Rafael Nadal suffers Rio Open defeat to Pablo Cuevas
(Reuters) – Rafael Nadal’s below-par season has continued with the former world number one dumped from the Rio Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4 defeat by unseeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas on Saturday.
The top seed pipped Cuevas in a first set tie-break and denied his opponent two set points in the second but succumbed to his first defeat against the world number 45.
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Palo Cuevas of Uraguay during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Palo Cuevas of Uraguay during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Palo Cuevas of Uraguay during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra un punto ante el uruguayo Pablo Cuevas hoy, sábado 20 de febrero de 2016, durante un partido de las semifinales del Torneo Río Open 2016 de tenis en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/Fernando Maia
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Palo Cuevas of Uraguay during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra un punto ante el uruguayo Pablo Cuevas hoy, sábado 20 de febrero de 2016, durante un partido de las semifinales del Torneo Río Open 2016 de tenis en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/Fernando Maia
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Palo Cuevas of Uraguay during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra un punto ante el uruguayo Pablo Cuevas hoy, sábado 20 de febrero de 2016, durante un partido de las semifinales del Torneo Río Open 2016 de tenis en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/Fernando Maia
El tenista español Rafael Nadal seca su rostro ante el uruguayo Pablo Cuevas hoy, sábado 20 de febrero de 2016, durante un partido de las semifinales del Torneo Río Open 2016 de tenis en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/Fernando Maia
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a lost point during his ATP Rio Open men’s singles semi-final match against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, on Februrary 20, 2016 (AFP Photo/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to crowd after losing against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay in the men’s singles semi-final of the 2016 Rio Open tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Februrary 21, 2016. (AFP Photo/YASUYOSHI CHIBA)
“I lost an opportunity, that’s it,” Rafa said after being denied his 100th ATP final by Cuevas who fired 48 winners to clinch the contest.
“I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That’s what’s happening today and I have to work hard to change it,” added Rafa.
“I didn’t win a title, so it wasn’t a positive two tournaments. I had my chances in both. I lost in the semi-finals of both tournaments and just have to look forward to Indian Wells.”
Rafa u need to change coaches,,if u stay with uncle Toni your days as a champion tennis player are over,,and unseeded tennis is not something u want to keep playing,,,u should see if u could get Pete Sampras to become your coach,,good luck to u in the future,maybe walking away from tennis before it wears u out physical &mentally is your best bet,,,,
I dont think Rafas going to listen to us, dont kid yourselfs I doubt if he even reads these comments.
Rafas the biggest and best Tennis player ever,we all love him, and it all going down the drain because of stubbornness on Rafas and Tonis part to try someone new as coach.
very sad to see a great champion thrashed by complete unknowns,it all started with Rosel at Wimbeldon,what a nightmare that match was,and nearly every match since.
I feel really gutted, theres no need for this situation,Rafa could at least try a new coach or / advisers in addition to Toni before its too late,nothing to lose, everything to gain.
Its like someones turned Rafas Tennis talent knob down to medium !times have changed and Rafas not keeping up with the latest techniques and advice..
So sad but true! We all love him but this is painful to watch. His stubborness gonna kill him soon. If Rafa doesn’t act now then it would be too late. This season could be “All or over”.
I love You Rafa, i follow all your matches! Tennis without you is not the same for me. I arrange my breaks or holidays according to the tennis schedule because of you Rafa. I watched you play last night until 3.30 am and went to bed so sad to see you play like you did. I agree with most and say make a change and bring someone new to tge team. Most top players have done it, why dont you give it a go before its too late. Your talent is there you cannot have lost it, so what is happening with you? Confidence? Or something else? Remember who you are Rafa, and bring the old Rafa back!
Some so-called fans just blame the “confidence” for these kind of losses over and over again. They won’t face the truth that it ‘s a technical problem like Pat Cash said. Rafa just won’t get another Master 1000 with Toni. That’s the truth that everyone knows. Rafa looks tired with this style. He is 30 and of course he can’t run like he is 26,27 anymore. Toni should know that.
Now is the time for Rafa to take a look at Serena or Federer. Change of coach is a must if he wants to compete at high level.
