Wait, I won that?
REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen
Rafa and countryman Nicolas Almagro attempted to follow-up the emotional farewell to Safin today in Paris. Almagro hadn’t taken a set off Rafa in their previous 4 meetings, but it only took 32 minutes for that stat to change. Almagro had a plan and was executing well; Rafa was serving awful and his timing was off on his shots. Suddenly, Rafa won a 2nd set tiebreaker. Then things got really weird. I’m not sure I can or want to describe that third set. Let’s just say I never want to see one like it again. Rafa is through to the next round: 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5.
Stats:
| Nadal | Almagro | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 9 | 12 |
| Double Faults | 4 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 59% | 64% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 40/65 (62%) | 50/79 (63%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 24/45 (53%) | 19/45 (42%) |
| Break Points Saved | 6/12 (50%) | 8/14 (57%) |
| Service Games Played | 16 | 17 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 29/79 (37%) | 25/65 (38%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 26/45 (37%) | 21/45 (47%) |
| Break Points Won | 6/14 (43%) | 6/12 (50%) |
| Return Games Played | 17 | 16 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 64/110 (58%) | 69/124 (56%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 55/124 (44%) | 46/110 (42%) |
| Total Points Won | 119/234 (51%) | 115/234 (49%) |
As it happened blatherings:
*sniff* So long, Marat.
Players take to the court, but I’m totally distracted by the Balearic Islands promo that @margolibri tweeted.
Pascal Maria in the chair.
Rafa on court, the Balearic Island photos and my DC ticket vouchers all arrive at once. I’m overcome.
Rafa has a break point in the first game, but Almagro ends with a beauty of a cross-court passer to hold and win the first game.
Nice smash from Rafa! Ball bouncing so low, you can hear Rafa’s racket hit the ground as he tries to slice a backhand. Stress-free hold from Rafa: 1-1.
Easy hold for Almagro: 1-2. Another easy hold – this time for Rafa: 2-2
Pretty low-key affair so far. I think Marat took all the energy and emotion with him.
Excellent pass from Rafa – Almagro thought it was going out, he forgot about that topspin. Rafa’s trying to stay closer to the baseline and not retreat. Almagro’s pushed him back a few times, but Rafa keeps moving forward when he has a chance. Rafa double faults and then nets a ball: deuce. A second serve right on the service line and Almagro sends the reply long. Game point, Rafa. Rafa sends a shot wide and it’s deuce. Rafa double faults again – break point for Almagro. He breaks with a shot deep to Rafa’s forehand and it’s 2-4.
Down 0-40 on Almagro’s next service game, Rafa takes control of a point and moves Almagro well. He finishes it off with a smash at the net. Easy hold for Almagro, though. Rafa will serve to stay in the set.
Ace! That’s more like it. Rafa’s first serve percentage is in the toilet. Rafa holds at love.
Rafa’s too hot for my cable company. Whenever he’s on TV, my signal starts freezing up. *sigh*
Nice aggressive point from Rafa. Almagro sends a point long and it’s 30-30. Shot from Rafa is just wide and Almagro has set point. Rafa nets a ball and Almagro takes the opening set in 42 minutes: 6-3.
48% first serve percentage. Not pretty.
First game of the second set and Rafa’s already had to save a break point. Almagro has a ball called out, but the call is overruled and they replay the break point. Almagro nets a serve return: deuce. Almagro gets upset that a chair over-rule of a line call isn’t a let, but it gives Rafa a game point. Almagro smokes a second serve return and it’s deuce again. Almagro sends a shot long. Rafa’s trying to pump himself up. Second serve. Almagro is teeing off on those second serves and taking total control of the points: deuce. Almagro sends a shot just long: game point, Rafa. Second serve. Double fault: deuce. Almagro sends the ball long and Rafa has another game point. Ace. Rafa finally holds.
Almagro holds at love.
Almagro managing to take control of points mid-way through a rally. Ace: 15-15. Rafa splays a shot wide: 15-30. Almagro sends a shot long: 30-30. Rafa’s 17th unforced error gives Almagro a break point. And another one gives Almagro the break.
Break point for Rafa. Second serve. Let. Short balls from Rafa. Almagro paints a line to save the break point. Almagro serves wide and then hits behind Rafa as he returns to the center of the court. Perfect. (And frustrating.) He sends a ball long to give Rafa another break point. Excellent serve and a weak return, but Almagro sends his shot long and Rafa breaks. Back on serve: 2-2.
