Nadal vs Gulbis thread

[invisiblecoolers]

First topic message reminder :

A Champion vs extreme underdog, but we all know when Gulbis turns up he could turn up big, the big Lativian for some years considered as the next big hope [he is still not that old 24] has never fulfilled the GOD given talent. He played a great match against Rafa in 2010 at the very same venue and could have easily won had Rafa been slightly out of his best.

With threads raising questions which version of Rafa is better, I guess tomorrow's match holds a key to those answers, if the Lativian takes down Rafa tomorrow I guess the question is answered by itself.

To add more, I don't see this Rafa as intimidating as he used to be in 2008-2010, if the same Gulbis who turned up against Victor [or the Gulbis of 2010 Rome] I won't be surprised if Rafa goes down tomorrow. Rafa's return is very deceiving, yes his stats for the year is stunning but he has lost so many sets which on normal years would have been very shocking, could have easily lost IW to Del Potro.

Who thinks this match could be close affair?

I looked at the odds at Bet365 and here you go Nadal is marked as a stern favorite with 7 times the money on Gulbis to win the match and 5.50 to win the 1st set. Bet365 bookies expecting a straight set thrashing on Gulbis.

I see this as another case of Rafa's stats be so deceiving and I expect Gulbis to take the match much closer than expected, if some how he pulls the 1st set off he might even go on to pull the biggest upset of his career.

I am going for Gulbis to win 6-4 6-4.

[Silver]

How about a bagel the other way if he breaks?

[lydian]

Gulbis must have one of the best DHBHs on tour.

[CAS]

watching Gulbis's double hander handle Nadal's forehand and the way Novak handles it as well, you do realise how hard Roger has had it all these years. So many points in this match I have thought if that was Roger's backhand the point would be over already. Its the left arm dragging it back in is such an advantage on clay

[invisiblecoolers]

Have you ever seen anything like this in how Gulbis is just manhandling. He is blasting everything, why does Nadal keep hitting at his backhand, he was doing the same thing at IW? Damn it got to go to work. Set point

I said you this Nadal is nothing compared to Nadal of 2008, but unfortunately your brain never understands it.

[invisiblecoolers]

Come on Gulbis make a statement in this set now.

[kingraf]

I got 3-1 at my local man. Waiting...
Oh well.

[invisiblecoolers]

This is ridiculous stuff, Gulbis is in GOD mode.
He's literally smacking anything and everything and its all going in.

But you gave no chance before the start of the match

Unless Gulbis chokes I don't see any other result inspite of Rafa leadin 2-1 in 3rd now.

[invisiblecoolers]

Is this the Nadal who is better than ever?

The Funny part is Nadal fans have scummbed to Socal's theorem that Nadal won slams in clay before 2008 coz of weak era forgetting it was actually the brilliance of the man and not otherwise.

[kingraf]

IC- so youre putting Gulbis as the favorite? If you were a bookie, I would be placing money I dont have on Nadal

[invisiblecoolers]

Do anybody notice the fear in Rafa's eyes at 2-2? I have never seen Rafa like this in his entire career, this is the point I was stating before the match the intimidation factor is gone and these days he is afraid coz he knows he is not at his best and can lose if the opponent is on a red hot form.

[invisiblecoolers]

IC- so youre putting Gulbis as the favorite? If you were a bookie, I would be placing money I dont have on Nadal

You get 10 dollars profti on Nadal if you bet 100 dollars and 800 dollars on Gulbis win for the same money? which way would you go?

Gulbis win makes me rich big time and Nadal win means I lose some money.

[Silver]

Gulbis has 50 winners, Nadal has 10. 50 winners!

[CAS]

the match is in Ernies hands, he keeps hitting winners he wins, he starts missing Rafa wins. Simple enough

[break_in_the_fifth]

Was just going to point that out silver... unbelievable...

[invisiblecoolers]

Hmm Gulbis panicked to let Rafa lead 4-2, who wanna bet on Gulbis from here on? I am on thou.

[The Special Juan]

How many UEs though?

[kingraf]

Nadal-Gulbis is by far my favourite non-"SuperMatch". These guys are just so compatible in the process of making a great match. Pity the mental difference means when all the entertainment is done, there is only one winner.

[Silver]

Not sure, TSJ. Still, 50+ winners against Nadal on clay is a supreme effort. I like Rafa, but I want to see Gulbis' positive play carry the day here.

Edit: Ridiculous return game, wow!

[invisiblecoolers]

Come on Gulbis, gets the break back with stunning power backhand cross court. Rafa leas 4-3, the odds where 15-1 on Gulbis before the break back game.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Mental difference? I think it takes way more effort to play Gulbis' game than Nadal's.

[The Special Juan]

Not sure, TSJ. Still, 50+ winners against Nadal on clay is a supreme effort. I like Rafa, but I want to see Gulbis' positive play carry the day here.

Edit: Ridiculous return game, wow!

