Nadal nervous about coming back!

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by RAFA2005RG

nethawkwenatchee, also, Uncle Toni said during the Roland Garros final after they left the court with Djokovic up a break in the 4th set, Nadal cried. Nadal had lost 3 slam finals in a row to Djokovic, and that is why it was the most pressure Nadal has ever been under in his life. Its ok to lose Wimbledon or the US Open or Australian Open, but to lose Roland Garros is a tragic event that Nadal was already destroyed by in 2009.

Wow I thought Federer was a baby for crying after losing a long final, Nadal crying after he lost a SET? What a cry baby

[nethawkwenatchee]

RAFA2005RG- You made some good points in you're previous two posts about why the French final was so crucial to Rafa. I can see you're point on why he may have had some doubt, given his clay experiences with Nole in 2011. I still maintain my position however that Nole has had bigger opportunities besides that match. Nadal has only lost the one match (Soderling) on that court in his career and he had also had a great 2012 clay court showing leading into the French (he was the favorite-by all accounts) This was a huge opportunity to win another slam and the career slam (Nole) but there were previous milestones (like the world #1 Wimbledon match) that were maybe more important to him.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by Cup8489

Christ, take a half a year off and it's still not recovered sufficiently?

Oy vey.

Lets not mince words here. Few years ago, doctors were guaranteeing that Rafa's career will be cut short due to this knee injury.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Towser83

Wow I thought Federer was a baby for crying after losing a long final, Nadal crying after he lost a SET? What a cry baby

I have not heard a thing about Nadal crying at RG this year. Unless Trollzilla produces something to prove it, I don't buy it.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by nethawkwenatchee

RAFA2005RG- You made some good points in you're previous two posts about why the French final was so crucial to Rafa. I can see you're point on why he may have had some doubt, given his clay experiences with Nole in 2011. I still maintain my position however that Nole has had bigger opportunities besides that match. Nadal has only lost the one match (Soderling) on that court in his career and he had also had a great 2012 clay court showing leading into the French (he was the favorite-by all accounts) This was a huge opportunity to win another slam and the career slam (Nole) but there were previous milestones (like the world #1 Wimbledon match) that were maybe more important to him.

He would have been nº 1 even if he lost that Wimbledon final.

Originally Posted by Clarky21

I have not heard a thing about Nadal crying at RG this year. Unless Trollzilla produces something to prove it, I don't buy it.

Yeah, I was going to say the same. Sounds like the story that Nadal's grandma had said he was going into pro golfing after tennis.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by sbengte

Did he say that before he played at Wimbledon or after he lost to Rosol ?
If it is the former, provide a link please.

A player would be crazy to say that before a match/tournament.

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Nadal also said "He is the favourite, I have to play my best to have chances to win" against opponents ranked outside of the top 100. Nadal sees an early exit in every tournament he plays. He hates expectations and pressure.

Nope, he didn't say that.

Originally Posted by nethawkwenatchee

It's really hard to state where Nadal is mentally right now considering the substantial loss he took at Wimbledon and the injury ridden season that plagued him. He's a proven champion but there's really nothing to base his current state on. He had a great clay season but this is expected and he's already proven that he is the superior clay court player in the world. Hell, he could win the whole clay season, even on bad knees.

I don't think it was exactly expected considering how the clay season went in 2011.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

Yes he is number 1 right now, yet there is at thread ongoing right now where it seems most posters dont even think he is an all time great (eg top 30 all time, and I actually argued I did think he was a bottom end 5th tier all time great, but most disagreed with me and even called me a ********* for arguing he was), while Federer and Nadal are firmly established as top 5 players all time. So in terms of his career and place in the grand scheme of the game, he still has a long way to go to make any sort of legacy for himself.

Interesting discussion. I think Djoko will be an all time great when everything is said and done (bar unpredictable career threatening injury). The stats seem encouraging, certainly for one of the best in open era. Of course, he's nowhere near Fed and Rafa at the moment, still, there aren't that many players who got more than 4 slams and 2 consecutive year ends at #1 and only all time greats have had a season as spectacular as his 2011 one (at least in open era). Some stats for open era:
Overall winning %: Nadal #2 with 82.7, Fed #5 with 81.6, Djoko #8: 79.2
Indoor: Fed #5: 80.3, Djoko #14: 72.4, Nadal # 46: 64.2
Outdoor: Nadal #1: 85.1, Fed #3: 82.1, Djoko #6: 81.0
Clay: Nadal #1: 93.0 (!), Fed #9: 77.1, Djoko # 13: 76.7
Grass: Fed #1: 87.3, Nadal #9: 80.6, Djoko #16: 77.0
Hard: Fed #1: 83.0, Djoko # 6: 80.9, Nadal #13: 76.5 (note that on hard, Djoko's stat is better than both Sampras and Agassi...)
slams: Nadal #2: 87.7, Fed #3: 87.0, Djoko # 6: 83.2 (there again Djoko is in front of guys like Lendl, Connors and jMac)
masters (since 1990): Nadal #1: 83.0, Djoko #2: 78.9, Fed #3: 77.5


