Quote:
Originally Posted by dash_pinched
In my opinion, it boils down to shot selection/shot tolerance. With Rafa struggling physically, there's no need to try to paint lines and go for big shots that often result in unforced errors. You need to have larger margins/bigger target areas and look for those opportunities to put the point away from prime court positions.
Also, the chip return of serve was working so well against Opelka and Zverev and just disappeared last night, Denis gave Rafa way too many free points.
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This is a shot he is working on (the block back return) and it will certainly be a game changer for him in terms of being able to neutralize big serves and get on top of a rally as a returner moving forward. All in all, I would say this is the best he can play at this point and time (aside from improve his block back and in rally slice) and it would have been good enough to be all but 2-3 players on tour so we can't be too upset.
I really hope the coaching change will finally get through to him that waiting for his spots and reading the match instead of just going down swinging is the difference between being top 5 and top 15 on tour.