CAMELOT FANTASIES

To me, Rafa is not playing well. That's it. It's not the end of the world and IMO, he's due. This is his first off year and he's entitled. Life is about ebbs and flows and what happens today will be forgotten tomorrow. It's not that big of a deal.

I don't think Rafa played that horribly, but sometimes you don't get the breaks. Feliciano played very well and didn't back down. I think that's key. Goffin had the match and backed down. He lost. Grigor had the match and also backed down. Had those two held their nerve it would be a totally different conversation.

Personally, intimidation is a large part of the game. When you win and gut matches out it adds to your aura. If you don't, it depletes it. I don't think any player is that good or great. There are a lot of matches won that should have been lost and vice versa. What's most important on the day is the response of your opponent because no one plays at their optimal level every match and many times The Big 4 escape. But, if that person on the other side doesn't buckle, as happened with Rafa, but not Novak and Grigor, there would have been three casualties, instead of one.

That's how I see it. I see the top players get away with a lot because of what they've done in the past. A double break in the decider? The opponent choked. I knew Grigor was going to lose that match because while he's talented, he's not confident. And Goffin playing Novak and winning was a difficult situation. Maybe the next time it won't go down that way, but it will depend on how the underdog handles his nerves. That's what it always comes down to, IMO.

Lady TT, this is spot on.  These great players can win almost on their aura alone. 

The young players like Dynamitrov or Boy Band Goffin look up at the scoreboard, see how close they are to the finish line, then hear Djokovic roar in frustration, or Murray shout "Come On!", and they start to crumble at the thought of beating them.  I don't know why it happens, but it does very very often.  But it's a terrible habit. They are learning how to lose, when they should be winning.

They need to follow Rafa's old example and just play point by point just how they got the advantage, and forget about the scoreboard. Let the umpire tell them when the game is over.   I strongly suggest a psychiatrist to help them. They have the talent, they need the mind.  And those players are not the only guys with the problem. It is widespread.  And that's why these greats and older guys are still hanging around; they have the experience to just wait for their opportunity.  When it comes, they don't hesitate, they know how to win. 

I firmly believe Rafa still has the mentality deep down to win at all costs. But I think his loss of physicality, fitness, strength, speed, not being able to get to the ball like he once did is eroding his confidence as surely as the ocean erodes the loose sand on the beach.  Without that strong physical foundation, Rafa loses his ability to turn things around as he always did. 

Rafa didn't play that badly against Lopez, but in the key points Lopez played much better, which formerly was not the case, As Lopez ages to 34 years, one would expect it to be the other way around.  But you see Lopez; he is still pretty fit and has always had talent especially on quicker surfaces like grass and faster hard courts.  Rafa has a lot of hard miles and his body is older than his 29 years.

The supreme topspin game, as general Hercules will tell you, is the most physically demanding on the body.  It reaps great rewards, but at a great cost.  If you can't keep the fitness for any reason, injury, vacations, lack of drive, etc. it is just too difficult a style to maintain at a high level.

Respectfully,
masterclass