Beating Rafael Nadal is one of the toughest tasks in tennis. Canadian Vasek Pospisil shares his experience detailing what it feels like to face the world number one.
Vasek Pospisil:
I mean, he makes you go for it and play the highest of your level. He just makes you really push your level and play better than you’re used to playing. If you want to have a chance to win, you almost have to play like that.
Yeah, physically he’s at a very high level. Physical and mental parts are so, so strongly connected. Obviously then he’s mentally very tough, too, because he’s physically very strong. I mean, if you’re doing a good job on your fitness, not getting as tired, mentally it becomes easier to concentrate.
I know that from when I’m playing in different conditions that are more difficult and less difficult for me, mentally I can be completely two different players. If I’m not exhausted or tired, pretty stable. Because he’s so strong physically, also very strong mentally, yeah, which makes him very tough to play.
Source: US Open
Rafa estas a un nivel muy alto….estas como con tus dieciocho pero con experiencia…osea dificil d ganarte…siempre contigo
Well, I’m glad that’s over!!
“Physical issue is there, of course” he said in the interview afterwards. Welp.
I heard that. I think he was referring more generally to energy levels, rather than his knee. Everyone was talking about it anyway, so he probably thought why not address it, since it’s common sense.
Congrats fellow Rafans. But Nadal needs to raise his level. Thiem then probably del potro and then nole or fed. Needs a Herculean effort to defeat all of them n this kind of lapses won’t help. Thiem played brilliantly today. It’s going to be a tough challenge.
VAMOS champ all the best
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 40: 0 CHAMPION BRILLIANT NADAL AND ENDING WITH A CLASSY ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS SWEETHEART AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL, FEISTY , ONE AND ONLY RAFA NADAL VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BEAUTIFUL EXCITING MATCH AND WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND CELEBRATE WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND LOVED ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE MIGHTY SPECIAL GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) PS: LOVED YOUR INTERVIEWS…..GREAT PRESENCE YOU HAVE WITH THE PRESS AND SO KIND AND CLASSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE BRILLIANT IN TIE BREAKS AND LOOSING ONE DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING…..YOU ARE SO GOOD AT TIE BREAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GORGEOUS RAFA….ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART & HAVE A LOVELY TIME WITH EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
A win is a win. Well done to Rafa and get it done easier in the next round pleeeaase!!
The one good thing about this match is that he came through a tough round after injury doubt. He might be able to trust his body better next practice/match. Maybe get some more legs into his serve again.
Start praying for the next round already! Theim looking very fresh. Best of luck for the next round Rafa! Vamos💪
He’d better be playing a whole lot better against Thiem or I don’t like his chances.
Although I suspect Thiem won’t fully take advantage of Rafa’s weak serving, as his court position is so deep.
Phew ! Congrats Rafa and rafans
VAMOS BEAUTIFUL NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE FEISTY AND FIGHTING AND INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE…..BREAKING BACK SO DECISIVELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 WHAT A JOY YOU ARE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE BRILLIANT SWEETHEART A TRUE TENNIS GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : );) 😉 KEEP GOING SWEETHEART YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING SO JUT RIGHT…..GOD BLESS YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU AND ENJOY YOUR BRILLIANT BEAUTIFUL TENNIS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) MUCHAS GRACIAS GOAT OF ALL GOATS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LION STRENGTH AND MIGHTY POWERFUL YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THE POOR GUY LOOKS LIKE HE IS READY TO DROP…..HE CHANGED SOCKS SO HE COULD CATCH HIS BREATH……OLD TRICK……….
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR BRILLIANT COURT PRESENCE, YOUR BRILLIANT SKILLFUL TENNIS AND INTELLIGENCE AND YOUR EXTRAORDINARY DETERMINATION IS COMMENDABLE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY IT ALL AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) LOVE YOU SO MUCH DEAR RAFA AND YOUR EFFORTS AND SWEAT IS WHAT GETS YOU FORWARD EACH AND EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO YOU ARE SERVING FOR THE MATCH SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EACH BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 30 : 0……..LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE TO YOU DEAR RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Almost there. Just don’t do anything crazy
Please serve it out Rafa!!!!
At least he’s fired up. Thats a good sign
You make everything exciting , way too exciting for our likings
So true man, way too exciting and nerve wracking
Why can’t you play an easy match l Rafa😩
Oh no. Rafas been broken back. Is he tired? He cant have a lapse in concentration for so long surely?
Rafa’s serving was topping out at 126 mph at this point last year. He’s like 15 mph down.
Oh well, at least he broke again.
He needs to go out and serve nonstop in practice tomorrow. Novak would eat this delivery for breakfast.
Here’s a worrying sign as well – when failing to break, he struggles on his own next service game. That’s very unlike him, except 2015-2016 version Rafa.
BEAUTIFUL SWEETHEART….KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE SOLID OUT THERE & SO GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX YOU ARE BEAUTIFULLY FIT AND SO FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE ALL YOUR STRONG POWERFUL RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY SWEETHEART & HAVE FUN WITH EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR PRECIOUS FOCUS IS SO IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Come on, Rafa, get yourself together! This should be an easy home straight… you’re making very heavy weather of it.
he needs a couple of good first serves
basilashvilli reminds me of the way fognini played against nadal three years ago. Nadal keeps playing to the backhand knowing that the backhand is going very well today
Just don’t take it to fifth please. Rafa seems fatigued and I m not surprised. We were exhausted just by watching the match against Karen. Look at the positive, at least no tape on the knee. Vamos💪
Would be interesting to know what caused his sudden drop in confidence and overall quality of play. Probably the physical issue that seeded doubt in his mind. Perhaps he wasn’t able to practice at 100 % yesterday because of it.
one break is not enough he needs double break