RAFA ALL YOUR FANS ARE SO UPSET ABOUT YOUR LOSS, BUT LISTEN TOTHEM TONY SHOULD BRING ON SOME ONE WITH NEW IDEAS,ALL YOUR DOING IS WEARING YOR SELF OUT PRACTISING TO MUCH NOT ENOUGH REST, PLEASE LISTEN TO US ALL WE LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR TENNIS SO DONT GIVE UP AND DONT BE SAD, X
I am an old lady n I love you Rafa for years as a self adopted grandson, thus my heart is breaking Rafa to see you lose to such long seeded opponents n when everyone thought you were home n dry! Please do something Uncle Toni. It will not hurt to try n get John McInroe into your team for a short term initially. Extra help may be the medicine Our dear Rafael needs to get him back to his old form. I pray this is the answer. God Bless you. Vamos Rafa. Love your Aussie Abuela. 😀😊😇🎈🎈🎈
with all respect ….toni has done great things with rafael
Rafael is what he now is because of toni and vice versa
i always respected toni nadal ….
and he should continue with rafa but now its time to team up with new member and work together
I too love to watch Rafa play, but yesterday’s match was painful. I don’t know how such a great player could look so lost. I have no solutions, but worry that practice alone will not work. Rafa’s confidence is gone and I see no easy way to get it back. I had hoped that he would improve on clay, but that has not happened. I hope that he and his team will search hard for new ideas.
Dear Rafa, I never have critized you but seeing you lose is so painful and hard for me to watch you. I have been your fan since you were a teenager, what happened to the ‘Ruthless Kid’ who drove the opponent across the net bewildered and confused?
I think that it is all in your mind and I wish you can sort it out because I am so upset for every match that you lose. It seems that doubt’s are creeping inside your help. Please go and get some help and I know that even if you add a new voice in your team you will never change because you are a Cabezon! Sorry to say this but it hurts me to see you lose every tournament from a lower rank player.
Wipe out your slate clean and start to ask for mental help because I believe its all in your mind. Find tranquility in meditation to clear bad thoughts of no confidence in your mind and maybe you can find solace and be at peace with negative thoughts that bother you during the match. Maybe this would give you less anxiety. Don’t set your bar so high because for you nothing else is important than winning!
I love you so much and I wish that you could help yourself to simple things such as meditation or such. Novak Djokovic has done changes to his routine like meditation and writing things down each night what happened each day. I practice this each day. Hey we are not perfect but reflection helps. Greatness is not gotten easily but in stride. I know that you are a Great Champion but sometimes we have to reflect on things we can’t accept and maybe by doing it will have you find out what occurred to change them.
Keep on looking back then opt to change them and fast forward what you can get to do things better.
VAMOSSSSSSSS Rafa and I believe in you and this is why I love and admire you some much. Simple things are made to change a person and I know and believe that you can do it!!!
Animo y mi carino como siempre, cuidate! Ya VAMOSSSSSSSS Rafa!
This is not the “real” Rafa. Someone is wrong with him and this since the French Open 14. I think that he has some problems with his body. You don’t forget how to play tennis.
Ashish, I partly agree with you and some others, that there is something amiss with Rafa, how can you ‘forget’ how to play the big points when he has 14gs, 27 masters to his name. He doesn’t need a fresh pair of eyes, as at end of the day, he is the one on the court. You mention his sweating profusely, well he has always done that but I would like him to wear the longer shorts like the others do as they seem to be constricting the longer the match goes on, just an observation and mentally they make a difference, sounds silly I know but………
Rafa, please, don’t succumb to pressure to hire a new coach. Nobody could be better than Uncle Toni who made you. I know that these loses are just a tactic to catch Djokovic off guard when the time comes.
You are Great Rafa, please don´t stop, continue ahead, for sure in India Well, there you´ll have good Luck, You are in Tennis, my best Master&Reference at the same time, have a Rest with your Family, and from The Canarian C. Javier get an enormous H U G.
Maybe adding someone like Stephan Edberg on contract basis to team would be great.Also John Mc Enroe would bring fire to your strengths.Think about bringing them in Rafa on one ,month contract basis. Uncle Toni could still be there also, but the others put in their contribution.
