“Unshakeable Faith in Him”: Toni Nadal Believes Rafael Nadal Can Stop Novak Djokovic

[SonnyT]

Toni knows the rules and so do I

2-1, Bud

Wasn't it 7-1 at RG, before the '21 encounter? Just checking!

 

[ewiewp]

Rafa has been the better USO player the past decade. I think his chances are greater than Nole's.

True but Djokovic has been quite unlucky at the us open we can say.

 

[fafa]

What a nightmare these last weeks have been for Toni. In just one month he went from "My nephew is the favorite to get to 21 slams at RG" to "I still believe he somehow can stop Novak".

 

[Gary Duane]

Recently, Toni Nadal highlighted the dominance of Djokovic. He feels now that the Serb has finally caught up with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and has his first opportunity to go past the two legends of the game. However, he does believe that his nephew can be the man who will derail the Serb off his tracks.

Speaking on this subject, Toni Nadal stated, “But this victory at Wimbledon goes to show something else. The Balkan seems to be, at the moment, the one with the best momentum to proclaim himself the winner in the fight to score the highest number of Grand Slams.”

The 60-year-old further added, “In a month and a half, the US Open will be played and there he will have his first chance to get ahead on the scoreboard. Although it is also true that Rafael will fight for his, and if I have never lost something, it is my unshakable faith in him.”

https://www.essentiallysports.com/unshakeable-faith-in-him-toni-nadal-believes-rafael-nadal-can-stop-novak-djokovic-atp-tennis-news/

I absolutely think a healthy Nadal is dangerous in any slam, but a healthy Nadal does not have serving problems.

 

[bnjkn]

Stop it Toni. Get some help.

 

[slipgrip93]

Thiem needs to make his comeback, at least trying to defending his title by going deep at the USO..

 

[platypus50]

Not going to write Nadal off for US Open, he will definitely give it 100% if he plays against Djokovic there.

 

[Sudacafan]

I would appreciate that Toni Nadal just stops talking about Rafa, and concentrates in FAA, his player.

 

[Jai]

Well, obviously Toni would say this about Rafa, and his belief in his nephew is hardly unfounded. That said, I do think the done-to-death "4--3, 2--1" kind of posts on this thread fail to capture the actual momentum and form right now.

Novak is hardly the only player Rafa "has to stop" or faces dangers from. Based on recent hc slam match play, it is far from certain that Rafa would fare well against Tsits, for instance. Or even Thiem, if he returns in full health. Let's see how it goes.

 

[Jai]

Rafa has been the better USO player the past decade. I think his chances are greater than Nole's.

While I do agree Rafa has overperformed in terms of titles won at the USO against what many people would have expected, and Novak has relatively underperformed in those terms, a blanket statement that he's been the better player overall over the past decade as you said, is not quite accurate.

Since 2010 when Rafa won his first USO title, he's won a total of 4 times, been a losing finalist once, semi finalist once, 4th round once, 3rd round once, and did not play three years.

Novak has a losing record in finals, true, but in the same period since 2010, he's won the title thrice, been a finalist 4 other times, 4th round twice (one of these was the DQ last year) and absent once. In terms of consistent deep runs, he actually has done better than Rafa.

As to the point whether Rafa's chances are greater than Novak's this time, well firstly, I don't think this USO is a guaranteed shoot out between Novak and Rafa. Going by his recent endurance issues over longer matches, it is far from certain that Rafa sails through his matches with the younger lot. Tsits could well take him out in a grueling 4/5 setter for instance. And if the Djokodal final does take place, it does seem Novak would have the definite edge. Let's see how it plays out.

 

[drummerboy]

After seeing Rafa in Garros stumbling around the court totally lost, I think Uncle can only hope, that's all. Its retirement time for Rafa and Rog. They can still play some Bingo with seniors.

 

[Arak]

I have full faith in that lady line judge at the USO. She and Novak have a fatal attraction to each other. Their paths will cross again.

