Week 32 - Toronto Masters - SF : Andy vs Rafael Nadal

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Week 32 - Toronto Masters - SF : Andy vs Rafael Nadal

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Fantastic (and what a gracious loser Nadal, it has to be said)

indiana · Tennis legend

Julia Carrot wrote:

Fantastic (and what a gracious loser Nadal, it has to be said)

ALWAYS ! And you won't suddenly hear his back was hurting

Happycynic · Pro player

I can't imagine who you might be referring to

indiana · Tennis legend

Great win. I thought it was getting away maybe in the second set but Nadal didn't quite push through and Andy managed to turn it around again

helki · Futures qualifying

Madeline wrote:

HALLELUJAH!

Steady on there ol' gal, you'll do yourself a mischief. wink

Super win,

hope he goes on to defend his title. It'll be most welcome this year and a boost for the USO.

angry1 · Lower Club Player

I think my low first serve % being the primary cause of tentative looking play theory took a bit of a kicking tonight.

I think there might be a slight consolation in the result though.

-- Edited by angry1 on Saturday 14th of August 2010 09:16:04 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

Wow!

First serve percentage aside that was really, really good. Like yesterday nice and aggressive and this time it was when he was under real pressure.

I am trying to remember a match where he hit his forehand that well and I am really struggling.

Armchair · County player

Fantastic, just got in and almost didn't want to check the scores biggrin

I hope it's Fed in the final - and a sound trouncing would be a good set up for the USO.

indiana · Tennis legend

angry1 wrote:

I think my low first serve % being the primary cause of tentative looking play theory took a bit of a kicking tonight.

I think there might be a slight consolation in the result though.

-- Edited by angry1 on Saturday 14th of August 2010 09:16:04 PM

I don'treally feel your theory is that bad. Yes, today he kept a really good attitude, especially in one particular service game when the first seve just wouldn't fire. But he does look the total package when the first serve is firing well too. If only it was more reliable...

RJA · Hall of fame

angry1 wrote:

I think my low first serve % being the primary cause of tentative looking play theory took a bit of a kicking tonight.

I think there might be a slight consolation in the result though.

-- Edited by angry1 on Saturday 14th of August 2010 09:16:04 PM

I get the feeling that he realises that he simply has to be aggressive against Nadal whether the first serve is going in or not. What probably hurt him most about losing to Nadal at Wimbledon was that he played so solid yet was always second best. He played pretty much his best passive tennis and it wasn't enough.

Until that match I get the feeling that he always thought that if he played solidly enough he could beat anyone. Hopefully this was the moment that the penny dropped and he realised that if he wants to take the final step he has to be more aggressive against certain opponents and in certain situations.

indiana · Tennis legend

I think Andy maybe does realise more that he has to take the initiative against the really solid baseline players like Nadal and probably he though Nalby yesterday.

My remaining question mark is the next time he plays a big hitting but more inconsistent player in a Slam ( your say Gonzo, Verdasco, Tsonga ) will he show controlled agression there or revert back to keeping the rally going and hope for mistakes. It can often work, but I feel it has cost him on a few occasions when such players have been on their game, not missed as much as he maybe hoped and then he has found it difficult to change tactics.

It is players such as these that he also must to my mind go in with a more positive attitude.

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
I think Andy maybe does realise more that he has to take the initiative against the really solid baseline players like Nadal and probably he though Nalby yesterday.

My remaining question mark is the next time he plays a big hitting but more inconsistent player in a Slam ( your say Gonzo, Verdasco, Tsonga ) will he show controlled agression there or revert back to keeping the rally going and hope for mistakes. It can often work, but I feel it has cost him on a few occasions when such players have been on their game, not missed as much as he maybe hoped and then he has found it difficult to change tactics.

It is players such as these that he also must to my mind go in with a more positive attitude.

I would hope that the way he has played the last two days would make him want to be more aggressive more of the time. You can't tell me he didn't enjoy playing the way he did today.

Besides it wasn't like his increased aggression caused many errors, sure he missed a few second serves which he would normally make but all in all he was still pretty solid. If you can play that aggressive and still be solid why or why would you not want to be that aggressive?

-- Edited by RJA on Saturday 14th of August 2010 11:05:14 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I feel controlled agression like he can display is good enough for anyone.

And yes I think it should be more fun, though I do think Andy gets some kick about his defensive talents.

But let's put it this way, who remembers him losing a match seemingly by being too aggresive ? Not me.

On the other hand....

And in case anyone digs in the archives, yes, I have been converted. I did once think he could mix and match more, but once too often has he been bitten.

Of course he may still adapt just a bit but not as majorly as he has at times in the past.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 15th of August 2010 12:12:13 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

Federer has just come through in 3 sets. He was almost unplayable in first set but after that he was inconsistent. Djokovic combined sheer brilliance with some desperately poor errors.