of it.
Baikalic
Semi-Pro
+1 10 char
Yes, he does.
martini1
Hall of Fame
This has nothing to do with Rafa's character. IF he is tied up 1 set each and neck to neck on the 3rd, he would have a chance to end it in 4 sets. It is a very different scenario than down 2 sets and having to play catch up in the 3rd. If he thinks he can't hold up in 5 long sets (remember no tb at the end), it will be better off to not risk the next few months out of the tournament. At least for now he has a chance to come back before Indian Wells.
How long Rafa's body can hold up with his playing style has been discussed many times. Only players at the end of their career would risk a injury in a slam. Even at that it cannot be a QF game cuz he/she would still have 2 more matches to play! I think retirement is a wise thing.
How long Rafa's body can hold up with his playing style has been discussed many times. Only players at the end of their career would risk a injury in a slam. Even at that it cannot be a QF game cuz he/she would still have 2 more matches to play! I think retirement is a wise thing.
edmondsm
Legend
He has 6 total in his career. How many does he need before he has a "history of retirements"?
There's a whole thread about it in the General Discussion forum.
N
nikdom
Guest
idk. I'm going by anecdotal evidence. I've not seen him retire in a GS before. You can debate if he could've played on another 3 games and let Murray win; I think he made it clear the injury was very close to when he actually retired and gave enough credit to Murray. Murray seemed ok with it too.
Rafa had only 6 retirements in his career, so when he decided to retire, it must have been something serious.
stanfordtennis alum
Hall of Fame
yes, he was hurt and that was evident
C++ Primer
Rookie
of course yes
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