Nadal skips Shanghai

topher

topher

Hall of Fame
I think its the right and expected decision for Rafa, as much as I want to see him play. East Asia is a long trip for one tournament and probably needs to stay close to home to focus on wedding preparation.

Hopefully he comes back for Paris in good form and we get some good matches to decide #1. Novak's obviously the favorite, but he always was with the exception of when that shoulder injury looked bad for a couple weeks.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
Congratulations to Djokovic on a sixth YE#1. I really have no idea when he will lose the number 1 spot, probably not before 2022 given the current competition.

Well, it was Nadal's decision to gift him the YE#1 without even trying to fight for it. I guess we have to respect that decision, as terrible as it is.
 
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Talk Tennis Guru
As I said before, I'd bet on Nadal being the number 1 at WTF. But if the point gap is small, YE #1 will be in Djokovic's hands too.

Got to do well in Asia now...
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
420951.jpg
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
OhYes said:
Why are you angry ?
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Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
 
BVSlam

BVSlam

Professional
People already hand the YE#1 to Nadal, but I think Djoko still has a decent chance if he remains healthy. If he ends up having his usual great fall season, he could do it. He does have a lot of points to defend, but Nadal doesn't have many opportunities to gain points with his schedule and he will need to do well himself too. But I do think Djokovic needs to get the most out of the Asian swing. If Nadal comes back refreshed from not playing the Asian swing, he may do better than usual at the Paris/WTF combo.
 
Breakpointerer

Breakpointerer

Legend
StrongRule said:
Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
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To be fair though, he did win 2 slams this year.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
BVSlam said:
People already hand the YE#1 to Nadal, but I think Djoko still has a decent chance if he remains healthy. If he ends up having his usual great fall season, he could do it. He does have a lot of points to defend, but Nadal doesn't have many opportunities to gain points with his schedule and he will need to do well himself too. But I do think Djokovic needs to get the most out of the Asian swing. If Nadal comes back refreshed from not playing the Asian swing, he may do better than usual at the Paris/WTF combo.
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Lol, WHO does? Djokovic has that YE#1 now. Nadal gifted it to him.
 
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BVSlam

BVSlam

Professional
StrongRule said:
Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
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What? Any guy who wins two slams in a season is deserving of a YE#1.
 
O

OhYes

Guest
StrongRule said:
Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
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Season is not over yet. Nadal skipping Cincy ws good decision, plus he is about to get married. They both won 2 Slams this year, so I don't know why this trigger you so much.
 
T

Tiki-Taka

Guest
StrongRule said:
Right. Nadal takes "smart decisions" while Djokovic stays the king of tennis for another year, and probably will not lose it in a looooooooooooooooong time.
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If Nadal is tired or unfit, it is a smart decision to skip some events. He won a couple of Slams, at the age of 33, clearly he's been doing something right.

Djokovic has work to do as it is anyway. If he wins several events to stay number one, all credit to him. But that wouldn't take anything away from a great season Nadal has had himself.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
To be honest, nothing is surprising here. 99% that Nadal will skip Paris and WTF as well. I called it when he withdrew from Laver Cup.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
OhYes said:
Season is not over yet. Nadal skipping Cincy ws good decision, plus he is about to get married. They both won 2 Slams this year, so I don't know why this trigger you so much.
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What makes me angry is that we see so many motivation from Federer and Djokovic. They are ready to die for their tennis records. With Nadal it's the other way around, he just doesn't care about tennis anymore. He skips tournaments one after another. In 2018 he played 9 tournaments during the year and ended up withdrawing during two of them. This year it's pretty much the same story again. Watch him withdraw from Paris and WTF. I totally expect it.
 
Lew II

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
StrongRule said:
Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
Click to expand...
In two years he ended #2 with like 12,000 points, so things even out at the end I guess.
 
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Talk Tennis Guru
StrongRule said:
Because in the last few years that number 1 spot turned into a total joke. Djokovic can lose in slam fourth rounds and still stay at this spot because there is nobody to take it from him. Even when one guy got a chance this year he decided that he doesn't want it, and prefers to gift Djokovic another YE#1.
Click to expand...
Djokovic once finished a year as number 2 despite being the only player with multiple Slams. Oh and he had the most Masters then as well.

Nadal once finished a year as number 1 despite losing in a fourth round of a Slam. Probably had something to do with the fact that his only challenger back then decided not to bother with one surface altogether. And even then they ended up switching there for a few months last year.
 
