Halle: Thanks for the practice
Photo by AP Photo/ dapd/ Joerg Sarbach
Rafa played defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber (#34) in the Halle quarterfinal round today. I couldn’t really see the match, but it appears that Kohlschreiber was playing very well and that Rafa was off just a bit. No worries. With the exception of 2008, a quarterfinal finish at the Wimbly warm-up is kind of a tradition with Rafa. He’s got some match play on grass and the time to practice on the surface a bit more. Rafa lost: 3-6, 4-6.
Doubles to follow later today. Seems like they’ve withdrawn as Marcel’s already tweeting about flights:
Puede salir algun vuelo puntual?mis ultimos 3 vuelos mas de 1h de retraso..
— Marcel Granollers (@M_Granollers) June 15, 2012
Stats:
| Nadal | Kohlschreiber | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 3 | 8 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% | 50% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 28/38 (74%) | 27/30 (90%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 9/21 (43%) | 18/30 (60%) |
| Break Points Saved | 6/8 (75%) | 3/3 (100%) |
| Service Games Played | 9 | 10 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 3/30 (10%) | 10/38 (26%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 12/30 (40%) | 12/21 (57%) |
| Break Points Won | 0/3 (%) | 2/8 (25%) |
| Return Games Played | 10 | 9 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 37/59 (63%) | 45/60 (75%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 15/60 (25%) | 22/59 (37%) |
| Total Points Won | 52/119 (44%) | 67/119 (56%) |
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Had a stream with no sound; but know that Kohls came in with an advantage – more time to practice and adjust to grass from clay ct season. Kind of expected this to be a match-up that Rafa might not win. Go home, relax some, get mentally ready for Wimby – oh boy!
Of course, doubles in about an hour or so with Marcel. See where that leads the Olympic D/team.
Thought it was my computer playing up with no sound either Patzin. I thought Rafa looked tired and he certainly didnt “play his best tennis” with a “dont want to be here face”. Agree go home and have a rest.
Big congrats to Kohlschreiber, he played really assertively and never backed down. Rafa had some really good points in places but never seemed to have his *measure* right. Philipp had his measure spot on! (Did he not play clay?)
Ah well, still got the doubles for practice. Three sets is quite different from 5 sets, so as Wimb. approaches, think he’ll be fine.
Rafa looked a little tired today. Mentally and physically he must be quite exhausted. The ATP schedule is quite punishing and sometimes I wish he played a couple less tournaments, however at least he has had some practice on the grass.
Like Rafa said at his press conference, he has to adjust more quickly to the different surface since he gets to the end of French open and these other players get more time to go and practice on grass.
Kohlschreiber played well, must be quite pleased to have his first win over Rafa.
Reminds me of when Tsonga was quite excited when he beat Rafa last year at Queens, of course Rafa was exhausted then and he gave it his best try.
I wish he would go and get some rest before Wimby.
It’s a shame I won’t get to see Federer vs Rafa in the final, I have missed watching those two play.
Every year after Roland Garros, when Rafa go to this (250) grass tournaments, I telling myself that this is only a practice tournament for him (my view not his) and that I must chill, but every year when he lost (so early) I can’t stand it. Bottom line, I don’t like it when Rafa lose a match. When I check live scores and see that Rafa is 0 – 3 down I start worrying and later when I check again and see that he lost the 1st set I just knew that today is one of those off days, just like the previous years. Rafa is just too tired and mentally drained after Roland Garros. And this year even more so with 2 days (according to Rafa he start preparing for this match in his head on Friday night already) of playing in difficult conditions. Like previous years I will eventually cope with his loss, but while happening I can’t handle it.
every year, i keep wondering why he does it…
i mean, he’s just achieved an incredible, historical win. boy, go home straight away, relax straight away (he looked spent and emotionally depleted today on court, and i’m not blaming him at all) and then go to wimbledon earlier to try and get all the practice you need already there.
i know he says he enters these warm-up tourny bc he needs practice on grass, but after just two games, how much grass-feeling might he have already gotten back?
not much, i reckon… so probably the beach straight away, and then an earlier trip to wimbly would make much more sense. to me, at least…
what’s your take?
agreed..he should go fishing and just CHILL! :o)
@eli,
I felt like that last year. I was quite frustrated because the commentators were saying Rafa is going to fulfill his obligation to be at Queens despite being exhausted after winning the French open 2011.
