This final showed that tennis is badly missing Nadal

[tusharlovesrafa]

Originally Posted by GOAT BAAH!!!

The difference between Nadal and Murray or any of the other guys for that matter is that Rafa would've done everything in his power, even when getting destroyed by Novak, to make him suffer for 6 hours on the court in the hopes of getting the win. Even if it's for naught...the effort is unreal. These other guys seem bemused by high level play
That's why Rafa is important... when outmatched, he's one of the few guys in the game to step up, win or lose. He stood tall years ago when Federer was making a mockery of the rest of the field.
..and recently,when Djokovic systematically dismantled him match by match, Rafa continued to make finals, loss after loss until he eventually made a breakthrough.

None of these guys bring this consistently...

Post of the thread.Like last year AO when he was getting thoroughly out-played by djokovic,he kept on fighting and some how found a way to drag that match to 5th set,thats what separates him from the rest.

[oneness]

Originally Posted by GOAT BAAH!!!

The difference between Nadal and Murray or any of the other guys for that matter is that Rafa would've done everything in his power, even when getting destroyed by Novak, to make him suffer for 6 hours on the court in the hopes of getting the win. Even if it's for naught...the effort is unreal. These other guys seem bemused by high level play
That's why Rafa is important... when outmatched, he's one of the few guys in the game to step up, win or lose. He stood tall years ago when Federer was making a mockery of the rest of the field.
..and recently,when Djokovic systematically dismantled him match by match, Rafa continued to make finals, loss after loss until he eventually made a breakthrough.

None of these guys bring this consistently...

Yep, lets hope Rafa's body allows him to play at his best again.

[djokovic2008]

Rafa is actually less talented a player than Murray is, it's funny how the armchair *******s can't appreciate good tennis but all the ex pros can the Murray djokovic matches are full of high level tennis rallies if you can't understand that you should watch another sport. And for you having a go at Murray remember he was too strong for fed.

[rafafan20]

Originally Posted by djokovic2008

Rafa is actually less talented a player than Murray is, it's funny how the armchair *******s can't appreciate good tennis but all the ex pros can the Murray djokovic matches are full of high level tennis rallies if you can't understand that you should watch another sport. And for you having a go at Murray remember he was too strong for fed.

and what in your mind is "talent"? Regardless of your feelings on Rafa me might be, along with Djokovic, one of the best pure athletes around in any sport.

[djokovic2008]

Originally Posted by rafafan20

and what in your mind is "talent"? Regardless of your feelings on Rafa me might be, along with Djokovic, one of the best pure athletes around in any sport.

I'm not talking about athleticism it's about touch and feel which Murray destroys rafa at. He has better volleys, slice, serve, backhand, touch, drop shot, technique need I go on.

[rafan]

Originally Posted by djokovic2008

Rafa is actually less talented a player than Murray is, it's funny how the armchair *******s can't appreciate good tennis but all the ex pros can the Murray djokovic matches are full of high level tennis rallies if you can't understand that you should watch another sport. And for you having a go at Murray remember he was too strong for fed.

Murray is a very talented player and nobody should give up on him yet. I still think the best is yet to come. More talented than Rafa? Well I think Rafa has shown his genius so many times to really say that Murray is more talented. Talent in tennis is a movable feast because when it really comes to the bottom line it IS who wins that final game that shows the most talent to survive.

[veroniquem]

Honestly, I don't think Murray destroys Rafa at anything, technically or athletically. He's never destroyed him on a court either on any surface. Nadal is a class above Murray in every department.

[stringertom]

The final was an anticlimax, as was one of the SFs. Other than that, the tourney had its fair share of good matches and a couple of classics. Nadal's absence didn't make or break it.

It would be great if the AO organizers grow a pair and ditch the slow-playing Plexicushion formula in favor of either a faster HC or go back to grass or a similar synthetic. The last option mentioned would take an ITF/ATP/WTA approval.

[mandy01]

Originally Posted by Dutch-Guy

People are finally realizing that Nadal is good and exciting for tennis.
I hope Rafa comes back strong and Federer keeps playing for at least a decade.

No, aggressive players are good and exciting for tennis. One more grinder really doesn't change much. I hope the courts speed up and we see an advent of aggressive all-court tennis once again.

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Honestly, I don't think Murray destroys Rafa at anything, technically or athletically. He's never destroyed him on a court either on any surface. Nadal is a class above Murray in every department.

I love it when you keep proving you have no knowledge of the sport whatsoever

Murray has several things superior to Nadal. His 1st serve is much better, stronger and more percise. Murray has softer hands at the net, and the funny thing with Murray, is that at his best he can actually outgrind Nadal, despite his height. Sames goes for Djokovic. I would not be surprised to see that the only times Murray loses to Nadal is on clay.

[mandy01]

Originally Posted by GOAT BAAH!!!

The difference between Nadal and Murray or any of the other guys for that matter is that Rafa would've done everything in his power, even when getting destroyed by Novak, to make him suffer for 6 hours on the court in the hopes of getting the win. Even if it's for naught...the effort is unreal. These other guys seem bemused by high level play
That's why Rafa is important... when outmatched, he's one of the few guys in the game to step up, win or lose. He stood tall years ago when Federer was making a mockery of the rest of the field.
..and recently,when Djokovic systematically dismantled him match by match, Rafa continued to make finals, loss after loss until he eventually made a breakthrough.

None of these guys bring this consistently...

Nadal lost in four sets to Djokovic at the USO in 2011 and the last set wasn't close. Just sayin.

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Sorry to inform you but we already have all of that with Lance on the tour.

