Did AO organizers "fix" Nadal's questionable cakewalk draw?

Do you think the 2018 AO draw was "fixed" in Nadal's favor?

  • Total voters
    96
ForumMember said:
My comment was on the quality of your argument.
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But is that comment false?

"Fed has trouble with one player on tour on clay. One.

Nadal can get beaten by ANY random journeyman on a fast surface.

He's so bad on indoor that he skips the WTF almost every year."

Is this statement not true? I'll add that it doesn't have to be a fast surface, any non clay surface he can lose to any random mug and if he actually plays full seasons instead of saving everything for clay than he would be vulnerable to losing to mugs on clay too
 
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merlinpinpin said:
Last year was an accident, apparently (they just did them sooner than usual, that's what got them quicker). And the tennis was great (only decent slam of 2017, and one of the best AO's in a long time), so trying to get more of the same sounds logical enough. ;)
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Damn, you are right. They weren't expecting old injurygone Fed to win, they just wanted him to go deep.

Haha, this is what happens when you mess with the goat.
Now they realized Fed is the goat and winning the AO vs Nadal is the best scenario, they can't risk Fed to lose vs Delpo or Djokovic, much easier to just fix Rafa's draw.

Yeah. I wonder what would happen if Fed wins 20 beating Djokovic in the semis and Nadal in the final. This would be epic for tennis, this is what they want.

They want to milk the last drop of money while Djokovic and Rafa are still competitive. They don't want to see 40 year old Fed beating Zverev in the final.
 
Here’s the simple conclusion: Nadal is number 1, the all star, the face everyone knows, even if they don’t watch tennis. Giving him an easy draw to a semi final is basically asking for more people to watch the tournament in the later stages (when the most money is made).
 
It is likely that the organisers want Nadal to win a 17th slam, so that he can edge closer to Federer, the GOAT, in the slam chase.

Barring that, a Kyrgios victory.

There are no other interesting stories to be had in men's tennis at present.
 
Phoenix1983 said:
It is likely that the organisers want Nadal to win a 17th slam, so that he can edge closer to Federer, the GOAT, in the slam chase.

Barring that, a Kyrgios victory.

There are no other interesting stories to be had in men's tennis at present.
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What about Federer being the first man to achieve 20 grand slam titles?
 
clayqueen said:
Fred has to get past Donskoy to play Djokovic or Nadal.
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Your right we cant take these things for granted. Fed is too old to be a lock to beat anyone even 100 ranked random mugs and nads his whole career has always been losing to 100 ranked mugs in slams. 4 years in a row at wimby which has to be a record. If he didnt skip so much of the season to prepare for clay hed have these mug losses on clay too

No guarantee we will see fed get deep enough to ever meet nads again for these thrilling finals. Fed could lose to anyone now. He did of course routinely thrash nads for four years but still youre right no guarentees he doesnt lose to donksy etc. Same with nadal as per his entire career he is 50 50 to lose to a random mug
 
Sport said:
Wimbledon is still fast, just not ultra-fast as in the 90s. If Wimbledon is suppousedly not fast, then why do servebots like Muller or Kyrgios play better there than in Roland Garros?
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Outside courts are still ok speed-wise, where guys like Muller and Kyrgios play in early rounds. But Centre Court, so slow what a joke.
 
ctrl-alt-del said:
Below is my analysis of Nadal’s questionable draw. My hypothesis is that the draw was rigged by the organizers of the Australian Open to increase the chance of Nadal facing #17 Kyrgios (an Australian) in the semifinals, then Federer in the final.

Federer, Del Potro, Djokovic and Wawrinka are all on the other side of the draw. All the currently active players who have won a grand slam are on Federer’s side of the draw, with the exception of Nadal and Cilic, who should meet in the Quarterfinals. However, Nadal is 5-1 against Cilic and that one loss came 9 years ago in 2009. Berdych, Fognini, Goffin, Querrey, Raonic, Thiem, Verdasco and Zverev are also on the opposite side of the draw from Nadal; this is notable because all of those players, with the exception of Zverev, have recent wins over Nadal. My point is that the draw is heavily in Nadal’s favor, to the point that one really has to wonder whether this is a rigged draw. Nadal has a clear path to the semifinals, where he will play Dimitrov/Rublev/Kyrgios/Shapovalov/Tsonga/Pouille/Sock. There doesn’t seem to be much of a possibility of him losing before the semis.

