Rafael Nadal Begins Indoor Season Hoping To End Year Strong

Vamos Champ!
Good Luck!

October 26th, 2015 at 10:57 am

Rafa getting better is good news for tennis, but he traditionally has been less successful in fast indoor events.
Though he made the Paris 1000 finals back in 2007, and challenged Fed and Nole in the Barclay’s Championships in 2010 and 2013.

In other news, actually non-news because people who follow the top players knew it was coming – Djokovic moved into a tie with McEnroe for weeks at #1 in 5th place in the Open Era.
Djokovic now has a different sort of “Big 4” facing him. The four best, most consistent players over a long career. Don’t know if he can get there to challenge them, as his career path has always had two of the best ever challenging him and having their own day in the sun as the #1 player while Djokovic tried, and tried to get past Nadal and Fed..
But in weeks at #1, Connors has 268 weeks, Lendl has 270, Pete at 286, and Federer at 302. Huge gap between them and Djokovic, but Nole just might get close, or pass a few of those who were #1 longer.

But cheers to Nadal for looking like he will have another comeback. And wishing he and Djokovic play more classic matches.

October 26th, 2015 at 1:04 pm

What’s up with Rafa? Slow start in Basel? Only have the score. 1st set 6-1 Rosol.

Thiem got a bagel from Haase 1st set. That was quick.

October 26th, 2015 at 2:18 pm

Oh, my, Rafa serving horrible and playing points horrible…..He isn’t gonna last long in Basel playing like this. Did he and Marc win their dubs match??

October 26th, 2015 at 2:21 pm

From the dubs scores, doesn’t look like they were scheduled to play today, Okiegal.

October 26th, 2015 at 2:40 pm

You know what would be cool, if the ATP app kept track of each point in a play-by-play type format the way NBA and NFL apps do. Right now it’ll say “second serve” and “point won” or whatever, but you have no idea what happened the point before. I think if the NFL can tell us when Brady throws a short incomplete pass to LaFell over the middle then the ATP should be able to tell us Nadal hit a cross court forehand winner. And not delete it right after the next point is played.

October 26th, 2015 at 2:49 pm

Yeah, it’s just the basics; no details for ATP scores. Flashscore app is faster I think. Didn’t look like much of a fight, Rosol v Rafa

Rafa’s 2nd bp. Rosol attempt to close match not going well.

Thiem wins 2nd set breaker!

lol, Rafa gets the break. 5-5

October 26th, 2015 at 3:03 pm

First set Rafa v Rosol didn’t look like much of a fight, meant to say. 2nd set…well, score looked like Rosol choked or Rafa forced a choke out of him.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:07 pm

Checked scores and Rosol served for the match at 5-4. Did Nadal saved any MP? This could be one of his old major comeback from the brink of defeat.

But if he loses tiebreak seema Fedal this year is conspiring agaisnt us.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:13 pm

And Rosol double fault to loae second set afer being 1 point away from tiebreak. Was broken last two times so seems third set will be a washout for Nadal. Choke job from him, should at least forced a breaker. Now Nadal will star serving third set as well.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:17 pm

Rafa saved 2 mp that I saw on my score app 2nd set. Rafa broke to win 7-5 2nd set. Thiem match started later and will be done sooner.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:18 pm

Wow, major implosion by Rosol, 0-40 about to get broken third straight time, anybody watching? He just checked out mentally after getting broken serving for it?

That is the beauty of this sport, no matter how “easy” a match may be, suddenly everything can change because scoring allows it to. There is always a mental aspect to it that can surfaces at any time.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:24 pm

Only watching the scores, Daniel.

Tables have turned. Rosol unable win when he was serving for it. Now he’s going down in flames, Rosol.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:30 pm

No MP, Rosol was 30-0 up before getting broken. Now he’s arguing w/ the chair over Rafa taking too much time.

He was playing great in the 1st set and after Rafa got broken in the beginning of the 2nd, he just dug in his heels and Rosol’s nerves got to him, leading to Rafa then winning 7 straight games.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:32 pm

Thanks, Emily.

October 26th, 2015 at 3:35 pm

Wow, Thiem won!

October 26th, 2015 at 3:46 pm

There’s the win, great match for Rafa’s confidence

October 26th, 2015 at 4:10 pm

Great – Rafa won – Rosol one of the least likeable players – sorri Rosol fans.

October 26th, 2015 at 4:14 pm

Not sure there are any Rosol fans. But looked like he blew a chance or two 2nd set.

http://www.flashscore.com/match/dz8siwIu/#match-summary

^^ Look at the difference in time for 1st set and set 2&3…

Congrats Rafa fans! Both Thiem and Rafa dug themselves out.

Rafa and Stan on collision course maybe.

October 26th, 2015 at 4:19 pm

Kath
Why is he unlikeable? What has he done?

October 26th, 2015 at 6:53 pm

If you ask Murray, he’ll tell you no-one likes him. I think the fact that he has bumped into players multiple times doesn’t look good. Also, the time he kicked Rafa’s water bottle was a little spiteful, knowing how obsessive he is over that

October 26th, 2015 at 7:10 pm

I think whatever it is that makes Rosol unlikable is particularly evident in the locker room. He certainly gives off an unfavorable vibe. And I’m inclined to believe Murray.

October 26th, 2015 at 7:22 pm

I find Rosol handsome. But messing up with Rafa’s bottles was just plain ugly.

October 27th, 2015 at 1:25 am

Django – A subtle difference between “one of the least likeable” and “unlikeable” – but yes my view of Rosol is more negative than positive. Actually Emily and Ben’s comments are pertinent and explanatory. If it seems unfair to you to assess one’s reaction to someone you don’t know/or even if you know them a little, then I am unfair, but I think we all do it, albeit unconsciously.

Cheers.
K.

October 27th, 2015 at 4:17 am

This Rafa guy is silly! Not resting???? He might hurts himself again!

October 27th, 2015 at 5:14 am

sounds like it was a very close match, with rosol up in the final set breaker, wow. rosol just hasn’t done much – he seems so streaky.

October 27th, 2015 at 11:08 am