Does this season without Nadal to look forward to feel like a balloon that has lost its air?

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
We got to see a broken down Nadal in the last two years and that was not fun at all to watch him lose a lot or get injured a lot. If he had retired before we got to see that, maybe there would be more regrets by fans about what we might be missing. But now we know that we are not missing much - just 1st and 2nd round losses. It is a torn balloon that can never hold any air again.
 

vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
Are you kidding me? I finally feel relief. I've been waiting 20 long, torturous years for that guy to disappear.
That makes two three of us. :D

@vive le beau jeu !
it feels sooo refreshing... :giggle:

giphy.webp

#NothingLikeNadalFreeTennis #TheEndOfTheTopSpinPlague
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
I would have liked to see him play another season. Seemed like he was on track at the start of '24, then boom! He definitely brought energy to the game. But I like Carlitos a lot, Sinner is interesting and maybe, just maybe Fritzy can get something done at a GS this year! Djoko, I think, is in his last season, last hurrah. Plus, the possible Sinner suspension could radically change things up.
 

Fedforever

Hall of Fame
You miss the guys but it's also nice to think about watching matches without the extreme stress.

Carlos seems like a genuinely lovely guy but also one who is likely to put fans through some trauma in the coming years! So I'm a bit reluctant to jump fully onto the train!

Djokovic and Sinner fans seem to be fighting a bit on social media so plus ca change.......... There's always new battles to fight.
 
I'll feel the exact same way about Novak so I can relate :p
Is that because you like Novak a bit and do not want to see him humiliated by the top guys (at slams its going to be brutal for him against this New Gen) or because you cannot stand the sight of him period?
I'll be happy when he is gone as i genuinely think its going to be tragic to see one of the greatest players ever get absolutely beat down at slams by the New Gen in later rounds because his legs have gone, which for me they clearly have now. At least Federer and Nadal had injury issues which ended their careers, which while not pleasant, at least is sort of just bad luck ultimately (same with Agassi) but to fade away because the leg speed and stamina is gone is to me the worse way to bow out.
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
Is that because you like Novak a bit and do not want to see him humiliated by the top guys (at slams its going to be brutal for him against this New Gen) or because you cannot stand the sight of him period?
I'll be happy when he is gone as i genuinely think its going to be tragic to see one of the greatest players ever get absolutely beat down at slams by the New Gen in later rounds because his legs have gone, which for me they clearly have now. At least Federer and Nadal had injury issues which ended their careers, which while not pleasant, at least is sort of just bad luck ultimately (same with Agassi) but to fade away because the leg speed and stamina is gone is to me the worse way to bow out.
When the legs go, that's it. Connors said the very same thing. He couldn't keep going in 5 set GS matches with 40yr old legs. Which for him, was a big difference from 37yr old legs, scarily. I don't know how Djoko does it, honestly. Getting to the W final with a bum knee? you've got to give the guy credit, love/hate him. But I get the sense the clock is running out for him. The will is there, but the body is slowing down...you can see it. Fed, Nadal, both really pushed it to the limit as well. Right now, I think Djoko beats nearly everyone outside of the Top 10. But beating Sinner and Carlos is a much taller order. Even Meddy. When Fritzy starts beating him, then you know he's done, IMHO.
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
You miss the guys but it's also nice to think about watching matches without the extreme stress.

Carlos seems like a genuinely lovely guy but also one who is likely to put fans through some trauma in the coming years! So I'm a bit reluctant to jump fully onto the train!

Djokovic and Sinner fans seem to be fighting a bit on social media so plus ca change.......... There's always new battles to fight.
I miss Nadal, but enjoy Carlos...when he's flowing, he's a lot of fun to watch. Sinner, less exciting, but damn, he can hit that ball for a skinny guy! I get a kick out of crazy Meddy too. Look, the amazing era of the Big 3 is over, it was going to happen. but hopefully, we'll get some new personalities that attract viewers and recreational players. The last "next gen" pool didn't really pan out so well. The Big 3 still lorded over them. We'll see what's to come in 2025.
 
When the legs go, that's it. Connors said the very same thing. He couldn't keep going in 5 set GS matches with 40yr old legs. Which for him, was a big difference from 37yr old legs, scarily. I don't know how Djoko does it, honestly. Getting to the W final with a bum knee? you've got to give the guy credit, love/hate him. But I get the sense the clock is running out for him. The will is there, but the body is slowing down...you can see it. Fed, Nadal, both really pushed it to the limit as well. Right now, I think Djoko beats nearly everyone outside of the Top 10. But beating Sinner and Carlos is a much taller order. Even Meddy. When Fritzy starts beating him, then you know he's done, IMHO.
Yes agree with all that. Novak hits the ball as well as ever. I was watching a re-run on Sky yesterday of Nadal v Djokovic 2009 in Madrid and Novak still hits glorious shots with pin point accuracy. However his foot speed now is (obviously) noticeable slower, he is not as elastic as he once was and crucially his stamina is greatly reduced. I still think best of 3 set matches he can be a threat (as we saw at Olympics) and he could surpass Connors overall titles record in my view. However at the slams i think he is done as a contender to win them. To be fair i think he knows that given some of his comments yesterday after his match. The game has drastically moved on now in that every young player under 23 now is a physical specimen able to play extended rallies and strong off both wings and able to crush the ball. For older players that means a lot of running and its too much for them. Nadal and Djokovic changed the sport (Federer was in the old school mould just the best at it with Sampras) and now 20 years later we are seeing the sport move on again. It happens, usually sooner than 20 years actually.
 
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