CAMELOT FANTASIES

What it's like to face Nadal (Excerpt 1 of 3) from a player's perspective:

Novak Djokovic:

“I think challenges, big challenges that I had in my career changed me in a positive way as a player. Because of Rafa and because of Roger I am what I am today, you know, in a way, because when I reached the No. 3 in the world and won the first Grand Slam title in 2008, the years after that I struggled a lot mentally to overcome the doubts that I had. And all the big matches I lost to these guys was consistent but not winning the big matches, and then they made me understand what I need to do on the court. I worked hard, and, you know, it’s paying dividends, I guess, in the last couple of years. You know, obviously it’s not easy when you’re playing a top rival at the finals of any tournament, but if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, you know. You have to win against the best players in the world. That’s the biggest challenge you can have.”

Pat Cash:

“I played Nadal when he was a few weeks from being fifteen. In Mallorca. Boris Becker pulled out of the senior match and so they asked me last minute to come in and play, and play the world junior champion. And I said, ‘Yeah sure. I don’t mind playing. The show must go on.’ A bit of entertainment. I got a great photo of him, actually of us together. He played the same way. Obviously, he didn’t hit the ball as hard then. But he played the same intensity, top spin. I was kind of shocked by it all [smiles].”

“As a young kid his age, it wasn’t as if it was something I couldn’t handle but, I mean, the crowd was quite amused when he won the first set against me. And I was sort of being nice to him, Okay, no more Mister Nice Guy. Because this kid is really good. He’ll beat me if he can. It’s not sort of like a fun game. He won the first set and the crowd thought it was hilarious. They were roaring for us. So we were on the court together, so I started chip-charging, serve and volley, that sort of stuff, won the second set pretty comfortably – 6-2 I think. The ten-point tiebreaker. As I said before, 99% of the kids would have choked. And fallen apart. And he was just tearing everywhere. All over the court. And hit some unbelievable winners. And you now, then I was 38, I was still hitting the ball pretty well.”

“And so I lost that match. I don’t remember what the score was. It was close. He didn’t get nervous or anything. Obviously, he didn’t have anything to lose. But I came in the locker room after, the guys sort of looked at me, just to look at my reaction. And my reaction was losing to a fourteen year old. And I just sort of looked at them, Wow, this kid is something else…”

Over 50 ATP players – including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Pat Cash, Stefan Kozlov, Francis Tiafoe, Radek Stepanek, Ivan Ljubicic, James Blake, Marat Safin, etc. – describe in detail the actual experience of playing tennis against Rafael Nadal. Also, this book includes Nadal interviews, media, celebrity, fan, insider

Source: http://discuss.tennis/blogs/scoop-malinowski/facing-nadal-djokovic-and-cash-open-up/
Author: Scoop Malinowski

great read general britbox.

I had known about it.

Rafa was destined for greatness.

I am very sorry to interrupt your conversation with irrelevant information but these really simple syndications (r.s.s.) aren't working for me. I just keep getting pages of code which I don't understand.

Rafa snaps back about Rosol. First Andy, now Rafa, LOL.


Rafael Nadal: ´I tried to survive in the second set. Rosol? Everyone knows him on the Tour´

Tennis - The World No. 7 admitted that it wasn´t easy to adapt to the conditions and speaks about his opponent, who was complaining with the umpire because Rafa was losing time between the point. ..
Rafael Nadal  27 Oct 2015 - 05:00 / by Gatto Luigi

Thrilling debut for Rafael Nadal in the ATP 500 Basel. The Spaniard beat Lukas Rosol 1/6 7/5 7/6(4) after being down 6-1 5-4 and 30-0 with Rosol on serve. After the match, Rafa admitted that it wasn't easy to adapt to the conditions.

'It was my first match on an indoor-court in one year, For me it was very difficult to adjust. He plays aggressive and if puts the balls IN it's tough. At the beginning I didn't serve well and I tried to survive in that second set and wait for an opportunity. I just kept fighting. Kept believing. And then there was a little bit of luck too. It was a very tough match emotionally. At the same time, it's a great victory. It's important for me to have these kinds of comebacks. I've been in these situations more times than I would like this year, so I'm happy to win a match like this'' Nadal said.