I don't see any indication there that Djoko is not in the same ballpark as the very best in open era. He is top 8 or better in 5 out of 8 categories, top 15 in everything but grass. If anything, the only stat that doesn't seem to belong to a top player is Rafa's indoor one. Thankfully for Rafa, indoor has become pretty marginal as a surface. Some more:
Titles: Fed #4: 76, Nadal #11: 50, Djoko #16: 34
Only 14 players have won 5 slams or more in open era (and only 12 have won at least 3 out of the 4)
Weeks at #1: Fed is #1, Nadal is #7 and Djoko is # 11 (but guaranteed to pass Edberg soon)
Only 10 players have had more than 1 year end at #1, 9 of whom had consecutive year ends at #1, the exception being Nadal:
Connors: 1974-78
Borg: 1979-80
McEnroe: 1981-84
Lendl: 1985-87
Edberg: 1990-91
Sampras: 1993-98
Hewitt: 2001-02
Federer: 2004-07
Djokovic: 2011- ?

Given that Djoko is about 6 years younger than Fed and Nadal was exceptionally precocious, it seems reasonable to expect Novak's stats to keep improving in the near future but they're already pretty decent.

[RAFA2005RG]

Originally Posted by Towser83

Wow I thought Federer was a baby for crying after losing a long final, Nadal crying after he lost a SET? What a cry baby

Except Federer was at the podium when he cried. Nadal was at home when he cried (did you know that rain stopped play in the 4th set and they continued the next day?). And Nadal didn't cry because of losing a set, Nadal lost because according to Toni he was convinced that the match was going to Djokovic (Nadal down a break in the 4th set, and had lost 3 slam finals in a row).

[nethawkwenatchee]

Originally Posted by Crisstti

I don't think it was exactly expected considering how the clay season went in 2011.

I'm not sure about this Crisstti. As I remember, the 2012 clay season was a completely different story, especially with regard to Novak. Going into to the French Open Nadal had pretty well rolled Djokovic in finals at Monte Carlo and Rome without dropping a set. Also you can add a straight sets win over Ferrer in the Barcelona final. His only clay loss going into the French was to Verdasco during the blue clay fiasco in Madrid. It seems that Nadal's clay wows from 2011 were long gone at the time of the French Open Final and he was back to his normal winning ways versus Nole.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by nethawkwenatchee

I'm not sure about this Crisstti. As I remember, the 2012 clay season was a completely different story, especially with regard to Novak. Going into to the French Open Nadal had pretty well rolled Djokovic in finals at Monte Carlo and Rome without dropping a set. Also you can add a straight sets win over Ferrer in the Barcelona final. His only clay loss going into the French was to Verdasco during the blue clay fiasco in Madrid. It seems that Nadal's clay wows from 2011 were long gone at the time of the French Open Final and he was back to his normal winning ways versus Nole.

Oh, I meant having a great clay season wasn't necessarily expected. By the time of RG he would have been the favourite.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by RAFA2005RG

Except Federer was at the podium when he cried. Nadal was at home when he cried (did you know that rain stopped play in the 4th set and they continued the next day?). And Nadal didn't cry because of losing a set, Nadal lost because according to Toni he was convinced that the match was going to Djokovic (Nadal down a break in the 4th set, and had lost 3 slam finals in a row).

So the difference is that Nadal covers up his pathetic cry baby mentality and lies to the public to look strong. the guy bawls his eyes out if a guy takes a set off him on clay because he thinks he will lose lmao. maybe he was fearing another beating. what a guy, cries to get the match taken off which save his arse and then STILL cries even though the officials helped him out. he probably cries if he drops a hotdog on the ground.

Much more understandable to cry with defeat in a slam final you should have won with the whole arena and millions of viewers expecting you to talk. back in the confort of your room, 2-1 up in sets with the officials helping you to win? What a pansy.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

I have not heard a thing about Nadal crying at RG this year. Unless Trollzilla produces something to prove it, I don't buy it.

I dunno where he comes up with this stuff but he always offers ammunition against himself.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by RAFA2005RG

That's exactly what you are doing right now, concentrating on words and not meaning. You would understand the meaning of my original sentence if you had comprehension skills.

