Will Ralph win AO 2013?

[batz]

For the record I think Noel will win the AO, with Roger as a good outside bet.

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by Razoredge

I think Nadal will play at a whole new level in 2013, I don't think Murray/Djokovic will be able to stop him. Most likely Prime Federer would be the only person that's able to stop 2013 Nadal, too bad he's gone.

Delusional *******s still trying to keep hope alive.

[monfed]

Originally Posted by batz

He had 8 and squandered about half of them. So - back to the question I asked - you think that these missed match points in best of 3 matches have more of a bearing on Murray's chances of winning the AO than his USO and OG wins? Really?

I see your point but the way he squandered MPs against Djokovic was disheartening,wasnt it? Not so much the ones he blew against Jerzy Janowicz.
The next time he plays Djoker he's gonna wonder what it's gonna take to win.

Murray's never been short on game,he should've beaten Djoker at AO this year, if they meet again then the missed MPs in their most recent encounter will haunt him since that will be fresher in his mind than his USO win.

[monfed]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

There are only so many comebacks one can make before things just start to get tougher and tougher. Last I checked, Djokovic, Murray and Del Potro all have been extremely active while Nadal has been on the shelf. Furthermore, they all share a common trait. They've all crushed Nadal in Slams and they've all won Slams and they're all younger than Nadal and have far less wear and tear on their bodies. Nadal's going to have to EARN anything he gets with these guys around who are improving and getting stronger mentally. These are his main foes and Nadal hasn't had much success trying to beat Murray and Djokovic back to back. Just to beat 1 of them takes a formidable effort...try beating the both of them. Even Federer struggles to beat them back to back.

Delpo won't be able to hit Ralph off the court ala USO 09,Berdych is mentally not quite there against Ralph either. Murray's mental level is always a question mark so its down to Djokovic to stop him.

[NatF]

Originally Posted by batz

I get where you are coming from mate, but he was 0-3 in best of 5 matches against his opponent. He was reduced to tears by the same opponent, on the same court, in front of millions of people just 4 weeks earlier. IMO it takes a bit of mental strength to come back from that.

It took mental strength to start the match strongly without nerves, I'll give you that. But once he was reeling off game after game I don't think it was much of a mental battle personally. The US Open is by far the better example I think.

I feel Nole is the favorite with Andy and Roger in second/third, the order will depend on how good Roger's form is at the start of 2013. He dropped off a bit after Cincinnatti until the final two rounds of the WTF.

[Razoredge]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Delusional *******s still trying to keep hope alive.

Not a *******, I'm just not dumb enough to think that this crazy guy won't be starving after spending half a year off tennis courts.

[kalyan4fedever]

He can win if he gets enough practice by beating the players in first rounds, that way his confidence can be up and the only player i see stopping nadal anyway is djokovic or his knees. But i am still not sure how his knees will be before AO or whether he plays full tourni staying perfectly fit. It can go 3 ways , either he decides not to play AO at the last moment, he will play but retire in mid rounds, he will play fully with no knee problem and get to finals.

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by monfed

Delpo won't be able to hit Ralph off the court ala USO 09,Berdych is mentally not quite there against Ralph either. Murray's mental level is always a question mark so its down to Djokovic to stop him.

Keep trying to convince yourself. There is a shift happening in tennis as we speak. The Federer-Nadal era of domination is coming to an end. Neither of Federer nor Nadal are going to take out Murray-Djokovic back to back. Then add in the second tier of threats including Del Potro and Berdych. If you actually watch tennis at all, you'll realize that Federer is losing to both Del Potro and Berdych recently. And you'll also see that Nadal is having a lot of difficulty with these same players, not to mention having great difficulty in beating Murray, let alone Djokovic.
People say Berdych is Nadal's pigeon. Even so, Berdych was 1 point away from being up 2 sets to 0 on Nadal at the AO. The same Berdych who stretched Nadal to 3 sets in Miami. As I said, analyze the matches and then factor in that Nadal and Federer are not spring chickens. The competition is intense and there are more threats to these guys than just Djokovic alone.

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by kalyan4fedever

He can win if he gets enough practice by beating the players in first rounds, that way his confidence can be up and the only player i see stopping nadal anyway is djokovic or his knees. But i am still not sure how his knees will be before AO or whether he plays full tourni staying perfectly fit. It can go 3 ways , either he decides not to play AO at the last moment, he will play but retire in mid rounds, he will play fully with no knee problem and get to finals.

Berdych, Del Potro, Federer, Murray, Tsonga, Verdasco, Ferrer, Isner are all more than capable of taking Nadal out of the AO.

