EL REY DE TENNIS: The Rafael Nadal Thread 3

[alps510]

Andy Murray's latest blog post:

Teenage Nadal was wake-up call I needed

THIS week I told you about choosing tennis over football as a teenager. But following that I also had another huge call to make, one that is a big reason why I am playing a third-round match at the Australian Open today.

Some of you probably know that Rafael Nadal and I have been competitors and good friends since our teenage years, but you may not realise he was a major influence in my decision to leave home at 15 to move to Spain.

As juniors, our countries used to play against each other in team competitions such as the European Winter Cup, though I never actually had to play him as I was a year younger and played No 2 for Britain while he led the Spanish team. But we weren't holding tennis racquets when he said something that led to me moving to Barcelona.

Instead, we were part of a group of guys playing racquetball.

I was asking all the guys in this group who they were practising with and when Nadal said Carlos Moya, it was a big wake-up call.

Back home, because we never had the opportunity to play sport in school - something I think should change given there are great opportunities for people to make a living out of sport - I could only practise for 90 minutes, four days a week with my coach. Yet here was a rival hitting with one of the world's best players and training four or five hours a day for five days a week.

I realised I was not doing enough and knew I had to move. It wasn't something I wanted to do and I knew it would be tough because my older brother, Jamie, had moved to an academy at Cambridge when he was 12 but it didn't really work out for him. He got homesick and wanted to come home. I know my mum and dad were a bit worried about my decisions because they just wanted us to be happy, but after deciding I wanted to play tennis instead of football I needed to give it everything I had.

waiting for Rafa's game.

[smilette]

I will be in Manila sa Feb... pede bang may meeting din while im there? hahahha

Oo naman, Mare Sabihan mo ko kung kelan

[vladimirovich]

I know we really shouldn't be looking too far ahead but if Rafa is fortunate enough to win against Tomic, he will be facing either Isner or Cilic.

The two giants are currently locked in the fourth set of their battle with the American ahead two sets to one. Both can derail Rafa's quest for a fourth consecutive slam as Rafa's game is generally mismatched against tall players (the supposedly high bounce of Rafa's groundstrokes becomes perfect hitting height). It is also worth mentioning that Cilic has already recorded a win against Rafa while Isner has produced tight match-ups against our boy.

[vladimirovich]

I know I shouldn't be in the habit of preempting match results but if Rafa wins against Tomic and then against the winner of the ongoing Isner-Cilic battle, Rafa might face the Canadian Milos Raonic.

This boy's serve is downright scary. As of this post, he has recorded the strongest serve of the tournament so far (230 kph) and has served the most number of aces. Having now won six matches including three in the qualifying stages, he is definitely riding on momentum. Also, he has recorded a win against Rafa in the past, albeit in doubles.

Whoever said Rafa has an easy draw should rethink their pronouncements.

[mykel14]

Kinabahan ako in the second set. Rafa took it, 7-5.

[mykel14]

Rafa breaks to start the third set. But please bring your USO serve back!

[legolass]

i'd be back in manila by wednesday as well saw this plan of u guys, i'll see if i can join, seems fun...dami ko chika re aus open here, had a blast indeed...some highlights: verdasco warm up, troicki's 1st game, of course rafa's especially when he changed shirt after his 1st game hehe..saya saya...grabe laban aussie hewitt and nalbadian..and yeah, simon vs fed.. gilles.. almost mate!

hey silvergirl! It would be great to meet you
Sige arrange na natin

---

oo nga, di ko pa nakikita ang Jesus serve ... pero let's see what happens later in the tournament.
Parang super-sweaty si Rafa lately no? Bakit kaya? I hope it's just because of the heat and not anything else (worried like a proper KAD )

[vladimirovich]

I apologize if there is a lack of coherence between thoughts but here are my observations of the match:

1st Set:

-The first game lasts seven minutes. Although Tomic eventually held service, I am pleased to see Rafa not give the game up so easily. For years, Rafa has indulged in finding his form as the match went on. He now realizes the importance of starting strong.

-Rafa does not throw himself after every ball as much as he used to. He now conscientiously maximizes and/or minimizes his effort as the situation calls for.

-Bernard Tomic has game. Working against him though is immaturity. More focus, and that is with each and every point, and he is headed to the big league.

-The young Australian upstart's forehand down the line is a killer.

-Rafa wins the set, 6-2. The scoreline does not do justice to how close the set actually was.

