Lets be frank with this Nadal scenario, an opinion...
 

Basically, this advanced clay-courter had some trouble with his knees after being embarrassed by someone qualifer ranked #1000 at Wimbledon and then he bunks the rest of the 2012 which has been blighted by toys out the pram mentality from Nadal - he kicked a fuss saying he won't come back to Madrid unless they change the colour, withdrew vs Murray in Miami, played no tournaments in February and didn't like paying tax for pre-Wimbledon Queens practice.

OK. Great. But, now...

He says his knees are fine, but because poor little Rafa has a little cough and a runny nose he decides to skip the first Major of 2013, 4 weeks in advance, simply because he has no prep?

Well that BS, there's about 5 tournaments from now till the AO if he's forgotten how to hit a ball over the net. He has plenty of time to practice.

It's either he lying or he's listened to PseudoFed's request to continue withdrawing from tournaments.

Why would you withdraw from a tournament 4 weeks before it starts, citing a cold? Toni Nadal saying its irrational to return as AO is 'best of 5' just demonstrates the hypocritical selective scheduling from the Nadal camp - would they skip RG if he only played Monte Carlo 3 weeks before? Surely you get fined for skipping mandatory tournaments on this trolling level?

This is the new Rafael Nadal people: 2 steps slower, a inch bit more cocky, selective with his (non-existent) schedule, flirting with tournament directors during the off-season of his future appearance then withdrawing from tournaments every other day like he's selling MJ assets.

Once a clay court specialist, always a clay court specialist.

I hope someone like Murray, Berdych or Isner raise their clay court level to semi-GOAT and make a match of it on the red dirt.

What insight you have brought to this overlooked subject, thank you for starting this thread.

Really enjoyed that opening paragraph

Most epic post I have read in a long long while :)

ERROR 404: Logic not found.

Whatever the state of his knees are currently, it is essential that he not get off on the wrong foot (no pun intended) in his comeback. He is exactly right....a best of five tournament so soon would be tempting fate, imo. What is the point of playing it? He's not going to win it...just stay home and come back slowly and safely. Nadal knows his career is on shaky ground.

This about covers my thoughts on this thread. There is no reason to rip Nadal like the OP did. I don't like the guy either but there is no denying how talented he is.

It seems Nadal being absent drive his delusional haters even more crazy than when he's winning slams...

Go figure.

And once a hard court specialist, always a hard court specialist. What does that even mean?

One thing I can say is Nadal NEVER missed clay season but have missed grass and awfully a lot on hard court. For him, tennis doesn't exist if there's no clay.

I hope to be wrong, but it is looking a bit similar to Sampras post 2002 US OPEN.

He said he wanted to rest and not play the rest of the season ( 2002 season ), but wanted to prepare hard for the Australian Open ( 2003 AusOpen). Then he said he had no time to prepare the AusOpen but that he would come back in February. Then he said he wasn't ready so he would come back for the clay season ( 2003 clay season). Then he said he didn't feel like it but that he would prepare for Wimbledon ( 2003 Wimbledon ), and then he realized not even playing Wimbledon was attractive, pleasing enough for him at that stage.

He simply realized he didn't want to play tennis anymore, and that was it.


Nadal is five years younger than Sampras (when that happened to him) and of course he has knee problems that obviously are playing a big role here, but.......I don't know, for me it is looking a bit similar and I hope to be wrong, but Nadal may be feeling that he just no longer has THE DESIRE to win (and all of what it takes).

The desire to win or the desire to fight hard to get the win? Because Nadal has to fight and grind to win. That's his style.

All players have to push themselves incredibly hard trying to be the best they can be and better still. You must have a great DESIRE to push yourself that hard. Once you feel you don't have it anymore (the desire, the thrilling) you are lost, nothing you can do about it.

Some players get to that stage at 30-something, others at 30, other at 25....(it depends on many different factors).

OP

You're funny :)

Nadal is chasing history. .. Hes only 6 slams from the tying the record. 3 slams from being tied in 2nd place.. If he could physically play at a high enough level to be out there and a threat at the big tournaments, he would be out there

Nadal came into the pros already having physical issues and leg/foot problems. . Its amazing hes even had the career he did considering all the physical issues hes had. He wasn't gifted with almost perfect health like Roger.

Compare Nadal's opponents,
Djokovic was a pro known to quit in slams because he had a sore throat.

(stick thin) Murray in his early years use to outplay his opponent 95% of the match but lose 6-1 in the 5th because of cramp.

Don't think Nadal is the first player in the world to have physical issues. You work on it and makes you stronger.

Overly-cautious Nadal swallows a banana without giving it a sufficient number of chews and calls the trainer on court, this is just another one of his overly cautious antics.

You're right, there's no denying it. My only thought is: what makes him so much better than others who have overcome much more adversity than a stomach virus? I just don't get it. If he doesn't really care, then so be it. It just makes him look arrogant, and above the sport. There's plenty of underdogs (which Nadal would be in this case at this point in time) who have gone on to win a grand slam. A stomach virus is a weak excuse, and I know he hasn't played competitive tennis in months, but I'm sorry but if you love the sport, you will play even if you know that you will not win. That's what the love of the game is all about. Nadal doesn't have that.

Its a little bit worse having constant knee and foot injuries in tennis then it is to have a "sore throats" or fitness issues. You can fix your fitness pretty easy (especially today) but its difficult to keep your limbs going from underneath you without surgery, rest, and lots of rehab

Well then he needs to consider his future in the sport if he's only going to be a part time clay-courter and be a little more honest with his sponsors and fans if he's withdrawing from the biggest tournaments in the sport with a sore throat 4 weeks before its begun.

Just glad I saw him live while I had the chance. Must make the effort and get to RG this year.

This year's clay court season will be dominated by Djoker and Murray. Nadal is out of the picture. He probably won't even make it to quarter finals now.