Clay battle : Nadal 2011 vs Nadal 2005

[Double_Fault]

It means Djokovic can beat everyone, I thought that was pretty clear. :???:

 

[namelessone]

So if Nadal 2005 > Nadal 2011

and Djokovic > Nadal 2005


So does that mean Djokovic > Nadal period? Did the ********* namelessone really just concede that Djokovic is just a better player than Nadal on clay?! LOL.

How do you get that from what I am saying?

Or are you just doing a bit of trolling?

And yeah, there are only two versions of Nadal on clay, the 2005 and 2011, no in between.

And I am betting that there is only a "real version" of Djoker, the 2011 version, no?

 

[TennisFan3]

For the 2005 Nadal just this ENTIRE clip of Coria vs Nadal Rome Final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Xsb3x9vVE&feature=related

Nadal was WAY MORE aggressive then, didn't MOONBALL and his forehand was the conventional across the body finish instead of the Lasso of now. He is ABSUSING Coria big time with his forehand, after being 0-3 in the final set, when he goes to offense. (watch after 3 mins until the end).

"THAT" Nadal would have straight setted the current 2011 pusher tennis clay Nadal.. It's sad to see that Nadal is a pale shadow of his old self.

Nadal should go back to the basics and attack more on clay like he did in his early years...

 

[callmethedoctor]

Nadal developed his game also made him a better player on clay, not jsut on other surfaces. What you're saying is Nadal mature and got better on other surfaces but decline on clay?
No, No! it doesn't work that way. He add more dimension to clay...bh slice, take ball to the rise, aggressive and play closer to the baseline, can hit topspin + flatter, improve volley.

No way a 1D 2005 Nadal is better than 2011 on clay. He has a lot more varieties in his game.

And this is where you're wrong.
We aren't contradicting ourselves. Nadal was simply a better claycourter then. He was faster and more defensive. Now that he has a more aggressive game and is less willing to just spin it back, he is better on hardcourts. He is better overall now, it's just that he traded off some of his prime clay court physical strategy for a more career-conserving one.

 

[Manus Domini]

Peak Nadal (24) vs baby Nadal (18 )... How deep must *******s have fallen?

Peak Nadal? How so?

 

[TennisFan3]

And this is where you're wrong.
We aren't contradicting ourselves. Nadal was simply a better claycourter then. He was faster and more defensive. Now that he has a more aggressive game and is less willing to just spin it back, he is better on hardcourts. He is better overall now, it's just that he traded off some of his prime clay court physical strategy for a more career-conserving one.

Actually in his EARLY yrs, Nadal was EVEN more offensive than he now is. His forehand was BIG and he used to hit much flatter in general. Watch his matches on clay and other surfaces in 2005. Starting mid 2006 Nadal developed that exaggerated spin and started hitting shorter balls. He modeled his game to beat Federer.

Right now in 2011, he can't do anything well. His defense has gone down dramatically,. and even the offense does not have the same venom of 2005/2008/2010 Nadal.
Result: Embarrassing straight set losses on clay twice i.e the worst clay season of his career. More pain in store at R.G if he meets Djoker..

 

[Manus Domini]

For the 2005 Nadal just this ENTIRE clip of Coria vs Nadal Rome Final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Xsb3x9vVE&feature=related

Nadal was WAY MORE aggressive then, didn't MOONBALL and his forehand was the conventional across the body finish instead of the Lasso of now. He is ABSUSING Coria big time with his forehand, after being 0-3 in the final set, when he goes to offense.

"THAT" Nadal would have straight setted the current 2011 pusher tennis clay Nadal.. It's sad to see that Nadal is a pale shadow of his old self.

Nadal should go back to the basics and attack more on clay like he did in his early years...

where's that Rafa been?

yeah, he'd straight set the rafa now...

 

[Double_Fault]

Wow, Nadal really ran down every ball... why doesn't he do that now? And what happened to the tanktop? He could have won 10 slams by now...

 

[billnepill]

so what is the conclusion in the light of the final against Federer? The poll's results are pretty even..

Is Nadal 2011 worse on clay and if so, can Federer beat him?

 

[Clay lover]

so what is the conclusion in the light of the final against Federer? The poll's results are pretty even..

Is Nadal 2011 worse on clay and if so, can Federer beat him?

Time will tell. 2005 Nadal dispatched prime Fed in 4 sets. If 2011 Nadal does similar or worse against an old Fed, we know who's right.

 

[TennisFan3]

Time will tell. 2005 Nadal dispatched prime Fed in 4 sets. If 2011 Nadal does similar or worse against an old Fed, we know who's right.

It might take 5 sets for the current Nadal. His game is so bad it's almost laughable. Rolling in first serves at 165 kmph...jeez. Avg speed was like 176 kmph - in the WTA territory. I mean forget about the UsOpen serve, this like pre-2006 Nadal on serve.

No wonder he gave 18 breakpoints away..

 

[jackson vile]

Plain ignorant, Nadal is no where near as good on clay anymore.

 

[zagor]

Plain ignorant, Nadal is no where near as good on clay anymore.

So he's declining at the age of 25?

 

[Clay lover]

i dunno, what'd you say? This match with Fed seemed closer than the 2005 one. But you could always argue that Fed was better now than then with his experience v Nadal.

 

[TennisFan3]

i dunno, what'd you say? This match with Fed seemed closer than the 2005 one. But you could always argue that Fed was better now than then with his experience v Nadal.

The Nadal who played against Puerta in the F.O 2005 final would beat the current Nadal in 3 sets, possibly 4 sets.

Also remember that F.O 2005 was the first time Nadal played F.O. Nerves played a BIG part in both SF and Final. Yet he defeated Fed in the Semi-Final, just by pure game - even though he got tight in several moments. So if it were not his first time, he would have played even better. Anyway, that year, the best of Nadal IMO was set 5 against Coria in the Rome Final. I recall watching that match live and being Gobsmacked by the teenager. I mean Rafa was incredible then; a bundle of energy. Truly FEARLESS, in the real sense of the word. He used to go for his forehand, and not push like he does these days sometimes - plus his Inside out forehand was so much bigger it boggles the mind. (and this is with the dead strings).

Also Mariano puerta (whom was later known to have illegal substances) played amazing in the F.O.

 

[Clay lover]

The Nadal who played against Puerta in the F.O 2005 final would beat the current Nadal in 3 sets, possibly with a bagel or breadstick.

Also remember that F.O 2005 was the first time Nadal played F.O. Nerves played a BIG part in both SF and Final. Yet he defeated Fed in the Semi-Final, just by pure game - even though he got tight in several moments.

Also Mariano puerta (whom was later known to have illegal substances) played amazing in the F.O.

lol you sound like you're trolling. Is that what you think really? Agree about the Coria game though, it was amazing how hard Nadal hit his forehand in that match.

 

[TennisFan3]

lol you sound like you're trolling. Is that what you think really? Agree about the Coria game though, it was amazing how hard Nadal hit his forehand in that match.

Well..not really. Just watch the 2005 Nadal in Rome. That's how clay tennis is supposed to be played. I could hardly believe that I was watching a teenager. Best clay tennis I've seen. Beats the Fed-Nadal Rome match by a mile..