He had a tough year this season, but 'The past is the past, I'm happy with what I did in the last twelve years. Today it's a different story and I'm working every single day.'

Rosol complained with the umpire because Nadal was losing time between the point. Then Rafa had a discussion with the umpire, too. 'Well I was playing against someone who is who he is. I don't wanna talk more than I did because everyone knows him on the tour', said Rafa who will play tomorrow in doubles alongside Marc Lopez against Troicki/Coric at 2:00 PM on Central Court. He'll play again singles on Wednesday or Thursday against Dimitrov or Stakhovsky.

I had the misfortune of watching that match yesterday.

One of the worst matches I've seen from a level of play point of view.  But it had drama.

Rafa looked like he was scared to death when he started serving in each set.
He went down 2-0 in the first set, 4-0 in the second set, and 2-0 in the third and deserved to be down.

But to his great fortune he had the currently impotent Dimitrov across the net.  In the first set, Dimitrov simply gave his lead (2-0 & 4-2) back to Rafa with horrendous serving. 34% first serves in.  Rafa won 4 straight games to take the set. Dimitrov's serve was much improved in the second but he was fortunate to get that double break, because he needed it, as his lead shrunk from 4-0 to 4-3.  The further each set went on, the more he weakened, and tightened up.  He won the second only because Rafa was playing about as awfully as he could.  Neither player saved a single break point in the first 2 sets.

There were some good points here and there, but the level of play was more down than up.  They played at best like top 20-30 players, and at times like top 200, if that.  Rafa's forehand was like a crap shoot; you didn't know if it might go in, or bounce before going over the net.

The third set picked up a bit, but followed the same pattern.  Rafa served first, was broken, Dimitrov held, and it was 2-0.  Then Rafa held, Dimitrov was broken, Rafa held for a 3-2 lead, then Dimitrov struggled for almost 8 minutes to hold to make it 3-3, Rafa served to love quickly for 4-3, and Dimitrov had nothing for his next service game and was broken for 5-3, and Rafa served it out for the match.

The only positive Rafa can take from the match is that he came through and won it, with good mentality toward the end.  His shot making is still very up and down.  He won't handle the better players playing like this. Dimitrov is like a train wreck out there these days.

It should be said the court works against Rafa. It's an indoor GreenSet court, similar to Paris and the O2.  Medium-slow to Medium pace at best, but quite a low bounce, unlike most of the other tournaments during the year.   So it's difficult for Rafa to get his topspin working, and many of his shots just sit up short begging to be smashed with disdain.  Rosol really should have beaten Nadal.  The match was completely on his racquet.  Rafa's balls had nothing on them, and it was like target practice for the flat hitting Rosol.  He lost 1 point on serve in the first set, easily winning it 6-1, and 3 points on serve in the second set until 5-4, 30-love, two points for the match.  He simply got nervous and tightened up, completely choked a sitting volley that would have given him 40-15, and finally double faulted the set away. Rosol gave Nadal the opportunity and Nadal took it.  Nadal said he was very lucky to win, and I agree with him.

What I hope is that Rafa doesn't get hurt playing these indoor tournaments.  He needs to work on his game if he wants any chance to improve from this year.  He has said that he won't be taking any time off this winter for vacation and his plan is to work on his game when he isn't playing in that IPTL glorified exhibition league.  We will see. I have a bad feeling he'll be staying on the hard courts playing and practicing instead of getting on the clay and solidifying his ground game.  His forehand is a shambles now.  So inconsistent. His timing is off.

The matches on hard court don't do him much good.  He has completely changed his game, moving very close to the baseline, yet still trying to take the big swing.  His success on the forehand on hard court mostly comes when he has time to run around his backhand in the backhand corner, and he can hit the forehand cross court.  But he leaves his forehand wing wide open, and if he doesn't hit an outright winner, he is far out of position for a shot to his forehand wing.  This pattern of play is killing him against the faster and better players.

Respectfully,
masterclass

I had the misfortune of watching that match yesterday.

One of the worst matches I've seen from a level of play point of view.  But it had drama.

Rafa looked like he was scared to death when he started serving in each set.
He went down 2-0 in the first set, 4-0 in the second set, and 2-0 in the third and deserved to be down.

