Nadal will never reach no 1 again.
 

Unlike others I'm not going to write the guy off and I hope he does manage another three or four seasons. However, even if he does manage another slam or even two they will only be on clay and he will be more of a supporting cast member in the other biggies. I can see him floating in the top 10 but it's hard to imagine him recaptuing the top spot ever again.

You know what I am not bothered about Rafa getting the number one rank. I was happy for many years when he was number two. Rafa doesn't like being number one anyway. He finds it pressurising, unlike Roger and Novak who love being number one. Will Rafa be back anyway? At this moment in time, I have serious doubts that he is able to carry on as a tennis player full stop. Both emotionally and physically. So, I don't think he will be number one again either. He has been there, done that and didn't enjoy it. He has said recently that he isn't bothered with rankings anyway. Poker is his new love and life.

wont be no1 again ?..thats what they said about federer in 2008 and again in 2010..

lets see what happens with nadal when he plays again (suppose i should say if and when).

Been burned too many times with writing him off but it's pretty safe to say he won't get back to no 1 for another 6-7 months at least, that's because he's too far behind in the rankings and won't be gaining any points until Wimbledon.

I have a feeling he will end 1 more year at #1 at some point, but that is it. It will be difficult for him getting back to #1 because:

1. His own slight decline and Djokovic's improvements mean Djokovic has surpassed him in current ability. I still think a healthy and in form Nadal will beat Djokovic on clay or grass more often than not, but 70% of the tour is hard courts anyway, and at this point Djokovic has the edge there. I dont believe Murray has surpassed a healthy Nadal in ability yet, but he too could reach that point, and likely will at some point with continued improvement and Nadal's likely continued decline. Murray is only 1 year younger but is obviously following a different career path.

2. He will find it harder to stay healthy for a whole year. I do think this year could have been a chance to return to #1, or atleast before the nightmarish Wimbledon, but then he gets injured and missed half the year, and almost falls to #5 as a result. He has always been more of an injury risk than most, but that is probably even stronger now.

Depends on his health, if he has several more somewhat injury-free seasons It would be hard to bet against him reaching #1 again at some point (even if he doesn't finish the year #1).

It'll be tough, I agree, but I think it's WAY too early to say that Nadal will NEVER be #1 again. Never is a very strong word, especially when it comes to Nadal and tennis.

Nadal could potentially be #1 again, it's just not happening in the near future.

Current ATP Points :
1 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 12,920
2 Federer, Roger (SUI) 10,265
3 Murray, Andy (GBR) 8,000
4 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 6,795
5 Ferrer, David (ESP) 6,430

Senor Nadal will most certainly push himself to move up.

Nadal was ranked 4th in March of 2010.
Nadal was ranked 1st in June of 2010.

In 2013 Nadal is defending a 2nd Round at Wimbledon and Nothing at the US Open. While Djokovic is defending a finals appearance at 3 slams. And after a LONG slam drought, Federer is defending WIMBLEDON, and Murray (the man who lost to Nadal in THREE slams in 2011) is defending the US Open and a Finals appearance at Wimbledon.

Good luck to the OP....

What about before Wimby? He's defending over 5000 points in the first 6 months of the year.

Nadal will be ranked 20 something at the end of 2013, don't get your hopes up.

[quote=Sabratha;7015266]Nadal will be ranked 20 something at the end of 2013, don't get your hopes up.[/QUOTE]

That goes the same for you Bud.....:twisted:

Won't have too long to find out. The next clay season will be mighty interesting. According to some he can win everything there on one leg but I think it'll be a lot harder than that if he's not fully fit. Just a 5% drop off could see him looking mighty glum.

I'm surprised Nadal is somehow in the top 4 still, despite not playing the second half of the season. This is both good and bad, since he has to really bring it for the first half, and then continue that dominance for the second half, if he wants any hope of regaining #1.

[quote=beast of mallorca;7015335]We will have to just wait and see.

So I take it you don't think Nadal is winning Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona.... Because even if he wins nothing more than clay, your prediction of 20 is mathematically impossible.

Remember when he came back in 2010 with renewed purpose, and those new RPM blast strings that took the tour by surprise for at least 8 months and stormed back to #1 with his most dominanat year on tour.

Put I hope in front of the title and it would be more accurate

I think he will win a clay Master, get to quarters of Roland Garros and come up short, and then call it a year. He will end the year ranked either #20 or something around there.