Almagro is working that cross-court backhand, but he sends a forehand just wide: 15-0. Rafa holds.
Banana time!
Almagro holds at love: 3-3.
Perfect forehand winner from Almagro. Rafa follows with a nice deep forehand of his own: 15-15. Almagro runs Rafa: 15-30. Almagro handcuffs Rafa at the net and it’s deuce. He sends a shot wide and Rafa has a game point. Rafa holds for 4-3.
I think it’s time for another rousing chorus of “deeper, Rafa! Deeper!”
Rafa can’t find a ball kid to take his racket to the stringer, so Maria gets down out of the chair to give it to a confused ball kid. A photographer finally yanks it out of the kid’s hand and gives it to Rafa’s team.
Rafa gets the first point on Almagro’s serve, but nets the next return: 15-15. Rafa pounces when Almagro leaves the court and angles off a winner. But, he follows that up by netting a ball and it’s game point for Almagro. The net cord reaches up and gabs Rafa’s ball and shoves it back at him. Almagro holds. Rafa holds and it’s 5-4.
Toni was watching a slo-mo replay of Rafa on the big screen.
Almagro sends a shot long: 15-15. He nets a ball and Rafa has the start of a wee chance at 15-30. Ace closes that down. Almagro sends a shot barely wide: break/set point for Rafa. Service winner: deuce. Almagro sends a shot long: break/set point for Rafa. Good point construction/execurtion from Almagro and it’s deuce. Rafa sends a shot long and it’s game point. Rafa sends a lob long and Almagro holds: 5-5
A smash at the net and a service winner: 30-0. Beautiful touch volley from Almagro: 30-15. The net hates Rafa today. This time it plops Almagro’s ball just over: 30-30. Rafa sends another ball long and it’s break point. (12th UE of the set) Let. Massive aggression and Rafa saves the break point. Rafa double faults to give Almagro another break point. Almagro pounces on short balls, but sends a ball well wide as he tightens up: deuce. Almagro earns another break point. Rafa nets a ball and is broken: 5-6.
Alamgro serving for the match. Rafa ends a longish rally by sending a ball long. Lather rinse and repeat. Brilliant backhand by Almagro and he has set point. Rafa paints a line: 40-15. Second serve. Almagro sends a shot just wide: 40-30. Brilliant cross-court forehand from Rafa and it’s deuce. Rafa totally miss-hits a deep ball and Almagro has his 4th match point. Almagro sends a shot just out and it’s deuce. Ace. 5th match point. Almagro blinks first in a game of rally-chicken and it’s deuce. Almagro sends a shot just long and Rafa has a break point. Rafa lost his vibration dampener on the return of serve, but stays in and wins the point! He breaks and we are going to a tiebreaker.
Tiebreaker for the set….and match? How about just for the set, please.
Almagro nets a ball: 1-0. Mini-break to Rafa on an error from Almagro. He pushes Rafa around in the next point and it’s 2-1. Service winner from Rafa: 3-1. Weird late call. But a good one. 4-1 for Rafa. Excellent point from Almagro: 4-2. Almagro sends a shot just wide: 5-2. Second serve. Nicely constructed point from Rafa: 6-2. Rafa wins the second set!
The life of a Rafa fan: he’s not playing well; what’s wrong with the serve; he’s about to lose. Wait, he won that set? How did that happen?
Trainer out for Rafa. He’s got his shoe off and it looks like is getting some tape/padding for a blister? Trainer blowing on Rafa’s toe. “This little piggy saved a match point.” Ball of his left foot is taped up now.
kefuoe: Is he keeping his shirt off to distract us from that foot?
SapphireSwell: wonder if nico will ALSO call for a trainer…. ;)
Lovely defensive lob from Rafa. Rafa starts the 3rd set by breaking Almagro.
Triple break point for Almagro. He nets a ball to give one bp back. Fierce forehand from Almagro and we are back on serve: 1-1.
Ace. He redirects the ball at will: 30-0. Rafa tees off on a second serve return: 30-15. Rafa sends a ball very long: 40-15. Rafa nets a ball: 2-1.
