Since the heartbreaking five set loss to Fognini at the US Open, Rafael Nadal has been surging back to full flight. Though many tennis observers had written off the 29-year-old titan as a fading commodity, evidently Nadal has other ideas about his future. Since the US Open Nadal has went on a 10-2 semi-rampage, winning a Davis Cup match vs Denmark’s Mikael Torpegaard in straight sets, won four matches in Beijing (Wu, Sock, Pospisil, Fognini, before losing in final to Djokovic), three matches in Shanghai (Karlovic, Raonic, Wawrinka, before losing a close three set SF to Tsonga) and now two more match wins in Basel (Rosol and Dimitrov). Next up for Rafa in Basel is a quarterfinal date with Karlovic, a rematch of their 7-6 in the third marathon in Shanghai. The interesting aspect of this Rafa run is that he’s winning these matches on his supposed worst surface – indoor carpet. In the highlights I’ve seen, Rafa is playing more aggressively and coming into net and knocking off volleys. His movement is looking sharp as well – physically he looks as light as ever. Rafa finished? That concept is starting to look very silly. You can never count out a super champion like Rafa Nadal. (Artwork by Andres Bella for Babolat)
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Rob · October 29, 2015 at 10:04 am
I wish I could bottle his determination and attitude – I’d be a rich man.
Dan Markowitz · October 29, 2015 at 10:33 am
He has not come back to full flight. You call barely beating Rasol and losing first set 6-1, Rafa in full flight? Come on, he lost to Djoko in Shanghai, 2 and 2. If this is full flight for Rafa, he never would’ve won 14 slams. I don’t see it. I don’t think he’ll ever win another slam again. He’s lost his sizzle and he’s not getting it back. Although, I do admire his fortitude.
Moskova Moskova · October 29, 2015 at 11:00 am
i’d like to see him add more royal jelly to his juicing regimee 😉 and make a resurgeance next season.
vamos rafa !!
Andrew Miller · October 29, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Who knows. Djokovic might stub his toe and then Wawrinka stubs his toe.
Andrew Miller · October 29, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Nadal might. He knows what’s on the other side of tennis aka retirement, doubt he wants in on that.
I’d think he wants his titles back. These guys love winning. Can’t imagine him retiring without at least passing Sampras in the record books with one more slam, the universal symbol of bragging rights. Being tied with Sampras is great…but its not enough to answer the question of who’s better.
With nadal and Federer that question is answered. Hands down Nadal, no contest. But since Sampras is from another era, I’d think nadal would want one more.
Dan Markowitz · October 29, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Interesting how many one handers are in Basel doing well. Two matches I’ve watched so far this week have featured 4 one handers, Thiem-Gasquet and Stakhovsky-Dimitrov. Always nice to see the one handers.
Moskova Moskova · October 29, 2015 at 6:49 pm
1 handed BH are a thing of beauty..
Gaurang · October 30, 2015 at 12:41 am
Again the semi-young Americans winning good matches.
Today Donald Young defeated Kevin Andersen – this is a big deal! Kevin Andersen is basically a top 10 player. Donald young had pulled a few nice victories this season.
Johnson defeated Lopez. This is also not a trivial win Lopez has been playing very well of late. He had defeated Nadal a couple months ago and played a close match with Novak. He is playing very aggressively. It’s nice to see Johnson beating him – Johnson has potential. Looks like he is remembering his college wins and using that to pump him up to get these wins.
And Sock defeated Isner. Beating the big guy is never easy. Sock won a very large percentage of his first serve points.
Nice to see this late season surge of these guys. Hope they don’t loose this touch over the off season.
Dan Markowitz · October 30, 2015 at 5:36 am
Yes, they’re nice and even surprising, but Sock was hurt at beginning of year and only went to 2nd Rd of Open so he should be relatively fresh. And guys like FLo and KevAnd have played a lot of tennis this year so a letdown is in order. Also, this is indoor tennis. Fitness, something SteveJo and Sock have had a problem with in their careers, 2 out of 3 set matches instead of 5 sets, it’s just not the same ball of wax to slams and even Masters events held in hot climes.
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2015 at 8:46 am
The ATP Americans are definitely all playing good winning tennis right now – Johnson Sock Isner Young all are evidence – perhaps these players feel the storm of younger American teen players very soon to be coming up at their heels? There isn’t much more humiliating for an established ATP tour player to lose to a young teen whippersnapper – nobody how good they are – read my Pat Cash interview about playing the fourteen year old Rafa in “Facing Nadal” 🙂
Moskova Moskova · October 30, 2015 at 9:53 am
i will give them a little more credit if sock or DY knocks off the great FED next round in his home tourna……until then keep on dreaming boys and girls – and dream big ! 🙂
Rob · October 30, 2015 at 10:12 am
Bit off topic but I wonder if someone could answer this for me: going into the Davis final why is Britain picking Dan Evans over Bedene (ranked 48)?
Andrew Miller · October 30, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Good wins. U.s. Players do well in the pre Australian open tournaments, that should boost their rankings. It’s been a nice run for them, even with all the asterisks (“indoors”, “opponents tired from winning so much and bound to lose matches they’d normally win” , “who has motivation in Vienna”, “best of three sets” etc etc).
