RAFA THE KING Of CLAY LOSES AT THE 2016 MADRID OPEN TENNIS – ANDY MURRAY BEATS RAFAEL NADAL 7-5, 6-4 THE FINALS AGAINST NOVAK DJOKOVIC TOMORROW BY CRAIG CIGNARELLI

Written by: Staff on 7th May 2016

RAFA THE KING Of CLAY LOSES AT THE 2016 MADRID OPEN TENNIS - ANDY MURRAY BEATS RAFAEL NADAL 7-5, 6-4 THE FINALS AGAINST NOVAK DJOKOVIC TOMORROW BY CRAIG CIGNARELLI

epa05293276 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal reacts after losing against British Andy Murray during their Mutua Madrid Open semi final match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 07 May 2016. EPA/JUANJO MARTIN |

Manolo Santana’s tennis career included wins at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the French. Consequently, when Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal crossed Estadio Santana’s perimeter to compete in the Mutua Madrid Open’s semifinal, both men knew they were stepping onto hallowed ground.

Murray is an atypical Brit with an ornery streak, who employs guile and consistency to break his opponent’s will. It’s worked as he’s currently the #2 player in the world and worth $43 million in prize money. Today, he battles a nine-time French Open champion who’s so comfortable on the dirt, there are rumors he’s thrown away the family vacuum. With a sculpted torso and a seemingly unrelenting desire to win, Nadal is a tennis Titan on his way back from injuries. At present, he is the greatest number 5 seed in clay court history.

Estadio Santana is at capacity today, Spain’s weekend warriors and VIP’s scooping up tickets en masse. Outside, a frenzy erupted when someone offered to scalp a stadium seat and then disappeared beneath a leaping throng of humanity.

The match-up is fascinating. Murray is steady, with good power and world class speed. He’s serving 130mph+ and loves the backhand down the line. Nadal is a defensive mensch, blessed with a Herculean forehand and a Balboaesque will (Rocky). Neither player began their careers with an offensive base, but both have added it to the tune of 16 slams (14 for Nadal). One gets the sense we’re going to be here a while.

While the models (owner Ion Tiriac has contracted female models to act as ball kids—yes there is a lot of drooling in the crowd but let’s not talk about it), line up to greet the players as they enter, the DJ plays the athletes’ musical accompaniments. Rafa comes in to the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean and Murray requested Queen’s We Will Rock You, which may be an effort in foreshadowing. With Spain’s national son competing, the semifinals in Madrid is an event. Men don suits and women sport skirts and scarves and wave to other people across the stadium so they can wave back and everyone can meet for drinks after the match and say “I saw you too!”

The umpire breaks out the iPad and does the coin flip via the big scoreboard and a digitized coin that has both players’ faces on it. The match is about to begin. There’s something eerie about the silence of 12,000 people ready to erupt, like a lake with a monster beneath. Whether Nessie will rise today is based on how Rafa returns as Andy launches his first toss skyward.

Like the first few miles of a marathon, the first two games are a feeling-out process, with each player bringing his game but also checking the pulse of his opponent. Both players want to relieve the nervous tension of playing against another top player, for massive paychecks, and in front of huge crowds. It is rumored Rafa vomits three times before many of his matches. The only thing he is throwing up now, however, are attackable returns as Murray holds. As Murray works his way into the match, Rafa holds too.

Both players are hitting heavy, penetrating groundstrokes down the center of the court. After Murray holds, there are still no slide marks on the court. Because of the speed out here – Murray almost qualifies for the Olympics in the 100 meters and Rafa is close enough to see his profile – the players play vertically, ignoring the angles for fear of letting the opponent hit on the run. It is a grueling way to win because every point will be arduous.

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal hits the ball against British Andy Murray during their Mutua Madrid Open semifinals match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 07 May 2016. EPA/J.J. Guillen

In game 4, the match-up of patterns is evident. Murray wants to make Rafa play backhands and Rafa wants to hit forehands at every opportunity. For Rafa, the problem plays out in his game. Murray’s forehand crosscourt is better than Rafa’s backhand. When Rafa hits his backhand down the line, Murray’s backhand down the line is better than Nadal’s. This means, if Murray can get Rafa into a backhand rally, Rafa will have trouble ever getting out of it. Rafa, however, is one of the world’s best movers to the inside-out position and will run around his backhand to hit his forehand whenever possible. The groundstroke match-up favors Murray but Nadal has a preternatural way of making his backhand side of the court extremely small. Still, Murray is the world’s second best player and he breaks down Rafa’s weaker side with a single-minded assault.

Down 3-1, the Spanish crowd lets their champion know they are with him, but Rafa is pressing now. It is the opposite of yesterday, when it was his opponent who misfired more often than a Pyongyang rocket.

Down 4-1, Rafa is going to have to pull something out of his rear end, and before each point it appears he is trying to (no way to avoid throwing that in). When Rafa starts the point with a forehand, his odds go way up but hen he starts with a backhand, Murray generally gains control of the point. Rafa finds a way to hit forehands and holds.

Watching people watch the match is face-slappingly funny as the entire crowd resembles bobble-heads. Murray holds and is one game away from the set. Rafa hits all forehands on his next game and holds easily. At 5-3, he is down to his last chance to break. Rafa gets to 0-15 and misses a sitter forehand. Murray donates it back with a missed backhand sitter. Nadal gets to 30-40 and Murray accidentally bounces a ball off of his foot. With 12,000 people laughing at this tiny folly, everything must feel magnified and you sense Murray’s concentration is slightly off. He misses an angle on the next point and it’s back on serve. Inside the stadium, it’s concert noise levels.

