(AP) – Rafael Nadal’s quest for a third Wimbledon singles title ended in remarkable fashion in London on Saturday as the world No. 1 was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-3, 10-8 by Novak Djokovic.
As intense as any athletes in any sport, these two didn’t exactly slowly ramp things up when they returned to Centre Court about 14 hours after they’d departed. Having the roof shut meant every sound was amplified as it ricocheted off the dome — the thwack of ball off racket, the players’ grunts, the spectators’ applause.
This was high-decibel, high-stakes, high-quality tennis between two of the greats right from the get-go, beginning with an 18-point, six-deuce game that last 15 minutes and felt truly pivotal. It included a 23-stroke exchange and three others of at least 11. Rafa saved two break points and when he finally held, the owner 17 major championships, two at Wimbledon, punched the air and yelled as if he’d won the match, not a solitary game.
When Rafa broke in Saturday’s second game, a dismayed Djokovic grabbed a spare ball and whacked it with his racket against the wall behind the baseline. Fortunately, he was at the end of the court farthest from the Royal Box, where the pair of visiting Duchesses, Kate and the newly married Meghan, sat in the front row.
There were other such displays of emotion from Djokovic, who is prone to yelling at himself or at his coach. He reacted by getting broken again to trail 5-3 in that set by raising his left shoe and violently pounding his racket against it — one, two, three, four times. Moments later, he got to love-40 before Rafa took five points in a row to serve out the set.
But it was Djokovic who tended to be better down the stretch in his 52nd career meeting against Rafa in a contest that seemed as if it should be worth a trophy.
Rafa Fans, I have to agree with Fan Love’s previous post with regard to Boris Becker. I too am sure he was involved with the Djokovic crew to make sure the roof was closed. He is not a fan of Rafael Nadal. Not that he is expected to be. But his attitude with regard to Rafa over the years allows me to be certain of it.He not only wanted to score points with officials, he wanted to score a win with Novak himself. Boris. Becker knew Rafa’s chances to win playing under an Open Roof increased exponentially = yes he knew that just as Djokovic knew it. And I’m sure he and Djokovic did all they could to make sure that play resumed under the CLOSED ROOF. Well, it’s done and over now. There will always be evil, jealousy and politics and tennis is not exempt from it all. Djokovic seems to be a bit of a bully and so does Becker and Agassi. Know what they say: birds of a feather flock together. Love you Rafael Nadal. God bless you. Be healthy, happy, confident and safe. Marylynn
Sorry for the typos.
Agree with you Margo! Felt really happy after hearing Rafa’s post match interview. He didn’t put himself down he was proud of himself. Also, when asked if not made any sense to have the roof closed he said a flat NO but he didn’t want to talk further about it. Lady Luck deserted Rafa in the semis. Am constantly thinking of the match – the deeep sorrow and disappointment which I think is there to stay for a quite sometime.
Rafa will get up. Hope this form continues and gets better and that he grows in self belief and self confidence.
Even though I usually like to say one of the greatest in sport or most things cos if one compares everything has t be eil. One can’t compare an apple with a pear even though thy are both fruits. But where Rafa is concerned I will say that he is the greatest in more ways than one and not only as a tennis player.
VAMOS my CHAMPION
I am still in shock about Rafa’s loss. Saddened. I was so sure he would win Wimbledon. Rafa continues to say he doesn’t believe in luck. Well I do. Luck is not planned, it is random. And luck was not on Rafa’s side this Wimbledon.
Rafa said, “I lost an opportunity to win another very important title for my career.” I believe there will be another opportunity for him to win Wimbledon. He considers Wimbledon the most prestigious of the Slams and I believe he will fight for another chance to win it.
Contrary to what some articles stated about complaints re the schedule, Rafa did not complain about when he played. This is what he said, “…the schedule was tight. Maybe knowing that a match between two big hitters, maybe it would be a good idea to play us [Rafa/Nole] first.”
On the tiebreak argument, “I do not have a clear opinion on that.”
He said he would “not change anything tactically or strategically. I missed a few balls but that is to be expected when you are playing at such an intensity and passion.”
He made it clear throughout the presser that he had “nothing to complain.”
