RG: A royal beatdown
Photo by PATRICK KOVARIK/ AFP/ GettyImages
Poor Pico. He’s ranked #15 in the world, having a good clay season, and is good friends with someone whose level is so ridiculously high on clay that the crowd gets happy when he manages to win a point. A point. Not a game. A point. Yeah, the beatdown was that bad. Rafa defeats Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 and will play Almagro in the quarterfinals.
| Nadal | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 69% | 72% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 29/42 (69%) | 21/44 (48%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 14/19 (74%) | 3/17 (18%) |
| Break Points Won | 8/10 (80%) | 0/2 (%) |
| Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 43/61 (70%) | 24/61 (39%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 37/61 (61%) | 18/61 (30%) |
| Total Points Won | 80/122 (66%) | 42/122 (34%) |
| Other Stats | ||
| Winners | 23 | 13 |
| Unforced errors | 12 | 25 |
| Net Approaches | 10/13 (77%) | 8/14 (57%) |
| Serves | ||
| Fastest Serve Speed | 203 KMH | 197 KMH |
| Average 1st Serve Speed | 186 KMH | 173 KMH |
| Average 2nd Serve Speed | 142 KMH | 148 KMH |
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From http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/06/04/nadal-storms-into-french-open-quarters/ :
Monaco, meanwhile, said he thinks it will be “practically impossible” for any player to defeat Nadal at this year’s event.
“I know him. Because of how he’s been feeling on court the past few weeks and having won those last two matches against (Novak) Djokovic has made him believe even more in his tennis,” Monaco said.
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/06/04/nadal-storms-into-french-open-quarters/#ixzz1ws6hrvLL
This all talk of it is impossible to beat Rafa this year makes me nervous.I always prefer him as an under dog.Which makes the life easier for him.
Agreed – everyone is talking about how he seems unbeatable. I really hope he wins his 7th RG.
At least we know that Rafa is not listening to it.
I hope Novak and Roger *are* listening. I hope they hear their hearts thumping away loudly in the still, lonely hours of the night, building the anxiety in the remaining hours to an intolerable pitch before they are called to the court and found … wanting.
Vamos, Rafa.
Vamos indeed Melissa!
Too cute you are, I loved this!
No need to feel too sorry for Pico, people! He has been moving up the rankings for the past year now, his goal is to become top 10. So get out and support Pico to make that goal!!! He snapped his ankle in half at Monte Carlo and came back and got into the round of 16 at a slam, by beating Milo’s Raonic!!! So no tears for Pico, only cheers!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t feel sorry for him – I feel for him. Does that make any sense? It must be so frustrating to have worked that hard and still come up against someone who shows you how much further you have to go…again and again and again.
Perhaps Rafa felt like that after his 7 consecutive losses to Nole, but this allowed him to improve his tennis.
No doubt. I felt for Rafa then too. :)
But, as much as I adore Pico, his top limit in tennis is nowhere near Rafa’s. It’s one thing for him to know that…another for him to be reminded of it in front of the whole world. Rafa had the comfort of knowing his top limit can be better than Nole’s.
Totally agree, miri. Pico is my seoond favorite player, for different reasons than why Rafa is my favorite player. Pico is so very good and such a good friend of Rafa’s, but he is not top level.
Two minutes into today’s match, Pico had won half the games he would win in a best-of-five clay math. Nine minutes in, Pico had won all the games he would win in a best-of-five clay match. That had to be personally humiliating.
That said, Rafa was a true professional. Today was business. Rafa will never cede a single point willingly, nor should he.
*match
These are Rafa’s words. It is possible to really, really want to win and still have empathy for your opponent. Isn’t this one of the reasons why we love Rafa so?
Nadal was almost regretful after the match, quick to reassure his friend Monaco: “In my opinion, he was unlucky, unlucky in the first set. That’s my feeling, no? 6‑2 was too much. Later, sure, very happy the way I played. I feel very, very sorry for him. I think he’s playing probably the best tennis of his career, but probably not today after, especially the last set, no, when he start to miss, you know. I saw him a little bit, you know, suffering a little bit on court at the end. He’s one of my best friends on tour. I feel very sorry for him.”
He seems to be the only player that I know of (having followed tennis for many years now) that has empathy, humility, respect for others combined with the fighting spirit he brings to the court. I hope he will inspire generations of tennis players to come.
I totally agree.
Pico may feel pretty bad for the next couple of days but the point I’m trying to make is that Pico is making forward progress. No, maybe he didn’t beat the best clay courter of all time, but he has some great takeaways. He did take a set off of Nole in Rome and took out Raonic at the FO. Pretty incredible for a guy who thought his season was over just a month ago. He’ll probably move up a couple of points after the FO, from 15 to 13. He’s within striking distance of the top ten – the best tennis Pico has ever played.
