Did The People Hating On Nadal Forget Federer Skipped Half The Season?

REKX

Rookie
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate, but I don't understand he is not feeling well, probably well enough to compete but it is a smart decision for him as he is not 100% and this is one of his worst surfaces - so having secured the number 1 spot, there is little point carrying on. And for his age, it is better to rest and prepare for the next Grand Slam which is much more important.

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season, rested and skipped a Grand Slam to try and win Wimbledon.

Anyway Federer isn't playing hugely well by his standards, but he is clear favorite to win and I fully expect him to lift the title.

Guys, these two are the greatest two players of all time and it has been a pleasure to watch them growing up. It is really sad because they are both at the very end of their careers and we won't be seeing them compete at this level. Yes the 2017 season was very favorable for both of them, the lack of new generation as well as their direct competitors being injured helped and really took me back to when I first started watching tennis where Federer and Nadal were dominating.

This probably won't ever happen again, so let them enjoy their last few years and they will live on in the history books and youtube videos.

Thank you guys, salute.
 

Devin

Semi-Pro
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate, but I don't understand he is not feeling well, probably well enough to compete but it is a smart decision for him as he is not 100% and this is one of his worst surfaces - so having secured the number 1 spot, there is little point carrying on. And for his age, it is better to rest and prepare for the next Grand Slam which is much more important.

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season, rested and skipped a Grand Slam to try and win Wimbledon.

Anyway Federer isn't playing hugely well by his standards, but he is clear favorite to win and I fully expect him to lift the title.

Guys, these two are the greatest two players of all time and it has been a pleasure to watch them growing up. It is really sad because they are both at the very end of their careers and we won't be seeing them compete at this level. Yes the 2017 season was very favorable for both of them, the lack of new generation as well as their direct competitors being injured helped and really took me back to when I first started watching tennis where Federer and Nadal were dominating.

This probably won't ever happen again, so let them enjoy their last few years and they will live on in the history books and youtube videos.

Thank you guys, salute.

You sure you're a Federer fan?
 

REKX

Rookie
Nadal is the 3rd best player of his era in terms of peak level.

Nadal is the second greatest player of all time. There is no debate.

He is the only player which dominated Roger Federer whilst Federer was at his prime, I don't think any other player in history could have done that. Sampras whilst he was Wimbledon champion couldn't beat a young 19 year old weak Roger Federer.

Which is why Nadal's achievements are so good. Federer for me is the greatest and Nadal is second. Third and fourth go to Sampras and Djokovic, but Djokovic has a chance to move to number 3 by the end of his career.
 

Tennisanity

Legend
Nadal is the second greatest player of all time. There is no debate.

He is the only player which dominated Roger Federer whilst Federer was at his prime, I don't think any other player in history could have done that. Sampras whilst he was Wimbledon champion couldn't beat a young 19 year old weak Roger Federer.

Which is why Nadal's achievements are so good. Federer for me is the greatest and Nadal is second. Third and fourth go to Sampras and Djokovic, but Djokovic has a chance to move to number 3 by the end of his career.

He didn't dominate Roger in his prime, only on clay. Peak Fed was 5-2 vs. Nadal off clay. Djokovic peak level is better than Nadal's as proven in 2011 when Nadal was still peak.
 

norcal

Legend
WTF is a glaring hole in Rafa's resume and this was about as good a chance as he has to win it, so yeah it looks bad.

And everyone knows if this was on clay he would miraculously be healthy enough to play.

And Roger is ancient, even compared to old man Rafa. Roger gets the AARP schedule.
 

Inanimate_object

Hall of Fame
Nadal is at least as entitled to skip any indoor event as Federer is to skip any clay event. Injury or even fear of injury at this point in their careers is enough to justify being selective. That being said, if either of them are avoiding tournaments specifically to avoid the other player in unfavorable conditions - that I do have a problem with.
 

True Fanerer

G.O.A.T.
Nadal is at least as entitled to skip any indoor event as Federer is to skip any clay event. Injury or even fear of injury at this point in their careers is enough to justify being selective. That being said, if either of them are avoiding tournaments specifically to avoid the other player in unfavorable conditions - that I do have a problem with.
I've said something similar. Skip their weaknesses. Rafa is always worn out by the indoor season and Fed is too old to play the clay season. Each should play one warm up event each and one important tournament and call it. I'm one of the few Federer fans that believes this. Play a warm up next year and play the FO screw it.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
And everyone knows if this was on clay he would miraculously be healthy enough to play.
He pulled out of RG last year, didn't he?
"Most of the season?"

