VIDEO: Here Are Rafael Nadal’s Best Shots | Australian Open 2020

Some of Rafael Nadal’s best shots during Australian Open 2020, before losing the quarterfinal in 4 sets to Dominic Thiem.

51 comments

  1. Funny from Twitter

    Incorrect Tennis Quotes
    @IncorrectTennis

    “Novak: “I need an MTO.”
    Umpire: “Why?”
    Novak: “The other guy is winning.”
    Umpire: “That’s not an injury.”
    Novak: “It’s a spiritual injury.”
    7:32 AM · Feb 3, 2020”

    In Thiem’s presser he said 2 bathroom breaks are not unusual. I hope he was being diplomatic and doesn’t let Djokovic fool him again. NEVER LET UP DOMI

  2. Rafa has arrived in Kuwait. Have only seen Papa, Maymo and Maribel with him so far.

    Disappointed if Maria Francisca didn’t go as I was hoping that on their next stop in Cape Town that Roger & Mirka would take the two of them on a sightseeing tour. Will keep checking photos.

  3. I’m gobsmacked that Fan Love has not deemed it fit to contribute to the comments so far!

    Appears Fan Love has not yet FULLY recovered from Nadal’s loss to Thiem at the AO. But the loss was not unexpected for those who know…….besides, we should be happy because had Rafa qualify for the AO Final, Djokovic would have had him for breakfast, lunch and diner!!!!

    Anyways, we’d see what happens in the FO, Fan Love, take heart, Nadal the Bull will be back in the FO, but can Nadal win his 13th major…..yes, the 13th, the mythical 13th, the strange, odd no…..hmmn

    But as always, Dear Fan Love, we go game by game, match by match and day by day

    Cheers, Fan Love

    • MSI
      I think Rafa will win the FO. Perhaps it is there where he is at his most confident.

      It is interesting to note that so many tournament winners, be it a 250 or a Slam, cite their confidence and self belief as contributing factors for their win, something Rafa lacks at crucial moments. I remember Rafa being able to anticipate his opponents’ next move. I was spellbound.

      I don’t expect Rafa to win every tournament, and I cannot say with certainty what is on his mind, but I am still hoping he can win more tournaments before others displace him on clay. I think that would shatter him. Then, maybe not. It may spur him to win even more. He’s always full of surprises.

      RAFA ROCKS

  4. Depending on how you look at the numbers, following is the good news and the not so good, as of Monday:

    Rafa has dropped to world No. 2, 325 points behind world No. 1 Djokovic. If he stays healthy, Rafa can move back up.

    Thiem has moved into the No. 4 spot, 85 points behind Federer. He could become the new world No. 3 very soon.

    As the season progresses, these numbers are bound to go through some permutations. Who will be the top ten.

  5. The inevitable result. I suppose this is how people who are not fans of Rafa feel about the French Open. Thiem did better than I expected, well done Domi. At least Djokovic’s victory celebrations were somewhat muted, rather oddly so. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player accept a trophy so casually. Anyway, enough of him.

    I’m looking forward to some fun content from Rafa’s two exhibitions this week! The Match in Africa is being shown on TennisTV, but I’m not sure if the Kuwait Academy match with David Ferrer will be streamed anywhere – I hope so.

    • Perhaps Djoko knew deep down Thiem would be a threat from now on, and he’s lucky to win this AO – yes I said lucky because luck was really with him, with the draw, with the two main threats Tsitsipas and Agut went out early, with an injured Fed in the SF, and with Thiem in the final after Thiem had toughed it out with Rafa and then Sasha and with one fewer day of rest – who knows how many more or if any more slam(s) Djoko could win.

      Imagine Rafa having Djoko’s draw and Djoko Rafa’s, Rafa would be holding the AO trophy for a second time on Sunday, beating Djoko if Djoko came through Kyrgios, Thiem and Sasha, or maybe beating Thiem in the final when Kyrgios gave Djoko a hard time in R4.

      Djoko was lack lustre this AO final, and Thiem just lacked the killer instinct to finish off Djoko in four sets and had let Djoko back into the match, rather unwise. Perhaps, he had fallen for the tricks Djoko had up his sleeves so often, that of looking down and out and needing medical attention and then out of the blue Djoko sprung back to life to take the fourth set and then the fifth and the match.

      Djoko had always done that to Murray in the AO finals, time and again Murray fell for it. Thiem is now another victim, he has to learn from now on that Djoko is never down and out until the last ball is played, just don’t let your foot off the pedal when you have Djoko under your control!

      • It’s strange,I’ve even heard Djokovic fans say they think he won’t win any more AOs, that this final was too much of a struggle. He can’t expect to have it easy – that’s something that Rafa never does, and I think Rafa’s respect for the abilities of other players may partly explain his good results against the Next Gen so far.

        I remember the last match I saw Murray and Djokovic play, Doha 2107. Djoko fell over and had Andy all concerned about him. Then Djoko went off court between sets and came back wearing a casual T shirt, like he wasn’t Novak the tennis pro anymore. Needless to say, Novak won. You’re right, the nice guys have to learn to turn off the niceness during matches.

  6. Terrible and undeserved. Sorry! Yes, Dominic lacked the experience to deal with Novak’s theatrics. Novak’s behaviour and that of his ….. fan’s is disgraceful. Dominic u fortunately let up in the 4th. Too many errors!
    Such a typical pattern to have medical time out when he is losing – the poor guy no energy, oh something’s hurting OmG just amaaazing! Unfortunately a miss is as good as a mile!

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