Considering that Nadal is so much better than everybody else, how many FO titles will he likely get?
- Thread starter uscwang
- Start date
TheAssassin
Legend
His record is already amazing.
I'd say he will achieve La Undecima.
I'd say he will achieve La Undecima.
Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
I voted 10 - what he achieved this year was so remarkable that it'll be very difficult to top that. Too much of a lottery predicting the future, as we saw just how big a difference there was between 2016 RG and 2017 RG. I think Rafa himself is over the moon with his current tally and we don't know how easy it will be to add any more Slam titles. After all, it took 3 years to work hard to get back to this form and add to his Slam tally.
I've stayed conservative with the estimate because the tennis landscape changes so fast and there could be new threats next year that we may not have considered at all.
I've stayed conservative with the estimate because the tennis landscape changes so fast and there could be new threats next year that we may not have considered at all.
uscwang
Hall of Fame
I beg to disagree. I think Carlos Moya has given Rafa a second career. We are likely watching just the beginning of the beginning.
I had wished back in the days for Rafa to change/add a new coach. Who would have known that when this actually happened, Novak's level dropped like a rock.
Guess one has to be careful what one wishes for.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Why don't people ever learn from tennis history itself?
In June, 2016, this Forum exploded with endless threads, "Nole will win the next THREE CYGS's!! Nole will not lose at a slam final until 2021!"
We all know how that turned out.
Lesson learned? Don't expect current form to continue indefinitely. Especially when Nadal is 31 and has a TON of mileage on him.
It's possible some young gun could win Wimbledon and the USO and just go on to thoroughly dominate 2018. It's possible Nadal will never get another sniff even at an RG final. Tennis isn't status quo. The spectacular and sudden demise of Novak should prove that.
In June, 2016, this Forum exploded with endless threads, "Nole will win the next THREE CYGS's!! Nole will not lose at a slam final until 2021!"
We all know how that turned out.
Lesson learned? Don't expect current form to continue indefinitely. Especially when Nadal is 31 and has a TON of mileage on him.
It's possible some young gun could win Wimbledon and the USO and just go on to thoroughly dominate 2018. It's possible Nadal will never get another sniff even at an RG final. Tennis isn't status quo. The spectacular and sudden demise of Novak should prove that.
Antonio Puente
Hall of Fame
Eleven in 2018 would be amazing. With 11 titles, he would arguably be a tier 1 great off RG alone... off one slam. Rafa would have as many FOs as Borg has slams.
I am 100% confident that Nadal likely get at least 10 FO in his career.
A second career is a little bit of an overstatement. I wouldn't say Federer was given a second career with Edberg or Lube. The first career between the two of them consisted of 33 Majors. I don't think there is going to be a second career anything like even 1/3 of that.
I could see each adding 0-4 to their tallies.
A second career is a little bit of an overstatement. I wouldn't say Federer was given a second career with Edberg or Lube. The first career between the two of them consisted of 33 Majors. I don't think there is going to be a second career anything like even 1/3 of that.
I could see each adding 0-4 to their tallies.
Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
I can't imagine Novak sitting idly by either. I notice that pretty much everyone has Fed/Nadal/Murray as favourites for Wimbledon, but in reality anything can happen. Even if someone is on a hot streak I don't anticipate that continuing for very long - maybe 1 more French Open, it's really really tough to tell. It's easy to say now that he'll win the next 2-3 RGs but just last year nearly all of us said he was done everywhere. Things can go down just as fast as they can go up, so I'd rather stick with 10 (maybe 11) than say 12+ and get proven horribly wrong later
DerekNoleFam1
Hall of Fame
The way he just crushed the 2015 champion Stanimal , it looks like this could go on indefinitely.
But I'd say 1 more, and possibly 2.
Really requires someone like Thiem to step up, or someone else in the new brigade.
But I'd say 1 more, and possibly 2.
Really requires someone like Thiem to step up, or someone else in the new brigade.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
I think he can win one more . I say 11.
uscwang
Hall of Fame
I know that many people have said that Rafa is done at one time or another. I, however, have always felt that he just needed a new coach.