Sad he lost but happy he made it to the semifinals. A great improvement from years past.
[Source: English language post semifinal presser]
For me, what is noteworthy is that Rafa is proud about his great performance. Not once did he SUBORDINATE himself to Novak. There was none of the usual “he played better than me” statements after a loss. He knows he played a great match despite the handicaps of tiredness and the closed roof.
I hope Team Nadal will return to Mallorca and have a deep discussion about this match. Put all the cards on the table. Hopefully they will come to a consensus on what needs fine tuning, whatever it may be. We can all speculate but I feel only Rafa and his team have the key to what needs to be done for his future successes.
I HAVE RE READ LOTS OF POST TOUR COVERAGE, VIEWED SOME REPLAY (S) , AND FOOTAGE, LOOKING AHEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY OPIONION AND DISMAY WITH AHT HAS BEEN TRANSPIRED IN DURING THIS PAST GS TOUR.
BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN POST TOUR COVERAGE, ETC….I TEND TO BELIEVE baker HAS A VERY SHORT TV SPAN IN MY OPINION…..AS FEW OTHER COMMENTATORS, HE DID A RATHER SUPERFICIAL, BIAS, LOUSY JOB COVERING THE TOUR….. JUST HAPPENED TO TAKE A GLANCE AT SOME OF HIS SHABBY, SHADY COVERAGE….. MAKES NO SENSE WHY HE WOULD BE GRANTED THE STAGE TO BE COVERING IMPORTANT MATCHES. THIS AND WHAT FOLLOWS ARE MY THOUGHTS.
FROM TWITTER ACCOUNTS, HIS COMMENTS AND OTHER’S, I GATHER HE VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE WHO KEPT PUSHING FOR THE ROOF TO BE CLOSED…… MY SPECULATION IS DERIVED FROM A FEW THOUGHTS:
1. TO ASS LICK TOUR OFFICIALS.
2. TO PROMOTE HIS CHANCES TO CONTINUE COACH NOVAK.
3. TO ASS LICK OFFICIALS WITH RESPECT TO MAKE ALL ATTEMPTS TO STOP RAFA FROM EARNING ANOTHER GRASS GS TITLE WITH RESPECT TO, AND IN RELATED COMPARISON TO THEIR UNWORTHY FAVORITE PLAYER.
4. TO GET HIS A PLACE FOR HIS RESENTMENTS REGARDING YOUNGER, BRIGHTER, MORE TALENTED TEENAGER STAR RAFA NADAL.
CHANCES ARE ABOVE SPECULATIONS ARE CORRECT, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCING THE CLOSED ROOF OR HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY OTHER TOUR DECISION, IF THAT IS THE CASE, TRUST baker LONGEVITY IN TENNIS MEDIA IS SHORT LIVED. AS IT OFTEN IS THE CASE, UNWEIGHTED, POOR BEHAVIOR NEVER PAYS…..AND UNREASONABLE POOR CALLS EVENTUALLY HIT YOU IN THE BACK AND HIT HARD.
VERY DISTURBING TO HAVE BE WITNESSING THE WRONGFUL ROOF MOVE AND THE SPITTING OF THE FIVE (5) SETS GS SEMI FINAL TO TWO DAYS. SOMEHOW FEW HAVE AGREED TO DO THIS DESPICABLE CLOSED ROOF MOVE, AND SPLIT THE FIVE (5) SETS SEMI FINAL TO TWO DAYS – VERY WRONG TACTICS BEFORE THE SEMI. FURTHERMORE, SO UNDESERVING FOR FAVORITE CHAMPION RAFA NADAL. SUCH POOR DECISIONS ARE DISRESPECTFUL OF RAFA’S MASSIVE, GIGANTIC WORTHY CONTRIBUTION TO TENNIS.
