“Right now I am only focusing on celebrating today’s title,” Nadal said.
He's only allowed to skip one Masters but he's already alluded to the fact that he might skip both so if he does, what kind of penalty will he face? I've never heard of a player actually being penalised for skipping a mandatory tournament without a valid excuse. It seems they say they're injured and that's all it takes.
"He is also scheduled to play a one-day exhibition on hardcourts at Madison Square Garden just before heading to California."
An exhibition match on hardcourt?
Strange move by Nadal.
Until Nadal actually plays on hard courts, or face against the top players on clay, his 'amazing' 'the impossible' comeback as *******s suggest still needs a huge asterisk next to it.
He could do what many do, what Sampras did at times, show up and lose in the first or second round, then go home early and rest for the majors.
Bingo! Agassi was also famous for that.
However, he can't 'tank' as they'll fine him for that. So he would have to go out and put on a good show, but just not play smart.
But the only tournament that matters is Roland Garros. The other slams are almost irrelevant. It is a mere bonus if Nadal wins the others. Roland Garros is all that matters. And Roland Garros is Djokovic's top priority too. And by the way, if Nadal's parents didn't split up in 2009, Federer would also deem Roland Garros as the top priority. Its all about Roland Garros. In other words, hardcourts are meaningless.
If Nadal only wins RG, and clay events in general, his CV will become sorely lacking.
No, it won't. He's still won the 4 slams, something that very few players have achieved. And winning slams for 9 consecutive years would be a unique record.
If Nadal only wins RG, and clay events in general, his CV will become sorely lacking.
If at all he wins FO and sucks at others, even if he gets up to 15 majors, it will be a huge gap with respect to Fed, who has such a diverse beautiful resume. But he can be at the level of Sampras.
Nadal is the only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass and hardcourt in a Calendar Year. It is the most difficult feat a player has ever achieved in a Calendar Year. Also, Nadal has dominated one slam event more than any man has ever dominated a slam event, and that slam event is Roland Garros - Nadal has won it 7 times from 8 attempts. To give you an idea of how special that is, Federer needed 14 attempts to win 7 Wimbledons. Additionally, Nadal is currently tied for the most Masters Shields Titles, and is also tied for the most consecutive slam-winning years. He can take both of those outright. Also, Nadal has spent 102 weeks with the number one ranking, just for good measure, and has finished the year ranked number one in 2008 and 2010. Nadal has won 81 straight matches on clay, the single-surface record. Yet you call all this "a CV sorely lacking" :lol:
Federer is not the king of any of the slams. None. The Australian Open leadership is shared by Agassi, Djokovic and Federer. Roland Garros is owned by Nadal, outright. Wimbledon is shared by Sampras and Federer. US Open is shared by several. The only GOAT of a slam event is Nadal. The others are shared. That's a big hole in Federer's CV, the fact he doesn't own a slam event. Also, Nadal has won at least 2 slams on clay, grass and hardcourt. Federer hasn't. Another big hole in the Federer CV. Federer almost doesn't even have the Career Grand Slam. Nadal gifted him that in 2009, as we know Federer would never have beaten Nadal at Roland Garros.
It is a pity though to skip a tournament he always does so well at (IW)... I would prefer him to skip Miami in that sense, but I guess it makes more sense skipping the former.
Federer is not the king of any of the slams. None. The Australian Open leadership is shared by Agassi, Djokovic and Federer. Roland Garros is owned by Nadal, outright. Wimbledon is shared by Sampras and Federer. US Open is shared by several. The only GOAT of a slam event is Nadal. The others are shared. That's a big hole in Federer's CV, the fact he doesn't own a slam event. Also, Nadal has won at least 2 slams on clay, grass and hardcourt. Federer hasn't. Another big hole in the Federer CV.
Federer almost doesn't even have the Career Grand Slam. Nadal gifted him that in 2009, as we know Federer would never have beaten Nadal at Roland Garros.
I would not have purchased tickets and booked a room if I had known this.
I would not have purchased tickets and booked a room if I had known this.
The other way of looking at this is that Nadal is a brilliant clay courter who couldn't achieve the same level on other surfaces in slams.
Borg's six FOs and five Ws is better than seven FOs and two Ws.
He could easily still rack up 4K points on clay alone. Add another 1K on other surfaces and that is enough to be in the top 8 for wtf and a better season than most.
If Nadal only wins RG, and clay events in general, his CV will become sorely lacking.
The other way of looking at this is that Nadal is a brilliant clay courter who couldn't achieve the same level on other surfaces in slams.
Borg's six FOs and five Ws is better than seven FOs and two Ws.