Something I noticed

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by TheTruth

It actually seems the other way around to me. Many of the Federer fans on this board seem to be teenagers or in college. Probably the appeal is based more on character traits and the things we admire about people, moreso than on groundstrokes.

No, Nadal fans are younger kids who see Nadal as some kind of a superhero (they will see the truth about the cheater when they grow up). Tennis fans, the ones who actually play the sport, usually cheer for Federer.

[SirGounder]

Originally Posted by OddJack

Well, younger kids are into show offs more, you know.

Like they are into sagging shorts, Lifted trucks, wife beater sweaters, pimp hub caps...things like that.

Ever seen a plumber? Definitely older dude with sagging shorts. I thought lifted trucks was a young guns thing until I moved to Vegas. There are so many retirees with huge trucks. I'm not sure what a wife beater sweater is and now that I think about it, I'm not sure what pimp hub caps are either.

I'm 25 and consider myself to be a part of the younger generation. I can appreciate Nadal but am by and far a Fed fan. I can see younger fans gravitating toward Nadal. His style is different, he wears the bright colors, and his game is more modern and a bit easier to emulate.

[namelessone]

It's because of marketing.

Nadal was marketed as a "rebel" by Nike with the sleeveless shirts and capris in contrast the already established classic image of his main rival, Roger Federer(who had already dumped his locks by 2005). Youngsters will automatically go towards anyone that looks like he challenges the establishment somewhat, or at least one that looks "cool". Of course those guys also need to be succesful, not just have a "cool" look.

Roger himself was made to look like a "rebel", not like Nadal, but through a campaign with other up and comers, with the message "younger,faster,stronger" and it's no coincidence that this "New balls please" campaign was made back in 2002 with players whose style would appeal to young people(and because they were young themselves).Roddick,Hewitt,Grosjean pose with their caps on backwards, Roger,Haas,Guga all have long hair.

In marketing, you're not selling their tennis, but their image. Sure, their tennis does matter in the overall image but only to an extent. Most kids couldn't tell you what types of strokes Nadal uses but they like the fact that he never gives up(heroics and all that). A lot of youngstersthat became Fed fans when he was coming up couldn't give you technical details about his game but they were amazed at the ease with which he could do certain things on court.

The main reason why youngsters today gravitate towards Nadal(and partly Djokovic, you will see) doesn't have to do with tennis but with the fact that they are young and succesful, something which they wish to be. They can identify more(and maybe seek to emulate) with the 24-25 year old succesful guys than with the past his prime 30 year old Fed(who has kids of his own).

Trust me, if Harrison or Raonic blow up big time, taking out big scalps along the way(preferably by winning slams), Nadal and Djokovic will be abandoned by the younger generation. As sad as it is, Nadal and Djokovic are the most succesful youngsters(or that still have a "young" image in marketing) that we have nowadays.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by Headshotterer

Why do younger tennis fans(like young kids) support Nadal over Federer more? And why do older fans support Federer more?

If that observation is true, it is probably because the kids tend to imitate the player, who is most dominant at the time, during which they are growing, or is marketed, to reach them as an audience.

[syke]

You guys got it all wrong... It's their women... The difference is night and day... No kiddo will drool over a motherly figure... Unless they are still in between the weaning process.

[namelessone]

Originally Posted by syke

You guys got it all wrong... It's their women... The difference is night and day... No kiddo will drool over a motherly figure... Unless they are still in between the weaning process.

By this measure, every single teenager out there should be a Roddick fan.

[syke]

Originally Posted by namelessone

By this measure, every single teenager out there should be a Roddick fan.

Nah... His rep was down the drain, when he dated Sharapova... It's impossible for Brooklyn to turn fortunes around.

[monfed]

Originally Posted by syke

You guys got it all wrong... It's their women... The difference is night and day... No kiddo will drool over a motherly figure... Unless they are still in between the weaning process.

Mirka is an extremely gorgeous woman with one of the prettiest faces in the history of tennis, even though she's put on weight, expected since she's a doting mother of two younglings. If she just drops some weight(not her top priority and understandably so) which isn't hard to do these days given all the advanced fitness techniques, she'd be a knockout.


Xisca has a manface. Yea it's really true. Myself? I prefer feminine women,thx.

[namelessone]

Originally Posted by syke

Nah... His rep was down the drain, when he dated Sharapova... It's impossible for Brooklyn to turn fortunes around.

I don't know, I believe in her ability to turn fortunes. Or heads at least.

[monfed]

Brooklyn's got a great figure, but her face is like 4/10. No,thank you.

[nadal_slam_king]

Originally Posted by OddJack

Well, younger kids are into show offs more, you know.

Like they are into sagging shorts, Lifted trucks, wife beater sweaters, pimp hub caps...things like that.

Maybe older people are into show-offs, pathetic fashion accessories and a special 16 cardigan after winning 2009 Wimbledon (at the expense of Roddick).

