does nadal have more pressure than federer?

[tennishead93]

in tommorows final nadal will be playing fed for three in a row. has that ever happened? but in feds case there are a few men who have won a career grandslam. if i am right about nobody ever making the roland garros hattrick wouldnt ther be more pressure on nadal?

 

[drakulie]

Hmm, finally a thread with an interesting question.

I would say Fed has more pressure. He has yet to win this tournament so this has to put doubt in his mind. Secondly he is playing Nadal who has undoubtebly been the best clay courter in recent years, and has handled him well on clay, and played him very well on other surfaces (unlike the rest of the field). Lastly, the Calendar slam has to be on his mind.

Nadal, has nothing to lose (no pun intended). I realize he could threepeat, but he has already proven himslef at teh French.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I thought last year's final at the french was dissapointing by Fed.After that first set it seemed like he didnt wanna be there.He started playing lazy.I am hoping for a better fight from him this time around.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Much more pressure on Federer. His whole year will be a disappointment considering how long he has been talking about this tournament. Not many more chances for Federer to win the French as well.

 

[boojay]

if memory serves me, i believe borg won it four times in a row so it's not like it hasn't been done (and done better) before.

it's a no brainer that a career slam is more impressive than winning 3 French Opens in a row and a grand slam would be harder still.

 

[randomname]

definetly more pressure on fed, since most are saying (and he is probably thinking) after this year he has one more good chance of winning the grand slam. I almost think him beating nadal in hamburg puts MORE pressure on him because if he had lost there would be very little expectation for him to beat nadal tommorow

 

[Mick]

Nadal has more pressure because the last time they played, Federer bageled him in the last set. I am sure Nadal doesn't want that to happen again and thinking about it will add more pressure on him.

 

[boojay]

having any chances at winning the grand slam at all is amazing in itself. to have it multiple times says a lot about fed.

 

[Ztalin]

I think Nadal has more pressure. He is expected to win.

If he loses, not only is he dethroned as the king of clay, but Federer will officially have his number. If Fed wins tomorrow... it says a lot about the future of their head to head. It'll mean that Nadal was just another Hewitt or Nalbandian nemesis to Federer.

 

[Ztalin]

definetly more pressure on fed, since most are saying (and he is probably thinking) after this year he has one more good chance of winning the grand slam. I almost think him beating nadal in hamburg puts MORE pressure on him because if he had lost there would be very little expectation for him to beat nadal tommorow

I think that beating him in Hamburg released some pressure. It means a 7-4 head to head vs 8-3. And if he lost hamburg AND the FO, it would be 9-3. It also shows that he was able to beat arguably the best clay courter of all time on clay, in his prime. So at least he beat him on the surface once. Got the -monkey off his back- so to speak.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I think that beating him in Hamburg released some pressure. It means a 7-4 head to head vs 8-3. And if he lost hamburg AND the FO, it would be 9-3. It also shows that he was able to beat arguably the best clay courter of all time on clay, in his prime. So at least he beat him on the surface once. Got the -monkey off his back- so to speak.

I don't think Federer in his mind, thought Nadal was playing at 100%. If he wins tomorrow, than he'll feel differently about his matchup with Nadal. Beating a fresh Nadal in a best of 5 set match will be extremely difficult but Fed is the one most capable of doing it. We'll see what happens.

 

[helloworld]

I think Nadal has more pressure. He is expected to win.

If he loses, not only is he dethroned as the king of clay, but Federer will officially have his number. If Fed wins tomorrow... it says a lot about the future of their head to head. It'll mean that Nadal was just another Hewitt or Nalbandian nemesis to Federer.

I have to disagree with that. Even if Nadal loses in the final, I still would never think of Nadal as another Hewitt or Nalbandian. I believe he has achieved more than both player even at his young age and I still believe that he can ovetake the number one spot from Federer some day. I like Federer as well, but this is just an honest statement looking at his achievement, age, and improvement altogether.

 

[boojay]

I don't think Federer in his mind, thought Nadal was playing at 100%. If he wins tomorrow, than he'll feel differently about his matchup with Nadal. Beating a fresh Nadal in a best of 5 set match will be extremely difficult but Fed is the one most capable of doing it. We'll see what happens.

