Is Nadal's grass peak a myth?

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Apparently, Nadal's grass peak was 2008-2010, the years that he didn't lose in the final.

How coincidental is it that he hit his "grass peak" between the primes of Federer and Djokovic?

This is also the period that he won 4/5 of his non-clay slams.
 
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President

Legend
I think his grass peak was 2007-2011, 2006 was much better than recent years but obviously still a raw period for Nadal. He was playing very good tennis at Wimbledon in 2011 until the final IMO, better than Djokovic in fact. He dropped his level in the final and Djokovic raised his, probably due to the psychological toll all those losses on hard and clay took on him and the confidence Djokovic gained from them.
 

monfed

Banned
Apparently, Nadal's grass peak was 2008-2010, the years that he didn't lose in the final.

How coincidental is it that he hit his "grass peak" between the primes of Federer and Djokovic?

This is also the period that he won 4/5 of his non-clay slams.

An opportunist if I ever knew one. :rolleyes:
 

ultradr

Legend
It's very unclear.

Nadal, as a rookie, competed against modern grass king Federer. And reached
5 finals. If he puts more focus on it, it should be easier for him to win on grass
than hard courts.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
IMO, it looks like Nadal was nothing more than a non-clay transitional champ.

By 2008, Federer was 27. That's a perfectly normal age to be declining.

But Nadal fans like to pick and choose his various 'surface peaks' by when he actually managed to win or look dominant.

2008-2010 (age 22-24) = grass peak
2005-2012 (age 19-26) = clay peak
2008 (or is it 2009?)-present (age 22-28 ) = HC peak

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. And I bet you anything that, had Nadal lost to Djokovic at last year's USO final, his HC peak would be abbreviated to 2008 (2009?) -2010, the years he managed to win instead of lose in finals.
 
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I think his grass peak was 2007-2011, 2006 was much better than recent years but obviously still a raw period for Nadal. He was playing very good tennis at Wimbledon in 2011 until the final IMO, better than Djokovic in fact. He dropped his level in the final and Djokovic raised his, probably due to the psychological toll all those losses on hard and clay took on him and the confidence Djokovic gained from them.

I don't see how 2006 was "raw" for him.

He could have won the 2nd set of the final with Federer (was up a break) and did win the 3rd.

He may have been nervous in the 1st set, which contributed to the bagel, but that's about as much "rawness" as I'd give him.
 
Apparently, Nadal's grass peak was 2008-2010, the years that he didn't lose in the final.

How coincidental is it that he hit his "grass peak" between the primes of Federer and Djokovic?

This is also the period that he won 4/5 of his non-clay slams.
he hasn't peaked yet.
give him a couple of years :)
 

Chico

Banned
Apparently, Nadal's grass peak was 2008-2010, the years that he didn't lose in the final.

How coincidental is it that he hit his "grass peak" between the primes of Federer and Djokovic?

This is also the period that he won 4/5 of his non-clay slams.


Indeed. He was lucky to catch a gap between Fed and Djokovic in 2008-2010 or he would not be winning any non clay slams whatsoever.
 

President

Legend
I don't see how 2006 was "raw" for him.

He could have won the 2nd set of the final with Federer (was up a break) and did win the 3rd.

He may have been nervous in the 1st set, which contributed to the bagel, but that's about as much "rawness" as I'd give him.

IMO his level of play that year was clearly below the consistently high level he would display from 2007-2011 (barring the 2009 absence). His forehand and court positioning were less attuned to grass than in those later years.
 
D

Deleted member 3771

Guest
Rafa has almost always been in top form at Wimbledon when he has not been injured, like he was in 2012, 2013. 2007 was unfortunate with the twisted knee while he was dominating Fed in the final.

Look for another Rafa onslaught on the title now that Rafa appears healthier.

Rafael Nadal Says He Feels In Top Form Heading Into Wimbledon

"If you are going to play well on grass, the first thing you have to do is be in good condition physically, and I have not been in recent years

The Spanish star said his knee, which contributed to his early exits in London in 2012 and 2013, was better.

Nadal lost in the first round last year to Belgium's Steve Darcis.

"This year it hurts less than last year. I am feeling more positive when it comes to moving, bending and hitting the backhand," Nadal said.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Rafa has almost always been in top form at Wimbledon when he has not been injured, like he was in 2012, 2013. 2007 was unfortunate with the twisted knee while he was dominating Fed in the final.

Look for another Rafa onslaught on the title now that Rafa appears healthier.

Rafael Nadal Says He Feels In Top Form Heading Into Wimbledon

"If you are going to play well on grass, the first thing you have to do is be in good condition physically, and I have not been in recent years

The Spanish star said his knee, which contributed to his early exits in London in 2012 and 2013, was better.

Nadal lost in the first round last year to Belgium's Steve Darcis.

"This year it hurts less than last year. I am feeling more positive when it comes to moving, bending and hitting the backhand," Nadal said.

So let me get this straight...his knee was fine @RG (win), then not so fine (1R Wimby loss) then fine again through the USO (win). That on/off switch on the Excusemobile must have to be replaced quite often.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
As it turns out, a guy with a REAL career-ending injury (Darcis) hung in there and beat the whiner last year and we still have to hear the Excusemobile rev up its engine. That's annoying!
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Rafa has almost always been in top form at Wimbledon when he has not been injured, like he was in 2012, 2013. 2007 was unfortunate with the twisted knee while he was dominating Fed in the final.

