Probably the last time he faced a player with such crappy returns (Alun Jones not withstanding)When was the last time Nadal lost only 8 points on his service ?
thats exactly how i saw the match! he was way to passive. he may have got a 6-0 2nd set but it was only because ledovskikhs head dropped and he sprayed errors all over the place.Probably the last time he faced a player with such crappy returns (Alun Jones not withstanding)
I really didn't expect him to be as defensive as he was against that kind of opponent, he didn't even try to take control of a point in the first 8 games. The scoreline makes it look like he stepped it up, but it was more due to Ledovskikh's level dropping.
Well... you have a point about this having been the perfect occasion for Raf to try to be more aggressive in a match - but on the other hand, he probably knew very well that he was going to beat this eh... mug with ease, and might have chosen to save energy for upcoming matches. :shrug:i thought this would have been the perfect match for nadal to try and be agressive, as he was never gonna lose it. if he dosen't practice being up on the baseline against lower ranked players hows he gonna pull it off against better players when he needs to do it.![]()
Well done, Rafa, for winning this 2nd round match.
I didn't expect from Rafa to play agressively today. I think his confidence is still building up. He said in Rotterdam vs Seppi he experienced a mental break-down and that he was not very confident when he started playing Dubai. He'll need few more wins to become more confident and start playing more agressively. Yeah, Rafa is running out of time, the QF is not going to be easy, he'll have to step it up if he wants to win.
Bamos, Rafa.![]()
Levovskikh is known as a bad plyaer with one of the worst returns so it's not a suprise.When was the last time Nadal lost only 8 points on his service ?
I think you should change your username to ClayCaptainObviousunfortunately his game is not where it should have been already. he will probably get by Roddick or Mathieu but it will be difficult to derail Djokovic in the semis.
i realize he has some natural limitations on hard courts due to his very heavy topspin strokes but he can still make his life little easier by serving better, returning better, and better fitness. this russian clown doesnt count. its about dealing with better players on hard courts.
but thats my point! whats more exhausting, playing 5 feet behind the baseline chasing down balls and wearing down an oponent, or playing on the baseline going for winners, he will miss some but against ledovskikh it realy wasn't going to matter.Well... you have a point about this having been the perfect occasion for Raf to try to be more aggressive in a match - but on the other hand, he probably knew very well that he was going to beat this eh... mug with ease, and might have chosen to save energy for upcoming matches. :shrug:
Just my guess...
Because 'lingering five feet behind the baseline chasing balls' is Rafa's Comfort Zone-way of playing. He knowns for sure he'll win such a match against a qualifier (who mysteriously made his way into the 2nd round) with ease playing like that.but thats my point! whats more exhausting, playing 5 feet behind the baseline chasing down balls and wearing down an oponent, or playing on the baseline going for winners, he will miss some but against ledovskikh it realy wasn't going to matter.
playing the way he did today djokovic will beat him, so he might as well have tried to be agressive especialy as ledovskikh is slow moving, why let the guy dictate, when that was the only way ledovskikh can win a point?