Here are the scores from some of Nadal’s recent defeats on hardcourt, to players not named Roger Federer:
2017 ATP World Tour Finals: Goffin d. Nadal 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
2017 Canadian Open: Shapovalov d. Nadal 6-3, 4-6, 7-6
2017 Cincinnati Masters: Kyrgios d. Nadal 6-2, 7-5
2017 Acapulco Open: Querrey d. Nadal 6-3, 7-6
2017 Brisbane: Raonic d. Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
2016 Cincinnati: Coric d. Nadal 6-1, 6-2
2016 US Open: Pouille d. Nadal 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
2016 Rio Olympics: Del Potro d. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 7-6
2016 Indian Wells: Djokovic d. Nadal 7-6, 6-2
2016 Australian Open: Verdasco d. Nadal. 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
2016 Doha: Djokovic d. Nadal 6-1, 6-2
2015 Paris Masters: Wawrinka d. Nadal 7-6, 7-6
2015 Shanghai: Tsonga d. Nadal 6-4, 0-6, 7-5
2015 Beijing: Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 6-2
2015 US Open: Fognini d. Nadal 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
2015 Miami Masters: Verdasco d. Nadal 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2015 Australian Open Quarterfinal: Berdych d. Nadal 6-2, 6-0, 7-6

Nadal lost to Federer in all three of their hard court meetings in 2017. However, in the past two years (2016 and 2017 seasons) Nadal has also lost to current world #7 Goffin, #12 Del Potro, #13 Querrey, #14 Djokovic, #17 Kyrgios, #18 Pouille, #23 Raonic, #40 Verdasco, #47 Coric and #50 Shapovalov. Nadal also lost to current world #9 Wawrinka in the 2015 Paris Masters, #27 Fognini in the 3rd round of the 2015 US Open and #20 Tomas Berdych in the Quarterfinals of the 2015 Australian Open. Out of those thirteen players with recent hard court wins against Nadal, and all with current rankings well outside the top 4, only world #47 Coric is in Nadal's quarter of the draw. Nadal beat Coric by the score of 6-1, 6-2 when they met most recently just five months ago in Cincinnati in 2017. Nadal is very vulnerable on hard court and there are players throughout the top 50 that could take him out in the first week, if only they were seeded as potential opponents in his quarter of the draw!

I really think the draw was intentionally rigged so that Nadal can face #17 Kyrgios (an Australian) in the semifinal, then Federer in the final. Those are the two blockbuster matches that the Australian Open organizers want to happen. How can it be coincidence that all the players, currently ranked outside the top 5, that pose a serious threat to Nadal on hard court, players like Del Potro, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Goffin, Querrey, Fognini, Raonic, Verdasco and Berdych, are all at a safe distance on the opposite side of the draw?

Here are Nadal’s results at the Australian Open from the past six years:
2017 Australian Open Final: Federer d. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2016 Australian Open 1st Round: Verdasco d. Nadal. 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
2015 Australian Open Quarterfinal: Berdych d. Nadal 6-2, 6-0, 7-6
2014 Australian Open Final: Wawrinka d. Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
2013 Australian Open: Nadal did not play in 2013 due to injury
2012 Australian Open Final: Djokovic d. Nadal. 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5

Note that every single one of his former conquerors (Berdych, Djokovic, Federer, Verdasco, Wawrinka) at the Australian Open the past six years is on the other side of the draw. For Federer, this makes perfect sense; as the #2 seed, he’s supposed to be on the opposite side of the draw, as the #1 (Nadal) and #2 (Federer) seeds can’t meet until the final. However, Wawrinka (#9) Djokovic (#14), Berdych (#20) and Verdasco(#40) all have rankings outside the top 4, which means that any one of them (or two, or three) could have showed up in Nadal’s quarter. Perhaps it is just luck of the draw, but if so, that is some truly spectacular luck. I’m not buying it. I read in a separate thread that the draw was done by computer this year; it would have been very easy to "fix" the draw, so as to meet certain desired constraints, via computer. I think the organizers were dismayed by Nadal’s 1st round defeat to Verdasco in 2016 and decided to fix the draw so that they could have their big superstar of the game make it to the second week. In conclusion, my hypothesis is that the draw was rigged by the organizers.
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I think they just want to fulfill Nadal's old idea that the defending slam champion should gain automatic entry into the final.

