After Rafael Nadal’s defeat in Wimbledon semifinal, this is what Toni Nadal wrote in a column for Spanish publication El Pais:
Eleven years after the mythical end of 2008, my nephew Rafael and Roger Federer returned to face each other on the same stage. Both reached the semifinal with similar numbers, giving both the feeling of having reached the semifinals in a great state of form. Like his last meeting at Wimbledon, Rafael, in my opinion, started as a slight favourite. If on that occasion it was he who took the victory, this time it was Roger who came out as the fair winner.
Although my nephew had his options – in the tie break of the first set he broke twice the service of the rival and went ahead on the scoreboard, and in the third he had clear chances to recover the lost break – my feeling in the last two sleeves was that the semifinal was more in the hands of the Swiss than in his. Federer played in a superb way, very aggressive from the bottom of the view, with few errors and without ever giving up a bit of ground, disturbing Rafael from the first blow with both serve and the rest. My nephew, on the other hand, did not have a day as inspired as the previous ones. It is difficult to determine if that was due to own reasons or if the cause was the opponent in front of him.
Roger combined shots as flat as fast, with setbacks difficult to return and uploaded to the net. Meanwhile, Rafael did not hit the setback with the same power and placement of his previous matches and was also somewhat erratic in the return. Perhaps one of his mistakes was subtracting too far from the baseline both on the first serve of the Swiss and on the second, thus giving way to the initiative of the game. He obtained 38 per cent of points gained on the rival’s second service, while Federer, playing more aggressive, scored 52%.
A defeat of these characteristics always stings. Rafael has given himself again to the doors of playing a final as desired as Wimbledon. Just like the previous two years, we’re leaving here – I write this on my way to the airport – with a bittersweet feeling. The level of play was very high, but we have again the feeling of having missed a great opportunity.
What do you think about Uncle Toni’s latest column? Will Rafa’s Wimbledon exit seriously hurt or not?
I do not care where or when, with or without a roof, RAFA plays, he shall always be my
humble Hero and perfect Gentleman. I adore you Rafa. From an old lady (84) in South
Africa, since 2003. Vamos Rafa!!!
I found what Margo said very interesting about Uncle Toni: “This roof business brought to my mind Toni’s statement, many times, that he sometimes trained Rafa under the worst conditions . . . .” Many others have already commented on this, but I think that must be true if you look at some recent examples. The weather bothered both Jokr(especially) and Fed at RG, but Rafa seemed almost unfazed by the weather. I’m sure, thinking back, there have been other examples. Of course the roofs nowadays minimize that advantage for Rafa, and now RG will have a roof next year, apparently. In the end, of course, it’s safer for everybody to have that advantage.
I meant to say “Maybe others,” not “Many other.”
Toni knows Rafa better than we. I also feel same way as Toni feels. Our champion fought bravely. But luck did not favoured him. He came up to Semi in Wimbledob is more than enough in recent years. CONGRATULATION
DG, do you know the origin of Rafa’s aversion to playing under a roof or at nighttime? It’s supposedly common knowledge but I only learned it here a few years ago. I don’t recall any mentions in his bio.
I never thought of it in those terms [as an advantage] but great point regarding Rafa’s training under harsh weather conditions. Makes sense.
I was surprised to note that NO ONE here said Rafa was given preferential treatment. Both Djokovic and Roger complained and since they ALWAYS are given preferential treatment [according to some] why weren’t their respective matches stopped.
About a roof for court Philipe Chartrier, I don’t have an opinion. Rafa will either win or lose. And I am rooting for WIN #13. BUT if he were to lose under the roof, I can just see some here saying it [the roof] was a conspiracy against Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
Nothing concrete, yet. Eugene Lapierre, tournament director of the Rogers Cup, said he is “in contact with his [Rafa’s] team and I think he wants to be here. He wants to come back to the no. 1 position in the world.”
About Roger, “We had very limited expectations on [Roger’s] his appearance. When I talked to him before and during Wimbledon, he always said that he would be careful on the tournaments he would play until the rest of the year. We knew if he had a long Wimbledon run, chances to see him would be slim. It was not a major surprise.”
[SOURCE: Luigi Gatto, 7/18/2019]
No mention of Djokovic.
