Billie Jean King: Nadal 'could need a year' to rebuild confidence
- Thread starter Fed881981
- Start date
Boom-Boom
Legend
His legs are so heavy as a result he cant hit the ball well enough. This is by no means mental. I wish it would be mental then ı would still hope for a better results in the future. Now what he needs is to maximize his talent.I dont want to bash Tony but ı feel like Rafa needs new coach.His service and his court position can improve he can have a more aggressive mind set.
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cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
I disagree. I think it is the other way around--i.e. more mental than physical. So I agree with BJK.
Gary Duane
G.O.A.T.
I agree with BJK. I think it is mental. It can BECOME physical, but that's mostly what I've seen this year. Lack of belief. Lack of belief can tear anyone apart.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Oh come on. The signs have been clear since 2012, when he was gone from tennis for 7 months. He came back and played his way into excellent form once again with an excellent 2013, but since the 2014 Australian Open he hasn't looked the same, aside from 1 more French Open title.
Nadal plays a grinding style of tennis, has been at the top of his sport since 2005 playing that style, having dominated tennis on clay so utterly for so long. He isn't getting any younger either.
Fed881981
Hall of Fame
I could see the physical fatigue too. But, we cannot underestimate the mental part. An interesting quote about this:
"He is the first player I have actually heard at that level say he has absolutely no confidence," said Ilana Kloss, a former doubles champion and current commissioner of World TeamTennis.
ivan_the_terrible
Hall of Fame
Is it that he's gotten older and getting back in top form after long layoffs is thus harder?
We've seen what a beast he is on return from his many injury time-outs, so why is this time different? This time he was away for a minor operation, it wasn't even an injury.
So, why is there a mental/no confidence issue? It's really weird tbh
We've seen what a beast he is on return from his many injury time-outs, so why is this time different? This time he was away for a minor operation, it wasn't even an injury.
So, why is there a mental/no confidence issue? It's really weird tbh
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
So? He lost confidence at the AO 2014 and it hasn't returned because he was out for another few months since then. Of course there is some physical decline but for me it appears more mental than anything else.
We shall see how he tries to remedy the situation. Perhaps a psychologist is in order or another voice on his coaching team.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Nadal has always been open like that. He said the same in his early round matches at the 2011 French Open. Nadal likes being the underdog with a mentality of staying in the present, and has openly said that he couldn't handle it mentally if he went into a match convinced that he was going to blow his opponent away.
Back when Nadal was playing his best tennis at the French Open in 2008, it was his mobility and energy that caught the eye. That was what ensured that nobody would be beating him there. Nadal dictated matches, and had his opponents scrambling to even keep up with him.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I also agree it's more physical than mental. At some point it has to be physical decline, and that seems like right now. He just turned 29. It makes sense.
If you say it's mental then that means that when Nadal sorts this out, whatever it is, he'll be as good as he was once upon a time. He's not getting back to 2013 level where he won 2 majors and 5 MS in one year. I'm pretty sure about that.
I still think he wins 1 (2 at most) more major(s), but this is not mental anymore. Just because someone cannot see the loss of foot speed or something else physical on TV does not mean it's not happening.
If you say it's mental then that means that when Nadal sorts this out, whatever it is, he'll be as good as he was once upon a time. He's not getting back to 2013 level where he won 2 majors and 5 MS in one year. I'm pretty sure about that.
I still think he wins 1 (2 at most) more major(s), but this is not mental anymore. Just because someone cannot see the loss of foot speed or something else physical on TV does not mean it's not happening.
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coupergear
Professional
I think his service game is getting exposed. People are punishing him on his second serve. When he doesn't have the wheels he once had, he can't compensate for a pedestrian serve anymore. He's on his heels immediately. It would be tough, but he needs to retool his serve and work on more variety, dare I say net play. Not his comfort zone, but change is needed.
When Michael Jordan lost explosiveness in his first step, he developed a deadly mid-range jumper.
