Not sure this is something Genie should be too proud of.

February 14th, 2016 at 7:19 pm

@Pauly..if rafa win against carreno busta,he will meet with almagro who still in high spirit with a runner up title in BA..Almagro could be dangerous to the vulnerable rafa..if he is in the mood like in Barcelona 2014[where he stole one win against rafa]then we should be worry..as you know his one handed backhand also very dangerous..he always like to sneak his one handed backhand down the line to surprise rafa..and what more dangerous,he knew rafa is so fragile at the moment..if he can use it to his advantage..then good luck rafa..

February 14th, 2016 at 10:05 pm

Andy Mira

The old days greatest grinder would eat everyone for dinner on clay … But the new Nadal is scary to watch
He loses too often

February 15th, 2016 at 2:52 am

Andy Mira

Nadal must win RIO

February 15th, 2016 at 2:56 am

Okie is taking a long walk on a short pier…..Rafa lost again! As Popeye says…..”I can’t stanz no more”…….I don’t think a new coach could help Rafa…..It is between his ears….has no confidence or belief in himself anymore. He had match point and couldn’t close it out. But, I will give Thiem all the praise and credit he showed lots of poise in the tense tight moments and won……and then went on to win the tournament. Kudos to him…….but I am still very sad and bewildered….this too shall pass! On to Rio!! Que sera sera!!!!!

February 15th, 2016 at 3:31 am

Don’t worry all Rafa fans. He is currently transforming his game right now and will have to go through some losses to experiment. Doesn’t make any more sense to play defensively given his age (runs less). Hitting more winners, playing closer to the baseline, with more unforced errors. Once he reduces the latter, transformation will be complete. But it takes time.

February 15th, 2016 at 3:55 am

Hitting flat on hardcourts is wiser
Top spin has earned him 9 French opens
New coach would help
But ever since winning 2014 French open Nadal has never been the same player

February 15th, 2016 at 4:47 am

@Pops,

What you just said and described is 2013 Rafa, why didn’t he continued to play that way is mistery for me?

February 15th, 2016 at 4:49 am

@Pauly..no doubt about that..if not..he will sink deeper and deeper..

February 15th, 2016 at 4:49 am

Genie Bouchard, is she really so arrogant, or maybe careless or just plain shallow, can anybody of her fans explain, please?
Or maybe Rio is too humid and slippery..

February 15th, 2016 at 4:53 am

Okie!..where have you been?How could you leave me all alone to deal with rafa’s bull&&&&**88^^6,i leave you a couple of post on the other thread yesterday..

February 15th, 2016 at 4:59 am

@Pauly..you read what rafa is saying in the press conference after the loss?What do you think?Is he in denial?You’re not feel anger or frustration because he seems clueless of what happened?Or he just said that because he wants to convince himself more than anything that everything is going to be alright despite all the bad losses?

February 15th, 2016 at 5:15 am

Andy Mira

Great post

Yes 100%
Rafa is in denial no question no doubt but what a stubborn mule he is !
He’s upset clearly but trying to put on brave face for the press
If he doesn’t win RIO … It’s big trouble for his confidence
Win RIO he’s gonna come back to his best

February 15th, 2016 at 6:39 am

Personally I don’t think Rafa is far away from his best … All it takes is a few titles to gain confidence & then he will have mental strength to play more freely & go for his shots
He can improve his serve … His forehand can find its range but only thing he can’t get back is his leg speed sadly
Add new super coach would do wonders for his game … Uncle Toni must step aside

I still think Indian wells is where it’s make or break for 2016
That’s the tournament he must play his best to gain confidence for the rest of the season
Once the clay season starts he can go for it & really make a charge in all the clay tournaments
Yes he can beat Djokovic … Rafa just needs to play his best
On clay it’s his paradise why can’t he win anymore on clay ?
He can win the French open if he can play well in the lead up clay tournaments ?
That’s paramount to success at Roland Garros
One more French open title beating Djokovic again would make me very happy 😂
Can it happen ? Why not it’s clay
Rafa was born on to play on clay !

But for now
Rio is so important he must beat his nemesis fognini if they play plus verdasco to gain confidence
I’m not giving up on Rafa until this year
If he doesn’t win nothing major this year … No shame in retirement !

