Marion Bartoli Says Rafael Nadal Lacks Power In His Game Right Now

well he beat verdasco fairly easily by the looks of it. anyone see the match? not one rafa fan commenting on the match?

July 28th, 2015 at 11:41 am

Great match coming from a set down. Well done Champ!

July 28th, 2015 at 11:44 am

Marion Bartolli got her 15 minutes of fame with that statement. Really Bartolli, concentrate on your retirement instead of making nonsensical statements just to get into the limelight!

July 28th, 2015 at 11:48 am

Jane, Watched it in its entirety and just now got time to sit down and see what TX has to offer this morning. There was some great shot making by both. I was worried after losing the first set, but he got it together for the next two sets and took those easily. I don’t know what to say or think about Rafa at this stage in his career. Hope he can win this, I believe it would be a big boost for the mental side of his game. Jane, have not looked at the stats yet. I guess that will tell the real story of how they both played today.

July 28th, 2015 at 12:24 pm

Nadal lost the first set handily, so I would say he won ‘easily’.

July 28th, 2015 at 12:28 pm

did you think he “lacked power” okie? did you think he was getting more depth on his shots? how were the serve and return working? was he standing too far back or better positioning?

July 28th, 2015 at 12:29 pm

john h, it looked like just one break in set one, no? and then 2 breadsticks.

July 28th, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Bartoli is right on the money. And when you think about what she’s saying it makes sense. Rafa has been a shadow of himself on grass because his serve hasn’t allowed him to get a leg up on his opponent.

Nadal must still have some lingering issues from the back injury (and wrist) to be puffing in his serves the way he’s been the last 18 months or so. I remember him winning the USO and hitting some serves into the low 130’s. With his ground game, he’ll destroy just about anyone when he gets weak returns off those big serves.

These days, he has to work too hard holding serve. Hopefully, it’s something Team Rafa can get corrected.

July 28th, 2015 at 12:37 pm

bartolli well done. you ofcourse were at prime shape throughout your career. Not aan pound overweight always in top fysical shape.

but well that should not hold her back in telling it like it is.

July 28th, 2015 at 12:55 pm

What’s happened to his powerful inside out FH? I think he’s being very apprehensive going after that shot. He was still backed off the baseline too….

July 28th, 2015 at 12:58 pm

Hopefully gradually everything will come together for Rafa. A bit of patience is required and I have plenty of that. Vamos!

July 28th, 2015 at 1:01 pm

I didn’t see the match, but I just watched highlights – it seems to me that Bartholi’s assessment is correct, but in this match it only really applied to the first set. In the second and third sets he seemed to hit with better depth, and elicited a lot more errors than he did in the first. I should also point out that although he left a few shots short in the 2nd and 3rd sets, Verdasco made a lot of errors into the net when he should have taken control of the point.

I think it’s normal that his first match back he doesn’t appear to be at his best in the first set, and he did move in the direction that I had hoped to see in the second and third. If he continues like he did, that would be a technical development for when he hits the North American hard court tour.

For gits and shiggles I also watch the highlights from his 2009 AO SF with Verdasco, and I was struck by how frequently, even back then, he did leave balls short, but one thing was very clearly different: he was much quicker and cover a lot more court and despite Verdasco hitting flatter then than he does now, he was able to recover and get balls deep when he needed to.

I don’t care about her Big 4 comments – that means almost nothing.

July 28th, 2015 at 1:54 pm

Bartoli is becoming a fairly popular off and on guest commentator, broadcaster. Don’t know about the “genius” level, but she is clearly a pretty smart young woman. Analysis is good. And she has a personality that is appealing and comes across very well on the air.

On Rafa – He is still a superstar, though he is in a rough trough. What is troubling is that some core elements of his game, seemed to have regressed. While Roger is still holding on and dangerous at 34…and Andy and Novak are continuing to get better. I think Rafa will claw his way back into Top 5, but I don’t see him being Djokovic’s equal the rest of this year. Or Andy’s.

July 28th, 2015 at 3:24 pm

Pleased to read of Nadal’s success – know Okiegal and GG will keep the faith.

