CAMELOT FANTASIES

here is the draw:


http://www.atpworldtour.com/share/event-draws.aspx?year=2015&eventid=1536



Rafa will play Steve Johnson on Wednesday.


his first 2 matches look to be fairly easy which is good. it will allow him to get the feel for the clay and to get into the swing of things a little bit.

His body language is better. He's looking more comfortable than he's looked so far this year, so hopefully this trend will continue. It's 6-4, 2-3 at this point.

I saw the highlights.


he is not really playing all that well.

1. still playing too far back

2. has lost considerable power on his strokes

3. does not move well

4. still dropping the ball too short too often.


that is what allowed steve Johnson to stay close.



I saw some improvement in the backhand and he returned a little better. he still has a long way to go as he will find out soon enough.


they are really going to push him around until he can get his game back.


I don't know what you do about lost/diminished physicality and fitness: it is affecting his power and his movement. as well as his staying power out there.


there is a way out: he has to get a little closer to the baseline and try to strike the ball a bit earlier.

but I don't know if he is willing to do that.


he gets one more easy match and then it is going to get rough. he has to dig very deep and try to grab this title.


I know Rafa keeps saying it is a matter of confidence. maybe he is just trying to be politically correct as they say.


he is not as fit and strong as he used to be. his demanding style saps his energy much sooner.

he is not able to fight tooth and nail for every point like he used to.



this is not something new: he starting losing the long rally long ago.

he used to win the majority of long rallies when he was fit and physical.



his returns and his shots have considerably diminished pace.  and on top of that, he is dropping them short.

I hope he can find a way to take this title anyway. it will help a great deal.


he just has to get down to business and focus like hell. he  just has to find a way anyway.


that is his biggest challenge for now.

I saw the highlights.


he is not really playing all that well.

1. still playing too far back

2. has lost considerable power on his strokes

3. does not move well

4. still dropping the ball too short too often.


that is what allowed steve Johnson to stay close.



I saw some improvement in the backhand and he returned a little better. he still has a long way to go as he will find out soon enough.


they are really going to push him around until he can get his game back.


I don't know what you do about lost/diminished physicality and fitness: it is affecting his power and his movement. as well as his staying power out there.


there is a way out: he has to get a little closer to the baseline and try to strike the ball a bit earlier.

but I don't know if he is willing to do that.


he gets one more easy match and then it is going to get rough. he has to dig very deep and try to grab this title.


I know Rafa keeps saying it is a matter of confidence. maybe he is just trying to be politically correct as they say.


he is not as fit and strong as he used to be. his demanding style saps his energy much sooner.

he is not able to fight tooth and nail for every point like he used to.



this is not something new: he starting losing the long rally long ago.

he used to win the majority of long rallies when he was fit and physical.



his returns and his shots have considerably diminished pace.  and on top of that, he is dropping them short.

I hope he can find a way to take this title anyway. it will help a great deal.


he just has to get down to business and focus like hell. he  just has to find a way anyway.


that is his biggest challenge for now.

I actually replied to this post yesterday, but I guess it didn't take. I don't remember everything I said, except this.

I wasn't surprised that Nick beat Federer, because Federer had such a short turnaround time coming from that title win last week. So to play someone who's swinging for the fences while you're still getting adjusted to the atmosphere is a big ask, for anybody. What was surprising was how well Federer was handling everything and how close he was to actually winning that match. Federer continues to amaze. I'm sure he wasn't too upset considering all the mitigating factors.

Nick is the real deal and he loves the big stage. That's a deadly combination. The only thing that can stop him is himself and all the breaks that he takes. Otherwise, it looks like he's headed straight for the top and I don't say that about many people.

Dmitrov, IMO, while a great talent, doesn't necessarily have the belief. He's working on it, but Nick naturally has that belief and that might skyrocket him past Grigor. Raonic, while he's improving steadily it's hard for me to see him actually winning a major, but I applaud his effort.

Kokkinakis is one I'm keeping my eye on too. So far he hasn't adjusted to the tour as quickly as many as many projected, but he's got major skills.

order of play for tomorrow:


http://www.atpworldtour.com/scores/schedule.aspx?year=2015&eventid=1536





action is heating up.

Nadal Starts Quest For Fifth Madrid Crown

Madrid, Spain by ATP Staff  06.05.2015

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/05/18/Madrid-Wednesday-Nadal-Johnson.aspx

Returning to an old racquet frame, Rafael Nadal started to build his confidence Wednesday.
The four-time Mutua Madrid Open champion struck 14 winners and lost just 10 of his service points in a 6-4, 6-3 win over Steve Johnson.

"I went out there to do a simple game with no complications," said Nadal. "I tried to play easily. I know how things work out when you come from losing a couple of matches. I know that you're a little bit nervous whenever you finish a game, as I finished the other day with [Fabio] Fognini in Barcelona.

"I tried to start from the bottom and just go up. I think, especially the last three games, I finished pretty well. I managed to do a couple more things with my backhand."

He will now play Simone Bolelli in the third round at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, where he has a 36-8 match record.
"I know things are going to work out," said Nadal. "I haven't lost my game. I just need to build my confidence and it'll work out. I know that either sooner or later it will come back. That's what I want to think. I'm convinced about it. It's matter of time. Let's see when it happens."

Nadal, who is 12-3 on clay in 2015, has won at least one European ATP World Tour clay-court title leading into Roland Garros for the past 11 years.

In February, Nadal won the 46th clay court title of his career in Buenos Aires (d. Monaco) and is now just three short of Guillermo Vilas’ record clay court title haul of 49.

Bolelli earned a spot in his first third round of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in six years (2009 Monte-Carlo), defeating fellow Italian Luca Vanni 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Rafa did say the same thing we had been saying.

He said he would have to step it up.


He won't have any problems with isner or Berdych.

Now he gets the match needs for better preparation for the final.


Berdych is playing well. Rafa needs this test.


I still expect him take in straights.

It could hard fought 2 sets.