When Michael Jordan lost explosiveness in his first step, he developed a deadly mid-range jumper.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
No, I don't think he will be as good as he was once upon a time and obviously there is some physical decline with his movement but I think most of his problems are mental and that is causing the physical problems. I don't know if the confidence issues are because of some injury he had and he is afraid to do what he did in the past physically or if he has noticed a slight slow down as he ages and that is making him lose confidence. Something is going on there.
I still think he will come back and win a couple of more slams and I still don't feel that Federer's record is completely safe. We will find out in the next year.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Is it weird, really? I think it's amazing that Nadal has been this successful for this long with his style of play. Muster was a player with a very similar playing style to Nadal, and he had a quick decline after his hugely successful period from February 1995 to March 1997. By 1999, he was struggling to win matches on the tour, even though he said he had been working harder than ever in practice and with his racquets to try and get things right, yet his match results only went downhill. Hewitt was a grinder who had a quick decline. Chang is another etc.
N
Nathaniel_Near
Guest
Nadal can't last.
I see the main problem being one of physicality. He knows it and it crushes him mentally. These are tough times for Nadal, and one of the most fascinating things to see will be how Nadal sorts out his issues (if he can).
But he certainly has a multitude of issues right now, though it's worth remembering that he's still a top player - some perspective, lol.
I see the main problem being one of physicality. He knows it and it crushes him mentally. These are tough times for Nadal, and one of the most fascinating things to see will be how Nadal sorts out his issues (if he can).
But he certainly has a multitude of issues right now, though it's worth remembering that he's still a top player - some perspective, lol.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
It doesn't have to be a conspiracy theory all the time you know.
Something doesn't have to be going on every time Nadal (or any other ATG) is on a down slope. He's 29. I don't think it's as hard to explain as you're trying to make it.Was Federer's 2010 decline more mental than physical? I would say no. Was Federer the same physically in 2010 as he was in 2007 for example? Again, IMO no.
Nadal will win one major IMO, but his issues are physical at this point to me.
Come on Rafa has more weapons than this guys and thats why he played 20 slams finals and won 14 slams.However there is no such thing that everyone is going to play till mid 30s. Even Fed despite doing well on the tour only won 1 slam for the last 5 years.
Elektra
Professional
I don't think he is one dimensioned, I think his game plan with Uncle Toni's methods are just not working anymore.
He has a good all around game if he uses it more often. To preserve his body he needs to play smarter.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
As usual, we agree. I think Nadal is finally starting to realize that his style is catching up to him, and that is making/compounding the mental issues. I do think it's a bit of both, but it starts with the physical side.
It's no shame. He's been a pro seemingly forever, but it should be said that guys with styles like Nadal have faded quickly before. None quite as great as Nadal, to be fair.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
It doesn't have to be a conspiracy theory all the time you know.
Was Federer's 2010 decline more mental than physical? I would say no. Was Federer the same physically in 2010 as he was in 2007 for example? Again, IMO no.
Nadal will win one major IMO, but his issues are physical at this point to me.
Federer was not injured throughout his career (with absences) the way Nadal allegedly has been. They are completely different players.
I agree with you that at age 29 with all that mileage there is going to be some physical and mental decline but IMO from what I am seeing right now with his game it appears to be more on the mental side of things.
We are going to find out in the next year. Sit tight.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Muster faded fast. After winning 1997 Miami, he was the clear world number 2, had gone 111-5 on clay in 1995-1996, and had won 21 tournaments in just over 2 years. He never won another tournament after 1997 Miami, and only reached 2 more tournament finals (1997 Cincinnati, 1998 Estoril). In 1999, he could barely win a match. After the 1999 French Open, he left tennis.
We can look at what happened to Hewitt after 2005, and what happened to Chang after 1997.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm buckled in for the ride. Nadal's response to these problems should be fascinating.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
That's what I was getting at, and as I said, none quite as great as Nadal.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
LOL @ comparing Muster, Hewitt and Chang to Nadal, an ATG.
