Adv. Edberg
Legend
It doesn't matter much. Nadal is semi retired now and Djokovic is at least 50% of peak so no way can Nadal beat him. Not even get a set tbh.
A 75% Nadal can quite comfortably beat a 100% Djoko. But that's not a Nadal we have now.
2022 Roland Garros Draw
- Thread starter Forgive Me Father
- Start date
It doesn't matter much. Nadal is semi retired now and Djokovic is at least 50% of peak so no way can Nadal beat him. Not even get a set tbh.
A 75% Nadal can quite comfortably beat a 100% Djoko. But that's not a Nadal we have now.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Last year's loss was nothing to do with tactics it was to do with Rafa's injured foot.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
In 2020 this was the score against Djokovic:
| 2020 | Roland Garros France | Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | 60 62 75 |
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
How confident you are this year about Rafa's chances ?
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
When are the qualifiers added in?
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
In the Alcaraz quarter. He could face tough competition in his opening match against Hugo Dellien.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't predict the outcome of matches ever but some people are implying that Rafa should be scared of Djokovic which is not the case.
L4S10s
Professional
at the French
mike danny
Bionic Poster
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
I am talking about his chances not outcome , Rafa is not scared even if his chances seem to be low this time.
dapchai
Legend
So they gifted him a supposedly easy draw in order to show they're not "weirdos?"
mike danny
Bionic Poster
I guess Tsitsipas was right after all
dapchai
Legend
Well, had some unpleasant encounters with several French guys recently and I tend to agree with him lolI guess Tsitsipas was right after all
L4S10s
Professional
thx, totally forgot about this
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
No, they gifted him a supposedly easy draw because they want a one-handed backhand player to win.
In spite of the insult.
dapchai
Legend
Why would they want a 1HBH player to win though?
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
How would I know his chances? None of us know what is going on with the players. Who knew his foot would flare up in the RG SF last year when he had played so well up to then? In Rome, Rafa easily beat Isner in the 2nd round, routed Shapo in the 1st set of the 3rd round then was hampered by his foot. I just keep my fingers crossed that all goes well with his fitness.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Hampered by his foot? Lol!
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
No idea, I don't share their bias.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Take it as a compliment, Nole fans. Few make Rafa's hurt quite like Nole.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
NovaC fans are so needy.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Lol, we are not the ones coming up constantly with excuses for why our fav lost a slam match in this rivalry. But then again since Novak has won 4 of the last 5 slam matches he played against Nadal there hasn’t been much need for that
The_Order
G.O.A.T.
True. It is about the here and now.
At least I don't make stupid comments like "you would run away from your TV/ Computer" like your mate did...
Nadal - GOAT
Hall of Fame
I will disagree with that. Last year RG match was very close and Rafa did beat him in Rome last year.
Also, I think Rafa is playing better this year than last. Tactically he has changed a few things. He has a bigger serve, he is more aggressive from the baseline, playing with more variety etc.
Also remember last year RG match was very close. Rafa had multiple break points in 2nd set and a set point in 3rd. It could have easily gone the other way.
I am backing Rafa this year if his foot holds.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Rafa is the favorite against Novak.
dapchai
Legend
Rafa is NOT the favourite vs Choco should they meet this RG.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
If Rafa is fully healthy and we have to go with the notion that he is, as he is practising and preparing to play and win seven best of five set matches, then he is the favorite to win.
dapchai
Legend
Even if he's fully healthy I still think he's not the favourite here. I'm not convinced with his clay performance since last year. Seriously I think Carlitos + Choco (and to some extent Tsits) are the favourites this RG.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Madrid and Rome showed us that he is not good enough to stay fit in BO3 anymore, so what should we say about BO5.
AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
When Nadal went 20-0 to start the year he was serving, moving, and volleying as good as late 2019 HC rung (Canada, USO) and foot was able to hold on. The 2021 clay season was inconsistent with numerous double faults in Monte Carlo and saving match points both in Barcelona (Tsitsipas FInal) and Rome (Shapo 3R) to win those titles. At this point he has 0 Clay titles for the year and there are more question marks entering RG. I think the possible Fognini match in the 3R might be a good indicator if the foot holds up.
Bhagi Katbamna
Legend
Every once in a while, even a philosopher stumbles on to the truth.
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Hitman
Bionic Poster
He lost Madrid because he was very rusty, wasn't he coming back from a fractured rib or something? So he probably didn't even play much, and considering it was his first event back and it took in form Alcaraz to beat him, and that too in three sets, it is not a bad loss.
In Rome, he didn't lose because he was not fit enough, it was his foot issues that cost him the match.
So, we cannot use Madrid and Rome to state he is not fit enough to compete in 7 best of 5 matches, especially with days off. He clearly feels he is, the only thing he is not sure of is his foot holding up.
Nadal - GOAT
Hall of Fame
Totally agree. I think his level was almost there against Shapo. He was still a little rusty but he seems to be getting there.
His issue lately has been the backhand and he seems to be working on it. Hopefully it will be sorted by RG 2nd week. Apart from that only the foot needs to hold up.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
You will know more about his game than me, I have only seen highlights, so really only the key moments.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I wasn't impressed by Nadal's form in Madrid. He would have lost in straights to Alcatraz had the youngster not gotten injured on his ankle.
Really impossible to know Nadal's form in the clay season. He was rusty in Madrid and then Rome when he was supposed to turn it on, his foot went lame.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Rafa will have a couple of rounds to get himself into form, I mean, if he struggles against this Stan and Fognini then it would be time to call it a day for this year.
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
Clay is not for him, he should better skip clay season .his clay game looks so worse compared to his hc game
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
It's weird. Maybe AO was a goodbye slam for him. I was surprised that he won it and his foot held up.
But if you look historically, his foot/knee have NOT been holding up for hardcourts and grass for the past several years. He gets injured playing consecutive tournaments on those surfaces.
Unfortunately, now however, the same has started happening on clay. This is the first time I recall that he hasn't been able to finish even 2 consecutive clay tournaments without injury, even after coming from a long lay off.
Nadal still has the tennis, but his body seems to have given up. 21 slams is pretty darn good, and even if he retires soon, he would be in top 3/top 5 of any GOAT conversation in any era. So no use pushing it IMO.
Ultimately, it's poetic justice. Fed came first and set GOAT benchmarks. Then Nadal came and ultimately surpassed him. Next came Novak who will eventually will leave both behind, and deservedly so..
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Honestly, this year, I only saw Nadal play tennis in Acapulco, and he looked fine. And saw some highlights of him in Madrid, the Alcaraz match, and in Rome, the Shapovalov match. I personally cannot from very little I have seen of him know if he is done or not, but this is Nadal, it has to end at some point, sure, but I wouldn't just count him out in Paris of all places just yet.
In regards to who wins the slam race...maybe Djokovic does it, maybe he doesn't, at this stage, these three have achieved so much, it is ridiculous to think of them as anything but GOATs.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
@Forgive Me Father -- where did you go?
Larry Duff
Legend
If he can't beat that mug then forget it
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
D
Deleted member 791948
Guest
Nadal could end up being in a better position to win RG 2023 than RG 2022.
Because he lost early at Madrid and Rome 2022, whereas he may go far or win Rome 2023.
Because he lost early at Madrid and Rome 2022, whereas he may go far or win Rome 2023.