I really wanted him to go home to rest so he could defend his Wimbledon title.
Then he apologies to the organisers for letting them down after he got knocked out in the quarter finals.
I don’t give a dam what the haters have to say, he is an amazing man. How many other players would do that?
It’s interesting that Djokovic is not playing again, didn’t he miss the warm up last year too.
maybe Nole is in that EGG chamber of his..meditating..
@Aini,
Lol hilarious.
egg chamber meditating – funny
My guess is that he experiences competitive match play as a better form of practice for Wimbly rather just doing practice court warm-up, consequently he is willing to push it a bit to get in some tournament time but not push it enough to win. I think he must like it psychologically, that’s my guess anyway.
Hmm. I was surprised when so many said upon his arrival at Halle and of his appearance at interviews, that he looked so relaxed and happy. I thought he looked tired, dead tired, especially around the eyes and mouth. And he hadn’t had much sleep Sat. and Sun. nights.
I am glad that he’s now going to rest, but I wish he’d not had to come to Halle. I thought it a terrible idea to do both doubles and singles. I’m with eli, this just always seems like a bad idea, when he really needs to rejuvenate at home. Nole certainly has chosen that route…
Of course, I’m not a pro tenista, so WDIK, but I sure hope he can “restore the tissues” (a Wooster joke) completely before going back to grass courts (I guess showing up early at Wimbledon) to get his transition completed.
I don’t feel good about this, tho. The darn Olympics are messing with everyone’s timing and preparation. Rats.
I don’t understand the concern – his appearance in a Wimbly warm-up playing doubles and singles (and losing early) is standard operating procedure. I would have been more concerned if he hadn’t.
Of course he is tired; he just finished a Grand Slam. You can be tired but relax and happy at the same time. Just compare all his pressers during FO to his pre tournament interview in Halle.
As Rafa said, he can’t practice on grass in Mallorca. So these warm up matches are needed to forget about the clay for now. :)
Well, my post merely expressed MY opinion. Exhaustion makes for injuries, hence my concern before and during the matches. I know Rafa’s SOP, but it feels unfortunate to me this year; the mental stress alone has been much greater at this RG, as he himself said.
I still think that doubles added to the mix in such short training time is too demanding a factor. Without the Olympics to complicate everything, I’d be happier.
And I was just expressing mine. I get the schedule and exhaustion concerns – I totally do. I guess I’m saying I’d be more worried if, for some reason, this year he was more exhausted than in all the other years sans 2009. I also think doubles is very helpful for him. It gives him match practice without the pressure. Hell, he rarely even looks like he breaks a sweat during doubles.
I hope Rafa has got enough practice on grass..he should rest before WIMBY..Just go fishing and just chill with his mates in Manacor..he deserves it! be ready for WIMBY and Olympics though! VAMOS RAFA! :o)
It isnt easy after RG to play this kind of tournaments especially motivation wise.He really not playing this matches with his heart.İs it understandable ? Ask to organizers who is paying all the appearance fee to him ?
Thanks, miri. This was quick! Rafa did well to muster up energy inorder not to disappoint Halle organizers. I feel he needs a well deserved rest mentally as well as physically. I know it will do a world of good to his health.
I recommend a visit to his sister’s if possible. But definitely a fishing trip.
Happy rest! Is there any greeting like that?
Agree with you on the comments. Kohlschreiber was on fire from the beginning, and he played a good match, serving well.
The commies on my tv channel said, that the roof was on due to bad weather, and there might be some difficulties watching the ball, because of the darkness and the electric lights switched on because of that.
Seemed to bother Rafa more that Kohlschreiber though, as Rafa sometimes had a little worried glance at the roof.
We all know, that he prefers playing without it, but that could easily be the case at Wimbledon as well.
He tried to come back into the first set after being behind 0-3, but Kohlschreiber made some terrific returns.
After the first set, Rafa played a long opening service game in the second set, lasting 7 minutes, but he got it afterall.
You could tell, that he wasn´t giving in, Rafa is way too big a competitor to do that, but things didn´t seem to go his way today.
Át the end of the second set, the roof was off, making me think that it might make a little difference, but it was too late, I guess, as Kohlschreiber wasn´t going to let this one slip away from him.