Look for another Rafa onslaught on the title now that Rafa appears healthier.

Rafael Nadal Says He Feels In Top Form Heading Into Wimbledon

"If you are going to play well on grass, the first thing you have to do is be in good condition physically, and I have not been in recent years

The Spanish star said his knee, which contributed to his early exits in London in 2012 and 2013, was better.

Nadal lost in the first round last year to Belgium's Steve Darcis.

"This year it hurts less than last year. I am feeling more positive when it comes to moving, bending and hitting the backhand," Nadal said.

Have I gone back in time?
haha.gif

Nadal's injury excuses haven't held any clout in years. They have actually become a black mark on his sportsmanship and character.
 
I think Nadal will produce more great tennis at Wimbledon in the future. We'll see if he can match his level in previous years. He's got more years under his belt now and he's certainly a more experienced grass court player. I tend to think he'll regain his form on the surface, possibly this year. We'll see if he can win it again, but I do think he'll find a way to play some more great tennis at Wimbledon in the years to follow.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
2011? I don't think 2010 nadal or 2007 nadal would have lost to 2011 djokovic on grass

And the myth of grass peak Nadal continues. Out of his grass peak at age 24, they said.

Injured knees, but only on grass. Not at RG 2 weeks before, they said.
 
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WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Guys, I'm not saying Nadal isn't the best clay courter of this era. I think he is.

But he was only ever good enough to win off of clay in the period between Federer and Djokovic.

Only at 2013 USO, when he faced 4th round prospect Gasquet in the semis, Federer's geriatric peer in the quarters, and got 1 good win in the tournament.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
Guys, I'm not saying Nadal isn't the best clay courter of this era. I think he is.

But he was only ever good enough to win off of clay in the period between Federer and Djokovic.

Only at 2013 USO, when he faced 4th round prospect Gasquet in the semis, Federer's geriatric peer in the quarters, and got 1 good win in the tournament.

fair enough and good point
 

xFedal

Legend
Guys, I'm not saying Nadal isn't the best clay courter of this era. I think he is.

But he was only ever good enough to win off of clay in the period between Federer and Djokovic.

Only at 2013 USO, when he faced 4th round prospect Gasquet in the semis, Federer's geriatric peer in the quarters, and got 1 good win in the tournament.

Nadals 2013 USO Draw was better than alot of Feds draws:twisted:
 

monfed

Banned
2011? I don't think 2010 nadal or 2007 nadal would have lost to 2011 djokovic on grass

Why, did Nadal play subpeak,flat, uninspired tennis in 2011? :lol:

Or was Farterer/Flatuserer/********* not good enough to take out Nole before the final like RG 11?
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I forgot to mention that Novak had a 5 setter with Wawrinka in his semi, while Nadal was allowed beat down Gasquet 6-4 7-6 6-2, the guy who has lost 18 straight sets to the Big 3 in slams.

that gets me so ****ed how djokovic always plays marathons in his semis at slams
 

Backspin1183

Talk Tennis Guru
Guys, I'm not saying Nadal isn't the best clay courter of this era. I think he is.

But he was only ever good enough to win off of clay in the period between Federer and Djokovic.

Only at 2013 USO, when he faced 4th round prospect Gasquet in the semis, Federer's geriatric peer in the quarters, and got 1 good win in the tournament.

You're being generous to Rafael. Let's just call him for what he is, a transitional champion with 14 Grand Slams going for the Open Era Slam record. :-D
 

Mayonnaise

Banned
You're being generous to Rafael. Let's just call him for what he is, a transitional champion with 14 Grand Slams going for the Open Era Slam record. :-D

Let's call a Spade a Spade. Nadal is a warrior that beat up on a mentally weak champion of mugs who just so happend to get pounded by the same mugs that the mentally weak player he dominated beat up on :)
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Love is harassing?:confused:

I don't actually care. I just don't like when mobs form calling for bans. Let the mods do their job without trying to pressure them. Or just use the report function.

Anyway... back on topic :)
 
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xFedal

Legend
I don't actually care. I just don't like when mobs form calling for bans. Let the mods do their job without trying to pressure them. Or just use the report function.

Anyway... back on topic :)

Lmao I never even Reported Monfed lol

Yh Nadals peak on Grass was 07-10
 
Apparently, Nadal's grass peak was 2008-2010, the years that he didn't lose in the final.

How coincidental is it that he hit his "grass peak" between the primes of Federer and Djokovic?

This is also the period that he won 4/5 of his non-clay slams.

well he went 5 sets with prime fed in 07 so he clearly was a very good grasscourt Player back then.

I also don't believe Novak is a beast on grass. he is of course a great Player which makes him dangerous on grass too but grass is probably his weakest surface as shown in his loss against murray and past prime fed in 2012.

it was probably Novak benefiting from fed and nadal declining on grass. weak grasscourt era:).
 

namelessone

Legend
The utter stupidity of this thread is astounding.

A guy with 2 WB titles and 5 finals had no real peak on grass to speak of. Oh, and those 5 finals? Conjecture.
 
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