Monte-Carlo Masters

by **AUSSIE_FABS** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:44

Yeah I don't think rafa tries to use it as an excuse (toni may tho). He will say he is injured but then say how he got outplayed (doesn't happen very often on clay lol). Although he did play more defensive in that game against soderling which just made things worse haha, prob not the best move when your opponent is on fire and you're hurting(well he said he was hurting for a long time, not just in that match).

by **Amazing Matheja** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:27

AUSSIE_FABS wrote:...he (Rafa) did play more defensive in that game against soderling...

Ok...Now you're gonna thrash me : To me Rafa is a defensor : His gameplay is to make you hit one more shot again and again...What makes him the best in what he does (defense) in the whole Tennis History,is that he makes you hit one more time again and again, but he also can send a very complicated one back and it will be even worth for you to play!That's where he's incredible!

by **Mike Rotchtickles** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:04

I agree that his defense is second to none, but if you're also kind of implying that he's mainly a retriever/pusher, no I don't think that to be the case.

I would say an example of a pusher would be a player who puts no real pace on pretty much most everything he hits but just gets everything back and frustrates his opponents into errors. Not the most dynamic style of play but certainly effective. A guy like Murray, who often gets criticized for his passive style of play, would probably fit this description a little better. Minimum amount of winners and very few unforced errors.

Rafa, on the other hand, puts an incredible amount of work on the ball with ridiculous amounts of spin, and does hit it with pace.
Those that think he just puts the ball back in play and waits for errors, have a look at his ratio of winners in any given match and even on a slow surface such as clay. Those stats tell a very different story.

by **Moralspain** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:41

jayl0ve wrote:Nahhh come on man, Rafa was not 'injured'; I love Rafa as a player but his 'injury' crap gets old....I mean if you ask him, the guy's never had a loss that couldn't be explained with 'knee pain' or whatever! Don't get me wrong he's one of the most gracious, humble, just-plain-nice players ever, but he tries to take pressure off himself by claiming minor, niggling 'injuries'. Soderling played a dream match and totally 100% took it to Rafa, there is in my mind no real excuse for Rafa losing that match aside from 'Soderling played amazing power tennis'.

Toni did tell to a very close friend that Rafa´s knees are rubbish. I don´t think he was lying, they were just talking in a plane,nothing formal, flying to Mallorca.
That being said I agree, the best Rafa could not have won that match, Soderling played an unbelievable match, just great.

by **Mike Rotchtickles** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:08

So it looks like Rafa has just pulled out of the Barcelona Open.
Something about "needing the rest and the badly structured/congested clay court season".

by **Moralspain** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:20

good decision, i know he has to defend the points he got last year by winning there, but it´s more important to rest and try to be well in Paris and London.

by **fedfan** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:20

I'm glad he has finally done it to be honest, he needs to ensure he is in his best condition come Roland Garros, 3 Masters Series which he is likely to make the final of all of them, will be more than enough preparation.

by **Moralspain** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:27

I hope he does the same in Madrid, i know it´s a Masters, but this year it´s very important for him to get the Roland Garros title and try to do a good tournament at Wimbledon, and Madrid tourny is not well located on the calendar

by **fedfan** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:36

Isn't there a 1 week gap between Rome and Madrid that wasn't there last year?

Maybe it was just Rome and Hamburg that were back to back.

by **coke4** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:25

fedfan wrote:Isn't there a 1 week gap between Rome and Madrid that wasn't there last year?

Maybe it was just Rome and Hamburg that were back to back.

Yea but it was there last year as well :wink:

by **Mike Rotchtickles** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:32

Looks like Berdych is out as well.

With Rafa not playing, I can definately see a guy like Ferrero winning this one. He would be my pick for the title.

by **djarvik** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:52

bloufo wrote:Looks like Berdych is out as well.

With Rafa not playing, I can definately see a guy like Gulbis winning this one. He would be my pick for the title.

I totally agree.

by **GOA MASTER MDMA** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:07

come on AL; not GULBIS .
maybe ferrero like bloufo meant- but gulbis???

by **picachu211** » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:07

bloufo wrote:Looks like Berdych is out as well.

With Rafa not playing, I can definately see a guy like Ferrero winning this one. He would be my pick for the title.

Aww, I knew Tomas had some kind of injuries.
This totally explains his loss to that smug.
I still blame you for my embarrassment at the ATP World Challenge though. :cry:

by **Mike Rotchtickles** » Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:46

djarvik wrote:I totally agree.

For the sake of being earnest(s), you can't possibly see Gulbis as the winner.

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