Rafa with a Chance—Nathan’s Blog
By: Nathan M. Cuny
Nadal, Nadal, Nadal what’s going on with Nadal? Many tennis fans undoubtedly know that 2011 hasn’t been Nadal’s best season, but he’s still No.2 so it’s been much better than most. Tuesday’s 3-6, 0-6 loss against Roger Federer was not the most glorious moment for Nadal, and definitely a humbling one. At least Rafa didn’t have a stomachache during the sixty-two minute match against Federer.
The last time Federer beat Nadal was at the 2010 Barclays Finals in the same stadium, The O2 arena. Tuesday’s match between Nadal and Federer made their fifth indoors match of the season. The sixty-two minute match dwarfed in comparison to their epic three hour and forty minute encounter six months ago. The Roland Garros match in simple terms, was neck-and-neck until Federer slipped up in the fourth set turning the tide in Nadal’s favor.
Following the Tuesday November 22nd match Rafa Stated, “The score is true, and today he played too good for me. Just accept that today when you play against Federer and he’s playing like this, the only way to stay in the match is have free points with the serve, because for the rest his level was too high in this surface. And I didn’t had these free points as usual.”
A great deal of Nadal’s difficulties the last three months likely stem from over exertion. Even with his withdrawal from the BNP Paribas Masters 1000 tournament, where he chose rest rather competition in the final weeks leading to Barclays, the rest he gained may not have been enough.
Nadal lost 0-6 in a set against Federer two times before Tuesday’s match, but the large disparity in points and brevity of the match indicate clearly the deep athletic difficulties Nadal is experiencing. Even so, he still managed the Sunday match against Mardy Fish with stomach illness, winning 6-2, 3-6, 7-6³.
Nadal plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Thursday November 24th after 8PM as the last match of the day. Nadal remains optimistic he will make it to the semifinals stating, “Is not the moment to say good bye. Is not the moment to go down; is the moment to keep fighting. I’m still in the tournament. I still have the chance to be in the semi-finals because if I win the next match I will be in semi-finals. So it’s the moment to keep fighting with positive attitude.”
Thursday’s match is well worth the wait knowing Nadal still has his shot at the Barclays title. Following Tuesday’s match with Nadal, Federer qualified for the Barclays semifinals. On Wednesday November 23rd both Djokovic and Ferrer play for their rightful place in the upcoming semifinals. To all you Rafa fans the anticipation must be sickening so keep your fingers crossed in hopes Nadal won’t get another tummy ache.
Topics: Rafael Nadal
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