50+ winners is mental. I've just looked it up and apparently he's still got more winners the UEs (although they're in the 40s).

[CAS]

I understand the Nadal tactic to go to Gulbis backhand to open up the forehand side so Gulbis has to hit a forehand on the stretch, and I think he must be able to get more spin when he goes to the left hand side which makes him feel more comfortable, but the amount of winners Gulbis is hitting on that side he might just need to hit a load of shots to the forehand, see how the Latvian handles it, if it doesn't work then fair enough but the backhand is beastly right now he has to try something

[invisiblecoolers]

No idea from where Gulbis is generating this much power from, but those shots are breath taking a bit like on Del Po on form.

[kingraf]

I disagree. Completely. If Nadals game was so easy, it would be mass-replicated. It hasnt coz it isnt.

[The Special Juan]

No idea from where Gulbis is generating this much power from, but those shots are breath taking a bit like on Del Po on form.

Funnily enough I was thinking that in the first set. Either DelPo or Soderling.

[invisiblecoolers]

Believe me Nadal is worried and Ernest looks more confident, I am seeing a break by Gulbis here to close the match 6-4.

[kingraf]

This is unreal. The last two sets were the best clay sets Ive seen since... Nadal-Gulbis 2010.

[kingraf]

uh-oh...

[invisiblecoolers]

No idea from where Gulbis is generating this much power from, but those shots are breath taking a bit like on Del Po on form.

Funnily enough I was thinking that in the first set. Either DelPo or Soderling.

Agreed reminds a bit of Soderling of 2009 FO, unfortunately I missed the 1st and I missed my chances to bet at 8 odds on Gulbis and 101 for the score he got it.

[Silver]

Not sure, TSJ. Still, 50+ winners against Nadal on clay is a supreme effort. I like Rafa, but I want to see Gulbis' positive play carry the day here.

Edit: Ridiculous return game, wow!

50+ winners is mental. I've just looked it up and apparently he's still got more winners the UEs (although they're in the 40s).

Thanks looks like he really is just going after everything...fair play!

[invisiblecoolers]

Gulbis keeps on targetting Nadal's backhand , thats how weak it is these days.

[break_in_the_fifth]

It might have taken a lot to develop physically as well as shifting to the left hand but when executed he has much larger margins than anyone else. This makes it much less mentally demanding in my opinion.

[invisiblecoolers]

I remember Fed use to say Rafa has 2 fore hands thats how intimidating Rafa's back hand use to be back those days, certainly not the case now.

[kingraf]

Nadal needs to stop slicing to the backhand when serving to the AD side

[invisiblecoolers]

Not sure, TSJ. Still, 50+ winners against Nadal on clay is a supreme effort. I like Rafa, but I want to see Gulbis' positive play carry the day here.

Edit: Ridiculous return game, wow!

50+ winners is mental. I've just looked it up and apparently he's still got more winners the UEs (although they're in the 40s).

Thanks looks like he really is just going after everything...fair play!

Its not luck, he is playing awesomly beautiful and to break back Rafa at 2-4 showed a lot of character.

[kingraf]

Game will finish right now. My local bookie just gave me 6/1 on it, and I put in 25p... (Is it worrying for an 18-year old to have his bookie on the phone while watching a tennis match?)

[invisiblecoolers]

OMG another panic by Gulbis at the real wrong time.

[Silver]

Yeah, it is just how he seems to play, IC. He did the same against Nadal at IW, it's been a fantastic effort so far.

kingraf, you addict

[invisiblecoolers]

Double match points for Rafa, anti-climax.

[invisiblecoolers]

Saves one thou.

[The Special Juan]

Game will finish right now. My local bookie just gave me 6/1 on it, and I put in 25p... (Is it worrying for an 18-year old to have his bookie on the phone while watching a tennis match?)

Just a bit!!

[invisiblecoolers]

Saves another one, I am so nervous.

[Silver]

I definitely want Gulbis to win now, partly because of where Nadal is standing on the returns. I mean...really?!

[invisiblecoolers]

Oh no another match point for Rafa.

[The Special Juan]

That's what I was saying earlier Silver - that's Raonic territory on a return game.

[invisiblecoolers]

Such an anti-climax, but well played Gulbis

[kingraf]

just made 125p!!! My bookie just said he isnt giving me anymore last minute bets after this. I dont care, Im buying myself some sub-standard speakers!!!

[Silver]

Sorry TSJ, missed that amazing though, not often you see any player that far back.

Disappointed for Gulbis. 59 winners vs 50 UEs, Nadal was 13 vs 19 and he still won it - a shame, in all honesty.

[CAS]

how he wins these matches over and over is just outrageous, he was out played out hit. He hit 13 winners to 19 UEs, Gulbis 59 winners and 50 UEs

[lydian]

...but he still won. Beating Nadal on clay is a mammoth task even when you play the best tennis of your career.
It wasn't Nadal at his best though...just 13 winners and his BH looks decidedly weak/vulnerable.

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