Nadal News

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

If Nadal decides to retire this year, would it be that much of a disaster ? 1/2 of the year 2012, Nadal was out. and it just seem to me that tennis fans didn't really miss him that much.
Murray kind of took over and provided the excitement for the 2nd 1/2 of 2012.

He's the second most popular player on the ATP tour, so yes it would be a disaster. Especially since it would be so sudden and unexpected.

Not true. I won't explain why since it's a fantasy of yours that Nadal is unpopular, and that no one would miss him if he up and quit. Keep living in your fantasy if you wish.

So you believe Murray is as big of a star and as popular as Nadal is? What a load of rubbish.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

He's the second most popular player on the ATP tour, so yes it would be a disaster. Especially since it would be so sudden and unexpected.

Not true. I won't explain why since it's a fantasy of yours that Nadal is unpopular, and that no one would miss him if he up and quit. Keep living in your fantasy if you wish.

So you believe Murray is as big of a star and as popular as Nadal is? What a load of rubbish.

No, Murray isn't as exciting as Nadal, I agree there. but Nadal was never really a super star on Hard courts. he was mainly clay court players. and Americans here in the states just don't see him that much so they don't seem to miss him when he isn't here.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

If Nadal decides to retire this year, would it be that much of a disaster ? .

It would be much worse than that. The equivalent of a tennis apocalypse and millions of broken hearts

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

It would be much worse than that. The equivalent of a tennis apocalypse and millions of broken hearts

What if he comes back and he stinks because he lost a step on his speed due to his bad knees ? Would you still love him then ?

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

What if he comes back and he stinks because he lost a step on his speed due to his bad knees ? Would you still love him then ?

The only thing that matters is for him to come back. We'll deal with the rest as it unfolds.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

No, Murray isn't as exciting as Nadal, I agree there. but Nadal was never really a super star on Hard courts. he was mainly clay court players. and Americans here in the states just don't see him that much so they don't seem to miss him when he isn't here.

I've got some news for you: the US is not the world.

Despite the fact that you can't see it, Nadal is a hugely popular player. But that is definitely NOT the only reason why it would be terrible for tennis if he retired. Which is unnecessary talk IMO anyway for now.

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[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

It would be much worse than that. The equivalent of a tennis apocalypse and millions of broken hearts

Oh my.

When Borg, who was arguably a more popular athlete than Nadal relative to their respective eras, retired, it wasn't a tennis apocalypse. Was it shocking? Yes. Were millions of hearts broken? Sure, why not. Did tennis move on? You betcha. And it's the same with Federer and Djokovic. Both, particularly Fed, are immensely popular, but their retirements aren't going to ravage the game.

[vernonbc]

Is Rafa a popular tennis player? You betcha. Two tournaments in S America are fighting fiercely to get him on board. The Brazil tournament wants him desperately and Viña del Mar continues to hold a wildcard and 1.2 million dollars for him. Chrisstti, could you get to that one if Rafa's going to play? Fingers crossed for you.

[rafan]

I don' care if he loses the lot this year I just want to see him play so for heaven sake come back Rafa. The top three think they are the ultimate at present but they aint!

[rafan]

Originally Posted by Carsomyr

Oh my.

When Borg, who was arguably a more popular athlete than Nadal relative to their respective eras, retired, it wasn't a tennis apocalypse. Was it shocking? Yes. Were millions of hearts broken? Sure, why not. Did tennis move on? You betcha. And it's the same with Federer and Djokovic. Both, particularly Fed, are immensely popular, but their retirements aren't going to ravage the game.

Oh but it did ravage the game when Borg retired. Many of us got sick and tired of the Sampras style and it has taken all this time for many of us to come back and why? There was a new guy on the block called Rafael Nadal who gave us back the magic that was lost when Borg, Jimmy and Mac went

[reversef]

Originally Posted by rafan

Oh but it did ravage the game when Borg retired. Many of us got sick and tired of the Sampras style and it has taken all this time for many of us to come back and why? There was a new guy on the block called Rafael Nadal who gave us back the magic that was lost when Borg, Jimmy and Mac went

Borg had already retired when I started watching tennis, but he and Vilas were always the only players who made me think "Too bad that I was not born a few years earlier".

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by vernonbc

Is Rafa a popular tennis player? You betcha. Two tournaments in S America are fighting fiercely to get him on board. The Brazil tournament wants him desperately and Viña del Mar continues to hold a wildcard and 1.2 million dollars for him. Chrisstti, could you get to that one if Rafa's going to play? Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks!