July 28th, 2015 at 3:25 pm

@KatH…….I think I can be safe to say, speaking for GG too…..We’re trying!! It was good to see him back on clay again. I hope he can win this, but they’re are some good clay courters there, like Fabio! We will soon see if he can cut the mustard!
Vamos, Rafa!!

July 28th, 2015 at 4:14 pm

” I was struck by how frequently, even back then, he did leave balls short, but one thing was very clearly different: he was much quicker and cover a lot more court”

interesting – and this could explain precisely why toni opined that “we aren’t going to play like ferrer and murray”. because rafa can’t or doesn’t want to cover that much court at this stage in his career.

—————

katH you’re an andy fan mainly, correct? not that it matters, but just curious.

July 28th, 2015 at 4:30 pm

I agree with SG1, above, that Nadal’s back and possibly wrist injuries are impacting his serve.

Also, his chronic knee issues, which I’ll bet are worsening, along with his back, have to be diminishing his legspeed, leg power and overall balance, which make him slower and unable to achieve the exquisite footwork he manifested throughout his career.

With his extreme Western forehand grip, Nadal always had problems hitting up on low balls on non-clay surfaces, and exhibited a consistent tendency of popping up running forehands when moving to his left to retrieve serves or shots, making it easy to move in and volley his popups.

Shame on Federer for not brutally attacking this Nadal weakness throughout their careers.

Accordingly, I feel Nadal’s loss of groundstroke depth and power, and loss of serve power, all are related to his physical maladies, which I do not believe are improvable at this point.

No more Slams, and his career for me at this point therefore is much ado about nothing. I’m ready for Rublev, Kyrgios, Zverev and Coric….

July 28th, 2015 at 6:36 pm

Firstly, I’d like to admit that I am NOT a Bartoli fan. Hated her every since she beat Justine that year at Wimbledon. However, I did watch her during the last Wimbledon on TV and was impressed by her analysis of the matches and her commentary during the two weeks.

As a huge Rafa fan who has been disappointed with his form, I would say her assessment is pretty spot on. Unlike Roger who is less affected by drops in strength and speed, unfortunately those components were key to Rafa’s earlier success. I’m not going to belittle his other qualities but what makes a tennis player is a combination of every factor thus unless he can find a way to get back to his earlier levels or change his game to make up for the drop in strength and speed, the current 80% Rafa is unfortunately good for top 10 at best and his play is definitely not at the Big 4 level.

Can he do it? I certainly hope so as I would love to see him win another Slam or two. But frankly based on his performance in the last 2 years, all I see is an inevitable decline due to his style of play.

July 28th, 2015 at 10:52 pm

I believe that Rafa has a semi western grip.

July 28th, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Then, Rafa has reverted to his serve motion from before 2009/10. Just watch his left hand in today’s match and compare the position of that hand at the beginning of the serving motion with the one he used at the USO 2010. The racquet head is facing down again. You can see it clearly in the highlights posted on YT.

July 28th, 2015 at 11:10 pm

mat4,
Its a full western grip.

July 29th, 2015 at 1:23 am

Agree with MMT here. I saw Rafa at Queens and he was slower than I remember. He used to chase absolutely everything down, and he couldn’t.
Fed has been very busy making adjustments to his game to cope with the inevitable loss of speed that ageing brings, and so is Andy.
It will be very interesting to see what Rafa does.
PS I realise it is barking mad to talk about “ageing” in the context of these guys and I mean it only in the context of elite sportsmen/women.

July 29th, 2015 at 3:14 am

Yep Jane – Andy on top of my “like” list – but there are a few others I route for too – sometimes because of the sheer entertainment value e.g. Gael – I like to watch Stan when he’s “hot” —in the case of Rafa – I do hope he manages to climb the ladder again, there seems such a gap without him.

July 29th, 2015 at 3:14 am

Jock-KatH I had to go to work so i didnt actually see Rafa play,so i cant really pass any judgement,he won and there was two breadsticks,how he played i gather was a bit up and down,ill take everyones word for it,as they are all more knowledgeable and better readers of the game than me anyway,a wins a win and you cant do anymore than that,what happens next who knows?….

