Will Rafa win RG 2013?

[batz]

Before today I had him as a stick-on to win it. I still have him as favourite, but the door is more ajar than it has ever been.


Will Rafa win RG 2013?

[kishnabe]

Will Rafa even play RG 2013?....

[cc0509]

If he is around still and actually present in the tournament, he will win it.

[cluckcluck]

I wonder what the media would say if he were to win the 2013 FO? "He is undoubtedly the greatest clay courter of all time! He's come back from the more horrific of situations."
I can almost picture the montage of Rafa.

[Clarky21]

No.

10obviousanswers

[Ico]

The general public doesn't have enough info on his condition to make an informed choice. Obviously he could, but I'll vote after Monte Carlo.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Will Rafa even play RG 2013?....

Lol... If he plays it, I like his chances. He will be fresher for clay season than he has ever been. That is not good news for the competition.

[Homeboy Hotel]

No

QF Berdych 4 sets

[West Coast Ace]

Changing of the Guard. Djokovic will finish his career slam.

[Monsieur_DeLarge]

I voted "no", but then again, I wouldn't bet against it...

Honestly, I'm 50/50 over whether he's going to postpone again and not play Acapulco (and IW/Miami). If he does I can't see him winning Monte Carlo on his first tourney back, despite his superhuman clay skills. But if he loses, I think rivals like Djokovic will start to have enough self-belief to take him down. He needs the Mexican and American events as warm-ups, or he'll be too ring-rusty for the clay season.


Regards,
G

[Mike Sams]

If Del Potro and Djokovic are in elite form and end up on Nadal's side of the draw.....INTERESTING things may occur!
But I like Nadal's chances of getting the 2013 RG. He's still the favourite.

[monfed]

Oh gosh the overreaction on these boards. Ralph is a lock unless Djokovic 2.0 turns up(which he won't since that was his peak and his peak is done,evidence of that is his 2012 form).

How many matches do people have to see to understand that players don't have an answer to Ralph's moonballing especially on clay? The guy has lost 1 match in friggin 8 years FFS, one would've thought someone would've figured out a way to beat him with a decent margin but unless someone absolutely redlines ala Soderling or Djokovic 2.0 turns up,who's gonna beat him? Name one and don't mention Berdych coz all you'll get is laughter.

And honestly people who think that Ralph won't turn up for RG 2013 due to his supposed injury have no friggin clue of what Ralph truly wants and how his camp thinks and what Ralph's ambitions are.

Here's a hint then why not? Ralph hasn't skipped one clay season since 05,NOT ONE due to any reason(no knees nothing). Chew on that for a bit. And please don't give me the reason of "clay is good on the body" BS, seriously I'm way too old for that baloni.

[Homeboy Hotel]

Originally Posted by monfed

Oh gosh the overreaction on these boards. Ralph is a lock unless Djokovic 2.0 turns up(which he won't since that was his peak and his peak is done,evidence of that is his 2012 form).

How many matches do people have to see to understand that players don't have an answer to Ralph's moonballing especially on clay? The guy has lost 1 match in friggin 8 years FFS, one would've thought someone would've figured out a way to beat him with a decent margin but unless someone absolutely redlines ala Soderling or Djokovic 2.0 turns up,who's gonna beat him? Name one and don't mention Berdych coz all you'll get is laughter.

And honestly people who think that Ralph won't turn up for RG 2013 due to his supposed injury have no friggin clue of what Ralph truly wants and how his camp thinks and what Ralph's ambitions are.

Here's a hint then why not? Ralph hasn't skipped one clay season since 05,NOT ONE due to any reason(no knees nothing). Chew on that for a bit.

Isner? 2-1 up in 2011

[underground]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Will Rafa even play RG 2013?....

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Homeboy Hotel

No

QF Berdych 4 sets

No.

R16 Janowicz 5 sets

And let's see who voted for Yes in the poll? It's such a hard decision to guess between RAFA2005RG and 6-1 6-3 6-0

[NRod2]

the question should be:

"Should we give a **** about the French Open?"

And the answer is no.

[forzamilan90]

Nope.....Federer to win major #19 there

[nikdom]

Really iffy to say right now. Djokovic is focused on the FO as his priority for 2013. I doubt that even if Nadal comes back for clay, he'll be as sharp to fight off a determined Murray/Nole. Heck, even Roger might fancy his chances against Nadal at the FO.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by nikdom

Really iffy to say right now. Djokovic is focused on the FO as his priority for 2013. I doubt that even if Nadal comes back for clay, he'll be as sharp to fight off a determined Murray/Nole. Heck, even Roger might fancy his chances against Nadal at the FO.

I don't think so. I think Nadal should be back for clay and if he is, he is the favorite.

[Phoenix1983]

I doubt he will win it, but he still has a chance on this surface.

[nikdom]

Originally Posted by cc0509

I don't think so. I think Nadal should be back for clay and if he is, he is the favorite.

Cmon man. For a guy who hasn't stepped on court in 6 months, has had to drop out of a friggin exhibition with a virus and now out of a slam, you're telling me he's automatically a favorite for a tournament 6 months down the road?