Poll: Runner-up at Roland Garros 2012?

[ductrung3993]

After looking at one of the most mouth-watering draw ever in recent slams, I decided to create this thread in order to survey your input about the most important matter right now

[FedererDropShot]

Federer or Djokovic.

Nadal wins.

But then again, who knows what could happen.

[Sentinel]

Nadal. Cannot be Joker since Fred is winning it.

[tennis_pro]

Damn, I realized there's a Nadal option after I picked Federer.

What now?

[ductrung3993]

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

Damn, I realized there's a Nadal option after I picked Federer.

What now?

There are TWO Nadal options, what's wrong with you mate

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by ductrung3993

There are TWO Nadal options, what's wrong with you mate

DAMN, WHAT NOW? WHAT NOW?

[GOAT BAAH!!!]

Whomever faces Federer in the final...

[jakemcclain32]

Federer. That's who Ferrer faces in the final.

[ductrung3993]

Originally Posted by jakemcclain32

Federer. That's who Ferrer faces in the final.

Nobody beats Ferrer 14 time in a row right

[jakemcclain32]

Originally Posted by ductrung3993

Nobody beats Ferrer 14 time in a row right

As Verdasco about Nadal, haha.

[kishnabe]

Nadal.....but I prefer Nadal to lose before the final. Even seeing him recieve the runner-up trophy would make me sick.

I would love to see Del Potro make the final or even win. He is one of the only guys who has a chance to beat Nadal on clay if he is playing his best, the problem is he has a loaded draw and it would be a miracle for him to survive it. Now that TMF's Del Potro erection alias DFTW is banned it is easier to hope for Del Potro to do well.

JM is probably behind Djok and Murray in descending order of 127 other people who have any chance of beating Nad at RG 2012. Then Tsonga, Bird, Isner, ...... Fed would be at about #256.

Originally Posted by 1970CRBase

JM is probably behind Djok and Murray in descending order of 127 other people who have any chance of beating Nad at RG 2012. Then Tsonga, Bird, Isner, ...... Fed would be at about #256.

Murray would not be up that high. The order would be Djokovic, Del Potro, and then Tsonga, Berdych, and Isner in some order, so agree with you except the Murray part. Definitely agree about the Federer part.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

Murray would not be up that high. The order would be Djokovic, Del Potro, and then Tsonga, Berdych, and Isner in some order, so agree with you except the Murray part. Definitely agree about the Federer part.

Disagree. There are only two players who have any chance of defeating Nadal on the clay of RG--Djokovic or Federer, even though the chances of either player doing it this year are very low. Despite the fact that Federer has never defeated Nadal at RG his chances of doing it are 100 times better than Del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych or Isner. Come on. Those guys are mugs when it comes to slams. Del Potro is one of the most overrated players in tennis history imo.

Originally Posted by cc0509

Disagree. There are only two players who have any chance of defeating Nadal on the clay of RG--Djokovic or Federer, even though the chances of either player doing it this year are very low. Despite the fact that Federer has never defeated Nadal at RG his chances of doing it are 100 times better than Del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych or Isner. Come on. Those guys are mugs when it comes to slams. Del Potro is one of the most overrated players in tennis history imo.

Del Potro is overrated I agree, but he is a tough matchup for Nadal when playing well. Last year they had tough matches on both clay and grass, grass a surface Del Potro is kind of a mug on so that is even more noteable. As you know from the Nadal-Federer H2H history, matchups mean alot.

One just has to look at Federer's history with Nadal at RG to sum up his chances. Even peak Federer couldnt really get that close to beating a young Nadal at RG, so even if Federer seems in better form lately, what hope does a 30 something past prime Federer have vs a Nadal who seems in form again. Last year fired up Federer still couldnt push crappy Nadal in his worst clay season since 2004 to a 5th set for the first time. I doubt even Federer believes he can beat Nadal at RG. There is way too much mental baggage at this point for him to ever pull it off.

