Federer's 5th Set Record. What does it say?

[moonballs]

I think when you look at how long the average Nadal match is and multiply that by the number of matches he already has under the belt (added to the atrocities his uncle put him through as a kid), I think you'll find that he has played a heck of a lot of tennis.

That's what a lot of people have been saying. But that is becaue we see more serious and frequent injuries as a result of the mileage on the body. Which body part is broken down in 2015? How does one performs worse when coming out of injuries than when suffering from injuries?

 

[Russeljones]

Just saying, Fed has won as many matches Rafa has played on tour.

Fed plays on all surfaces, while Rafa plays 60% of matches on a surface which is 30% of the tour.
And that too all with several sabbaticals.

This 'too much' tennis for Rafa is annoying to hear

I think this post would annoy your Maths teacher for sure.

 

[Russeljones]

That's what a lot of people have been saying. But that is becaue we see more serious and frequent injuries as a result of the mileage on the body. Which body part is broken down in 2015? How does one performs worse when coming out of injuries than when suffering from injuries?

I think you know the answer to your question from your own experiences in sport. When you're in the rhythm, even the pain and discomfort cannot usually prevent you from performing to a certain standard. When you're cold from a lack of practice and you still have niggling doubts about your fitness, it's a whole different story.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Yeah, Fed in the finals would gave been nice but at least Rafa had already achieved the career slam by then.

Touched a nerve there didn't I?

 

[tennis_pro]

It says 20-16.

Don't mention it.

 

[tennisaddict]

I think this post would annoy your Maths teacher for sure.

Stop with the condescending attitude and reply to the point if you can.

 

[moonballs]

I think you know the answer to your question from your own experiences in sport. When you're in the rhythm, even the pain and discomfort cannot usually prevent you from performing to a certain standard. When you're cold from a lack of practice and you still have niggling doubts about your fitness, it's a whole different story.

That is true. But isn't the "pain and discomfort" less in 2015 than 2014 in Nadal's case?

Besides Nadal is one of the best players in seizing a turning point in a match as well as after injuries. His fifth set record and 2013/2010 record attest to that. How can one be sure his current drop has nothing to do with tighter doping control?

 

[RalphJ]

OP - "Still can't shake the fact . . ." How long have you been dealing with this?

 

[BringBackSV]

Touched a nerve there didn't I?

Not at all, had Novak been denying Rafa the career slam at USO11 I would have cared more. Thankfully Rafa already achieved that feat when he beat Novak in the final the previous year. Honestly, Im actually glad for Novak that Fed didnt get through that year because Novak would have no USO and FO title had that been the case.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Not at all, had Novak been denying Rafa the career slam at USO11 I would have cared more. Thankfully Rafa already achieved that feat when he beat Novak in the final the previous year. Honestly, Im actually glad for Novak that Fed didnt get through that year because Novak would have no USO and FO title had that been the case.

So you're glad that Djokovic beat Nadal in the final?

 

[Chanwan]

Just saying, Fed has won as many matches Rafa has played on tour.

Fed plays on all surfaces, while Rafa plays 60% of matches on a surface which is 30% of the tour.
And that too all with several sabbaticals.

This 'too much' tennis for Rafa is annoying to hear

Rafa's played just above 40 % of his career matches on clay, around 55 % this year though

 

[tennisaddict]

Rafa's played just above 40 % of his career matches on clay, around 55 % this year though

I was wrong. Rafa plays 41.5% of matches on clay.

 

[BringBackSV]

So you're glad that Djokovic beat Nadal in the final?

That he beat Rafa? No but I was glad for Novak that he could lay claim to having won 3 of the 4 different majors. It would be odd for a player of his talent to be stuck on 2 of the 4.

 

[Djokovic2011]

That he beat Rafa? No but I was glad for Novak that he could lay claim to having won 3 of the 4 different majors. It would be odd for a player of his talent to be stuck on 2 of the 4.

Fair enough BBSV.

 

[BringBackSV]

You might be misrepresenting my theory. I am not saying there can be no competing theories to explain the facts; I am saying bio passport so far is the front runner theory to explain Nadal's drop in level after he came out of the injuries suffered in 2014.

Who else has had a percepitous drop not explained by injuries? I don't know. Nobody sticks out as Nadal does.

Where is your support to claim bio passport is "very beatable"? The large number of cyclists who were caught by it disagree with you. Of course nothing is bullet proof, but the transition from having NOTHING to catch EPO and blood doping in an already very physically sport of tennis to having the bio passport is a huge change. Imo we might be seeing the effect of this change in Nadal's levels.

So, introducing the bio passport only affected one individual to any significant degree? Yeah, something about that theory doesn't add up. There are likely several things contributing to his relative struggles this year. I've never argued that Rafa is clean but it is quite the stretch to pin his poor form largely on the BP when not a single other player of note has suffered a similar fate. Did Ferrer for example drop off a cliff? Novak, Murray, etc?

Yes the BP is a deterent but micro dosing and micro transfusions may be able to circumvent it.

 

[kevaninho]

Maybe lots of people have great genetics ( Moonballs ) and never suffer from wear n tear of joints, or injuries.

I can honestly say that as a martial artist ( competed but nowhere near the top level ), my body feels way worse at 30 than it did at 25. Thats just how things go when you train hard for years. I have several nagging aches that i wouldnt have had if id never took up any sports.Yes they do affect my performance, but i enjoy it too much to quit.

Maybe me and Rafa Nadal are the only 2 people ever to feel like this, Moonballs ?
My point being that its really not that hard to grasp that maybe the guy physically just cant perform like he used to....

 

[Sardines]

Well, the one thing about statistics is that the numbers can be shocking but the details more illuminating. Federer is 4+ years more into the tour, that means at least 16 more slams played and usually in the ¼s or further, so at least another 50 5 set matches more to go. So the best time to compare the 5th set statistics is really when all of them have retired. Nadal/Djokovic have 4 years to catch up to those numbers. That's IF they play as long as Federer.
What's more interesting is the accusation of PED usage by Nadal and even Djokovic! The endurance shown by Nadal is astounding! I believe in the 2009 AO, Nadal played 3 or 4 5 set matches in a row, including a 5+ hours marathon against Verdasco. That he came out and played super in the 5th against Federer is impressive.
I believe the BBC had a documentary about how EPO usage could go undetected by WADA's tests. However, there is no proof and it's just not substantiable. Also remember Nadal came in as a teenager, winning the FO at 19. The drop in form isn't surprising, but an inevitability, just like Federer's (although not as pronounced). He's 29 and past his peak years.
Finally I have to put a question mark on the 2005 5 set victory by Nalbandian in Shanghai. Federer just came back from 6 week lay off due to an ankle injury and simply ran out of steam. He really shouldn't have played Shanghai, but with the rest of the top 8 out, he played, and almost won.

 

[zagor]

I believe in the 2009 AO, Nadal played 3 or 4 5 set matches in a row, including a 5+ hours marathon against Verdasco.

He played two 5 setters, he crushed anyone but Nando and Fed. The guy was like 23 at the time, I don't find it that suspicious honestly.