How much are people joking when they say Nadal is a GOAT contender?

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

I predict Nadal will be slaughtering your hopes after, before and during Madrid.

Can't wait.

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

So your version of sarcasm = awful grammar.....

there is nothing wrong with that sentence, you fail once more

[nadal_slam_king]

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

there is nothing wrong with that sentence, you fail once more

There is a lot wrong, hence you fail epically.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by monfed

It is for Ralph,that I'm sure of.



Yea but if he wins 4 more RGs to get there, he'll still be regarded as a CLAY GOAT.Imagine 10/14 on clay ROFL

If Nole falters, then there's no one else stopping Ralph. Murray certainly isn't pulling up his socks.

Right now, i frankly don't hand Rafa even the RG (unlike others). However, if Nole remains at 0.8 (lol), Rafa can take 2-3 slams for 2 years or so. That's not only clay slams.

10 RG's!! Blows my mind!

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

Lawl ok. I predict you'll be gone after Madrid.

You mean juggling accounts

[mattennis]

Nadal future status as one of the GOSEs (Greatest Of Some Era) depends heavily on Djokovic's level in the following months/years.

Right now Nadal is not a GOSE for me (though he already is in my list of about 15 greatest players ever), but I really think that only Djokovic separates Nadal from achieving 14-16 GS (he could be around 13 GS already if not for Djokovic2.0 ).

I don't see any other player right now capable of defeating Nadal in a GS tournament consistently.

Out of the last 8 GS, only Ferrer (apart from Djokovic as I said) was able to defeat Nadal and that was mainly because Nadal injured his leg in the very first or second game of that match. In the other 7 GS nobody could beat Nadal (before the final), who won 4 of them and only lost to Djokovic in the last 3 GS finals.

Nadal was never that consistent in GS in the past. Some people talk about decline, but the truth is that Nadal is closer to win multiple GS per year in the last two years and now, than any time before, and the only reason he may not do it this year (and he didn't last year) is because of Novak Djokovic.

It is going to be very thrilling to see how it finally develops, because the truth is that Nadal is not "that far away from Sampras's 14 GS" and just one player is stopping him at the moment.

On the other hand, Djokovic himself must be more than willing to win as many GS this season (and the next) as he can, knowing that he is going to be 25 next month and that his bid to be a GOSE (and to win maybe 8-10 or more GS) depends heavily on what happens this season and the next one.

So this year we are going to see two great players fighting to death in every one of the remaining 3 GS, plus the great Roger Federer trying to win at least one more or two to put his record a bit "further away" from Nadal, just incase....

Exciting moments in tennis, much more because of the fight and drama than the game styles in themselves, but the drama is always a key ingredient in any memorable GS final, so let's hope for the best to come...

[veroniquem]

Is that a joke? gose? Seriously? What is that? Never heard of it. Best of all time, best of open era, or best of own era, that's the only categories I'm prepared to take seriously and Rafa is definitely in the category of best of all time, don't know where on the list yet but given all his records, that's where he belongs for sure.

[mattennis]

"Best Of Some Era" is being the best player of the world at least in three different Years (better if consecutive years).

It is something about my personal opinion, just that.

[mattennis]

And as I said in other thread, for me Nadal and Agassi are both in my list of about 15 greatest tennis players ever (even though none of them are GOSEs for me).

It is just some personal terminology I use to try to explain my view better (for example, for me there are no GOAT, it is just an illusion. For me there are several GOSEs and some other very great players from different eras).

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

You can't be a GOAT contender without the Career Grand Slam.

You can't be GOAT without 23 consecutive semi-finals in slams. Much more impressive than even Fed's record of most slam titles.


Nadal will probably break Federer's slam record and become Greatest of all Time-wasters.

[brettsticker86]

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

So your version of sarcasm = awful grammar.....

Uh oh, better call the...

[DjokovicForTheWin]

Nadal is now closer than ever to 16 slams. So close

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

Has there ever been a 25-year-old closer to being GOAT than Nadal? Career Grand Slam, 10 slams, 20 Masters Shields, 102 weeks ranked number one, 3 straight slams in a Calendar Year. Surface GOAT already. No 25-year-old has ever been closer.

Bjorn Borg. He won his 11th major at 25 years and 1 day old. He has also had 109 weeks at number 1.

[Evan77]

Nadal won 10 slams (6 on clay), OK. talking about Nadal as a potential GOAT is a joke. There is only one GOAT and that's Federer like it or not. Yes, we can argue that his competition was almost non existent but Rog was playing whoever was on the other side of the net.

Even 30 yo (almost 31yo) he can trouble the best player in the world (Djokovic) and I respect that.

I do not pick the best player ever based on how many slams they won. I still feel like crying when I think about Borg giving up and retiring so early. Borg who didn't bother playing the AO, Borg who hated playing at the USO etc.

However, nobody who is sane enough can argue that Fed is the best tennis player ever. His foot work, crazy winners from all over the court ... absolutely amazing. People put too much into his h2h vs Nadal. I personally hate that match up. One thing that I'm really p!ssed at Roger is that he was simply too stubborn to change his game against Nadal...

All Nadal has been doing is attacking Rog's BH ... over and over... same old sh!t. In terms of talent, Roger and Nadal shouldn't be even mentioned in the same sentence ... Nadal, IMHO, is just a bully who is waiting for other players to make UE ... well, thank God one player showed up (Djokovic) who was able to stop him.

[elpolaco84]

the only thing that matters for most tennis fans is slam count, only then you can count ohter achievments to reinforce goat status tardism

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by elpolaco84

the only thing that matters for most tennis fans is slam count, only then you can count ohter achievments to reinforce goat status tardism

But that approach doesn't work if you are seriously considering the merits of players before the open era. Even into the open era, it gets complicated with players banned from some open majors for political reasons.

[darrinbaker00]

Originally Posted by Evan77

All Nadal has been doing is attacking Rog's BH ... over and over... same old sh!t.

If Roger truly is the GOAT, why can't he make the necessary adjustments to stop it?

[elpolaco84]

Originally Posted by Mustard

But that approach doesn't work if you are seriously considering the merits of players before the open era. Even into the open era, it gets complicated with players banned from some open majors for political reasons.

Yes,thats why GOAT discussions are endless

[timnz]

Originally Posted by nadal_slam_king

Has there ever been a 25-year-old closer to being GOAT than Nadal? Career Grand Slam, 10 slams, 20 Masters Shields, 102 weeks ranked number one, 3 straight slams in a Calendar Year. Surface GOAT already. No 25-year-old has ever been closer.

Bjorn Borg. Got to 11 majors by age 25. He was the clay goat before Nadal. Won more titles than nadal including 3 season end finals (nadal has yet to win one)

[jwjh]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyEE

they're referring to his tournament drawing ability. he's gotten more cake walk draws than any other player in the open era. GOAT drawer.

Yes, definitely the DOAT.