Tennis: The Shanghai Masters, and the mind games

The semifinals, in Shanghai, are set between Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic, and Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro. On paper, they should provide for one hell of a day at the Shanghai Masters, and the organizers could not have expected more, except perhaps a Federer versus Nadal final.

The prospects of a Federer versus Nadal final

The prospects of a Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal final seem quite bright because Rafa looks unbeatable by anyone not called Roger Federer and Roger, who could have lost to Juan Martin Del Potro, may either be given a walkover or face an injured and watered down Del Potro.

Marin Cilic is all fired up for the match and has performed quite well so far. The court speed suits his style, and his penchant for barreling down winners from the baseline would have done the job against the 2015 or 2016 Rafa. However, this Rafa is an entirely different animal which Cilic may not be able to tame. Therefore, in the end, it may just be Roger facing Rafa for the big title.

Outcome – Rafael Nadal in three sets over Mari Cilic and Roger Federer in three sets over Del Potro.

Federer and Nadal – Handling pressure, and their mind games

Whenever asked about his prospects of winning this tournament, Nadal has continuously deflected that onus onto Federer. “He likes to play on the surfaces that we’re gonna play, indoor and here that the court is very fast,” Nadal said. Even now, in the wake of his semifinal meeting against Cilic, Nadal has underplayed his chances against Cilic by stating that Cilic’s style and the game are better suited for this type of surface that this.  Nadal has always been good at deflecting the pressure from himself and moving it straight onto his opponent, and that quality is truly admirable.

Nadal’s strategy to reduce, and avoid pressure has worked miracles for him.

However, Roger Federer, on the other hand, thrives on being pursued and does better as a front-runner and the favorite. He relishes the opportunity to exact revenge for his losses and openly declares that intent.

Upon learning about Del Potro’s injury, Roger Federer responded, “I hope for him that it’s nothing serious. He has had problems in the past, and this is why he’s worried, rightfully so. At the end of the day, nothing changes for me, I’ll be ready to come out here to play, and it’s for revenge for the U.S. Open.”

Apparently, it seems, Roger enjoys the pressure and therefore invites it.