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
What’s going on?? Rafa can’t be giving away cheap shots on critical points like that. And now he’s lost the third.
Wake up champ! Finish him off in the 4th set! No lapses!
Something is wrong with rafa. We are going again in the fourth set. He is not playing well and serving well something is bothering him perhaps his knee. His level is very bad if he pulls this one though i dont think he will triumph over thiem and definitly will lose against federer, djokovic or perhaps del potro.
He needs to wake up you have to play better
I hope it’s just a lapse in energy or concentration and nothing to do with the knee.
He will roar back!
How the hell is his body already creaking after just one previous HC tourney? Is this what it’s going to be like moving forwards, two injuries per year?
Finally.
I have to agree that he just doesn’t seem to be there. I hope it’s not his knee.
RAFA WINS ROUND 4
Bugger. Rafa lost 3rd set tie break so we’re into a 4th. As long as it doesnt go to a 5th!!! It was close though
CRAP ALMIGHTY! GET HIM RAFA! Too many errors….what’s going on.
Rafa has been absolutely awful on serve the past two matches. Fully deserves to lose that set – just cannot maintain a lead on his deal. Really worried about a potential match against Thiem, not to mention Delpo or Djokovic.
GEEEZZZZ Rafa, CLOSE IT OUT! NO 4th SET!
RAFA ROCKS
Just woke up. And happy to see things under controlled. Vamos💪💪💪
Under control? He’s struggling on serve and has a set point against him.
I said it when things were under control a while back. But I trust our man. We got this.vamos💪
Yay Fan Love is back, welcome back!
I see Rafa got broken in the third. Hopefully he rectifies this situation asap!
Get it done champ!
Rafa broken in 3rd but I’m not worried as he’s 2 sets up. I’m sure he’ll break back. Oh and welcome back Fan Love.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE PLAYING BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LEADING TWO SETS IN A NICE 6:3 6:3 SCORE…….LOVE YOUR SLEEVELESS DIFFERENT OUTFITS……AND YOUR PRECIOUS FEISTY ENERGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE AND THE ULTIMATE GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) MOST BELOVED TENNIS STAR OF ALL STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE SERVING BRILLIANTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) EFFECTIVE SIMPLE SERVES AND SMASHING TIMELY ACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE WATCHING YOUR PASSION SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) NO ONE MUST BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE STADIUM DURING PLAYERS’S SERVE GAME…..HOW ABSURD IT IS THAT FOLKS CAN ARRIVE LATE….ANYTIME THEY JUST STROLL IN….WALK IN ON SERVE GAMES…..DISTURBING AND DISRESPECTFUL OF THE MATCH …………
VAMOS SWEETHEART AND I AM SO HAPPY YOU WON THAT SERVE GAME WHEN THAT ODD PERSON WITH AN UGLY RF TOP CAME IN …. CLEARLY RF CAN NOT EARN HIS OWN FANS SO RESORTING TO THESE LACK OF MANNERISM TO DISPLAY HIS NAME IS NOT BUYING FANS…..OPPOSITE….. THAT IDIOT TOOK HIS SWEET IDIOTIC TIME GETTING TO HIS SIT…..I THINK HE OUGHT TO BE FINED….AND ANYBODY DISTURBING THE MATCH IN ANY MANNER OUGHT TO BE LET OUT……
GO RAFA GO……VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA AND VERY HAPPY FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOLID PREVIOUS WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Doubly fantastic. Rafa breaks and has no bandage on his knee!!
All the best for your match now. Vamos Rafa <3
There have been times before when I’ve seen a comment thread which has become blameful and negative. I wonder if this is the best use of this site? We are all drawn together by a positive force for good – someone’s extraordinary efforts which we all admire – and it would be great if we could extend the goodwill we feel for Rafa towards each other as well.
