CAMELOT FANTASIES

IW is the perfect hard court for Rafas game.
I expect him to win again there 2014. Just hope he can get home to spain and rest a bit before he starts practicing for next season.

Quote from: Embla on November 19, 2013, 03:18:02 am

IW is the perfect hard court for Rafas game.
I expect him to win again there 2014. Just hope he can get home to spain and rest a bit before he starts practicing for next season.

He has had quite a bit of success there, so I think you're right. The time of the year also helps. If IW were in, say, October I'm not as sure he would have won it several times.

Like you, I also hope he gets it again in 2014.

What is it about Rafa and fall season? I understand indoors is not his thing. But still.
That WTF final he didn't try like previous tournaments. Looked like he almost gave up before the match. Novak didn't play god like either, Rafa could have beaten him.
Low bouncing courts maybe..but still. The cross court bh he used in US soil was gone after USO.
Is it a mental thing? Or just the courts?
I was at the wtf and Novak seemed more tired than Rafa.

Quote from: tented on November 19, 2013, 03:56:19 am

Quote from: Embla on November 19, 2013, 03:18:02 am

IW is the perfect hard court for Rafas game.
I expect him to win again there 2014. Just hope he can get home to spain and rest a bit before he starts practicing for next season.

He has had quite a bit of success there, so I think you're right. The time of the year also helps. If IW were in, say, October I'm not as sure he would have won it several times.

Like you, I also hope he gets it again in 2014.

What is it about Rafa and fall season? I understand indoors is not his thing. But still.
That WTF final he didn't try like previous tournaments. Looked like he almost gave up before the match. Novak didn't play god like either, Rafa could have beaten him.
Low bouncing courts maybe..but still. The cross court bh he used in US soil was gone after USO.
Is it a mental thing? Or just the courts?
I was at the wtf and Novak seemed more tired than Rafa.

All excellent questions, and I wish I had the answers.

Rafa has consistently had poor (by his standards) results indoors, and my interpretation is that it's a combination of time of year, and low-bouncing surface. He can't get the pop on the ball, like he gets on clay, and other hard courts.