Can you believe how weak the 2013-2017 clay era will be?

RAFA2005RG

RAFA2005RG

Banned
The+Rafael+Nadal+Terracotta+statue.jpg

Once Djokovic and Federer drop-off, who will challenge Nadal on clay? Murray? Nadal has a severe stranglehold over Murray at the slams of late. Nadal beat Murray in all 3 of their slam meetings in 2011. That is crazy. That's not to say Murray can't beat Nadal at hardcourt slams, as we already saw he did back in 2010 and 2008. But Roland Garros is the last slam Murray would be able to hurt Nadal at. Even winning a set will be a struggle for Murray at Roland Garros. So I don't see him doing anything that Federer and Djokovic couldn't do.
PVC_tennis_player_figure_statue.jpg

Even in 2012, Nadal most injury prone year, Nadal won Monte Carlo in straight sets, Barcelona in straight sets, Rome in straight sets, and only dropped one set at Roland Garros. So when Djokovic drops off, and Federer drops off, who is there to take a set from Nadal? Tomic's worst surface is clay. Raonic's worst surface is clay. It is surreal how weak the 2013-2017 clay era will be. On top of that, Nadal has said he will focus on clay now, and avoid some of the hardcourt events. He's increased his claycourt schedule which now begins in February. You thought Nadal dominated 2005-2012.....that was only the beginning.
Rafael+Nadal+Terracotta+Warrior+statue.jpg
 
Ico

Ico

Hall of Fame
Amusing drivel. Nadal will "drop off" before Djokovic, maybe even before Federer.
 
RAFA2005RG

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Ico said:
Amusing drivel. Nadal will "drop off" before Djokovic, maybe even before Federer.
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That's funny, because if you compare 2011 Djokovic to 2012 Djokovic, clearly Djokovic dropped off on clay.

And if you compare 2011 Federer to 2012 Federer, clearly Federer dropped off on clay.

If you compare 2011 Nadal to 2012 Nadal, well its no contest, 2012 Nadal was FAR better on clay.

So your post has already been disproved. And 2012 Nadal disproved it without even being healthy. Now he's well rested and focusing on clay more than ever in 2013. Heck, he's already training on clay while the others slug it out on slow hardcourt. Like I said, this is only the beginning.
 
The Bawss

The Bawss

Banned
Just noticed that the statue of Nadal is holding a Wilson PS or K.Six.One...hahah like Nadal could handle those sticks!
 
Rock Strongo

Rock Strongo

Legend
The Bawss said:
Just noticed that the statue of Nadal is holding a Wilson PS or K.Six.One...hahah like Nadal could handle those sticks!
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LOL I noticed that too but I didn't want to reply as these threads deserve to die:p

Seems like a 95 18x20, like he would ever use that!
 
tennis_pro

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
RAFA2005RG said:
That's funny, because if you compare 2011 Djokovic to 2012 Djokovic, clearly Djokovic dropped off on clay.

And if you compare 2011 Federer to 2012 Federer, clearly Federer dropped off on clay.

If you compare 2011 Nadal to 2012 Nadal, well its no contest, 2012 Nadal was FAR better on clay.

So your post has already been disproved. And 2012 Nadal disproved it without even being healthy. Now he's well rested and focusing on clay more than ever in 2013. Heck, he's already training on clay while the others slug it out on slow hardcourt. Like I said, this is only the beginning.
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In 2011, compared to 2010 Djokovic, Murray and Federer had way better results on clay while Nadal had worse.
 
kalyan4fedever

kalyan4fedever

Legend
david ferrer, almagro can easily take out murraa on clay. He would need some divine intervention to reach the final on RG lol. Anyway where is this rafa statue
 
90's Clay

90's Clay

Banned
Clay competition has been weak since the early-mid 90s.

This is nothing new. We haven't had any real clay depth since then
 
Homeboy Hotel

Homeboy Hotel

Hall of Fame
I thought Roland Garros 2011 between Murray and Nadal was a pretty tight match...had hundreds of break point opportunities.

So close to beating Nadal in Monte Carlo too...
 
smoledman

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
Nadal has yet to not have a dominant clay court season since 2005. Until that happens, it's still 2005-present the "Rafael Nadal Clay Court Season".
 
SwankPeRFection

SwankPeRFection

Hall of Fame
I'm going to be laughing when RG rolls around and Nadal has another press release that he won't be playing because he has a pair of shorts stuck up his ass or something else.... he can't use stomach ache again this year.

