It's really nice to get to watch Rafa again.
Tennis 2024
- Thread starter Jippy
- Start date
Impressive from Rafa to keep going there. Raced away with the first set, looked in danger of falling apart in the second but fought his way through to win it in the third.
Three hours on court. Ouch.
Three hours on court. Ouch.
It was very patchy from both in set 2 but a good amount of time on court, something he needs.
Interested to see how he recovers and fares against Lehecka. Potentially Medvedev in he QFs and Sinner in the SFs if he makes it that far. As well as he has done, I struggle to see how he wins a set off Sinner her in Madrid but hope we get to see that match as it will provide the clearest indication of where he's at. Get to the SF and be competitive against Sinner then I think he's back in the conversation for RG in my opinion. I don't think he makes the SF here or gives Sinner a good match but we'll see.
He has a lot of catching up to do, Rafa. Looked knackered at the end of the second set when he couldn’t get his returns past the service line, then somehow found a second wind. It’s hard to see him gaining enough in three weeks to be a contender at Roland Garros but maybe he could have a worthy, Murray esque send-off with some battling five-set epics before losing in the third or fourth round.
In terms of Roland Garros so much depends on the draw. It could be one match and out. I just think he might be using Madrid to see if it would be a miserable defeat or just a defeat if he met one of the big dogs early.
He perhaps wouldn't frame it in those terms, but being competitive means different things at different moments in a career.
I know Madrid's court differs from other clay due to altitude, but it's still generally clay. This court today looks like it plays like a grass court
Gracias Rafa
Lovely end and ceremony in Madrid for Rafa.
I'm sure he's fine with it but did look a bit odd Lehecka there being the forgotten man watching on from the sidelines.
I'm sure he's fine with it but did look a bit odd Lehecka there being the forgotten man watching on from the sidelines.
Rybakina v Sabalenka is an odd match. On the one hand Sabalenka is haemorrhaging errors and Rybakina is completely dialled in. But Sabalenka is also venting at her box almost constantly and looks quite upset/visibly distressed at times. I’m sure her head is all over the place with what has happened in her life recently.
And yet there are passages of play where the standard is insanely high.
And yet there are passages of play where the standard is insanely high.
Getting really good now.
Strong holds all round now.
Really, really good now.
Alcaraz and Sinner injured for Rome. Medvedev is a doubt too apparently.
It will be interesting to see how Djokovic is in Rome as you have to think he now becomes a strong favourite by default despite having hardly played.
I think it's possibly as good a chance for someone like Ruud or Tsitsipas to win RG.
It will be interesting to see how Djokovic is in Rome as you have to think he now becomes a strong favourite by default despite having hardly played.
I think it's possibly as good a chance for someone like Ruud or Tsitsipas to win RG.
This is an incredible game. Djokovic vs Nadal women version almost
The women's game is really simmering right now. Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina all look like contenders at RG and are consistent on all surfaces. Some competitive rivalries forming. Likes of Coco not far off too.
Yep, Iga will be the favourite for RG, but her against either one of Rybakina or Sabalenka is an exciting prospect.
WTA has really outclassed the ATP this week. That was one of the best possible finals and it absolutely delivered.
Chuffed for Rublev. I like the madman.
Such a shame. Remember at one point plenty assumed he’d be the king of clay once Nadal departed.
Been a long time coming. Not sure what it was that made him lose track that badly. A mixture of his wrist injury combined with that managerial background and getting distracted by his girl too much. Also he just seems to have lost hunger and appetite for the game.
Thiem confirmed that it will be his last season.
Really sad news about Dominic Thiem, despite the great career he's had.
Think it is one of the gradual wear injuries and result of the cartilage breaking down. If you're repetitively using that joint, the pain will just keep returning no matter what treatment or rest it receives. It's probably degenerative and just better for him to call it quits.
Think it is one of the gradual wear injuries and result of the cartilage breaking down. If you're repetitively using that joint, the pain will just keep returning no matter what treatment or rest it receives. It's probably degenerative and just better for him to call it quits.