July 29th, 2015 at 4:26 am

Bartoli is absolutely spot on with the rafa analysis, though I would say just for the first set.

To me, he seems slower but not only that, his grunts are louder. Meaning he is putting in that extra energy to return the shots.

The thing is, he won. He won the match. The grit and the will are still there, but I wonder what it is that is going on underneath.

He has certainly lost some of his power on court.

To bring a fresh pair of eyes to his game, I think would help Rafa, but he seems content with sticking with Toni’s way.

If you think about it, Murray, Fed and Novak have all brought in new coaches, with only Novak maintaining his original coach, who is now unable to travel so often, they all took the risk and it is paying off.

July 29th, 2015 at 4:54 am

On Tennis.com

There is a healthy chunk of comments on how Rafa played – might be of interest…..?

July 29th, 2015 at 4:58 am

Well i think shes been quite contradictory,on one hand shes saying she thinks hes done,but on the other,he will make a come back,its either one or the other cant really be both though can it?….

July 29th, 2015 at 5:44 am

Gypsy,

I dont think that Marion is saying that at all. I think she is trying to be very objective.

For now, he isn’t in the top four, is he? He is one of the greatest, he has more slams than anyone bar Roger, but that is NOT the issue here.

When asked about Nadal’s position in the so-called ‘Big Four’ – widely considered to be Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and the Spaniard – Bartoli insisted he had slipped out of the group. “With the honours he has won, yes [he is still in it]. But with his level at the moment, no,” she told Perform. Bartoli believes Nadal has the ability to bounce back, but highlighted the chief area he must first improve: his power.

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/marion-bartoli-rafa-nadal-no-longer-in-big-four_sto4820940/story.shtml

More importantly, you should take what Rafa says about himself! This came after his Wimbledon defeat, but if anyone can put that loss behind him, it’s Rafa. (I do think that Toni needs to go away on a holiday though, sans Rafa).

“It left the Spaniard in a reflective mood as he insisted there are no guarantees he will ever get back to his former standard. “I don’t know if I will be back to the level of 2008 or 2010…” Nadal said after his 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-4 defeat.
Rafael Nadal speaks during his post-match press conference

“My motivation is try to be back to that level. But I am going to keep working on that. But if I don’t make that happen…” he said, trailing off.

What gets me Gypsey is Toni’s remarks about his nephew – I think they are damning and totally negative.

Rafa’s uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, was more to the point, condemning his nephews performance against the world 102. “He played really bad,” said Toni. “Bad shots. Very bad with his forehand.” Rafa is now likely to end the year without a grand slam singles title for the first time since his debut French Open crown in 2005. He insists the show will go on, stressing “It’s not the end. [It’s] a sad moment for me… but life continues. My career, too…”,

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/wimbledon/2015/are-rafa-nadal-s-glory-days-gone-forever_sto4806275/story.shtml

July 29th, 2015 at 6:32 am

bartoli should coach him, as rolly polly women players have a spectacular understanding of men’s tennis. she’s also a genius. her favourite music is lady gaga. her sophistication knows no bounds.

July 29th, 2015 at 8:23 am

Sorry, Skeez, semi western.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwhq48mydNo

July 29th, 2015 at 9:08 am

since when is Murray back in big 4?

1/14, 0/4 and 0/1….

July 29th, 2015 at 9:29 am

I think Rafa is still playing at a very high level, witness his dismantling of Verdasco. But (based of course on the very limited sample the game gives) he is more of a Ferrer type: he will beat the non-top 5 players, but loses to the elite. This is very new territory for him. Recognizing that his game has dropped, and trying to regain his form during the hard court swing will be very interesting because he will have no choice but to adopt new tactics, and quickly, to win. In that sense, his results this week may flatter to deceive. Yes, he will beat the sub-elite on clay. That won’t require ANY improvement or change. That’s where he is.
Can he win on hard court? Can he win against the elite? I believe change will be required there. And its not brain surgery: deeper groundstrokes, harder serve.

July 29th, 2015 at 9:35 am

Roy ever since female DC captain Nadalteam has been contraproductive for DC….