Yes, I could get there easily, it's like 1 hour and a half away. I would definitely be there if he came. Hell, I think Id be there if he came to Argentina. Brazil though, is a little too far...

[rafan]

Originally Posted by reversef

Borg had already retired when I started watching tennis, but he and Vilas were always the only players who made me think "Too bad that I was not born a few years earlier".

If you can get hold of any of those Borg/Mac matches (they did some recordings over Christmas on Eurosport) then you are in for a treat. I was really shocked as to how darn good they still are even in today's scenario.

[reversef]

Originally Posted by rafan

If you can get hold of any of those Borg/Mac matches (they did some recordings over Christmas on Eurosport) then you are in for a treat. I was really shocked as to how darn good they still are even in today's scenario.

Never watched an entire match, but just some parts. It must have been thrilling at that time. The contrast in style was complete, and I found myself enjoying Mac's game a lot (not only against Borg). If I'm too young for Borg, Mac was still there when I started watching tennis. I hated his game. But his game is like fine wine: it gets better with age, and you enjoy it more years later.

[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by rafan

Oh but it did ravage the game when Borg retired. Many of us got sick and tired of the Sampras style and it has taken all this time for many of us to come back and why? There was a new guy on the block called Rafael Nadal who gave us back the magic that was lost when Borg, Jimmy and Mac went

FYI, Mcenroe and Connors retired long after Borg. While Sampras' dominance created a bit of a lull, Agassi is definitely one of the most popular tennis players of all time along with Borg.

Who is this "many of us" anyway? What specific percentage of tennis fans do you speak for?

[vernonbc]

Originally Posted by Carsomyr

While Sampras' dominance created a bit of a lull, Agassi is definitely one of the most popular tennis players of all time along with Borg.

Agassi may have been one of the most popular tennis players in the United States but trust me, he wasn't all that beloved in the rest of the world. Borg was.

[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by vernonbc

Agassi may have been one of the most popular tennis players in the United States but trust me, he wasn't all that beloved in the rest of the world. Borg was.

Okay. You're right. No one watched tennis from 1982-2004, a period that will be known as the dark ages of tennis. God save the sport when Nadal finally hangs up his racket.

[oneness]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

If Nadal decides to retire this year, would it be that much of a disaster ? 1/2 of the year 2012, Nadal was out. and it just seem to me that tennis fans didn't really miss him that much.
Murray kind of took over and provided the excitement for the 2nd 1/2 of 2012.

Originally Posted by Crisstti

I've got some news for you: the US is not the world.

Despite the fact that you can't see it, Nadal is a hugely popular player. But that is definitely NOT the only reason why it would be terrible for tennis if he retired. Which is unnecessary talk IMO anyway for now.

Rafa was very much missed at the US open. People who attend the event know it.
Hear Tom perrotto's comments.

http://www.tennis.com/photos-video/2.../#.UOoQ6Ie9KSM

http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2012/0...-the-u-s-open/

[Crisstti]

Rafael Nadal visits the club where he started tennis

Former world number one Rafael Nadal recently visited the tennis club in his home city Manacor where he started playing tennis as a kid.

The Spaniard wrote on his facebook page, “Visiting the club where I grew up. Here I took my first steps into the world of tennis.”

Nadal started to play tennis at a very young age. According to Wikipedia, his uncle Toni Nadal, who has been coaching him from the very start until now, introduced him to tennis for the first time when he was just three years old.

The Spanish boy won an under-12 regional tennis championship when he was just eight years old. After four years, he captured Spanish and European Under-12 titles.
Nadal was also a very good football player till that time but then his father made him choose one sport and he opted for tennis. The Spaniard once said in an interview, "I chose tennis. Football had to stop straight away."

The Spaniard not only started playing tennis at a very young age but also won many laurels. At the age of 15 years, he defeated 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash in an exhibition match in 2001. He turned professional during the same year. Nadal participated in just two ITF junior events, reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon Juniors category in 2002 and guiding Spain to victory over US in junior Davis Cup two years later in his second event.

When Roger Federer was considered almost unbeatable, Nadal defeated him in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32 of the Sony Ericsson Open in his very first meeting with the Swiss Maestro, being just 17 years old at that time.

Nadal became the youngest player to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 2003. When he was 19-year-old, the Spaniard won his first Grand Slam at the 2005 French Open, when he was making his first appearance at the Roland Garros.

The Spanish star has won 11-Grand Slams until now and is considered one of the best tennis players of all-time. He has not played any tournament in the last six months and has already withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open but the 26-year-old is expected to make comeback with a bang during the clay court season.

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael...icolo7727.html