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NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
StrongRule said:
What makes me angry is that we see so many motivation from Federer and Djokovic. They are ready to die for their tennis records. With Nadal it's the other way around, he just doesn't care about tennis anymore. He skips tournaments one after another. In 2018 he played 9 tournaments during the year and ended up withdrawing during two of them. This year it's pretty much the same story again. Watch him withdraw from Paris and WTF. I totally expect it.
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Djokovic has to run the tables just to stay #1 even with Nadal skipping Shanghai. Nadal is still the favorite to finish the year #1 if he plays Paris and WTF. Plus, he's getting married which is probably one of the biggest days of his life so he has a valid excuse for not playing Shanghai. The fall season has never been his strength anyway.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
NoleFam said:
Djokovic has to run the tables just to stay #1 even with Nadal skipping Shanghai. Nadal is still the favorite to finish the year #1 if he plays Paris and WTF. Plus, he's getting married which is probably one of the biggest days of his life so he has a valid excuse for not playing Shanghai. The fall season has never been his strength anyway.
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Please. Djokovic's dominance in the last part of the season (especially Shanghai and WTF) is up there with Nadal's dominance on clay. The only thing that could stop him getting that YE#1 is Nadal playing everything. But it isn't the case.

As for the part in bold: sorry, but that's total BS. Do you remember Federer or Djokovic ever making such excuses? Or any other relevant player? I clearly don't. Injury in the only valid excuse.
 
O

OhYes

Guest
StrongRule said:
What makes me angry is that we see so many motivation from Federer and Djokovic. They are ready to die for their tennis records. With Nadal it's the other way around, he just doesn't care about tennis anymore. He skips tournaments one after another. In 2018 he played 9 tournaments during the year and ended up withdrawing during two of them. This year it's pretty much the same story again. Watch him withdraw from Paris and WTF. I totally expect it.
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I think he knows exactly what is he doing.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Rafa is demob happy. Shanghai finishes 6 days before his wedding. He needs to take time off to enjoy the whole experience. The last thing he wants is to return from Shanghai nursing an injury that will impact on his wedding day. Good for him. He's got nothing left to prove and he says his main aim is to be fit enough to play for as long as possible not play tournaments for the sake of gaining points.
 
James P

James P

G.O.A.T.
He doesn't need an excuse. That's the benefits of being an elder statesman on the tour. Sucks for the fans, but it's not like he's breaking any rules.
 
NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
StrongRule said:
Please. Djokovic's dominance in the last part of the season (especially Shanghai and WTF) is up there with Nadal's dominance on clay. The only thing that could stop him getting that YE#1 is Nadal playing everything. But it isn't the case.

As for the part in bold: sorry, but that's total BS. Do you remember Federer or Djokovic ever making such excuses? Or any other relevant player? I clearly don't. Injury in the only valid excuse.
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Or injury could stop him which is still touch and go. You are getting way ahead of yourself. Djokovic is nearly 2000 points behind in the race and just had a shoulder injury.

When Djokovic got married, he bombed out in Canada and Cincy right after, and lost in the SF of the USO in a match many still think he should have won. It is definitely a valid excuse.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
StrongRule said:
What makes me angry is that we see so many motivation from Federer and Djokovic. They are ready to die for their tennis records. With Nadal it's the other way around, he just doesn't care about tennis anymore. He skips tournaments one after another. In 2018 he played 9 tournaments during the year and ended up withdrawing during two of them. This year it's pretty much the same story again. Watch him withdraw from Paris and WTF. I totally expect it.
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And still ended up as Y/E #2 with 7 completed tournaments.

GOAT
 
victorcruz

victorcruz

Hall of Fame
Frank Bannister said:
You don't ever get tired of defending Nadal skipping out on the fall season? It must wear on you and other Nadal fans. Among other things.
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I don't understand why it offends you that he does. He's not getting points for it, he's not getting paid for it, you don't have to put up with watching him play. Unless it's upsetting to you, that you don't get to root against him, in that case hate is definitely stronger than love :laughing:
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
NoleFam said:
Or injury could stop him which is still touch and go. You are getting way ahead of yourself. Djokovic is nearly 2000 points behind in the race and just had a shoulder injury.

When Djokovic got married, he bombed out in Canada and Cincy right after, and lost in the SF of the USO in a match many still think he should have won. It is definitely a valid excuse.
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It's the first time I see somebody write this excuse. I thought it was accepted that Djokovic lost to Nishikori because he struggled with the heavy conditions that day. Anyway, he at least played all these tournaments, and for sure hoped to win them.
 
Frank Bannister

Frank Bannister

Semi-Pro
victorcruz said:
I don't understand why it offends you that he does. He's not getting points for it, he's not getting paid for it, you don't have to put up with watching him play. Unless it's upsetting to you, that you don't get to root against him, in that case hate is definitely stronger than love :laughing:
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Federer played clay season just so Nadal could slaughter him. The least Nadal can do is show up on Fed's turf. Oh wait, he finally met him on grass after 11 years :rolleyes:
 
NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
StrongRule said:
It's the first time I see somebody write this excuse. I thought it was accepted that Djokovic lost to Nishikori because he struggled with the heavy conditions that day. Anyway, he at least played all these tournaments, and for sure hoped to win them.
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And is that why he lost to Robredo in Cincy and got thrashed by Tsonga in Canada, and went into the USO undercooked?
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
I did not expect Rafa to play Shanghai anyway. He almost said as much that he would play LC and one more tournament before the WTF. Can't remember when he said it, but it stuck in my head.
 
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