The commies acknowledged, that Rafa looked a bit tired, saying he needed some rest, and he was going to play the doubles in a little while.
I´m not worried, because we know, as Miri mentioned, that he usually makes it to the quarters, and that doesn´t seem to make much difference for his prep for Wimbledon.
At least he gets one more match before going home for much needed rest and celebrations with his family and friends.
He always has less time to get used to the grass since he always “goes all the way” at RG and this year with a Monday finish. So I see it as a good thing when he doesn’t go too far in these 250′s and get too worn out for Wimbly.
Thank you people, as always this site and all Rafa fans helping me cope **
Rafa and Marcel have withdrawn from the doubles.
Darn! I love watching Rafa in doubles. But of course, he needs a break from hotels. :)
I was checking ur facebook and find you lost. It is fine. You really need some rest. Please rest and get ready for Wimbledon. Good luck Rafa!
thank you for always keeping us so well updated on Rafa. (Rafa Na-dollface):) I was a tad freaked after this match-concerned it might be the knees again. I feel better after reading these posts!
Chill out Rafa and have some R & R – you have earned it.
I just watched Kohls interview after his win today, he said that tomorrow’s match will be much more difficult than today ……… then just stopped talking, just make a gesture with his hand, implying that Rafa was ‘just not there’ today. Good win for him (on paper). I watched live stream a bit and from what I saw Rafa’s body language was not that positive. He seemed slow at times. I did’nt watch a lot, so maybe I’m not correct on my observations.
And Rafa said he will do some things outside tennis court for a few days ** sigh **
Enjoy Rafa, you deserve a good rest and TLC at home with family and friends.
The headline on the ATP site states that “Kohlschreiber Stuns Nadal.” Are they kidding? What is stunning is that Raf played this tournament at all. I hope he gets some rest!!
Saw that and just roll my eyes. Reporters ………. I will never understand that species.
They get more reads when they write those sensational headlines. Yahoo Eurosport are the worse for that.
Then the Rafa haters show up and start saying Rafa is not reliable or Rafa turned up and let the organisers and spectators down, I’m fed up with the hate campaign.
Rafa always tries his best but he’s human and I did not expect him to win Halle.
Just yesterday I said to my hubby that I expected Rafa to be home sometime on Friday. This is his usual schedule each year in the warm up to Wimbly. Get a few matches on grass then he seems to wander, loses & heads home. I for one am glad he’s off home to get some serious R/R. Expect he’s also desperate to watch US Open golf & Euro 2012 in the comfort of his own home, he certainly deserves it.
Well said Karen
True, he must be looking forward to watch the Euro and the gold tourny at home with family and friends. Hope he enjojpys is :)
Rafa needs some rest before Wimby. Hopefully he gets his fill of Quelys this weekend before hitting the grass in London next week.
Everything seems right on track ;)
Glad that Rafa will get to rest now. Time to go home to relax, being surrounded by his family/friends or doing whatever he’d like to do, including rooting for Spain in Euro 2012.
I saw the whole match and Rafa seemed irritated with himself with his serving and also when he mis-hit, but he did not make an effort to run dowm balls hit to the corners. Kohlschreiber played really well and I think it is good for Rafa to face an opponent like him (and even Lacko, who had a good first set) in a real competition rather than just practice. He can judge better what he really needs to work on.
He specifically mentioned enjoying the weather in Mallorca, so I hope it is hot and sunny for him.
I was not at all bothered that Rafa is out early. I kind of expected it. I agree that Rafa needs/deserves some RnR. But I also feel bad for Anita, one of our posters here, who was terribly excited to finally have Rafa in her neighborhood and probably expected to see a bit more of him in action. Hope she got to see him at least once.
I was so happy when I heard he lost. No shame losing to Kohls, I like the guy and he is defending champh here. He can go home, relax for a few days, watch Euro and US Open Golf in peace. I wonder when he’ll make the trip to London though. He might probably be home today. Think he’ll make the trip on Thursday.
I watched the whole match and I agree with one of the posters above that he did not try and run down everything like he normally does. At one point in the match they showed how many meters he had run in a point versus Kholschrieber and Rafa was doing half as much running.
It’s a little bit strange but I’m glad that Rafa lost. Go home baby and relax. You need it.