Also the reason I'm posting this question is how big Rafa's winning margin has been in Paris. He blew a hot Thiem and a hot Stan off the freaking court.
Can't recall any other recent GS champion winning with such dominance.
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown. A guy accomplished something yesterday, and the circumstances in which that took place will remain the same for the next 3 years. Nobody gets older, nobody gets better, nobody gets worse, nobody gets injured, nobody gets stabbed, there is no Lukas Rosol.
Neil_Fedfan
Rookie
Things can and do change extremely quickly in sports so I am not sure he will win 3 more but if he stays healthy he is definitely capable. If I were to guess he'll win atmost 2 more. Rafa played at an amazing level at RG this year, dropping only 35(!!) games.
TheGhostOfAgassi
Talk Tennis Guru
Moya has been amazing and in the right time.
Rafa has been injured and the cause for his downfall.
But yeah, I wish he added a new coach sooner, but wouldnt probably helped before now.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
This. Nadal pretty much showed that by winning multiple 5 set matches. Lol
TheGhostOfAgassi
Talk Tennis Guru
I thought 10 wasnt possible. And ill say the same about 11 
Its just so insane to get 11 of those.
Its just so insane to get 11 of those.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Hopefully 10 lol, 11 would be gross.
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
Was there such a big difference between 2016 and 2017? Certainly, there was a big difference between 2015 and 2017. I'd say 2016 was closer to 2017 than to 2015, albeit perhaps marginally. Had Nadal not been injured, he'd almost certainly have made the semi-finals and given Djokovic a run for his money. I think he'd have lost, but I'm not sure about that.
ANDYbhGENIUS
Professional
There's not much of a new brigade, I'm afraid.
But Nadal's personal life will change, his physical condition, the hunger for what? - Beating Federer's ATSR by winning one slam at least 13 times??
There is no way this can just go on, let alone "indefinitely". It "looked" like that for Djokovic, Federer prior to that, and now Nadal again?
Tennisanity
Legend
He's done.
TheMaestro1990
Hall of Fame
11 is my guess. Don't think he will win more than that.
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
These threads
lolz
lolz
DerekNoleFam1
Hall of Fame
Of course I was exaggerating there, otherwise the likes of Borg, Mac and Sampras would all still be playing and vying for Majors.
But at this stage, he could keep winning the French until he retires, there appears to be no "passing of the torch" to the next clay superstar.
ANDYbhGENIUS
Professional
There haven't been more than 5 Clay superstars in the last 40 years, if even that. Borg, Vilas, Kuerten are three that come to mind, but Borg wasn't a Clay superstar really.
And at this stage even, it is not quite logical to say that at this stage he could win the FO until he retires, at this stage, you know, from here on in 100% strike rate, no?
Maybe he retires abruptly after another Fo 2018, and you would be right. He "could"!
Ok never mind then
D
Deleted member 735320
Guest
He could win a bunch more or none. Look where Novak was 12 months ago and where he is now. We never know what the future holds.
martini1
Hall of Fame
SO true. It is just as likely that both Fed and Rafa would not win another slam ever again. I love how women's RG turned out this year. "If A doesn't play, then B, the next in line should win it." I don't really buy that.
I concur. From his interviews I get a sense of fulfillment. He was super motivated to win 10, not sure how high his motivation level would be going forward. Maybe 1 more but I am not sure.
Get A Grip
Hall of Fame
What you say is true--what's true will not stay true for long.
Yet maybe Rafa at FO is an exception, at least for awhile longer. Rafa was still winning in years where he was wasn't winning much alsewhere (off clay, anyway).
Get A Grip
Hall of Fame
I wrote 12.
I know, that seems ridiculuous in some ways.
Kuerten said he could win 15.
If Rafa stays healthy, I think this is possible. No-one could even play with him on that court. It was his most dominant performance there, ever. That's why there should be more to come.
Rafa has been re-invented this year.
I know, that seems ridiculuous in some ways.
Kuerten said he could win 15.
If Rafa stays healthy, I think this is possible. No-one could even play with him on that court. It was his most dominant performance there, ever. That's why there should be more to come.
Rafa has been re-invented this year.
