Fed fans : Are you warming up to Nadal ?

[6-3 6-0]

@sbengte: I really don't know where you've been these past couple of years if you don't think a lot of Federer fans dislike Djokovic. They've dragged the poor guy through so much dirt he's started to resemble Yves Montand at the end of Wages Of Fear!

Its a huge fanbase. There are portions that dislike Nadal and/or Djokovic and/or other players. Granted they are also more vocal here due to Fed's recent results but it was the same when Djokovic was dominant a year ago or so tearing other players down especially Federer. If you specifically look at the "Nolefam" on twitter you'll soon learn the dislike for Federer is far more than dislike of other players including Nadal. #18 really triggered some lol. In any case that doesn't justify the behaviour here though the mods here could be a bit more stricter

 

[sbengte]

@sbengte: I really don't know where you've been these past couple of years if you don't think a lot of Federer fans dislike Djokovic. They've dragged the poor guy through so much dirt he's started to resemble Yves Montand at the end of Wages Of Fear!

Maybe I haven't tracked this place all that closely, so I haven't observed it. Must be true if you say this has happened.
Some Novak fans going overboard with 'Novak is GOAT' threads may have triggered some reaction perhaps ?

 

[sbengte]

sbengte a lady??? Took me seven years to find out !!!

Even after I asked you to stop "bro"ing me ?

(I was referring to professing my Raphla fandom with the avatar change )

 

[Sereger]

Only when Fed has 23 wins over him, I will consider.

 

[Sentinel]

Even after I asked you to stop "bro"ing me ?

I took that as a snub, more like you didn't wanna associate with me in any way due to my ostensible links with the Sewretch Cartel.

 

[tennis08tarheels]

Question for those Fed fans who harbored a strong dislike for Nadal : With the recent turn of events, are you starting to warm up to Nadal and have you developed more respect for him ?

For one, he has taken his beatings from Fed like a man : no momentum breaking MTOs, no post loss injury excuses. He's been nothing but gracious in defeat. He is also starting to look more human in the past few years and it is obvious both Fed and Nadal won't be around forever and we are seeing what may be the last few meetings of the biggest rivalry of our times.

Nadal used to get a lot of hate on the forum a few years ago, not sure if it has died down now because he isn't winning as much.

Discuss.

Yes, actually. In their primes I hoped for Nadal to lose every match, but now I'm actually rooting for him in the clay court season. Weird how this thread kind of hit the nail on the head for what I've been realizing.

 

[Hitman's Gurl]

How many more wins before we can say H2H is not lopsided?

 

[D.Nalby12]

I found this :

Pete Sampras wasn't fun says Rafael Nadal -
"to watch a Pete Sampras versus Goran Ivanisevic match, or one between those kind of players, is not enjoyable, It's not really tennis, it is a few swings of the racquet. For me, in the past it was just serve, serve, serve."

Nadal: Playing the Masters Cup every year on indoor hard is not fair -
''is something that is I feel that I am very unlucky, that all the Masters Cup that I played was in indoor hard. Is a tougher surface for me to play well. Is not the day to say, but is something that I feel that is not fair."

Nadal - "Djokovic Lucky. Give me two years without an injury and…." -
Q: Did you watch the Australian Open?
Nadal: No, I didn’t have access to Eurosport.
Q: Excuse me?
Nadal: Our satellite tv channels have changed in January so that’s why.
Well, I did see images of it. What can I say about it?
First of all, Djokovic has proven once again that he’s a great competitor he is.
Secondly, that he’s a superb tennis player.
And thirdly, that he is a player who doesn’t get injured. That’s lucky. He can do what he wants and it all works well for him. Give me two years without an injury and….


Toni Nadal: "I hope now Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will get injured."


Nadal: "Rosol not comparable to Soderling
"Both have in common that my knee was bad, but I could compete at Roland Garros. In Wimbledon, no"

 

[D.Nalby12]

How many more wins before we can say H2H is not lopsided?

3 more wins IMO. Of course no loss.

 

[Russeljones]

Question for those Fed fans who harbored a strong dislike for Nadal : With the recent turn of events, are you starting to warm up to Nadal and have you developed more respect for him ?

For one, he has taken his beatings from Fed like a man : no momentum breaking MTOs, no post loss injury excuses. He's been nothing but gracious in defeat. He is also starting to look more human in the past few years and it is obvious both Fed and Nadal won't be around forever and we are seeing what may be the last few meetings of the biggest rivalry of our times.