Oh wait....
 
guanzishou said:
I think they just want to fulfill Nadal's old idea that the defending slam champion should gain automatic entry into the final.

Oh wait....
Click to expand...

Very smart from the Nadal!

04nadal.jpg


8-)
 
mike danny said:
Why bring up stats from Fed's worst period? Do you want me to bring up stats from Rafa's 2015-2016?
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Do you not follow the conversation. This was my response to ingvar claiming that Fed has owned Rafa for the last 4 years.
 
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clayqueen said:
Do you not follow the conversation. This was my response to ingvar claiming that Fed has owned Rafa for the last 4 years.
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2014 to end of 2017 is four years you cant count no?

Nads thrashed fed? What do you call what gramps did to nads last year? Nads won 2 sets all last year lol. Backerer managed to win sets of peak nadal in 2013 nads cant win even sets of gramps.

Calm down stop stressing nads will do well in 2018. Results wise who knows he has never been consistent but i have a hunch he will do ok this year fed is ancient, djoker, murray etc all gone. But forget the matches He will definetly do well in profile terms... mark my words 2018 the year nads finally wins the fans favourite award and gets more sponsor money then fed. Trust me this pink hot pants strategy is going to work and sponsors have wised up knowing that appealing to gay men and older women who want the nads is key. Dimitrov may have the teenage girls but teenage girls have no money. Nads is gonna cash in big this year. TIGHTEN THE SHORTS WE WANT IT PINK
 
GOATzilla said:
Federer is one of the most accomplished player in all of sports. Yet his fans are the most insecure bunch.
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Very insecure. They can't handle the fact that there are people who don't support Fred while they support other players or who don't like Fred while liking someone else. A total circus of a fanbase.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Nadal's not winning this one even with his cakewalk draw. Nick takes him out, if not some other Bozo before the semis. Ya heard it here first (or second, or third!)
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You hope. However I’ll guarantee Federer isn’t winning. Nadal might, he was favourite although I think Djokovic will be favourite if he gets through monfils.

Whatever happens it’s must win for Federer, Nadal will still be holder of two majors come what may until September,
 
Jon Snow said:
Very insecure. They can't handle the fact that there are people who don't support Fred while they support other players or who don't like Fred while liking someone else. A total circus of a fanbase.
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I think though it runs a bit deeper than that. Demographically Federer fans generally are a lot older than fans of Nadal. Obviously they are the two most popular players but the reason for the huge trolling by Federer fans I think may lie in the older generation hating things the young generation like. Things were always better in their day sort of logic applies.

So seeing Nadal and Djokovic replace Federer at the top of the game sort of mirrors perhaps their own lives to an extent perhaps in the workplace with younger employees taking over.

It certainly is unusual to see the level of bile Federer fans direct towards both Nadal and Djokovic which goes beyond the abuse rival football fans give each other. There must be more to it than just tennis.
 
On paper, it looks to me like Rafa got a great draw, obviously with all the slam winners (save Cilic) being on the other side. As to whether it was “fixed”... who knows? Have no idea who makes the draws or how it is done. Whatever the case 1. It’s not his fault and 2. It’s the advantage of being the top player

.02

In related news, the pink is driving me crazy
 
The draw for unseeded players have always been done by the computer. It's only the seeds that are drawn out physically.

I think they did the same this year too, but they just put the guys at one side of the court doing it during the draw ceremony (you can see them pulling out chips at one point in the live stream), whilst at the same time interviewing Fed and Maria to fill up the void so to speak in the organisers eyes.
 
Jmauer said:
On paper, it looks to me like Rafa got a great draw, obviously with all the slam winners (save Cilic) being on the other side. As to whether it was “fixed”... who knows? Have no idea who makes the draws or how it is done. Whatever the case 1. It’s not his fault and 2. It’s the advantage of being the top player

.02

In related news, the pink is driving me crazy
Click to expand...

