“The game is changing a little bit,” Rafael Nadal said after losing to Fernando Verdasco, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, in four hours and 41 minutes, in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. “Everybody now tries to hit all the balls. There is no balls that you can prepare the point, no? Everybody hit the ball hard and try to go for winners in any position. Game become a little bit more crazy in this aspect.”
I don't know if that's what everyone's doing now in general, as opposed to just against Rafa because it's been proven to work. I think if you tried to mindlessly bash your way through Djoker or Fed you wouldn't get the same result nearly as often.
but asking Rafa to become an offensive player is just too big a change from his base strength. it wasn't for Roger because he turned pro during the serve and volley era. watch his 2001 match vs Pete and how he rushes the net like every other serve. Fed just let those skills lay dormant in his prime because he didn't even need them...now he does and people think he's suddenly learned a new bag of tricks.
you wouldn't ask Gadreau to become a power forward or Lucic to become a finesse playmaker, so I don't think you can ask Rafa to start hurling thunder out of nowhere. the best he can do are small tweaks that still fit within the realm of his skill set.
That match is a call-back to the Aussie Open semifinal in 2009... one of the best matches I've ever watched. Given who Verdasco has always been (even if he's a shadow of his former self) I don't really get why Rafa's confused. He's always gone for winners in every position.
Look at this:
From the second set on it's like he HATES the ball.
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Last edited by CorsiHockeyLeague; 01-19-2016 at 12:55 PM.
they were also talking on the broadcast last night that Verdasco is one of the few players who does weight training to get more muscular and stronger. Most tennis players are trying to be lean.
so yeah, he destroys the ball.
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