RAFA ROCKS
Set in the past, please take the time to read ‘The Wimbledon Draw’. The Wimbledon Draw is arrived at by part organization and part random selection. Before the random draw, the 32 seeds are removed from the draw. The non-seeded players are randomly assigned places by computer program within the first round. The organisers then add the 32 seeded players back in. And the top 4 seeds are given one section each, and so on with the 28 seeds, again by computer. But the fixed part are the 4 sections.
I certainly hope that you are right Marileena. You have allayed my fears by reminding me that Rafa didn’t play in Cincinnati last year.
I wonder if it bothers Rafa, as it does me, when his uncle, Toni, chooses another player to win when Rafa is in the same tournament.
According to Marca, Toni said “Today, I see Djokovic as the favorite for the US OPEN because he has won Wimbledon and the Australian Open [this year], but the three [Rafa, Fed, Nole] are very close.”
RAFA IS MY FAVORITE, TONI
Yes, Toni he is looking at it objectively 😐 Thèse surveys they put on the sites ” Who will win this tournament ? ” with choices , us fans would often tick our player 😉 obviously but to be honest with ourselves there is a différence between hoping our player will and who you at heart think will win👑 😯 . Fiona in Paris
Marileena: FYI-Rogers Cup for the ATP is in Montreal this year. The WTA are playing in Toronto. It alternates every year.
Thanks for the correction,,,, Did I at least get the date right??? 🙂
An aha-moment for me regarding the 2018 roof subject.
Rafa believed or was led to believe that the roof was closed only “to save time” because of the 11pm curfew. His match vs Djokovic was unlikely to finish on Friday because of the Anderson match.
NO ONE THOUGHT TO ASK IF IT’S CLOSED NOW, WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW? WILL IT BE OPEN? [my aha moment]
When the roof was closed, it was still daylight. It didn’t have to be closed at the beginning of the match.
Where was Rafa’s team when he agreed to start the match with the roof closed? He and his team had to know about the rules. Maybe they forgot? Rafa was asked recently [I think in 2018] if he knew who Roland Garros was. He didn’t. Only to say maybe they don’t pay attention to detail? I don’t know.
What I do know is that if Wimbledon does prefer Nole or Roger they would not have changed the roof-use rules for 2019 having a good idea Rafa would play.
Agreed with you
Rafa and team are so conservative. Needs a little bit more open mind
Biss, or…perhaps some fans are making the roof a bigger deal [for themselves]?
This roof business brought to my mind Toni’s statement, many times, that he sometimes trained Rafa under the worst conditions because the Spanish Tennis Federation didn’t have the funds or didn’t spend the amount of money on tennis that the US or other countries did. He forgot to teach Rafa to play under a roof?
Just me thinking out loud.
Rafa, don’t listen to Toni. Double down and win the US OPEN!
RAFA ROCKS
Yes, he may not have trainéd before under a roof but he does now. Thé Spanish FT may not have had funds but they have always had the advantage of the climate 🌞 being able to train outside 🌴 early in Spring and Sept. Oct. Thé covered court where we saw him in Manacor last Autumn is public, run by the town council. 🎾 has been there for years, a Sports Centre, a long time before his Academy, built next door. Our Richard Gasquet is also a Mediterranean boy like other Spanish players, I told them they were lucky , 🌞🌴🍋he and Rafa first met playing when they were twelve. Fiona in Paris
Rafa training under a roof, fantastic. Happy to know.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa has yet to finalise his schedule leading up to the US Open, but I wonder whether he’ll play in Montreal and Cincinnati or just Montreal in defence of his title?
Spanish publication say his his goal is to “preserve the knees for the US Open. Rafa states “l do not know what my future calendar will be…… With fear I cannot face things…. I cannot play tennis thinking about whether or not something can happen to me….When my rivals play a physical game then if things happen, they happen and you have to remedy them…..My calendar is changing to my needs at each moment more than having a totally planned thing.”
I don’t know what to make of that. Is Rafa going to play both tournaments and see what happens or just one to preserve his knees? Who knows, but knowing Rafa, I suspect that he may initially opt for the former. Given his injury woes on the hard courts, particularly over the last year, it’s going to be very difficult for him not to have any fear or concern as to whether his knees will hold up. Speculation aside, it’s certainly not an easy decision to make, but i’m with Rafa on whatever he chooses to do.