July 29th, 2015 at 9:39 am

where are my sharp wit comments about Nadal decline?

July 29th, 2015 at 9:45 am

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XZJcJHXOku8
The link mat4 posted above led me to find this video, purely by accident, which I found quite funny and disturbing. Joker expending all that energy on racquet abuse was really something distasteful. Oh well!

July 29th, 2015 at 10:02 am

MMT, the 2009 match predates Rafa’s attempts to move closer to the baseline and add variety (i.e. some flatter, deeper shots). He was hugely successful of course, he was a phenom from the moment he went pro. But there is NO WAY Rafa today can replicate the otherworldly defense it took to pull that game off back then. If he’s hitting the way he hit in 2009, he simply won’t compete for Slams, in my opinion.
Toni obviously feels that way as well, with his Ferrer/Murray remark.

July 29th, 2015 at 10:56 am

The moral lesson here is: if you are
1. female
2. not reed thin
you should not make any comment about a player regardless of your tennis credentials or you’ll get attacked for those to reasons.

July 29th, 2015 at 10:57 am

there’s a missing “w” in the last line.

July 29th, 2015 at 10:59 am

@Markus 10:57

Ditto…..and thanks for taking a stand for “us non-reed thin gals”! I get so sick of comments about fat I could just scream…..even louder than Maria!!!!

July 29th, 2015 at 11:16 am

the point is ….. she is giving criticism to Nadal forbeing less fit then he was.
ok but she was never fit throughout her career.still she mamaged to win slam. how many would she have won when she did manage to be fysically at top level.

King Richard already adressed the issue at wimbly some years ago when expressing his views on equal pricemoney for wimbly.
that was fun. he got bumbazzled by navratilova.

als fat pig cannot complain about other fit pigs. Als dumbass stupid cannot complain about my iq. Its always higher then the complainer…..

July 29th, 2015 at 1:23 pm

I was wondering who is the beautiful gal that has been in the Nadal friends box the last match?

Thanks,

Stock

July 29th, 2015 at 2:59 pm

Sienna – Clearly you don’t believe what you are saying – neither does anyone else.

July 29th, 2015 at 3:21 pm

To believe anything, it has to be comprehensible first. What sienna posted at 1:23 pm is indecipherable because almost every other word is misspelled. What is a “fig pig”? Is “als” alas or also? I have seen misspellings and grammatical errors in this site but that post takes the cake!

July 29th, 2015 at 3:46 pm

@Jock KatH 3:21…..Spot on….Lol!

July 29th, 2015 at 3:55 pm

@Markus….I went over it three times to try to figure it out with the misspelled words, alas, to no avail!!

July 29th, 2015 at 3:58 pm

I didn’t read where she said Nadal wasn’t fit. He’s probably a very fit individual for his age. His game has taken a dive this year but he can still run like a rabbit during long points. There might be other reasons his power has subsided….age, old war injuries, such as wrist, knees and back. Don’t have a clue about that but something is definitely weighing heavy on his mind……I hope he can fix it and soon!!

July 29th, 2015 at 4:19 pm

mat4,

I stand corrected, sort of. There are other articles discussing this and some say he uses a extreme semi ( which is a l m o s t Western ) and Western. For factual imagery, they’re images out there that show at contact a full western grip, despite this guys video. I am sure if you google images you can see . I tend to lean on the side that he uses both when needed, thus the little controversy. At this level some Pros can it with a variety of grips which are used when the time is appropriate. But yeah, his go to FH grip mostly is an extreme semi-western.
BTW your YTL provided fails to describe the other fundamental in grips that is taught widely, that is also based on where the heel pad on your hand rests on the bevel of the grip. If you just rely upon where knuckle placement is, you’re not teaching it right. IMHO.

July 29th, 2015 at 5:04 pm

Skeezer are you a tennis coach at a club or something??

July 29th, 2015 at 5:30 pm

I like Bartoli, good analysis and makes sense with her game too – – taking it on the rise and pushing people around. Wish she were still playing!

July 29th, 2015 at 6:05 pm

Like Marion very much; I’m glad I took shots of her at the last US Open she played – I didn’t know it was going to be the last US Open she played!

