Prelude: A few years ago I played chess with my brother, I lost the match when his sole surviving pawn and king marched down the board to doom my lonely king. On multiple occasions, I was one move from winning if he overlooked a trap. After the match, I noted, “That was a close match.”…
Tag: Rafael Nadal
Roland Garros 2024: All Hail Queen Iga IV and King Carlos I
History Made by Both Champions Iga Swiatek won her 5th major title, capped off a great clay court season*, demonstrated why she is ranked #1, and won her 4th French Open title in 5 years by claiming the title in pretty routine fashion during the final 5 rounds of the tournament. Her 2nd round win…
The Spanish Armada’s Domination of the Men’s French Open
Spanish French Open Men’s Champions since 1993: Spanish French Open Men’s Runner-Up since 1994:
Roland Garros 2024: Roddick on Rafa
This video gives a lot of insight into what facing Rafael Nadal is like and how Rafa developed his game over the years. The 3-minute point in the video begins a multiple-minute discussion of what trading groundstrokes with Rafa feels like if you wish to skip ahead. I want to add that Novak Djokovic having…
Roland Garros 2024: How to Coach Rafa ahead of His Final French Open?
How to Prepare the Ultimate Overdog on Clay for One Last Stand as an Underdog? This was not an easy topic even before Nadal drew the 2024 Masters Rome champion and #4 seed Alexander “Sascha” Zverev. Rafa appeared likely to hit a unique 15-Love in Paris when he won his 14th French Open title in…
2022 Midyear Report
Tennis Abides is back, and that will require a longer post at some point, but I will just say life happens for the time being. 2022 Midyear Report Male Player of the Year to this Point: Rafael Nadal – Rafa won a tune-up in Australia, then improbably won his 2nd Australian Open with the first…
French Open 2021: The 58th Meeting between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal – Prediction
How often does the world #1 get to enter a match with many people thinking he has no chance to win? If he loses in 3 or 4 sets, no one is going to think much of it because it is Rafa in Rafa’s house.
Australian Open 2021: Day 10 Men’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Andrey Rublev (7) vs Daniil Medvedev (4) – This battle of the Russians is pitting two red hot players against one another. I like Medvedev to advance, but wow I also like Rublev’s game and chances. I think Medvedev’s amoeba tennis wins so long as he keeps adapting even if Rublev…
Australian Open 2021: Day 8 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD ROD LAVER ARENA (16) Fabio Fognini (ITA) v (2) Rafael Nadal (ESP) – I am expecting a close match that might even go 5 sets. I will not be shocked if Fognini wins, but I think Rafa prevails in 4 or 5 sets facing down his first big test of the…
Australian Open 2021: Day 6 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Rod Laver Arena (11 a.m. start) [4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [28] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Cameron Norrie (GBR) – Rafa and Daniil ought to advance. Margaret Court Arena [7] Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – Rublev will need to return well and pass when Lopez comes forward. I think he…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 