And yes, tennis missses Nadal. I didn't watch a single second of the AO final this year, and by the sound of it, I didn't miss much. Tennis is in the doldrums right now. It needs some life injected back into it badly before people start abandoning it like rats from a sinking ship.

Tennis does not miss Nadal, you do. You miss him because you are his fan (god knows why, but still). With you being a fan, you clearly want to show as if the sport itself needs Nadal, but it has proven it can do fine without him. To me, tennis is much better when Nadal is gone, this AO didn't only prove to be one of the more interesting events to watch, but also one of the more clean ones as far as cheating goes (men's side).

This AO delivered some of the most epic matches in recent years, some beautiful tennis. The crowd seemed to be as into it as ever. What has been Nadal's contribution to tennis other than bad behavior? Epic matches? yeah, eveyone does that, even Wawrinka proved he can. Heck, even Almagro.

Nadal should be banned from the sport, but his suspension was at least something positive, and I hope more suspensions are to follow. Tennis does not need Nadal, it needs to get rid of Nadal.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Magnus

I love it when you keep proving you have no knowledge of the sport whatsoever

Murray has several things superior to Nadal. His 1st serve is much better, stronger and more percise. Murray has softer hands at the net, and the funny thing with Murray, is that at his best he can actually outgrind Nadal, despite his height. Sames goes for Djokovic. I would not be surprised to see that the only times Murray loses to Nadal is on clay.

Nadal's netplay is way underrated and it is definitely NOT inferior to Murray's. Otherwise, it would be Murray with 5 W finals, 2 W titles and he would probably have scored at least 1 victory over Nadal on grass, the surface where netplay is the most relevant. I'm sorry but I'm gonna side with JohnnyMac on that. And BTW, Djoko's netplay is also underrated for whatever reason. The most striking stat about the AO final is Djoko being 23/27 at net vs Murray who went there hardly a dozen times.

[mandy01]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Nadal's netplay is way underrated and it is definitely NOT inferior to Murray's. Otherwise, it would be Murray with 5 W finals, 2 W titles and he would probably have scored at least 1 victory over Nadal on grass, the surface where netplay is the most relevant. I'm sorry but I'm gonna side with JohnnyMac on that. And BTW, Djoko's netplay is also underrated for whatever reason. The most striking stat about the AO final is Djoko being 23/27 at net vs Murray who went there hardly a dozen times.

Nadal has good technique acquired through a lot of work (though he rarely uses it and when he does, it's usually for put-aways). Murray's more talented of the two.
JohnnyMac is known to go to extremes. Do you also side with him when he says "Federer is the greatest ever?" Yeah, thought so.

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Nadal's netplay is way underrated and it is definitely NOT inferior to Murray's. Otherwise, it would be Murray with 5 W finals, 2 W titles and he would probably have scored at least 1 victory over Nadal on grass, the surface where netplay is the most relevant. I'm sorry but I'm gonna side with JohnnyMac on that. And BTW, Djoko's netplay is also underrated for whatever reason. The most striking stat about the AO final is Djoko being 23/27 at net vs Murray who went there hardly a dozen times.

Really? You give Wimbledon as an example? Wimbledon is SLOW. You don't even see anyone going to the net there, instead they exchange baseline rallies one after another. Nadal doesn't even go for hard to hit volleys, he will just go for sitters and finish them off, something even I can do pretty easily.

And again, if you even watch the matches (something which I doubt very much), you know many times the net points stat does not reflect actual volley points. It counts drive volleys, overheads from close to the net, droppers from close to the net, and even regular FH/BH from close to the net, as net points. You barely see classic volley play these days.

[sandiegoman]

When Murray wins a major, he doesn't try to eat his trophy

[stringertom]

Originally Posted by sandiegoman

When Murray wins a major, he doesn't try to eat his trophy

His British dentist (oxymoronic) advised him in advance to avoid that habit!

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by rommil

Rafa has been out so long we don't know where he is physically, mentally and chemically.

Rafa is chemically unstable at high altitudes and therefore cannot be used as rocket propellant.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by Magnus

Tennis does not miss Nadal, you do. You miss him because you are his fan (god knows why, but still). With you being a fan, you clearly want to show as if the sport itself needs Nadal, but it has proven it can do fine without him. To me, tennis is much better when Nadal is gone, this AO didn't only prove to be one of the more interesting events to watch, but also one of the more clean ones as far as cheating goes (men's side).

This AO delivered some of the most epic matches in recent years, some beautiful tennis. The crowd seemed to be as into it as ever. What has been Nadal's contribution to tennis other than bad behavior? Epic matches? yeah, eveyone does that, even Wawrinka proved he can. Heck, even Almagro.

Nadal should be banned from the sport, but his suspension was at least something positive, and I hope more suspensions are to follow. Tennis does not need Nadal, it needs to get rid of Nadal.

The sins and crimes you mention don't compare to his depriving -- no cheating -- Federer of a dozen calendar year grand slams by exploiting his backhand. For standing up to Rogi humankind and God can never forgive him.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by Dutch-Guy

People are finally realizing that Nadal is good and exciting for tennis.
I hope Rafa comes back strong and Federer keeps playing for at least a decade.

I personally miss Rafa, but tbh, you can;t base such a conclusion on one match alone. What if Rafa has lost in the semi and we had the same final ? I think it was more of Andy having foot issues after set one. Otherwise it could have been a closer final.

I too felt let down yesterday -- but what about the French Open final with Rafa last year ? Are you saying its okay if Rafa gives straight set beatdowns to others, but if Nole gives them then its not good for tennis ???