Care to break that down for us? Skipping clay and a few 500's and Masters 1000's isn't "most of the season."

And Federer just didn't "try" to win Wimbledon, he actually did it.

A massive difference.
It's fair enough to correct him for simultaneously understate and exaggerate Fed's season this year, but in this context his poor choice of words is barely relevant to the point he's attempting to make.

Thing is, I'm not quite sure what the point is, other than "Fed skipped the entire clay swing due to fears of injury / fatigue, and improve his odds at Wimbledon; so why can't Nadal skip the WTF due to actual injury?"

Because if that's the point being made, this thread is quite redundant, not that redundancy ever stopped a poster from creating threads. If anything, redundancy is probably why some posters even have the time to open ten threads a day.
 

Jackuar

Hall of Fame
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate, but I don't understand he is not feeling well, probably well enough to compete but it is a smart decision for him as he is not 100% and this is one of his worst surfaces - so having secured the number 1 spot, there is little point carrying on. And for his age, it is better to rest and prepare for the next Grand Slam which is much more important.

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season, rested and skipped a Grand Slam to try and win Wimbledon.

Anyway Federer isn't playing hugely well by his standards, but he is clear favorite to win and I fully expect him to lift the title.

Guys, these two are the greatest two players of all time and it has been a pleasure to watch them growing up. It is really sad because they are both at the very end of their careers and we won't be seeing them compete at this level. Yes the 2017 season was very favorable for both of them, the lack of new generation as well as their direct competitors being injured helped and really took me back to when I first started watching tennis where Federer and Nadal were dominating.

This probably won't ever happen again, so let them enjoy their last few years and they will live on in the history books and youtube videos.

Thank you guys, salute.

The problem I have with Nadal pulling out is, he got in and withdrew in the middle of the tourney, knowing that his knees were bad. Fed knew his health would get hit and he withdrew before clay season started. There wouldn't have been any issue if Nadal withdrew gracefully before WTF. Honestly, he should've pulled out before Paris as well because even though he says, I doubt if his knees were good before the start of Paris. The same act when done by youngsters and mugsters at the USO drew a flak. Why should it be different for Nadal and Murray. Either both Nadal and Tomic are right. Or both are wrong.

He's trying to get the YE1 by working around the system because the system says more points = no.1. That means the no.1 is not portraying the best player but the one who "managed" to accumulate more points, no matter what route it takes.
 
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kabob

Hall of Fame
Nadal is at least as entitled to skip any indoor event as Federer is to skip any clay event. Injury or even fear of injury at this point in their careers is enough to justify being selective. That being said, if either of them are avoiding tournaments specifically to avoid the other player in unfavorable conditions - that I do have a problem with.

He's actually met the requirements to skip tournaments, but Nadal just doesn't know how, or have any desire to, cut back and pace himself. I mean, was it really necessary to pack his schedule (two tournaments in China?) post-USO?
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
He's actually met the requirements to skip tournaments, but Nadal just doesn't know how, or have any desire to, cut back and pace himself. I mean, was it really necessary to pack his schedule (two tournaments in China?) post-USO?
I think he may have wanted to play himself into indoor HC form, and use that confidence to finally win the WTF, except that his heavy schedule and fragile knees backfired on him as usual.

It was a delight to see him do so well in Beijing though.
 

True Fanerer

G.O.A.T.
The problem I have with Nadal pulling out it, he got in and withdrew it in the middle of the tourney, knowing that his knees were bad. Fed knew his health would get hit and he withdrew before clay season started. There wouldn't have been any issue if Nadal withdrew gracefully before WTF. Honestly, he should've pulled out before Paris as well because even though he says, I doubt if his knewws were good before the start of Paris.

The same act when done by youngsters and mugsters at the USO drew a flak. Why should it be different for Nadal and Murray. Either both Nadal and Tomic are right. Or both are wrong.
Federer would never enter a tournament hurt and quit early. He never has to my knowledge. If you are hurt going in, then either withdraw or gut it out for a loss. If the latter, gut it out for a loss once more in RR play in the WTF. Gutsy by Nadal to play really i mean that. Enjoyed it for drama purposes. I understand the move because of one thing... Nadal knows he has to show up for this to deserve #1. Only thing that makes sense.
 

