ARTICLES:
- Thiem Pushes Past Nadal in Three in Buenos Aires | Tennis Now
Nadal, who was bidding to become the sixth player in the Open Era to reach 100 ATP finals, had moments of brilliance sparkled with moments of inconsistency and the usual troubles on serve that have plagued him over the last year.
- Thiem Dethrones King Of Clay | ATP World Tour
A back-and-forth deciding set saw Thiem save match point at 4-5, then hold off Nadal in a deciding tie-break to prevent the Spaniard from becoming the sixth player in the Open Era to reach 100 tour-level finals. The pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry now stands at 1-1, Nadal having won their lone previous meeting at Roland Garros 2014.
“It was a tough match,” he said. “I had a chance to win and missed it but Thiem played well. I’m not worried. I just lacked consistency and need to make fewer unforced errors, but that’s nothing.”
The match was played in 32C heat and Nadal can expect more of the same when he plays in Rio next week.
“I struggled a bit to adapt to the extreme conditions here,” he said. “I felt more tired than usual. I know that in Rio de Janeiro it’s not going to be better, so I must continue to adapt.”
- El vaso medio lleno de Rafa | Argentina Open
“Hice cosas buenas. Es una pena, me faltó un poco para poder estar en la final”, señaló el máximo favorito en Buenos Aires tras caer 4-6, 6-4 y 7-6 (4) ante el austríaco Dominic Thiem.
“Fue un partido complicado, tuve la oportunidad de ganar y faltó un poquito”, agregó en relación al match point a favor que desaprovechó en el tercer set.
Ante una consulta en rueda de prensa, Nadal negó irse de Buenos Aires más preocupado de lo que llegó. “Preocupado no, porque no hice un mal partido hoy, solo me faltó consistencia, me faltó cometer menos errores, sobre todo con el revés”.
PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal loses in Argentina Open semis
VIDEOS:
Dear Rafa and Rafa Fans,
When a team / or professional athlete loses – in any sport:
1. they look at what they did or didn’t do
2. they figure out why they lost and what needs to be improved
3. they work on the weakness and the problem and try to fix it so they win the next time or fix the problem so you never lose (at least get to that stage where you think you can win every time).
I honestly believe that another coach and a fresh perspective in Rafa’s camp would help him to attain this winning solution. In fact, if Rafa and his uncle were willing to give an additional coach a try I know it would work. But Rafa needs to believe this is what he needs and what is missing from his team. He many not want to. Rafa has very much pride and possibly cannot allow himself to go in this direction. So, I believe that his Uncle Toni needs to speak up and be the one to initiate this and very soon.
Of course, maybe Rafa will turn it around on his own, I have always believed that he could and would. In fact, I still do. But I do wish that he would seek out a super coach for 2016 – just to tweak his game and work on strategy. He has absolutely nothing to lose.
But, win or lose Rafa will always be my number one, I will always love him, and I will always be his number one cheerleader. God bless you Rafa. And please remain healthy. Love, Marylynn.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for posting Rafa’s full matches….. very nice…..: ) Watching the 1/4 final vs Paolo Lorenzi & enjoying it all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Dear Rafa you are moving fantastically & your focus is unbelievable brilliant!!!!!!!!! : ) Have lots & lots of fun playing your next match in RIO …….. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) It will be a fantastic match for you!!!!!!! : ) You are playing BEAUTIFULLY & we admire your matches & presence SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) Enjoy everything sweetheart, & please give our best to Uncle Toni & the rest of the greatest TEAM !!!!! : ) ci….ci…ci…. keep doing exactly to what you are doing……. YOUR TENNIS IS CURRENT, STRONG & MIGHTY POWERFUL & YOUR COURT COVERAGE IS FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Everything about your Tennis is passionate & filled with your entire effort….each point is a treat…..Rain or shine you are a bright classy player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your genuine nature & goodness makes it all so beautiful & enjoyable for us Tennis fans!!!!!!! : ) THANK YOU MUCHAS GRACIAS & VAMOS & KUDOS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) God bless you sweetheart and enjoy your day ! : ) It is a beautiful day ….. lots of love & happiness to you & your strong TEAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) !!!!!! : ) We respect Uncle Toni very much and our hearts are very grateful to him & his dedication to your on going Tennis expansion!!!!!!!!!! : ) Same with Roig & the rest…they are right there with you, and are all doing magnificent spectacular team work!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 We love you dear Rafa & love the fact that you have so many many followers & tennis fans across the globe!!!!!!! Thank you for everything & your sponsors are incredibly lucky to have you represent them !!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) By the way, that Tommy Hilfiger outfit you wore the day you visited with the Argentinian president was a smash!!!!!! : ) You are the entire package!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) With you, it is not just about your genius champion Tennis and longevity at the TOP , but it is your genuine handsome face & graceful kindness & it is your solid character that millions of folks admire & respect. You have the IT factor zillion times over…..: ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
I am with Rafa, I’m not worried either. He has plenty of opportunities in upcoming tournaments throughout the year. Tennis is such a physically demanding sport plus you play all year round, with no let-up.