LETS TAKE A LOOK: HERE RAFA ENERGETICALLY ARRIVES AT THE TOUR, HAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY EARNED HIS SEMI FINAL SPOT, HUMBLE AND MOST FAVORITE SPORTSMAN, MAKING IT TO SEMI GS WITH HIS SHEER BRILLIANT TENNIS ABILITY , TALENT, SKILL AND POWERFUL, STRONG PLAY, AND WHAT HAPPENS…….HE IS BEING FACED WITH CONNIVING ADMINISTRATIVE UNLAWFUL TACTICS. TACTICS THAT ARE FAR FROM RESPECTFUL, WELCOMING, EMBRACING OR SUPPORTIVE OF RAFA, THE NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD, AND A MUCH ADMIRED PARTICIPANT PLAYER ON THE TOUR. THE ENTIRE TWO WEEKS RAFA HAD TO CLIME WERE ONE HURDLE AFTER ANOTHER. VERY INAPPROPRIATE, POOR SPORT ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION REFLECTING ON HOW POORLY THIS ENTIRE GS HAS BEEN HANDLED AND ORGANIZED FROM MANY ASPECTS. I FEEL FOR THE CROWDS AND TENNIS FANS EVERYWHERE……I FEEL FOR THE OTHER PLAYERS WHO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SIMILAR SETTLE DISCRIMINATION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, AND ON GOING BIAS.
THIS YEAR GS WAS SUCH A MAJOR LET DOWN FOR THE CROWD AND TENNIS FANS ALIKE! I SUSPECT ANDERSON AND ISNER’S SEMI WOULD PROVE TO BE A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR CROWDS AND FANS TO RECONSIDER IF THEY TRULY WISH TO SIT THROUGH THAT LENGTHY BORE PRACTICE OF FIRST SERVE, WHEN INFACT THEY PAID FOR A GS SEMI FINAL TENNIS MATCH.
THE OTHER DEEP DISAPPOINTMENTS ARE:
1. THE FIVE (5) SET GRAND SLAM SEMI FINAL WAS SPLIT INTO TWO DAYS – NOT DUE TO POOR WEATHER, BUT DUE TO POOR, HORRENDOUS ADMINISTRATIVE CHOICE. THIS SPLIT OF A FIVE (5) SET GRAND SLAM SEMI FINAL MAKES IT IN ACTUALITY JUST ANOTHER TENNIS MATCH, AS OPPOSED TO A GRAND SLAM FIVE (5) SET MATCH. I SUSPECT WIMBLEDON TICKETS HOLDERS INDEED PAID FOR A FIVE (5) SET GS SEMI FINAL – THEY DID NOT PAY FOR JUST ANOTHER MATCH CARRIED OUT IN TWO DAYS, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER REGULAR MATCH WOULD. INVENTIVELY, THE SPLIT ACTUALLY REMOVING ALL THE EXCITEMENT, FLOW AND EAGERNESS TO SEE WHO HAS THE PREVAILING ENDURANCE AND SKILL TO COME OUT VICTORIOUS AFTER FIVE (5) FULL SETS.
BOTH THE CROWD AND GLOBAL TENNIS FANS WERE DEPRIVED OF THAT INBUILT EXCITEMENT AND INTENSE PLEASURE OF A GRAND SLAM SINCE THE GS SEMI FINAL WAS SPLIT!
2. FURTHERMORE, THE BRILLIANT NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD, RAFA NADAL, WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS STRONG, WELL DEVELOPED AND POWERFUL EDGE OF ENDURANCE ADVANTAGE BY THE SPLIT OF THE GS SEMI MATCH. RAFA IS WELL KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED FOR HIS BRILLIANT PHYSICAL ENDURANCE ADVANTAGE WHEN PLAYING A TRUE, FIVE (5) SETS GRAND SLAMS. HERE, THE FIVE (5) SET SEMI FINAL GS MATCH WAS CALCULATEDLY SPLIT INTO TWO DAYS TO REMOVE THE RAFA’S HARD EARNED ENDURANCE ADVANTAGE. WHY???? HOW RIDICULOUS AND WRONG IS THAT TO TEMPER WITH RAFA’S BEAUTIFUL TENNIS ABILITY, SKILLS AND MAKE A DECISION TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE HIM SCHEDULED TO PLAY AFTER PROSPECTIVE VERY VERY LONG MATCH, WHERE TWO HARD SERVERS, KNOWN HISTORICALLY TO BE PLAYING ACES- ONE- TWO- BALLS TENNIS POINTS, LONG MATCHES PLACED AHEAD OF HIS SEMI MATCH.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT OUT OF ALL PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN THE TOUR, RAFA IS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD, AND SUCH HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TREATED IN A ROYAL MANNER WITH RESPECT, AND WITH COMPLETELY FAIR CONDITIONS. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. IT WAS MORE THAN OBVIOUS THIS CRUDE LAWFUL CALCULATION OF SPLITTING THE SEMI WAS TO REMOVE RAFA’S ADVANTAGE. TO GIVE RAFA ONE MORE OBSTACLE OF UNFAIR MISTREATMENT, ONE MORE UNFAIR TREATMENT TO CAUSE HIS MORAL, INSPIRATION AND ENERGY TO DECLINE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO TEMPER WITH HIS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. IT DEMONSTRATES THE CROOKED WAYS IN WHICH THIS ALL PURE WHITE TOUR IS RUN, AND ORGANIZED.