Love,
He is tired because he is doing things wrong. He should see a doctor to find out why he sweats so much. That is terrible! it makes him more tired. His team seems now a bunch of amateurs. I don’t think he has a nutritionist and of course he needs a new coach, at least an advisor. I can’t understand why his team can’t correct something so simple as standing close to the baseline, Really, it is sad to see the whole team so lost. it hurts so much that they don’t act because Rafa will be ever the most adorable tennis player in history
if rafa is so adamant abut change then uncle toni must take initiative for rafa to persuade him for adding new member to the team else should step down with family reason
else time will pass by like a wind …….
after one and half year rafa find himself with same issue of confidence …however this time with his forehand shot
he is playing good on important points this days
tennis is nothing without rafa ………….tennis needs u…………
we need u …………so badl
the only good thing in the was rafa defence and it.will.sure will get more better with confidence coming back
its his defence and some good backhands he was holding the match for 2 and half hour but without ur puch shot nothing seems to be happening
yes cuevas served well in 3 rd set
but rafa should have completed in straight sets
More than 20 unforced error on forehand side for rafa
are u joking me
That’s it ….after todays match i have to say though i always feel that its rafa who have to decide whether he want new member to his team or not but after watching todays match i am really wants rafa to get some new ideas to bring his confidence back ….
rafa was hanging in the match just sheer on his solid defence and he was more relying on his backhands which was good but not enough to damage the opponent
i am saying this because in think rafa completly lost his confidence ….he seems to be helpless …..having no idea what to do
i mean he was not able to play 2 3 good shots conistently …..
rhe big problem is he lost complete confidence on his best shot….just mere commiting to forehand is not enough, u actually needs to find the right position to hit it
in old days when rafa producing good forehands he use to constantly look for right position , and he dont end up on that he actually use to create that right position to hit the imside out forehand or down the lime forehand or forehand on his back hand side
Today he plays down the line backhand shot which he once dictates with his forehand
I really thought that just playing more matches will bring the confidence back
but now i am completly of the view that just mere playing and not focussing the root problem of confidence on his best shot will be diastorous to his carrer
Rafa i am in pain watching u play like this
now rafa must not take his racquet in hand for 1 month , he should go to holidays and give himself time to think on his game and time to add new member to his team
i just love to watch u play but this way it is really painful
i am saying beacause u r now conistently losing on ur favourite surface against not so great player
U were great in doha but ao 16 loss dented ur confidence
Please listen rafa please
its.my humble request to u
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Rafa u need to change coaches,,if u stay with uncle Toni your days as a champion tennis player are over,,and unseeded tennis is not something u want to keep playing,,,u should see if u could get Pete Sampras to become your coach,,good luck to u in the future,maybe walking away from tennis before it wears u out physical &mentally is your best bet,,,,
I dont think Rafas going to listen to us, dont kid yourselfs I doubt if he even reads these comments.
Rafas the biggest and best Tennis player ever,we all love him, and it all going down the drain because of stubbornness on Rafas and Tonis part to try someone new as coach.
very sad to see a great champion thrashed by complete unknowns,it all started with Rosel at Wimbeldon,what a nightmare that match was,and nearly every match since.
I feel really gutted, theres no need for this situation,Rafa could at least try a new coach or / advisers in addition to Toni before its too late,nothing to lose, everything to gain.
Its like someones turned Rafas Tennis talent knob down to medium !times have changed and Rafas not keeping up with the latest techniques and advice..
So sad but true! We all love him but this is painful to watch. His stubborness gonna kill him soon. If Rafa doesn’t act now then it would be too late. This season could be “All or over”.
I love You Rafa, i follow all your matches! Tennis without you is not the same for me. I arrange my breaks or holidays according to the tennis schedule because of you Rafa. I watched you play last night until 3.30 am and went to bed so sad to see you play like you did. I agree with most and say make a change and bring someone new to tge team. Most top players have done it, why dont you give it a go before its too late. Your talent is there you cannot have lost it, so what is happening with you? Confidence? Or something else? Remember who you are Rafa, and bring the old Rafa back!
Some so-called fans just blame the “confidence” for these kind of losses over and over again. They won’t face the truth that it ‘s a technical problem like Pat Cash said. Rafa just won’t get another Master 1000 with Toni. That’s the truth that everyone knows. Rafa looks tired with this style. He is 30 and of course he can’t run like he is 26,27 anymore. Toni should know that.