At times Murray will go at Rafa’s backhand and own the match. On other points, the patterns disappear and it doesn’t appear to be a result of Rafa’s pressure. Frequently, after losing a point, Murray points to where he should have hit. It seems like short-term memory loss between the planning of the point and the execution thereof. How does one know the right thing to do and then do exactly the opposite? Sounds like a question more for criminals than tennis players.

Down 4-5, Murray is playing the proper pattern but missing. The crowd cheers “Rafa” as he holds. During the match, there have been moments when Murray’s first serve has bailed him out of trouble. At 5-5, it happens again. With one chance now to break, Murray must go back to his game plan and execute. Rafa must continue working around his backhand and should be serving to make Murray hit to his forehand. Rafa does, but it’s crunch time and Murray has been in very good form this week. He outhits Rafa’s forehand with his own backhand and then tattoos a return winner to end the set. For Rafa, it has to be demoralizing to lose on your strong side. But then, this is a champion and he will likely come out tough in the second set.

As I wrote the other day, the opening of the second set is dangerous for both players. Mental lapses occur and one break can mean the loss of a set. With two elite players battling for the finals, the concentration level stays high and the points are long grinding affairs.

For those who haven’t competed on clay, the sliding and extended points can crush the quadriceps and the lungs. It is like running sets of stairs over and over again until your legs feel like sponges and you gasp like a beached fish. Then, imagine looking up and knowing Rafa or Murray is on the other side of the net and the rest of your afternoon is going to be more of the same. To have a chance, you’ll need an astronomic pain threshold. The fortitude required to maintain intensity and belief is one reason these players are at the height of the game.

British tennis player Andy Murray hits the ball against Spaniard Rafael Nadal during their Mutua Madrid Open semifinals match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 07 May 2016. EPA/JuanJo Martin

In this game, Murray faced several break points but was able to match Rafa’s assault. He starts the set with a hold. At times, men’s tennis seems slow. The server executes well and pushes the returner into a defensive position and then finishes the point with an untouchable mid-court forehand. Because these guys are so accurate, they can hit serves that force the returner to stretch to their limits and reduce their power. I recall a drill I learned from Sampras and Agassi. Andre said: “If the ball is three inches from the center line, it s probably an ace. Three inches inside of that and I will neutralize it. Anything more than six inches from the center and I will go on offense.” That was 15 years ago. Today’s players average four inches taller, have longer wingspans, and more advanced fitness knowledge. That six inch window is probably down to two, and yet they still hit it with stunning regularity. Three games pass before it gets interesting again.

At 2-2, they play five deuces, with Rafa dominating the ground game and Murray displaying William Tell-like marksmanship with his serve to save the break. Up 3-2, Murray presses the attack against Rafa’s backhand again and breaks serve with his own backhand down the line. It is amazing how often Murray sets up his backhand down the line to end the point. There’s a cliche which goes something like, “the best way to win a tennis match is by hitting the ball in one more time than your opponent.” While true, tennis players should study the patterns of the professionals. Knowing your best shot and how to set it up is critical whether you want to win against your buddy on Saturday or reach a high level in the sport.

Now broken, Rafa raises his level, crushing groundstrokes and grunting loud enough to make the stadium’s neighbors wonder. Known for a heart of indomitable will, Rafa appears ready to die for this match. With incredible defense, he gets to double break point. What happens next is instructive. Murray misses his first serve and Rafa gets a forehand to take offense on the second serve. He misses.

I have an asterisk on my notes that says, Rafa lost the match right here. At this level, it happens that quickly. A second serve return on break point MUST find the court and should find it offensively. Rafa shakes his head, knowing a chance slipped away. This late in the match, there may not be another. Murray serves out the game.

Rafa holds with great defense and Murray serves for the match. Nadal missed his chance last game and is praying for another. He gets it, and with the crowd screaming in unison, “Si se puede!” (Yes, it can be done!) he executes on his second break point. It is never easy to close out a champion and trying to beat Rafa on clay is like winning an eating contest – painful as hell and it just keeps on coming.

Rafa is down 5-4 and back on serve. In both sets, he’s been down and battled back. These come-from-behind moments are what define champions. The crowd expects Nadal to breathe in the momentum and close out the set.

I spoke earlier of Murray being in form for this tournament. Nadal has found a way to battle to the brink of contention, but he’s had an injury-plagued career. He will have to pick his moments when his body feels fresh and his game is flowing. In his training for the French Open, Nadal intends to peak in the second week of Roland Garros. At present, his form is less than perfect. Still, it is almost unexplainable how he misses three forehands and an overhead to lose the match.

It’s difficult to communicate the nuance on court today. While tactics certainly played a major role in Murray’s victory, the mental game was also evident. Murray didn’t actually play very well. It appears he knows how to beat Rafa now and believes he should.

On the other hand, Rafa seems to be searching for that edge he once had. I’ll bracket Shakespeare to explain. “O, swear not by the moon, the fickle moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circle orb, Lest that thy confidence prove likewise variable.”

It’s a late final tomorrow, and based on the weather report, likely beneath a closed roof. Djokovic and Murray are the two best players in the world. I’ll be sitting courtside with a pan of paella and a chocolate churro if you are in the neighborhood. Until then…

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Craig Cignarelli, King of Clay, Madrid Masters, Mutua Madrid Open, Rafa Nadal, Sports, Tennis News