No, it's not the perk of being the top player. There's no difference between #1 and #2 seed in terms of the draw, it's random (or supposed to be anyway).
 
underground said:
The draw for unseeded players have always been done by the computer. It's only the seeds that are drawn out physically.

I think they did the same this year too, but they just put the guys at one side of the court doing it during the draw ceremony (you can see them pulling out chips at one point in the live stream), whilst at the same time interviewing Fed and Maria to fill up the void so to speak in the organisers eyes.
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Didn’t know that’s how they did it! Thanks for sharing!
 
zagor said:
No, it's not the perk of being the top player. There's no difference between #1 and #2 seed in terms of the draw, it's random (or supposed to be anyway).
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Good to know, thanks for sharing. Actually though the 1&4 and 2&3 played in the semis (which would be an advantage to 1) but looking at the draw, that’s not the case.
 
Jon Snow said:
Very insecure. They can't handle the fact that there are people who don't support Fred while they support other players or who don't like Fred while liking someone else. A total circus of a fanbase.
Click to expand...

Most feds fans are not concerned with feds popularity - thats nads bubble fans who are. Feds popularity is just a byproduct of his success on court. Nads fans are upset and in denial that nads doesnt win fan favs, has less sponsors, is less popular has a fan base mainly of teenage girls who arent really into tennis as a sport. For this reason, I support nikes decision to put nads in tight pink hotpants, it will give him a boost in popularity and appeal particularly to the older female and gay male market. Mark my words nads will be the new fan fav with this strategy. This increase in fan base will tip him over the edge. THE SHORTS NEED TP GET PINKER, TIGHTER AND SWEATIER

As I said, most fed fans aren't concerned with popularity contests. Feds popularity is only a byproduct of his success. Countless videos and tributes of him in slow motion are simply a byproduct of exceptional technique and form etc etc
 
ingvar said:
Most feds fans are not concerned with feds popularity - thats nads bubble fans who are. Feds popularity is just a byproduct of his success on court. Nads fans are upset and in denial that nads doesnt win fan favs, has less sponsors, is less popular has a fan base mainly of teenage girls who arent really into tennis as a sport. For this reason, I support nikes decision to put nads in tight pink hotpants, it will give him a boost in popularity and appeal particularly to the older female and gay male market. Mark my words nads will be the new fan fav with this strategy. This increase in fan base will tip him over the edge. THE SHORTS NEED TP GET PINKER, TIGHTER AND SWEATIER

As I said, most fed fans aren't concerned with popularity contests. Feds popularity is only a byproduct of his success. Countless videos and tributes of him in slow motion are simply a byproduct of exceptional technique and form etc etc
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I think Federer increases your tip.
 
intrepidish said:
Seriously. And one of their "tough" draw dudes for Roger is Sam Querrey who just lost to a player most people on here have probably never even seen playing.
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That is because they are obsessed with "history" and in their mind, if Fed ends behind Nadal in the slam race it will be the end of the World, as that will make him 2nd best.
 
Comb Over Champion said:
I'm sure you can't.
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What do you mean? As in nads tight pink hotpants and heavy sweating? Its a good strategy for marketing and Im not going to knock it. Money talks so you might laugh now but who's laughing when this generates some serious brand ehancement/expansion of fanbase which will lead directly to more dollar.
 
ingvar said:
What do you mean? As in nads tight pink hotpants and heavy sweating? Its a good strategy for marketing and Im not going to knock it. Money talks so you might laugh now but who's laughing when this generates some serious brand ehancement/expansion of fanbase which will lead directly to more dollar.
Click to expand...
K
 
Fabresque said:
Here’s the simple conclusion: Nadal is number 1, the all star, the face everyone knows, even if they don’t watch tennis. Giving him an easy draw to a semi final is basically asking for more people to watch the tournament in the later stages (when the most money is made).
Click to expand...

So you atleast agree that they have rigged it. Good.

How come Nadal, the number 1, the all star, the face everyone knows get the prime time late night schedules at tournaments ? Why does old man Federer have to be the scapegoat playing at prime time to keep the TV ratings up and bring the crowds in ?

Anyway, why didn't Djokovic and Federer , when they were no.1 for years together get such cuppy cake draws ?
 
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