Nadal OUT of 2013 Australian Open

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Originally Posted by zagor

You're either nuts or not a Nadal fan.

Seriously, how in the world can you spin this as a positive thing?

Toni Nadal said that a best of 5 sets format is unsuitable for a player coming back from a long-sustained injury (and Nadal has missed 6 months of tournaments), and since Nadal has a stomach virus, Nadal can't possibly train as hard as he would like, and he NEEDS to train as hard as he needs to to be ready for long matches at AustralianOpen2013. So instead of achieving a less-than-superb result at AustralianOpen2013, he can make his start in 2013 at Acapulco2013 where he can build confidence rather than start the year with less confidence. How can you not see this as a positive thing?

[Alchemy-Z]

This is Murray's shot a the AO

Confidence Over both Fed and Nole...was very close against Nole last year....no Rafa to worry about.

[Ico]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Why do you people give ********* the time of day? Stop responding to him and just ignore him.

I second this motion. The only people who respond to him should be his alternate accounts or countering trolls. He obviously isn't meant to be taken seriously.

[Tennis_Maestro]

He's been out rehabilitating since his loss to Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon man, it's been almost half a year. He is 100% fit, but jus not a 100% match-fit, my thoughts are he doesn't want to give-away any psychological edge to his rivals going into the Clay season, he wants to hit the ground running and surge on from there. I personally think it's the sissy boy's approach, he should compete in the Aussie Open and give it his best go.

He is fit, he's jus not match-fit. Call me a cynic but I believe the "stomach bug" was a cover story and he and uncle Toni watched Novak today against Roadrunner and completely demolish him, so sort it best as he jus pulled out of the Aussie open. Chances were he'd meet Novak in the semi finals and it'd have been a huge psychological edge for him going into the clay season. I know I am going deep here, but this really does happen.

[zagor]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Why do you people give ********* the time of day? Stop responding to him and just ignore him.

I'm actually starting to believe you're right, he isn't a Nadal fan at all but is just trolling us all.

Either that or he's a nutcase.

[batz]

Neil Harman on twitter:

Nadal told me in Majorca last week his knees not 100%, would use Abu Dhabi as practice and if felt bad would not play AO. Then virus struck

[underground]

Originally Posted by Alchemy-Z

This is Murray's shot a the AO

Confidence Over both Fed and Nole...was very close against Nole last year....no Rafa to worry about.

Depends on what Murray lands in the draw. Don't forget Murray has choked against Nole the past two times they've played. And got defeated by Fed very convincingly (at least in the 2nd set) in London.

[zagor]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Toni Nadal said that a best of 5 sets format is unsuitable for a player coming back from a long-sustained injury (and Nadal has missed 6 months of tournaments), and since Nadal has a stomach virus, Nadal can't possibly train as hard as he would like, and he NEEDS to train as hard as he needs to to be ready for long matches at AustralianOpen2013. So instead of achieving a less-than-superb result at AustralianOpen2013, he can make his start in 2013 at Acapulco2013 where he can build confidence rather than start the year with less confidence. How can you not see this as a positive thing?

Going back to ignoring you and the rest of your accounts.

[tacou]

so sad. another 2 horse race with Fed the only outside chance at a title

[batz]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

What do you mean?

what Zagor says in the post below yours - maybe the knees are worse than is being reported i.e. maybe there is something in what you've been saying.

I'm not buying the 'silent ban' @rsegravy though.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by batz

Neil Harman on twitter:

Nadal told me in Majorca last week his knees not 100%, would use Abu Dhabi as practice and if felt bad would not play AO. Then virus struck

Nadal himself has said his knee is not yet fully recovered, and said so weeks ago. This info from Neil Harman is not some revelation.

[beckstennis]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

This is a great scenario for Nadal to begin his comeback at Acapulco. He can build his confidence by winning a NINTH consecutive Monte Carlo title (and a 2nd Acapulco title, which he last won in 2005), a SEVENTH Rome title (in 9 attempts), an 8th Barcelona title (in 8 attempts) and an EIGHTH Roland Garros title (and it would be the second time he has won a slam four consecutive times).

