5 Things About Nadal Withdrawal from AO

[Vrad]

Originally Posted by DRII

You're completely wrong!

Nadal's knee issues were known during and before RG 2012; get your facts straight!

Well, then, Nadal seems to have magical knee issues which allows him to win the FO, but makes him lose to a crappy player like Rosol in Wimbledon...

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by Vrad

Well, then, Nadal seems to have magical knee issues which allows him to win the FO, but makes him lose to a crappy player like Rosol in Wimbledon...

funny how nadal can be broke down/tired/hurt/ etc 8 mos out of the tennis season but is always healthy and ready to play and dominate the clay season every year...

[Minion]

I'm also a new poster on these forums, so flame me if you want, i have very thick skin. I said in another post that i'm a fan of tennis, and no player in particular, so im not being biased.

Rafa started 2011 of full of hope and expectations, then Djokovic came out of nowhere and destroyed almost everything in his path. I watched all those matches, and i could see clearly that Rafa was heavily shaken by being beaten by Djokovic in succession. I think Djokovic broke him mentally in 2011. And then at the AO 2012 Rafa got so close, and we all saw what happened at Wimby.

Every single player on tour has some niggles, whether it be back, shoulder, wrist, neck, toe, ear, eye, whatever, the human body can only take so much. However, these people have 24h physios, and if you've ever been to one, you know what they can do. Any injury that requires this much time off, needs surgery - if the physio can't work it out in a month or two, chances are it can't be fixed without surgery.

I think he is afraid of the hard courts - not for his knees, but because he knows he will get owned. He will most probably return to his comfort zone with the clay season. If he loses at RG in 2013 (which i belive will happen), i reckon he will retire saying he's knees are now finally beyond repair, and that will be that.

[frinton]

Originally Posted by Minion

I'm also a new poster on these forums, so flame me if you want, i have very thick skin. I said in another post that i'm a fan of tennis, and no player in particular, so im not being biased.

Rafa started 2011 of full of hope and expectations, then Djokovic came out of nowhere and destroyed almost everything in his path. I watched all those matches, and i could see clearly that Rafa was heavily shaken by being beaten by Djokovic in succession. I think Djokovic broke him mentally in 2011. And then at the AO 2012 Rafa got so close, and we all saw what happened at Wimby.

Every single player on tour has some niggles, whether it be back, shoulder, wrist, neck, toe, ear, eye, whatever, the human body can only take so much. However, these people have 24h physios, and if you've ever been to one, you know what they can do. Any injury that requires this much time off, needs surgery - if the physio can't work it out in a month or two, chances are it can't be fixed without surgery.

I think he is afraid of the hard courts - not for his knees, but because he knows he will get owned. He will most probably return to his comfort zone with the clay season. If he loses at RG in 2013 (which i belive will happen), i reckon he will retire saying he's knees are now finally beyond repair, and that will be that.

Good post, with a likely scenario. I just want to add, that it would not make sense for Rafa to come back not feeling 100% fit, whether this is due to a stomach bug or the knees...especially not coming back on hard court. He will for sure come back on clay, as his confidence is best there. I wish him good luck for his come back, I am looking forward to seeing what he can still achieve, hopefully being healthy! Happy New Year to all of you!

[DRII]

Originally Posted by Vrad

Well, then, Nadal seems to have magical knee issues which allows him to win the FO, but makes him lose to a crappy player like Rosol in Wimbledon...

the clay is far easier on the knees because you can slide and therefore dissipate energy. not so with grass and certainly not with hardcourts which wreak havoc on the knees especially if you move like Nadal. Federer has better or more classical footwork and does not slide on hardcourts like Nadal does...

plus Nadal was born with foot issues that quickly affected his knees as a junior into his adulthood...

[DRII]

Originally Posted by Minion

I'm also a new poster on these forums, so flame me if you want, i have very thick skin. I said in another post that i'm a fan of tennis, and no player in particular, so im not being biased.

Rafa started 2011 of full of hope and expectations, then Djokovic came out of nowhere and destroyed almost everything in his path. I watched all those matches, and i could see clearly that Rafa was heavily shaken by being beaten by Djokovic in succession. I think Djokovic broke him mentally in 2011. And then at the AO 2012 Rafa got so close, and we all saw what happened at Wimby.

Every single player on tour has some niggles, whether it be back, shoulder, wrist, neck, toe, ear, eye, whatever, the human body can only take so much. However, these people have 24h physios, and if you've ever been to one, you know what they can do. Any injury that requires this much time off, needs surgery - if the physio can't work it out in a month or two, chances are it can't be fixed without surgery.

