J-man
Hall of Fame
What exactly happened?6-0?!Murray takes the title
6-3,4-6,6-0
That last set was so disappointing, 49 people including myself were correct
Recover soon Nadal....
What exactly happened?6-0?!Murray takes the title
6-3,4-6,6-0
That last set was so disappointing, 49 people including myself were correct
Recover soon Nadal....
thanks seffina, ace reportingRafa: Rotterdam, Dubai, and Barcelona. Monte Carlo can fulfill the fourth 500 requirement. However, Rafa is missing a 500 after the US Open which the ruels also require.
Roger: Dubai, Basel, and Tokyo. Not playing Monte Carlo, so doesn't currently have a fourth 500 planned.
Davis cup points can replace some bad 500 points, but not a 0 that you get for not having four or not having one scheduled after the USO. Currently, it seems Rafa/Roger have a 0 for one of their 500 tournys.
What exactly happened?6-0?!
Rafa's knee was bothering him and he couldn't serve or run properly.
Very concerning to have injuries like that at the beginning of the season. I hope it's nothing serious..
Too many hardcourts need more clay and grass.
No it doesn't. It just makes Nadal look stupid. But then I was never impressed by his inability to learn a couple of sentences of English in six years of playing tennis among English speaking people. No?Most people would not have blamed Nadal if he had retired. It's pretty hard to not be a fan when he shows such sportsmanship and fight. I'm sure at some point he knew he wasn't going to win but he still stuck it out. Really makes Djokovic and Henin look completely pathetic.
No it doesn't. It just makes Nadal look stupid. But then I was never impressed by his inability to learn a couple of sentences of English in six years of playing tennis among English speaking people. No?
No it doesn't. It just makes Nadal look stupid. But then I was never impressed by his inability to learn a couple of sentences of English in six years of playing tennis among English speaking people. No?
Hmm... three straight wins for Murray over Rafa on hard courts. I think Murray owns Rafa on HC onw just like he owns Fed.
Aaaand more tacky bigoted xenophobia from you. And you too, edmondsm.
How much Castilian, Catalán, Mallorquín, and Italian do either of YOU speak?
Good point. I apologize.
Our public education in Spain is pretty horrible in that regard; most people speak a horrible English, or no English at all.
Thank you very much for the article.Our public education in Spain is pretty horrible in that regard; most people speak a horrible English, or no English at all.
Nadal reflecting on the match (translated from http://www.as.com/tenis/articulo/nadal-murray-simplemente-jugo-mejor/dasten/20090215dasdasten_7/Tes )
*sigh*Our public education in Spain is pretty horrible in that regard; most people speak a horrible English, or no English at all.
Kudos to Rafa for finishing the match. Too bad the tournament had to end that way. Didn't Murray hurt his ankle too? It seems to me that surface is terrible. (And I don't think you could accuse Murray of overplaying!)
Since when do people count exhibitions? In competition, this is the 2nd win for Murray vs Nadal. Nadal is now leading their head to head 5-2.Prefer Nadal to Murray. Why is nobody starting to talk about Nadal having problems with Murray? If he wins today, thats three straight wins against Rafa.
EDIT: People can't use the injury as an excuse. Murray is injured too. Nadal is a far better player than Murray, but he just has problems with him.
Agreed. Nadal should've skipped Rotterdam though.Yeah, HC's are pretty much atrocious. Look at how many guys go down with injuries, everyone is taped up etc.
I've said it before but it needs to be repeated until everyone understands it. Hard courts are the only surface that punish you for being a good athlete. If you can run, play good defense and play a high percentage game you are punished for it. This does not make any sense for a pro sport. Hard courts promote ball bashing which is why it's the "best surface" for guys like Blake, Roddick, Tsonga, among a bunch of others. It diminishes the need to be an athlete and elevates those who are "big hitters." Why do people think Federer lost so much on HC last year? Because it allowed guys who go for it to take him out, but when wimby and the clay season come back he still did far better in those tournaments. There is a reason for that...
Tennis should only be played on natural surfaces and should therefore only reward the best athletes in the sport, i.e. Nadal, Federer etc.
Yeah, HC's are pretty much atrocious. Look at how many guys go down with injuries, everyone is taped up etc.