She did a great interview for Wimbledon with Mats and Anabel too.

July 29th, 2015 at 9:27 pm

If Toni is Duke, and Rafa is Rocky, then this what Toni needs to tell Rafa:

“You know all there is to know about fighting, so there’s no sense us going down that same old road again. To beat this guy, you need speed – you don’t have it. And your knees can’t take the pounding, so hard running is out. And you got arthritis in your neck, and you’ve got calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out.
So, what we’ll be calling on is good ol’ fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they’ll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it’s gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. Yeah! Let’s start building some hurtin’ bombs! ” (Rocky Balboa)

Replace punches with groundstrokes.

It worked for Rocky, but then that was a movie.

July 30th, 2015 at 1:04 am

Patson, absolutely right! Apart replacing groundstokes for punches, they would also replace dead pigs with dried Jambon (ham) which would be more traditional for Spain ( remember training scenes in abbatoir?)
But if Toni was Yoda and Rafa young Luke , he would tell him:
Force is strong with you young Rafa…
Obviously, Novak is Dart Vader….

July 30th, 2015 at 4:32 am

Markus/Okie many thanks and yes not all of us are blessed with been stick thin,im 5 foot 3 and chubby,personally i dont give a sh*t,its comments like that of Siennas that and Roys that p*ss me off,how these pass moderation i have no idea?….

July 30th, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Courbon and Patson lol to your posts,you make a great double act ;)….

July 30th, 2015 at 1:04 pm

Gypsy Gal? You sound a lot as one hot blondie from Yorkshire…is that you?

July 30th, 2015 at 2:05 pm

Courbon ha ha well spotted,like Hippy Chick this monikor also fits my real life persona,may change them about a bit from time to time,nice to see you posting again BTW,love the hot blondie from Yorkshire bit too,youve made my day thankyou lol..;)….

July 30th, 2015 at 2:37 pm

@courbon>

Indeed. GG=HC.

July 30th, 2015 at 2:37 pm

Mat4 and Courbon lol,nothing gets past you guys..;)….

July 30th, 2015 at 2:43 pm

@Skeezer….I asked you a question. I hope you didn’t take my question as something tacky. I’m very serious. You seem to know a lot about the fundamentals of tennis, along with others on here and was just curious. I’m sure most of the posters on here play for a hobby and the great exercise. Jane asked me a question about how Rafa played concerning certain facets of his game…..I could not really respond with any input on the matter, because I don’t know the finer points of the game. Wish I did but have never played. Ask me about basketball or baseball or the NFL and I can converse!! ;) …..I hope you didn’t take it the wrong way, not my intentions!! Felt I should explain myself. Have a nice afternoon!

July 30th, 2015 at 2:51 pm

Thanx Mat 4..
Hi Gypsy Gal, I just came back from Andalucia ( 3 weeks ) so I did not know your new moniker.
While I will always say that I like films of Tarkowski ( great russian director ) or Scorsees )-first Rocky Balboa is my guilty pleasure film!

July 30th, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Courbon sounds like you had a wicked time,i love the Rocky films,and Scorcesse Casino,Goodfellows etc,never seen anything Russian though have to admit….

July 30th, 2015 at 4:22 pm

Gypsy Gal:Never been to South Spain-very nice-swim, eat, sleep and then repeat that 17 days…realx.
Tarkowski films can be heavy, but you can watch Solaris ( there is American version also ) which is bit easier…but the guy was great.
Scorses-Great director-Goodfellows-best gangster movie.
I can see Nadal is slowly getting his Mojo back-Nice to see great player not giving up-back to basics-small tournaments, getting wins under his belt and the rest will hopefully all come back together

July 30th, 2015 at 4:49 pm

Sean Randall and tenns-x staff,I see Siennas post at 1.23pm July 29th has still not been removed,you have actually become very selective with your idea moderation lately,its become an absolute joke….

July 31st, 2015 at 5:53 am

Sienna @July 29th 9.45am,i have news for you,as you never were witty in the first place,sorry to dissapoint you dear….