[AnotherTennisProdigy]

IMO a semi-final run would be an extremely successful run, quarter final would be good too. I'm keeping my expectations low, I think he's going to start off slow and then pick up pace as we get to the clay season.

[batz]

Originally Posted by monfed

I see your point but the way he squandered MPs against Djokovic was disheartening,wasnt it? Not so much the ones he blew against Jerzy Janowicz.
The next time he plays Djoker he's gonna wonder what it's gonna take to win.

Murray's never been short on game,he should've beaten Djoker at AO this year, if they meet again then the missed MPs in their most recent encounter will haunt him since that will be fresher in his mind than his USO win.

Bloody right it was! But he'd just won the USO; so it doesn't matter

Listen - of course I wish Murray had taken those MP and beaten Noel in Shanghai - but I don't think it will have much bearing on their future matches.

[Razoredge]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Berdych, Del Potro, Federer, Murray, Tsonga, Verdasco, Ferrer, Isner are all more than capable of taking Nadal out of the AO.

Wrong, 2013 Nadal is too powerful for those guys. He'll beat them all handily in straights if he plays them in 2013.

[kalyan4fedever]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Berdych, Del Potro, Federer, Murray, Tsonga, Verdasco, Ferrer, Isner are all more than capable of taking Nadal out of the AO.

we'll see 1.5 months only till AO.

[Clarky21]

OP is such a pathetic troll. He hates Nadal so much he believes that starting threads like this will jinx him.

[firepanda]

I can't see the problem in Nadal's lay-off. It shouldn't be a problem if he's practicing correctly and doesn't have various body parts giving him problems. I mean, he's not a rechargeable battery, so don't expect him to win it, but it's not a race either. After a bit of match practice, he should be back to top 4 form.

[NadalAgassi]

OP is a renowned Nadal hater so this is obviously a jinx thread (which wont work, if Nadal doesnt do well it will be because he has played no tennis in 6 months, not because of a silly thread). That said I do agree on one thing, if Nadal ends up in Federers half he will probably make the final, and I would even favor him over Murray in a slam head to head still.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by psYcon

Who coined the term Ralph for Nadal?? Was it Brad Gilbert?

And there was me thinking that Gorecki, here, inspired me to join with my username and photo as is.

Oddly, I loved seeing Monfed term Nadal as Ralph, and that people are now used to such a wonderful name for the infamous bull...from Spain.

[zagor]

I don't think Nadal would be able beat (if he draws works out that way) Murray and Novak back-to-back to win the title, that would be too much to ask after such a long layoff.

However, he'll definitely beat Fed if they meet in SF (irregardless of their respective forms in the tourney prior to the match) and Berdych in QF.

Obviously I'd also favour him over Ferrer and Delpo in a potential QF match-up but those two have a puncher's chance IMO (especially taking into account Nadal's probable rustiness).

People who think he's due for an upset need to wake up, the conditions are too suitable for Nadal, his game too hard/uncomfortable to play against for the vast majority of the field (I don't think most people on this forum realize how hard it is too attack Nadal's heavy balls) for him to lose early even if he's rusty and far from his best.

[monfed]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

OP is a renowned Nadal hater so this is obviously a jinx thread (which wont work, if Nadal doesnt do well it will be because he has played no tennis in 6 months, not because of a silly thread). That said I do agree on one thing, if Nadal ends up in Federers half he will probably make the final, and I would even favor him over Murray in a slam head to head still.

Why would you prefer Ralph over Murray at AO(Murray's favourite slam)? Last I checked Ralph got quite badly demolished at AO 2010,isnt it? Or is your memory weakening as you age,professor?

[monfed]

Originally Posted by zagor

I don't think Nadal would be able beat (if he draws works out that way) Murray and Novak back-to-back to win the title, that would be too much to ask after such a long layoff.

However, he'll definitely beat Fed if they meet in SF (irregardless of their respective forms in the tourney prior to the match) and Berdych in QF.

Obviously I'd also favour him over Ferrer and Delpo in a potential QF match-up but those two have a puncher's chance IMO (especially taking into account Nadal's probable rustiness).

People who think he's due for an upset need to wake up, the conditions are too suitable for Nadal, his game too hard/uncomfortable to play against for the vast majority of the field (I don't think most people on this forum realize how hard it is too attack Nadal's heavy balls) for him to lose early even if he's rusty and far from his best.

Nah,Ralph will be thrusted into Fed's draw as usual and he will make the final atleast. On a good day he might actually get the W against Djokovic/Murray. Nothing has changed since his extended vacation.