Nadal used to get a lot of hate on the forum a few years ago, not sure if it has died down now because he isn't winning as much.

Discuss.

This happened for me as early as 2010. The only thing I still dislike is his gamesmanship.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

I've never liked Nadal's play style, but I've often grudgingly found him a lot of fun to watch. Of the players I have seen live, he is second only to Federer in inducing gasps, yells and fist pumps.

 

[Sentinel]

Sensational thread, I must say, with some very esoteric poasts.

#jealous

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Sure, I see a bit of Woody Allen in him to be honest — endearingly neurotic. Afraid of darkness, dogs, and lightening +++. To me not at all the macho warrior some of his fans or clothing brands sometimes will try to portray him as.

Still, doesn't mean I want to see him win the big tourneys, and I'm still not the biggest fan of the 6000-rpm-shots-from-three-metres-behind-the-baseline style. Big respect for his talent and grit though. Solid ambassador.

hahaha Woddy Allen! Thats funny. He has actually a hint of that. I see him as a sports NERD deluxe. He is a neurotic sports nerd. All he does evolves around sports. Don't think he has much interest in politics and other subjects. He is cute.And mind blowing to see him play live.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Federer fans don't have much a problem and don't care either way for djokovic. When his fanboys went into overdrive last year and started proclamations about him being GOAT and self assuredly told everyone on here that Novak was going to shatter every one of Federer's records, Federer fans sat quietly with smiles ok their faces.
Then watched the meltdowns as Djokovic crashed early at wimby and then got ravaged by Stan at the US open to kill his dream of getting the slam count much to the dismay of his overbearing fanboys on here.

It's nothing against Djokovic but it's fun reminding the annoying, overbearing, arrogant fanboys of his on here of their previous posts and the fact that their idol obviously isn't close to as great as they thought he was (for those who openly claimed he'd get 20+ slams).

Yeah, like there aren't a tonne of annoying, overbearing, arrogant Federer fan boys on here

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Yeah, like there aren't a tonne of annoying, overbearing, arrogant Federer fan boys on here

Absolutely NONE nasty Fed fan boys on here, think it might be less of them than any other fan groups in here

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

I found this :

Pete Sampras wasn't fun says Rafael Nadal -
"to watch a Pete Sampras versus Goran Ivanisevic match, or one between those kind of players, is not enjoyable, It's not really tennis, it is a few swings of the racquet. For me, in the past it was just serve, serve, serve."

Nadal: Playing the Masters Cup every year on indoor hard is not fair -
''is something that is I feel that I am very unlucky, that all the Masters Cup that I played was in indoor hard. Is a tougher surface for me to play well. Is not the day to say, but is something that I feel that is not fair."

Nadal - "Djokovic Lucky. Give me two years without an injury and…." -
Q: Did you watch the Australian Open?
Nadal: No, I didn’t have access to Eurosport.
Q: Excuse me?
Nadal: Our satellite tv channels have changed in January so that’s why.
Well, I did see images of it. What can I say about it?
First of all, Djokovic has proven once again that he’s a great competitor he is.
Secondly, that he’s a superb tennis player.
And thirdly, that he is a player who doesn’t get injured. That’s lucky. He can do what he wants and it all works well for him. Give me two years without an injury and….


Toni Nadal: "I hope now Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will get injured."


Nadal: "Rosol not comparable to Soderling
"Both have in common that my knee was bad, but I could compete at Roland Garros. In Wimbledon, no"

it's more than 'warming up', guys:
so much humbalitoness makes me completely 'boiling up' for the rusty peak injured golden bull !

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Seriously, have you seen all the meltdowns from the Federer fanbase back when Nadal and Djokovic were dominating? Them never being greater than Federer never stopped you guys from taking all kids of digs at them throughout the years which still hasn't stopped. When being "mad AF mad jelly" after every significant win any of his two rivals achieved, that doesn't look like sitting pretty cheering for the GOAT to me.

