How Rafa dethroned Fed!

[The-Champ]

Is this article accurate or not? Discuss without bashing anyone please.

Toni and Rafa both knew that Rafa's forehand, whose height was lessened by grass and hard courts, couldn't do the job alone. Every dimension of his game had to improve. Toni would list his nephew's deficiencies, stroke by stroke, each time they faced Federer. "He's so much better than you," Toni would say, "but if you believe and work, you can win."[/I]

The truth, however, is that Camp Rafa is a fairly sophisticated operation. A Majorcan trainer, Juan Forcades, oversees Nadal's conditioning. Physical therapist Rafael Maymo spends much of his day taking notes on when and what Nadal eats; when he goes to sleep and when he wakes; how much time he spends hitting forehands, backhands and volleys. Toni, meanwhile, has harped on his nephew's weaknesses so effectively that even in the earliest rounds of last year's French Open, Rafa was scared of losing. Toni reassured him -- "You're Number 1 on clay!" -- but it didn't matter. "He never relaxes," Toni says. "He's so afraid for every match[/I]."

It did. Nadal's serves, which were then clocked at an average speed of 99 mph, are now traveling an average of 16 mph faster -- and he regularly hits the upper 120s on the radar gun. But it wasn't just a matter of hitting the ball harder. In fact, Toni says, one reason Federer had the upper hand in 2007 was that he pushed Rafa to serve with too much velocity, and the speed of Federer's returns threw off Nadal's timing. "So we had to learn other things," Toni says. According to Roddick, Nadal now hits to both sides of the service box on his first and second deliveries. "He can kick it, he can slice it," Roddick says. "You don't really know what's coming." Nadal finished last year ranked No. 1 in the world -- and fourth in serving, winning 88% of his service games.

No one can match Federer for artistry, but Nadal has two attributes just as valuable: imagination and the audacity to use it. "He's by far the smartest player of all," says seven-time Grand Slam champ Mats Wilander. "He's not afraid of changing. With a mind like that? There's no limit."

Federer did that in the Australian Open final, but only when desperate; the instant he felt he had gained the momentum, he went back to the game on which he built his empire -- and that Nadal solved long ago. "Roger still feels he's just better [than Nadal]," Courier says. "And, frankly, he's not."

Federer's breakdown just before Nadal received the '09 Australian Open winner's trophy was the most obvious sign of the shift, but there had been earlier indications. Asked the day before the final whether he relished another shot at his archrival, Federer said, "Honestly, I preferred the days when I didn't have a rival." Nadal had exhausted himself in a five-hour, 14-minute semifinal the day before, but as soon as the final began, Federer seemed out of sorts. Worse, unlike Nadal when he was No. 2, Federer didn't commit himself to attacking his rival, to shaking him out of his comfort zone. Twice Federer ran around his backhand and staggered Nadal with forehand winners, but he never did that again. "Twice in 4½ hours?" Wilander asks. "Why not show Nadal something different?"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/sl_price/05/14/federer.nadal/index.html

 

[35ft6]

^ The Wilander comment is interesting. Nadal's point construction really is awesome. Most players pretty much move a player side to side but Nadal moves them up and down and side to side. And even on his forehand, he hits it with incredible variety. Never been a player who throws so many different speeds and heights at his opponent off his forehand.

 

[veroniquem]

Interesting. I agree with Wilander and Courier.

 

[GameSampras]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

Its a big difference now with the likes of Djoker, Murray, and now an surface Nadal who has tweaked his game nice at the top,

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

Its obvious Fed does want to put the effort nor want to deal with top notch players. Hell he is too lazy to even get a coach. Hes been on cruise control for 4 years. Its no wonder

 

[Cyan]

Federer said, "Honestly, I preferred the days when I didn't have a rival."

This pretty much explains why Fed is a FRAUD and will never be considered GOAT.

 

[35ft6]

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

I like Fed, he's a great number 1, loves the publicity, is gracious in public, is elegant on and off the court, but I agree with you, I don't think he enjoys the fight that much. He would rather players cower and hand him matches.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Great analysis and story. After reading the entire article, I agree with Courier that Fed hasn't adjusted his game to take Nadal out of his comfort zone.

 

[BobFL]

Great analysis and story. After reading the entire article, I agree with Courier that Fed hasn't adjusted his game to take Nadal out of his comfort zone.

and head.....

 

[DarthFed]

didn't the OP ask for no bashing?

 

[clayman2000]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

Its a big difference now with the likes of Djoker, Murray, and now an surface Nadal who has tweaked his game nice at the top,

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

Its obvious Fed does want to put the effort nor want to deal with top notch players. Hell he is too lazy to even get a coach. Hes been on cruise control for 4 years. Its no wonder

And Sampras beat pusher Courier, big attitude Agassi, lucky Pioline, so dont make excuses

 

[T1000]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

Its a big difference now with the likes of Djoker, Murray, and now an surface Nadal who has tweaked his game nice at the top,

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

Its obvious Fed does want to put the effort nor want to deal with top notch players. Hell he is too lazy to even get a coach. Hes been on cruise control for 4 years. Its no wonder

Spewitt handed pete two breadsticks for dinner in the USO finals.