[CMM]

Originally Posted by monfed

Mirka is an extremely gorgeous woman with one of the prettiest faces in the history of tennis, even though she's put on weight, expected since she's a doting mother of two younglings. If she just drops some weight(not her top priority and understandably so) which isn't hard to do these days given all the advanced fitness techniques, she'd be a knockout.

I don't have a problem with Mirka's weight but using the kids as an excuse is lame.
Even you say it's not that hard to get in shape (especially for a woman who could afford any fitness equipment and any kind of diet).
Imagine if every woman with kids would think like that...

[nadal_slam_king]

Originally Posted by namelessone

It's because of marketing.

Nadal was marketed as a "rebel" by Nike with the sleeveless shirts and capris in contrast the already established classic image of his main rival, Roger Federer(who had already dumped his locks by 2005). Youngsters will automatically go towards anyone that looks like he challenges the establishment somewhat, or at least one that looks "cool". Of course those guys also need to be succesful, not just have a "cool" look.

Nike hasn't let Nadal wear sleeveless shirts and capris since 2008. Nadal has worn simple tennis clothes since then.

[nadal_slam_king]

Originally Posted by namelessone

I don't know, I believe in her ability to turn fortunes. Or heads at least.

Kate Upton owns Decker. Roddick chose wrong (or too early).

[nadal_slam_king]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

Older people have more class than kids.

And soon they'll be all dead, and the new 'older people' will be Nadal's fans.

The real reason is that Federer has copied the traditional text book. Nadal has invented a new one. The older people live in the past and therefore prefer tennis players with the text book style.

[monfed]

Originally Posted by CMM

I don't have a problem with Mirka's weight but using the kids as an excuse is lame.
Even you say it's not that hard to get in shape (especially for a woman who could afford any fitness equipment and any kind of diet).
Imagine if every woman with kids would think like that...

Look lady, losing weight is easIER not EASY because you still have to go out and train even with the advanced training methods.
You can't just sit on your a** all day like some Nadalettes do here in that damn Ralph News Thread and yap yap yap about Ralph. So don't give me that pompous BS about how it's an excuse to workout for a doting mother of 2. Man, pretentious *******s get on my nerve sometimes.

Second, losing weight is not her top priority,heck it's not even a priority for her. Believe it or not for most housewives, there are issues that take higher priority apart from looking like a damn doll 24/7. I mean what are you like,12?As long as she's not obese/unhealthy which she's not, she's doing just fine. And many of her admirers(like myself) are totally fine with it because I love her face which is still pretty as ever. Unless ofcourse it gets badly disfigured/burnt, god forbid that never happens...

Third,you said you don't have a problem with Mirka's weight, yet you whined about it for an entire paragraph. Whatever, go play in the rain now or moonball in the practice courts.

[Frying Pan Forehand]

Originally Posted by DjokovicForTheWin

Kids are stupider

Not more than you.

[Frying Pan Forehand]

Originally Posted by CMM

I don't have a problem with Mirka's weight but using the kids as an excuse is lame.
Even you say it's not that hard to get in shape (especially for a woman who could afford any fitness equipment and any kind of diet).
Imagine if every woman with kids would think like that...

You don't have how to understand, im sure you are not a mother...so why do you talk again?

[Frying Pan Forehand]

Originally Posted by CMM

I don't have a problem with Mirka's weight but using the kids as an excuse is lame.
Even you say it's not that hard to get in shape (especially for a woman who could afford any fitness equipment and any kind of diet).
Imagine if every woman with kids would think like that...

And you are a young one too i suppose, when people get older they realize that looks are just not that important(or important at all)

[CMM]

Originally Posted by monfed

Look lady, losing weight is easIER not EASY because you still have to go out and train even with the advanced training methods.
You can't just sit on your a** all day like some Nadalettes do here in that damn Ralph News Thread and yap yap yap about Ralph. So don't give me that pompous BS about how it's an excuse to workout for a doting mother of 2. Man, pretentious *******s get on my nerve sometimes.

Second, losing weight is not her top priority,heck it's not even a priority for her. Believe it or not for most housewives, there are issues that take higher priority apart from looking like a damn doll 24/7. I mean what are you like,12?As long as she's not obese/unhealthy which she's not, she's doing just fine. And many of her admirers(like myself) are totally fine with it because I love her face which is still pretty as ever. Unless ofcourse it gets badly disfigured/burnt, god forbid that never happens...

Third,you said you don't have a problem with Mirka's weight, yet you whined about it for an entire paragraph. Whatever, go play in the rain now or moonball in the practice courts.

You said she would be a knockout if she would drop some weight, so you obviously think there is an issue. Otherwise, why even mention it? It was you who brought up this topic.
You can't expect people to judge her looks by imagining how she would look like if she were slim. That's not how things work, sadly.
Not that she cares. If she's got other priorities then it must be because she's happy with the way she looks.
As I said before, you can be a mother and work out, if you're interested in doing so. Being a mother is not an excuse.