I guess I’m a glass half full kind of person and I think Pico is too.
I don’t think he would have plowed through his ankle rehab and gotten back on the horse so quickly if he was easily discouraged by one match loss. Believe me, if Pico can get into the top ten, he won’t care how many times Rafa crushes his this season.
Vamos Pico!!!!!! Vamos Rafa!!!!!!
Rafa has been playing like the Rafa before his family had problems. I think the reason we love Rafa is because of his kindness, love of family and friends, honorable behaveour and the way he treats his fans. He is always trying to improve his game. He is not really beating another player, he just is always doing the very best he can because that is the only way he can be. However, I hope he knocks NoNo Jerkabich into another galaxy. Sorry! Maybe!
paru19
Also, in watching the match again, you can see Pico was physically hurting. Between the ankle injury, the long Raonic match and the freezing weather, it looked his ankle was really hurting him again. The best thing Rafa could have done was to bagel Pico and get Pico off the court ASAP. From all the comments Pico has been making on his Facebook page about his goals this year, his FO was a big success .
I wonder after what happened yesterday, is Pico still a good friend of Rafa’s? At 2 all in the first set, I thought it would be rough and great match. Astonishing indeed that Pico couldn’t manage to win a single game afterwards, poor thing. And now 4 down,3 to go, vamoss champ..
At the moment Almagro scares me though, he seems way too spirited…
I agree but it will also be a good test.
Just read on facebook that Rafa’s game is “boring” I’ve never laughed so hard in my life!!
But on a rather serious note then..if it is not broken – don’t fix it. If Nadal has managed to win 49 titles by doing EXACTLY what players know he’s going to do yet can do NOTHING about: Kudos to him!
But to say that he has less variety than say Federer or Djokovic is fallacy to the nth degree leading to blasphemy.
Everyone has their opinions. When a person has great success at a tournament consistently on a particular surface people don’t like it.
For me Federer is boring to watch most of the time and I used to say the same thing when he kept winning Wimbledon on grass , his favourite surface.
I much prefer baseline, long rallies ,powerful hitting tennis with some net play to the serve an volley tennis of old. For me today’s style of tennis is much more exciting.
Interesting comments because I feel like that about Fed’s play. The only time I watch him is when he plays either Rafa or Novak otherwise I find it a bit boring. I did give it a try and bought a copy of the AO Semi where Safin beat him because someone said that it was some of the best tennis they had ever seen. I am sorry to say that to me it was boring because there were hardly any long rallies. Yes, it was a bit tense at times but the tennis was nothing compared to when Rafa is in the mix.
So, Sharon I agree with you totally.
I find “Lord of the Rings” ridiculously boring. A lot of people don’t. I don’t find Rafa’s game boring. A lot of people do. I guess it’s a matter of taste and paying attention to what people say on the matter on Facebook seems pretty pointless.
Recorded the match as I had to go out but checking the scores on my phone when I saw 62 60 60 I thought Pico must have an injury but since watching the match Rafa was just to good. The disappointment for me was having to listen to Matts Wilander commentating for the 1st set who praised Monaco when he played a great shot and quite rightly so but didn’t praise Rafa, not once. All he ever harps on about is Soderling beating Rafa in 2009 and the other day he said Borg’s record was more outstanding than Rafa’s cos Borg’s opponents wld take less games off him. I cannot stand Matt’s, he makes a living as a commentator/presenter and should give credit where credit is due to all players. My rant is over.
Back to the match, I like Pico and know he is great friends with Rafa but it is a competition at the end of the day. Pico took to the court to compete and win but sometimes you just have to say to good and he accepted that.
I have always said that a fit and healthy Rafa is very hard to beat and if he keeps up this form someone will have to play exceptional tennis to beat him.
First of all, it’s “Mats”. Secondly, we must have been listening to two different channels, because the Mats Wilander I’ve been listening to has been very complimentary towards Rafa and other players and if I remember correctly, he mentioned Robin’s win against Rafa once during the match yesterday, when talking about how to beat Rafa on clay. Granted, he’s not the best commentator in the world, but he does give praise to lots of players, albeit subtly.
Sorry I disagree and excuse me for spelling his name incorrectly. If you listen more closely to all the pre RG talk his commentry and his chat on ‘game,set and Mats ‘he does not compliment Rafa that often. He didn’t last year either and he is always bringing up the Soderling win and I’m sick of hearing it. I personally would prefer to watch Rafa play on a channel that does not have him commentating.
Mats respects Rafa and has praised him repeatedly. One doesn’t have to praise 100% of the time to show respect. He recently said that Rafa was the best clay court player ever – having edged past his countryman Borg.