MS_07

Semi-Pro
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate, but I don't understand he is not feeling well, probably well enough to compete but it is a smart decision for him as he is not 100% and this is one of his worst surfaces - so having secured the number 1 spot, there is little point carrying on. And for his age, it is better to rest and prepare for the next Grand Slam which is much more important.

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season, rested and skipped a Grand Slam to try and win Wimbledon.

Anyway Federer isn't playing hugely well by his standards, but he is clear favorite to win and I fully expect him to lift the title.

Guys, these two are the greatest two players of all time and it has been a pleasure to watch them growing up. It is really sad because they are both at the very end of their careers and we won't be seeing them compete at this level. Yes the 2017 season was very favorable for both of them, the lack of new generation as well as their direct competitors being injured helped and really took me back to when I first started watching tennis where Federer and Nadal were dominating.

This probably won't ever happen again, so let them enjoy their last few years and they will live on in the history books and youtube videos.

Thank you guys, salute.

You're a B__U__L__L__S__*__*__T ******** pretending to be fedfan.

Hear thoughts from a neutral (or fan of both) person,

Rafa is getting hate because, after asian swing he knew he's done and played paris and wtf just get some free points and secure the YE #1. You can say that fed did the same in USO, i agree. But still 2 > 1. So, hate nadal.

If you are injured, don't participate. that's it. Murray also got hatred because he did otherwise at USO.

There are plenty other players waiting to get their first GS match and raise their rankings. Let them have a fair chance by withdrawing earlier.

Rafa is no better than those 6-7 chums at Wimby who retired on day1/2.
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
He's actually met the requirements to skip tournaments, but Nadal just doesn't know how, or have any desire to, cut back and pace himself. I mean, was it really necessary to pack his schedule (two tournaments in China?) post-USO?
I think that's more to the point. Nadal's pick of tournaments was not as cagey as Fed's this year.

Both of them could be accused of ducking the other on their best surfaces, which I think is a pretty silly accusation, but common here.
 

Federev

Legend
The problem I have with Nadal pulling out is, he got in and withdrew in the middle of the tourney, knowing that his knees were bad. Fed knew his health would get hit and he withdrew before clay season started. There wouldn't have been any issue if Nadal withdrew gracefully before WTF. Honestly, he should've pulled out before Paris as well because even though he says, I doubt if his knees were good before the start of Paris. The same act when done by youngsters and mugsters at the USO drew a flak. Why should it be different for Nadal and Murray. Either both Nadal and Tomic are right. Or both are wrong.

He's trying to get the YE1 by working around the system because the system says more points = no.1. That means the no.1 is not portraying the best player but the one who "managed" to accumulate more points, no matter what route it takes.

if Nads already knew his knees would lead him out early at WTF and was just going to pull out when he did all along then I really do have a problem with that.

And Fed never did that as far as I know. Even at USO he was eliminated fair and square by Delpo.

But I don't really know what's in Rafa's head so I guess is better to reserve judgment...
 

True Fanerer

G.O.A.T.
I think that's more to the point. Nadal's pick of tournaments was not as cagey as Fed's this year.

Both of them could be accused of ducking the other on their best surfaces, which I think is a pretty silly accusation, but common here.
Federer is 36 as we all know. Its like we all forget that sometimes. This isn't geared toward you @Gary Duane btw. Its unheard of to be this competitive at that age. Is he so good that we forget this? The answer is yes!! To hell with Feds schedule! Let's eat popcorn every time he plays the next couple years as we witness the greatest to ever hold a racket in our lifetime.
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
Federer is 36 as we all know. Its like we all forget that sometimes. This isn't geared toward you @Gary Duane btw. Its unheard of to be this competitive at that age. Is he so good that we forget this? The answer is yes!! To hell with Feds schedule! Let's eat popcorn every time he plays the next couple years as we witness the greatest to ever hold a racket in our lifetime.
My position: Fed is a longevity frreak, and off the top of my head I can only think of two other guys in the same category, Gonzalez and Rosewall. So it's a bit unfair to everyone else to make comparisons!

Nadal, given his knees and playing style, I find ALMOST equally amazing with what he has done this year.

I never expected him to do better than perhaps winning another RG, so his year has been amazing too.

I don't understand the hatred of the two fan groups, and for that matter I don't understand hate for players.

I'm hoping for a miracle comeback for Novak next year. A year and a half ago I just wanted someone to stake him, stop him from taking over the world. But a resurgence for Gumby would actually excite me next year. :)
 
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fedtennisphan

Hall of Fame
Nadal is at least as entitled to skip any indoor event as Federer is to skip any clay event. Injury or even fear of injury at this point in their careers is enough to justify being selective. That being said, if either of them are avoiding tournaments specifically to avoid the other player in unfavorable conditions - that I do have a problem with.