I'm amazed at how many people dismiss Fed so quickly because he's not winning slam after slam like people expect him to, but completely overlook the fact that he's probably the only player in the top 10 who's played more back to back matches than anyone else and has been the healthiest of all. That in it of itself is amazing because everyone else is falling apart around the old man. lol
 
90's Clay

90's Clay

Banned
SwankPeRFection said:
I'm going to be laughing when RG rolls around and Nadal has another press release that he won't be playing because he has a pair of shorts stuck up his ass or something else.... he can't use stomach ache again this year.

I'm amazed at how many people dismiss Fed so quickly because he's not winning slam after slam like people expect him to, but completely overlook the fact that he's probably the only player in the top 10 who's played more back to back matches than anyone else and has been the healthiest of all. That in it of itself is amazing because everyone else is falling apart around the old man. lol
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He has 7 French Open titles, in 8 years.. If he never plays RG again, hes still hand down GOAT there. I think thats enough. ANd he will probably always be clay GOAT since its much more difficult to dominate on that surface then it is other surfaces
 
smoledman

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
SwankPeRFection said:
I'm going to be laughing when RG rolls around and Nadal has another press release that he won't be playing because he has a pair of shorts stuck up his ass or something else.... he can't use stomach ache again this year.

I'm amazed at how many people dismiss Fed so quickly because he's not winning slam after slam like people expect him to, but completely overlook the fact that he's probably the only player in the top 10 who's played more back to back matches than anyone else and has been the healthiest of all. That in it of itself is amazing because everyone else is falling apart around the old man. lol
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Djokovic played more matches in 2012 and more back to back as well.
 
Ico

Ico

Hall of Fame
SwankPeRFection said:
I'm going to be laughing when RG rolls around and Nadal has another press release that he won't be playing because he has a pair of shorts stuck up his ass or something else.... he can't use stomach ache again this year.
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Need two to four months to deal with that, no?
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
These threads have an air of desperation about them, a melancholy. Having spent decades in the practice of medicine, I see little to suggest a bright future for Nadal in tennis. His physical condition is just too precarious. His body won't stand the rigors of practice he needs to be competitive. And nature abhors a vacuum -- others will take his place seeking clay glory.
 
paulorenzo

paulorenzo

Hall of Fame
RAFA2005RG said:
That's funny, because if you compare 2011 Djokovic to 2012 Djokovic, clearly Djokovic dropped off on clay.

And if you compare 2011 Federer to 2012 Federer, clearly Federer dropped off on clay.

If you compare 2011 Nadal to 2012 Nadal, well its no contest, 2012 Nadal was FAR better on clay.
Click to expand...

let's compare 2013 Nadal to 2013 everyone else.
 
SwankPeRFection

SwankPeRFection

Hall of Fame
90's Clay said:
He has 7 French Open titles, in 8 years.. If he never plays RG again, hes still hand down GOAT there. I think thats enough. ANd he will probably always be clay GOAT since its much more difficult to dominate on that surface then it is other surfaces
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The guy grew up playing on nothing bug clay. I would hope he was good on that surface... no?


smoledman said:
Djokovic played more matches in 2012 and more back to back as well.
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That's one year in comparison with Fed's entire career. Let's count it all when it's all said and done for each player and they retire. Just like how Conners made a name for himself for the length of time he's played and won in stupid long matches, everyone will make a name for themselves for something.

Novak had a really good 2011 and good 2012, but he's not even at the level of besting Nadal at any records, let alone Fed or any other top player in the history of tennis. Not saying that he can't... just saying that he hasn't even scratched the surface yet.
 
cluckcluck

cluckcluck

Hall of Fame
The 2014 season and beyond will be pretty interesting. Nadal will likely retire in the next 18 months so that will leave the door wide open for other Europeans to have their chance at winning on the red stuff.
 
A

adil1972

Hall of Fame
i saw a dream that nadal will not win french open 2013, either federer or novak will win it

sometimes my dream are true............ of course not all of my dreams are true
 
SwankPeRFection

SwankPeRFection

Hall of Fame
cluckcluck said:
The 2014 season and beyond will be pretty interesting. Nadal will likely retire in the next 18 months so that will leave the door wide open for other Europeans to have their chance at winning on the red stuff.
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I think I'm going to enjoy watching him try to come back in a few years ala Borg. He'll be wearing the same outfits and playing the same racquet he played in years past. :twisted: Of course, in the same amazing way that Borg did, he won't accomplish much.