July 31st, 2015 at 7:47 am

A bit suspicious how someone can post in overtly broken English but occasionally breaks from character becoming (relatively) perfect when the mood strikes.

It is aan old trick.

Bartoli just stating reality. Hardly noteworthy.

July 31st, 2015 at 9:43 am

Rafa just won you guys :D

He’s headed for the semi’s of a 500. It’s all good.

July 31st, 2015 at 10:47 am

I see. Sienna is calling Bartoli a fat pig and Rafa a FIT pig.

Always liked Bartoli very much – on court and off.

Anyway, it’s a supposed insult to Bartoli and Rafa to call them pigs, though I sure like pigs. And it’s unkind to call someone fat. But sienna has never promoted herself as nice. Provocateur, is what she is, imo.

Some power on display from Rafa v Cuevas. He’s on his way back to winning ways. Not quite as fast and players are not as intimidated as they were, but Rafa knows all that and will adjust – add in some tricks. Rafa’s not done enjoying tennis and making his fans happy.

July 31st, 2015 at 11:01 am

@jalep
Pigs are highly intelligent creatures. Obviously a lot more intelligent than a certain poster on here.

July 31st, 2015 at 11:13 am

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/picture/2015/jul/22/sport-picture-of-the-day-simona-haleps-light-yoga-session

And here are some nice pics for Simona fans.

July 31st, 2015 at 11:15 am

Thanks Margot! cool pic.

Hope she comes back strong. She’s such a wonderful athlete to watch.

Pigs are smart. Goats, not as smart but lots more funny. Had a couple pet goats growing up.

And I won’t say what I’d like to see done to that Dentist who killed dear Cecil.

Watching an intelligent Goffin right now ;)

July 31st, 2015 at 11:45 am

For that matter, this story came out well over two weeks before it “broke” here.

I guess better late than never on any opportunity to kick Federer’s career Kryptonite when he is down.

Dysfunctionally apropos.

July 31st, 2015 at 12:55 pm

The ATP story today pointed out Fognini is one of only two players to beat Rafa twice on clay in the same year, joining Djokovic.

That’s an incredible stat for Rafa’s prowess on clay, but there’s an even more incredible stat. Fognini is one of three active players to beat Rafa twice on clay IN HIS CAREER. Federer is the third.

August 1st, 2015 at 11:30 am

Rafa seems to be back to winning ways. Seppi can always be a problem; he has in the past been a problem for Federer.

Pete Bodo isn’t that impressed though.

Still, I always think a win is a win.

Am sure Rafa will kick ass tomorrow against his oponent and lift another clay trophy!

http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/13348733/tennis-rafael-nadal-cashing-weak-hamburg-field

August 1st, 2015 at 11:38 am

^^
creepy Fedt**d vulture
don’t be fooled!

August 1st, 2015 at 12:09 pm

CDP,

Like I said, you have been reported. It seems to me that, along with some other posters here, who choose to do nothing about your inflammatory comments, you are yet spared.

Your remarks are nothing other than shameful.

I have stood by comments about rafa. A win is a win, he is the clay court king. He will win tomorrow. He did the right decision by playing in a tournament where he feels he can master it better than grass or hard court.

Pete Bodo has his own views, and has shared them with millions, who both agree and disagree.

Sean Randall and moderating team, where are you? Your guidelines are not being met.

CDP you are a bully and nothing more. Any reputable poster would understand what rafa is doing and applaud him for it. You?

You see the opposite. If you were able to read properly, you would see that Bodo puts forward a valid argument. He is objective, and able to back it up.

He speaks with the head and not the heart.

I speak from the heart. Rafa will win tomorrow.

August 1st, 2015 at 12:21 pm

get a job you sanctimonious old bag!
Like a I give a dead rats arse about you reporting me!
I simply don’t care
Please, you need to drop dead NOW
hahahahahaha

August 1st, 2015 at 12:27 pm

Like I said, I mean
And no, I don’t give one either
Obviously I care more about my grammar than trashy Fedlings feelings!

August 1st, 2015 at 12:30 pm

this victory is demanded by sponsors.
Nadal needs to be seen as a winner, so his escapade on clay when tour is on the far extreem, the opposite of clay. we enter the quickest courts in the world. except first week of wimbledon….