That's the moment I realized Rafa and Novak were one of the best things that happened to this sport ever even though I clearly disliked the former in the beginning. Epic tennis, amazing competitors and greats of the game, making things interesting and exposing the insecurity of some Federer supporters. Obviously they brought a wave of bad fans as well who contributed to these fanbase wars, but imagine the tennis landscape if they (the two players) never existed. The rest of Fed's opponents would make the Infection look like one of the all-time greatest, who is already hyped to an extraordinary level anyway. I mean isn't this better that all three achieved a lot and all of them did it while battling another two highest quality rivals, making their accomplishments more impressive? I'd like to believe so.

 

[TheAssassin]

That's the moment I realized Rafa and Novak were one of the best things that happened to this sport ever even though I clearly disliked the former in the beginning. Epic tennis, amazing competitors and greats of the game, making things interesting and exposing the insecurity of some Federer supporters. Obviously they brought a wave of bad fans as well who contributed to these fanbase wars, but imagine the tennis landscape if they (the two players) never existed. The rest of Fed's opponents would make the Infection look like one of the all-time greatest, who is already hyped to an extraordinary level anyway. I mean isn't this better that all three achieved a lot and all of them did it while battling another two highest quality rivals, making their accomplishments more impressive? I'd like to believe so.

While I agree with the rest, I think you are being a bit harsh on Roddick. Personally I preferred all of his peers (Safin, Nalbandian, Federer, Hewitt) over him but he was a quality player. What I don't like is how Murray who has a far more tolerable record against Djokovic gets more criticism than Roddick does for his issues with Federer, but against the rest of the field Roddick was competitive and solid most of the time, even in years when his level was starting to go down. And while I don't buy the crap how only Federer could beat the best Roddick on grass, he was a better challenge than several players were to Sampras at Wimbledon for example.

Only saying the last part because 90's Clay isn't here anymore.

 

[Steve0904]

Federer fans don't have much a problem and don't care either way for djokovic. When his fanboys went into overdrive last year and started proclamations about him being GOAT and self assuredly told everyone on here that Novak was going to shatter every one of Federer's records, Federer fans sat quietly with smiles ok their faces.
Then watched the meltdowns as Djokovic crashed early at wimby and then got ravaged by Stan at the US open to kill his dream of getting the slam count much to the dismay of his overbearing fanboys on here.

It's nothing against Djokovic but it's fun reminding the annoying, overbearing, arrogant fanboys of his on here of their previous posts and the fact that their idol obviously isn't close to as great as they thought he was (for those who openly claimed he'd get 20+ slams).

I only disagree that Federer fans (fanboys in particular) sat quietly. That said, you couldn't really expect us to. It's the way forums work. The dominant player's fans take fanboyism up a notch and they don't come down until the player is finished dominating. Some Federer fans themselves have done it since Federer won the AO, to a ridiculous extent that I've called out from time to time even as a Federer fan myself. The one common thread I found about many Djokovic fans though (again, fanboys in particular) is that they didn't seem to want to believe that Djokovic would decline and kept thinking he would win everything until the end of time thereby surpassing Federer easily. So naturally, Federer fans didn't take it that well. And I don't want to make it sound like one fanbase is better than the other because I don't believe in that, but I will say this. A fair number of Djokovic fans didn't want to believe that Djokovic would decline, but I think the Federer fans knew it would happen because they'd already been through it and also watched the other ATG's decline around the same age. So that was the main argument against Djokovic winning 5 (now 6) slams post the age of 30 to tie Federer (especially with Djokovic's style), but a lot of people didn't want to hear that and instead preferred to get defensive about it, calling many Federer fans "nervous" or "jealous" among other things.

Some Djokovic fans (the good ones) took it well enough and knew Djokovic would decline at some point of course, but there weren't too many of those types tbh.

Finally, I'd like to point out that age is actually a legitimate explanation for why a guy plays bad sometimes, or why he loses to another great player who is 5-6 years younger than he is in big matches. Now I'm not saying it's always an excuse or that no matches "count" now that Federer is past 30 or anything like that, (which I know many Federer fans have exaggerated over the years) but that it's ok for a 31-32 year old to lose to another guy who's 5 years younger than him and in the same relative class talent wise as he is. And it's ok to say that the older player is not the favourite in a big match because the younger guy is closer to his prime or that the older guy is simply way past his prime. It's even ok in some cases to "have your cake and eat it too" as the saying goes because anything a player achieves past his prime is just icing on said cake. If the older guy wins it's great(er) because he's not really supposed to, but if he loses, the most prevailing feeling is "Oh well, his career is made already." So in essence, wins count for more and losses mean less.