I agree with Sharon. I used to like MW, but now he just irritates me. He does complement Rafa, but quite often it seems to be in a begrudging manner, followed by a sly dig. On the other hand, I suppose there are plenty of commnetators out there that are biased towards Rafa :)
Exactly Wendya you are spot on. I expect there are commentators who are biased towards Rafa and have their favorite players but they don’t show it while on air.
I too find Mats Wilander condescending towards Rafa – in fact a few of the Eurosport commies get muted quite often. They are begrudging in their praise and one called Rafa the bully of the baseline – how disrespectful is that when Rafa has an all court game. When Rafa takes too long between points they are up in arms and go on and on about it. When another player does the same thing they either ignore it or say something like “he is wise to take his time before etc”. Frew McMillan comes up with some snide remarks and is a hypocrite IMO. He used to be OK but but now he seems to have very few nice things to say about Rafa.
I am sorry but I have had enough of them bashing Rafa – it is a sore subject with me.
I think all commentators today come to the table with their own agenda, Matts included. I sometimes wonder what Rogers fans think when they hear John MacEnroe (?) say that Rafa is argueably the best tennis player in history. I hear him say that alot with no apologies. I know what my arguement would be, but I’d love to hear his.
I thought John MacEnroe was a Nole fan. I have only every heard him at the US Open 2010 when I was over there and watching US coverage and he seemed pretty good and neutral.
Johnnie Mac *loves* Rafa. He admires most Rafa’s refusal to give up, his complete dedication, his courage. Listen to him size up Rafa and his competition.
John has also remarked frequently that Rafa may be the best ever, and he has several times in print and on air asked how one can consider Roger the GOAT when he cannot dominate his own generation (meaning the time before but also the time with Rafa).
Thanks for that Melissa – nice to know that Johnnie Mac says such nice things about Rafa. Over here in England and mainly with Eurosport the commentators are not quite the same and it is upsetting when they make such negative comments about Rafa. It is not just me who thinks that and to be honest I just have to mute the commentary sometimes.
Like I said before I really enjoyed the commentary in the US in 2010 when Rafa won the US Open and it was so refreshing to hear such praise for Rafa from Johnnie Mac.
Last night, on Tennis Channel’s wrap, John was asked about the Open and the field. He took especial time lauding Rafa — and not just the GOAT speculation (which, given the frequency with which he brings it up, one is led to believe that he must agree with it).
[Paraphrasing here] Johnnie Mac said he had thought, when Rafa burst on the scene, he would be a good, maybe even great, pro, but not one of the greatest — his serve and BH and his movement just did not seem competitive enough. But Rafa surprised him by constantly improving throughout his career, and at a rapid pace, to the point where Nadal made himself into the complete player. John said he’s never seen another player so improve his game (although he did later praise Ferrer in a similar fashion).
Perhaps most surprisingly, he declared that Rafa the best volleyer in the game today. And we all know how much McEnroe values the net game.
John seems to warm to Rafa, and to David, in a way he does not with the other ATP stars. I like John’s commentary not only because he speaks with great authority and from a deep experience and highly analytical understanding of the game, but also because he’s unapologetically candid and does not mind revealing his own preferences.
Of course, anyone who admires Rafa so much I like, too. Could be I’m biased. 8)
On the other hand, like you I am absolutely fed up with the British commentators (and not just in tennis, but also in soccer, cricket, and political commentary). The pseudo-public school manner, the maundering on about their parochial circles (“Did I tell you how I embarrassed the Colonel’s wife during doubles at the Upper Rumpstump club, last Whitsuntide? [snigger] A great day it was for Yorkshire, ha ha.”), the tired clichés (“bums on seats,”), the selective mean-spirited ranting about an extra 10 seconds between each serve, the commentary on the women players’ and fans’ physical appearance, the failure to say anything new — all this drives me to the mute button whilst gnashing my teeth. They seem jealous and petty and no more insightful than the average tourist ticketholder. After researching the ATP backgrounds of the most offensive UK commies, I stopped paying any attention to them.
/rant (Thx 4 listening)
Good Luck Rafa for tomorrow’s Game! Stay focused and WIN!!!!!!!
The French crowds can’t be liking Novak at the moment..???
Well they certainly won’t take to kindly to Novak’s reaction,the roaring and chest pumping. Bet they will be supporting Roger in the semi’s.
Sorry for Tsonga I really thought he was gonna cause a major upset (hoping to) but when he didn’t convert those match points I knew he had missed his chance and if it went to a 5th set Novak would win :(
Oh! Roger yesterday yelld “shut up” to the crowd… As Steve Tignor said “He has not only told someone in his most devoted audience to shut up, he’s done it in English”. LOL very good stuf!!