It all adds up clay winner still a winner for masses.
but we well know the joke and dollars behind the win.

August 1st, 2015 at 1:01 pm

madmax totally jabbing cdp to pulp. Ik like it. A lot. CDP needs to be put down on every opportunity.

August 1st, 2015 at 1:14 pm

Have to say Sienna also gets away with murder on this forum,calling people fat pigs,so do alot of other people come to think of it,ive mentioned it numerous times about the moderation or lack of,which all seems to fall on deaf ears….

August 1st, 2015 at 1:18 pm

bodo’s always been rather “uncharitable” when it comes to rafa, and so of course now he’s saying that rafa is cashing in on a weak field. he doesn’t point out these sorts of things when his favourite players also enter events with weaker fields.

but this is typical of tennis journalism, wherein most writers have open favourites (usually either fed or rafa) and their pieces are slanted accordingly.

August 1st, 2015 at 1:34 pm

Good God, would you all stop being SUCH pussies!

August 1st, 2015 at 1:36 pm

“but this is typical of tennis journalism, wherein most writers have open favourites (usually either fed or rafa) and their pieces are slanted accordingly’

Jane darling, you and Margot are the only reason to take this blog seriously anymore!

August 1st, 2015 at 1:44 pm

Yeah Jane thanks for pointing that one out,not exactly sure what Rafa has left to prove on clay anymore,but whatever?….

August 1st, 2015 at 1:46 pm

Please don’t let yourself down CDP – lots of what you say is very-OK – sometimes it is the passionate way you say it. If you decide to call people “pussies” then you have to be specific – PS It’s pretty abusive irrespective of who you are saying it about……and that’s what you don’t want, surely?

August 1st, 2015 at 1:54 pm

skeezer once reported me because he couldn’t take it when I dished it to him. These Fed fans love to make snide remarks but can’t really take it when someone gives it back to them hard. When they don’t have a response, they point you to the tennis-x “guidelines”. Hypocrisy at its finest I’d say.

August 1st, 2015 at 2:02 pm

And what makes you that think I don’t want to be ‘abusive’ here JK?
I would think it is pretty obvious that that is something I have no problem with doing whatsoever.
And yet, to be fair, in my magnanimity, it’s something I do actually hold back a lot on, given how many Idiots post here.
That’s my extraordinary kindness you see.
Honestly!

August 1st, 2015 at 2:16 pm

@lodhi
I am here to respond, what Tennis do you want to discuss? Just stay within the guidelines, nobody is stopping you.

August 1st, 2015 at 2:26 pm

madmax totally jabbing cdp to pulp. Ik like it. A lot. CDP needs to be put down on every opportunity…’

There you go Madmax
A crazy old wh*re deserves another!

August 1st, 2015 at 2:40 pm

Gypsy Gal Says:
Have to say Sienna also gets away with murder on this forum,calling people fat pigs,so do alot of other people come to think of it,ive mentioned it numerous times about the moderation or lack of,which all seems to fall on deaf ears….

August 1st, 2015 at 1:18 pm

Ummmh Gypsy, Sienna by comparison(and I have called her out on many occasions), is no way near as bad, so for you to point her out, in this mad bad thread…

The moderators, HAVE to see through who CDP really is. We all know who, right skeeze?

Good news. Rafa v Roger play in the IPL on December 12th. Just been confirmed.

Jane, Bodo has said a lot about both Rafa and Roger, over the years. His comments were given, and he has a point.

I couldn’t care less where Rafa plays, and on what court he plays.

Want to see him play against Fed again, even for “old times sake”.

August 1st, 2015 at 2:47 pm

Lodhi Says:
skeezer once reported me because he couldn’t take it when I dished it to him. These Fed fans love to make snide remarks but can’t really take it when someone gives it back to them hard. When they don’t have a response, they point you to the tennis-x “guidelines”. Hypocrisy at its finest I’d say.

August 1st, 2015 at 2:02 pm

Lodhi, there is a big, big difference to what skeezer said when he disagreed with you.