I think he is afraid of the hard courts - not for his knees, but because he knows he will get owned. He will most probably return to his comfort zone with the clay season. If he loses at RG in 2013 (which i belive will happen), i reckon he will retire saying he's knees are now finally beyond repair, and that will be that.

Ridiculous!

Nadal and Nole's encounters on hardcourt in 2011-2012 were all super close (except the USO final and even that was not straight sets) and could've gone either way yet all went Nole's way. Nadal was never 'owned' as you immaturely put it! So stop trying to rewrite history...

It makes complete sense for Nadal to wait until he's fully fit to return. If it was the clay season perhaps he could take a chance and return prematurely since he's head and shoulders above anyone else on clay and its easier on his body; not so with hardcourts...

[Minion]

Maybe 'owned' was the wrong way to phrase it. Nevertheless, he did get his *** handed to him repeatedly on the hardcourts, regardless of how close it was. I mean, if that happened to me, id be a little wary too

But i really do hope he returns, i really enjoy his style of play, very different from the norm,.

[abmk]

Originally Posted by DRII

Ridiculous!

Nadal and Nole's encounters on hardcourt in 2011-2012 were all super close (except the USO final and even that was not straight sets) and could've gone either way yet all went Nole's way. Nadal was never 'owned' as you immaturely put it! So stop trying to rewrite history...

It makes complete sense for Nadal to wait until he's fully fit to return. If it was the clay season perhaps he could take a chance and return prematurely since he's head and shoulders above anyone else on clay and its easier on his body; not so with hardcourts...

IW final wasn't super close .........2 of the 4 matches were close - miami 2011 and AO 2012 - primarily due to nadal playing at his very best and nole just playing good tennis, but nowhere close to his best; nowhere near his best ala AO 2008 or AO 2011, but nole could've finished off the AO final in 4 sets easily, had 3 BPs at the end of the 4th set and then missed a sitter forehand at the net @ 5-3 in the 4th set breaker ....it'd have given him 3 MPs ....

[DRII]

Originally Posted by abmk

IW final wasn't super close .........2 of the 4 matches were close - miami 2011 and AO 2012 - primarily due to nadal playing at his very best and nole just playing good tennis, but nowhere close to his best; nowhere near his best ala AO 2008 or AO 2011, but nole could've finished off the AO final in 4 sets easily, had 3 BPs at the end of the 4th set and then missed a sitter forehand at the net @ 5-3 in the 4th set breaker ....it'd have given him 3 MPs ....

Delusional as usual...

keep dreaming wet.

[DRII]

Originally Posted by Minion

Maybe 'owned' was the wrong way to phrase it. Nevertheless, he did get his *** handed to him repeatedly on the hardcourts, regardless of how close it was. I mean, if that happened to me, id be a little wary too

But i really do hope he returns, i really enjoy his style of play, very different from the norm,.

thats why your not one of the greats!

[matchmaker]

Originally Posted by nikdom

Ok. A lot of speculation about the 'why' of Nadal's withdrawal. I don't know if he's doping or if he'll retire, but what about the less controversial speculations -

Here are my top 5 -

1. He only comes back for clay in 2013

2. Murray and Djokovic will now fight for No.1 (Fed may not be as interested in the ranking as much as trying to win more slams)

3. There is no chance Nadal's going to be number 1 again if he only plays clay

4. This makes room for and gives hope to folks like Del Po, Berdych and Ferrer to make a push to get in the Top 4. One of them could bag a slam in 2013

5. I don't think Nadal will ever cross Sampras' record, let alone Fed's


What do you think?

1. I think he would try to make the best of his time both on clay and grass, the two surfaces on which he has the best shot to win more GS titles.

2. You are probably right

3. Same as 2.

4. Delpo, Berdych and Ferrer are pretty different players. I feel Delpo has a lot more potential than the other two. If one of those three were to bag a slam, I would excpet it to be Delpo. However, I might see Ferrer rise to the number 4 spot in virtue of his consistence. I would still find it hard to imagine Ferrer winning a slam. He is very good but lacks something against the big guns when he gets to the semi-finals.

5. It will indeed become difficult for Nadal to surpass Sampras, although if he sticks to a combination of RG and Wimbledon it might be possible.

After such a long time, one might wonder if Rafa is ever coming back anyway.

[Minion]

Originally Posted by DRII

thats why your not one of the greats!

no denying that.

[zagor]

Originally Posted by DRII

Ridiculous!

Nadal and Nole's encounters on hardcourt in 2011-2012 were all super close (except the USO final and even that was not straight sets) and could've gone either way yet all went Nole's way. Nadal was never 'owned' as you immaturely put it! So stop trying to rewrite history...

