Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
BG: “The biggest misconception in the history of the world is about Rafa. He has never been a defensive player for one second,” the ESPN analyst said. “He’s an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense. But the basis of his game is relentless offense. Even if he’s eight feet behind the baseline, he’s relentless on offense that’s willing to play defense. And Fed is an unbelievable all-arounder.”
What do you think?
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
When I first saw Nadal play, what really struck me was his muscular power. I didn't see him as a defensive player, but he did seem like a tennis machine.
When I first saw Nadal play, what really struck me was his muscular power. I didn't see him as a defensive player, but he did seem like a tennis machine.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Is there something all the former players/tennis commentators are smoking that's making them come out with these silly, attention-seeking quips this month?
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
The fuck? I mean in a general sense of course he kinda tries to play a ball that his opponent has trouble hitting back. I guess you could call that offensive. But then almost every player is offensive.
Nadal is a defensive player. He has become more offensive on occasion and as he got older.
“I cannot see anybody outside beating three of those guys to win it,” Gilbert said. “Somebody having an amazing run and beating three of those guys. Let’s say Cilic having to beat three of guys or somebody ranked 15. I just think that’s the most difficult thing.”
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Of course. Offensive tennis isn't about making many winners, but about putting pressure to opponents with your groundstrokes. RAFA's FEARhand is clearly an offensive weapon.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Rafa was way more offensive when he was coming up. He surely can play offensive, but he's not more offensive than Roger - look at Indian Wells and Miami matches they played this year.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Things I learned on MTF:
-Raonic is the greatest server of all time
-Djokovic is the greatest clay-courter in history
-Murray has the fastest forehand of all time
-Del Potro is a pusher
-A 5.0 can beat McEnroe
-Nadal moonballs on every point
-Federer has the backhand of a club player
-Bautista-Agut is gay
-Goffin is French
-It is obvious that Coric will win multiple grand slams
-Anyone on MTF can hold serve against Nadal just by serving down the T and bashing the reply
-Raonic is the greatest server of all time
-Djokovic is the greatest clay-courter in history
-Murray has the fastest forehand of all time
-Del Potro is a pusher
-A 5.0 can beat McEnroe
-Nadal moonballs on every point
-Federer has the backhand of a club player
-Bautista-Agut is gay -Goffin is French
-It is obvious that Coric will win multiple grand slams
-Anyone on MTF can hold serve against Nadal just by serving down the T and bashing the reply
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
When Nadal is really, really on form he is one hell of an offensive machine.
Most often though he is not on that wave of confidence, and plays quite defensively.
He does though come up with amazing offensive tennis when down breakpoints, while most often playing very defensive when having breakpoints; which really is truly very intelligent tennis because on one point he is asking the question if the opponent got the mental fortitude to get past him and play through the nerves, and on the other he is himself answering the question and not giving the opponent a shot at swinging freely when having those BPs.
BG: “The biggest misconception in the history of the world is about Rafa. He has never been a defensive player for one second,” the ESPN analyst said. “He’s an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense. But the basis of his game is relentless offense. Even if he’s eight feet behind the baseline, he’s relentless on offense that’s willing to play defense. And Fed is an unbelievable all-arounder.”
What do you think?
Absolutely, Brad was spot on. He is and was always offensive. Thats why people come to the courts to watch him. Some times if he meet great returners like djokovic, we will get to see an offensive rallies as well.
Absolutely, Brad was spot on. He is and was always offensive. Thats why people come to the courts to watch him. Some times if he meet great returners like djokovic, we will get to see an offensive rallies as well.
I don't consider him defensive (purely) nor purely offensive either. At his best, he is what I'd call an opportunistic baseliner. He is typically fairly patient in rallies, plays good margin to set the pt, and waits for the right moment to launch an assault, typically when the opponent is a bit out of position or with a short ball, he can throw in a surprise here and there but typically relies on safety setting the pt up and then exploiting a weakness. The problem is that against some opponents whose default mode is offense towards attempting to force the pt into their favour, he doesn't always have the same opportunities to launch the assault and gets dragged way behind the baseline and drops shorter balls.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Brad Gilbert is absolutely correct :shrug:
RAFA is primarily an offensive player but he also excels in defense (arguably the greatest defender in history) due to the nature of courts after 2000 and is forced to defend well against grinders and pushers on tour.
RAFA is primarily an offensive player but he also excels in defense (arguably the greatest defender in histor due to the nature of courts after 2000 and is forced to defend well against grinders and pushers on tour.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Defensive is someone like Simon. Rafa on the other hand is not 100% defensive, people who deny it are probably biased. Nadal on a good day once he's given the chance to he go on the attack it's not easy to counter him. He strikes it close to the baseline with so much spin, runs you around the court until you're wide open where he will finish off with an easy volley or just whack a winner. The weakness however is he needs the time to build such an offensive rhythm, so if the opponent is a ball basher, it wouldn't give him much chance to build the momentum, hence making him appear like a total defensive player. A lot of people don't take note that once Nadal goes on the offensive, he rarely fails to win the point.
Defensive is someone like Simon. Rafa on the other hand is not 100% defensive, people who deny it are probably biased. Nadal on a good day once he's given the chance to he go on the attack it's not easy to counter him. He strikes it close to the baseline with so much spin, runs you around the court until you're wide open where he will finish off with an easy volley or just whack a winner. The weakness however is he needs the time to build such an offensive rhythm, so if the opponent is a ball basher, it wouldn't give him much chance to build the momentum, hence making him appear like a total defensive player. A lot of people don't take note that once Nadal goes on the offensive, he rarely fails to win the point.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
I would not call Rafa an "offensive machine" per se let's say a la Federer but he's certainly no defensive player.
You won't make 5 Channel Slams Finals playing a "defensive style of tennis".
The key to win Roland Garros is to know when to pull the trigger and no one in the history of tennis knows how to translate defense into offense as effectively as Nadal.
You won't win Roland Garros playing Defensive tennis, just look at the names of the last 7 FO Champions not named Nadal and tell what they have in common : Djokovic, Wawrinka, Federer, Gaudio, JCF, Costa, Kuerten.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
This is obvious for everyone that has a clue about tennis. At his core he is an aggressive player. He just tends to be less aggressive than his opponents because they know about his strenght and will try and prevent him from bossing the points at all costs.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
RAFA is a defensive player who has tried to be more offensive over the years.
Nevertheless, his natural habitat, so to speak, is defence, and when things get rough he gets more and more defensive because that's just how he feels most comfortable with his game (even though that's not always the best strategy).
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
I love attacking tennis but defense has it's place in the game, that's why there's clay to big it. Why are his tards trying to say he's not? He's the defensive GOAT.
Anyone who calls Rafa's game aggressive has either not watched tennis or is too embarrassed to admit it. I mean, he can be aggressive with his groundstrokes with topspin (I guess?) at times and more-so lately, but his margin for error over the net and within the lines is still hugely comfortable on average.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Offensive machine hahaha
hahahahaaa
guess I was just imagining those hundreds of matches I've seen where Rafito pushed and pushed and pushed waiting for errors until the opponent collapsed of physical and mental exhaustion.
Re: Brad Gilbert: RAFA is an offensive machine, who’s willing to play defense
Nadal plays a no-risk type of game. High-margin, defensive baseliner who wins due to stamina and errors.
That's more conducive to pushing than offensive tennis.
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