Miss-hit from Rafa: 0-15. Almagro runs him around: 0-30. Rafa can’t get a drop volley attempt over the net: triple break point. Make that 2 drop shots failed to get over the net: Almagro breaks for 1-3.
Both players figured Rafa’s shot was out. They head to their seats for the changeover, but Rafa challenged anyway…and the shot was good. Replay the point. Break point for Rafa. Excellent serve, break point saved. Deep shot from Almagro draws an error: game point. Almagro sends a ball long: deuce. Long shot from Rafa: game point. Long shot from Almagro: deuce. Beautiful cross-court backhand from Almagro: game point. Strong serve, weak reply, muffed shot from Almagro: deuce. Almagro tries to smack the ball too hard: break point Rafa. Rafa sets up his shot, but sends a forehand down the line wide: deuce. This turn it’s Almagro’s turn to set up his point and then he nets a ball. This is starting to feel like that weird set from Fed/Nole last week. In an error filled game from both players, Rafa breaks and they are back on serve.
Hey! A stress-free hold by Rafa!
Did Almagro forget how to move his feet? Almagro taking a mid-game time out. Having trouble walking. Looks like it’s a thigh cramp. Trainer working on it.
Beauty of a backhand cross-court and Almagro holds. Trainer back out in the changeover and is working on both thighs.
What the hell was that cross-court volley from Almagro? Sheesh. 0-15. Rafa’s got towel fluff stuck to his scruff. I think Fluff in the Scruff will be the name of my band. Almagro nets a ball to blow one break point. Almagro breaks – can he serve the match out?
Almagro sends a ball long. Another ball way wide. He’s cramping again. Smacks a winner: 15-30. Nets a ball: 15-40. Is this a WTA match? Can anyone hold serve? Rafa breaks and we are on serve: 4-5.
Another rub for Almagro.
Almagro splays a shot wide: 15-0. Rafa returns the favor, but decides to go long instead: 15-15. Another wild shot from Almagro. Ace. 40-15 Almagro chips a return that Rafa can get a racket on: 40-30. Rafa holds: 5-5.
Almagro tries just standing still and seeing what he can reach/smack. Rafa breaks.
Rafa holds. Game set and weird ass match to Rafa.
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He played awful :(
I don’t want to remember this match again, and hope he’ll play better in next match..
Vamos, Rafa! please, come back, come back soon!
thanks Miri for the live texts! I was watching the match while reading your tweets. I don’t know why I did that. Perhaps just to pick up things I didn’t see especially during the breaks when the broadcaster here switched to the commercials, like the bit about the ball kid.
Anyway I agree with you. It was a tight and uncomfortable match to watch. But the mental resilience of Rafa is truly unsurpassed and that’s why he won. SO no complaints!
What can i say about this one….
Well lets say, wasn’t pretty!
Rafa’s serve was off BIG TIME, almost looked like he was thinking too much or so, and he realy needs to hit balls deeper!
Not in the service box, and if in the service box, in anny case not in the first half of the service box unless its a good drop shot but not a top-spin ball that bounces high… giving the player on the other site off the net the change to wip it back so hard…
He tried to be aggresive i guess but realy wasnt too succesfull in it!
One thing for the possitive, unbelievable fighting spirit and focus, figting off 5 match points and re-breaking avry game after being broken in the 3rd!! Perhaps this was a match, much needed for the confidence, Rafa you tell me!
I’m afraid Almagro took any confidence Rafa may have had after winning the second set with his leg cramp shenanigans. Can’t believe players get away with stuff like that. Once Almagro had an excuse for losing he began to play silly, like he was trying to lose (and still Rafa failed to take advantage of that!). Can’t have been a great feeling for Rafa after that match was over :( Was hoping he would sail after that second set, but no such luck… turned out very different from the Nalby match at IW earlier this year.
But then Almagro is a countryman of Rafa’s & Rafa probably was feeling for the guy, which was off putting to his game. And believe me he wasn’t having a great game as it was with the exception of that amazing revival in the 2nd set. F****k me dead! I need to go and ravaged that man jus to clear my frustrations. :)
Well, it’s not like Almagro was actually injured. He just had leg cramps because he’s not very fit.
Which reminds me, are players allowed treatment during the game? I thought you’re supposed to wait until the game is over, whatever that means for you, and then ask for treatment. I don’t want to sound mean, but in my opinion Almagro overdramatised it and had his leg massaged at 40-30; then he came back and served out his game. And he didn’t seem in trouble running for a drop shot right after that.
