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Hmm, so this Rafa Nadal fellow is playing. I've heard he's kind of good at tennis.
Let's follow along. #AusOpen
Let's follow along. #AusOpen
Few dramas through the first three games on serve, though Nadal's defensive forehand was soft, loopy and very hittable.
This feels like early range finding issues; confirmed when he uncorks two from the centre of the court to detonate Michael Mmoh's serve patterns.
3-1, Nadal.
This feels like early range finding issues; confirmed when he uncorks two from the centre of the court to detonate Michael Mmoh's serve patterns.
3-1, Nadal.
Solid hold behind the break, moving Mmoh around at will off his first serve.
Mmoh is missing wide rather than long from defensive positions, which is a very, very bad sign against a guy who excels at hitting forehands on both sides of the ball.
4-1, Nadal.
Mmoh is missing wide rather than long from defensive positions, which is a very, very bad sign against a guy who excels at hitting forehands on both sides of the ball.
4-1, Nadal.
A fantastic backhand volley behind the left shoulder from Mmoh to finish a frantic front-court skirmish for 30-all, but Nadal creates the exact same play for 30-40, waits, and crushes the ball.
A poor baseline error off the next ball.
It's 5-1 Nadal in a flash. #AusOpen
A poor baseline error off the next ball.
It's 5-1 Nadal in a flash. #AusOpen
Mmoh's adjustment in open space at the start of Set 2 appears to be to stay forehand-side of the ball as much as possible.
And pray that his really high-variance serve doesn't crack deeper into service games.
The forehand adjustment is a decent one.
So far.
1-1. #AusOpen
And pray that his really high-variance serve doesn't crack deeper into service games.
The forehand adjustment is a decent one.
So far.
1-1. #AusOpen
This Mmoh plan isn't half-bad.
He's teed up five back court errors from Nadal in two return games and is serving well enough for this to potentially be A Thing.
It's a tool for keeping pace, though, not an attack plan.
2-1, Mmoh. #AusOpen
He's teed up five back court errors from Nadal in two return games and is serving well enough for this to potentially be A Thing.
It's a tool for keeping pace, though, not an attack plan.
2-1, Mmoh. #AusOpen
Game 4's highlight is a slick net approach and putaway from Nadal for 30-0.
Mmoh is more than hanging with him in athletic exchanges, though. Definitely something to build on.
Nadal's serve is still the best part of his game right now. Feels so weird to say.
2-2. #AusOpen
Mmoh is more than hanging with him in athletic exchanges, though. Definitely something to build on.
Nadal's serve is still the best part of his game right now. Feels so weird to say.
2-2. #AusOpen
Okay, no. You can't firefight Nadal in flat baseline exchanges - as Mmoh does early here - and expect to shovel everything to one side.
Nadal will badger your weaker wing and make you beat yourself.
Nadal generates 15-40 and kills the game for 3-2.
With zero winners. #AusOpen
Nadal will badger your weaker wing and make you beat yourself.
Nadal generates 15-40 and kills the game for 3-2.
With zero winners. #AusOpen
That was a hell of a (M)morale breaker.
Nadal can now see wide open hitting lanes and is finding points by vaguely placing the ball in that direction.
Mmoh's legs haven't gone - far from it - but it looks like they have.
This is now a beating.
4-2, Nadal. #AusOpen
Nadal can now see wide open hitting lanes and is finding points by vaguely placing the ball in that direction.
Mmoh's legs haven't gone - far from it - but it looks like they have.
This is now a beating.
4-2, Nadal. #AusOpen
...maybe not a beating?
Mmoh's first serve makes a lot of things possible, and he gets out of a deuce game here by making it a battle (which Nadal seems to appreciate) and winning with some deft footwork (which Nadal totally doesn't appreciate).
Mmoh holds for 3-4. #AusOpen
Mmoh's first serve makes a lot of things possible, and he gets out of a deuce game here by making it a battle (which Nadal seems to appreciate) and winning with some deft footwork (which Nadal totally doesn't appreciate).
Mmoh holds for 3-4. #AusOpen
Okay, that stupid, slow and defensive lasso forehand I shouted earlier isn't so stupid and slow when Nadal uses it to set his feet behind a second serve.
He does so here for 30-0 and holds to zip.
With ease.
5-3, Nadal. #AusOpen
He does so here for 30-0 and holds to zip.
With ease.
5-3, Nadal. #AusOpen
Mmoh holds to zero as well for 4-5 but the game has a whiff of match management from Nadal.
He's bent on serving out the second set, which is interrupted by some pantomime booing of some crowd clownery.
It's about as interesting as Nadal lets things get.
6-1, 6-4. #AusOpen
He's bent on serving out the second set, which is interrupted by some pantomime booing of some crowd clownery.
It's about as interesting as Nadal lets things get.
6-1, 6-4. #AusOpen
83% behind the first serve, 9 from 9 inside the box, average serve at 178 through the first two sets for Nadal, btw.
And his underlying numbers are even better.
This is very much a qualifier playing at least the second best player in the men's game. #AusOpen
And his underlying numbers are even better.
This is very much a qualifier playing at least the second best player in the men's game. #AusOpen
Intrigued by Mmoh consistently missing wide off both wings from seemingly neutral positions.
I think (?) it's the shape of the ball Nadal hits making him overreach for the lines.
He pulls this one out of the fire from 15-40, though, with some beautiful touches.
1-0. #AusOpen
I think (?) it's the shape of the ball Nadal hits making him overreach for the lines.
He pulls this one out of the fire from 15-40, though, with some beautiful touches.
1-0. #AusOpen
There's a pick-up forehand half-volley winner at the net at game point in that first game by Mmoh that is absolutely worth re-watching.
Freakishly good touch.
You know what else is freakishly good?
Nadal holding serve. Again.
1-1 to start the third. #AusOpen
Freakishly good touch.
You know what else is freakishly good?
Nadal holding serve. Again.
1-1 to start the third. #AusOpen
Mmoh tries to come in with an approach shot to a fully warmed up Nadal's forehand early in this game.
He doesn't try it again.
He approaches one more time, and Nadal slices a backhand ACROSS his rightie forehand, and hits the line.
Stop it, Rafa. Just stop it. #AusOpen
He doesn't try it again.
He approaches one more time, and Nadal slices a backhand ACROSS his rightie forehand, and hits the line.
Stop it, Rafa. Just stop it. #AusOpen