3. THE STUNNING, UNEXPECTED LAST MINUTE TURNING OF WHAT IS KNOWN A TRADITIONALLY, PERMANENT OUTDOOR TENNIS TOURNAMENT , AND SUDDENLY TURNING IT TO AN INDOOR TOURNAMENT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT’S WORST, IT WAS TURNED FROM AN OUTDOOR TOUR TO AN INDOOR TOUR DONE WITH CARELESS MINDLESS CALL OF HAVING THE ROOF CLOSED. IT WAS SUNNY, BRIGHT DAY, NO RAIN, AND YET THE SEMI FINAL GS HAD TO BE PLAYED WITH CLOSED ROOF. WHAT IS REALLY INSULTING TO TENNIS FANS IS THE FACT THAT THIS WAS DONE IN A DROP OF A HAT WITH SEEMINGLY TRUTH-LESS REASONING BASED ON UTTERLY UNFAIR TACTICS – THE GO AHEAD ALLOWING OF ONE PLAYER’S CHOICE OVER THE CHOICE OF THE OTHER PLAYER INVOLVED IN THE GS SEMI MATCH, WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD, RAFA NADAL. THIS CLOSED ROOF DECISION IS DISGRACEFUL AND UPSETTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE RAFA DESERVES TO BE TREATED AND HANDLED WITH HIGHEST RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION AS HE HAS BEEN SUCH A CLASSY TENNIS CHAMPION AND A PLAYER ON ALL FRONTS!!! HE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN TOURS WITH SPORTSMANSHIP SECOND TO NONE, SUCCESSFULLY VICTORIOUS IN TOURS, AN OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL, AND A BRIGHT TENNIS STAR. THE UGLY CONNIVING MANNER IN WHICH HE HAS BEEN TREATED IN THIS TOUR IS APPALLING TO THE SPORT AND TO TENNIS FANS.
IN SHORT, THESE ARE TWO MORE REASONS WHY THIS WAS NOT A SUCCESSFUL GRAND SLAM TENNIS EVENT WHERE ITS OUTCOME IS RATHER QUESTIONABLY BLURRY IN TERMS OF WHO IS INDEED THE MOST COMPETITIVE, ABLE TALENT.
AS AVID INTELLIGENT TENNIS FANS, WE ARE ALL FEELING ROBBED OF TRUE COMPETITION! ROBBED OF TRUE GRAND SLAM FIVE (50 SET MATCH CLOUDED WITH SHADY BIAS CONDITIONS OF TAMPERED WITH RAFA’S ENDURANCE ADVANTAGE ABILITY. WE FEEL RUBBED! ALL OF US FANS WERE DEPRIVED OF A DIGNIFIED, RESPECTFUL, FUN VIEWING OF WITNESSING RAFA’S GREATNESS, HIS ENDURANCE AND HIS TALENT DISPLAYED UNDER FAIR CONDITIONS. THESE WERE NOT FAIR CONDITIONS AND THE BS HAS GOT TO STOP.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SHARE HERE THAT LOOKING BACK, IMHO, bb ALWAYS APPEARED TO ME AS IF HE ENVIED OUR FAVORITE, BEST TENNIS CHAMPION, THE GOAT, RAFA NADAL , AND RARAF’S BRILLIANT LONG TENNIS CAREER BOTH AS A BRIGHT YOUNG STAR TEENAGER, AND THE ULTIMATE GOAT STAR CHAMPION HE IS TODAY. RAFA WAS A FEISTY, GREAT ICON FROM THE MOMENT HE STEPPED ONTO THE COURT! RIGHT AWAY, AS SOON AS RAFA BEGAN APPEARING ON PROFESSIONAL TENNIS TOURS, HE WAS A BRILLIANT, FIERY TENNIS FORCE TEENAGER ….. WE ALL KNOW IT….WE ALL SAW IT….. RAFA INVENTED PASSIONATE TENNIS! WE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED HIS WORRIER INSTINCTS AND POWER , AND HIS DISTINCT, CLASSY TENNIS STYLE RIGHT AWAY!