I've said it before but it needs to be repeated until everyone understands it. Hard courts are the only surface that punish you for being a good athlete. If you can run, play good defense and play a high percentage game you are punished for it. This does not make any sense for a pro sport. Hard courts promote ball bashing which is why it's the "best surface" for guys like Blake, Roddick, Tsonga, among a bunch of others. It diminishes the need to be an athlete and elevates those who are "big hitters." Why do people think Federer lost so much on HC last year? Because it allowed guys who go for it to take him out, but when wimby and the clay season come back he still did far better in those tournaments. There is a reason for that...
Tennis should only be played on natural surfaces and should therefore only reward the best athletes in the sport, i.e. Nadal, Federer etc.
You repeat yourself, so I must repeat myself. Hardcourts have certainly not been punishing Federer, Djokovic, and Murray. Their best results have been on this surface, and none of them are showing signs that it is hurting their legs, only Nadal. Federer owes 8 of his GS titles to hardcourts. Djokovic and Murray would have seriously fewer accolades if it weren't for hardcourts. Sure Federer had the one ankle injury way back in 2005 or whenever that was. It has not reoccured. Djokovic and Murray have had no leg issues as far as I know. Actually Roddick and Murray both had upper body injuries on clay-courts. The long rallies on those courts are not good for players who are not used to it. The tennis world does change because one player has issues.
Hardcourts have been the most common surface in the world since Nadal was a little boy. Why didn't he develop a more hardcourt friendly game? Seems like Nadal and the people who oversaw his tennis development are the ones to blame, not the courts.
Why are there so many hard courts compared to natural surfaces, that's what I would like to know. It's such a shame, ball bashers are so boring! My other question is does anybody else have the feeling that Rotterdam court is worse than other hard courts? Why would that be?Yeah, HC's are pretty much atrocious. Look at how many guys go down with injuries, everyone is taped up etc.
I've said it before but it needs to be repeated until everyone understands it. Hard courts are the only surface that punish you for being a good athlete. If you can run, play good defense and play a high percentage game you are punished for it. This does not make any sense for a pro sport. Hard courts promote ball bashing which is why it's the "best surface" for guys like Blake, Roddick, Tsonga, among a bunch of others. It diminishes the need to be an athlete and elevates those who are "big hitters." Why do people think Federer lost so much on HC last year? Because it allowed guys who go for it to take him out, but when wimby and the clay season come back he still did far better in those tournaments. There is a reason for that...
Tennis should only be played on natural surfaces and should therefore only reward the best athletes in the sport, i.e. Nadal, Federer etc.
Murray was hurt in THIS tournament wasn't he? Federer also busted his ankle in 2005, and frankly he's an anomoly. And Djokovic retires more often than anyone, not to mention the fact that he loses quite a bit.
You're missing the point. The good athletes are punished. Djokovic and Murray are not nearly the athletes that Nadal and Federer are which is why their results on grass and clay are NOWHERE NEAR Nadal and Federer. And Nadal has been winning more on hard court than either of those guys. This is pretty obvious. So Nadal is good everywhere and is therefore punished. See?
Look at all the guys that are taped up and injured. It's not just Nadal. It's just hardest on him because right now he is winning far more than anyone else. If you lose it's not going to take a toll on your body. Go look at Nadal's points breakdown on the ATP tennis site and tell me that is not insane. Yes you can point to Federer as not being injured the same way, but Federer plays a different style, and frankly Federer is a one in a million tennis player so that's just not a good example. Nadal should not be punished because he plays a DIFFERENT style. One based more on movement, tracking balls down, playing good defense AND offense etc. It's just not right. Again, play soccer/football on concrete and watch everyone go down in time. It's the same thing. Tennis is the ONLY pro sport played on solid rock hard concrete.
Something HAS to be done about this at some point. Things have increasingly gone to hard courts for no other reason than cost. They should simply be disallowed on the tour, much like aluminum bats in pro baseball. If you want to keep your athletes healthy just ban them. It's as simple as that. If you like the way HC's play try and develop a body friendly surface that has a similar bounce. Surely it's doable. It has absolutely zero to do with how the surface plays and everything to do with the fact it completely destroys bodies.