And Nadal has the perfect opportunity to win slams on clay, grass and hard-court all in a calendar year AGAIN.

And Nadal can break the Borg/Sampras/Federer/Nadal tie of winning one slam per year for eight consecutive years (he'll make is NINE in 2013).

And Nadal can break the Wilander/Nadal tie of winning two slams on each surface (with a Wimbledon2013 win and a USOpen2013 win).

You really crack me up ***

[ec51]

"Nadal was originally due to play his first matches since the surgery in Abu Dhabi followed by an event in Doha. The virus has meant he has had to withdraw from both, thus depriving him of match practice and no doubt playing a large part in his decision to withdraw."

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...705033061.html

Um, what surgery are they referring to?

[Feather]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Maestro

He's been out rehabilitating since his loss to Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon man, it's been almost half a year. He is 100% fit, but jus not a 100% match-fit, my thoughts are he doesn't want to give-away any psychological edge to his rivals going into the Clay season, he wants to hit the ground running and surge on from there. I personally think it's the sissy boy's approach, he should compete in the Aussie Open and give it his best go.

He is fit, he's jus not match-fit. Call me a cynic but I believe the "stomach bug" was a cover story and he and uncle Toni watched Novak today against Roadrunner and completely demolish him, so sort it best as he jus pulled out of the Aussie open. Chances were he'd meet Novak in the semi finals and it'd have been a huge psychological edge for him going into the clay season. I know I am going deep here, but this really does happen.

What if he gets Federer in SF? He could have waited for the draw and then withdraw citing the same reason. It's not a surety that he will play Novak in SF. If Nadal can bounce back after losing seven matches on a trot then he certainly can come back after a possible lose against Djokovic in SF 2013. He should have waited for the draw at least

[Ico]

Come February, Nadal will be down to 5400 points (a testament to his clay abilities). Assuming he doesn't defend his semi points at both IW and Miami, he could likely find himself below 5000 for the start of clay. Even if he is somehow able to match last year's success (2 1000s and 1 500), it is very likely the King of Clay will be ranked 5th-7th for Roland Garros.

Can't wait to see that draw.

[Hitman]

This is crazy! I really thought he was coming back, and this virus was only going to take him out of the exho. Can a virus really knock his chances out of even competing?

[kalyan4fedever]

WTF did i just read, too sad that rafa cant play, golden opportunity for federer and murraa.

[underground]

Originally Posted by batz

what Zagor says in the post below yours - maybe the knees are worse than is being reported i.e. maybe there is something in what you've been saying.

I'm not buying the 'silent ban' @rsegravy though.

Here's the thing though. The longer Nadal is not playing, the more weird the injury is. Like I said before there wasn't signs of hindrance of the knee when he played against Rosol, if the knee injury was that bad he would be limping on the court. So if the knee injury ISN'T that bad at all, surely it wouldn't worsen itself by that much when Rafa isn't even playing tennis, to the point that it's affecting him in the new season? Stomach virus sounds BS, they last for less than a wekk and if it gets serious you'll be seeing Rafa in the hospital in serious conditions already. You see the conflict?

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Originally Posted by Ico

Come February, Nadal will be down to 5400 points (a testament to his clay abilities). Assuming he doesn't defend his semi points at both IW and Miami, he could likely find himself below 5000 for the start of clay. Even if he is somehow able to match last year's success (2 1000s and 1 500), it is very likely the King of Clay will be ranked 5th-7th for Roland Garros.

Can't wait to see that draw.

Agreed, I can't wait to hear the reactions of paranoid Talk Tennis fans when Nadal ploughs his way through his RolandGarros2013 draw no matter how hard it is. And Nadal has only won RolandGarros once as the #1-ranked player, so ranking doesn't matter at RolandGarros, his pet slam.

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Originally Posted by kalyan4fedever

WTF did i just read, too sad that rafa cant play, golden opportunity for federer and murraa.

Yep, because we all know that with Nadal in the draw, we can expect another 4-set loss from Federer in the SF...