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#Post#: 14152--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: Clay Death Date: April 25, 2014, 10:04 pm
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here is another interesting read:
HTML http://www.tennishound.com/?p=20114
#Post#: 14155--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: Backspin Date: April 26, 2014, 1:44 am
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I wasn't as disappointed this time as I was after MC. In
Barcelona, desite the defeat, Nadal played better than he did in
Monaco. His BH was good, was moving better, and was the better
player for most part of the match. He had his chances to win in
straights but played too passive in the big points. His forehand
lacked the usual spin and power though.
He kind of choked this time. It's mental, not his game. It's
good that he has about 10 days time before Madrid. When you're
struggling with your confidence, a few days away from what you
do can help. I know this from my own experience. Rafa needs to
enjoy his battles on court again. That's when he's at his best.
Right now, he's focusing too much on winning. He needs to focus
more on playing his best. And the results will follow.
Despite the loss, I think he's improving and will be close to
his best by Rome. I'm confident he can win the French again.
#Post#: 14162--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: Clay Death Date: April 26, 2014, 8:55 am
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I read some of his remarks after this loss. he admits he is not
sharp enough.
and at least twice he has so far admitted that he is not fit
enough.
so this is exactly what I have been saying for months.
he is not in any kind of crisis. he is in a personal crisis: he
knowingly dropped his fitness and his game.
translation: he is just not working hard enough. there is way
too many outside interests and way too many extracurricular
activities.
he also stayed on the hard courts too long as I have suggested
before. he should have gone home after his early loss in indian
wells and jumped on the red clay.
he knew that the most important part of his season was coming
up.
so all this senseless blood shed could have been avoided. there
was nobody at monte carlo that could have challenged him if he
had showed up sharp enough.
and quite obviously he could have bagged another Barcelona title
also.
now it gets a little harder but I agree with general backspin:
he is still the man who will go home with the RG crown. he just
has to start focusing better and start putting more time on the
practice courts.
#Post#: 14185--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 27, 2014, 12:03 am
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[quote author=Clay Death link=topic=737.msg14143#msg14143
date=1398478118]
I just found this article at the bleacher report:
HTML http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2035499-how-much-longer-will-rafael-nadal-extend-clay-court-dominance
check it out. it is an interesting read anyway.
[/quote]
It was a decent read, but this is sport, and aging and burnout
is inevitable.
#Post#: 14186--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 27, 2014, 12:13 am
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[quote author=Clay Death link=topic=737.msg14144#msg14144
date=1398478422]
I know his back was ailing him in indian wells. you could see
that he was not really doing much with his serve.
so if he really is a little spent mentally then why the hell did
he not leave for home instantly after his early loss in indian
wells. it would have been better for the back as well to go
home, rest a couple of days, and then start preparing the single
most important clay season of his career.
I could hardly bear to watch him play the way he was playing in
indian wells. I watched with almost one eye closed.
he is just short on practice and a little short on fitness.
short on practice on clay, that is.
he does not really have to win Madrid but 5 matches there would
help his cause.
I think he has to win rome. lets see how it all plays out.
rafa does not really like the Madrid event all that much. but he
is in a bind now. he has 1000 points to defend there.
[/quote]
The way the ATP is structured is tricky. You can't just skip
tournaments without jeopardizing your points. So, even if you
don't want to, sometimes you have to play when you don't want
to.
Mentally, I don't think he feels like competing at the highest
level right now. He's lacking the necessary motivation. In past
years he saw himself as an underdog and went about his business.
But now, his popularity is skyrocketing, the negative press has
trickled down to nonexistent.
I'm sure these things motivated him in the past. They were
always saying he was only a clay-courter and would never win on
grass (check), he'd never win on a hard court (check), he'd burn
out by 25 (check), he'd never hit double digits (check), they
said all manner of things, and in each instance he proved them
wrong.
Now, many are giving him a chance to catch the record,
speculating if he'll break the record, and all of that stuff.
That would irritate me, because I do what I do because of me,
not because of others.
At this point he's exceeded his own goals. How do you stay
motivated after that?
#Post#: 14187--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 27, 2014, 12:15 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Clay Death link=topic=737.msg14146#msg14146
date=1398478744]
I am probably rafa's greatest fan on this planet.
but I am also his greatest critic. I am still not going to give
up on him.
I think he has made this way too hard for himself now. it is
going to be very tough for him in Madrid.
that being said, he is still the favorite for RG as far as I am
concerned. all he has to do is land in the final and he can take
it from there.
getting to the final will require some luck and a decent draw
for him this time around.
[/quote]
Um, I don't know about that :).
#Post#: 14188--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 27, 2014, 12:20 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Backspin link=topic=737.msg14155#msg14155
date=1398494670]
I wasn't as disappointed this time as I was after MC. In
Barcelona, desite the defeat, Nadal played better than he did in
Monaco. His BH was good, was moving better, and was the better
player for most part of the match. He had his chances to win in
straights but played too passive in the big points. His forehand
lacked the usual spin and power though.
He kind of choked this time. It's mental, not his game. It's
good that he has about 10 days time before Madrid. When you're
struggling with your confidence, a few days away from what you
do can help. I know this from my own experience. Rafa needs to
enjoy his battles on court again. That's when he's at his best.
Right now, he's focusing too much on winning. He needs to focus
more on playing his best. And the results will follow.
Despite the loss, I think he's improving and will be close to
his best by Rome. I'm confident he can win the French again.
[/quote]
I thought so too. He had so many chances to win that match
against Almagro, but made so many mistakes. I think he'll be
fine.
#Post#: 14189--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 27, 2014, 12:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Clay Death link=topic=737.msg14162#msg14162
date=1398520513]
I read some of his remarks after this loss. he admits he is not
sharp enough.
and at least twice he has so far admitted that he is not fit
enough.
so this is exactly what I have been saying for months.
he is not in any kind of crisis. he is in a personal crisis: he
knowingly dropped his fitness and his game.
translation: he is just not working hard enough. there is way
too many outside interests and way too many extracurricular
activities.
he also stayed on the hard courts too long as I have suggested
before. he should have gone home after his early loss in indian
wells and jumped on the red clay.
he knew that the most important part of his season was coming
up.
so all this senseless blood shed could have been avoided. there
was nobody at monte carlo that could have challenged him if he
had showed up sharp enough.
and quite obviously he could have bagged another Barcelona title
also.
now it gets a little harder but I agree with general backspin:
he is still the man who will go home with the RG crown. he just
has to start focusing better and start putting more time on the
practice courts.
[/quote]
Great post, #2 Rafa Fan on the planet.
#Post#: 14228--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: Clay Death Date: April 29, 2014, 9:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I just saw this article at tennis.com:
HTML http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/04/when-rafa-blinked/51299/#.U1-42WdOWpo
#Post#: 14234--------------------------------------------------
Re: What Really Ails Rafa
By: thetruth Date: April 30, 2014, 3:04 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Clay Death link=topic=737.msg14228#msg14228
date=1398782465]
I just saw this article at tennis.com:
HTML http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/04/when-rafa-blinked/51299/#.U1-42WdOWpo
[/quote]
This is a great article. I agree on so many fronts.
1. The point of diminishing returns, and
2. Champions fatigue
I'm just surprised that it took so long. Everyone gets tired,
even if you're at the top of the game.
This is what I thought when Federer went through his slump.
People were writing him off, but I didn't see any decrease in
skills. Just mental fatigue.
These two have battled at the highest level for ten years.
That's ridiculously consistent.
Bodo actually got it right, this time.
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