Mens Tennis Forums banner

Will rivals push Nadal's BH now?

  • YES

    Votes: 9 52.9%
  • NO

    Votes: 8 47.1%

Will rivals now play to Nadal's backhand more ?

2K views 21 replies 20 participants last post by  forehandluva 
#1 ·
Now that we know that Nadal has injured his hand he uses for the back hand DH BH , Will the rivals try to take advantage by putting the ball on the Back Hand more.

In a way they were already doing that whenever they can because of the much FEARED FEARHAND but will they try that even more ...
Previously NAdal used to run around backhands on slow courts to take them on the forehand but since he lacks the "ETERNAL YOUTH" ala Federer , he cant keep doing it every time. So that will force him to play more BH in conjunction with what his opponents do.

I expect that there will be some tactical changes coming in NAdal matches and not just how Nadal adjusts his game , but also how his opponents adjust theirs.
 
#2 ·
Can't see OP but his hand isn't injured if that's what is suggested. His backhand was always average anyway so...
 
#12 ·
Truth be told, his opponents have tried that for years and he's managed a forehand-dominant game. Why would that change now?

If there were a time to do it, it would have been when his confidence was severely struggling with that shot due to in large what Djokovic had done to it, he was staggering in his movement on that end, and every third or fourth ball he gave up from it was full of air.

Not many sustained it then.
 
#17 ·
I expect guys will try to hit more to it at first to see if there is any weakness.
 
#18 ·
They tried to avoid Rafa's forehand before but Rafa has sufficient time to move to his forehand side on clay. Not sure about it on hard court. Hope Rafa will recover asap.
 
#19 ·
i don't think they'll risk a situation where he needs growth factors, so they'll go to his fh.
 
#21 ·
If Rafa's right hand doesn't recover before USO, and he still decides to play, he'll obviously slice 90% of the shots because his usual backhand is very right hand dominant.

For his opponents a good tactic would be to pin him in the backhand corner with cross court shots and then go for an approach shot to the backhand again and force Nadal to pass.

This is when Rafa's strong right hand usually comes into play and he hits those unreal passing shots on the back foot.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top