But to his great fortune he had the currently impotent Dimitrov across the net.  In the first set, Dimitrov simply gave his lead (2-0 & 4-2) back to Rafa with horrendous serving. 34% first serves in.  Rafa won 4 straight games to take the set. Dimitrov's serve was much improved in the second but he was fortunate to get that double break, because he needed it, as his lead shrunk from 4-0 to 4-3.  The further each set went on, the more he weakened, and tightened up.  He won the second only because Rafa was playing about as awfully as he could.  Neither player saved a single break point in the first 2 sets.

There were some good points here and there, but the level of play was more down than up.  They played at best like top 20-30 players, and at times like top 200, if that.  Rafa's forehand was like a crap shoot; you didn't know if it might go in, or bounce before going over the net.

The third set picked up a bit, but followed the same pattern.  Rafa served first, was broken, Dimitrov held, and it was 2-0.  Then Rafa held, Dimitrov was broken, Rafa held for a 3-2 lead, then Dimitrov struggled for almost 8 minutes to hold to make it 3-3, Rafa served to love quickly for 4-3, and Dimitrov had nothing for his next service game and was broken for 5-3, and Rafa served it out for the match.

The only positive Rafa can take from the match is that he came through and won it, with good mentality toward the end.  His shot making is still very up and down.  He won't handle the better players playing like this. Dimitrov is like a train wreck out there these days.

It should be said the court works against Rafa. It's an indoor GreenSet court, similar to Paris and the O2.  Medium-slow to Medium pace at best, but quite a low bounce, unlike most of the other tournaments during the year.   So it's difficult for Rafa to get his topspin working, and many of his shots just sit up short begging to be smashed with disdain.  Rosol really should have beaten Nadal.  The match was completely on his racquet.  Rafa's balls had nothing on them, and it was like target practice for the flat hitting Rosol.  He lost 1 point on serve in the first set, easily winning it 6-1, and 3 points on serve in the second set until 5-4, 30-love, two points for the match.  He simply got nervous and tightened up, completely choked a sitting volley that would have given him 40-15, and finally double faulted the set away. Rosol gave Nadal the opportunity and Nadal took it.  Nadal said he was very lucky to win, and I agree with him.

What I hope is that Rafa doesn't get hurt playing these indoor tournaments.  He needs to work on his game if he wants any chance to improve from this year.  He has said that he won't be taking any time off this winter for vacation and his plan is to work on his game when he isn't playing in that IPTL glorified exhibition league.  We will see. I have a bad feeling he'll be staying on the hard courts playing and practicing instead of getting on the clay and solidifying his ground game.  His forehand is a shambles now.  So inconsistent. His timing is off.

The matches on hard court don't do him much good.  He has completely changed his game, moving very close to the baseline, yet still trying to take the big swing.  His success on the forehand on hard court mostly comes when he has time to run around his backhand in the backhand corner, and he can hit the forehand cross court.  But he leaves his forehand wing wide open, and if he doesn't hit an outright winner, he is far out of position for a shot to his forehand wing.  This pattern of play is killing him against the faster and better players.

Respectfully,
masterclass

great post. that is what happens when you fail to prepare properly.


he gave up his gladiator status by not working like a gladiator on the practice courts and on the fitness front.


it is his life, his career, and his own world. not much we can do it about it.



if I had it my way, me, general masterclass, and uncle tony would be his coaches.


and muster's old fitness coach would be his fitness coach.



what is missing is the fire from within. he simply refuses to put in the very hard and long yards required to challenge the very best in the sport.


guys 10 years older than him are winning titles by working twice as hard as they ever did.

Awesome post general.

Ferru is a shining example for all.

He has no weapons to speak of and has to fight his battles without much leverage.

He puts in an amazing amount of hard work on the fitness front.

More on this later.

I had the misfortune of watching that match yesterday.

One of the worst matches I've seen from a level of play point of view.  But it had drama.

Rafa looked like he was scared to death when he started serving in each set.
He went down 2-0 in the first set, 4-0 in the second set, and 2-0 in the third and deserved to be down.

