Nadal vs. Del Potro
While watching highlights of previous matches between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro, I decided to put into words what I was seeing. Below are my thoughts on the points where I felt that there was something to be learned. I will admit that the points were chosen with a slant towards Nadal. Hence, I left out a lot of forehand winners from Delpo.
I chose these two matches because they seem to have the most relevance to today's match. The 2017 US Open is an obvious choice because it was played on the same court, and since that surface plays almost like a clay court, the French Open meeting was similar stylistically. I left out Wimbledon for obvious reasons, but the fact that Nadal also won that match is very telling.
Some key points:
1. Delpo's standard rally position when he's at the bottom of the screen is about midway between the center line and the left sideline. He does this to protect his backhand, which is a very weak shot by ATP standards due to all of the wrist surgeries he has had in the past. This leaves a lot of empty space where he can be beaten on the right side of the court.
2. Delpo may have the deadliest forehand in the sport, but he has a strike zone that vertically runs roughly from his chest to his waist. If you can force him to hit above or below that zone, or make him hit a running forehand, he's not able to punish you. This is easier said than done.
I've included links to the highlights on YouTube if you want to watch while reading.
I chose these two matches because they seem to have the most relevance to today's match. The 2017 US Open is an obvious choice because it was played on the same court, and since that surface plays almost like a clay court, the French Open meeting was similar stylistically. I left out Wimbledon for obvious reasons, but the fact that Nadal also won that match is very telling.
Some key points:
1. Delpo's standard rally position when he's at the bottom of the screen is about midway between the center line and the left sideline. He does this to protect his backhand, which is a very weak shot by ATP standards due to all of the wrist surgeries he has had in the past. This leaves a lot of empty space where he can be beaten on the right side of the court.
2. Delpo may have the deadliest forehand in the sport, but he has a strike zone that vertically runs roughly from his chest to his waist. If you can force him to hit above or below that zone, or make him hit a running forehand, he's not able to punish you. This is easier said than done.
I've included links to the highlights on YouTube if you want to watch while reading.
0:26 – This is what I will refer to as “the pattern” since
it happens so often. Wide serve in the ad court. Delpo weak backhand return.
Rafa with plenty of options. This time he plays the drop shot. Almost too easy.
1:00 - The slow court allows Rafa just enough time to make a
play on Delpo’s monster forehand. But the key is that he was able to keep it
low enough to avoid Delpo’s happy zone and get a good look at a backhand pass.
1:11 - The first 3 shots here look like an exact replica of
the previous point. This time Rafa is only able to play a lob and gets lucky and
catches the back of the baseline. Delpo can’t hurt anyone from there, so Rafa
is able to play one of his famous loopers to the Delpo backhand to draw the
error.
1:25 – Slow looping return to the Delpo backhand, where he
isn’t able to generate pace on his own. Easy winner down the line.
1:35 – The pattern. Wide serve in the ad court. Delpo weak
backhand return. Drop shot winner.
1:45 - This is a 9-shot rally but pause at 1:56 and look where Delpo
is standing. Rafa gets lucky with the banana forehand and clips the outside of
the line, but he could have hit that shot 3 or 4 feet inside the sideline and still hit
a winner.
2:00 – Rafa works the backhand 3 times and sets the point up
perfectly, but blows the drop shot and Delpo wins the point (barely).
2:33 – This is mostly luck, but it shows that even when
Delpo is in a commanding position, he has to be precise or Rafa can kill you even
from a defensive position.
2:42 – The pattern again. Wide serve in ad court. Delpo weak
backhand return. Rafa forehand winner into a wide-open sea of red.
3:19 – The looper at 3:25 draws the weak ball that allows
Rafa to pummel a forehand which effectively ends the point.
0:01 – The very first point of the match. By constantly feeding
the Delpo backhand, Rafa is in complete control of the entire point.
0:21 – Here we go again. Wide serve in ad court. Delpo weak
return. Too easy.
1:19 – Delpo runs around and demolishes a forehand, but Rafa
is able to get it back crosscourt to take back control of the point. Classic
defense-to-offense.
1:53 – This point shows the danger of going to the Delpo
forehand when you don’t have to.
2:12 – I’m not really sure whey Rafa didn’t try to end the
point at 2:14. Maybe at 15-30 he didn’t want to risk it. It works out, though,
as he’s able to pepper Delpo’s backhand enough to draw a short ball.
2:36 – Rafa mistakenly gives Delpo a look at a forehand when
he’s a little closer to the middle of the court and pays the price.
2:58 – Delpo actually hits a strong backhand crosscourt but Rafa
steals the point with some incredible defense.
3:48 – Holy crap. Delpo obliterates a winner from 4 feet
behind the baseline.
4:09 – This is a fun point. Rafa repeatedly peppers the
backhand and picks the perfect time (4:25) to go down the line. But he misses
his target by a few feet and gives Delpo a chance. Then he hits a mediocre drop
shot and has to come up with some magic to win the point.
4:56 – Delpo plays an incredible point where he hits about
10 solid backhands and finishes the point with what was almost a clean backhand
winner. Very impressive but also rare.
5:53 – Rafa with the body serve so Delpo can’t crush the return.
Pause at 5:55. Delpo’s court positioning makes it too easy.
6:18 – Pause at 6:25. Even I could hit a winner vs. Delpo
when he stands there.
6:29 – This point shows how the slow court gives Rafa an
edge. Delpo hits 3 or 4 shots that would have ended the point on grass or a
faster hard court. Eventually he goes for too much at the end.
7:09 – Delpo tries a backhand approach on a low ball. The
point was over as soon as he made that decision.
7:31 – There’s the pattern again. Wide serve in ad court.
Weak Delpo backhand return. Pause at 7:34. Rafa could
close his eyes and hit a winner.
7:49 – Looping return from Rafa is too high for Delpo’s forehand
strike zone, so he can’t get much on it. A couple shots later, Rafa hits a slice
that’s below the Delpo strike zone and he shanks it.
8:02 – Rafa makes one mistake to the Delpo forehand and eats
it.
8:38 – 18 seconds worth of toying with Delpo.
9:38 – The pattern again. This time Rafa hits the worst
possible approach and pays the price.
9:46 – Delpo throws everything at Rafa and it’s not enough.
Pause at 10:01. It was at that point that he knew he wasn’t winning this match.
10:24 – The point of the match and probably one of the best
of the tournament. Pure luck on the defensive lob at 10:28, but greatness the
rest of the way.
10:57 – The pattern again. We know how this ends.
11:29 – And again. There’s literally nothing Del Potro can
do to stop this.
11:46 – 21 more seconds of torture.
13:34 – The pattern again, but this time Rafa follows it in
for the easy volley.
13:40 – You guessed it. Pause at 13:48. Delpo just wanted to
go home.
14:08 – Rafa paints the line, but had plenty of empty space.
14:25 -Delpo moves to cover the backhand and we see why that’s
also a bad idea.
14:50 – Rafa hits an unreal return and takes control of a
point when 99% of the ATP Tour would have been aced or dead on the next shot.
16:17 – The pattern again.
16:24 – The pattern one last time with serve and volley for
good measure.
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