There is no way Rafa is playing both tournaments…. Rafa has always said that he doesn’t do well at the Cincinnati tournament (for reasons he can’t put his finger on) … That’s why last year he opted for Toronto.and no Cincinnati… My money is on Toronto … It’s 3 weeks away from now…. It gives him a solid 2 weeks to recover from when the tournament is over to get to NY… Cincinnati is after Toronto …leaving only has 1 week to get his things and move on on to NY………. I’d be shocked if he opts to go there… Just sayin…….
Marileena, my guess too is only Montreal, if he intends to defend his points. It would be counter productive to play both. He has been saying he plans to streamline his calendar. Maybe he will eliminate the Asian swing?
So far he has committed to Davis and Laver Cups. He plans to play 2020 Olympics. For sure he WANTS to be healthy for Tokyo. And then there is his personal life, maybe his marriage and honeymoon. He’s got a lot on his plate already.
Knowing how much Rafa loves to play I hope he is not agonizing over which tourneys to enter.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Awww Margo…. He;s not agonizing,… Rafa’s a smart guy… He loves his tennis and wants to stay in it as long as he can… He talks about his body all the time…He’s methodically sitting with the team and discussing what he has committed to play.. (which is his wants and desires…Davis, Laver etc ) and then will fit into the schedule the other tournaments that are important without overloading him physically….
The time has come for him to play it smart… He knows he has to scale back.
He’ll be fine…. Don’t worry about our boy…. (And he’s getting married!!! That’s a biggie on his list…).
And I forgot Match for Africa 6, February 2020. YIKES
OK, yes, you’ve calmed me down. I will stop agonizing over whether Rafa is agonizing. LOL
Thanks
I stand corrected…. Montreal….
I don’t think he will play Cincinnati. He likes Roger cup and Montreal. So maybe just one tournament and Us open after that
I think Rafa will continue having a great season.
Set – I agree with you completely…. The roof …the draw … etc…
What I don’t understand is the excuses and constant berating from some of Rafa’s fans …
If the draw was this or the draw was that…. Roger gets preferential treatment… Nole is this and Nole is that…the roof…the draw… the this …the that…
You’re a bunch of cry babies …
Rafa’s losses are on Rafa and no one else… Rafa didn’t lose because of the draw…
If Roger was cutting off the court, shutting down Rafa’s backhand…it was up to Rafa to make the adjustments.and he didn’t … pure and simple…. I find that Rafa is a creature of habit… He backs up so far he’s practically sitting in the front row. He does it all the time and this time it didn’t work….. Truth is , if Rafa made adjustments like Luckystar stated, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Obviously he didn’t prepare properly… I do agree with Lucky that he should review the tapes… see what Nole does…watch what Roger does…. learn from your competition… It only makes you better!!
At the end of the day it’s about the play… nothing else….
Rafa is a gracious loser…. Why aren’t his fans? (not all ..just some)
LOL Marileena
SPOT ON!
Agreed completely
😱😱😱
Shut the F up everyone! There are no absolutes in the game of tennis or any other sporting game!
Two consecutive losses in SF surely a sad feeling, we don’t know how many chances left.
Rafa needs to adapt his game to achieve his goals. Combine his resources and of course one two punch shots is needed, he is not young anymore and to minimize getting injured..
Roger has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup so one less possible obstacle in Rafa’s defence of his 1,000 points from last year.
I think the opposit is the actual case…r fears facing RAFA……..LETS GET IT RIGHT……r is not now, not ever in Rafa’ s way to his blessed beautiful victories……….Rafa can take him ALL YEAR ROUND!!! ……in England and australia r gets too many favors Rafa and others do not get….but please notice the pathetic pattern over the years of r hiding from tourn. when Rafa is in his best….like now, ike always since 2008…..so it is actually the other way around…..r stays far away…choosing carefully and going to odd small tourn. with zero chance to actually compete against top, fit players who do not attend these small tourn. and r chooses these just as a back easy door to add up uneventful atp points….that is why I have zero respect for his pathetic career and trophies…..he shines away…he is protected….and that is not teal sport.