 

[P_Agony]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

Its a big difference now with the likes of Djoker, Murray, and now an surface Nadal who has tweaked his game nice at the top,

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

Its obvious Fed does want to put the effort nor want to deal with top notch players. Hell he is too lazy to even get a coach. Hes been on cruise control for 4 years. Its no wonder

You mean guys like old man Ljubicic who just spanked two top ten players?

 

[fastdunn]

Everybody thinks Federer should adjust, Federer should add more net games.

How come not many people entertains ideas that Federer might be actually... NOT GOOD AT THOSE STUFF ????

 

[vtmike]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

LOL...How long did it take to come up with those nicknames? Did you have nightmares last night?

 

[luckyboy1300]

didn't the OP ask for no bashing?

well he's asking for a miracle in a place thrived with *******s and samprastards.

 

[luckyboy1300]

Everybody thinks Federer should adjust, Federer should add more net games.

How come not many people entertains ideas that Federer might be actually... NOT GOOD AT THOSE STUFF ????

because he was once good at those stuff. they just rust because of non-use. federer won his first wimbledon serving and volleying, until it comes to no effect because the courts continually slows down.

 

[GameSampras]

You mean guys like old man Ljubicic who just spanked two top ten players?

Yea that guy. A guy who has done virtually NOTHING his entire career. Another 04-07 clown.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Federer admitted he doesn't want a rival he just wants to beat up an average field.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Yea that guy. A guy who has done virtually NOTHING his entire career. Another 04-07 clown.

Ljubicic would never get to 3 in the world in a strong era.

 

[fastdunn]

because he was once good at those stuff. they just rust because of non-use. federer won his first wimbledon serving and volleying, until it comes to no effect because the courts continually slows down.

Nope. Federer started dominating AFTER the surfaces slowed down.

Wimbledon's surface renovations had been done 2001-2003 and USTA annouced they have slowed down the surface in 2003.

Federer became succesfull AFTER reducing S&V at Wimbledon. Federer himself said he realized he S&V whenever he was in panick, right after he won his 1st Wimbledon with much less S&V. In fact, Federer was the leader of the current power baseline game which brought him to his reign.

 

[aphex]

Spewitt handed pete two breadsticks for dinner in the USO finals.

lol

pwned much?

 

[GameSampras]

Ljubicic would never get to 3 in the world in a strong era.

Nope he wouldnt. I dont think he would even ever come close to sniffing a top 10 in a stronger era

 

[LanceStern]

Nope he wouldnt. I dont think he would even ever come close to sniffing a top 10 in a stronger era

He was past his prime this year and old, but still gave Murray a hard time.

Even when Fed was in prime mode, I saw one masters series where Ivan took him to 3 tiebreakers.

 

[viduka0101]

He was past his prime this year and old, but still gave Murray a hard time.

Even when Fed was in prime mode, I saw one masters series where Ivan took him to 3 tiebreakers.

it was the 2006 miami final

 

[charliefedererer]

I think the overall article is right on when it comes to Nadal's approach to improving himself.
For Federer however, it seems to ignore that his approach to solving Nadal attacking his backhand was to keep working on that backhand. When he won at Hamburg, then played Rafa close at the French Open, Roger thought he was making progress. Last year was a lost year due to mono until the US Open. He was struggling just to get back to where he was physically, while Nadal was indeed improving.
Now it's too late in his carreer to expect any significant change in his strokes. What he does need to do is work on refining his strategy, like attacking the second serve more, especially on break points.

 

[rubberduckies]

Well I see the other thread has been restored.

 

[tennis-hero]

You can always call someone out for being a classless human being.

then i call you out Rubberduckies

 

[rubberduckies]

then i call you out Rubberduckies

LOL,.I remember you posting a picture of a guy in a wheelchair playing tennis, making fun of his disability, and then hoping that Nadal would end up like him.

 

[The-Champ]

Of course Fed prefers the days where can beat up on the defenseless like One dimensional Frauddick, Flake, Davystinko, Spewitt, Saggyhaditis, Gonzales etc.

Its a big difference now with the likes of Djoker, Murray, and now an surface Nadal who has tweaked his game nice at the top,

Fed wants to be handed slams and play bums every round. He doesnt want to go through a prime Nadal, Djoker and Murray every slam to get it. Are u kidding me?

Its obvious Fed does want to put the effort nor want to deal with top notch players. Hell he is too lazy to even get a coach. Hes been on cruise control for 4 years. Its no wonder

What you said could be true, but you don't have to exaggerate to make a point. You don't see anyone calling Pete Sampras, Speete Sampras.




This is a no bashing thread!

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Yeah gamesampras, immideatly derailing and ruining a thread by calling people names...