I believe that if you’re serving you can ask for treatment during the game…. but it was just for leg cramps. Cheap. Probably just chose that moment to throw Rafa’s concentration off and take a little rest since it was at 40-30. His pained faces and limping would’ve been comical had I not been so infuriated. I mean, Rafa could’ve stopped play to get his blisters treated but he waited until the set was completely over like a real sportsman.
It is allowed now during the game yes, but they are talking about changing that next year…. I think they only will allow it then at the change overs.
I have to say i was a little disturbed by Almagro’s actions too, altough you must not underestimate the pain off cramp iyam.
Watch a heart stopper of a match, especially at match point in the second set. Then he saves 5 match points. Oh I nearly died. Rafa what are you doing to us. I fell asleep during the 1st set as had a hard working day & woke up halfway during the 2nd set. Couldn’t believe what I was seeing, you’d lost the 1st set & didn’t look comfortable in the second. Infact you didn’t look very comfortable throughout all the match. I think we need to send you a couple of miri’s “with colm” T-shirts. Por favor find your zone & quick. Having heart murmurs in the middle of the night isn’t good for my health. :(
Also some pics from zimbio
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/NlyUUWA7QPh/ATP+Masters+Series+Paris+Day+Three/UoOiVkyWcnX/Rafael+Nadal?pa=1
Unfortunately I could not watch the match, but photograph #2 looks like a reversion to the buggy whip forehand. This sometimes seems to indicate a very difficult match. Hope that in advancing rounds he finds his great level of play. VAMOS!!!
Ok. Think I’m still alive.
Positives: HE WON!!!!!
End of 2nd set – saved 5 mps – that’s our Rafa :-D Tremble, locker room bunnies.
He stayed focussed through the 3rd set when Almagro was injured and prancing a bit.
He’s reasonably solid.
Homework: his flair is hardly ever there – we’re not getting much of the brilliance at the moment.
Touch not great, nor is timing or rhythm, thus UFEs; not got confidence to play aggressively, only does so in extremis (grr, except it worked this time so you’re forgiven, baby)
It still feels like the game is in the opponent’s hands
Struggling to raise his game when he has to – can’t trust him at the moment (even when he was serving at 6-5 in the 3rd and the commentators were wrapping up the match, I was thinking “he might still lose this match”; usually it’s the other way round, i.e. when he’s looking dead cert to lost, you think, “it’s Rafa, it’s not over yet”).
That’s more negatives than positives but the positives carry much more weight. And we all know he does his homework. Rafa is still there, he just needs the match practice and the belief – and this might just give him the latter :-)
Vamos Rafa, still and always our man :-)
*leaves to sleep off the match…and dream sweet dreams*
Lol guys awesome commentating Miri. As I said I stopped watching after 5-6 in the second set, can’t believe what was happening, still that is what makes a champion a champion sheesh who is up next for Rafa?
What a dreadful match …
I’m having title regrets – I should have titled this “Fluff in the Scruff”
Hah, yes would have bin fitting!
And i’m having poll regrets, can i re-vote?
I would choose, his mind is on the Davis Cup this time… So, i least i hope it is!
Lol! Love the current one tho, sounds like he might say that too ;-) brilliant commentary once again, thanks.
Now I really am going to bed.
That’s a great title – I’ve seen the fluff in the scruff before, and your expression really made me laugh.
I like your original title! Because I don’t think anyone (including Rafa) can believe he pulled that off. He is such a fighter, it’s insane! Winning & playing awful tennis basically the whole time lol wtf.
I like this comment from your As It Happened Blatherings:
“Pretty low-key affair so far. I think Marat took all the energy and emotion with him.”
Pffff! Who knew. What a crazy match. I did not see that one coming.
Vamos Rafa. :)
I only saw the second set and the first couple of games of the third, and I honestly didn’t expect Rafa to win (though in the tiebreak he started to play tennis at last). This shows how tough Rafa is when it comes to fighting, but I sincerely hope his next round will be more comfortable to watch.