Wow, I didn't know you were capable of making a respectable post. I'm surprised.

 

[Breakaz54z]

I believe both are pressured equally in their own rights. Federer is playing to be with the all time greatest of them all. While Nadal is trying to extend his legacy even further. Overall it's two different weights, but the same amount of burden on each player.

 

[Defcon]

Fed has won both Wimbledon and USO 3 times in a row, both of which are much more prestigious than the FO. The fact that 3-peating at the French is harder just goes to show how much more physical conditioning rather than tennis talent is a factor there, and the fact that there are legions of clay court specialists who don't have a hope in hell of winning on any other surface.

 

[Ztalin]

I have to disagree with that. Even if Nadal loses in the final, I still would never think of Nadal as another Hewitt or Nalbandian. I believe he has achieved more than both player even at his young age and I still believe that he can ovetake the number one spot from Federer some day. I like Federer as well, but this is just an honest statement looking at his achievement, age, and improvement altogether.

Hewitt has achieved more than Nadal...

 

[Fedfan4life]

I will agree with most of you that picked Nadal. More pressure will go on you because your defending your title AGAIN. As for federer. I just hope he steps up and shows us what he's really made of. Judging from Nadal's record with Fed and as a Fedfan myself, I hope he wins tomorrow.

 

[Ztalin]

I will agree with most of you that picked Nadal. More pressure will go on you because your defending your title AGAIN. As for federer. I just hope he steps up and shows us what he's really made of. Judging from Nadal's record with Fed and as a Fedfan myself, I hope he wins tomorrow.

Exactly. I mean, who has more pressure at wimbledon, Nadal or Federer?

 

[nextfederer]

no federer has way more pressure first of all he is number 1 in the world and grandslam is a lot bigger deal than a hatrick

 

[OrangeOne]

having any chances at winning the grand slam at all is amazing in itself. to have it multiple times says a lot about fed.

Good post.

I certainly think Fed has more pressure, but if he could get off to an early lead, maybe Nadal might play mind games with himself. I mean, right now, clay is his claim to fame. Fed won Hamburg and fractionally dented that, but Nadal without a current FO title is just a very very good player, not a 'champion'. That said, I'd think this would only kick in if he finds himself a couple of sets down...

 

[boojay]

Good post.

I certainly think Fed has more pressure, but if he could get off to an early lead, maybe Nadal might play mind games with himself. I mean, right now, clay is his claim to fame. Fed won Hamburg and fractionally dented that, but Nadal without a current FO title is just a very very good player, not a 'champion'. That said, I'd think this would only kick in if he finds himself a couple of sets down...

Normally I would agree with said assessment, but Nadal's the kinda guy who can get bageled/breadsticked the first set and still come back. Even if he were down 0-2 in sets and down 0-5 in the 3rd set, he'd still have the audacity to think he has the chance to come back and win.

What Fed needs to do is just bagel bagel bagel him, as in, crush Nadal--give him no hope whatsoever. He can't give Nadal the light of day because that's all he needs and he's proven that, but Fed's also proven he's capable of laying down the hammer and he needs to smack that monkey boy to kingdom come. Here's hopin' for a bagel fest

P.S. obviously Fed's not gonna bagel him 3 times, but what I meant is he has to play with that mindset.

 

[crazylevity]

Normally I would agree with said assessment, but Nadal's the kinda guy who can get bageled/breadsticked the first set and still come back. Even if he were down 0-2 in sets and down 0-5 in the 3rd set, he'd still have the audacity to think he has the chance to come back and win.

What Fed needs to do is just bagel bagel bagel him, as in, crush Nadal--give him no hope whatsoever. He can't give Nadal the light of day because that's all he needs and he's proven that, but Fed's also proven he's capable of laying down the hammer and he needs to smack that monkey boy to kingdom come. Here's hopin' for a bagel fest

P.S. obviously Fed's not gonna bagel him 3 times, but what I meant is he has to play with that mindset.

Agree. Federer has shown he can blow Nadal away for maybe a set, and then starts playing normally trying to hang with him. For the final Federer has to attack, and attack and keep attacking. Once Nadal figures it out change tactics, but attack relentlessly. That's the only way to keep him under pressure long enough to win.