February 15th, 2016 at 6:52 am

Pauly..it amazed me that such a great player like rafa acting like this..and what amazed me even more,why uncle toni keep on let things turned badly to worst without any action to stop it..what are they waiting for?Other super class player like roger and novak keep on doing things to improve their game..roger with his amazing comeback from dip form 2013 still searching formula at 34 years old to compete with young rivals..and novak despite incredible run in 2011..still hired becker to improve his serve and such..but rafa..what has he done to lift his game?Even in his current incredible declining still refused to do anything..that’s it pauly..you just go down there or up there,wherever you are at the moment and smack his head with his water bottle so he can see sense..i refuse to be tortured by him anymore..and if you read okie’s post up there..i don’t want to be responsible if she decide not only to walk along the pier but under the pier as well!

February 15th, 2016 at 7:54 am

And i forgot to add[and this is for auntie margot and auntie j-kath only,it never hurt to sweet talking once in awhile]andy also try everything to improve his game..especially when dealing with novak..while rafa & co galivanting the world doing iptl on the off season,he concentrate on his practice to find new weapon to face the super novak in new season..although his formula is still not working but his determination to endlessly searching for it should be applaud..

February 15th, 2016 at 8:08 am

Pauly,

If anyone has proven me wrong and can prove me wrong again, it’s Rafa. I still think Rafa can beat anyone except Nole. Not even on clay. Even if he gets his shots back at peak form, I don’t think it’s possible because of the loss of foot speed. He needs every bit of that lost foot speed to even have a chance against Nole. Again, I have been proven wrong many times in the past by Rafa, so this is just my opinion.

February 15th, 2016 at 9:13 am

Here is an interesting article for Rafa followers. An article that I agree with for sure at this point, especially on clay.

http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/10168107/rafael-nadal-is-facing-a-must-win-tournament-in-rio-says-barry-cowan

I do believe Rafa will win all 5 matches this week. I hope I am right.

February 15th, 2016 at 12:00 pm

@AndyMira…..Just have been a little despondent over Rafa’s loss to Thiem. Had the match on his racquet and could not deliver…..just plain disheartening. I will work on my mood regarding Rafa and his game…..hopefully he can have a better week, and if does I will too, you can count it!! BTW, feels good to be missed….thanks! You’re a good egg!!

February 15th, 2016 at 4:57 pm

@Okie!Thank God..finally!i thought i lost you too..not only GG decided she don’t want to do with us anymore but not to be able to communicate with you even only a couple of times a day will be disheartening for me..at least in terms of rafa..hey..okie..if you want a little advice..don’t put too much hope on rafa anymore..i meant it okie..he’s not the same person we used to know..he can’t deliver right now..for our heart sake we have to play it safe..

If he go on court,don’t hope too much..in fact expect the worst..don’t feel guilty by doing so..like you said..we gotta do what a girl gotta do..we had to okie..we had to for survival..

February 15th, 2016 at 5:56 pm

@Dave..thank you for the article..i actually read it..truth to be told,i’m not hoping much anymore..in fact i expect rafa got the same result as last week..sooner or later he will fall to someone..you’ll see..

February 15th, 2016 at 6:07 pm

@AndyMira……I am not gone for good. I just don’t know what to say anymore. Rafa is in decline…..which pains me to say….but I also refuse to give up on him. He has lost his confidence and belief. Hopefully he will get his head together. He is not a threat anymore…get it together Rafsel Nadal!!! Would love to see a glimmer of 2013!!

February 15th, 2016 at 10:32 pm

OOPS…..RAFAEL….know how to spell his name…my fingers don’t!! LOL

February 15th, 2016 at 10:34 pm

@Okie..i know what you mean..i don’t want to give up on him yet either but at this moment at least..we better save ourselves first okie..like you i don’t want to be negative either but things not good at all at this moment..it’s just a lost cause if we hope otherwise believe me..unless he’s willing to do something drastically and fast,i can’t see things will turn like we want it..sad,pain,anger,frustration,annoyed..what more?I start to feel anger growing day by day okie..he has no right to do this to us..if he feel sick then get something to make it better..if one don’t work..try something else until the sickness was gone..change doctors,change treatment..whatever..find it till he find success at last..that’s how the world works..he’s not going to win again unless he find the right solution..like pauly said..he’s stubborn as a mule!