I actually saw the match. Very painful. Rafa’s placement was completely off, he lacked power and nothing, absolutely nothing, was working in his game. No strategy, no risk, no reaction, not even going after some very obvious shots that Almagro indeed executed well. I’m sorry to sound dramatic, but it was pathetic. Nothing reminded me of Rafa the champion. And all of a sudden, while Almagro had triple match point, Rafa remembered he could try taking some risk. He suddenly remembered he could actually try and hit that ball, try to go for the lines, surprise his opponent. And it worked!! ok, one down, two to go. Same tactics. Aha! that worked again! Just as I was thinking he’d woken up, but that it still was too late, there it goes, another one saved. And another one. From that point on, another match started. Everything worked for a while, until the end of the set, which Rafa won, breaking another comeback record. I couldn’t believe it.
I’m now certain it’s really a confidence issue. And a question of rhythm. When he saw stepping up his game actually worked, all of a sudden all his shots were in, no unforced errors, impossible shots that he never would have passed ten minutes ago. He’s said it, and he’s right. He’s not confident!
That said, his level of play was just bad. There is no excuse, he’s not injured anymore, he’s had time to practice and he seemed like he couldn’t move his feet. Almagro was about to win his match and Rafa played like if it was some sort of practice where he didn’t need to have a plan. I’m really wondering, he really seems to be less into it. He’s clearly questioning himself and he shouldn’t, cause it’s clearly not working well for him. He believes in himself for one second and he wins a set out of nowhere against a super confident opponent! How much more of a proof does he need? He needs to go for it and I hope he learned his lesson.
Sorry for the essay but I’m really still shaking. I really have mixed feelings about this match; on the one hand, he played very bad. On the other hand, he showed he can still turn a match around and win it. It was good to be reminded of why we love Rafa even through a very bad match.
You are spot on, it is all confidence and believing…
I wouldnt say it but i noticed in the audio off the presser he was acually saying that it was going to be verry hard to winn a tournament the rest off this year, that he had a chance in the DC ( but not giving himself anny chance in Paris of London? ).
Sounds almost like he gave up on this year and is satisfyed with “only” the winn in the DC. Maybe you cannot blame him, it was a tough year, now he’s back to full strenght we are in the, what he calls it himself, worst part off the season for him on the fast indoor hard courts.. his worst “surfrace”, and i do realy think that it is maybe OK to take the pressure off for this and London tournament and give it his all for the DC final and then rest and starting fresh in 2010, the hard 2009 finished, over and done with, forgotten.
But the first part off this match was bad and i think his true self came to life 0-40 and 5-6 down in the 2nd… thinking he couldnt go away like that… I still didnt like his game in the 3rd tough, even when it was clear that Almagro couldnt walk 3 steps to get a ball anny more he was just droping balls right in front off him, as if he said, here, slug it away, its yours..
Timing was bad, serving was bad and placing was bad, fighting will and focus when it all turned out into a drama where good!
I hope that will give him confidence and believe in himself. I hope the commentators on the match are going to be right. They said: sometimes it clicks for players after such a dramatic match, having won it, they find there rythem and go on and winn the tourney.
Well, hope keeps me alive!
I don’t think rafa thinks he can play paris and london like if it wasn’t important since he says he needs good matchplay to get to his best level and be confident. I very much doubt he thinks like that, and if he does, it’s too bad given his confidence issues. He should be trying to do the best he can to enjoy the confidence a comfortable win would bring instead of having to work that hard against average players. No, I do not think he deliberately puts less effort into it, that would be a very strange way to go about it.
Oh surely i don’t mean that he intentionally plays as if its not important! Sorry if you got that impression…
I meant to say that i agree that its all a matter of confidence and believing in himself. From the way he’s talking in interviews i read that he’s not believing in himself in the way he usually does, he’s not believing in having chances to winn this tournaments and sets his focus on the DC final and next year and thats not what i normaly hear when i hear him speak. Normally he only concentrates on the next match. Its not aware not putting in all the effort he has, thats not Rafa at all, but its in his head, in his thinking.
“…and give it his all for the DC final.”
But then there’s the thought, will he get to play in the DC final if he’s so out of rhythm etc.? It’s not as if Spain has a lack of good players, no?
I know it’s on a different surfrace, so I suppose he will play. But…who knows?
Out off his rythem…. yeah, but wich off the other spanish players reached a semi-final and a final in masters series last month? Even out off his rythem he has pretty decent results!