That's the next thing Djokovic fans are going to learn.

 

[Chanwan]

Truthfully? Not really.

Still hate his time wasting and other forms of gamemanship and I was never a fan of his game and his grunts to begin with. That said, he does produce some nice highlight shots every now and then and he's truly a fighter.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Sentinel]

Yeah, like there aren't a tonne of annoying, overbearing, arrogant Federer fan boys on here

 

[SamprasisGOAT]

Question for those Fed fans who harbored a strong dislike for Nadal : With the recent turn of events, are you starting to warm up to Nadal and have you developed more respect for him ?

For one, he has taken his beatings from Fed like a man : no momentum breaking MTOs, no post loss injury excuses. He's been nothing but gracious in defeat. He is also starting to look more human in the past few years and it is obvious both Fed and Nadal won't be around forever and we are seeing what may be the last few meetings of the biggest rivalry of our times.

Nadal used to get a lot of hate on the forum a few years ago, not sure if it has died down now because he isn't winning as much.

Discuss.

No

 

[edberg volleys]

Question for those Fed fans who harbored a strong dislike for Nadal : With the recent turn of events, are you starting to warm up to Nadal and have you developed more respect for him ?

For one, he has taken his beatings from Fed like a man : no momentum breaking MTOs, no post loss injury excuses. He's been nothing but gracious in defeat. He is also starting to look more human in the past few years and it is obvious both Fed and Nadal won't be around forever and we are seeing what may be the last few meetings of the biggest rivalry of our times.

Nadal used to get a lot of hate on the forum a few years ago, not sure if it has died down now because he isn't winning as much.

Discuss.

 

[Bartelby]

Nadal hasn't beaten Federer since the biological passport came into effect. That's a somewhat interesting coincidence.

 

[metsman]

That's the moment I realized Rafa and Novak were one of the best things that happened to this sport ever even though I clearly disliked the former in the beginning. Epic tennis, amazing competitors and greats of the game, making things interesting and exposing the insecurity of some Federer supporters. Obviously they brought a wave of bad fans as well who contributed to these fanbase wars, but imagine the tennis landscape if they (the two players) never existed. The rest of Fed's opponents would make the Infection look like one of the all-time greatest, who is already hyped to an extraordinary level anyway. I mean isn't this better that all three achieved a lot and all of them did it while battling another two highest quality rivals, making their accomplishments more impressive? I'd like to believe so.

All time great players make the sport greater! News at 10!

 

[-NN-]

" Epic tennis, amazing competitors and greats of the game, making things interesting and exposing the insecurity of some Federer supporters. Obviously they brought a wave of bad fans as well who contributed to these fanbase wars, but imagine the tennis landscape if they (the two players) never existed."

He thinks more about the fans than the tennis and the changes to the professional landscape that TheRafa and Novack made. Fair enough I suppose, I'm all for variety!!!!!!!!!!1111

 

[Noelan]

Its a huge fanbase. There are portions that dislike Nadal and/or Djokovic and/or other players. Granted they are also more vocal here due to Fed's recent results but it was the same when Djokovic was dominant a year ago or so tearing other players down especially Federer. If you specifically look at the "Nolefam" on twitter you'll soon learn the dislike for Federer is far more than dislike of other players including Nadal. #18 really triggered some lol. In any case that doesn't justify the behaviour here though the mods here could be a bit more stricter

Whoever dared to question Federer recent success was banned from here. Just saying.
In the meantime we still have some posts and posters linking Nadal relative lack of success from RG14 to introduction of biological passport, some other players are questioned too It's not black and white as you described

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Warming up to the Nadal:

I have always found him a highly dependable source of entertainment.

Great video!

 

[Tennis_Hands]

How many more wins before we can say H2H is not lopsided?

Federer is from an older generation, so it is only natural that he has somewhat lopsided h2h against some other ATG from the next gen.

 

[Jackuar]

Have never hated him as a person. As a player, I think it helps that Fed's winning, so I'm ok. Warming up... Yeah, I guess a teeny tiny bit here and there. As long as he's not winning against Fed.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

All time great players make the sport greater! News at 10!

Not everyone thinks that, otherwise I wouldn't have wasted my time stating the obvious.

" Epic tennis, amazing competitors and greats of the game, making things interesting and exposing the insecurity of some Federer supporters. Obviously they brought a wave of bad fans as well who contributed to these fanbase wars, but imagine the tennis landscape if they (the two players) never existed."