2nd Set:

-Tomic races to a 4-0 lead.

-Rafa's first serve has left the building.

-Tomic at times appears to have a Del Potro-esque forehand. He lets the ball float for just a wee bit before he hits it.

-Tomic tries to rush things. Rafa breaks for 4-1, holds for 4-2, breaks again for 4-3 and holds again to even the set. The point which evens the set is worthy of the highlight reel.

-Tomic fires four service winners, three of them aces, to go up 5-4.

-Rafa holds for 5-5 then races to three breakpoints on the teenager's serve. Rafa wastes two with inside-out forehands which go just a bit wide. The game goes to deuce. Rafa then goes for the inside-out forehand again, this time it is in. Rafa breaks and then holds to seal the second set.

-Rafa's first serve abandoned him during the second set. He must have changed his shirt during the match more times than he put first serves during that cursed second set.

Third Set

-Rafa breaks early.

-Tomic is not down and out, not just yet. In fact, during the succeeding rallies, he manages to still go toe-to-toe with the world's top-ranked player.

-Rafa closes the set and the match with another break.

[mulder8scully5]

Yeah!!!!! RAFA WINS!!!!! The second set is intense. Epic comeback!

Tomic has a bright bright future! props to him!

[yeomyung!]

great 2nd set comeback from Rafa


congrats! off to the round of 16

[legolass]

He admitted he wasn't playing well in his interview with Jim Courier.
I thought I saw frustration during last games of the 3rd set, but he still pulled off the win. (an off night and still wins in straight sets )
Hope he can recover and play better the next time.

I don't like Tomic, but he's got game indeed.

[smilette]

^Tomic is ok for me...for now. But if he talks like Hewitt, y'know..with a bit of 'yabang'...then he'll totally be a big red X for me. But for now, he's just ok

Phew, glad Rafa won that round. Yes, I agree. The scoreline does not really reflect what went on with the match. The match was nerve-racking.

To Rafa's Serve: Will you please be present (AT ALL TIMES) in the succeeding matches?

[mykel14]

Bakit nababagalan ako sa galaw ni Tomic? Mukhang tinatamad humabol ng bola.

[mykel14]

Whoever said Rafa has an easy draw should rethink their pronouncements.

Guilty. At first glance, it appears that he really has the easiest draw among the top 4 players. Pero look at it now, alam na...

Rafa faces Marin Cilic next. Best of luck. Vamos!

[yeomyung!]

Bakit nababagalan ako sa galaw ni Tomic? Mukhang tinatamad humabol ng bola.

IKR. I think he's the lamest player I ever saw but I still like him, I don't know why

nag-improved na nga siya this year eh.. the last time I saw him play eh napaka-lamya niya maglaro, parang walang energy

[swimbod21]

^^ tama! parang ang tamad nya gumalaw. walang maabot ang batang ito if he will not improve his court movements. gusto ko mga shots nya very technical IMO.

[shapescolors]

Kudos to Tomic, tamad nga sa mga movements nya hahaha but hopefully he will improve. salamat at nanalo si Rafa, I saw frustrations.

[alps510]

Bakit nababagalan ako sa galaw ni Tomic? Mukhang tinatamad humabol ng bola.

Pansin ko nga din. Pero magaling sya.

Congrats Rafa! Ang galing

[alps510]

Grabe! congrats Rafa for the winning streak, without dropping a single set. Kudos to Tomic at young age of 18 ang galing from the baseline ang galing ng Forehand. The second set is intense 2 break in a row 0-4 in favor of Tomic. Epic comeback from Rafa change strategy lot of winner shots, drop shots. Grabe ang mga rallies aatakihin ka sa puso. What a game. Vamos Rafa!!

[mykel14]

AO preview:

But today he faces Marin Cilic, a semifinalist last year and a man with a big game to go with his huge 6ft 6ins frame. Cilic, on his day, is a heck of an opponent and he did beat Rafa with the greatest of ease on the one and only occasion they have played. For the historians amongst us, it was in 2009 in Beijing and Cilic won 6-1, 6-3.

If he survives against the tall Croat, life does not get any easier for the world No.1. Next up would be either his countryman, Davis Cup colleague and old mate, David Ferrer, or Milos Raonic, the big Canadian with the monster serve. Pick the bones out of that, why don't you. Raonic has welted the biggest serve of the tournament, clocking 230kph, which translates to 142mph.

I hope Rafa pulls through!