I think we do not have to doubt that he will be chosen to play the DC final. Remember he’s till known as the best clay court player on the tour ( maybe ever ) and remember…. HE.IS.NADAL.
True. I don’t know what I’m talking about. But we kind of knew that already. ;)
Awww, i don’t think so, most off the time what you’re saying is making perfectly sense to me! ;)
his headband was slipping back beginning in the first set — never a good sign…but somehow his belief was even greater than his talents today and that belief won the match…
ugly, but done…
next another countryman…hope rafa’s confidence is stronger…i’m very interested to hear his presser today…
“The life of a Rafa fan: he’s not playing well; what’s wrong with the serve; he’s about to lose. Wait, he won that set? How did that happen?”
Exactly my feelings Miri!
Horrible first serve(and 4 double faults!), lot of netted shots, really couldn’t believe that was Rafa playing, because he should be improving and somehow I think he’s playing worse. But I think he always plays his worst at the beginning of tournaments, so maybe it will get better after this one. Actually I had to stop watching the match when Almagro was getting a thigh massage (my job calls!)and at that moment I thought that he was going to pull a Wozniacki and get a great victory. So Miri, your headline is just perfect!!!
terrible match in the end he was lucky….i give all the credit to him he WON THE SECOND SET WITH A FIGHT….but thats pretty much abaut it…he looks weak i have to say…no rythm no class sorry am i too cruel….i know it is too easy to criticise someone when you are sitting in your comfortable sofa…but this isnt good almogro with all respect NO federer djokovic or murray….yec is on the door what will he lose all the guys there without winning a set…I KNOW THIS IS TERRIBLE PERIDICTION but his form gives me no hope…i dont know what is the problem CONFIDENCE or lack of form MAYBE lack concentration TOO MUCH GOLF i dont know but i never seen him that bad in my whole life i am watching him since 04…there were hard times before but this is too much…..i hope there isnt any kind physical problems going WHICH WE DONT KNOW….all i know that he is rafael nadal he is great champion WITH HUGE HEART and he is one of those players he can still turn araund….
Wasn’t able to see the match but followed the live score till the end of first set, thinking “I’ll be damned” for the very real and imminent prospect of Rafa ousted in the first show here in Bercy. Still can hardly believe he pulled through this one.
In terms of dealing with Rafa’s performance these days I strictly live on a match-by-match basis. As long as he squeezes through to the next round I am happy—don’t know when the turn-around is going to happen but have plenty of patience to wait.
I hope he feels the same way, I hope he does not lose his heart too much just because the world sees his weaknesses and limitations being exposed. It is such an unbelievably brave thing to do to go out there on court and bare your soul and be vulnerable. For this I will never stop admiring you Rafa I don’t mind if you ever win a game again for the rest of your life (and of course you will, lots of them).
Best of luck tomorrow.
I think we’re being to harsh on him..sure his game was off today-big time but uve gotta giv him credit for saving 5 f-ing match points!! i swear i’d given up at 40-0 n den when he kept on savin da MP it was like a tonic to my shattered nerves-was on da verge of tears in da beginning of da tiebreak ’cause of all da drama…slugging out da match when u no ure not playin ure best against a good opponent takes alotta heart so giv crd where crd is due..sure da 3rd set was 1 of da most freakishly twisted sets ive eva seen..so heres to hopin our boy gains sum much needed confidence frm dis ‘nerve shatterer’ nd hopefully neva puts us thru such torture again!!
I think we’re being more critical than usual because while, yes, he did play at his normal level for the 5 MPs and most of the tiebreak, his level dropped immediately in the 3rd set, which was another nightmare. Usually once he hits his stride for a few points and gets into the match there’s no stopping him, but he very nearly ruined the amazing chance he gave himself with another poor set. No injuries, he said he practiced hard in Mallorca between all of those golf games…
I think we’re all just a bit confused and disappointed. Listen to his post-match interviews– he also seems confused and disappointed with himself! However, he did say that this surface is extremely fast and that he needs time to get used to it, so although I don’t have hopes of him winning this tournament I do hope that this match was a wake up call and he comes out playing like the Rafa we know tomorrow.
I think the treatment of his blisters before the third set actually broke his rhythm and gave Almagro the opportunity to catch his breath and regroup. But I agree with you that we are running out of reasons to explain such a disappointing performance. I just hope he knows what’s wrong and that it clicks for him at some point before it’s too late.