Never mind.

BAMOS!

[nethawkwenatchee]

Originally Posted by Towser83

So the difference is that Nadal covers up his pathetic cry baby mentality and lies to the public to look strong. the guy bawls his eyes out if a guy takes a set off him on clay because he thinks he will lose lmao. maybe he was fearing another beating. what a guy, cries to get the match taken off which save his arse and then STILL cries even though the officials helped him out. he probably cries if he drops a hotdog on the ground.

Much more understandable to cry with defeat in a slam final you should have won with the whole arena and millions of viewers expecting you to talk. back in the confort of your room, 2-1 up in sets with the officials helping you to win? What a pansy.

This may be a bit overstated and critical of you but I certainly understand where you're coming from. I never like seeing my favorite players cry but it does certainly put things into perspective when you see how much it means to them (that they cry in front of millions) and they obviously would rather not have everyone seeing them that way.

I've never seen Rafa do it publically but then again it was supposidly uncle Toni making this confession and not Rafa himself so... who knows if it really happened?

[rafan]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Returning to something after a long absence will make you nervous, unless you're either complacent or you don't care.

If it is nerves then he must jump in asap because leaving it longer will not help. If you fall off a horse then the sooner you get back on the better. I feel sorry about his stomach virus but I think he must do something positive about his decisions for the AO and not leave it until the last moment as he will start to lose respect from his fans. Who cares if the first few matches are not good as long as he has that determination to get back and we know what he can do once he gets back into his stride. He will have a new energy now after the break. I watched a recording of the French open the other day and I thought he looked jaded then and in need of a rest

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by nethawkwenatchee

This may be a bit overstated and critical of you but I certainly understand where you're coming from. I never like seeing my favorite players cry but it does certainly put things into perspective when you see how much it means to them (that they cry in front of millions) and they obviously would rather not have everyone seeing them that way.

I've never seen Rafa do it publically but then again it was supposidly uncle Toni making this confession and not Rafa himself so... who knows if it really happened?

it's embarrassing but it's an involuntary action,and the idea that Fed "stole" nadal's moment is pathetic rubbish from fedhaters. Notice that Federer fans don't criticise Murray for crying on Fed's win TWICE. What did Nadaldo when Federer cried? He comforted him because he is a decent human being who feels for someone else rather than use it against him. I would feel bad for Nadal if he cried at a loss.He did cry at Wimbledon 2007, the only difference was he did it backstage. But he knew how Federer felt. Also Federer has to stand up there and be articulate and give a long speech about why he lost etc, Nadal can get away with saying a few words in English and getting away.

[bullfan]

Originally Posted by Towser83

it's embarrassing but it's an involuntary action,and the idea that Fed "stole" nadal's moment is pathetic rubbish from fedhaters. Notice that Federer fans don't criticise Murray for crying on Fed's win TWICE. What did Nadaldo when Federer cried? He comforted him because he is a decent human being who feels for someone else rather than use it against him. I would feel bad for Nadal if he cried at a loss.He did cry at Wimbledon 2007, the only difference was he did it backstage. But he knew how Federer felt. Also Federer has to stand up there and be articulate and give a long speech about why he lost etc, Nadal can get away with saying a few words in English and getting away.

All losers have to face the same thing after a final's match, waiting for the stage to be prepped in order for the trophies to be awarded. Nadal was gracious about it, but it's not like that last set was even close. I don't hate Fed, but as I said it's not one of his finer moments, and he was aware that his crying was hijacking Nadal's moment, he mentioned it.

As far as Nadal being nervous, he is always in a lose lose with the haters. Something wrong with him if he says he's nervous, or if he says he's ready but hasn't played in earlier tournaments. The day Nadal retires, is the day this place loses tons to discuss in hating on Rafa.

[vernonbc]

Originally Posted by Towser83

it's embarrassing but it's an involuntary action,and the idea that Fed "stole" nadal's moment is pathetic rubbish from fedhaters.

So Andy Roddick is a fedhater? Andy said in an interview that he cringed watching Federer and that he felt badly for Rafa because Roger just wouldn't stop and was stealing Rafa's moment, that it should have been Rafa's time after such a great accomplishment.

[BHud]

Maybe that's why his stomach is upset. Pulling out of the AO was probably his best option...(silent ban)...

[Steve0904]

Originally Posted by vernonbc

So Andy Roddick is a fedhater? Andy said in an interview that he cringed watching Federer and that he felt badly for Rafa because Roger just wouldn't stop and was stealing Rafa's moment, that it should have been Rafa's time after such a great accomplishment.

Where did you hear this? Any proof?