February 15th, 2016 at 11:49 pm

@AndyMira…..I don’t know the answer. I do think everyone has got his number…..nobody is afraid to play him anymore. His opponents just go out there and go for broke. His games is no longer working for him. He has a major confidence problem atm. It is discouraging to watch when he has match point and can’t close it out. He doesn’t back up his breaks anymore. After he broke Thiem, he played the most horrible game after that. By the same token Thiem had him against the ropes a few times and Rafa showed a lot of poise and held service. Maybe a new coach is the answer and if it is, his team better get a move on and make some adjustments and make them in a hurry……that is all I can say on the matter. I will watch tomorrow. One more thing, even in defeat there are still those brilliant moments in his game……

February 16th, 2016 at 1:37 am

@Okie..in that brilliant moments that we fans have a little hope actually..the old rafa is still there..he just have to find it..use every options that was offered to him..i’m so afraid that if he waited,the demon inside him will eat his soul until he don’t have nothing left to offer…

February 16th, 2016 at 2:39 am

Hey guys n gals:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Rafael_Nadal

All this plus: Rafa is the undisputed GOAT on clay
Gotta ask, is this not enough for you Rafa fans?
All things must pass.

February 16th, 2016 at 4:45 am

Dave

On clay Djokovic can be beaten at Philippe chatrier
Nadal can beat him if he plays his best
But leg speed is onething that Makes it harder
In his prime on clay
Nadal had Djokovic beaten easy on clay
But this is different Nadal plus much different Djokovic

I hope Nadal can get back to his best
Djokovic isn’t unbeatable
He has weaknesses on clay

February 16th, 2016 at 4:51 am

Why auntie margot,as far as i remember you said you hide behind the sofa when andy played nole at AO last month?Auntie andymira can only imagine what will you do if andy has similar problem like rafa now!

February 16th, 2016 at 5:43 am

Pauly,

2013 was anything but easy for Nadal and he could have easily lost that match as everyone knows. Djokovic as you and I both know is better on clay now than in 2013. 2014 was also a pretty close match with Nole vomitting during the match from the conditions. And it was sad that fans had to call out during match point with Nole serving. 2 times in 2 finals against Nadal in the 4th set when it was on serve where he double faults on match point. Rafa was completely relieved that that match didn’t go to a 5 set. Nole said he was starting to feel good again in the 4th set, and Rafa didn’t have any energy for a 5th set. I have went back and watched their matches on class at the French Open and they are very close matches. I never said that Novak is unbeatable on clay. I will see he is unbeatable on clay against Rafa, even in the French Open if Rafa has actually lost some of his old foot speed. Even if Rafa is hitting the ball in peak form, I don’t see how the loss of foot speed, as well as Novak being better now than in the past is going to give Rafa a chance at beating Novak.

February 16th, 2016 at 6:47 am

Interesting Comments from Uncle Nadal.

Toni Nadal spoke in Buenos Aires about many interesting aspects, and revealed a shocker about his collaboration with Rafa.

‘I had the luck to be his uncle, changing coach was much more difficult. If I were not his uncle probably he would have substituted me,’ said Toni, who alternates with second coach Francis Roig during tournaments.

‘I didn’t take (the best out of) Rafael, he only did it. In tennis, it’s the player who makes the coach and not vice versa’.

At 12, probably pushed by Toni, Rafa decided to focus on tennis even though he’d always liked football more than tennis all his life.

Toni also admitted that he would like to see his nephew hitting his forehand like how Roger Federer does. ‘I would have liked to see him hitting his forehand forward, we have done it when he was little. But when we started to play in the Professional Tour, Rafael started to hit ball a little bit later, and started to bring the hand behind. Without any doubt, I like who hits like Federer,’ Toni said.

For Toni, without hard work, one cannot do anything: ‘You teach (someone to) will the same way you teach forehand. I think the main thing in life is sheer willpower. I was a coach, who was more worried about character than a tecnical question. In life, character is fundamental, because at the end making the ball pass over the net is unimportant in life, but dominating will, (taking) effort, and having perseverance in what you do has value.’