U.s. Players had as good a slam year as they’ve had in four, five years. Best French open in a decade.
I bet they do feel the pressure from up and coming u.s. Players. But I think it is more likely they are sending a bit of an opening in the ATP and the motivation to compete for things like Davis cup lineups.
And lets face it…beating Isner is always a good win. Sock has sent a message up the chain of command. Basically: I’ve beat you twice now on courts you like. I’m now playing singles in Davis cup. I might be the best u.s. Player in one years time.
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Rob I would guess experience and he’s been part of the team in the past, chemistry is important – Bedene is an outsider, perhaps more outside than Spadea –
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Andrew, Sock and Iz were good buddies and training partners – wonder how Sock beating him several times will affect that relation – Sock will be American number one very soon –
Dan Markowitz · October 30, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Why’s Bedene an outsider other than like Brydan Klein, he’s a transplanted Englishman. By the way, Klein is into the semis in the Aussie Challenger this week.
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Bedene hasn’t played with the team yet, as far as i know, so adding him now could damage the team chemistry – as maybe Pmac felt about Spadea with the US team –
Andrew Miller · October 30, 2015 at 8:36 pm
For Isner I’d guess he knew it was coming. He’s smart enough to know that being the #1 u.s. Player isn’t guaranteed and that even as the top u.s. Player since Fish’s pre and real retirement, he would be the next ex #1 player. Isner is no ones fool.
I’d guess that he’s figuring out with Ginelstob his goals for 2016. I’d think for one he’s going to want a Masters title. And probably a slam quarters, and I’d think a top ten ranking and the number one u.s. Ranking. He doesn’t want to give in to the pressure of competition any sooner than he has to.
Andrew Miller · October 30, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Another week, another two u.s. Players in ATP semifinals. Sock and Johnson do it again and Johnson is especially well positioned to win Valencia. I don’t know if Sock can win Basil.
Sock beat DY in a tough three setter, almost two hours . Glad to see dy playing every match and making it count. Of all players games I enjoy dy’s the most. When he’s playing well few players are more fun to watch.
Andrew Miller · October 30, 2015 at 10:43 pm
Federer, Sock, gasquet and Nadal. Who could have seen Sock in this semifinal? Probably only Sock.
The other in Valencia is Johnson, Bautista, Popsipil and Sousa. Johnson has a shot.
And this isn’t the challengers anymore. Socks playing with the big boys. Johnson should get a rankings bump to close to low 30s in the world. Sock may be top 25 soon.
Scoop Malinowski · October 31, 2015 at 7:59 am
Sock vs Fed – Gasquet vs Rafa – Fed has beaten Sock easily in the past and Rafa owns Richie – but Sock is a rising force right now – we’ll see if he learned anything from losing to Fed earlier in year – Rafa should handle RG and we will have the Fedal final we’ve all been hoping for – Johnson also in the semis of Valencia trying to avenge Agut for IW in semis – Sock and Johnson showing they are not fluking in these good autumn results, they are becoming serious forces in the ATP –
CS3 · October 31, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Rafa lost his sizzle for a good portion of the year indeed but he is gradually finding himself again… Time and time again, people write this guy off & time & time again, he makes them look FOOLISH… We are talking about the fiercest competitor the sport has ever seen who not only possesses RARE PHYSICAL TALENT but also a WILL TO WIN that only the Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods & Tom Brady types of the world have… Whether Rafa wins another Major again is definitely up for debate but to just assume that he won’t is underestimating an All-Time Legend… This comeback from injuries & surgeries hasn’t been nearly as smoothly as others & has been complicated by the first real mental struggle that he’s experienced in his career but as always, he’s fighting his way out of it & starting to pile up wins in vintage Rafa fashion even if his play isn’t as strong as we’ve grown accustomed to… Rafa’s physically & mentally making his opponents succumb to his relentlessness once again like he has for the last decade… That 2-6 2-6 loss in Beijing to Novak was a lot more competitive than the score indicates because Rafa had his chances in that match; Novak was just more efficient & steadier with his play… This “Bull” definitely looks to have at least 1 strong charge left in him! Vamos
CS3 · October 31, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Rafa is gradually working his way back to form; I will agree with Dan’s view that he isn’t back at full flight as of yet… Whether Rafa will ever be his Amazing former self again isn’t a certainty but he’s far from done & is still very capable of regaining his spot in the Big 4 — with returning to the Top 3 of the ATP rankings a very attainable goal IMO!
Scoop Malinowski · October 31, 2015 at 4:29 pm
You know it CS3 – let the guy have a letdown period – every single great champ has suffered through a slump/down period – FLO said it best in the ‘advice to Rafa’ article – it’s hard to stay at the top of the mountain, always ALWAYS playing his best level of tennis – I think it’s clear to see now Rafa is definitely back on track to the top with his outstanding results on his worst surface – if he can beat Fed in the final it will be HUGE boost for his confidence, beating Fed would be the win he’s been waiting for – Fed is arguably playing his best tennis this year – such an interesting final – can Fed finally solve the Rafa puzzle? Or Can Rafa re-apply the stranglehold on the new and improved Fed backhand and break it down like only he can?
Rob · November 1, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Scoop, i did think of Spadea when I asked you the B vs E question above.