Nadal to be back for the Australian Open

[Mike Sams]

Nadal's only won clay tournaments over the past 2 years now. The field is getting stronger, he's getting older and spending more time on the shelf...the sport moves quickly...not sure I can see Nadal surpassing Federer's 17 Slams at this point. He'd have to win 7 more Slams to do that. With Djokovic around along with Murray's confidence having risen, hard to see Nadal winning 18 Slams.

[The Moonballer]

Finally, I miss Nadull's real tennis

[MichaelNadal]

Bamos. Can't wait.

[Razoredge]

He'll win the tournament without dropping a set.

[Razoredge]

This is Nadal here.

You know, the guy who DEMOLISHED the reigning World No. 1 GOAT in his prime at the AGE OF 17.

If you think taking half a year off of tennis is going to slow this man down than you're an IDIOT.

If anything the rest of the tour should be even more scared of him because of this.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Razoredge

He'll win the tournament without dropping a set.

Welcome back ***.

[Razoredge]

Don't know who *** is, all I know is that I feel sorry for anyone who ends up in Nadal's path at the AO.

[adil1972]

nadal comeback is good news from fed fan no 1, maybe they will meet again in more grand slams final

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Talking about free rides, did you know that Djoko played 30 matches vs top 8 players in 2012? That's quite a lot when you consider the most Fed has ever played over a season is 22 (24 for Nadal). It seems that the field is actually getting stronger and more consistent all the time.

No, that would mean the top 8 are upset less than in prior years and therefore reach the quarters more often. Therefore, the field would be weaker.

[Razoredge]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

No, that would mean the top 8 are upset less than in prior years and therefore reach the quarters more often. Therefore, the field would be weaker.

If the top players are upset constantly than that means the field is weak.

Just look at the WTA in the past few years, everybody was complaining that the field was absolute weak sauce because the top players kept getting upset early by really low ranked people; no one was praising the field for it's "depth".

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by Razoredge

This is Nadal here.

You know, the guy who DEMOLISHED the reigning World No. 1 GOAT in his prime at the AGE OF 17.

If you think taking half a year off of tennis is going to slow this man down than you're an IDIOT.

If anything the rest of the tour should be even more scared of him because of this.

Thing is, Nadal isn't a young stud anymore. He's actually getting up in age and becoming more and more prone to injuries. Notice how each season sees him taking more and more time away from the game because of fatigue and injuries? It's just life. If anything, young guys are salivating at the chance to get a shot at Nadal. Nobody is afraid of him off clay. He's certainly not an unstoppable beast on grass as Djokovic and Rosol demonstrated. And any number of players can wipe him out on hardcourts hence the reason Nadal hasn't won a hardcourt Masters since Indian Wells 2009 nor has won a hardcourt Slam since USO 2010. Actually, he hasn't won anything off clay since Japan 2010.

[sbengte]

Originally Posted by dudeski

3
2
1
till Clarky21 says there is no proof Nadal will ever play again?

3
2
1
Till *** says Nadal was up a break in the 5th set on Novak's favorite surface in the final last year

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Thing is, Nadal isn't a young stud anymore. He's actually getting up in age and becoming more and more prone to injuries. Notice how each season sees him taking more and more time away from the game because of fatigue and injuries? It's just life. If anything, young guys are salivating at the chance to get a shot at Nadal. Nobody is afraid of him off clay. He's certainly not an unstoppable beast on grass as Djokovic and Rosol demonstrated. And any number of players can wipe him out on hardcourts hence the reason Nadal hasn't won a hardcourt Masters since Indian Wells 2009 nor has won a hardcourt Slam since USO 2010. Actually, he hasn't won anything off clay since Japan 2010.

You know, despite not winning 4 slams, 2011 was a pretty good year for Nadal.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

Thing is, Nadal isn't a young stud anymore. He's actually getting up in age and becoming more and more prone to injuries. Notice how each season sees him taking more and more time away from the game because of fatigue and injuries? It's just life. If anything, young guys are salivating at the chance to get a shot at Nadal. Nobody is afraid of him off clay. He's certainly not an unstoppable beast on grass as Djokovic and Rosol demonstrated. And any number of players can wipe him out on hardcourts hence the reason Nadal hasn't won a hardcourt Masters since Indian Wells 2009 nor has won a hardcourt Slam since USO 2010. Actually, he hasn't won anything off clay since Japan 2010.

Not true. For example, he had serious problems in 2009, and was pretty fine in 2010 and 2011, he did not take more time off because of injures those years than in 2009.

And on hard courts he pretty much only lost to Djokovic last year, and this year he only lost to Fed, Djokovic.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Razoredge

If the top players are upset constantly than that means the field is weak.

Just look at the WTA in the past few years, everybody was complaining that the field was absolute weak sauce because the top players kept getting upset early by really low ranked people; no one was praising the field for it's "depth".

If the top players are upset a lot it means that the other players are closer in ability to the top players and it is more difficult to win a tournament.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

If the top players are upset a lot it means that the other players are closer in ability to the top players and it is more difficult to win a tournament.

How come the top 20 is full of consistent players too, then? Some have had dips into the top ten, too.

[3fees]

AO will not be disappointing,,good nadal is ready to play,,soldering coming back would be good too..

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by 3fees

AO will not be disappointing,,good nadal is ready to play,,soldering coming back would be good too..

Soderling coming back would be good for the game, but sadly I don't see his return happening any time soon.

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

If the top players are upset a lot it means that the other players are closer in ability to the top players and it is more difficult to win a tournament.

If they're closer to their ability maybe it's because those top players are less good.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by Crisstti

If they're closer to their ability maybe it's because those top players are less good.

Two all time greats are playing in this era, with one tagging along behind them. Of course it's going to be harder for anybody outside the top four/six/eight to shine.