You repeat yourself, so I must repeat myself. Hardcourts have certainly not been punishing Federer, Djokovic, and Murray. Their best results have been on this surface, and none of them are showing signs that it is hurting their legs, only Nadal. Federer owes 8 of his GS titles to hardcourts. Djokovic and Murray would have seriously fewer accolades if it weren't for hardcourts. Sure Federer had the one ankle injury way back in 2005 or whenever that was. It has not reoccured. Djokovic and Murray have had no leg issues as far as I know. Actually Roddick and Murray both had upper body injuries on clay-courts. The long rallies on those courts are not good for players who are not used to it. The tennis world does change because one player has issues.
Hardcourts have been the most common surface in the world since Nadal was a little boy. Why didn't he develop a more hardcourt friendly game? Seems like Nadal and the people who oversaw his tennis development are the ones to blame, not the courts.
I don't think they should just get rid of hard courts. I'm sure there are many players who would protest that. However, perhaps a shorter hardcourt season like rafa suggested.
Why are there so many hard courts compared to natural surfaces, that's what I would like to know. It's such a shame, ball bashers are so boring!
That was not caused by hardcourts.
Shorter would be better for sure. Elimination is best. After playing on every surface out there (aside from indoor carpet I guess) the difference between clay, grass and HC is astounding. I can play for four hours on clay or grass without feeling a thing. Two hours of intense hard court play and I am in pain. I can't imagine what's like for pro players, especially if you're going deep in every single tournament.
Check out Federer's schedule. Look at the predominance of hard court. Remember at one time tennis was ONLY grass, and later still ONLY grass and clay. Look at how bad things are these days.
Federer's schedule.
Because the money has to come from somewhere to maintain the court surface. And if you think the ratings are low now, just imagine what they would be like here in the states if you see more clay courts.
Shorter would be better for sure. Elimination is best. After playing on every surface out there (aside from indoor carpet I guess) the difference between clay, grass and HC is astounding. I can play for four hours on clay or grass without feeling a thing. Two hours of intense hard court play and I am in pain. I can't imagine what's like for pro players, especially if you're going deep in every single tournament.
Check out Federer's schedule. Look at the predominance of hard court. Remember at one time tennis was ONLY grass, and later still ONLY grass and clay. Look at how bad things are these days.
Federer's schedule.
Fed does better on clay then hardcourts these days. Nadal grew up on clay. A fun surface but also the only surface he played on.You repeat yourself, so I must repeat myself. Hardcourts have certainly not been punishing Federer, Djokovic, and Murray. Their best results have been on this surface, and none of them are showing signs that it is hurting their legs, only Nadal. Federer owes 8 of his GS titles to hardcourts. Djokovic and Murray would have seriously fewer accolades if it weren't for hardcourts. Sure Federer had the one ankle injury way back in 2005 or whenever that was. It has not reoccured. Djokovic and Murray have had no leg issues as far as I know. Actually Roddick and Murray both had upper body injuries on clay-courts. The long rallies on those courts are not good for players who are not used to it. The tennis world does change because one player has issues.
Hardcourts have been the most common surface in the world since Nadal was a little boy. Why didn't he develop a more hardcourt friendly game? Seems like Nadal and the people who oversaw his tennis development are the ones to blame, not the courts.
That's a load of baloney. The US Open was once played on green clay, which plays faster than red clay.
I read he injured it during a practice session. I'm sure he was practicing on hard courts. Is that not accurate? What caused it if it wasn't during play?
Also what is causing his back injury that he has stated he is on pain killers for? Hard courts create a cumulative effect. I'm guessing he wouldn't be having back problems if he was playing solely on natural surfaces.
best for who? The only player I know, atleast recently, who has complained about hardcourts is rafa. I understand your strong dislike for hardcourts, but that doesn't necessarily mean everyone has a strong dislike for hardcourts.
Fed does better on clay then hardcourts these days. Nadal grew up on clay. A fun surface but also the only surface he played on.
I read he injured it during a practice session. I'm sure he was practicing on hard courts. Is that not accurate? What caused it if it wasn't during play?
Also what is causing his back injury that he has stated he is on pain killers for? Hard courts create a cumulative effect. I'm guessing he wouldn't be having back problems if he was playing solely on natural surfaces.
Again, 1+1=3? You are conveniently attributing the few injuries Federer has had to the hardcourts. Do you have any hard evidence to back this up? Even if you did I'm sure Federer is fine with picking up an injury every 2 years or so if it means he gets to play on a surface where he dominates.