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Was there something wrong with Nadal in IW?

7K views 75 replies 40 participants last post by  GymnastFantast 
#1 ·
Most people were surprised at how easily Federer beat Nadal in IW considering how hard-fought their previous encounter at the AO was and also taking into account that Nadal usually has the upper hand in the match-up.

Federer right after the match said: "I don't think Rafa was moving particularly well. There was something wrong with him. I'm not sure. Maybe he's never gonna tell us but I think he was a bit slow out into the corners so he could never really get behind the ball..."

Was there something wrong with him?
 
#5 ·
Rafa said he was unwell prior to IW so I think he wasn't 100%. Hope he recovers for Miami. Not sure how much of his sickness contributed to the IW results against Federer though
 
#8 ·
Wrong is not with Nadal, but with old man who won 3 straight matches against Nadal for the first time by mistake.

Probably did not remember he already won the previous 2 matches in this match-up.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Against Berdych in AO15 he was the same if not worse, I don't recall hearing anything back then, he just got destroyed by a player he used to routine, eating a bagel in the process.

The psychological game in tennis is not played only on court, there's also the off-court bit. To the Nadal camp it's definitely interesting to say he wasn't feeling well, as they need to keep his image on a high to prevent other players from running all over him during the clay season. If he wasn't a 9-time RG winner he'd already be out of the Top 20 considering his irreversible decline.
 
#29 ·
good presser.

I just think this is simply Nadal having declined and being easier to dominate sometimes unless the opponent gets tight. Remember Nadal was being crushed by Dimitrov and Coric last season. Nothing more could be done.
 
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#30 ·
Stop belittling the great Champion with all of this excuse talk.

He is better than that. Clay Warrior will try to win everything no matter who or what stands in his way.


RAFA on the campaign trail -#NoExcuses





He said in Miami that he is feeling good and is ready to give himself another chance to win the title that has so far eluded him.
He needs to increase his fitness level, work on his return and court positioning.

And even if he were not healthy, wouldn't he still fight to the death to win, like the great gladiator he is?




Many feel that only some serious injury can keep him from taking the podium again.





Highly qualified people know this to be true.




Roger Federer-Miami 2017: “I would love to play with Rafa Nadal in the final. He is playing very well and on this surface I hope he is a tough opponent.”






Regardless of Miami, for Rafa, it is Clay or the exit.
The Final Reward



Most respectfully and humbly,
masterclass
 
#31 ·
Nadal did not say anything about being not 100%. He directly gave credit to Roger for outplaying him. One poster here says Nadal is sick and Roger felt Nadal was not 100%. Not threadworthy. :facepalm:
 
#34 ·
If you beat your opponents easily, it usually means they didn't push you.
Those opponents certainly didn't force Nadal to play his best, and he won via the errors of his opponents more than anything.
One thing is for sure, Federer was a GIGANTIC challenge, compared to Nadal's other opponents at Indian Wells.
Also, the question is not whether Nadal practiced, but rather how hard he practiced, because sick people don't practice as hard.
 
#35 · (Edited)
Let me remind you what you were saying while seeing Nadal play Pella.

Nadal looks way too good for anyone in his draw.
And before the Fedal match:

You sound more upset than any Nadal fan :lol:
Oh and the more conditions are in Nadal's favor the better, not for Nadal to win, but for Nadal to win 62 62 or 62 61 etc. in front of all them hollywood celebriturds.
 
#37 ·
well , sick or not , match fit or not

he got bitch slapped by federer , and he will get bitch slapped again this week .. if he has enough balls to get through his draw to the finals .. and if federer is good enough to reach the finals , and that's the most important thing .
 
#44 ·
Did his 4th round meeting occur before the tournament started? There you go...

People also seem to forget modern athletes use a lot of legal (food) supplements to get even more in shape.
 
#46 ·
Rafa thrives being underdog, his uncle has conditioned him and manufactured him this way since the very young.

Even when he is 100% healthy and fully fit etc, he'd offered excuses at the start of tournmaments to put him in his mind as the underdog.

Only this time, when his physicality declined, so did his game.
His forehand these days came up a bit shorter, making it easier for Fed to hit with his improved backhand using the new racquets, and Nadal is a step slower, making him not chasing every single ball. Against other inferior players his game style and plan may still work, but against the likes of Federer or even Querrey lol it no longer works.

Unless Nadal miraculously transform his physicality back to pre 2014 days, his fans should get used to the new reality.
 
#53 ·
He did say the goal is try and I think he is doing well with his goal. His opponents were better when he lost. 2 finals for a washed up man is not bad eh? :)
 
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