Nadal_Freak
Banned
I'm calling it now. Del Potro has the type of game and has improved a ton. I think he'll be Nadal's biggest threat for RG 2009.
Del Potro is Nadal's Biggest Threat at RG
- Thread starter Nadal_Freak
- Start date
Number1BallBoy
New User
We will see how well he moves as the draw gets tougher....
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Did you miss Davis Cup? Clay is his best surface. He dominated Davydenko and Andreev.
CyBorg
Legend
DoubleDeuce
Hall of Fame
Biggest threath to Nadal is Rafael Nadal. Let's see if he stays healthy enough by that time.
CyBorg
Legend
And wet t-shirt contestants. We know that was Borg's undoing.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
They are quite good clay court players. You don't know what you are talking about.
grafrules
Banned
What do you mean. He is an expert on clay court tennis. He even knows Pete Sampras in his prime would have been the 2nd best clay courter of these last 4 years behind only Nadal. :twisted:
DoubleDeuce
Hall of Fame
I wouldnt say that to Cyborg nadalfrig. He can whisper things and turn you into stone.
CyBorg
Legend
In all fairness, what I meant that if Sampras was in Federer's place he'd fare very well and make several finals on clay.
Oh, well. This has been fun. I should be working...
edberg505
Legend
Stepanek also beat Andreev in straight sets in Davis Cup on clay.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Stepanek got to the Finals of Hamburg and he beat Federer on Rome. Stepanek isn't that bad. Maybe he is now due to age.
CyBorg
Legend
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Nadal_Freak
Banned
Haha yeah. Anyone that can get Vaidisova in bed.
miniRafa386
Hall of Fame
del potro could just be on a hot streak, he could be back to his old self by next years RG.
but we have to remember this: ever since rafa won in 05, his results there have only gotten better. its hard to imagine him having a better RG than this year, but if he can keep his level like this year, or even back in 07, i think hes gonna have 5 straight.
no doubt del potro is a threat, but i dont see his game beating rafa on a clay court, especially at roland garros. del potro is too aggresive and hits the ball too flat to take out nadal on a clay court.
but we have to remember this: ever since rafa won in 05, his results there have only gotten better. its hard to imagine him having a better RG than this year, but if he can keep his level like this year, or even back in 07, i think hes gonna have 5 straight.
no doubt del potro is a threat, but i dont see his game beating rafa on a clay court, especially at roland garros. del potro is too aggresive and hits the ball too flat to take out nadal on a clay court.
matchmaker
Hall of Fame
Well, Nadal Freak, to was going to say you are completely wrong. But I am going to add a little nuance.
Del Potro is a HC specialist. He likes to hit it flat and go for winners. That just won't do on clay. Besides he is very tall and he could have difficulty in moving on clay.
Well, you never know anyway, he could develop to be some kind of Kuerten-style of game, an agressive claycourt play. But for that he will need a change in his game, so as future changes are uncertain, I would have to say for now, I don't think Delpo will be Nadal's major threat.
Del Potro is a HC specialist. He likes to hit it flat and go for winners. That just won't do on clay. Besides he is very tall and he could have difficulty in moving on clay.
Well, you never know anyway, he could develop to be some kind of Kuerten-style of game, an agressive claycourt play. But for that he will need a change in his game, so as future changes are uncertain, I would have to say for now, I don't think Delpo will be Nadal's major threat.
Michael Bluth
Semi-Pro
Kind of premature to write off the three-time consecutive finalist no?
And Del Potro has only really shown one time that he has the right stuff on clay, he has yet to show us he can repeat that performance.
And Del Potro has only really shown one time that he has the right stuff on clay, he has yet to show us he can repeat that performance.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
6-1 6-3 6-0. Need I say more? Djokovic gave Nadal his toughest match at last years RG. Del Potro is very young and improving at a very high rate. It's either Djokovic or Del Potro. Fed's best years are past him.
World Beater
Hall of Fame
did djokovic even win a set?
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Del Potro might win RG? Come on. . .get serious. Del Potro is good. . . .very good, but he hasn't a prayer at the toughest tournament of the year. Read any post-Rafa clay match player interview, and they all say the same thing: it's too much. He's too tough, too intense. No one can keep up that intensity for tha long but Rafa. Del Potro can make quarters, but his body will break down in the quarters. The FO requires more patience and physical effort, and Del Potro does not do well in long matches. If he is to play the FO, there is a good chance that he might have to play 2-3 5 set matches. Rafa has the ideal physique and game for clay. Del Potro is an unknown for now. He has improved, but he might win the '09 FO? Excuse me while I spit my drink out all over the wall from laughing.
And please don't put Del Potro in the same league as Rafa, when he has not won a major, nor even come close. And what is his clay record compared to Rafa's? Nuff said.
And please don't put Del Potro in the same league as Rafa, when he has not won a major, nor even come close. And what is his clay record compared to Rafa's? Nuff said.
Is this a rhetorical question?
P_Agony
Banned
Short memory huh? So how about this: Federer domiantes Djokovic on caly in Monte Carlo, forcing Joker to retire (and also tells his parents to be quite
)With Nadal, I believe it was 7-6, 7-6 in Monte Carlo and a 3 set match in Hmaburg, and people say that match would have been Federer's had Nadal not taken an injury break.
Yes, RG was not even close, but seriously, Federer didn't even try his best there. He gave up fairly quickliy and just wanted the match to be over with.
