It certainly did improve but I don't think it was the crux of the changes we saw to be honest i.e. we didn't often see Rafa serve + backhand winner on the one of the next two shots. It was often a way of ending the point deep into a well-constructed point and the opportunities to go line generally presented themselves as a result of several attacking shots to the Medvedev forehand. Far more difficult to pull off in the first set when Rafa wasn't hitting from the deuce court further up the court/with more time on the ball!
Number of Rafa winners from/errors forced using backhand down the line = 6
Average number of shots before Rafa winners from/errors forced using backhand down the line = 9.7.
TLDR: That shot definitely got better but it was as a result of other areas of his game improving/Medvedev dipping.
Brilliant analysis!
Nadal's backhand down the line really improved as the match progressed. Any thoughts as no one has seemed to bring this up.
It certainly did improve but I don't think it was the crux of the changes we saw to be honest i.e. we didn't often see Rafa serve + backhand winner on the one of the next two shots. It was often a way of ending the point deep into a well-constructed point and the opportunities to go line generally presented themselves as a result of several attacking shots to the Medvedev forehand. Far more difficult to pull off in the first set when Rafa wasn't hitting from the deuce court further up the court/with more time on the ball!
Number of Rafa winners from/errors forced using backhand down the line = 6
Average number of shots before Rafa winners from/errors forced using backhand down the line = 9.7.
TLDR: That shot definitely got better but it was as a result of other areas of his game improving/Medvedev dipping.