I SAY THAT FOR FEW REASONS, ONE OF WHICH AS AN AVID FAN, AND AN OBSERVER OF TENNIS HISTORY AND FOOTAGE, FOLLOWING TENNIS CLOSELY I CAN REMEMBER WAY BEFORE bb COACHED novak, SEEING CAMERA CLOSE UPS OF bb ON THE STANDS AS HE WAS WATCHING RAFA’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAY, HE OFTEN APPEARED AGITATED, FUELING LOOKING, AND RATHER DISCONTENTED AND TEMPERED. THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT SEEING HIS EXPRESSION IN CLOSE UP. THE QUESTION REMAINS, WHY SUCH IMPORTANT TOUR DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE CARELESSLY AND THOUGHTLESSLY WITH DISREGARD TO CHAMPION RAFA NADAL?????? WHY ON EARTH SOMEONE AS boris IS HIRED TO COVER MATCHES???? ONE WOULD ASSUME THE TOUR WISHES TO LOOK GOOD, CLASSY AND ALL PURE WHITE. WHY ON EARTH DOES HE HAVE ANY SAY AT ANYTHING LEGITIMATE AT TENNIS TOURS? HIS ASS LICKING TO GET A COVERAGE TV SPOT CAN ONLY TAKE HIM SO FAR….. JUDGING FROM HIS INTERVIEWS PROFILE AND LIVE PRE GAMES COVERAGE…THAT’S WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE TO ME…..SOMETHING TO BE CONCERN ABOUT .
APOLOGIES THIS IS WAY LONG……SORRY ABOUT THAT! HOPEFULLY, RAFA’S FANS KEEP SPEAKING OUT.
VAMOS SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND KNOW YOU ARE THE BEST PLAYER ON TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND ALL THE BEST SWEETHEART!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Rafa Fans: Remember!!! Rafa played a brilliant 5 Set match agains Del Potro which lasted 5 hours. Then he had to play against Djokovic under that damm Closed Roof for Two Days. He would have DEFINITELY WON if the roof was opened as it should have been Damm to the jerks who caved in to Djokovic and said yes to his quest for a closed roof. Rod Laver is correct: Rafa Nadal is the best tennis player in the world. Love you Rafa. And God bless you with health and joy. Love, Marylynn
A little roundup thoughts on Rafa’s WB2018 !
First of all it is more than obvious what kind of harm has been made in Rafa’s confidence by the lack of success in WB since 2012.
I was following the string of his defeats from that year, bewildered and in awe each and every time he played and lost, unable to digest them, completely gutted and upset. That was a surreal and incomprehensible transformation from the unbeatable titan of RG to the mere mortal of WB in less than a month’s time. I know that fatigue played an important role every time but I simply could not get it. Since Rafa is very emotional person and detests to lose, surely all those defeats in a row had created a great emotional scar in him, which instead of healing, each and every year with the series of defeats was bleeding more and more profusely.
Rafa obviously started feeling more and more insecure and less confident with himself, lacking authority in the shots, been broken regularly, lacking the winner’s instinct, losing forehands, backhands and overheads that in RG are his bread and butter.
I assume that his is very serious for the mentality of any player in any sport. Look what has happened to Roger with clay and even so with Nole who after defeating Rafa in RG2015 went to lose that epic final with Wawrinka and only in 2016 after Rafa’s withdrawal was able to win it just once !!!
Why am I saying all these?