There is disagreeing and then there is being so totally over the top that you realise a mad person is on the loose.

I wouldn’t say either one of you fall into that category.

August 1st, 2015 at 2:49 pm

The moderators, HAVE to see through who CDP really is. We all know who, right skeeze?’

Oh, right!
You betcha!
Im nutz but Sienna is just ‘eccentric’
lol whatever, but it looks like you don’t have too many supporters in your position Madmax
Sorry!

August 1st, 2015 at 2:58 pm

Madmax personal insults are still personal insults whichever way you dress it up,ive had them from both posters,ive also had them from Taxi Drivers too if you get my drift?six of one and half a dozen of the other….

August 1st, 2015 at 2:59 pm

cdp is of thethe chards.
he needs to be put out of misery before he hurts someone.

August 1st, 2015 at 3:00 pm

when have I insulted you?

August 1st, 2015 at 3:03 pm

CDP you did some months back,when i was using my old monikor Hippy Chick,when i got in the middle of a row between yourself and Brando,cant remember the exact words,but you basically told me to mind my own,and it was down to the moderators,i barely got out alive….

August 1st, 2015 at 3:11 pm

oh cdp feelings are hurt because hippy chickie was put off. you guys… I wanna crybecause both of you are so modest and well behaved.

not cdp of course she os just a little ffr.

August 1st, 2015 at 3:19 pm

Oh wow, you surprised me
I actually didn’t realise you were HC
It’s unusual for me to be surprised on the net
Anyway, point taken (although I can’t even remember it tbh)
But no way would I have sent you down the hatch in the way I will Madmax
Sadly for her, it looks like she’s all mine
No one seems to be coming to this dimwit’s rescue :)
GG suits you..more, I think
I have a new appreciation for you now
Yes!

August 1st, 2015 at 3:23 pm

OK CDP – It simply doesn’t float my boat. You simply don’t need it – it detracts from your balanced arguments.

Keep well. Keep safe.

August 1st, 2015 at 3:30 pm

Oh my CDP….just…well just…and in return:
“I wanna be your vacuum cleaner,
Breathing in your dust.
I wanna be your Ford Cortina,
I will never rust.
And if you like your coffee hot
Let me be your coffee pot.
I wanna be your setting lotion
Hold your hair in deep devotion (how deep)
As deep as the Pacific Ocean….. etc”
With thanks to the Arctic Monkeys. They don’t write songs like that any more….Thank God!

August 1st, 2015 at 3:34 pm

CDP yeah got to agree with KatH,thanks for saying you liked my new monikor though….

August 1st, 2015 at 3:34 pm

so the slimm commentator Bartoli will eat humble pie after Rafa humiliated his opponents this week. Bartoli should have been as fit she is know as aan supposed top player. As a large girl she won a slam. Makes you wonder how many could have been hers being a fit athlete.

August 2nd, 2015 at 3:26 am

Sienna im 5/3 and weigh 11 stone,does that me one of those overweight housewives that are Rafa fans then,even though i actually work for a living,if it does then im so sorry that not all of us are not stick thin?….

August 2nd, 2015 at 12:55 pm

Cdp, I’m not here to get supporters. None of anyone here means anything to me. They are not real you see. So let’s just make that one very clear.

You also don’t scare me. You are a bully, and the ones that want to converse with you, same mould as far as I am concerned, looking for friendship groups and cliques. Not interested in it. You need a good doze of growing up, along with some of your groupies.

I like Bartoli Jalep. She gave her first performance as a commentator on BBC this year, and actually had the audacity to put John Mcenroe in his place, telling him, he didn’t have to be “right” all the time.

He was speechless, for the first time in his life!

August 2nd, 2015 at 1:16 pm

To see his face, on National TV, well, I couldn’t believe it! Worth it though.

And I miss the fact that John Inverndale was missing from leading Wimby, due to a misinterpretation. It was actually him recounting what Bartoli’s father had said of Bartoli as she was growing up; he even apologised for that.

The “all new” funky wimbledon was not a success…towards the end of the tournament, they seemed to resume to how it used to be, which was a blessing.

August 2nd, 2015 at 1:18 pm