So much pressure is put on Rafa to always win a tournament that he won before. Much easier for a young, up and coming player to compete with no history or baggage of injury. They have nothing to lose. Although I always love to see Rafa hoist the trophy, it’s also nice to see
other players achieve a piece of the glory for all their hard work and perseverance as well.
Ironically, when those players are thrust into the spotlight after a big win or upset, they have
trouble maintaining that level consistently. To think, Rafa has played super high-level
competitive tennis through peaks and valleys of injuries since he has been a teen-ager is quite remarkable to me. Best wishes in Rio. I look forward to your matches. Vamos, Rafa!
What is the answer Rafa? I see Roger Federer has engaged an additional coach once again apparently to teach him a few different tactics? Do you need an additional coach to help you improve your serve Rafa, and help you overcome your nervousness at a crucial winning point? I am an old lady n the excitement in my life is looking forward to seeing you play, n when you are knocked out of a tournament I become terribly upset for you n very depressed. You are the King of Clay my very dear self-adopted grandson n I feel you can do better n be in the top 3 once again, together with Roger whom I like second to you. Yes, Tennis will lose its glamour without you 2 guys. You both are gentlemen. I think John McInroe would be a good additional coach Tenniswise? Vamos Rafa. God Bless. Your Aussie Abuela. 😀😊😇🎈🎈
I fully share the sentiments expressed by Shirlly Taya.I loose intrest in the tournament when Rafay gets beaten by low seeded players. Hitting ACES at critical moments is the key. I am sure Uncle Toni knows.This is what needs to bedone through out the game.Best of wishes Rafay.
BAJWA
OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Good evening & all nice wishes going your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Your take on your own matches is so wise & right on!!!!!!!! : ) Your thoughts & assessments are always THE BEST & THE MOST important opinion of all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) God bless you sweetheart, & have a fabulous time in RIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) & enjoy a nice time with your great team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
Fruitcake! stop shouting your braindead thoughts ……
he’s become numb to losses and developed a thick skin. I’m not going to watch or follow Rio open.
I don’t blame you. It’s very tough to watch. Not because he’s losing, but because he’s not really doing anything to fix it.
Exactly. You said it. It’s not about losing. seems to me that Rafa just plays to fulfill his obligations to ATP tournaments and his sponsors. It’s not a rocket science to see his service game is disastrous and no improvement whatsoever. I started thinking that after all it’s not uncle Toni to put the on , actually it’s Rafa who doesn’t let go of uncle Toni.
correction: I started thinking that after all it’s not the uncle Toni to put the blame on , actually it’s Rafa who doesn’t let go of uncle Toni.
SOSA: agree fully with you, being such an ardent Rafa supporter it really hurts to see this all-time great falling so hard when he doesn’t have to. He showed sheer genius for 10 years, so we know absolutely that he has the skills, the talent and the ability to win at least 4 more grand-slams, but only if he makes some major modifications to his playing style, and that can only be achieved by adding some new innovative blood to his team, … and there are several good candidates, Agassi, McInroe, Gilbert, and others, but Toni will not step up to the plate to enable this. I don’t blame Rafa, he is living by the decent ethical values that his family taught him, and he has always and consistently showed himself to be a true gentleman and great sportsman, so the blame goes to Toni for not facing up to the truth of his own inadequacies and enabling Rafa to expand his team and enhance his style.
But I will always watch every single Rafa game, even if its in the middle of the night for me, and even if it breaks my heart to see him lose …….
Rafa doesn’t want to be challenged by a super-coach such as Andre Agassi, Mats Wilander or Jimmy Connors.
He much prefers being coddled by his uncle.
He knows that he can completely ignore Toni’s advice – good, bad or indifferent – without any consequences to their relationship.
With a super-coach, not so much.
your comments are thought-provoking, never thought of it this way, but makes sense ……
That’s the problem, he is not worried and he should, he seems to have lost his enthusiasm to win
Exactly. He has no sense of urgency or desperation, which is usually necessary in order to right the ship and turn things around. Meekly accepting one horrible loss after the next is a recipe for disaster.
Good luck to Rafa in Rio, I hope this tournament goes well for him and his team.I think a new addition to his team to work along side uncle Tony would be a good thing to help Rafa progress this year. I think people give tony a hard time when he has helped Rafa to become one of the greatest , don’t forget he has given up a lot of family time with all the travelling and missing out on his wife and small children, maybe taking on an additional coach could help Rafa and also give tony some extra time at home . let’s give Rafa some credit also having from an early age having to spend year after year constantly travelling it must become very wearing no wonder he is tired.
Yes, time at home for toni, sounds like the solution!
Good luck for Rio. Vamos Rafa!!!
I echo all of the above comments, well said and good luck Rafa in Rio
Another day Rafa another match you will begin to win sometime soon you have done it all so don’t despair Tennis need you the day you and Roger retire wil be the day tennis dies so please stay around for longer as we cannot do without you in tennis you draw the crowds and the fans and we all love you good luck in Rio