Rio De Janeiro - ATP 500 - Feb 15th to Feb 21st 2016.

[Carol]

I just can say if Rafa playing so bad would win this match (I doubt it) tomorrow he will lost against Pella for sure :cover

 

[Front242]

That backhand flick two points ago by Cuevas was incredible.

 

[Carol]

When the opponent plays bad and is all over the place doing nothing the winner look like Superman even that is far to be, also his game looks brilliant

 

[Front242]

Neither of them are playing that well but the backhand I mentioned was indeed incredible and there have been some great shots at times from both.

 

[Front242]

There's another great point just now.

 

[Front242]

Fair play to Cuevas. Awesome way to end it. Must say after he failed to convert the match points in Nadal's last service game I thought he was gonna end up losing serve there and ultimately the match.

 

[Front242]

Nadal is becoming the same as Federer with break point conversions. Only 2/13 there.

 

[Carol]

Pella definitely will be the winner tomorrow, there is not any science about it, he deserves it!

 

[Front242]

The winner deserves to win. It'd be nice for him to win it but the guy who knocks out Nadal is the guy who ultimately can say they've had the best tournament.

 

[Carol]

Nadal is knocked by himself, meanwhile Pella and Cuevas have played better than anyone else but Pella even better, very easy win over the "dominator", he deserves to win

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, not a single person picked Pablo Cuevas in my poll even though I had a separate entry for him.
Rafa continues his way of losing to surprise opponents.

Pablo took Rafa to 3 sets last year and this year he finished the job. :clap

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, Rafa could not even win a 250 clay and a 500 clay event in South America where many players don't like to go to play. Now, let us see what happens in the 1000 and 2000 clay events.

 

[Fiero425]

So, Rafa could not even win a 250 clay and a 500 clay event now. Now, let us see what happens in the 1000 and 2000 clay events.

So much for Rafa's salvation in his comeback to GOAT status! South America always seemed a great way to get in match play and gain confidence! It's over it seems; thank GAWD! :clap :angel: :dodgy: :ras:

 

[Busted]

LMAO that nobody took Cuevas in the poll. Pablo is probably heart broken that nobody had any faith in him. LOL!

I was at the ATP site earlier and I saw some people calling for Uncle Toni's head - and just shook my head. Let's all just give Uncle Toni a break. He's not the one out there playing the matches. Nadal is slower than he used to be and everybody knows it. Losing has gotten into his head and his confidence is shot. The new strings clearly aren't the quick fix everyone thought they'd be. Added to that there's no fear factor from the other players anymore. If Nadal can't win on clay anymore - where he's won something 47 of his 67 titles, then stick a fork in him and turn him over - cuz he's done. Let's see if he plays both Indian Wells and Miami. Maybe he'll get lucky and Roger and Murray will both still be out. Although - the way he's looking these day he cold go out in the 2nd round to a qualifier.

 

[Busted]

So, Rafa could not even win a 250 clay and a 500 clay event in South America where many players don't like to go to play. Now, let us see what happens in the 1000 and 2000 clay events.

Oh ye of little faith. :snicker I'm interested to see if he skips to 2 hard court Masters to concentrate on the clay events that used to be his bread and butter points. Now days they're not even his bread - forget the condiments.

 

[Carol]

The worst when Rafa loses is the crap that some people talk (usually Federer fans)

 

[Front242]

The above is just being realistic, not crap.

 

[nehmeth]

The worst when Rafa loses is the crap that some people talk (usually Federer fans)

Realistically, what do you see going forward for Nadal? Are you still certain that he will get to back to his previous levels?

 

[the AntiPusher]

The worst when Rafa loses is the crap that some people talk (usually Federer fans)

Realistically, what do you see going forward for Nadal? Are you still certain that he will get to back to his previous levels?

If he changes his strategy and shorten the rallies, Yes he can reach those levels again

 

[Front242]

His forehand is still erratic, his serve is still poor and his overall physicality is nothing like before so it's not possible at all to achieve those levels again. It's good to be hopeful but people need to be realistic. He can work on his forehand and serve but the speed isn't coming back as he gets older and the physicality isn't either without help if you catch my drift.