One had knee surgery and the other one didn’t. One fanbase thought the other player wouldn’t be a factor on any surface. When that was not the case, the other player got mad and started complaining and bailed on the WTF. Now the fanbase of the bailed player is hoping the other player loses to save face. Nadal fans are ruins because Nadal made up a wussy injury and his fans are scared that Federer will win the WTF for the seven time. Then despite Nadal being no. 1, people who watch and cover the sport will say Nadal who?
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Federer doesn't pull out of tournaments. He merely manages his calendar as he sees fit, as everyone else does in his own way.
 
Federer has played full seasons up until he was 34 years old in 2015.
Given his age and mileage he kind of has the right to choose what to play, without anyone disputing it.
Besides, he skipped his worst surface, Cincy due to injury and Paris due to fatigue. That is not 'half a season'.
 

merlinpinpin

Hall of Fame
My position: Fed is a longevity streak, and off the top of my head I can only think of two other guys in the same category, Gonzalez and Rosewall. So it's a bit unfair to everyone else to make comparisons!

I suppose you mean 'freak', and you forgot Tilden, imho.
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
Nadal is at least as entitled to skip any indoor event as Federer is to skip any clay event. Injury or even fear of injury at this point in their careers is enough to justify being selective. That being said, if either of them are avoiding tournaments specifically to avoid the other player in unfavorable conditions - that I do have a problem with.

He's far less entitled to actually given that Fed is 5 years older and had a knee surgery last year.

I think that's more to the point. Nadal's pick of tournaments was not as cagey as Fed's this year.

And that was rewarded with a #1 spot (not a small thing), as it should be.

My position: Fed is a longevity streak, and off the top of my head I can only think of two other guys in the same category, Gonzalez and Rosewall. So it's a bit unfair to everyone else to make comparisons!

Nadal, given his knees and playing style, I find ALMOST equally amazing with what he has done this year.

Said longevity freak had a knee surgery last year and arrived injury hampered at the last slam of this season despite a very, very light schedule.

Sorry but Fed and Nadal are just not on equal terms here, latter's "grueling playing style" notwhitstanding.

Trying to present Nadal as some player broken down by injuries in the light of him playing a full calendar season (almost 80 matches) at 31 is becoming ridiculous. Sampras, Agassi, Lendl and even Connors, none of them were able to compete in such a manner at the same age. Nadal's achievements are extremely impressive by themselves, no need to give them an artifical boost.
 

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate...

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season..
You seem to not understand the difference between not playing a tournament and playing it but pulling out after you've played thereby ensuring you've directly affected and manipulated the draw and results.

Big difference.

(and at least Federer had the decency to pull out of tournaments before the did the draw unlike Murray)
 

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
So I am a Federer and Nadal fan so I will give in interpretation of the situation.

Nadal pulled out of this tournament and he is getting a lot of hate, but I don't understand he is not feeling well, probably well enough to compete but it is a smart decision for him as he is not 100% and this is one of his worst surfaces - so having secured the number 1 spot, there is little point carrying on. And for his age, it is better to rest and prepare for the next Grand Slam which is much more important.

Nadal shouldn't be getting hate because Federer pulled out for most of the season, rested and skipped a Grand Slam to try and win Wimbledon.

Anyway Federer isn't playing hugely well by his standards, but he is clear favorite to win and I fully expect him to lift the title.

Guys, these two are the greatest two players of all time and it has been a pleasure to watch them growing up. It is really sad because they are both at the very end of their careers and we won't be seeing them compete at this level. Yes the 2017 season was very favorable for both of them, the lack of new generation as well as their direct competitors being injured helped and really took me back to when I first started watching tennis where Federer and Nadal were dominating.

This probably won't ever happen again, so let them enjoy their last few years and they will live on in the history books and youtube videos.

Thank you guys, salute.

It's nothing new that Rafa 'is getting a lot of hate' from Fedfans. They have hated him since he started to beat their beloved one.
 

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
The problem I have with Nadal pulling out is, he got in and withdrew in the middle of the tourney, knowing that his knees were bad. Fed knew his health would get hit and he withdrew before clay season started. There wouldn't have been any issue if Nadal withdrew gracefully before WTF. Honestly, he should've pulled out before Paris as well because even though he says, I doubt if his knees were good before the start of Paris. The same act when done by youngsters and mugsters at the USO drew a flak. Why should it be different for Nadal and Murray. Either both Nadal and Tomic are right. Or both are wrong.

