How will Nadal fare in the North American swing?

[tsp_207]

Not very good. Will be similar to Federer in 2017 where the weight of expectation of what he already achieved in the season and comeback from injury hampered his chances.

 

[Jokervich]

Only like 2, 3 more years tops. Riiiiight?

At least 5 more years. Djokovic has targated 30 slams and I'm confident he can achieve that. That's another 3-5 years of winning slams. Nadal will win at least another 4 more French Opens if his body holds up. They are both more dominant at slams than 10 years ago when they were at their supposed peak.

 

[Rafa the King]

Nadal has never played on the new US Open surface.

There are at least 6 players who can beat him, so if he gets the really top players back to back, I also don't think he will win. It will be a struggle.

What is the new USO surface?

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nadal losing in QF is my take. Faces either Zverev or Alcaraz there and that is it.

Zverev isn’t even fit or likely playing us open. Alcaraz is a pretender and Nadal will thrash him.

 

[BGod]

At least 5 more years. Djokovic has targated 30 slams and I'm confident he can achieve that. That's another 3-5 years of winning slams. Nadal will win at least another 4 more French Opens if his body holds up. They are both more dominant at slams than 10 years ago when they were at their supposed peak.

I just keep looking at Rosewall winning USO at 37 at dawn of OE and losing finals at 39 to Connors. CA Novak and Rafa really win multiple Slams at 38+? It has to end by default sometime no? There is only one Tom Brady.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I just keep looking at Rosewall winning USO at 37 at dawn of OE and losing finals at 39 to Connors. CA Novak and Rafa really win multiple Slams at 38+? It has to end by default sometime no? There is only one Tom Brady.

Who’s going to end it though? You can’t give us a name. The best hope for the younger players is they physically break down as I don’t see them dethroning them.

 

[Jokervich]

I just keep looking at Rosewall winning USO at 37 at dawn of OE and losing finals at 39 to Connors. CA Novak and Rafa really win multiple Slams at 38+? It has to end by default sometime no? There is only one Tom Brady.

For Nadal I'm sure his body will break down at some point, although if he plays only the clay season, his body might last for many years. Djokovic looks as healthy as ever, so who knows when he will stop winning.

 

[BGod]

Who’s going to end it though? You can’t give us a name. The best hope for the younger players is they physically break down as I don’t see them dethroning them.

There's something to be said of natural gifts and consistency at older age. I do believe we have dangerous prime age floaters like Shap and at least Daniil, Tsit and Alcaraz have some reliable results. Thiem and Zverev could also come back while Felix continues to mature.

For Nadal I'm sure his body will break down at some point, although if he plays only the clay season, his body might last for many years. Djokovic looks as healthy as ever, so who knows when he will stop winning.

I'd care to wager Nadal's knees are on their 3rd or even 4th reincarnation. It's clear by 90s standards of medicine he wouldn't have recovered after 09 way he did let alone 15-16.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Sinner can break his serve

Breaking Rafa serve has never been an issue for Sinner; holding his own on important stages has always been. In the 3 matches that he played against Nadal, he failed to serve out the opening set each time; additionally, he failed to serve out oe to capitalise momentum in a couple more sets.

 

[tudwell]

I say Nadal loses in both Canada and Cincy, handwringers handwring, bookies act like Nadal is an unseeded wildcard, and then he wins the US Open with relative ease.

 

[Sudacafan]

I think he’s not a swinger.

 

[dking68]

Breaking Rafa serve has never been an issue for Sinner; holding his own on important stages has always been. In the 3 matches that he played against Nadal, he failed to serve out the opening set each time; additionally, he failed to serve out oe to capitalise momentum in a couple more sets.

Well he took 2 from Novak so I don’t see why he can’t take 3 from a dinosaur Nadal

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Well he took 2 from Novak so I don’t see why he can’t take 3 from a dinosaur Nadal

Novak should not have lost set 1 but he somehow went into drunk mode after going 4-1 up for 1.5 sets. Nadal does not have these types of lapses.

 

[sliceroni]

He probably won’t play well with flashes of vintage Nadal in the tune up. Ppl will question him. Haters will doubt him. Come USO ppl forget people forget this generation plays like trash at slams. Nadal to capture his 23rd playing at 85% health.

 

[BringBackSV]

I think Nadal wins USO this year.
I believe Alcaraz, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Sinner, Rublev, FAA, Berrettini, Fritz, etc will continue to be disappointments at the majors for a while longer.

How can Medvedev be a disappontment? 3 slam finals, including two winable 5 setters.