Now is the time for Rafa to take a look at Serena or Federer. Change of coach is a must if he wants to compete at high level.
RAFA ALL YOUR FANS ARE SO UPSET ABOUT YOUR LOSS, BUT LISTEN TOTHEM TONY SHOULD BRING ON SOME ONE WITH NEW IDEAS,ALL YOUR DOING IS WEARING YOR SELF OUT PRACTISING TO MUCH NOT ENOUGH REST, PLEASE LISTEN TO US ALL WE LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR TENNIS SO DONT GIVE UP AND DONT BE SAD, X
Totally agree 100%. we the fans have said this so many many times and yet Rafa & team don’t take heed. Very very sad indeed.
no need to shout dear, we can all hear quite well
I am an old lady n I love you Rafa for years as a self adopted grandson, thus my heart is breaking Rafa to see you lose to such long seeded opponents n when everyone thought you were home n dry! Please do something Uncle Toni. It will not hurt to try n get John McInroe into your team for a short term initially. Extra help may be the medicine Our dear Rafael needs to get him back to his old form. I pray this is the answer. God Bless you. Vamos Rafa. Love your Aussie Abuela. 😀😊😇🎈🎈🎈
with all respect ….toni has done great things with rafael
Rafael is what he now is because of toni and vice versa
i always respected toni nadal ….
and he should continue with rafa but now its time to team up with new member and work together
I too love to watch Rafa play, but yesterday’s match was painful. I don’t know how such a great player could look so lost. I have no solutions, but worry that practice alone will not work. Rafa’s confidence is gone and I see no easy way to get it back. I had hoped that he would improve on clay, but that has not happened. I hope that he and his team will search hard for new ideas.
Dear Rafa, I never have critized you but seeing you lose is so painful and hard for me to watch you. I have been your fan since you were a teenager, what happened to the ‘Ruthless Kid’ who drove the opponent across the net bewildered and confused?
I think that it is all in your mind and I wish you can sort it out because I am so upset for every match that you lose. It seems that doubt’s are creeping inside your help. Please go and get some help and I know that even if you add a new voice in your team you will never change because you are a Cabezon! Sorry to say this but it hurts me to see you lose every tournament from a lower rank player.
Wipe out your slate clean and start to ask for mental help because I believe its all in your mind. Find tranquility in meditation to clear bad thoughts of no confidence in your mind and maybe you can find solace and be at peace with negative thoughts that bother you during the match. Maybe this would give you less anxiety. Don’t set your bar so high because for you nothing else is important than winning!
I love you so much and I wish that you could help yourself to simple things such as meditation or such. Novak Djokovic has done changes to his routine like meditation and writing things down each night what happened each day. I practice this each day. Hey we are not perfect but reflection helps. Greatness is not gotten easily but in stride. I know that you are a Great Champion but sometimes we have to reflect on things we can’t accept and maybe by doing it will have you find out what occurred to change them.
Keep on looking back then opt to change them and fast forward what you can get to do things better.
VAMOSSSSSSSS Rafa and I believe in you and this is why I love and admire you some much. Simple things are made to change a person and I know and believe that you can do it!!!
Animo y mi carino como siempre, cuidate! Ya VAMOSSSSSSSS Rafa!
Who the hell is Pablo Cuevas?
I give up. I got enough.
This is not the “real” Rafa. Someone is wrong with him and this since the French Open 14. I think that he has some problems with his body. You don’t forget how to play tennis.
Take rest. Vamos Rafa <3
have great rest and maybe don’t play indian wells if things not sorted up
do some work with ur sweating problem …….u sweat a lot
and please nike give rafa his old long pants
Ashish, I partly agree with you and some others, that there is something amiss with Rafa, how can you ‘forget’ how to play the big points when he has 14gs, 27 masters to his name. He doesn’t need a fresh pair of eyes, as at end of the day, he is the one on the court. You mention his sweating profusely, well he has always done that but I would like him to wear the longer shorts like the others do as they seem to be constricting the longer the match goes on, just an observation and mentally they make a difference, sounds silly I know but………
Rafa, please, don’t succumb to pressure to hire a new coach. Nobody could be better than Uncle Toni who made you. I know that these loses are just a tactic to catch Djokovic off guard when the time comes.