He thinks more about the fans than the tennis and the changes to the professional landscape that TheRafa and Novack made. Fair enough I suppose, I'm all for variety!!!!!!!!!!1111

I just said "TheRafa and Novack" are one of the best things that ever happened to the sport because of their great tennis and making this era more competitive, maybe even golden. Just because I mentioned the fans after all of that, you think that I actually think more about them than the tennis and players? Sometimes I think you just say these things to p1ss me off, honestly.

 

[-NN-]

Not everyone thinks that, otherwise I wouldn't have wasted my time stating the obvious.

I just said "TheRafa and Novack" are one of the best things that ever happened to the sport because of their great tennis and making this era more competitive, maybe even golden. Just because I mentioned the fans after all of that, you think that I actually think more about them than the tennis and players? Sometimes I think you just say these things to p1ss me off, honestly.

please don't be angry at me fine sir

we must be positive for Ronnie

 

[Sentinel]

http://www.**************.org/news/...er-kids-don-t-learn-to-play-like-nadal-does-/

 

[headhunter]

One of the symptoms of jealousy is to dislike someone. If Nadal wins the FO the level of hate on here will multiply. A tenth French Open may eclipse Federer winning a major at 35.

Nadals false humility is what I cannot stand together with at times blatant gamesmanship. That though seems to be prevalent in Spanish sport as I've seen their football players do similar.

 

[headhunter]

Those guys did show up (Federer, Djokovic) it's Rafa who was a often a no show unless conditions favoured him.

I don't follow? Nadal has won every major hasn't he? Five Wimbledon finals on the bounce or something? Two or three USO finals? A few in Australia? How has he not showed up?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I don't follow? Nadal has won every major hasn't he? Five Wimbledon finals on the bounce or something? Two or three USO finals? A few in Australia? How has he not showed up?

One of the symptoms of jealousy is to dislike someone. If Nadal wins the FO the level of hate on here will multiply. A tenth French Open may eclipse Federer winning a major at 35.

Nadals false humility is what I cannot stand together with at times blatant gamesmanship. That though seems to be prevalent in Spanish sport as I've seen their football players do similar.

Ignore list.

 

[KINGROGER]

I don't follow? Nadal has won every major hasn't he? Five Wimbledon finals on the bounce or something? Two or three USO finals? A few in Australia? How has he not showed up?

Nadal has played Federer 3 times at Wimbledon / USO. Fed has reached Nadal 9 times at AO/RG, most of those AO matches being past his prime on slow HC.

Similar story for Nadal vs Djokovic. 6 matches at RG vs 1 at AO.

 

[sbengte]

http://www.**************.org/news/...er-kids-don-t-learn-to-play-like-nadal-does-/

Who is this Panatta guy ? Fog's FIL ?

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Who is this Panatta guy ? Fog's FIL ?

He is actually the only guy to best the previous King of Clay, Borg, at RG (twice) - respect!

And yes, he did serve and volley on red clay. Must have been beautiful times when one could win RG with a net-oriented style.

 

[brickvolley]

Never really disliked Nadal and don't mind his on-court antics. Love watching his match highlights on YT. Just that I always felt he had an unfair advantage over Federer every time they played in the past due to the tweener racquet he uses, and the extra time he takes to recuperate between points. I don't buy that racquet size is not a big factor in their competitiveness. Both their levels were so close, any advantage will give a slight edge.
Since the playing field has been leveled thanks to the RF97 and the threat of time violation, I can now watch their matches without prejudice. So yes, I've warmed up to Nadal a lot lately.

 

[sbengte]

 

[Sentinel]

Who is this Panatta guy ? Fog's FIL ?

Some bloke who hasn't warmed up to Nadal.???

 

[Candide]

Kinda...

 

[sbengte]

I even found that "surface" vid of Nedl cute....somebody help

 

[Rago]

A little bit (not enough to want to see him in more slam finals) but aggressive 2018-19 Nadal is kind of fun to watch.

 

[Julian Houston]

2007-2016 he was most annoying. Something changed since the academy visit, he don't have the intense rivalry with Federer anymore.

I always respected his game after his game matured. Running around like a cheetah hitting those forehands, physically training the other guy. His game is like a higher level of gym workout.