February 16th, 2016 at 7:03 am

Dave

2013
Nadal should’ve won that semi final in 4 sets
He was serving for the match
However in 2014 … I still don’t know how Nadal won that match ?
I mean he was totally spent … Had Djokovic won the 4th set
6-0 final set was possibility or perhaps something more shocking Nadal default !
Very lucky

As for forehand … I wish he could hit it flat like 2004 against Hewitt at the Australian open

February 16th, 2016 at 7:21 am

ATP500 vs INT280
Off course there’s difference…

February 16th, 2016 at 7:22 am

Serving for the match on Clay against the best returner ever, is no guarantee, especially with a serve like Rafa has. They always have close service games against each other on clay. Holding serve at times can be almost as hard as breaking when they play each other. So I have to disagree with you on that one. Also, Nole played an amazing game to break in that game. Nothing is guaranteed, just because someone is serving for the match. I have heard that one to many times by different people.

February 16th, 2016 at 7:23 am

I could easily say that Nole should have won in the 5th set, but he didn’t. He touched the net, which was his own fault and Nadal ended up breaking. And even if Nole didn’t hit the net and held serve in that game, I won’t say that he should have won. Again, nothing is guaranteed in any match. The facts are that Nadal didn’t win the 4th set in that match and Nole didn’t win the 5th set in that match. It was an extremely close match that could have gone either way.

February 16th, 2016 at 7:28 am

Dave

I’ve watched so much tennis between the two … I still believe Nadal is capable of one more French open
What I hate is Nadal’s serve ! It’s just got nothing on it to worry Djokovic at all
If you recall 2013 hardcourt matches … How well Nadal served
Nowadays he can’t buy a free point
I still think Nadal can improve

February 16th, 2016 at 7:35 am

Dave

Agassi is the man with the tactics to help Nadal improve his game … Any thoughts about pat cash ? Can he help Nadal improve

February 16th, 2016 at 7:39 am

But AndyMira, Rafa has achieved so much more than Andy, that’s my point. Of course I’d love Andy to win a couple more slams and beat Nole…sometimes…;) but if he doesn’t, so what?

February 16th, 2016 at 8:01 am

Yes. I think anyone can help Rafa. Agassi would be amazing for Rafa. I hope he hires Agassi.

February 16th, 2016 at 8:02 am

Pauly,

If you watch sports with teams, you might appreciate this example. Almost everytime a player gets traded to a new team, he starts playing better with the new team and scoring more right away. He gets a fresh start with a new team. I think the same would be true for Rafa. And it really doesn’t matter what coach he got either. If it was Pat Cash he would get a new perspective and a fresh start with someone new. Of course I feel that Agassi would be ideal, even Johnny Mac would be amazing as well. Either of those 2 guys would take Rafa that much further. Johnny Mac especially would force Rafa to go to the net more. Agassi would help Rafa to be a better returner, even though he is already very good. They would both force Rafa to hit his serve more aggressively. Even though Agassi didn’t have the best serve, he could hit it hard and flat for aces when he needed to in timely situations.

February 16th, 2016 at 9:06 am

Heavy rain forecasted for tonight same as yesterday. Think I am going to miss my ticket for the day. Nadal schedule to play tonight but judging by yeasterday rain there willbe no matches tonight. Hope my ticket will be valid for next year.

February 16th, 2016 at 9:07 am

I actually had a theory that it might be better for Rafa to lose in Rio this week. If he wins the tournament he might stay in denial longer about needing a new coach, which would hurt him more in the long run. If he loses in Rio, this would speed things up, unless Rafa really truly is that stubborn and just refuses to get a new coach forever, no matter how many times he keeps losing. At that point, than I would officially give up hope that Rafa could ever return to winning bigger titles again. That’s my take on it as of today.

February 16th, 2016 at 9:26 am

Fingers crossed for Nadal.

February 16th, 2016 at 9:29 am

Margot my darling,you think we rafa fan cares so much whether he win another slam or not?You think we criticized him because we enjoy in doing so?If tomorrow rafa decide he don’t want to torture himself anymore..i’ll accept it..and i’m sure okie and pauly will accept with a heavy heart as well..but…..we criticized him because it pained us terribly to see a great champion to get toyed around and get slaughtered not only by novak but also by a lesser player who didn’t even get a sniff at 100th ranking..