 

[OrangeOne]

Normally I would agree with said assessment, but Nadal's the kinda guy who can get bageled/breadsticked the first set and still come back. Even if he were down 0-2 in sets and down 0-5 in the 3rd set, he'd still have the audacity to think he has the chance to come back and win.

What Fed needs to do is just bagel bagel bagel him, as in, crush Nadal--give him no hope whatsoever. He can't give Nadal the light of day because that's all he needs and he's proven that, but Fed's also proven he's capable of laying down the hammer and he needs to smack that monkey boy to kingdom come. Here's hopin' for a bagel fest

P.S. obviously Fed's not gonna bagel him 3 times, but what I meant is he has to play with that mindset.

Again you make good points, I know what you mean about Nadal personality being very tough to break. I just think we don't know what he's like when he's facing defeat at RG, and I couldn't agree more with the assessment that Fed needs to go at 100% from minute 1. If he starts slow, he'll be in tears in the locker-room in a blink of an eye, and they won't be tears of joy....

 

[boojay]

That's precisely where I'm getting at. I realize how fierce of a competitor Nadal is and the only way to get past him (especially on this surface and on one of the biggest stages) is to be merciless from the get go.

Normal Fed has a slim chance of beating Nadal, but Alpha Fed can steamroll him. He showed that in the last two sets of Hamburg and in the last two sets against Robredo. He smacked so many flat winners, I was slack-jawed for the rest of the week. It's high risk tennis, but that's what it's going to take and if anyone can pull it off, it's.............

 

[tricky]

Federer has more pressure, but Nadal actually is most nervy when he plays Fed. Fed is the one of the few players whom Nadal has problems hitting cleanly with his FH. Of course, it's obviously true in the opposite situation.

Tennis is pretty ugly when they face each other. Neither likes that.

 

[OrangeOne]

It's high risk tennis, but that's what it's going to take and if anyone can pull it off, it's.............

Suuuper-Fed? .

Tennis is pretty ugly when they face each other. Neither likes that.

I read a magazine article about Becker playing Sampras (I think - it was Becker v. someone) in a training set before the AO one year. So well written, described them playing, calling their own lines, just belting it out.

It'd be cool to be a fly-on-the-wall for this kind of match between Fed & Nadal, to see them play without the pressure of a slam final, without 10's of millions of people watching, with only 'buying the first beer' on the line. Sure - today we could see an amazing match, but more often than not nerves play such a big part. Seeing them without the nerves, without the pressure... could be something pretty special.

 

[boojay]

^actually, I was gonna say Optimus Prime Fed or Megatron Fed.

Can't wait to see Transformers!!!

 

[Fedfan4life]

Keep it mind what happened in Hamburg. Nadal had Federer then Roger turned Super Saiyan 4 and crushed Nadal.

 

[boojay]

Keep it mind what happened in Hamburg. Nadal had Federer then Roger turned Super Saiyan 4 and crushed Nadal.

He shouldn't wait to be down before approaching with that killer mentality though. I know it's tough because one almost has to be on the ropes (more often than not) before being able to summon that herculean strength required to fight back, but against Nadal, he's gotta bring out the can of WhOOP@$$!!! and keep it open.

 

[Morrissey]

in tommorows final nadal will be playing fed for three in a row. has that ever happened? but in feds case there are a few men who have won a career grandslam. if i am right about nobody ever making the roland garros hattrick wouldnt ther be more pressure on nadal?

Fed is trying to win the Grand Slam and be perhaps the GOAT. Fed has more at stake and the window of opportunity is shrinking year by year. Fed has more pressure.

 

[rwn]

Fed is trying to win the Grand Slam and be perhaps the GOAT. Fed has more at stake and the window of opportunity is shrinking year by year. Fed has more pressure.

I don't think so. Federer is a late-bloomer (had only 3 titles on his 21st birthday). Late-bloomers often have very long careers. He has at least 4 or 5 more chances to win RG and the Grand Slam IMO. His schedule shows that Federer thinks the same way.

 

[Fedfan4life]

True kinda like Agassi. But Agassi didn't win 10 slams in a 4 year stretch and counting.