Rafa won, but he did not pla well at all. I am concerned he has lost all his ocnfidence it was evident in his play today. He needs to be more aggressive and take the ball on more. He is playing way too passively, his length of shots…… UGH! most of his shots are short with no length on them he needs to hit DEEPER!
But didnt we see the old rafa when we were asking of him a 40-0 match points he found his best tennis VAMOS! he must gain confidence after a win like that
COME ON RAFA!!!!!
:)
miri,
I did not see the Nadal-Almagro match (caught up at work). Thus, a million thanks to you for your excellent match description. I truly hope you will keep doing this for all of Nadal’s matches this week. A million thanks in advance.
I can’t promise I will. Today, I was home from work because it was a holiday, but I’ll probably be at work tomorrow.
miri,
Thanks for your reply. I certainly do understand your work obligations and feel very thankful yesterday was a holiday and so, those of us who missed the Nadal-Almagro match at least got to read your excellent description of the match. A million thanks for that, indeed!
I’ll get someone to record the Nadal-Robredo match for me today. But I must admit that I feel more confident about that match : Nadal should handle it better, in my opinion. He knows Robredo’s game in and out. Also, yesterday’s victory was a turning point for Nadal, in my opinion. A new page written in Nadal’s tennis history and legend, so to speak. The antidote to Roland Garros 2009, sort of. Nadal in the “City of Lights” in 2009 will be forever unforgettable for all of us, I believe.
Nadal has been making such deep adjustments (his serve, his forehand, etc.) to his game in view of physical requirements (his knees ever since the AO 2009 semi and final, then his abdos since Concinnati because he had to protect his knees, and globally his foot condition for quite a few years now)that I am worried he might not be able to reach the semis at the Paris-Bercy, which, in my opinion, is probably the goal he has set for himself there (given he had to retire due to his injury during his quarter in 2008).
Well, let’s simply hope he will attain the goal he had set for himself at the Paris-Bercy 2009 within the “big picture” he had drawn for himself, i.e. winning the 2009 Davis Cup final for Spain in Barcelona (his no 1 objective, as he he has repeatedly stated over the past few months), making it in the best physical condition possible by the end of the 2009 season and making all the required adjustments to his game in view of physical considerations that cannot be ignored for him to be the unbelievable player that he truly is.
Personally, I still cannot believe we have had, are having and will have the astounding priviledge of watching Nadal play tennis! I do realize that his performance against Almagro yesterday was a great deception for lots of people and, most of all, for Nadal himself. But I certainly got the feeling from reading your description and a few articles on Internet that during the minutes where he save those five match points, you guys certainly had the priviledge to be watching the real Nadal! I cannot wait for 2010, where I am convinced this real Nadal will be returning, all adjustments to his game finally mastered.
Nadal won this one with grit, willpower and more than a little bit of luck. He did say that this surface is his worst (even compared to other hard courts), but his level of play was simply not like the Nadal we know, not even close. Having said that, the Nadal we know was a well-oiled machine and Nadal needs a lot of court time to reach that level again. Rust gets to him more than the average tennis player and he, consequently, needs longer time and more matches to fine-tune his game and recapture his form (provided he remains physically ok). The spectacular level of play Nadal showed to save the 5 match points in the second set gives me hope that the old Nadal is still lurking in there somewhere. He’s just under a layer of rust that’ll need some time to sand off. At least I hope that’s the case! Finally, I want to give credit to Almagro for showing flashes of brilliance during this match. He’s not the most consistent player around, but he played well enough in the past to beat the likes of Murray, so he’s capable of major upsets. I’m just happy that didn’t happen today!
I didn’t see the match and I’m very glad after reading everyone’s comments and seeing those stats!!! Sammy, you very nicely summed up what I’ve been feeling for the last few months. We got so used to the super-fit, precision-perfect Rafa that we don’t realise how much rust has accumulated over the last six months of physical and emotional upheaval. It’s gonna take time to truly find his physical and mental rhythm again and fine-tune that sparkling brilliant form we love. Probably not going to happen on this “surfrace”! Still, knowing our beloved Rafa, this match will serve as a wake up call, and the next one’ll be a different story. Vamos Nadalek!
