vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
a parachute isn't even necessary... flight of the golden bull of imaginjury !Rafa will do a Felix Baumgartner
Rafa fans, what are your hopes of Rafa in 2013?
- Thread starter kragster
- Start date
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
Yeah i know what you mean. Nadal may well go on to have a great 2013. its so hard to tell if his 2010 was a one off season or if he can have a similar year again. if he can then as long as he gets back in form it could be a good year. the thing is with Nadal he's never had back to back seasons where he's been the top player so its hard to predict when his peak has been a bit off and on and not a straight trajectory.
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
You mean when he was out in 2009? He did great the following year but he had only been out for about 6 weeks plus no one expected him to do so well in 2010 so its still more of an exception to his usual seasons. not to be raining on your parade, just saying it would be a big surprise if he had his 3rd best ever season, but hey if he plays well enough he can do it.
My avatar is Pete Townshend from music legends "the who" (rest of the band just visable) not Howard from the big bang. but i know its hard to make out when its so small.
Mike Sams
G.O.A.T.
I want Rafa to start making more semifinals and finals on hardcourt because he is robbing players like Murray and Djokovic of their chances to increase their wins in the H2H.
This year, Djokovic has given Nadal 3 clay meetings so that Nadal can increase his win column in the H2H and Nadal has only given Djokovic 1 chance at the AO. If Nadal would stop messing around and start going deep in the 4 hardcourt Masters, Djokovic could begin to even things up. It's only fair. Why should Djokovic give Nadal all the opportunities to increase the H2H on Nadal's favourite surface of clay while Nadal won't do the same for Djokovic on Djokovic's best surface on hardcourts?
This year, Djokovic has given Nadal 3 clay meetings so that Nadal can increase his win column in the H2H and Nadal has only given Djokovic 1 chance at the AO. If Nadal would stop messing around and start going deep in the 4 hardcourt Masters, Djokovic could begin to even things up. It's only fair. Why should Djokovic give Nadal all the opportunities to increase the H2H on Nadal's favourite surface of clay while Nadal won't do the same for Djokovic on Djokovic's best surface on hardcourts?
RF20Lennon
Legend
If only did that in 2004-2007 haha xD
a parachute isn't even necessary... flight of the golden bull of imaginjury !
Lolx10redbulls
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I just want him to play and be healthy. If I could choose a major for him to win it would be Wimby or the USO.
N
NadalAgassi
Guest
I think if healthy he should win the French and has a huge shot to win Wimbledon if he survives his usual first week scare. A hard court slam is possible too, more likely the U.S than Australia as while I expect him to play not sure he will be ready to win that early.
D
Deleted member 307496
Guest
I hope he comes back and defends his final at the Australian Open.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Bit over the top here wouldn't you say?
D
Deleted member 307496
Guest
Nadal has done something similar before.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Not really. He skipped Wimbledon in 2009, but he was back for Montreal, and played the rest of his events. If he plays in Australia, he'll still have missed 6 months. Nowhere near what happened in 2009 really.
Besides the fact that Nadal is not getting any younger, and Djokovic has gotten infintely better, Murray has a first slam, and Federer is still in the discussion. Nadal has surprised me before, but this is too much. Nadal feeds off playing as many matches as he can get so I'll be surprised if he's not rusty as opposed to rested.
The Great Rafa
New User
CYGS!
Vamos!
Vamos!
D
Deleted member 307496
Guest
Nadal is 26 years old, his current playing style hasn't resulted in any injuries requiring surgery, and until that happens (or when he hits 28-29) is when I will stop believing he can achieve this.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, but there is a difference between being realistic, and believing in something that has a very slim chance of happening. He hasn't won anything off of clay since 2010, and now you're telling me he can win 3 slams. Like I said, he's not getting any younger, and he now has a crutch in Djokovic, and an improved Murray to deal with, and Federer is still there. You compare that with 2010 and it's not even close. Djokovic was serving more DF's than aces, Murray was "old" Murray, and Federer had a terrible 2010. All I'm saying is it's highly unlikely.
Crisstti
Legend
Rafa was in three slam finals just in 2011. And then the AO and RG. I wouldn't say it's extremely unlikely (while obviously an optimistic idea).
Hope, I hope he's healthy and stays that way. That he wins a slam, any of them. And a couple masters. It's what I expect if he's healthy anyway. One obviously can hope for a lot more...
He wasn't out so long in 2009, but he wasn't fine when he came back, which he will be this time if he sticks to his word and only comes back when he's 100% fine.
Hope, I hope he's healthy and stays that way. That he wins a slam, any of them. And a couple masters. It's what I expect if he's healthy anyway. One obviously can hope for a lot more...
He wasn't out so long in 2009, but he wasn't fine when he came back, which he will be this time if he sticks to his word and only comes back when he's 100% fine.
Clarky21
Banned
But he will be extrememly rusty and out of form. He will get torched repeatedly until he gets significant match practice in. And who says he will even be able to do that considering his injured all the time. I really hope he loses early for a while after he comes back to avoid getting smoked by the top 3. He stands zero chance against those guys.
Crisstti
Legend
He will be rusty, no doubt. He's said he's been working in the gym a lot though so as not to be out of shape.
I sure don't expect him to win the AO.
He beat Fed early in 2006 I think, after having been out for like 4 months.
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
clay season will be vital as always, but more so this year. I wouldn't expect too much til then, if he does well then all credit to him, but clay is a surface where he can be miles below his best and still only lose if the other guy is playing amazing tennis.He'll go deep in the clay events and get into form.
N
NadalAgassi
Guest
I dont think so. I am not saying I EXPECT al those things to happen, but they are in no way unrealistic to hope for or unreasonable when evaluating his possabilities if he makes a strong return.
Nadal is the 2nd most accomplished player in the game the last 15 years behind Federer, and Federer is 31 now. Nadal is still only 26. Nadal at his best has won French, Wimbledon, Olympics on hards, and Australian Open all within 8 months, and then another time won French, Wimbledon, U.S Open in a row in a 4 month stretch. He would have duplicated or exceeded that with a 3rd dominant stretch in 2011 had it not been for Novak Djokovic hitting his own GOAT levels which he might well never reach again. Why on earth would thinking he coud go on another such run be unrealistic, unless he never returns the same player which is possible and something that only time will tell on.
Nadal until this years Wimbledon was the most consistently strong grass courter the last 4 or 5 years of anyone including Federer. Federer being 31, Djokovic not being a great grass courter, and Murray being 0-3 vs Nadal at Wimbledon, thinking Nadal has a great shot at Wimbledon if fit and in strong form by then is not in the least unrealistic.
Hard court slams will never come easily for Nadal even at the best of times but he is also fully capable of contending to win them if at his best. There isnt a dominant hard court player in the post Federer era, with Djokovic coming closest. The last hard court slam he played he should have won.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
On the other hand Djokovic may go on a roll again, you never know. He is still at the peak of his powers. All he needs is a few wins in tournaments to get the super confidence back. Right now we have no way of knowing what will happen in future Djokovic/Nadal matches off clay. Then you have to factor Murray in these days off clay. Murray is probably currently a better hard court player than Nadal is and he knows how to defeat Nadal on HC.
furryballs
Banned
if nadal loses before the quarters at the AO he wont play again.
beast of mallorca
G.O.A.T.
Is that your Christmas wish to Santa ? Have you been a good boy ? :twisted:
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