Author Topic: Barcelona Open: 4/21/14 (Read 3478 times)

thetruth · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2014, 03:04:52 am »

Rafael Nadal Talks About Opening Barcelona Win

Backspin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2014, 02:20:01 pm »

I'm not following Barcelona this time. Did anyone watch the Nadal-Dodig match? How was Rafa playing?

It seems Kei Nishikori is playing well. He's like 4-2 against Marin Cilic. Has a good chance to make the final in Barcelona.

thetruth · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2014, 03:08:03 pm »

Quote from: Backspin on April 24, 2014, 02:20:01 pm

I'm not following Barcelona this time. Did anyone watch the Nadal-Dodig match? How was Rafa playing?

It seems Kei Nishikori is playing well. He's like 4-2 against Marin Cilic. Has a good chance to make the final in Barcelona.

He played better than he did yesterday, but the real Rafa hasn't showed up yet. Maybe with stiffer competition he'll raise his game. This is Spain's hometown tournament so all the Spaniards want to win it.

Clay Death · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2014, 06:06:31 pm »

good win for Rafa.

he was more aggressive today.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/04/17/Barcelona-Thursday-Nadal-Dodig.aspx

Clay Death · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2014, 06:20:36 pm »

here is the order of play for tomorrow:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/Schedule.aspx?EventId=425

Clay Death · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2014, 08:55:32 am »

nishikori and gulbis shaking and baking in Barcelona.

here are all the scores:

http://www.tennisexplorer.com/live/#inscore_ifheight_xdc_3691

Clay Death · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2014, 11:47:11 am »

Nadal was 3-1 in the 3rd set.

he lost 3 games in a row to give almagro the advantage.

this is not going to be easy now. he has to fight.

Clay Death · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:07:01 pm »

nadal is out. could not even get past the quarters.

pathetic. that is after leading 3-1 in the decider.

somebody bring him to hard courts ASAP so he can get even worse on the red clay.

this just ruined my day.

thetruth · « **Reply #23 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:11:01 pm »

Quote from: Clay Death on April 25, 2014, 11:47:11 am

Nadal was 3-1 in the 3rd set.

he lost 3 games in a row to give almagro the advantage.

this is not going to be easy now. he has to fight.

It's OK. Rafa is a man, not a machine. And like you and Masterclass said, he didn't work on what he needed to work on and it cost him.

So, he has to get himself up, dust himself off, and recapture his game. If you think about it, this is the first year since he's been on the tour that he's had such a downward spiral, and it happens to them all.

I'm not disappointed, because Rafa isn't playing well enough to be winning. And if anything should kick him into gear, this is it.

Plus, it gives him more time to work on his game.

Congratulations to Nico. His first win ever over Nadal.

masterclass · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:32:43 pm »

Really sad for the Nadal camp. It's not that he's just losing; Rafa is losing to his pigeons and turkeys.

And Almagro, though he played well at times, gave Nadal every chance to win. First in the second set, at 3-3, Nadal had at least 3 chances to break and Almagro somehow survived 4 deuces, and then wins the tiebreaker. Then Nadal up a break at 3-1 in the final set, collapses on his serve and doesn't win another game on serve. It seems he has a difficult time consolidating his breaks lately.

So passive on his serve, and he just looked a beaten man, instead of his usual fighter self.

What's next? Madrid is no haven for Nadal. But a good performance is needed somewhere. Rome is absolutely vital now for a turnaround.

But I'm starting to lean toward him not getting it done at Roland Garros if he plays anything like this. He wouldn't deserve it.

It's as bad a collapse on his play on clay as I've seen from Nadal. This is not Djokovic, or Federer, or even Wawrinka, this is Almagro, who had won a total of 2 sets and 0 matches in 10 tries before today.

It's starting to remind me of Federer's 2013 year.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Clay Death · « **Reply #25 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:42:52 pm »

he alone is responsible for what is happening.

he neglected clay for the sake of greed.

there was a large appearance fee waiting for him in Miami.

there was money involved to go to Oregon after he lost early in Indian wells.

and then there was golf and poker and endless other promotional activities.

he knowingly dropped his game and his fitness.

it is no wonder that even his own uncle is saying that Rafa is just making excuses.

nadal neglected clay and he is paying for it.

he had absolutely no business wasting 16 good days after losing early in Indian wells.

he should have left for home the same day and jumped on clay.

now he is short on practice and match play on clay.

how does any top player lose to almagro after leading 3-1 in the decider.

masterclass · « **Reply #26 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:51:41 pm »

Quote from: Clay Death on April 25, 2014, 12:07:01 pm

nadal is out. could not even get past the quarters.

pathetic. that is after leading 3-1 in the decider.

somebody bring him to hard courts ASAP so he can get even worse on the red clay.

this just ruined my day.

General, we always said he should have never put in that indoor hard court in Manacor.
I think he's been so fixated on improving his hard court game he has almost forgotten that clay is the wellspring from which he flows. If losing to Almagro doesn't make him get out there on the clay courts and put in the hours, nothing will.

But at this stage in his career, with all he has accomplished, does he care enough to put in the hard yards? He's got 100's of millions in the bank, he's won more Roland Garros championships than anyone in history. He doesn't have anything to prove. He could walk away from the game today as one of the greatest players in history.

Oh well, he's almost always been a player that has 1 good or great year followed by not as good, and seems to like the challenge better from the #2 spot, and being the hunter, than holding the #1 spot and being the hunted.
I just don't know how much he has left in him? His style of play is so hard on the body and mind.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Clay Death · « **Reply #27 on:** April 25, 2014, 01:11:07 pm »

he was at the top of the world in 2013.

he got one hell of a return on hard courts.

he should have cashed in his chips and jumped on clay ASAP after Indian wells.

he did this to himself. that is what hurts the most.

they are not beating him. he is the one who is beating himself.

it did not have to be this way. he is still in his prime.

that is why I am so disappointed general masterclass.

masterclass · « **Reply #28 on:** April 25, 2014, 01:15:29 pm »

I guess it is what it is general. As Lady TT said, he is a man not a machine.

But we can't write him off. He's always been able to rise again after his problems.

It's just a question of time for him to sort it all out.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Clay Death · « **Reply #29 on:** April 25, 2014, 03:35:35 pm »

all those near endless promotional activities can wait until the off season.

you see no other too player so obsessed with all the extracurricular activities.

also the 90 minutes-2 hour lazy practice sessions are not cutting the mustard.

topspin players need to practice more than the others.

He struggled for nearly 3 hours against almagro who he had never lost to before today.

he must hit the practice courts at least twice a day for a total 4-5 hours.

that is the only way out.

he does not trust his ground game and plays from his forehand corner as much as possible.

that is just giving them too much real estate to work with.

there is near 100 percent predictability when you play that way.

they know exactly where he is going to hit the ball.

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Author Topic: Barcelona Open: 4/21/14 (Read 3478 times)

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