Rafa played Canada but not Cincy last year, and presumably Roger plans to play Cincy but not Canada. It’ll be interesting to see if Rafa plays both this year. I understand that cement courts are a lot easier to maintain than either grass or clay, but human knees and backs aren’t really designed for spending 3 hours racing around on cement 🙂 .
The English translation is.. erm.. interesting!!!
ALL RAFA’ S WORK AND JUST WHAT HE DOES WORKS BRILLIANTLY EFFECTIVE!!!!!!!:) HE KNOWS WHAT WORKS BEST AND THESE PAST TWO WEEKS PROVED HE IS THE BEST MOST FIT MOST POWERFUL MOST SKILLED TENNIS PLAYER!!!!:) HIS GRASS SUCCESS ITAND EXTRAORDINARY WINS WELL
ILLUSTRATED HIS BRILLIANT GRASS AND ALL SURFACE TENNIS BRILLIANCE !!!!!:) KEEP DOING EVERYTHING YOU DO SWEETHEART!!!!!:) YOU ARE THE BEST OUT THERE AND GOD BLESS YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU CONTINUE TO DO JUST THE WAY YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY PUT!!!:) WE LOVE YOU!!!:)
Estoy d acuerdo con tio Tony… SIEMPRE CONTIGO RAFA
Hahaha. I was thinking the same. Looks like Google transaction anyway 😂🤣😃😅
It was good to read Toni’s comments here in Melbourne…I had Rafael as a possible winner, even on grass…Maybe next year?? I am amazed Rafa looked & played so well…grass, weather up & down, Roger does receive more favours…it is the same in Australia.
I agree with Toni, for sure.
Hope Rafa will be ready for the HC in América. Always with Rafa <3
MOMENTS AGO TRIED TO POST A LENGTHY MESSAGE IN REPLY TO LAST YEAR’ S COMMENT RE WIM ROOF BS TACTICS….SOMEHOW NOT POSTED HERE ……
Both losses sting, as that means Rafa has lost two chances in consecutive years. It’s sad, not only because of the losses, but because nobody knows how many more chances Rafa still has at Wimbledon.
Toni is right, that Rafa’s court position while returning serves certainly needs improvement, he couldn’t even adjust his positions for the first and second serves when his returns weren’t working.
Also, his rallying from way behind the baseline was something questionable, strategy wise. I mean he playing from so far back was allowing Fed to step inside the court more readily; Fed was controlling and winning most of the long rallies because Fed was very aggressive and made Rafa ran from corner to corner covering so much court.
Rafa’s serve out wide at the Ad court was also ineffective against Fed, when Fed was ready for it and returned so often with interest. By the second set, Fed had practically read and returned Rafa’s lefty serve out wide so well that Rafa ran out of ideas and he ended up defending against Fed’s returns right at his feet!
Imo, Rafa when serving at the Ad court, should serve some body serves to Fed’s FH, making it more difficult for Fed to return them; serving out wide became so predictable.
Rafa’s serve DTT wasn’t hit with enough pace imo, also he couldn’t serve like Djoko, who served with less spin, more pace and depth, making it more difficult to return.
I feel that on grass (and maybe on the HCs too) Rafa still has some improvements to make. He needs to up his aggression, plays from closer to the baseline, serves with more varieties and pace and hit the spots well.
His ROS needs lots of improvements as he’s standing way back to return serves, that means he has to run more to cover the wider angles. He’s also standing so far out wide to return serves at the deuce court, making it difficult to get his racket on the DTT serves from his opponent. No wonder players like Kyrgios and Querrey were serving DTT with lots of successes, as Rafa couldn’t even get his racket on the ball!
Rafa needs to play his serve plus FH one two punch tennis on grass and HCs to get some cheap points, but without foregoing his bread and butter rallying from the baseline.
Look at Fed, he’s able to combine the two so effectively, winning both the short and the long points. Fed was very unfortunate not to win the final against Djoko, when he’s the better player for most parts of the match; it’s just that at crucial moments he tense up and made errors he normally won’t made and so ended up losing the match.
Watching Djoko, I couldn’t help but thought that perhaps Rafa could pick up some tips on how to play well and steadily on grass. Djoko stood close to the baseline, hit flatter shots with pace and penetration, he could also go CC and DTL with both his FH and BH, making it hard to defend against him.