Weren't you the one saying Nadal would win this FO come hell or high water again a few days ago? Now that he lost to Djokovic in the QF you are all of a sudden saying he is a cripple?
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
mightyrick
Legend
13 years. He won his first ATP match in April of 2002. That's a LONG time for someone who plays with that kind of a physical style.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
In all fairness, style and greatness don't have much if anything in common. If Nadal is burned out (I don't think he is, to be clear), it doesn't matter if he's an ATG or if he's Nadal, he can't do much about it short of maybe taking another break.
The comparison is made on styles not level of greatness.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Nadal is having an off season like Murray last year or Fed 2 years ago. The big question is whether he can come back in 2016, when he will be turning 30 or whether it will be a case of "basta, I've done enough already and my body/mind can't handle the challenge anymore".
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
... a saturnian year ?
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Cool story bro. But Nadal has lost to 9 different players this year, not even all of them in top 10.
It's not 2011 anymore. This time it's about Nadal himself, not about Djoko.
He isnt as humble as some people thinks. I am saying it as a fan.
Mick
Legend
yeah but he kept on improving. He beat some good players at the French Open.
Had his QF opponent not been Djokovic, he probably could have made it to the Semi-Final
and that's my point. No matter how good you are, you run into Djokovic right now and you are toasted.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
If he is not mentally motivated any longer he can't do much about it but if he still has the will he can do a lot about it.
Anyone maybe except Federer or Ferrer would beat him among the players who reached QF stage.
Mick
Legend
i don't know. I think he could have a problem with Murray and Wawrinka but the rest, I think he could have beat them. Just my opinion.
N
Nathaniel_Near
Guest
Yes, this is part of the problem. It's not like anybody else has been able to hang with Djokovic physically for the long haul either.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
No it's not part of the problem. There are 8 other players out there Nadal could not "hang with". That goes way beyond the matchup with Djoko.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
There is absolutely no guarantee he would have beaten either Murray or Wawa (who both tore him apart during clay season). He did not play good players before quarter at RG. He played the lowest ranked players of all the favorites by far. Then he played Sock, a completely inexperienced newbie at RG.
I think we have been seeing a pattern for a while now. He has been losing matches he never used to lose to players that he has never lost to. This has been going on for well over a year.
Oh no, not "confidence" thing again.
I don't want to say anymore about his physical decline because it is too obvious to me. Nadal barely runs today compared with the running machine we saw 7 years ago. Now he has only "standing" forehand to rely on. That fearful running forehand down the line has gone for good.
What I want to address is how physical decline affect to Nadal's career. It has a scary meaning for Nadal, because he can not fix it by working harder. He can not become younger. He has to play smarter and differently which he has refused to do till date. Nadal does not want to adapt or he just can't? I don't know and I don't pay much attention because he is not my favorite. But he doesn't change, he doesn't survive. I just think that Nadal is not a type of person who is willing to change. An evidence for this is Nadal stays with Tony for his whole life, even when it becomes obvious that Tony can not give any fresh thought to his nephew anymore.
One thing I said long before that there was absolutely no dominant clay courter can play with success beyond their 30s. Their body is aging faster than their peers because of that infamous grinding style.
I don't want to say anymore about his physical decline because it is too obvious to me. Nadal barely runs today compared with the running machine we saw 7 years ago. Now he has only "standing" forehand to rely on. That fearful running forehand down the line has gone for good.
What I want to address is how physical decline affect to Nadal's career. It has a scary meaning for Nadal, because he can not fix it by working harder. He can not become younger. He has to play smarter and differently which he has refused to do till date. Nadal does not want to adapt or he just can't? I don't know and I don't pay much attention because he is not my favorite. But he doesn't change, he doesn't survive. I just think that Nadal is not a type of person who is willing to change. An evidence for this is Nadal stays with Tony for his whole life, even when it becomes obvious that Tony can not give any fresh thought to his nephew anymore.
One thing I said long before that there was absolutely no dominant clay courter can play with success beyond their 30s. Their body is aging faster than their peers because of that infamous grinding style.
