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Rafa Devastated In Brisbane By Thompson Loss
18 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Rafael Nadal played very well in his QF match vs Jordan Thompson in Brisbane, well enough to earn two match points. But somehow Nadal squandered the victory 75 67 46 to the veteran Australian ranked 55.
“I’m tired, or course, sad in this moment because I had plenty of opportunities,” Nadal said after departing what was his first tournament since the 2023 Aussie Open (loss to McDonald). “But I think he played a good match. For me, even [though] that was not the best match, I had a lot of opportunities to win it, so… That’s it, I need to accept all this kind of stuff. After a year, that’s normal that things happen. As I say every day: Every day is a different story, and things are difficult after such a long time. Today the opponent played well, made me play one more ball. I didn’t play bad, but I was just one ball away.”
Nadal seemed very “sad” and despondent after losing, more so than I can recall ever seeing Djokovic after any of his Grand Slam final defeats. To say Nadal was devastated by this loss would not be inaccurate. The 37 year old’s mood and tone at the press conference indicated he was blindsided and shocked by losing to Thompson. This was the kind of match he finished off hundreds of times earlier in his two decade long illustrious career.
Everything was going Nadal’s way for two sets but Thompson kept getting balls back and saved the match points and forced the third set. Nadal tried an injury timeout and left the court in the final set – one of his tricks to stall and ice the opponent but the scheme failed to disconcert Thompson.
Match point was about a 50 ball rally, including two car horns blasting at separate moments during the slugfest which finally ended when Nadal belted a backhand about two inches long.
After the match, Rafa downplayed the injury – or phantom injury. “For sure it’s not the same like last year at all, because when it happened last year, I felt something drastic immediately,” Nadal told the media. “Today I didn’t feel anything. The only problem is because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual. In ideal world, it’s just the muscle supercharged after a few days of effort and a very tough match. That will be the ideal thing, something that we know that can happen today. That is why I’m talking all the time and my goal is to try to be competitive in a few months. If that [pain] is not important, it’s a very positive week.”
Rafal also said he’s not certain if he will play the Australian Open which commences in nine days. Which is surprising because he played very well for just his third match in over a year. Rafa’s lack of self confidence suggests this was a devastating loss and he fully expected his form and level were sufficient to beat a world no. 55. He may know he’s simply not able to play much better than he showed today – which would explain his sadness.
Brisbane · Jordan Thompson · Rafael Nadal
Scoop Malinowski · January 5, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Thompson and Purcell beat Nadal and Marc Lopez in the first round of the doubles earlier this week in Brisbane.
Sam · January 5, 2024 at 8:38 pm
Oh, this soooooooooo paint-by-numbers. Nadal was “injured.” Of course the sun was in his eyes too. π
Scoop Malinowski · January 6, 2024 at 8:38 am
Yes, he says he was injured again Sam. Will be interesting what injury he will create when he loses at AO. And the media will promote whatever injury he selects.
Steve · January 7, 2024 at 7:08 am
No AO for Rafaπ
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2024 at 8:31 am
Not a surprise at all, he can’t even handle Thompson or McDonald. So he needed an injury to blame it on. But why not numb the leg, like he allegedly numbed the foot when he won the last French Open? Or is the problem that he just can’t win anymore and he doesn’t want to play just for fun, he plays to win titles?
Sam · January 7, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Actually, Scoop, I think his injury is real: a major EGO tear. π
If Djokovic weren’t competing at the Australian, does anyone really think Nadal would’ve pulled out? No way, because he knows he could possibly finagle his way to the title without the defending champ there, even he had to shell out some serious scratch to do it. πΈ
Sam · January 7, 2024 at 8:41 pm
Oh, Scoop, I was just looking at the Nadal biofile that you posted a couple of months ago. It seems there was just one tiny omission:
Favorite Song: “King of Pain”π€΄π½ πΉ
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2024 at 8:59 pm
Sam I think Rafa’s confidence was shattered by the Thompson loss. He can’t even beat the second tier of Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rune, Alcaraz, Gasquet, Hurkacz, Sinner, Dimitrov, Rublev, etc. I believe Rafa thought he was ready to win Brisbane and AO. Losing to Thompson brought him back to reality and he simply will not play a Grand Slam as a punching bag, he has too much pride for that.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Sam, Im not buying this micro tear fiction at all no wheelchair, no crutches to reduce pressure on it). He has motives to fake the injury – protect his ego, rep and value. Now he can vanish and re-emerge on clay with a clean slate. And if he loses again, another fictional injury can be concocted.
Scoop Malinowski · January 8, 2024 at 9:32 am
I recently did a boxing podcast with some tennis talk, if you are bored π … https://the-bradenton-times-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-120-scoop-malinowski?fbclid=IwAR1jelA3zrsASWu4Aq3CYV_JfVfTFsdPKt2zdcjOkKyh–C9pRfgpPOQej8
Sam · January 12, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Sam I think Rafaβs confidence was shattered by the Thompson loss.
Scoop, I bet even some X-rays would show how shattered his ego is. π©Ί
Sam, Im not buying this micro tear fiction at all no wheelchair, no crutches to reduce pressure on it).
Clearly Nadal needs some acting lessons! π I bet Susan Lucci could give him some really good pointers too. πΉ
He has motives to fake the injury β protect his ego, rep and value. Now he can vanish and re-emerge on clay with a clean slate. And if he loses again, another fictional injury can be concocted.
Exactly. I just don’t get why people are so trusting about this. π€·π»ββοΈ
Sam · January 12, 2024 at 9:21 pm
I recently did a boxing podcast with some tennis talk, if you are bored
I hope that journalist gave you a fair shake!
Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2024 at 8:12 am
Sam, he’s probably already training. Tiley said Rafa will be back by February. The reason lying is more lucrative than truth is because the majority of people believe everything they’re told.
Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2024 at 8:14 am
Sam, Mitch Maley runs a very good podcast, he was familiar with my work and invited me (not the other way around), so there were no disagreements or trouble. A lot of good banter and discussions. Early reviews are that people enjoyed it. One even said we should start our own podcast.
Sam · January 14, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Sam, heβs probably already training.
Certainly, Scoop, and like a maniac at that. πͺ
The reason lying is more lucrative than truth is because the majority of people believe everything theyβre told.
Yep, the very definition of sheeple. π These days, you just can’t afford to be too trusting anymore.
Sam · January 14, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Sam, Mitch Maley runs a very good podcast, he was familiar with my work and invited me (not the other way around), so there were no disagreements or trouble.
Glad to hear he’s a journalist, Scoop, and not a urinalist. π
A lot of good banter and discussions. Early reviews are that people enjoyed it. One even said we should start our own podcast.
Woo-hoo! Just invite Joe Rogan next, and it’ll be a party. π₯³
Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2024 at 8:36 pm
The truth is never told it has to be learned…
Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2024 at 8:37 pm
We don’t need Joe Rogan or any third wheel but certainly wouldn’t kick him out )