It is plain and simple that since 2017 Rafa is slowly succeeding to shrug off one by one all these “demons” that have haunted him in WB since 2012 and prevented him from reaching at least QFs. If you watched closely from round 1 this year, full confidence, as it is demonstrated in RG, was not there but was buiding round by round. You could feel it that the scar was not bleeding, but it was still there ready to bleed with a scratch. How on earth that glorious fighter came to feel so scared in WB all those years before and how was that fear instilled in him? Barring problems with his serve, which is a variable liability or advantage throughout the years and from tournament to tournament, it is the unsure Rafa that comes out to play in WB. So in the context of all that, the progress made since last year is more than welcome and shows that he is successfully battling the demons inside.
So reaching QFs for the first time since 2011 was almost a new territory for Rafa and he had to battle an extra set of demons to go through it. However, an opponent like Del Potro is by no means a cakewalk. While Rafa rapidly defeated him in RG this year, leaving him astonished and breathless in the end, in WB Rafa showed that instability that pertains to the scar inside. A double fault in second set TB (no TB in RG with DelPo and a TB won with a vengeance in this year’s Rome Open with Nole) and then this and next sets gone. An agonizing Rafa manages to get the win in the end, gaining confidence but losing precious energy.
His next round was to be the ultimate “demon exorcism”, which means to defeat Nole in grass also defeating fatigue, making speedy recovery and trying to surpass each and every doubt in his head. Nole knew that very well along with his game’s current state so he was delighted to get the unfair chance with the roof to his full advantage and to Rafa’s great disadvantage and dismay.
I admit I was unable to watch this SF live. I knew deep inside me that something bad was going to happen seeing so many ominous factors/events accumulating (starting in darkness, 11 pm curfew game stop, resuming with the roof close etc) plus the resurgence of the well-known ill-mannered and ill-tempered Nole. Rafa lost in details but managed to step it up even more and show some more demons the exit.
I know he is not yet there in full capacity but hopefully heals inside and keeps that good momentum to US swing this year.
After all, there is nothing more pleasurable than watching a confident Rafa smiling and biting trophies !!!
Heartened and cheered up a bit by Rod Laver’s comment / tweet that Rafael Nadal is ‘probably the best athlete tennis has ever known – to win RG and come so close to winning Wimbie also’.
Puts it all in perspective a bit – the disappointment is replaced by hope and confidence for the upcoming tournaments. Rafa is playing at an unbelievable high level. GS 18 can’t be too far away – barring injury. Fingers crossed.
Rafa was sooo close to winning. He went toe to toe with Novak and only some superb serving in the 5th got Novak out of trouble and unfortunately Rafa just fell short holding serve at the end. He was always serving to stay in it which no doubt increased the pressure. Overall I think he played very well and it could easily have been him in the final. He played aggressive and went for it and it nearly paid off. I am really positive going forward as he is playing a very high level and I think more titles will come. Vamos Rafa.
Yeah this match was decided on a few points. I felt losing the third was crucial. Even then, Rafa fought back. He could have won it in the fifth, had he hit that back hand not cross court but DTL. And then there was the roof. Let’s see where he goes from here. It could give him a downward push, but I would say it’s more likely that he gets motivation from this Wimbledon going forward. If he plays as aggressive as this, there are few who can stop him.
For me Rafa play very good ,to go in 5. Sets ,it was so close 10 to. 8 in the fift set. The finals I didn’t. Wach it was not any fun to see .Rafa get ready for the US OPEN. In N Y. We love you I’m a fan for 12. Years .i love the way you play .🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘🎾🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️❤️🎾❤️🎾❤️
Rafa still the better man in every respect is you ,your fans love you all over the world .the best tennis player .and the best human being,we love you .🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️👍👍❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️
Rafa needs to win this matches which he was winning earlier under pressure 5 sets matches …he just need to control the 5 th set….let let the opportunity go in Ao 17 against fed when he was up and now against novak…but rafa showed great strength in delpo match ti finish on winning side i think if the match played completely on same day rafa had great chances because he is physicially so stronger than any other…and that matters most hence the roof closed had got so much taken out from the match to the disadvantage of rafa….and advantage to novak…rafa game build on confidence ….and he needs to beat novak in next meeting to get that and win the critical match ….i think this little thing needs to be sort out by his team …also it is noticable to see rafa play so aggresively when under roig coaching….