But to his great fortune he had the currently impotent Dimitrov across the net.  In the first set, Dimitrov simply gave his lead (2-0 & 4-2) back to Rafa with horrendous serving. 34% first serves in.  Rafa won 4 straight games to take the set. Dimitrov's serve was much improved in the second but he was fortunate to get that double break, because he needed it, as his lead shrunk from 4-0 to 4-3.  The further each set went on, the more he weakened, and tightened up.  He won the second only because Rafa was playing about as awfully as he could.  Neither player saved a single break point in the first 2 sets.

There were some good points here and there, but the level of play was more down than up.  They played at best like top 20-30 players, and at times like top 200, if that.  Rafa's forehand was like a crap shoot; you didn't know if it might go in, or bounce before going over the net.

The third set picked up a bit, but followed the same pattern.  Rafa served first, was broken, Dimitrov held, and it was 2-0.  Then Rafa held, Dimitrov was broken, Rafa held for a 3-2 lead, then Dimitrov struggled for almost 8 minutes to hold to make it 3-3, Rafa served to love quickly for 4-3, and Dimitrov had nothing for his next service game and was broken for 5-3, and Rafa served it out for the match.

The only positive Rafa can take from the match is that he came through and won it, with good mentality toward the end.  His shot making is still very up and down.  He won't handle the better players playing like this. Dimitrov is like a train wreck out there these days.

It should be said the court works against Rafa. It's an indoor GreenSet court, similar to Paris and the O2.  Medium-slow to Medium pace at best, but quite a low bounce, unlike most of the other tournaments during the year.   So it's difficult for Rafa to get his topspin working, and many of his shots just sit up short begging to be smashed with disdain.  Rosol really should have beaten Nadal.  The match was completely on his racquet.  Rafa's balls had nothing on them, and it was like target practice for the flat hitting Rosol.  He lost 1 point on serve in the first set, easily winning it 6-1, and 3 points on serve in the second set until 5-4, 30-love, two points for the match.  He simply got nervous and tightened up, completely choked a sitting volley that would have given him 40-15, and finally double faulted the set away. Rosol gave Nadal the opportunity and Nadal took it.  Nadal said he was very lucky to win, and I agree with him.

What I hope is that Rafa doesn't get hurt playing these indoor tournaments.  He needs to work on his game if he wants any chance to improve from this year.  He has said that he won't be taking any time off this winter for vacation and his plan is to work on his game when he isn't playing in that IPTL glorified exhibition league.  We will see. I have a bad feeling he'll be staying on the hard courts playing and practicing instead of getting on the clay and solidifying his ground game.  His forehand is a shambles now.  So inconsistent. His timing is off.

The matches on hard court don't do him much good.  He has completely changed his game, moving very close to the baseline, yet still trying to take the big swing.  His success on the forehand on hard court mostly comes when he has time to run around his backhand in the backhand corner, and he can hit the forehand cross court.  But he leaves his forehand wing wide open, and if he doesn't hit an outright winner, he is far out of position for a shot to his forehand wing.  This pattern of play is killing him against the faster and better players.

Respectfully,
masterclass

at the current rate these things can happen:



1. exactly zero titles the remainder of the year.


2. 0-1 titles next year. he may get the hamburg title again. there was really nobody there this year and fognini choked in key moments. I will be generous with my prediction. I can make it 0-2 small titles next year.

3. there is an outside chance for the Rio title.


4. possible injury with these horribly depleted levels of fitness and physicality unless he gets off these bloody hard courts and go gets on clay do rediscover his ground game again.



I am just worried to death at this point of an injury which you know is coming.



he refuses to change a damn thing. he refuses to work on his game. he absolutely says NO to any significant effort on the fitness front.


rosol was just 2 points from victory. he just choked. he took the first set in just 23 minutes. he lost just 1 point on his first serve in that first set.


the man is ranked #69 in the world.



rafa cant even deal with players like him so how the hell is going to deal with the top guns of the sport.


dustin brown was ranked #110 and ran Rafa right off the court at Wimbledon. Rafa made 5 Wimbledon finals.


we cant make excuses for Rafa.  Rafa is not working very hard.

he and his team has to put a positive spin for his millions and millions of fans and also for the sponsors.


I think he is just trying to hang on for another year before actually walking away physically.


the fire from within no longer burns relentlessly otherwise he would do something about it.



why he is hanging on is not clear. he does not need the money. his 14 majors are worth over $1 billion over his lifetime.



I would just walk away and leave the legacy intact.