You must be teasing!!!!
You are Great Rafa, please don´t stop, continue ahead, for sure in India Well, there you´ll have good Luck, You are in Tennis, my best Master&Reference at the same time, have a Rest with your Family, and from The Canarian C. Javier get an enormous H U G.
Javier, this is not about luck!!
Maybe adding someone like Stephan Edberg on contract basis to team would be great.Also John Mc Enroe would bring fire to your strengths.Think about bringing them in Rafa on one ,month contract basis. Uncle Toni could still be there also, but the others put in their contribution.
Love,
Alaine from Sydney.
Never before witnessed an all time great fall so hard and without resolve. Coach up already rafa.
NEVER MIND RAFA.💖. YOU ARE THE BEST.🌷 FOR ME .YES, YES YES, WITH OUT YOU THERE IS NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN TENNIS.
WITH OUT YOU NO TENNIS.
PLEASE, DON’T BE HARD ON YOUR SELF, YOU DID YOUR PART, YOU ARE WORKING SO HARD, BUT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING A MISS, DARLING.
I FEEL SO HEART BROKEN TO SEE YOU LOSE. YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM, BUT MAY BE A NEW MEMBER CAN DO SOMETHING, TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF CONFIDENICE.
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU RAFA.💖 ALWAYS.
TAKE SOMETIME NOW TO RELAX, YOU LOOK SO TIRED.
WILL ALWAYS REMAIN YOUR LOYAL FAN.
NO MATTER WHAT. 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌷 🌷 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹.
Agreed.
He is tired because he is doing things wrong. He should see a doctor to find out why he sweats so much. That is terrible! it makes him more tired. His team seems now a bunch of amateurs. I don’t think he has a nutritionist and of course he needs a new coach, at least an advisor. I can’t understand why his team can’t correct something so simple as standing close to the baseline, Really, it is sad to see the whole team so lost. it hurts so much that they don’t act because Rafa will be ever the most adorable tennis player in history
if rafa is so adamant abut change then uncle toni must take initiative for rafa to persuade him for adding new member to the team else should step down with family reason
else time will pass by like a wind …….
after one and half year rafa find himself with same issue of confidence …however this time with his forehand shot
he is playing good on important points this days
tennis is nothing without rafa ………….tennis needs u…………
we need u …………so badl
the only good thing in the was rafa defence and it.will.sure will get more better with confidence coming back
its his defence and some good backhands he was holding the match for 2 and half hour but without ur puch shot nothing seems to be happening
yes cuevas served well in 3 rd set
but rafa should have completed in straight sets
More than 20 unforced error on forehand side for rafa
are u joking me
That’s it ….after todays match i have to say though i always feel that its rafa who have to decide whether he want new member to his team or not but after watching todays match i am really wants rafa to get some new ideas to bring his confidence back ….
rafa was hanging in the match just sheer on his solid defence and he was more relying on his backhands which was good but not enough to damage the opponent
i am saying this because in think rafa completly lost his confidence ….he seems to be helpless …..having no idea what to do
i mean he was not able to play 2 3 good shots conistently …..
rhe big problem is he lost complete confidence on his best shot….just mere commiting to forehand is not enough, u actually needs to find the right position to hit it
in old days when rafa producing good forehands he use to constantly look for right position , and he dont end up on that he actually use to create that right position to hit the imside out forehand or down the lime forehand or forehand on his back hand side
Today he plays down the line backhand shot which he once dictates with his forehand
I really thought that just playing more matches will bring the confidence back
but now i am completly of the view that just mere playing and not focussing the root problem of confidence on his best shot will be diastorous to his carrer
Rafa i am in pain watching u play like this
now rafa must not take his racquet in hand for 1 month , he should go to holidays and give himself time to think on his game and time to add new member to his team
i just love to watch u play but this way it is really painful
i am saying beacause u r now conistently losing on ur favourite surface against not so great player
U were great in doha but ao 16 loss dented ur confidence
Please listen rafa please
its.my humble request to u