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FORUM / RUGBY /  Nadal out

Nadal out

Started by Beeno16 REPLIES255 VIEWS· 29 Jun 2012, 15:20
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BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
29 Jun 2012, 15:20
#1
29 Jun 2012, 15:20#1

I dont knowhow many follow the tennis bu tthsiwas a huge upset.

London - Rafael Nadal crashed to his worst Grand Slam defeat in seven years on Thursday when Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol, the world No 100, pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Wimbledon history.

Rosol, whose previous five visits to Wimbledon had ended in first round losses in qualifying, stunned the 2008 and 2010 champion, and 11-time Grand Slam title winner Nadal, 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the second round.

It was a stunning upset as Nadal slumped to his earliest exit at a major since the same stage of the 2005 Wimbledon championship when he was beaten by Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.

It was also eerily similar to Nadal's stunning 2009 French Open fourth round loss to Robin Soderling when the Swede unleashed a barrage of destructive free-swinging tennis to destroy the Spanish star.

"It's like a miracle for me. So many emotions. He's a superstar, I am sorry for that. I played unbelievable. I guess Nadal is only human," said Rosol, who played the match at a breath-taking speed.

He is also the lowest-ranked player ever to beat Nadal at a Grand Slam and has now matched his best ever performance at a major, having reached the third round at the 2011 French Open.

A dramatic evening of Centre Court action, which saw a 45-minute delay as the roof was closed to allow the fifth set and the match to be completed, will go down in history as one of the sport's biggest shocks.

Nadal had played in the last five Grand Slam finals and was fresh from a record-breaking seventh French Open triumph which had confirmed his status as one of the sport's greatest players.

But Rosol put on an awesome display of sustained, big-hitting that left Nadal stunned and bewildered.

Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010, and arriving at Wimbledon having captured a record seventh French Open title, had taken the first set on a tie-breaker before his campaign unravelled.

After Rosol had levelled the tie and taken a 2-1 lead on a break in the third, it was clear that the Czech was getting under the Spaniard's skin.

Nadal complained to the umpire over his 26-year-old opponent's constant skipping around on the baseline and his distracting habit of swishing his racquet from side to side as he was preparing to serve.

He was broken to trail 2-1 and the players were involved in a shoulder-charge at the changeover.

When Nadal went long to drop the third set, the historic upset was on the cards, especially with Rosol regularly hitting returns at 85mph.

But Nadal dominated the fourth set, stretching to a 4-2 lead with a break and securing it 6-2 with a combination of stirring defence and thrilling counter-attacks.

All England Club officials insisted the match should be finished so the Centre Court roof was closed which meant a 45-minute delay before the conditions were right for a fifth set.

On the resumption, Rosol, playing a five-set match for just the third time in his career, broke in the first game and then held his nerve.

He sent down his 21st ace to go to match point and then claimed his historic win with a 22nd to take his place in the record books.

Rosol will face German 27th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber for a place in the last 16.

Rosol has a lot od attitude and one couldsee from the start he was going to really go for it. He is 6 ft 5 and so Nadal's top spin didnt worry him that much. Rosol could possibly even win it but can he maintain this standard is the big  question.

BL
bluebokPro3,977 posts
29 Jun 2012, 15:40
#2
29 Jun 2012, 15:40#2

I think it is awesome!! Mainly cos I am not much of a Nadal fan, but it is just great to see such a huge underdog cause such an upset. Nice one~~

BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
29 Jun 2012, 16:05
#3
29 Jun 2012, 16:05#3

Yup this one is for the history books.  Great display which now marks him as a threat. He is a very chirpy kind of guy and may have it in him to carry right on.

Did you see that 6ft 10  Russian bombing down those aces. Now his is totally fed up because he was called for 11 foot faults at crucial times. Foot faults are rare in tennis and he claims it dos not happen to him. He says Murray was favoured. This claim could cause a big embarrassment to Wimbledon if proven true.

MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
29 Jun 2012, 16:14
#4
29 Jun 2012, 16:14#4

Rosol is a tall guy and he hits flat shots. Both aspects were crucial, as they were with Soderling at the French. The high bouncing Nadal top is not such a problem for a tall player.....who can then play his flat shots in a more comfortable hitting zone.

 

This was awesome, fantastic hitting of the tennis ball.....100mph forehand returns. Three unhittable serves in the winning game. Die Nadal beaten by sheer pace on the ground exchanges when the ball was only a step away.....pace and more pace.

 

Unfortunately history says these rank outsiders don't continue on to win. But it woke up a somewhat pedestrian tennis year.

CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
29 Jun 2012, 16:24
#5
29 Jun 2012, 16:24#5

 I do not really watch a lot of tennis, and I normally only start watching Wimbledon later on in the tournament. I was going to watch the football match between Germany and Italy, and was watching the match between Wade and Fisher, which in itself was a good one as well. I then started watching the Nadal/Rosol one, and just could not get myself to switch to the football game. It was one of the best matches I have seen in a very very long time. Agree that one of the things that through Nadal were those huge returns. It was not as if Nadal was poor. Not in the least, but Rosol was just in a place of his own in this particular match, and it would be interesting to see what he does in the rest of the tournament.

DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
29 Jun 2012, 21:05
#6
29 Jun 2012, 21:05#6

Good example of "shit happens"

BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
30 Jun 2012, 13:49
#7
30 Jun 2012, 13:49#7

As Moz says the guy is tall and then also top spin on grass doesnt bounce as high. I use the eastern forehand which means i hit flat as well with little spin . The trouble swhen youare hot you are very hot but do take dips as its more difficult to keep ball in play.

We almost had more shit yesterday when the Fed Express needed to win a close tie break to stay in game! wonder if the pack are closing the gap. Federer looks vunerable at times and then suddenly plays briliiantly

Murray must be feeling very happy as now he will not have to face Nadal. Maria of the decibels marches on as does Kim.

— END OF THREAD —

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