 

[blablavla]

According to the bookies its 4 times less likely Rafa wins US Open. Go ahead...you could make a fortune.

bookies aren't in the business of predicting future
bookies are in the business of taking your money and hedging their own risk

or in other words, the today odds are only showing that most people who are betting today on the USO winner, bet on Nole to lift the trophy
which is fine with the bookies as long as their pay-outs on this outcome are smaller than the money they get from other USO winner bets

 

[blablavla]

I would be shocked if Nadal made it too Djokovic at the USO, I would be more shocked if he took a set for the first time in 8 years on HC, I’d be incredibly shocked if he beat Djokovic.
People can say 2-1 and even as a big Djokovic fan I agree Nadal was a better player in 2010 and deserved to win in 2013. But right now it means nothing. Djokovic against Nadal on HC is NID for the last few years and will always stay that way

8 years?
lol, do you really think that the Nole that was losing on HC to Istomin, Taro Daniel, Chung and Tsitsipas would straight-set Nadal if he made it somehow to Nadal?
lol

 

[terribleIVAN]

Stop it Toni. Get some help.

He misspoke; he actually meant Rafa is the only player able to stop Nole winning USO without dropping a set.

 

[terribleIVAN]

Not going to write Nadal off for US Open, he will definitely give it 100% if he plays against Djokovic there.

If by some miracle Rafa gets to Nole, his tank will be on 40% and he might, with a superhuman effort, avoid bagels/bakery products...

 

[tsp_207]

This from Toni "Rafa will definitely win Wimbledon" Nadal

 

[blablavla]

This from Toni "Rafa will definitely win Wimbledon" Nadal

are you saying that Rafa didn't win Wimbledon titles?

 

[JackGates]

Sounds crazy with their current form, but it has some merit based on history. In past years Nadal did a lot better at USO than Djokovic.

 

[tsp_207]

are you saying that Rafa didn't win Wimbledon titles?

I'm quoting from what he said about this year after Rafa's loss at RG.

 

[blablavla]

I'm quoting from what he said about this year after Rafa's loss at RG.

I see.
well, he is kind of half right, isn't he? I mean, Rafa didn't lose one single set at Wim 2021

 

[mxmx]

I don’t know. As an Austrian I’m worried about Thiem. He seems to have lost some of his motivation or whatever it is. It’s not like he was doing great before his injury. A first round loss at RG is really concerning. It’s like it took him a while to process that he won a GS and now he needs to find a reason to fight again.

I cannot fathom that he of all players should beat Djokovic at this USO. That would be some miracle comeback. Maybe next year, but I doubt he would even advance far enough to face Nole or Rafa.

Maybe he really worked really hard and still couldn't overcome the big 3 when he wanted to...and is struggling to deal with it. Almost accepting defeat. (Even though he probably can still beat them).

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Who knows? Perhaps "some Austrian" can find his form again?

No

 

[junior74]

No

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Not happening, sir. His body took the toll from so much hard hitting out of such a small frame, he injured his wrist, and there's no coming back from that now for the humble Austrian. Thankfully though, he won atleast one slam before virtual retirement.

 

[junior74]

Not happening, sir. His body took the toll from so much hard hitting out of such a small frame, he injured his wrist, and there's no coming back from that now for the humble Austrian. Thankfully though, he won atleast one slam before virtual retirement.

Would be nice with some actual competition at the US. Wimbledon felt like an empty field. Let's hope Rafa is in form...

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

Who knows? Perhaps "some Austrian" can find his form again?

Damn! Was thinking about US Open and potential winners this morning...Totally forgot about Thiem....

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Would be nice with some actual competition at the US. Wimbledon felt like an empty field. Let's hope Rafa is in form...

Rafa

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Damn! Was thinking about US Open and potential winners this morning...Totally forgot about Thiem....

Its okay. He's not making past R1 due to unfortunate injury, compatriot.

 

[MadariKatu]

The draw might be important for this. Anyway, if Djokovic gets to the final, and plays as nervous as he was in the wimbledon final, against a competent player, he won't make it.

I expect Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov to go deep and cause trouble. I hope for good matches from quarters on.

 

[TheMysteryofPenguin]

Of course he's gonna say that he's incredibly biased.

 

[zagor]

The Balkan lol.