I think it’s normal and healthy for us to disagree on some points. Any intelligent, independently-minded, varied group of people will. I know that people will have different interpretations and opinions and biases to me – that they will see the same set of facts and come to alternative conclusions. Sometimes those will be borne out by reality; other times not. Sometimes they will be carefully and rationally expressed; other times they will be emotional and written without much reflection.
Can we give each other the benefit of the doubt? Can we assume, with compassion, that we probably all want the best for Rafa, and each other – but we will express ourselves in different ways? Can we keep this a place where we can share a range of interesting thoughts and opinions without the stress of retaliation for doing so?
Please note I speak in generalities for the important reason that I am not taking anyone’s side. That is my whole point.
My best wishes to all.
BS…..AND POORLY SAID….ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SAME PERSON UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES KEEPS MAKING UP ALL SORT OF DRAMA HERE THEN ANSWERING THEMSELVES WITH MORE BACK AND FORTH BS ….THAT HAS GOT TO STOP…..
DON’T ATTACK THE VERY INTELLIGENT COMMENT BY ALEX. SHAME ON YOU. YOU SHOULD TAKE HER ADVICE. All YOU EVER DO IS INSULT OTHER PLAYERS AND SPAM THESE PAGES.
IF YOU WANT TO ACCUSE SOMEONE OF SOMETHING TELL THEM DIRECTLY LIKE THAT NITWIT PUMA DOES, BUT SHE HAS A THING FOR ME. LOL [NOT MY TYPE]
Bravo Rafa! We love you!
Rafa is a tremdous competior and can step up his game when pushed to the brink . I think Rafa will have to play better than ever to win and defend this Open . Seems like Novak , Toger , and Juan as well as Kei are playing great hard court tennis . Now Rafa can beat any of them on any given day but he must bring his A game and not play from behind . Vamos Rafa !
POOR YOU” SNAKE PERSON
, NASTY AND WRONG . SILLY BITCH
WHAT A]LOVELY YOUNG MAN , NO GRUMBLES JUST FACTS.LOVED HIS RESPECT FOR RAFA AND HIS COMMENTS . HE SPOKE TRUE TO HIMSELF AND RAFA , WHO KNOWS ONE DAY HE MIGHT BE WHERE RAFA IS TODAY , GOOD LUCK YOUNG MAN FOR A HEALTHY AND HAPPY FUTURE
Jill Eldridge, That “lovely young man”, Pospisil asked for Rafa to wait for his breathing to recover. When Rafa respected his appeal and received a time violation warning, he did not have the honesty to own up to his request from Rafa. We all saw it happen and if you doubt my words you can see it photographed. In my book Pospisil will always be a dishonest, profIteering young man, and his few nice words for Rafa cannot redeem him.
I find your comments a complete downer Maria from Snake Island . Especially when there is concern over his knee going forward .
Or does that make you happy ? I have great faith In Rafa as do all his fans here and only wish the best for him . Go Rafa you are the best !
Gosh Snake you really have no clue have you. Here’s a handy tip…before you just slag off Nadal maybe check your facts? The ATP head to head list is a good help. Just google it and it will pop right up 🙂
Ahhh, tell that to the marines! Uh, story for the gods!!
I mean, he ‘s so difficult to beat yet Novak Djokovic always trounces him at ease, beating him 7 or 8 times in a row, and more recently, Roger Federer’s 5 times in a row!!
Let’s always put things in their proper perspective please.
Your guess is as good as mine on what will happen if our dear Rafa should meet any of Roger Federer or Novak in the final. Heads or tail, we already know who will win, don’t we?
But, as always, we’d see……….hmmn
You’re just such a fool hater that you dont want to understand the meaning of what he says….
And I thought this was a Rafa fan sight, Maria of Snake Island. What are you doing here?
SNAKE ISLAND MARIA.
Your name says it all you do not need to hiss your venom. You are obviously not aware of it, or do not care that this site is for Rafa fans and his haters are not welcome.
Please disappear to a Federer or Djokovicz worshipping site where you can swim better.