Rafa pulls out of Abu Dhabi touney!!!

[TMF]

Serena was ranked really low since she was out of action for a long time due to injury. But who would want to play her in the early round? I'm sure all the top 4 players wouldn't want her to fall into their quarter draw.

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by TMF

Serena was ranked really low since she was out of action for a long time due to injury. But who would want to play her in the early round? I'm sure all the top 4 players wouldn't want her to fall into their quarter draw.

Nadal needs confidence and momentum to pull off his best work. He's very beatable in the early rounds of Slams. Even USO 2010, he was struggling in his first round match against Gabashvilli.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by TMF

Serena was ranked really low since she was out of action for a long time due to injury. But who would want to play her in the early round? I'm sure all the top 4 players wouldn't want her to fall into their quarter draw.

WTA is a joke tour. You can't miss 7 months on the ATP Tour and not be left behind. The ATP Tour is always evolving at the razor's end of the rankings. The guys are all getting better every month.

[Steve0904]

The funny thing is Baghdatis came much closer to beating Fed than Gonzalez did. Which I think had to do with the fact that Fed played ridiculously well at the 07 AO coming in on a huge winning streak, and not so good at the 06 one. In fact he was still wearing an ankle brace at the 2006 AO, and was struggling by his standards. Went 5 sets with Haas and had a brutal match with Davydenko in the QF. Also lost sets to Keifer and Baghdatis in the SF and F. He (Baghdatis) was actually up 7-5 2-0 with a breakpoint to go up 3-0 (double break) which happened to be a fairly long rally. Just some observations.

As far as the draws go, I stand by what I said, however it is not always the case, but more of a general thing IMO although I can understand what Cristti is saying.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by Steve0904

The funny thing is Baghdatis came much closer to beating Fed than Gonzalez did. Which I think had to do with the fact that Fed played ridiculously well at the 07 AO coming in on a huge winning streak, and not so good at the 06 one. In fact he was still wearing an ankle brace at the 2006 AO, and was struggling by his standards. Went 5 sets with Haas and had a brutal match with Davydenko in the QF. Also lost sets to Keifer and Baghdatis in the SF and F. He (Baghdatis) was actually up 7-5 2-0 with a breakpoint to go up 3-0 which happened to be a fairly long rally. Just some observations.

Yup at 7-5 2-0 and break point down Fed hit a ridiculous FH winner up the line that the commentator said "this well could be the turning point in this final" and he was dead right. It was *all* Fed from that winner.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

WTA is a joke tour. You can't miss 7 months on the ATP Tour and not be left behind. The ATP Tour is always evolving at the razor's end of the rankings. The guys are all getting better every month.

Like whom? Which guys are getting better than even Nadal at 70%? Berdych and Tipsarevic, don't make me laugh.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

Like whom? Which guys are getting better than even Nadal at 70%? Berdych and Tipsarevic, don't make me laugh.

Yup even they are getting better by being on tour.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Yup even they are getting better by being on tour.

Nope, don't agree. The ATP is not different than the WTA and the situation with Serena, TMF is correct. Nadal could be out for a year and still come back as long as he is healthy and be in the top five easily. There are a lot of mugs in the top ten of the ATP.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

Nope, don't agree. The ATP is not different than the WTA and the situation with Serena, TMF is correct. Nadal could be out for a year and still come back as long as he is healthy and be in the top five easily. There are a lot of mugs in the top ten of the ATP.

No there aren't any mugs on the ATP Tour, but if that IDEA comforts you go ahead.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

No there aren't any mugs on the ATP Tour, but if that IDEA comforts you go ahead.

Yes there are and it is not just an idea. Nadal > Ferrer, Berdych, Del Potro, Tsonga, Tipsarevic and Gasquet. Those mugs don't hold a candle to Nadal and if he comes back and is healthy mentally and physically, those guys have no chance.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

Yes there are and it is not just an idea. Nadal > Ferrer, Berdych, Del Potro, Tsonga, Tipsarevic and Gasquet. Those mugs don't hold a candle to Nadal and if he comes back and is healthy mentally and physically, those guys have no chance.

Nadal being better then Ferrer doesn't make Ferrer a "mug". But go ahead, be a mental midget like that.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Nadal being better then Ferrer doesn't make Ferrer a "mug". But go ahead, be a mental midget like that.

In comparison to Federer and Nadal, Ferrer is a mug. Everything is relative.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

In comparison to Federer and Nadal, Ferrer is a mug. Everything is relative.

No he isn't. He doesn't posses their raw talent for shotmaking but that doesn't make him this "mug" thing that you idiots obsess about.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

No he isn't. He doesn't posses their raw talent for shotmaking but that doesn't make him this "mug" thing that you idiots obsess about.

I said in relation to Federer and Nadal he is a nobody. That is my opinion. I am not saying Ferrer is not a great tennis player, but compare him to a Federer or Nadal and he is a minute particle.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

I said in relation to Federer and Nadal he is a nobody. That is my opinion. I am not saying Ferrer is not a great tennis player, but compare him to a Federer or Nadal and he is a minute particle.

Oh god you're dumb.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Oh god you're dumb.

Because I don't agree with you? You the hell are you?

You are trying to say that the ATP is different than the WTA in that some of the top ten guys would take the place of Nadal easily if Nadal came back now and I am saying it is no different. Nadal would come back and easily beat those players below the top five just as Serena was able to do in the WTA. There is no difference, both Nadal and Serena are many notches above the rest below them.

[GoodVibrations]

Don't know if this has already been posted:

Neil Harman Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes

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

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by cc0509

Because I don't agree with you? You the hell are you?

You are trying to say that the ATP is different than the WTA in that some of the top ten guys would take the place of Nadal easily if Nadal came back now and I am saying it is no different. Nadal would come back and easily beat those players below the top five just as Serena was able to do in the WTA. There is no difference, both Nadal and Serena are many notches above the rest below them.

No he wouldn't. The fact that you think women's tennis has any bearing on the ATP proves your idiocy.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by smoledman

No he wouldn't. The fact that you think women's tennis has any bearing on the ATP proves your idiocy.

Yes, he will. Just watch him and I will bump this thread on you when it happens.
I think the ATP is even worse than the WTA below the top four. In the ATP from rank number 5-10 you have one slam winner (Del Potro) and in the WTA from rank 5-10, you have three slam winners (Li Na, Stosur and Kvitova.) Now go away with your inaccurate view.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by Towser83

I agree Federer has had them too, I'm just saying easy draws don't equal a title you wouldn't have won otherwise. That goes for everyone.

With your second point, i'm not sure. I mean if someone lower ranked had knocked out Federer at RG in 2008, they might have actually given Nadal a better match (the right player in form) not much better, but it couldn't have been much worse! Tsonga knocked out murray and Nadal in the 2008 AO, Nadal might have done better than winning a set in the final but Murray probably wouldn't have, in fact he probably would have been straight setted. Likewise Murray probably would have lost the 2009 US Open final in straight sets, yet a less fancied player like Delpo actually won.

Less experienced is not always easier.

Playing an inexperienced player in a slam final might not always be easier, but most of the time for sure. Delpo in USO 2009 was an exception. Still, Fed was no doubt the favourite and with good reason, and I always see Fed fans claiming he lost due to carelessness.

González was playing great, particularly against Haas, but his level wasn't the same in the final and that was to be expected also...

As for Federer in RG 2008, the other players Rafa played had pretty similar scorelines for the most part. And Fed should have done better imo.