It makes complete sense for Nadal to wait until he's fully fit to return. If it was the clay season perhaps he could take a chance and return prematurely since he's head and shoulders above anyone else on clay and its easier on his body; not so with hardcourts...

Yeah, I also think that's a bunch of bull.

Even if Novak's win over Nadal on HC in 2011 were lopsided (and I personally wouldn't say they were), the last HC slam Nadal played he lost in the final, in a close 5 setter to the best HC player on the tour.

Nadal might be afraid of HCs because of his knees but not due to facing competition on that surface IMO.

[pvaudio]

Something I think people are forgetting is that the AO is in January and RG is in May-June. He will have gone ~a year of playing high level matches unless he plays his favorite clay Masters. If this is his strategy, then those will show his real shot at winning RG again. Him returning only at RG is frankly rather silly if he hopes to get through even the quarters.

[abmk]

Originally Posted by DRII

Delusional as usual...

keep dreaming wet.

all facts and reality >> accept it ........

in IW 2011, nole dominated after the first set ..... how was it super-close ???

and djoker missing those chances in the 4th set of the AO final are a fact .... go watch the match again ....

one thing I will agree with you though, nadal isn't afraid of coming back to HCs because of nole, but because of his knee problems ....

[TennezSport]

One of the problems that make it difficult to figure out what is going on with Rafa is the confusing statements. This morning I saw this and siad what the hell???

press chief Benito Perez-Barbadillo was quick to jump on such speculation. Were not lying to people; we never lie to people; it's not our style, said Perez-Barbadillo. Rafa's knees are doing well, but he's got this thing and this thing has stopped him from practice, from getting everything on track.

And then we hear this, so which is it???

The doctors say that the images are very good, so that is a big calm for me, but I still feel something. I need to be careful. I need to be focused on how the knee is getting better or worse every day and don't make a mistake that can be negative for my future.

Not yet do I have the feeling that I am 100% ready to compete, to say, I'm going to go there, I will be ready to run for every ball, to play aggressive, to do what I want with my legs and then try to play my best tennis to win.

Source = USRSA Daily Tennis News [DailyTennisNews@RacquetTECH.com]
Cheers, TennezSport

[Sabratha]

Is it too early to say Nadal is going the same way Soderling did?

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Sabratha

Is it too early to say Nadal is going the same way Soderling did?

No. I don't think he will be back at all and even if he is he won't be the same. Nadal's career ended after Wimby last year.

[Vrad]

Originally Posted by DRII

the clay is far easier on the knees because you can slide and therefore dissipate energy. not so with grass and certainly not with hardcourts which wreak havoc on the knees especially if you move like Nadal.

I find this hard to buy. #1 hard courts are irrelevant. Nadal did not play any HC matches after RG.

Grass courts, while not as easy as clay, are closer to clay than HCs as far as impact goes.

Still, I find it hard to buy the idea that 7 Clay court matches, against top notch players, had less impact on his knees than 2 grass court matches. Especially since he showed no sign during the loss to Rosol of any knee issues.

Personally, its a fact that almost all players play with some sort of injury at all times. I think Nadal's threshold for dealing with injury/pain has dropped significantly, especially when he isn't sure of winning. Which is why he is mentally willing to play on clay even if he may be injured, but is unwilling to play on other surfaces even if he feels a slight niggle.

[citybert]

Originally Posted by Minion

I'm also a new poster on these forums, so flame me if you want, i have very thick skin. I said in another post that i'm a fan of tennis, and no player in particular, so im not being biased.

Rafa started 2011 of full of hope and expectations, then Djokovic came out of nowhere and destroyed almost everything in his path. I watched all those matches, and i could see clearly that Rafa was heavily shaken by being beaten by Djokovic in succession. I think Djokovic broke him mentally in 2011. And then at the AO 2012 Rafa got so close, and we all saw what happened at Wimby.

Every single player on tour has some niggles, whether it be back, shoulder, wrist, neck, toe, ear, eye, whatever, the human body can only take so much. However, these people have 24h physios, and if you've ever been to one, you know what they can do. Any injury that requires this much time off, needs surgery - if the physio can't work it out in a month or two, chances are it can't be fixed without surgery.

I think he is afraid of the hard courts - not for his knees, but because he knows he will get owned. He will most probably return to his comfort zone with the clay season. If he loses at RG in 2013 (which i belive will happen), i reckon he will retire saying he's knees are now finally beyond repair, and that will be that.

true, doesn't he have a partially torn patella and he didn't go under the knife. Not sure if there some type of designer therapy that can regrow the tendon(i think) but how can he not try surgery if it doesn't work out this time.

I know there is no fix for his degenerative foot issue that is probably affecting this and I agree there is probably no procedure there.