He's trying to get the YE1 by working around the system because the system says more points = no.1. That means the no.1 is not portraying the best player but the one who "managed" to accumulate more points, no matter what route it takes.

Hmm. Fed withdrew before the 2014 WTF final:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/archive/nitto-atp-finals/605/2014/results?matchType=singles
 

Jackuar

Hall of Fame
Fed didn't pick an injury BEFORE the tournament. He got a stiff back DURING the tourney, after the SF win against Stan.

Nadal had bad knees even before Paris, still played to vulture YE1 and promptly quits; (or even if you say he pick that during Paris, still shouldn't have got inside WTF, yet shoots concerns around knee up until 2 days before the tourney starts, comes in still to make a single day appearance at WTF for what? (I don't know!)

See the difference?
 

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
He's actually met the requirements to skip tournaments, but Nadal just doesn't know how, or have any desire to, cut back and pace himself. I mean, was it really necessary to pack his schedule (two tournaments in China?) post-USO?

Rafa has always played an ATP-500 event before the Shangai Masters. Rafa's schedule is a normal schedule of a top-30 player. And he won the Beijing tournament, despite of being written off by the TTW prophets of gloom and doom a long time ago...! Well done!
22308592_1495647540500466_5086037610036677713_n.jpg
 

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
One had knee surgery and the other one didn’t. One fanbase thought the other player wouldn’t be a factor on any surface. When that was not the case, the other player got mad and started complaining and bailed on the WTF. Now the fanbase of the bailed player is hoping the other player loses to save face. Nadal fans are ruins because Nadal made up a wussy injury and his fans are scared that Federer will win the WTF for the seven time. Then despite Nadal being no. 1, people who watch and cover the sport will say Nadal who?

The post quoted above is yet another made-up story about 'the other player'.

One had knee surgery and the other one didn’t. One fanbase thought the other player wouldn’t be a factor on any surface. When that was not the case, the other player got mad and started complaining and bailed on the WTF. Now the fanbase of the bailed player is hoping the other player loses to save face. Nadal fans are ruins because Nadal made up a wussy injury and his fans are scared that Federer will win the WTF for the seven time. Then despite Nadal being no. 1, people who watch and cover the sport will say Nadal who?

It doesn't matter in the real world (pro tennis circuit) what Fed's supporters say in their alternate universe.
In the real world, Rafa is the 2017 Year-End ATP World Tour No. 1
 

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
Federer doesn't pull out of tournaments. He merely manages his calendar as he sees fit, as everyone else does in his own way.

Hmm. I wonder why Fed has constantly 'a back problem' and is withdrawing from tournaments if he is, allegedly, good at scheduling.

NYT, February 17, 2009:
¤¤ Injury Will Keep Federer Out of Davis Cup vs. U.S. Federer, a 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced Tuesday that he was withdrawing from the Swiss team for those matches because of a lingering BACK INJURY.¤¤

The G&M, Friday, September 25, 2009:
¤¤ Federer had a back problem after the Australian Open at the beginning of 2009, an event marked by his substandard play in the losing the fifth set of the final 6-2 to Rafael Nadal and his subsequent tearful loss of composure during the presentation ceremonies.
He then withdrew from the hard court tournament in Dubai before playing the hard court events in Indian Wells, Calif., (losing to Andy Murray) and Miami (losing to Novak Djokovic). The latter match was marked by him uncharacteristically smashing a racquet in anger on the court and then saying he was happy to be getting off the hard courts with the clay-court season about to begin.
He has said that his back got better and he finally had free movement starting at the Italian Open in May, and that showed as he won the next event on clay in Madrid, and then the French Open and Wimbledon.
Now, after four out of five weeks on hard-court at events in Montreal (quarter-finals), Cincinnati (a victory) and at the US Open (final), it appears as if the back is again a concern.
Certainly the stats from the US Open final indicate Federer’s serving might well have been affected by the back. His first serve percentage was a meagre 50 per cent. That compares with the 64 per cent, a good but not great percentage, he had during in his five-set victory over Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final. ¤¤

Reuters, Sep 25, 2009:
¤¤ "I am disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities in the world and the fans have been great to me over the years," Federer said on his website.
"After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully RECOVER from a physically challenging year." ¤¤
 
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