Isner I might be overrating but he did take Nadal to 5 sets at RG, making him one of only 2 players since 2005 to do that well or better (the other being Soderling who beat him). Master grinders hate attacking players with huge serves more than any other opponent on clay. It is hugely unlikely they will even play, and still very unlikely Isner would win if they did, but I still give him more chance than most, which speaks to how unlikely Nadal losing at all is in the first place.

Berdych seems to be getting more of a handle on playing Nadal again. Remember he was Nadal's nemisis up until their match at Wimbledon in 2007, then Berdych unexpectedly got spanked there and has never been the same since in the matchup, but their last 2 or 3 matches he played really well and was competitive. Nadal destroyed Berdych on clay back then, but Berdych in 2005 and 2006 was a clay mug, he is a pretty good clay courter now.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

Del Potro is overrated I agree, but he is a tough matchup for Nadal when playing well. Last year they had tough matches on both clay and grass, grass a surface Del Potro is kind of a mug on so that is even more noteable. As you know from the Nadal-Federer H2H history, matchups mean alot.

One just has to look at Federer's history with Nadal at RG to sum up his chances. Even peak Federer couldnt really get that close to beating a young Nadal at RG, so even if Federer seems in better form lately, what hope does a 30 something past prime Federer have vs a Nadal who seems in form again. Last year fired up Federer still couldnt push crappy Nadal in his worst clay season since 2004 to a 5th set for the first time. I doubt even Federer believes he can beat Nadal at RG. There is way too much mental baggage at this point for him to ever pull it off.

But the fact still remains that Del Potro and Berdych have never defeated Nadal on clay but Federer has done it twice. I don't care how old Federer is, a 16 time grand slam champion can never be ruled out completely when it comes to winning any slam, even one where he has never defeated Nadal before. Crazy things happen in tennis.

[FlashFlare11]

Originally Posted by cc0509

But the fact still remains that Del Potro and Berdych have never defeated Nadal on clay but Federer has done it twice. I don't care how old Federer is, a 16 time grand slam champion can never be ruled out completely when it comes to winning any slam, even one where he has never defeated Nadal before. Crazy things happen in tennis.

Federer is still the second best Roland Garros player currently. He should never be counted out of contention for this title (or any others, like you said). As long as he shows up, he's one of the favorites to win.

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by FlashFlare11

Federer is still the second best Roland Garros player currently. He should never be counted out of contention for this title (or any others, like you said). As long as he shows up, he's one of the favorites to win.

Yep. It is a long shot that Federer will defeat Nadal at the FO but if any player would have the ability and chance to do it, it would be Federer. He is not out there still playing because he needs the money, he wants to try and win a couple more slams. Who the heck could pick jokers like Berdych or Del Potro to beat Nadal in a slam over Federer, one of the greatest of all time?

Originally Posted by cc0509

Disagree. There are only two players who have any chance of defeating Nadal on the clay of RG--Djokovic or Federer, even though the chances of either player doing it this year are very low. Despite the fact that Federer has never defeated Nadal at RG his chances of doing it are 100 times better than Del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych or Isner. Come on. Those guys are mugs when it comes to slams. Del Potro is one of the most overrated players in tennis history imo.

Personalities are like chemicals; they react unpredictably with each other. Sometimes they are neutral, sometimes bring out the best in each other - also some people bring out the WORST in each other. Then sometimes one completely dominates another. In 1 v 1, in any situation, not just tennis, there's the technical match-up between the two, but there is also the mental, personality match-up, which might be less tangible but could have much more serious consequences. Out there on court, it isn't just a contest of technical advantages, it is also a joust between two characters. And unfortunately as with Serena vs Maria, Nadal vs Federer in slams is imo a foregone conclusion for the same reason.

Of course, if Nad goes out to another Soderling in a shock upset at RG, Fed's self belief and title hopes will suddenly go through the roof….