CAMELOT FANTASIES

Quote from: thetruth on August 21, 2015, 02:28:49 am

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

This is so true. There are so many talented players on the tour and always has been. IMO, the main thing that separates the elite from all the others is the mentality. That to me, is why some players like Robredo and Ferrrer, while they may not have exceptional skills, they do have a dogged determination and continue to win, way more than more the supposedly more“talented”players. Goffin has a simple but effective game, yet he played the aura and not the opponent. There have been many matches Novak won, not because of his skills, but because of his opponent not being able to handle the moment. Grigor should be spanked. Andy was not playing well at all. He was much too passive, but once he got one of the breaks back Grigor crumbled. Andy played so passive he actually got on my nerves and yet he escaped due to Grigor’s meltdown. Grigor’s problem to me is that he’s believed the hype and tried to fulfill it instead of playing the game. Until he understands himself as a player he’s going to remain a good player, but not a great player. This sums it up perfectly, “They are learning how to lose, when they should be winning.”

“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 couldn’t agree more.

“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.”

I agree, but at the heart is the lack of motivation to make the necessary changes and adjustments. Physicalty and fitness can be changed by working harder. That’s what Rafa isn’t doing. Like Monaco said a month or so back, they practice for three hours, take a break, hit the gym and then have the rest of the day to have fun. That’s someone who’s not willing to put in the hard yards and all the losses haven’t forced him to make the necessary changes. Personally, I think he's on a walkabout. He's only just beginning to try in matches. This is not a man who is upset about where he is. The old Rafa would be more determined, but this Rafa seems to not be that bothered by it at all. Most telling was his lack of passion for the clay season. He hasn't seemed passionate about the game at all and therein lies his problem.   

“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. “

I agree with everything except his body being older than his 29 years. I know people say that all the time, but I see the game as extremely physical for everyone, none more than the other. I actually think the physicality takes a toll on all of them equally. What differentiates anyone from another person is the mentality and a person’s motivation. I don’t know believe that theory, because I don’t see how it can be measured.I watch a lot of matches without the sound so I see the players running all over the court and I truly don't see a difference.