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At the other end of the retirement scale, Camilla Giorgi appears to have quiet quit her entire career and then thrown hers and her entire family’s phones in the North Sea.
Hurkacz giving Nadal that Federer retirement treatment?
Seems stupidly accidental by a fan. Shit happens but what are the odds it’d land right on his noggin instead of missing him or glancing off his shoulder?
Maybe Djokovic losing to Tabilo isn't quite as bad as a result as it seemed at the time? He won the first set 6-1 vs Zverev in the SF
With everyone out of form, he may be a complete tosspot, but probably best chance for Rune to win a GS. Or Ruud.
Hopefully not Zverev. I can't think of anything worse.
However, I thought news leading up to RG was that both Sinner and Alcaraz would be out due to injury??
Hoping Alcaraz can put all these injuries behind him, but like Nadal, the physical game is taking a huge toll on his body.
Hopefully not Zverev. I can't think of anything worse.
However, I thought news leading up to RG was that both Sinner and Alcaraz would be out due to injury??
Hoping Alcaraz can put all these injuries behind him, but like Nadal, the physical game is taking a huge toll on his body.
Personally I think this narrative about Nadal is a bit misleading. He had chronic issues and he proved most people wrong by playing as long as he has done.
I suspect Alcaraz is just a bit injury prone right now and nothing more. I don't think his game is problematic health wise.
Managing schedules is the key for top players and I don't think Alcaraz has been overdoing it.
I think this RG is a great opportunity for Ruud, but he needs to play this tournament like any other and he's as strong a contender as anyone else. Nadal RG final aside, where I think his attitude was off (he seemed happy to be there) he's played relatively well in finals again Djokovic and Alcaraz.
I think Alcaraz hasn't been the smartest with his scheduling. Especially until a year ago where he was playing pretty much everything (much like Thiem early on) and he barely gives himself time to recover before playing again.
Rafa vs Zverev in the first round. Farewell, Rafa.
Nadal projected draw:
R1: Zverev
R2: Goffin
R3: Griekspoor
R4: Rune
QF: Medvedev
SF: Djokovic
F: Sinner/Alcaraz/Tsitsipas
His draw actually isn't bad but that first round is brutal. If he can somehow navigate that, you'd expect him to make the semis.
R1: Zverev
R2: Goffin
R3: Griekspoor
R4: Rune
QF: Medvedev
SF: Djokovic
F: Sinner/Alcaraz/Tsitsipas
His draw actually isn't bad but that first round is brutal. If he can somehow navigate that, you'd expect him to make the semis.
Novak gets quite lucky with the draw. All of Sinner, Tsitsipas and Carlos, the three biggest threats, in the other half.
I think Ruud in the Paul in R4 and Ruud in the QF could be banana skins.
Ruud is dangerous yes but he just never has enough to beat these big guys in a Slam. The 3 biggest threat to Novak are definitely the other side.
Based on?
Other than a win v an out of sorts demon, he’s lost to Thompson, Demon, Lehecka,Hurkacz and struggled through most of his wins, even in his limited clay season.
Griekspoor would be a big ask and barring a rune meltdown he’d be beaten comfortably thereafter, on current form.
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He beat Djokovic in MC and the other two have fitness question marks against them. I think Ruud is more than capable of beating an out of sorts Djokovic. If Djokovic is anywhere near the level he can get to then it's another story.
If he could somehow get through Zverev, I think Griekspoor probably wouldn't be a problem. You're right though, making the SFs looks like too big of an ask. If you take into account the physical side of things, that ask is even bigger. His last 5 set match was the AO in 2023.
Rune has been quite poor for the last year so I think Rafa would beat him. Medvedev is a strange one on clay but I'd expect even this version of Rafa to deal with him (though I'd not expect Meddy to make it to the QFs at all).
There isn't really any hope for Nadal. Sad to say, but it really is the case.
Just gotta be happy that we get to see him one of two more times on this court before it's all over, if he does end up in the Olympics.
Just gotta be happy that we get to see him one of two more times on this court before it's all over, if he does end up in the Olympics.