The first thing that hits me when I wake up is Rafa’s loss. And then I think about it on and off till I fall asleep. It’s kid of there all the time. Ridiculous but that’s it. Also Rafa is 32 and I can only hope that he remains fit and healthy to play for some years more and that he gets such a good chance to play Wimbledon again.
Personally I think Roig is good for Rafa. Rafa looked quite confident in his matches before the sf and especially against delpo he looked fit and full of fire and confidence.
Ive said before something happens to Rafa when he has to play Novak especially in the last years. Maybe some of the near misses have done that. Ever since 2011 I’ve noticed that even tho 2013 was a good year he lost to Novak in the Wimbledon final. When Rafa’s form was down his mental strength also suffered – naturally, and it has been difficult for him to get it back especially against Djokovic. That’s another reason I so badly wanted Rafa to win this sf. In Rome when he beat Novak is year he was so relieved and happy it was almost as if he had won the tournament – the same in this sf after winning the 4th set. On the last years Rafa’s mental strength has not been the same. There were a few years when that was so obvious. In 2017/18 it seemed better but there was no Novak really threatening him. His team and coaches must help him with this. He is the better player and they have to help his self belief. Novak has soo much confidence and self belief – in fact that is his major weapon, much more than his tennis.
Rafa was playing soo well and I trust he knows it too since he said he was proud of himself.
Rafa you are the very best. Believe it and come back stronger. You are my CHAMP- our CHAMPION And we all love you!
VAMOS
You are right, I call it scar tissue.,you have to remember 2011. Djoker beat him, 7 times in a row, I think, including some Slams, Wimbledon? That’s hard to let go. Rafa had 2 huge chances when Djoker was down 15-40, twice.,,Rafa would have served for it. But he couldn’t get past him. That’s confidence. Also, Rafa actually won more games than Djoker, it really was that close. Much of this is in his head, and that’s harder to deal with than anything else. I hope he can beat him this year, he already has but he needs to beat him again!
To be honest Wimbledon was never in the cards. At one point Rafa was thinking of skipping it altogether. At that moment staying at number 1 seemed jeopardized. Particularly with Rafa’s serves on RG we were not very optimistic about Wimbledon. But then Rafa came out and played Wimbledon like a warrior, and we all got carried away. Even then just when Rafa saved his points and Federer lost to Anderson We were so happy. And same day Rafa’s win against Delpo took our expectations sky high. Had Rafa won, it would have been a treat, a bonus for us all. But we really had nothing to lose.
However one thing is for sure that no one can beat a fit and healthy Rafa with fair means. It either has to be injured Rafa or cheating tactics like RF time out in AO or djoker’s roof closing now. Vamos
Rafa for surely will win the wimbeldon sooner we have to remember that rafa needs confidence and momentum to push him harder , rafa has good show in wimbeldon from last 2 years and will for surely win the tournament ….i feel the slip he had on cross court forehand on 0-30 also but unlucky i was sure if would have save that point he would have definitely going get that game also in rallies rafa look far more superior to.win it than novak ….novak was helped by serve on big point….also the stats after match it only showing rafa was superior in most of aspect but still he found himself on loosing side but this will ignite a fire in rafa and i cant wait to see him again
Vamos rafa….
n raving on the Court, or bashing the grass court with your racquet in temper, or .viciously grabbing a ball n hitting it against the wall. You are a model of a gentleman n much admired for this trait. Maybe this is a disadvantage in some ways in sport, but better this way Rafa than behaving like a rude, crude larriken.
Please give us some news of yourself Rafa. I am 82 years old n hope to see you play many more tournaments. Vamos, Vamos Rafa. God bless you. Your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑🎉🎉🎉
Has Rafa given a Press Conference after Wimbledon. SF? If so, why are we not seeing it? I am a bit worried about his fall at the end n whether this had anything to do with his loss? My heart is still aching for you my boy n I just want to hear your reaction to your loss. I know you have a wonderful sporting nature n would never dream of ranting