MADRID MUTUA OPEN TENNIS 2016 CRAIG CIGNARELLI BREAKS DOWN THE “RAFA” RAFAEL NADAL MATCH

Written by: Staff on 6th May 2016

MADRID MUTUA OPEN TENNIS 2016 CRAIG CIGNARELLI BREAKS DOWN THE "RAFA" RAFAEL NADAL MATCH

epa05292091 Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal returns the ball to Brazilian Joao Souza during their Mutua Madrid Open quarter final match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 06 May 2016. EPA/JUANJO MARTIN |

Over the course of his career, twenty-eight year old Portuguese professional tennis player Joao Sousa has made $2.7 million. He is currently ranked #35 in the world and today goes up against Spain’s golden boy and clay court maestro, Rafael Nadal, who has earned $77 million in his time on the court. Throughout his career, Nadal has been so good on clay, some question whether he may be made of dirt. In keeping with the tournament’s commitment to technology, the coin toss takes place on an iPad when Sousa presses a key and a digital coin flips on the giant scoreboard. The Portugal prodigal son wins and chooses to receive.

Rafa’s sledgehammer forehand brings him to 1-0 and Sousa looks like he’s never seen someone swing that hard. In the second game, Nadal stays close to his own baseline. Usually, we see the Spaniard deep in his own court, defending with speed and depth. Today, however, it appears he is determined to send a message to his national neighbor. Tennis is about time. Taking the ball earlier gives your opponent less time to recover, less time to think, and often less time to react. When players are this fast, tenths of seconds matter and Rafa’s court position has dramatic effect. Sousa is late on his first few shots and Rafa gets the break of serve.

Brazilian tennis player Joao Souza returns the ball to Spanish Rafa Nadal during their Mutua Madrid Open quarter final match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 06 May 2016. EPA/CHEMA MOYA

At 2-0, Sousa’s game plan is on display. His coach must have told him, “Hit the crap out of the first shot and go from there.” Sousa employs the tactic and plays every ball right into Rafa’s strike zone. Tennis players’ cores are Michelangelic, developed with years of planks, medicine ball hurls and sitcom-long sets of crunches. Hitting a ball into their strike zone means they get to use their core power. The best word to describe Rafa’s forehand is “bludgeon,” and he does so time after time as Sousa feeds the beast. On the other hand, Rafa’s forehand has more rotation than any player on tour and his ball rises beyond Sousa’s strike zone causing the tour veteran to hit some very difficult shots. Thus, the missing.

At 4-0, Rafa continues to hit high heavy balls and Sousa is putting things into the court about as often as the US Senate. It is a case of a player competing against a player’s reputation. Pete Sampras’ old coach, Pete Fisher once told me, “The difference between pro players and junior players is pro players know what the other one can do, while junior players only think they know.” Sousa succumbs to the junior mentality, terrified that if he doesn’t get his rocket off first, Rafa will hurt him. At 4-0, you’d except Sousa to change but, he sticks with the game plan, and you can just imagine the statistician’s hand cramping from recording all of the errors.

Leading 5-0, Rafa mishits a forehand and there’s an audible growl. Winning sets 6-0 displays dominance and Rafa cherishes the role of the clay court Alpha male. Sousa has no answers even in long rallies and Rafa ends the set with a geometry lesson, taking Sousa’s down the line drives and responding with enough angles to make Pythagoras rise up and applaud.

The beginnings of second sets are always daunting for both players. For the first set winner, there’s a tendency to release some of the tension and intensity of the last few minutes. For the loser, there’s a moment of resoluteness, of checking the tank and steeling oneself for the long haul. Momentum can shift quickly here, or, if the first set winner can maintain intensity, a fighting spirit can fade.

Across the stadium, the call “Vamos Rafa” is so omnipresent, it’s creating a breeze. When cab drivers here talk about Rafa, they speak not about his tennis, but the fact that he is a “good boy.” Rafa donates a lot of energy to supporting youth sports and his nation is fervent about their love for him. When the Spanish umpire calls Joao Sousa’s name, it sounds like Yo-ow.

Rafa starts the second set with a hold and Sousa is still ripping and missing. At this point, it appears he may be aiming his forehand for Portugal. When Sousa finally holds to win his first game, the crowd applauds, So far, the match has been like watching a 1st grade play. But, things are about to change.

Play goes on until 3-2 Rafa. Sousa seems to be finding the court more now, adjusting the arc of his shots to get them out of Rafa’s zone and making his targets more conservative and learning that Rafa isn’t hurting him as much as he feared. At 15-30, the rain begins and enough umbrellas open so it appears Estadio Manolo Santana is blooming.

People under the roof used to be jealous of those sitting outside near the court. With the rain now falling, the people outside now sneer and scowl at people beneath the roof. It’s becoming uncomfortable. While the giant roof slides overhead, play is halted and everyone stares skyward at this massive metal invader in a scene reminiscent of War of the Worlds. As the roof finishes, an ear-clasping hum emerges and with the audience wincing, play resumes.

It is 3-3 and Sousa is tinkering with his accelerator, trying to find the ever-fleeting balance between consistency and aggression. Too easy and Rafa dictates. Too much and Sousa misses. Gaining command over the accelerator often proves to be the match’s crux.

At 4-4, Sousa plays with more confidence. He is in the match now. He’s found the balance between power and consistency and one gets the sense he knows the winning patterns. Rafa makes a few errors and then misses a forehand long to give up the break. Sousa holds and is fist-pumpingly excited.

When players reach the third set, the match becomes a race to one. At this level, everyone is good enough to win one set against everyone else. It is dangerous for higher seeds because the contender now believes the match is winnable. Still, the higher seed is higher for a reason. Often they have more resolve. More likely, they compete better under pressure and play the big points more confidently. As always, the margins at the top are very small.

To start the third, Rafa serves two aces and hits two winners. Early in the set, Sousa is dictating play, opening the court and making Rafa run. Rafa though, can run, and points are hard to come by for both players. Halfway through the third, it is war. Rafa holds to go to 4-3 and Sousa is channeling the rock of Gibraltar.

When Rafa comes out at 4-3, there’s something palpable in his energy. His walk is quicker, more determined. His face is scrunched, his eyes narrow. It is time to be a champion. Sousa doesn’t understand. Rafa has been to the mountaintop many times and is comfortable at this height. Sousa has sniffed the apex and fallen backwards down the hill. Being comfortable here takes time and Sousa has enough game to get there. Just not today. Rafa breaks and holds and the match ends with his victorious arms stretching out to embrace the Spanish people and ten thousand Spaniards breathing a sigh of relief. Tomorrow is the semis and there’s a whole host of top players involved. Looking forward to telling you about it.

Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal celebrates his victory against Brazilian Joao Souza during their Mutua Madrid Open quarter finals match played at Caja Magica tennis complex in Madrid, Spain, on 06 May 2016. EPA/JUANJO MARTIN

Topics: 10sballs, ATP Madrid, Craig Cignarelli, Joao Sousa, Mutua Madrid Open, Rafa Nadal, Sports, Tennis News