Can Nadal win Indian Wells this year?

[BeatlesFan]

IW is a fun, big tournament but the courts are god awful.

It depends on who you're rooting for. Ellison has slowed the court speed to a crawl and Rafa loves that. He stays at Larry's compound and plays golf on his off days. Players like Isner would obviously prefer a faster surface. Its HC clay essentially.

 

[Heliath]

He will be he heavy favourite for sure.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Courts are ridiculously slow and high bouncing at that tournament. It's almost like a clay court. With that in mind, surely he's got that tournament in the bag, along with the 3 out of 3 tournaments he's already won this year?

edit: actually not entirely sure if they are high bouncing. I know they are slow though.

Who's stopping him?
Medvedev has nothing over him on these courts.
Tsitsipas can probably take a set, but his backhand would be under so much attack and nadal's serve would be a hell of a trouble for him.

Let's go for #5 in the California, Vamossssssssss

 

[onefineday]

I would say it's certainly possible, but anything but a certainty.
He is going to have several losses this year. I am not buying into the theories he's going to win CYGS, have an ATG year.
So far, yes he's won a slam. But the two other titles are Melbourne and Acapulco. Not even Rome and Madrid level.

 

[zuluzazu]

I would say it's certainly possible, but anything but a certainty.
He is going to have several losses this year. I am not buying into the theories he's going to win CYGS, have an ATG year.
So far, yes he's won a slam. But the two other titles are Melbourne and Acapulco. Not even Rome and Madrid level.

But Acapulco had a better field than most Masters and some slams as well. Although Nadal's draw collapsed

 

[onefineday]

But Acapulco had a better field than most Masters and some slams as well. Although Nadal's draw collapsed

Yeah, but the pressure in the final is a lot less than it will be at IW.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Of course he can. The tour is a joke right now and if Djokovic isn’t there to stop him it’s an easy ride. Medvedev sure as hell isn’t getting the job done. The only other guy I wouldn’t mind seeing him play is Aliassime. I want to see what Felix can do against him.

Make 3 unforced errors per game

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Zverev is one of the most dangerous players vs. Nadal on hardcourt....

Becker serve was a great weapon against the field. But I don't think zverev is in form, gentleman.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Sure, his body parts might let him down again but my point was that no other player seems to be in a position to stop him.

What about potential Murray vs Nadal in round of 64 or 32?

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

It depends on who you're rooting for. Ellison has slowed the court speed to a crawl and Rafa loves that. He stays at Larry's compound and plays golf on his off days. Players like Isner would obviously prefer a faster surface. Its HC clay essentially.

If its a HC clay, how did old federer make final of basically every edition he played last decade? And even beat nadal comfortably?

 

[Heliath]

What about potential Murray vs Nadal in round of 64 or 32?

Murray is really struggling to win 2 games in a row. Even if he managed to reach 2nd round and face Nadal there he would be toasted.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Murray is really struggling to win 2 games in a row. Even if he managed to reach 2nd round and face Nadal there he would be toasted.

French toast or British?

 

[ChaelAZ]

Of course he can. He has already proven he can beat top players and is competing/moving well.
If the question is will he win, then that is not as foregone conclusion or sure bet as things used to be.

 

[hoodjem]

Can Nadal catch Lendl this year?

I believe Lendl has 94 career tournament titles.

 

[Jokervich]

Sure, who's going to stop him?

Not Murray, that's for sure. (sorry couldn't resist the dig)

 

[zuluzazu]

Think Zverev finally ends Nadal's streak here in IW

 

[Mainad]

Murray is really struggling to win 2 games in a row. Even if he managed to reach 2nd round and face Nadal there he would be toasted.

Make that matches.

 

[Mainad]

Not Murray, that's for sure. (sorry couldn't resist the dig)

No dig required.

 

[Hold Me Back]

Djokovic won't play so yeah he'll probably snatch another IW

 

[beast of mallorca]

Forget about the IW, the better question is can he finally win Miami?

He's not going to play in Miami

 

[beast of mallorca]

Can Nadal catch Lendl this year?

I believe Lendl has 94 career tournament titles.

With clay season coming, the probability is high

 

[jdx2112]

It depends on who you're rooting for. Ellison has slowed the court speed to a crawl and Rafa loves that. He stays at Larry's compound and plays golf on his off days. Players like Isner would obviously prefer a faster surface. Its HC clay essentially.

In my opinion, slow hardcourt is the worst surface. I think all hardcourt surfaces should be medium to fast, while overall there should be an increase in clay court tournaments.

I mean, if it's slow at least on clay there's variety and angle; the geometry of the game changes in a way that's interesting. Slow hardcourt just becomes a battle of attrition.

 

[socallefty]

I’ve played at Indian Wells and it is a very slow hard court, but it is not high-bouncing like clay. In the night, the bounce is even lower. It favors players who take the ball early rather than those who stand 10-15 feet behind the baseline which is why Djokovic and Federer have done better there compared to Nadal. If Djokovic doesn’t play, there is no one else on tour taking the ball really early and Nadal is in as good a form as any other top player. He has got to be super-confident right now and that makes him the favorite.

 

[Third Serve]

sure why not?

 

[Purestriker]

Courts are ridiculously slow and high bouncing at that tournament. It's almost like a clay court. With that in mind, surely he's got that tournament in the bag, along with the 3 out of 3 tournaments he's already won this year?

edit: actually not entirely sure if they are high bouncing. I know they are slow though.

At this point it seems foolish to doubt him.

 

[Gt86]

Do you think zverev will get to play? ATP is apparently still investigating. I think he should get atleast a 1 month ban.
Also, why have you left med out of top 4 contenders?

Medvedev is very vulnerable on slow high bouncing courts as he lacks a plus one shot really. Huge problem on courts where the ball sits up . His flat shots in conditions like Indian Wells will not be effective at all. Miami he will be a bigger threat.
I hope Zverev plays as I like him and he has been unfairly targeted by the media for a couple of years now.

 

[Entername]

He should skip IW and try to get a maiden Miami title… no need to play two more hard court tourneys before the clay and risk what’s been a ridiculously healthy first 2 months of the year. VAMOS!!

I think Rafa is 100% going to IW, he always plays there when he's healthy. He's won it 3 times, and he's friends with Larry Ellison (tourney's owner) and probably Tommy Haas (tourney's director) as well so I have a hard time seeing him not play in the desert

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Can he win Indian Wells? Of course, he's won it three times previously and he's the form player on the tour at the moment. Will he keep the streak going? We'll find out, nothing is guaranteed

 

[Ray Mercer]

If its a HC clay, how did old federer make final of basically every edition he played last decade? And even beat nadal comfortably?

Larry was choked at that 2017 thrashing. God that performance was unbelievable.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Larry was choked at that 2017 thrashing. God that performance was unbelievable.

Yes. Federer came out of nowhere that year.

 

[StilltheGOAT]

NoT iF NOrRIe Is PlAYinG....