He didn’t deserve to be in this position..he also didn’t deserve to be kept humiliated time after time..besides i’m sure you still notice that the old brilliant rafa is still lurking somewhere inside..that..is what we’re trying to salvage..it’s not about trophy margot..it’s about to keep rafa enjoy playing tennis,and he will enjoy it if he keep winning but i doubt it very much if he keep collecting bad losses everywhere and that maybe lead to his immature retirement..and that’s what we rafa fans most scared about..

February 16th, 2016 at 9:50 am

@Dave 9:26am..brilliant theory!don’t worry dave..i think your theory will prove right..about other things you said..it’s interesting to see in the coming months whether he’s really truly A CLASS STUBBORNER or not..

One more thing..do you still stand by your words that you think rafa will win all his 5 matches this week?

February 16th, 2016 at 10:05 am

I do stand by my words. But in my heart, I don’t want him to win this week because I would rather see him have long term success than short term success. Starting the process sooner to push him to get a new coach is better for his long term success. And if he loses and doesn’t get a new coach, at least all of his supporter have closure to the situation, instead of being stuck in limbo, wondering what is going to happen next. You will all know that Rafa will be that stubborn and not get a new coach, or he will get a new coach. Being in limbo is never fun in any situation in life. So the good news is, everyone will get some kind of closure, no matter what happens with a loss. With a win, you will be stuck in limbo longer. No thanks.

February 16th, 2016 at 10:14 am

Dave..believe it or not,i got my closure after he exit immaturely from AO last month,and it sealed it even further last week,although if he’s willing to make some changes and start winning again,i will not hesitate to put my heart once again in his palm..

February 16th, 2016 at 10:34 am

@Margot 4:45…….I am aware of all of his achievements and I am satisfied with them. If he doesn’t win another match that’s OK too. Yes, all things pass…….but I am not ready for that just yet. So, I can speak only for myself in answer to your question…”is this not enough for you Rafa fans”? No, Margot, no…… lol Hope Andy does well this year…btw Has the little girl been named yet??

February 16th, 2016 at 11:54 am

There is nothing to do with “deserve” to be in this position. Sportsnan ages and they decline nperiod, the “circle of life”.

It happens to everybody and it’s just happening to Nadal now. He still is top 5 and altgough not contestong for the big totles anymore as long as he is there maybe his chance will come.

But the idea that any great player can revamp their gales at will is not true. If it was that easy everybody would do so.

Even Federer who had some lat sucess it’s actually missguiding because he ain’t winning Slams.

February 16th, 2016 at 6:06 pm

Love the homage to Guga Kuerten, now the name of Rio Open main court. Almost crued with the footage of his RG titles😭

February 16th, 2016 at 6:38 pm

Almost crued with the footage of his RG titles😭
—
You should never crue. It is not good.

February 16th, 2016 at 10:45 pm

I see Rafa beat RBA very comfortably, so keep your peckers up gals :)
And Nick The Kid beat Poppit, anyone see that? “Young guns” squaring up.

February 17th, 2016 at 2:48 am

Hey auntie Margot,how do you find the name Sophia Olivia?Clearly there’s no ANDYMIRA in there..but i’ll say very elegant name none the less..

February 17th, 2016 at 3:10 am

Where was auntie J-kath?Only a couple of days ago she seems very excited to know the baby’s name..yoo hoo auntie JK..don’t tell me you’re stunned speechless by that elegant name?I know there’s no MARMIRKATH in there but SOPHIA OLIVIA will do just fine..

February 17th, 2016 at 3:44 am

Margot. I believe it was PCB, not RBA.

February 17th, 2016 at 4:27 am

Dave

If Nadal lost this week
He might look in the mirror & seek help finally

February 17th, 2016 at 5:23 am

Zozza. You definitely need to see a head doctor. Geez!

February 17th, 2016 at 6:31 am

Pauly..How is his game today?I can only follow it on the livescores..based on his scores..i would say it was an ok match for him..

February 17th, 2016 at 6:48 am

Pauly..one other thing..i don’t know whether you’re already read this article or not but one writer at Tennisworldusa described rafa’s loss to Thiem was a stupid mistake..what do you think?