When Almagro had triple match point I turned the tv off and went in to my room and was really really upset for like 10 minutes. I accepted he lost. Then my friend turned the tv back on and she said it wasn’t over. It was a joke. OI
Rafa said this:
“I played great tennis in that moment [from 5-6, 0/40], the only moment,” said Nadal, smiling. “For the rest of the match, I am very lucky to be in third round. I didn’t play well. I was practising really well in Mallorca, but when I arrived here, it’s tough to [get] good rhythm. I have another chance to improve tomorrow. I hope [I] don’t play worse. I think the win today is a very important win, and I am going to have another chance tomorrow to improve.”
Link? please.
And so good to know he was able to smile. Can’t wait to see a video of the presser.
Found the above comment on Rafa’s official site front page.
On the forum there a couple of videos were posted too, one showing Rafa saving 5 match points, and one Spanish TV coverage of the match.
Sorry, this was just from the ATP website:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2009/11/Paris-Wednesday-Nadal-Saves-Five-MP.aspx
Thanks. The positive tune in his comment (that he trained well in Mallorca) just made me feel a whole lot better. As long as he keeps this positive attitude up things are going to turn his way I am sure.
You know, Fed’s not playing that well in his match either … I think they both have difficulties with this surfrace. (I just don’t know how to actually spell that word anymore).
And Fed loses his match after starting so promisingly (can’t say I’m too upset by this turn of events)….
I haven’t slept all night, as I have trouble when my sporting teams or players are up and about, and it is 9am here now, so I think I will just go and catch up on a little.
I am thrilled Rafa pulled that one out (was a nightmare to watch), but honestly he could make our lives just that little bit easier and simply blow someone off the court. Maybe next match ;) !!!
I did get some sleep like 2 hours & now I’m off to work but I’m a happy camper, especially knowing Fed head lost. :) :)
strange things happening to me i dont know why i was still rooting AGAINST federer….but somehow fed defeats doesnt make me feel that happy anymore…my all interest is rafa i dont care abaut fed anymore he already done enough thats affecting his game HUNGER is the real problem for federer i think does he really want it anymore……for our rafa HUNGER isnt even a qustion mark…..CONFIDENCE is our guy problem i am afraid…..
My sentiments exactly! Rafa still has the hunger that’s why he saved 5 MPs while Fed saved none. Rafa needs a major win over a major opponent to get his confidence back. He can’t stay in his comfort zone and rely on being defensive forever…
Miri ‘Game set and weird ass match to Rafa’ would’ve been a good HL for this post too. ‘Fluff in the Scruff’ led to me to think other things that weren’t to clean.
I feel asleep in the third set and work up find a miracle occurred overnight. From what I saw too many bads in this match, but Rafa’s mental strength pulled him thru. Liked how he tried to come up to the net more.
Funny when the commentators said that Pascal Maria had a Marat look abt him which started and ended with the haircut. And how abt how he had to shout at the players doing the coin toss bec the music was blasting away, and no player wanted to call heads or tails.
Luved Rafa clawing back from 0-40 and winning the tie-break, and seeing his team celebrate quietly. I hardly ever see Uncle Toni get up to celebrate and pumped up and so enjoyed when the cameras caught him doing that.
We haven’t seen how the crowd are really reacting to Rafa yet coz he’s hasn’t played a French player yet. But I find the kids in the crowd are very annoying and keep disrupting service.
I feel for Almagro though.
Painful to watch. Second set down 0/40, I turned to my little boy and said, watch this, Nadal is going to come back and tie it up. Inside, I was screaming and my stomach was in knots. He showed in that moment why he is a true champion. It was awesome. The third set, with Almagro hurting, Rafa was just handing him softballs. Couldn’t understand it at all, turned to my son at that moment and said he is giving Almagro the win, he needs to put ball away and hit it! The third set should have been over long before it was. I am happy he won, but it was ugly. Hope he finds that rhythm. I think the Davis Cup will be just what he needs to build up his confidence moving into next season.
Yes, yoni he seemed to be giving Almagro a fighting chance at the end by hitting the ball directly to him so he didn’t need to run … probably didn’t think he deserved the win (although Nico didn’t really use the opportunity). Rafa did put him out of his misery though on that last cross-court point!
Thank goodness! I was waiting for it to end, I knew Rafa was going to end it with a winner than an unforced error by Almagro.