2018 French Open Men's final: Nadal v Thiem

[brokenshoelace]

June 3rd is Rafa's birthday IIRC

 

[Front242]

awful stuff but 100% predictable

 

[britbox]

Thiem just mailing extra gifts.

 

[Federberg]

Lol! I know BS. I'm saying Thiem just gave him a present

 

[Front242]

lol Federberg

 

[Federberg]

 

[Front242]

tempted to just stop watching tbh

 

[brokenshoelace]

Other than serving poorly and that last awful game, Thiem has got his tactics wrong. Rafa counter-punches so much better off his backhand side, especially nowadays and is able to generate much better depth to turn rallies around from defensive positions. Thiem should hit his forehand to Rafa's forehand a lot more

 

[brokenshoelace]

oh lol, gotcha Fedberg

 

[brokenshoelace]

I hope Rafa settles down and plays better now, because he hasn't been great

 

[shawnbm]

He’s redlining too often and doesn’t need to

 

[brokenshoelace]

100% shawn

 

[Front242]

I remember a post in the Del Potro v Nadal thread where it was asked "why is Del Potro bent over?" Thiem's doing it now.

 

[Moxie]

Yes, BS, like v. Juan Martin on Friday.

 

[Federberg]

I agree BS. He needs to make his game higher percentage.

 

[Front242]

(o)

 

[backhandslapper]

Anyone remembers the FO finals in 2006 and 2007? Federer could hang in there with Rafar on per-game basis, but he too seemed to mailed it in when it came to nitty-gritty

 

[shawnbm]

Meanwhile, Rafa is Rafa and is simply a beast when the clay is under his feet. He is relentless!

 

[Moxie]

Jeepers front.

 

[brokenshoelace]

That's a mistake a lot of guys still make against Nadal. I get doing that if you're Fognini or Schwartzman or someone like that, but Thiem is good enough to rally with him and construct points patiently if Rafa isn't hitting the ball well, which he isn't