Novak’s celebratory habits are hard to watch…I want to like and respect the guy, but have to turn the channel quickly after he wins…wish he could be more respectful and subdued. After all, he came very close to losing today.
Tsonga came to close to the lion’s den and failed to catch his prey.He got mauled and devoured in the last set.This aspect of Nole’s confidence and self-belief makes me a bit worried about Nadal’s fate should he come too close to the den. Who’s got that that heart and nerves of steel and can display the agressiveness when it counts the most. Nole has come back from behind twice now in this tournament, showing he’s got his claws sharpened and can use them when need it to win the fight.Will it be 4 slams for him or a 7th Roland Garros for Rafa?Our man has not been tested so far, but I believe Almagro is ready to fight him–he’s got the confidence of winning the mot matches on clay this year.Last encounter he took Nadal to two tiebreakers.
Well this is why we love tennis and watch it on the edge of our seats. Yes Novak as come back from a losing position twice but Seppi and Tsonga fell away in the end becos they did not have the belief, Rafa will not do that.
Novak played brilliantly to save those match points,can’t remember now if they were Novak winners or Tsonga errors. Looking forward to the semi final with Novak and Roger, will be interesting as neither player has found their best tennis as yet.
Almagro will be a test for Rafa with his serve and his flat hard hitting and anything can happen but I ave confidence in our man.I just hope and pray Rafa is in the semi final, against Ferrer or Muzza it won’t be easy.
Agree with your post Sharon. Whoever wins in the Ferrer v Murray match will give Rafa a rough ride if he reaches the semis.
Adherents and admirers of Rafael Nadal, do not despair. Yesterday’s match was Tsonga and Djokovich, not Nadal and Djokovich.
Tsonga failed the test, several times. He made bad choices and had failures of focus again and again. Novak also made bad choices and lost focus, but recovered. What was new about Tsonga was that he was more consistent and focused for longer periods.
This is an observation of Tsonga, not a criticism. No serious observer of ATP tennis over the past 18 months can have missed the clarion message, often repeated by Rafa and other analytical players of the game, that this is first and foremost a mental/emotional art. The awesome challenge, at which all players have faltered at times, is to remain completely focused, utterly immune to fear, doubt, anxiety, and remorse, absolutely in the immediate present, and blazingly quick and thoroughly accurate in analysis and choice.
It is no accident, then, that those below the Top Three, for all their skill and training, remain below. Only the greatest, made of steel and power and dominating will, can meet this challenge long enough and well to win a Slam match at the highest levels today. Not even any of the Three can maintain it unbroken throughout 5 sets against one another.
The tennis we see today by NaFedDjo has never been seen before, and may perhaps not be sustainable over a career by anyone.
Rafa has been tested many times in the crucible of the Top Three. He and Fed have been there a long time, and Rafa has renewed himself after a year only the strongest mentally and emotionally could survive.
None of us can see into the future. Hence, let us look at the statistics for the King of Clay. He is 49-1 at RG matches to date; every time he steps onto red clay, he has a 93% chance of winning. He is playing his best clay tennis since 2008; this year he has lost fewer RG games by this point than ever before.
Moreover, Rafa has never lost to Almagro, he knows Almagro’s game, he has 5 sets to beat him in, he seems fresh and healthy physically and mentally. He is very good at compartmentalizing. Almagro may be on a roll, but he is only human, and he has lived in the shadow of the King for a long time. I expect Rafael Nadal to prevail.
Vamos, Rafa.
Fantastic post.
I’m too TENSE to write much..but praying for a safe passage for Rafa to Finals! VAMOS!!
p/s: feel bad Tsonga couldn’t close the match vs Djoko in the 4th set yesterday..such a waste..he had it in his grasp..for a brief moment..sigh..
Come On Rafa! I am following the score on the phone. Please stay focused and step up slightly and Win! Go Rafa Gooooooo!!!!!!!
Almost Rafa! Keep going Rafa!
Melissa, u are a jewel. Thanks for this boost of confidence in your assurance of Rafa’s ability and capability in asserting his authority as the King of Clay. Your well highlighted valid points have done magic.
Vamos Rafa!!
Thanks, Jummy, but I blush to say my final edit of my post didn’t take. Instead of stating, “… every time he steps onto red clay, he has a 93% chance of winning”, which is patently untrue, it was to have said, “his career win rate on clay is 93%, at RG is 98%, so every time he steps onto red clay he is an overwhelming favorite.”
Enjoyed our dicourse during the last game. Hope to have more fun Friday — weather permitting, of course. Right now the forecast is ugly.