Although this is just a training match, Nadal should not have used 80% of his power - or is it less than 70%? But it still verified that sentence:
The encounter with Nadal in his career is always difficult, very, very difficult, especially on clay, where the difficulty will continue to rise.
Gawain, there's no chance at all——
In the entire training match, I only got one break point, and I squandered it by using a backhand spin to hit the net. There was really no chance.
It is hard to believe that the gentleman in front of me is actually the same person as the one whom Gawain defeated at Melbourne Park this year.
No wonder Davydenko said,
"Before I retired, Rafa was nothing special on hard courts. He was just an ordinary hard court player. I won all the hard court matches with him."
Davydenko retired in 2014. Although his words are correct and he does have a huge advantage on hard courts, there is still a small deviation:
On the clay court, Davydenko lost all four games against Nadal; on the hard court, Davydenko had six wins and one loss, and had lost once in the imperial capital.
Of course, the core meaning of Davydenko's words is correct. When Nadal stands on the clay, this God of War is indeed extraordinary, with super topspin release and tenacious defense, coupled with unparalleled touch.
, it really gave Nadal’s clay court game a different look.
Today, Gawain experienced it personally, the sour feeling——
At the end of the training match, Gao Wen himself did not realize it and began to flick his wrist involuntarily. The calluses on his palms became numb again, and he could clearly feel the power of "Na-type super top spin".
Hard ground and red soil are indeed different.
After the training match, Gao Wen and his coaching team returned to the training ground and conducted another two hours of high-intensity basic training that afternoon.
In addition, Peart’s physical training cannot be left behind.
The clay court will test the body and will to a higher level. Even if it is in the middle of the season and it is just a short break for a week, it is impossible to concentrate on physical training; but it still needs to persist every day, persevere to maintain the state, and continue the spring hard court
Excellent form for the season.
The next day.
Gao Wen started a training match with Nadal for the second consecutive day.
Although Gao Wen is slowly getting used to it and making progress, and after the first meeting, he is mentally prepared and has a slightly different understanding of the game.
But the time is still too short after all. Gao Wen cannot be completely transformed overnight. Those improvements and improvements still require more testing.
Therefore, training matches are still very difficult, very, very difficult.
However, Gawain can always see the positive side of things:
In the first training match, everything was brand new. After all, this was his first official clay court season. He was starting from scratch and had no clue at all.
In the second training match, with reference data, the entire training plan gradually revealed its outline, becoming more purposeful and organized.
They are both training matches, but the content and results are completely different. We are getting on the right track step by step and continue to explore the unique charm of clay soil.
"6:4", "3:0".
Nadal leads the score.
But this training match could not be completed. Unlike yesterday, the two-hour training time was over, and there was no need for them to decide the winner.
The score is not that important.
Generally speaking, the training match does not end based on the victory or defeat, but based on the training plan and the end of the set training time, which also ends the training.
It can be clearly felt that the entire antagonism of the second training match is rising, not only the score, but also the training time can be seen, the training content has also become richer, so the training match is not over yet, and it has been used in two hours.
With that, the second training match has come to an end.
However, Nadal and Gao Wen’s respective trainings are not over yet——
Gawain needs to learn, and Nadal needs to adjust.
This year, Nadal continues to be troubled by a left wrist injury, and his hitting feel has not been adjusted, even on clay.
For two consecutive days of training, Nadal has been trying to attack his forehand. On the one hand, he is really testing the limits of Gawain's backhand, and on the other hand, he is adjusting his forehand attack.
As Nadal's strongest weapon, the "inside-out" forehand diagonal attack is a killer, and it is also the tactical cornerstone of the game. Once this line is not effective and frequently goes out of bounds, it means Nadal
Dahl's game will be in trouble and it will be difficult to open up the situation.
Uncle Tony knew all about this.
Uncle Tony trained Nadal step by step, from initiation to growth to peak, and he understood the changes in his nephew's competitive state all too well.
Judging from the entire spring season, Nadal's wrist injury does not seem serious and can be treated conservatively. It does not require surgery or a long withdrawal from the game; however, the pain and interference caused by the injury always exist objectively, affecting all aspects.
Nadal’s game should be very difficult this year on clay court.
Therefore, they have also formulated relevant plans for the training matches.
Especially after the first training match, Roig believed that it would be a good thing for Nadal to play against a player like Gauvin who dares to try, challenge and change. It can stimulate Nadal's state and also create collisions.
Inspiration triggers Nadal to think and improve.
Everything is positive.
After the training match is over, they need to summarize, plan, and train, and then complete subsequent adjustments and formulate a training plan around the French Open——
Obviously, Uncle Tony and Roig also understand that it is unrealistic to complete adjustments in just two days and three days and expect to be in good form at the Monte Carlo Masters; top players including the Big Four
As we all know, schedule is another kind of training plan.
The Grand Slam is the ultimate goal, comparable to the finish line of an 800-meter race. Through preparation for different events, practice with competitions, and slowly complete warm-up and adjustments, the ultimate goal is to face the 100-meter sprint before entering the Grand Slam stage.
Come to your best condition and then go all out to win the Grand Slam championship.
There are still six full weeks until the French Open, so they need to take a long-term approach.
Nadal is like this, and Gawain is no exception.
After two consecutive days of training matches, both players gained a lot and the host and guest enjoyed themselves. I have to say that it was indeed a good idea for Uncle Tony to invite Gawain to Mallorca——
This is true for both teams.
After training on Friday, the next day, Nadal extended a sincere invitation and the two teams went to a local restaurant for dinner.
Off the court, Nadal always wears a shy smile. Obviously he is not a master of social situations, but his smile is particularly sincere.
"This is your first time in Mallorca. As the host, it is very rude not to take you to sightsee and relax. If you don't even have the opportunity to enjoy dinner together, then my parents will be very, very disappointed, because
I am so rude, please allow me to fulfill my duties as a master."