Rome: Re-adaption going well
Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/ AFP/ GettyImages
Thanks to today’s 2nd round match in Rome, there’s one less player on the tour that holds a winning head-to-head against Rafa. That’s because Rafa beat Florian Mayer 6-1, 7-5. I didn’t get to see the match thanks to a killer migraine – couldn’t take the light from my TV set. Those who did see it, please let us know how you think it went.
Stats:
| Nadal | Mayer | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 1 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 56% | 68% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 25/27 (93%) | 23/34 (68%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 15/21 (71%) | 7/16 (44%) |
| Break Points Saved | 0/0 (%) | 2/5 (40%) |
| Service Games Played | 10 | 9 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 11/34 (32%) | 2/27 (7%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 9/16 (56%) | 6/21 (29%) |
| Break Points Won | 3/5 (60%) | 0/0 (%) |
| Return Games Played | 9 | 10 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 40/48 (83%) | 30/50 (60%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 20/50 (40%) | 8/48 (17%) |
| Total Points Won | 60/98 (61%) | 38/98 (39%) |
| Other Stats | ||
| Winners | 24 | 10 |
| Unforced errors | 16 | 13 |
| Net Approaches | 6/8 (75%) | 11/21 (52%) |
(Thanks to Israel TennisResults for posting a screen grab of the stats – they are always helpful.)
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Get well soon Miri!! I suffer from migraines so know how you feel.
I actually got to see the match live for a change! Rafa was superb in the first set not really giving Mayer an inch. I think he really wanted to negate the H2H and show any doubters after last week that he is back to his best. Beautiful forehands, great movement etc.
Second set the only real difference was that Mayer raised his game. Mayer played very well but Rafa just had enough to stay comfortable in his own services games. The last game was a bit tense but to be expected I suppose (with last week and the H2H in mind).
VAMOS for the red clay :)
First set: 26 minutes.
Second set: determination, belief in the win, strong execution.
I rest my case. Perfecto!!!
Red clay beats the blue, any day! Also, the calm has returned now that the “missus” is back in the camp. Well done, Rafa. You showed real focus. Vamos
A lovely match that will give Rafa a lot of confidence, because he fired away in the first set, not allowing Mayer to get into the match. Second set, it seemed that Mayer got a little more confidence, and he started to play well. Infact it could have gone either way, but mayer couldn´t hold his serv at 5-5, and Rafa was now one game away from victory.
I thought he was a little bit shaky, sitting down before serving for the match, and it showed in him getting behind 0-30, and believe it or not, he smashed one into the net, similar to the one against Verdasco!!
I tried to close my eyes, couldn´t believe it, but Rafa held his nerve, came back into the game as only he can do it, and eventually a good test for Rafa!
Vamos for the next match!
Well executed by Rafa, no drama. He looked focused and positive.
Loved seeing Toni come up from his seat with a big Vamos when Rafa hit that great lob! Then, my heart nearly stopped when Rafa began the last game with a double fault. But he recovered and closed it out!! Looking strong, at ease and happy out there on the real clay!!!
Rafa looks great on “real” clay.
Florian was wearing the same shirt Fer wore in Madrid, so when Rafa blew a smash into the net near the end of the second set, it was “deja vu all over again.” Due to some strong net play, Rafa righted the ship and waltzed off with the second set with little problem.
Maria is in Roma, so hope they have a great dinner tonight & further chase all memories of Smurf Turf into the depths of the Mediterranean.
Get well soon. Migraines area dreadful things.
Believe it or not, that was my exact thought when Rafa smashed into the net..that Mayer was wearing the same shirt Verdasco was wearing last week in Madrid.But those few shaky moments apart, Rafa was his usual awesome self. Great match, the result was never really in doubt inspite of the H2H. Onto Marcel, Vamos Rafa.
Great aggressive clay-court play from Rafa. He totally dominated in the first set … Florian was suitably flustered. In the second Rafa didn’t seem quite as dialed in … not focussing on every point as in the first. Mayer picked it up immediately and we had a bit of a contest.
At certain points in that second set it looked as thought the court had shifted somewhat with Rafa playing somewhere near the spectators in the second row and Florian was at the service line; but Rafa prevailed in style serving it out after breaking for 6-5.
Wow, posted already! Thx Miri and hope you feel better soon.
The match was, in general, a very positive sign that Rafa forgot Madrid ever happened; he played with the same confidence and intensity he did in MC/Barcelona. In the first set, as the score shows, he completely overwhelmed Mayer, who you could see was trying to will himself to get to balls and was jumping out of his shoes, clear off the ground, on most of his groundies, especially on backhands. None of that worked, though, since Rafa was simply flawless that first set.
In the second set, Rafa’s level dropped a notch, which allowed Mayer to be much more competitive. Mayer proved how dangerous he can be; he has a game that can trouble Rafa (and did in Shanghai last year) unless he (Rafa) plays at the level he did in the first set. So the second set remained competitive till the 11th game where Rafa upped his game to get the break and (mercifully for us, his fans) didn’t get broken when serving for the match!
I believe the drop in Rafa’s level in the second set was more nerves than anything else (which I wonder why that would be when he’s up a set?), but he did a good job of controlling those nerves and getting the job done relatively easily against a tricky opponent.
Finally, a word for Mayer who played great tennis, but in short patches, and showed a remarkable ability to defend with crazy gets that rival those of Rafa/Nole. He played his heart out, but he simply met an inspired Rafa today.