If Rafa could pick up some tips from both Fed and Djoko, combines them and adds them to his own game, I could imagine how great he will be on grass and HCs, because Rafa has his deft touches and has the uncanny sense of knowing when to approach the net, and when he’s there, could hit some beautiful volleys.
Rafa’s rallying skills is one of the best in the sports so what he needs is to play close to the baseline like a Djoko, and adding in his DTL shots from both wings will give him more options and less predictability.
Of course improves his serves and returns, learning from the best in the business – Fed and Djoko.
You comment is one of best analysis I’ve read about the match. Spot on. I hope someone read your advices.
Luckystar, this is one of the best critiques I’ve read, analysing why Rafa lost. Very valid points, which made complete sense to me.
Why aren’t you a professional tennis journo, or are you?
Could have done with some of these points being raised at Rafa’s pressers, where they asked him daft questions about flowers, and his watch!! No questions even abt the match points he saved…
Michele, with regard to “flowers” Roger was also queried. I don’t know about Nole.
What I did realize in watching both Nole’s and Fed’s pressers was that the questions asked were not silly ones. And they were answered. All too often I have been frustrated by Rafa’s pressers because instead of answering a question he goes on to answer in such a meandering fashion that leaves me confused. Or leaving out the answer to a question that was asked. Maybe the English language press just got tired of trying to figure out exactly what Rafa meant. They do, after all, have to write it up for the print version. I don’t know of course but it could be one explanation. Also, both Nole and Roger have an excellent command of the English language and its nuances.
EVERYTHING RAFA DOES HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!:) HE DOES NOT NEED TO CHANGE NOTHING!!!!:) ONLY TO KEEP DOING WHAT HE DOES SO BRILLIANTLY EFFECTIVE!!!:) RAFA KNOWS BEST AND HIS BEAUTIFUL TWO WEEKS SUCCESS PROVED HIS ALL SURFACES TENNIS IS THE BEST!!!!:) GO RAFA GO AND VAMOS SWEETHEART ON EVERYTHING!!!!!!:) ENJOY EVERYTHING SWEETHEART AND KEEP DOING JUST WHAT YOU DO……YOU ARE FEISTY AND EFFECTIVE AND A MAGICAL BRIGHT TENNIS GENIUS !!!!!!!:) NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU …..YOU ARE IT….JUST KEEP DOING ALL YOU DO…..IT WORKS WONDERS!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!:)
Yes, I believe all thèse technical détails you have given ☺ as I am not au fait tecnically 😐 I have just said before Rafael seémed stressed and so not at his best 😕I observe that side of it. I read this statement of Toni s in El Pais in Spanish and he obviously sounds négative 😯as us fans are disappointed 😡 but there is nothing much we could do about it. It seems as if they left London before the final watched it at home. 😒 Fiona in Paris
Spot on
Bravo for your comment
My thoughts exactly
I’m sure it’ll hurt, but someone’s got to win and someone’s got to lose. I don’t think it’ll be as bad as last year’s semi, or the 5-set Aussie Open finals against Nole and Roger, because he didn’t really get that close.
Yes, the final in 2012 against Djoker and against Federer in 2017 still hurt so bad………..
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!:) WHAT I SAW WAS THAT YOU THOUGHT MORE THAN ABOUT THE NEXT PRECIOUS POINT…….YOU WERE THE STRONGER MORE ENERGETIC AND MORE AGGRESSIVE GENIUS…..THE UNIMPORTANT BACKGROUND THINKING DURING THE 3RD SET GOT IN THE WAY OF YOUR HANDS AND FEET…NOTHING……NADA…….NOTHING IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT EXCEPT YOUR PRECIOUS NEXT POINT. SO AS UNCLE TONI COMMENTED IN THIS MATCH IT WAS OTHER REASONS….YOU HANDED HIM THE OPENINGS….BUT THAT’ S PART OF LIFE AND BEING A HUMAN BEING!
