Madrid 2015 Masters

[Kieran]

Ah! A Vamos-blow!

First break, to young Ralph... :clap

 

[Murat B.]

Now Grigor has 3 BPs. Can Rafa dig himself out of ? Nope...back on serve. Unexpected after that great break.

 

[Kieran]

How many times have we seen Rafa drop serve immediately after he breaks? :s

 

[Murat B.]

How many times have we seen Rafa drop serve immediately after he breaks? :s

I am sure there an app for that...

 

[Murat B.]

He has two more BPs though...

 

[Kieran]

3 wild shots by Grigor, one of them a high backhand volley, and Rafa breaks. You could say it's like the WTA, with all the breaks and break points, except that it's a quality match, so far...

 

[Murat B.]

Solid tennis from Grigor gets him 2 BPs as well. First to hold?

 

[Kieran]

Rafa's on a very good % of first serves. 73%. That's a good sign. Grigor will have to improve, down in the low fifties.

I'm going to miss the rest of it now, but I'm impressed so far. 4-2. Vamos!

 

[Murat B.]

Rafa is close to being back, after that rally...What defense! He lost the point but still...

 

[Murat B.]

What a dig from Grigor. he gets the first break of the second set.

 

[Kieran]

Just back. And they're back on serve. 4-4. Great test for both of them, but the little I seen of Rafa today impresses me. He's heading in the right direction, so far...

 

[Kieran]

Bleh. Drop shot, Grigor? You sure? :s

 

[herios]

Nice try Grigor, but you are not good enough

 

[Kieran]

Good win for Rafa, 6-3, 6-4. :clap

Nothing scintillating, but he looks calmer, combative, in control of himself. Bigger test tomorrow, I hope it's Berdy, then Nishi in the final...

 

[Murat B.]

Grigor will feel like he should have done better. Too many easy misses. Rafa still left a whole lot of balls short to be punished. But I think he is steadily improving. Movement looked good, defense looked good.

 

[brokenshoelace]

How many times have we seen Rafa drop serve immediately after he breaks? :s

Almost as many times as we've seen him break immediately after dropping serve. Anyway, Nadal still looks "meh" but not quite as fragile as he was earlier in the year. I think it will be pretty telling if "meh" is enough to win him a Masters 1000 event. If it is, that's good news, as I still think he only has to worry about one guy at Roland Garros.

 

[Fiero425]

Grigor will feel like he should have done better. Too many easy misses. Rafa still left a whole lot of balls short to be punished. But I think he is steadily improving. Movement looked good, defense looked good.

But is that enough to beat players in the top echelon? The exaltations are so overdone by Nadal; esp. when he's playing like this! :cover uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Moxie]

Very good win for Rafa. That ought to do something for the confidence. Vamos!

 

[nehmeth]

Very good win for Rafa. That ought to do something for the confidence. Vamos!

The increased confidence will have to translate into better play or he will be in trouble when he faces tenacious/consistent players. Did not like what I was seeing from him out there. Luckily it was just Dimitrov.

 

[Murat B.]

What is it, towel-gate now?