Rafa did play well today despite his normal second set dip! In all the years I’ve been watching him, it seems to be a trend if he has won the first set easily…. Of course when he’s in the zone (e.g. RG 2008) it doesn’t happen so hopefully that great play will appear soon! Vamos Rafa and good luck for the next match!
I don’t think it was a 2nd set dip, his 1st serve went off slightly but Mayer stepped it up .
Dip? or just slightly more defensive style of play? Like Fifi i seemed to see a lot of MAyer inside the service line pounding away and rafa not putting enough (as many?) deeper shots in the court to drive hime back – it was really obvious when that happened on occasion as MAyer almost seemed to stumble going backwards. In spite of poor first service percentage I think rafa’s service games were pretty D** good today. Mental attitude also seemed great – especially NOT carrying over to later points a few ridiculous errors on earlier points.
But Mayer played very well – there were some great rallies and he (Mayer) put rafa under a lot of pressure – which rafa handled. So great stuff from Rafa for the first round.
1st serve points won % was 100, a stat at 5-1 1st set. ……
Get well soon Miri.
Good news, no sign of the jitters after awful Madrid thank god. Rafa played brilliant from the first point and Mayer didn’t stand a chance in the 1st set . The 2nd set was much closer, mayer served much better and played well,threw everything at Rafa with several long rallies and drop shots but Rafa was to good. The forehand worked well ,across court down the line,it was stunning at times, I was just sitting watching saying WOW.
I’m glad Mayer gave Rafa a tough second set as its good to see what level his tennis is at after last week and apart from slight nerves when serving for the match with 2 unusual errors 0 30 he was mighty impressive I thought.
Glad to see his girlfriend there and I have to say if he continues to play like this I cannot see anyone beating him.
Yep, Rafa was awesome in the first set dancing along the baseline. Florian seem to be clueless what to do. The second set Rafa dropped his intensity, he started to make one or two uncharacteristic mistakes again and he had that look of what the fu..k is going on expression like he did in Madrid from what I could see for a while (but that was on Florian’s serve) when the mistakes happened so it wasn’t absolutely drastic. Florian started becoming aggressive. I was truely worried when Rafa was serving for the match. A double fault then a smash into the net??? It did seem like a defa vu plus having Nando’s shirt on probably put Rafa off and reminded him too much.
I do worry that he still has problems closing tight matches or sets out – going love 30 down. I was hiding behind a cushion again, yet it should never of happened. Anyway he has to be more confident. It’s easy to play well when 5 1 up but tight 6 5 – anything can happen – that is the tennis as Rafa says.
Overall pretty pleased especially the first set when he came out of the blocks. Granallos a different kettle of fish. Did anyone here that Fed was thinking of pulling out as he has one or two niggles. Let’s see if he lasts the distance and Rafa will be back to no 2
Yes he sad that after his match win ,only decided to play a couple of hrs before his match after his warm up but felt well enough to play but is not feeling great. He has a few niggles, so watch this space. As I said before I can’t see him going deep into this week.
Good job Rafa! Keep it going! Go Rafa!
What happened to Rafa’s serve? The stats don’t look great. I didn’t watch the match, only managed to watch the last game, but it was enough to bring Madrid memories back! Hopefully not for Rafa. Although it is a bit early to judge whether Madrid took its mental toll on him, since it’s only the first match, I’m so happy to read he played well.
He seems to be getting into a habit of winning the 1st set then getting nervous nearing the closing line? serving out the match is scaring stuff for him nowadays, I cannot comment on Madrid, his first match v. Davy was brilliant and then bang against Verdasco, so lets not get ahead of ourselves yet, mmm? I don’t know whats a matter with Rafa nowadays, as he gets older he seems sooo nervous, and yet you see federer, he still seems to find it some how, take inspiration Rafa pleeeeeease.!
Rafa, please be confident and Win! Good luck with tomorrow’s game! Goooooo Rafaaaaaa!
I had to watch the match on my laptop becos bloody cable TV in Malaysia did NOT show RAFA match (or women’s matches!) ..but worth the 1 and half hours , squinting at the small screen of my laptop from 1-45 AM till 315AM, to watch RAFA win!! Now I’m a zombie!
Get well soon Miri! :o)
I thought it was a fairly pedestrian match, overall. Rafa was very good in the first set, and having got the measure of his opponent, dropped the intensity a notch, played well enough to win, and got off a great “hot shot” or two to boot. He looked to be conserving his efforts and trying a few things, trying to calibrate his range. Thinking ahead to the next match might have crept in there for a bit, but only the missed smash gave me pause — and after seeing the replay, I saw that it was actually quite a different play from the infamous Madrid shot.
In short, feeling much better about his timing and precision. I just wish he hadn’t screwed up his serve by adding all that extra weight to his racquet earlier this year. I miss the great serve. Still, his stats were very good, and I am feeling more comfortable about the Granollers match.
Vamos, Rafa!
I thought the extra weight on his racket is supposed to give him extra POP (power) on his serve? Hmm..maybe it takes getting used to..
Yes, it was, but Toni acknowledged that the extra weight (mainly on the tip of the racquet face) caused the stick to dip, and that Rafa would have to re-learn his serve and perhaps a swing or two. I’m not good enough to tell whether he’s really got more pop, but if he thinks it does, that’s probably all that’s necessary. However, most of us have noticed the fall-off of his serve, and I think that its cause was as Toni warned.
I could just be breathing in Toni’s smoke, though. Head games are everywhere. 8-)
I noticed Mayer’s shirt straightaway and thought it looked a bit big on him. He probably borrow it thinking it would give him a psychological advantage but not a hope!