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!:) KEEP GOING…… NO BIG DEAL…..IT HAPPENS…..SOME DAYS WE ARE STRONGER IN ALL ASPECTS…..AND DURING THE TWO WEEKS IT IS VERY OBVIOUS YOUR BLESSED TENNIS IS BRIGHT AND FEISTY AND MAGICAL AND STRONGER THAN ANYBODY ON TOUR……SO YOU ARE A PRECIOUS GRASS WINNER SWEETHEART AND YOUR GRASS COURT PRACTICES PRE TOUR YIELDED OUTSTANDING BRILLIANT RESULTS!!!!!!:)
YOUR TENNIS SWEETHEART IS FAR MORE POWERFUL MORE PASSIONATE MORE DRIVEN AND MORE FRUITFUL THAN ANYBODY!!!!:) WE WATCHED YOU FOR TWO WEEKS CREATING MAGICAL STRONG PLAY AGAINST STRONG YOUNG PLAYERS AND NOT novak or r COULD HAVE FACED THAT TOP FRESH HARD DRAW……AND THE FACT THAT YOU GOT IT EAS CALCULATED BY THE OLD FARTS IN AN UNFAIR MANNER……BECAUSE IF IT A DECENT FAIR TRUE DRAW…THEN EACH OF YOU THREE SHOULD HAVE HAD TO FACE SOME OF THE YOUNGER” SURPRISES ” YOU WERE HANDED AND ALWAYS SEEM TO BE GETTING THESE OUT OF NO WHERE “SURPRISES ” IN GRAND S.
BUT NADA NEW SWEETHEART…..YOU BY NOW RISE UP AND YOUR PRECIOUS ABILITY, ENDURANCE, FITNESS AND SKILL STAY RELEVANT AND IN CONSTANT TRUE IMPROVEMENTS….SO THAT IS THE GREAT NEWS….YOU HELD YOUR OWN BEAUTIFULLY, BRILLIANTLY AND POWERFULLY FOR TWO WEEKS…..KUDOS SWEETHEART!!!!:) YOU OUT ACED protected r AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR REPLAY YOU CAN SEE r WAS TIRED BY THE 2ND SET…..
VAMOS HERO RAFA….KEEP GOING SWEETHEART !!!!:) HAVE A GREAT TIME BETWEEN PLAYING AND KNOW YOU HAD A BRILLIANT TWO WEEKS!!!!!:) YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE n AND r TO THE CLEANERS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!:) KEEP YOUR POWER WITHIN YOURSELF AND OF COURSE SWEETHEART DO NOT OVER THINK OF THEIR GAME BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS POWERFUL AND DO NOT HAVE YOUR PASSION AND ENDURANCE AND FITNESS.
NO BIG DEAL……IT IS PAST AND NOW IS THE OPEN NEXT DOOR!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
I am glad there are no changes at the top. One can not always win.
Always only one winner. Rafa on clay is /was enough to be my tops as is his character. I would so much rather RAFA lose to Federer than Doper. Doper will never be on top character wise. Playing for money and fame is much different than playing for the love of the game!!!
I don’t think Rafa going lose against Djokovic if he had beat Federer !
I think — but I cannot be in Rafa’s or Uncle Toni’s mind, of course — that last year defeat was way more painful. The many break points not converted in the fifth, the tiebreaker of the third literally thrown away… plus, of course, the incredibile and horrible decision to keep the roof closed the day after even if it was a sunny day.
As a fan, last year I hurt much more than this year. Last year seemed more like a robbery staged by Wimbledon, and this is harder to swallow.
But, of course, I can be wrong.
I agree with you👍
I agree about the theft of Wimbledon semi-final 2018. However, I think that Wimbledon found another way to steal the chances of Nadal winning his 3rd title by seeding RF 2 and Nadal 3 thereby overturning their ATP ranking. If I was Nadal, I would be more hurt by spending almost two weeks playing a draw that was probably the worst draw ever, to be defeated once more at a semi-final.
You are so right in your comment. I know Rafa was worried bout his back hand..hence his movement at times. The taking away of his World ranking to facilitate Federer has knocked all Rafans..so what did it do to Rafa himself. The blinking tough draw was bad enough but they add insult to injury is unforgivable…Wmbd Committee are In Federers camp..end of.
Left an agreeing reply but it is not posted…..
