Tennis 2018
- Thread starter Raoul
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aye, he has only himself to blame if he loses the match. Far too many errors from both wings in decisive points. He gave away the tie break despite being the better one off the ground.
I'm so nervous but not even watching. Will watch the 5th set over lunch. Hopefully Rafa pulls through
Nadal with a MTO when things aren't going well ... 
Ah, of course, medical.
Cramp?
Bullshit most likely. Got a rub on the thigh...
To be entirely fair, Nadal plays the way he usually does when an actual injury is nagging him (at least in the hour I managed to watch on my lunch break). He doesn't seem able to put the usual punishing length on his ground strokes and sometimes gave up chase quite early for his standards.
I think it's not actually bullshit. Looks weird in this game.
EDIT: I'm changing my mind yet again!
EDIT: I'm changing my mind yet again!
From 0-40 to hold.
Move along lads.
Move along lads.
His strokes usually clock at around 110.
Cilic is hitting heavily since set two and is the dominant player in the rallies.
Nadal runs like a spring chicken after the hold...Make that what you will.
Nadal is currently winning 17% of his 2nd serves this set (1/6). A clear sign that something isn't quite right in my opinion, he's usually the best Player in the world when it Comes to 2nd-serve-win-percentage.
Well, I'm sure Nadal is able to play and run through pain, so I wouldn't give too much about that just yet. Although the timing of the MTO surely wasn't coincidental.
It's not on the Level of Djokovic's gamesmanship, I think he got treatment for 3 separate "injuries" yesterday.
Well, I'm sure Nadal is able to play and run through pain, so I wouldn't give too much about that just yet. Although the timing of the MTO surely wasn't coincidental.
It's not on the Level of Djokovic's gamesmanship, I think he got treatment for 3 separate "injuries" yesterday.
the forehand strikes again.
It was 29% in set 1 when he won. It's just abysmal today in general.
My commentator somewhere seeing that Nadal's about to retire....didn't get that impression, myself.
Nadal's serve is much better today than against Schwarzman for example. His biggest serve is 197kmh, compared to 185 in the previous match. He regularly serves above 180, with around 70% serves in. Think Cilic is just hitting him off court.
Cilic is attacking every 2nd serve which naturally lowers Nadal win percentage.
Cilic is attacking every 2nd serve which naturally lowers Nadal win percentage.
Well, well, well, 6:2 Cilic. Didn't expect that, he really kept his composure.
Of course all I said above could be bull and Nadal might have been conserving energy to come romping back in the 5th...
Of course all I said above could be bull and Nadal might have been conserving energy to come romping back in the 5th...
Thing is: All big hitters usually try to attack Nadal's 2nd and still he consistently wins over 60% of them against all comers. It's less about the serve's speed but about Nadals ability to turn even a strong return into a punishing rally with accurate and deep defensive shots, which he can't do when he keeps hitting balls short.
yeah, just combination of crying wolf too many times for me, mate. If he can't continue and is not able to play at high level you don't need to aggravate the injury just retire.
With all that being said, seeing his movement in the 5th it's just not there. Not sure what injury is that tho, thigh?
Yeah injury is real. Nadal is not moving from his serving position.
Fair enough, but he does look a lot like he did at the Masters in London. The injury might not be "severe" enough to retire, but given Nadal's hyperphysical playstyle, even 5% can mean everything.
Can only listen to radio, but it sounds like he's done. 0:40.
He's dying there. Just retire, lad.
And...three points in a row.
And...three points in a row.
How the feck he deuce that
Battling back with the serve and Cilic error 40-40. He's certainly not moving well, but Cilic isn't making him run at the moment.
Nah he’s clearly faking this and it was all planned before the match.
Cilic is known to be a very nice guy. Of course he starts hitting errors now...
I'm officially worried that the smug grin I've had since getting Rafa at 11/2 before the draw came out is about to be wiped off my face. Thankfully Cilic is doing his best to help me and Rafa out.
Break!
And it's done.
And it's done.
So looks like he has an issue then? Not is knee though?
Nadal retired.
Well well well, isn't this a surprise?
Well well well, isn't this a surprise?
What a shame
Hope Nadal doesn’t turn up for Indian Wells and Miami.
Just get fit for clay.
Just get fit for clay.
Damn. Hopefully he takes enough time off before the clay season, even if it means sacrificing the number one spot.
If Roger doesn't win #20 from here, may as well retire.
You can see the issue with guys like Djokovic, Murray and Nadal though. When you play all those arduous and hyperphysical battles through the years, it takes its toll on the body. All barely past 30 and just breaks down annually.
You can see the issue with guys like Djokovic, Murray and Nadal though. When you play all those arduous and hyperphysical battles through the years, it takes its toll on the body. All barely past 30 and just breaks down annually.
That would be the wise thing to do!
Always did seem a push he'd be fit for this, but clearly not
Yeah, like he should've retired in 2013, 14, 15 and 16. 36 years old, Quarterfinal without dropping a set.He could get triple bagled against Berdych and there would still be 100+ players in the draw that should retire before him by that logic.
A Berdych-Cilic final sounds scarily realistic, btw. I think he might just upset Federer (and, by extension, me).
You know what I meant.Yeah, like he should've retired in 2013, 14, 15 and 16. 36 years old, Quarterfinal without dropping a set.He could get triple bagled against Berdych and there would still be 100+ players in the draw that should retire before him by that logic.
A Berdych-Cilic final sounds scarily realistic, btw. I think he might just upset Federer (and, by extension, me).
This is his version of Nadal's USO last year. Wont be many, if any, better chances coming his way after this one.
Now if only Birdy would be so obliging....
He should be fit by that time, tho.
Not sure what went wrong really looked good up until 3-2 in the second set..
Really poor from his medical staff then he had a lot of time to prepare and didn’t even entertain warm up events.
I guess we will hear it in the presser, but it might also be pshychological..
I think it was more a case of him not being ready physically than lounging around, as he was scheduled to play in Brisbane, but withdrew.
Rafa quite critical just now of the ATP.
'Someone running the tour should have a think over the situation. Too many injuries. There's life after tennis, someone should think about it'.
Said the injured muscle is high up in the thigh, not hip. Knee working fine.
'Someone running the tour should have a think over the situation. Too many injuries. There's life after tennis, someone should think about it'.
Said the injured muscle is high up in the thigh, not hip. Knee working fine.
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