For those of you who don't get what I'm saying, go look at their stats and see how amazingly close they are to each other in terms of pattern. Nadal is even doing the same thing that Borg did, which is, if he can't constantly win, he doesn't want to compete anymore. It's like a mirror image I tell ya.

In 20 years, we'll be watching HBO and seeing some tennis special about Nadal and Federer called Misfire and Slice. ;)
 
A

adil1972

Hall of Fame
does anybody knows why australian open switch from grass to hard court, and us open from grass to clay to hard court
 
A

adil1972

Hall of Fame
you can not predict the future only can guess it, nobody knew that federer will win 17 slams or djokovic will win 5 slams or nadal will win 11 slams
 
edmondsm

edmondsm

Legend
He hasn't had competition on clay for a while. Most players saw that the tour was dominated by hardcourts and so they play accordingly. Apparently Nadal didn't get the memo and his body continues to pay the price.
 
RAFA2005RG

RAFA2005RG

Banned
I can see why Nadal is focusing on clay more than ever. To avoid injury but also because it may be time to refine his claycourt game in preparation for cashing in on the weakest clay era in history. Federer and Djokovic's best years are behind them, it will only get easier to win Roland Garros each year. Mind you it probably wouldn't matter either way, as Djokovic had an extreme mental edge over Nadal after beating him in the 3 other slams within 12 months and still couldn't do anything in that 4th set resumption at RG despite being up a break. Talk about a golden opportunity. And Federer, surprisingly keeled over in the RG semi, despite some fine form in Madrid. Maybe he has given up on Nadal and didn't even try to reach the final.
 
A

always_crosscourt

Banned
I'm not sure it will be weak. Isner will be coming into his prime then, pushing Nadal all the way just like he did in 2011, but beating him.

Unstoppable serves.
 
RAFA2005RG

RAFA2005RG

Banned
PrinceMoron said:
World number five and dropping rapidly. interesting draw he will get at RG this year.
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How many titles will Nadal have by then?

-Vina del Mar
-Sao Paulo
-Acapulco
-Monte Carlo
-Barcelona (maybe)
-Rome
-Madrid
-Roland Garros

always_crosscourt said:
I'm not sure it will be weak. Isner will be coming into his prime then, pushing Nadal all the way just like he did in 2011, but beating him.

Unstoppable serves.
Click to expand...

John Isner was born in 1985. No spring chicken, and struggles mightily to progress through the draws already.
 
Last edited:
J

JRAJ1988

Guest
When Rafa retires the people who'll be winning the French will be clay court specialists who just get good when the clay court season arrives....Like the Spanish and Argentinian armada (With Kuerten/Muster) who mopped up the clay court titles. Rafa is an all court specialist as he's got the career slam.
 
RAFA2005RG

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Nadal said recently he has no idea when he'll retire, but knows that Rio 2016 is his top priority. When pressed for an age he might retire he said not sure maybe 31. He turns 31 in June 2017, but I tell you if he's still winning Roland Garros by then it would be very hard to retire knowing he'll be close to 20 slam titles. If he does retire at age 31 I think we'll see a comeback in his mid30s (and this makes sense as tendinitis reacts well to rest). Quite the opposite to Agassi's (sciatica) problems which sent Agassi into retirement with a lifetime limp. By the way, Federer, Djokovic and Murray have all had back problems. Nadal never has.
 
Jeffrey573639

Jeffrey573639

Semi-Pro
RAFA2005RG said:
Nadal said recently he has no idea when he'll retire, but knows that Rio 2016 is his top priority. When pressed for an age he might retire he said not sure maybe 31. He turns 31 in June 2017, but I tell you if he's still winning Roland Garros by then it would be very hard to retire knowing he'll be close to 20 slam titles. If he does retire at age 31 I think we'll see a comeback in his mid30s (and this makes sense as tendinitis reacts well to rest). Quite the opposite to Agassi's (sciatica) problems which sent Agassi into retirement with a lifetime limp. By the way, Federer, Djokovic and Murray have all had back problems. Nadal never has.
Click to expand...

I think Rafa's injury problems are slightly more problematic than Fed,Djoko or Muzza
 
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