Nadal transforms into Beast Mode at US Open Rd of 16
 

I watched the Marin Cilic vs. Rafael Nadal Round of 16 match at the US Open last night and in a word, it was EPIC! :banana:

Nadal won the first set with some solid play, 6-3. Cilic came back in the 2nd set serving really well and pushing Rafa so far back on the court that he could not hit through and Cilic took the second set, 6-3.

That was then Rafa does what no other player I've ever seen do, he raised his level to "beast mode". He ripped Cilic completely apart in sets 3 and 4, winning with double service breaks in both sets, and producing a staggering level of play:

For some examples, check out this video, in particular at 1:20, with Nadal hitting a "skyhook" winner, jumping up and smashing the ball overhead backwards; a driving winner deep into the cort from an overhead smash for a winner at 1:30 (note "Sheldon" from The Big Bang Theory), and the ultimate play, hitting around the net post for at 2:18 for an insane, ridiculous shot...around the net post. Unreal...

https://youtu.be/jihxS6u-WCA

Its not everyday you get Tiger Woods jumping out of his seat and screaming...

Love it! No question he can lift the intensity and focus to a different level than just about anyone in tennis - just a question of how long his body can continue to do it for...

Assuming Federer gets through to the finals, he better be on top of his game or Nadal is gonna gain one more on him.

- Buck

Assuming Federer gets through to the finals, he better be on top of his game or Nadal is gonna gain one more on him.

- Buck

Pulling for Nadal on that front...

New flash: Federer goes out to Dmitrov!

Stephen, thank you for posting the highlights.
I had read about the around the net point in the newspaper already.
Unreal indeed!

People have been asking the same question for the last decades and he's still going.

On clay, he's on another level than any other player today. At the last Roland Garros, he was just untouchable and demonstrated that he's the best there and the second best is not even a challenge for him. His stats are RG are just beyond impressive.

I didn't use to be a fan of his for a long time but I have to admit that he's the best there is out there. He's one of the best player all time and the best on clay.

Tennis players, IMHO, are amazing athletes. They are the only athletes that play completely alone, play with no coaching during the matches, no half-time, oftentimes only an approximate start time, and where there is no game clock. You could be playing at 11 AM one day and at 11 PM the next. The match could take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, and you have to be ready for that, both mentally and physically.

I have this "thought exercise" I do: which players would make the cut for "Stephen's SEAL team"? You know, someone you'd want by your side in combat when you're takin' fire? Guys who are incredibly stong physically and mentally, can improvise and problem-solve and go the distance; guys you know will never quit, never crack, and never give up.

My list:
Rafael Nadal (Team Leader)
David Ferrer
Dominic Thiem
Stan Wawrinka
Diego Schwartzman
Roberto Bautista-Agut
John Millman

Spiritual Leader: Bjorn Borg
Trainer: Javier Piles (Ferrer's coach for many years)
Coach: Darren Cahill (who can do the "hard yards" with the rest of the guys)

:D

Looks you are a true tennis fan. [emoji106]
Who are your favorites of the men next generation group?