 

[Humphrey20133]

I keep my expectations very low for Rafa, and kinda always have. He just can't seem to stay healthy, and his draws are always awful. I doubt very much he does anything based on those two things alone.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The trouble is that we get pretty severe dips in form from Rafa now, but it is pretty incredible that in 2022 he can still GOAT like this on hardcourt.

What an absolute monster:

Yeah this was ridiculous lol

 

[dking68]

Novak should not have lost set 1 but he somehow went into drunk mode after going 4-1 up for 1.5 sets. Nadal does not have these types of lapses.

The point is, he took a set. I don’t see why he can’t take 3 from Nadal. I’m sure if they play he will take at least one. He isn’t the same player he was in 2021, a lot of things have changed, just like when Alcaraz played him in Madrid 2021 and Nadal lost the following year

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

The point is, he took a set. I don’t see why he can’t take 3 from Nadal. I’m sure if they play he will take at least one. He isn’t the same player he was in 2021, a lot of things have changed, just like when Alcaraz played him in Madrid 2021 and Nadal lost the following year

We'll see. Its definitely a matchup I'm looking forward to as well

 

[dking68]

We'll see. Its definitely a matchup I'm looking forward to as well

He’s returning better and deeper, his forehand is a lot better and his hitting his spots better on the serve (albeit I’m disappointed with the low amount of 1st serves in). I think in a year from now he should be fully ensconced in the top 3 if he continues to progress

 

[Mike Sams]

How can Medvedev be a disappontment? 3 slam finals, including two winable 5 setters.

He lost both 5 setters. Including one which he was leading by 2 sets and having BPs in the third set.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

The point is, he took a set. I don’t see why he can’t take 3 from Nadal. I’m sure if they play he will take at least one. He isn’t the same player he was in 2021, a lot of things have changed, just like when Alcaraz played him in Madrid 2021 and Nadal lost the following year

He doesn’t have the mentality or killer instinct to get 3 sets off Nadal in a major.

 

[Subway Tennis]

1 title.

Which one?

 

[Bubcay]

No reason to think he won't do very well. I think he is willing and able to leave his mark - again. Expecting a good run.

 

[weakera]

What is the new USO surface?

Laykold, it is the same surface provider as Miami, Canada and Cincinnati.

 

[Backspin1183]

Which one?

The event in New York.

 

[Rafa the King]

Laykold, it is the same surface provider as Miami, Canada and Cincinnati.

Well Rafa has done well at Canada hasn't he...

 

[junior74]

I think he’s not a swinger.

God is everything, Claudia Schiffer included

 

[dking68]

He doesn’t have the mentality or killer instinct to get 3 sets off Nadal in a major.

Nadal and his body is giving in, these young guys are believing more each day they can beat them. It will happen eventually

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

He’s returning better and deeper, his forehand is a lot better and his hitting his spots better on the serve (albeit I’m disappointed with the low amount of 1st serves in). I think in a year from now he should be fully ensconced in the top 3 if he continues to progress

Top3 expectations are still way far fetched given his slim legs and obvious stamina issues over BO5.

 

[Subway Tennis]

The event in New York.

 

[Bud]

Hopefully, he limits his play to one Masters before the USO.

 

[Thedesertfox]

I think Nadal wins USO this year.
I believe Alcaraz, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Sinner, Rublev, FAA, Berrettini, Fritz, etc will continue to be disappointments at the majors for a while longer.

Rublev is just 20 years old. And Berrettini has strugled with injuries this year. The rest are disappointments

 

[Thedesertfox]

I think Nadal wins USO this year.
I believe Alcaraz, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Sinner, Rublev, FAA, Berrettini, Fritz, etc will continue to be disappointments at the majors for a while longer.

Sinner is 20 y.o.
Not Rublev sorry

 

[Thedesertfox]

Not very good. Will be similar to Federer in 2017 where the weight of expectation of what he already achieved in the season and comeback from injury hampered his chances.

Well we should consider the fact that Roger was 36 in summer 17 and now rafa is 36 too.

 

[Moon Shooter]

Nadal doesn't need Djokovic's absence to win the USO. Rafa has more USO titles than Djokovic and he beat Djokovic in two finals of his 4 titles there. Rafa leads Novak 2:1 at the USO.

If Djokovic is not there it is far less likely Rafa will duck out. If Djokovic and Rafa played on hard court very few people would bet very little money Rafa would win.

 

[clayqueen]

If Djokovic is not there it is far less likely Rafa will duck out. If Djokovic and Rafa played on hard court very few people would bet very little money Rafa would win.

Rafa is 2:1 against Djokovic at the USO.