Also, IMO Nadal's toughest match in the recent RG was agains Belluci, not Djokovic.
swedechris
Banned
good one..
man , thats a funny one.. hehe!
good thing henin was know for her speedy footwork and ability to getting out of awkward positions and regain the offensive..
Radek the clay king. And sex machine.
man , thats a funny one.. hehe!
good thing henin was know for her speedy footwork and ability to getting out of awkward positions and regain the offensive..
swedechris
Banned
good one..
man , thats a funny one.. hehe!
good thing henin was known for her speedy footwork and ability to getting out of awkward positions and regain the offensive..
Radek the clay king. And sex machine.
man , thats a funny one.. hehe!
good thing henin was known for her speedy footwork and ability to getting out of awkward positions and regain the offensive..
So not only does Federer get a failing grade for the outcome, he gets an F for effort.
I don't see how this excuse is supposed to make him look good.
P_Agony
Banned
It's not an excuse. Federer failed in this match in every way possible. had you read my entire post you'd know it was for explaining the Fed's still the biggest threat to Nadal on clay when his game is on.
Clay lover
Legend
Djokovic seems like a more legitimate threat on clay to Nadal. His Hamburg semi with Nadal was the best clay court match of this year, haven't seen better claycourt attacking tennis except maybe from Kuerten. And he got way more games off Nadal than Federer in RG.
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edberg505
Legend
Neither one of them got sets from Nadal this year.
Clay lover
Legend
Sorry I meant games. Now fixed.
Turning Pro
Hall of Fame
Exactly. Fed should worry more about grass than clay imo.
FlamEnemY
Hall of Fame
True. Djokovic showed that he is ready to use every chance he has. Maybe Federer is the better clay courter, but Novak is ready to fight till the end versus Nadal (Remember how many saved break points he had in Hamburg? The BP's in the last game were enough for a whole set.)
I like the way Djoko played against Nadal on clay this year....I got the feeling he really believed he could beat Nadal and he played real good in both matches....
Federer could obviously win if he is really hot and gets some lucky breaks.....
Del potro is looking real good at the moment and I'm not sure if he has played Nadal so it could be an awkward encounter.
Nalbandian could be threat if he could focus and play his best tennis
I would say in this order....
1.Djoko.
2.Federer.
3.Del Potro
4.Nalbandian
But I hope Nadal goes on to win it whoever he faces..........
Federer could obviously win if he is really hot and gets some lucky breaks.....
Del potro is looking real good at the moment and I'm not sure if he has played Nadal so it could be an awkward encounter.
Nalbandian could be threat if he could focus and play his best tennis
I would say in this order....
1.Djoko.
2.Federer.
3.Del Potro
4.Nalbandian
But I hope Nadal goes on to win it whoever he faces..........
edberg505
Legend
You hope he wins? Dude, Nadal could go out there with a peg leg and a patch over one eye and still win the French. I already didn't really like watching the FO to begin with, now it's really boring when you know the tournament is a foregone conclusion. Everyone in that tournament outside of Nadal is playing for second place.
Yeah,agreed.As to whether he nay beat Nadal:thats still not clear yet.
The omly time they met on clay,Nadal won.And Delpo wasnt a strong force then:he proved himself during hardcourt season.
Lets jus wait for the Davis final,And hope its played on CLAY..
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Not all clay is equal. Monte Carlo and Hamburg are lower bouncing clay. Thus height and strength being more of a need at Roland Garros. Del Potro and Djokovic have it. Thus they are better equipped to handle Nadal's topspin shots to the backhand. By the way I never said they would beat Nadal. It's just that Federer isn't even close based on what I saw.Short memory huh? So how about this: Federer domiantes Djokovic on caly in Monte Carlo, forcing Joker to retire (and also tells his parents to be quite
With Nadal, I believe it was 7-6, 7-6 in Monte Carlo and a 3 set match in Hmaburg, and people say that match would have been Federer's had Nadal not taken an injury break.
Yes, RG was not even close, but seriously, Federer didn't even try his best there. He gave up fairly quickliy and just wanted the match to be over with.
Also, IMO Nadal's toughest match in the recent RG was agains Belluci, not Djokovic.
thalivest
Banned
I hate Federer but you have to remember he played his worst tennis at this years French Open. He was playing awful the whole tournament, nearly losing to Monfils even, LOL! The French Open final is an example of Nadal in his best form and Federer at his worst. I think the gap isnt nearly what it looked to be in that match if both players are normal.
Jonny S&V
Hall of Fame
Jeez, and I promised that I wouldn't get into another Nadal-**** arguement, but I couldn't resist... I'm pretty sure that anyone in the top 10 is going to be a threat to Nadal by next year's French Open. Nadal can't keep up the absolutely astounding play for more then a year (if he does, he is the greatest ever physically) and by next years French he'll be absolutely whipped... I like him (hate his game though...) but he will probably be spent by then...
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Lol at Nadal being physically whipped. The guy is gifted no doubt but he isn't exhausting himself every match like you make it out to be. He had quite an easy time last year at the French Open and Wimbledon. Really all he needs to win it is play about 80% of how he did in last years French Open to win it. The French Open is the type of clay Fed likes least. High bouncing. Federer prefers slower clay courts because the ball doesn't kick up as much. Rome and RG seem to be where he struggles the most which are the fastest clay courts. I think Del Potro and Djokovic have similar games and are better able to handle the high balls because of their height and two-handed backhand. Thus why they have a better chance on this type of clay. Federer in Hamburg and Monte Carlo probably slightly better shot.