February 17th, 2016 at 6:56 am

Andy Mira

Solid first set not so great second
But what I heard recently is that Nadal hits the ball flat in practice but not in matches
Watching Nadal practice is totally different to watching him play matches
Whether it’s confidence or whether it’s uncle Toni telling him to keep on spinning it ?
Crazy the template to defeat Djokovic was created by Wawrinka … Bulldozer tactics hit through him
Nadal needs to go flat or lose

February 17th, 2016 at 7:12 am

It’s time to bring in super coach
Agassi was flat hitter if I recall ?
He’d tell Nadal to hit as hard as he could
Trust me that Nadal forehand would do damage against everyone !
It’s time to try new things

February 17th, 2016 at 7:16 am

Agassi hit super flat and hard and had an amazing 2 handed backhand. What makes ZERO sense to me is that logically, if you really think about it, unless I am way off, Rafa should have one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful 2 handed backhand in the game. Think about it, he is naturally right handed and not left handed, so it’s like he is hitting a 2 handed forehand instead of a one handed forehand. You get all that extra power. I have never understood why he doesn’t let it rip more often off of the backhand wing, because tecnically for him, it’s actually a forehand.

February 17th, 2016 at 8:10 am

Pauly,you’re remember at uso2013..when they played the longest shot in 2nd set[i think]..at one time rafa unleashed 3 or 4 amazing forehand to novak’s but couldn’t get through the serbinator defense..you think at that time rafa’s forehand is still lethal?If so why he couldn’t get through novak’s defense?As i recall rafa’s forehand is one of the most dangerous forehand in tennis history..

February 17th, 2016 at 8:10 am

I noticed that at times Rafa’s backhand looks so unnatural, because tecnically it should have been his forehand, but Uncle Tony made him left handed when he was young. I could get critisized for this comment that I am about to make now. I honestly think that if he stayed right handed, it would have also had many advantages that he wouldn’t have had left handed, that would help him a lot more now that he is older. One of the major advantages that I know he would have had which has helped Federer so much as he has gotten older, is cheap points off of the serve. Nadal has never had pinpoint accuracy hitting a left handed serve, why? because it’s not his natural way of serving. Right handed he would have had better accuracy with his serve his whole career. Even his groundstrokes would have been more accurate. The left handed strategy has worked in his prime years, but now it’s another factor to why he might not get to win majors in his later years. When you are older, you need that pin point accuracy to get cheap points and not need to depend on your movement so much. To me, even if you learn how to hit with your opposite arm, it will still never be as accurate to what was natural to you in the first place.

February 17th, 2016 at 8:18 am

Dave..talk about 2 handed backhand,you watch back AO2009,rafa vs roger..he unleashed 9 amazing 2 backhanded shot..and roger has no answer to all of them..i realize now,we rarely saw his 2 backhanded anymore..or if he’s still use it,it lacked of sting or extra power to damage the opponent..is it because of his back injury that he has to adjust something that lead to the loss of this said extra power?

February 17th, 2016 at 8:33 am

Nadal hot way more deeper and he was in control when he start the point with his FH. The pop was still there, the only aspect I noticed yesterday live that stillis a bog liability is hos serve. PCB didn’t took manu advantahe on it even with Nadal having a bunch of second serves first set, he was returning shortly. A better returner could pose more threat. But he did look great overall with some signature FH’s. But we’ve seen this before. Let’s see of he’ll keep this level whole week.

Hemay face Dolgo Quarters and he can make a match out of it with his alternative game where he can hit flat, slice, spin etc…

February 17th, 2016 at 12:07 pm

Tsonga knocked out by #338 Brazilian.

February 17th, 2016 at 1:41 pm

@Daniel……If Rafa…..big if…..could count on his serve for more free points in tense, tight
moments on serve, his game would not be all that bad. Getting broke so many times against Busta last night drives my point home. Of course, this conjecture is nothing new, many fans of Rafa and non-fans have said this many times. It’s the serve and plus no self belief and lack of confidence. Against Busta yesterday he would get broke and come back and break him…..a real see saw of a match….sort of strange……I did think he was going for his shots more last night than he had been…..plus he was more on target too. I haven’t checked the stats however…..

February 17th, 2016 at 1:58 pm