Of course the loss to Federer at Wimbledon hurt but Rafa is a professional and a well rounded smart person he will be back and probably stronger than before believe me it hurt me when he lost I was really down for a few days but I just kept remembering all the positives of the match and I know Rafa will bounce back and his fans will help him by continuing to cheer him on as we have always done, on my bucket list I wish I could see Rafa play in person but I’ve just retired so funds are tight but I keep hoping that I will one day see Rafa play in person. Good Luck with your upcoming matches if it’s broadcast I will be watching and cheering Rafa on . He’s the greatest.
The rules state that there should be the option for matches to be finished under the same conditions as which they began, if possible. That’s why unfinished matches are always put back on the same court. In this case, the roof had been closed, so Nole was given the option of keeping it closed. The conditions were the same for both players. It wasn’t an “incredible” decision: it was just following the rules. If the roof’s closed because rain’s forecast and then it doesn’t rain, the roof stays closed for the rest of the match – same thing. And the seedings made absolutely no difference – if Roger had been 3rd and Rafa 2nd, they would still have met in the semi-finals. As for the tough draw, Rafa only dropped one set before the semi finals.
There have been no conspiracies against Rafa, nor have there been any robberies – any more than playing a final set tiebreak “robbed” Roger of the title, or playing in windy conditions “robbed” Nole of the French Open semi-final against Dominic. The rules and the conditions are the same for everyone. Last year was worse, because it was so close, but I’m quite sure Rafa isn’t blaming that on anyone else.
I do not agree with you, Set in the Past. I shall tackle each of the points of disagreement, in turn -first point of contention:- 1) weather condition, rain, roof closed on first day of the match; 2) weather condition, sunny, roof still closed on second day of the match. I liken this to a match in Australia- Hingis vs Capriati. Match was suspended due to 40-degree heat. Hingis was dominating at time of suspension. And Capriati went on to win the match at a more civilized temperature. Following your logic, should organizers have replicated the conditions on court to achieve ‘fairness or unfairness’ depending on which player is receiving the short-long- end of the stick? No! That would be silly. Common sense should prevail!
Second point of contention:- the draw would have been significantly changed by seeding a player 2 or 3. Federer and Nadal would have had different opponents on their way to the untampered respective results. The cookie would have crumbled differently. And the possible outcome is gone with the wind or should I say, the airs of British snobbery.
I rest my case.
It’s not “my logic” – it’s the Wimbledon rules. I never said they were logical: I said that they were the rules. And what you think “British snobbery” has to do with the Wimbledon draw puzzles me exceedingly. I think we’ll have to agree to differ.
Once the seedings have been determined, the rest of the players are just drawn anywhere. Whether Rafa was seeded 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 32nd, he could still have been drawn against Kyrgios in the 2nd round. I’m afraid I don’t follow your logic. How would the cookie have crumbled differently? The only thing that is determined by being 3rd seed rather than 2nd seed is that player would probably have to beat both the 2nd seed and the top seed to win. If Rafa had been seeded 2nd, he would still have had to beat both Roger and Nole to win. Nothing else whatsoever was affected.
Set in the past,
The point about ‘playing under the same conditions’, well that’s the point to be contend with imo.
If, the whole match was to be played and completed on the same day, then I agree that once the roof is closed, it should remain closed for the rest of the match, to maintain the same conditions throughout the rest of the match.
However, once the match stopped for the night and was resumed on the following day, tell me, in reality, would the conditions be the same (during the day compared to the night before) when the players themselves won’t even be of the same conditions (physically, after a night’s rest)?
It will be hypocritical to say that when they play in the same conditions (ie with roof closed here), that means it’s fair to both guys, when physically, the players themselves are not even playing in the same conditions (after a night’s rest).
And, why did the organisers need to ask both guys what they prefer, when the organisers themselves making the right decision using discretion would suffice?
The worse thing that happened was, after the Rafa/Djoko match ended, the organisers opened the roof for the women’s match that followed!
What a ridiculous debacle the Wimbledon organisers had made this into, a laughing stock that had the social media going buzz, with all the bombardment and anger aiming at and hurling right at them! Serve them right I say!
It’s only the same as asking the players if they want to come off for bad light. I quite agree that the organisers should decide, because there are often arguments when one player wants to come off for bad light and one doesn’t, but, at the moment, those are the rules. It is not a “conspiracy” against any one player: it is the same for every player.