If Rafa can win Ao 2022, he will correct what went wrong at Rg 2021.

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
Rg 2021 was huge in terms of historical significance, pre rg rafa was primed to becone GOAT but djokovic just outplayed him. Cut to current situation Djokovic is well ahead but if rafa can win Ao 22 then him going into RG 22 will be a heavy favourite and could again take the case of being in GOAT debate at the very least. Now winning Ao 22 is going to be very challenging which is why it will be monumental, talks of Djokovic skipping can be a huge factor as rafa is still a tough nut to crack for next gen in best of 5 so uf Djokovic doesn't play then rafa would really have to just aim for AO 22 like he primes himself for Rg although he isn't the favourite regardless of djokovic participating. Ao 22 will be really interesting despite Djokovic playing or not as djokovic isn't as overwhelming favourite one thinks.
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!
 
N

Nuclear

Guest
Rg 2021 was huge in terms of historical significance, pre rg rafa was primed to becone GOAT but djokovic just outplayed him. Cut to current situation Djokovic is well ahead but if rafa can win Ao 22 then him going into RG 22 will be a heavy favourite and could again take the case of being in GOAT debate at the very least. Now winning Ao 22 is going to be very challenging which is why it will be monumental, talks of Djokovic skipping can be a huge factor as rafa is still a tough nut to crack for next gen in best of 5 so uf Djokovic doesn't play then rafa would really have to just aim for AO 22 like he primes himself for Rg although he isn't the favourite regardless of djokovic participating. Ao 22 will be really interesting despite Djokovic playing or not as djokovic isn't as overwhelming favourite one thinks.
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!
Funny how the most boring and cursed tournament of the year has turned into Rafa fans' main interest.
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The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
If Djokovic is playing, he is the overwhelming favorite, period. No if's and but's.

I first need to see how Rafa plays. Sure, he reached the final in 2019 when he returned from injury, but the younger guys have got better since then so it won't be anywhere near as easy this time around.
Best of 5 bruh.
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
It being BO5 doesn't exactly help Rafa these days outside of clay. He gets tired after 2-3 sets.
Nadal tires after 2-2,5 hours yes. But an all out blitzkreig attack like the one he displayed in the AO QF vs Tsitsipas is actually more than enough to stomp the nextgen. Except for that, this time he'll have to be tight enough to not miss 3 consecutive easy overheads.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Nadal tires after 2-2,5 hours yes. But an all out blitzkreig attack like the one he displayed in the AO QF vs Tsitsipas is actually more than enough to stomp the nextgen. Except for that, this time he'll have to be tight enough to not miss 3 consecutive easy overheads.
If he couldn't get the job done against his easiest match-up in Tsitsipas, don't think he does it against Med and Zed who are better HC players than Tsits.
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
If he couldn't get the job done against his easiest match-up in Tsitsipas, don't think he does it against Med and Zed who are better HC players than Tsits.
They're also mentally worse than Tsitsipas and don't have as good of a forehand as Tsitsipas has.
Plus, I hope nadal would come up with atleast 2019-20 level serve rather than the s**tshow serve of 2021.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
They're also mentally worse than Tsitsipas and don't have as good of a forehand as Tsitsipas has.
Plus, I hope nadal would come up with atleast 2019-20 level serve rather than the s**tshow serve of 2021.
I don't think they're mentally worse than Tsitsipas. Stefanos this year mentally was a complete and utter disappointment.
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
If he couldn't get the job done against his easiest match-up in Tsitsipas, don't think he does it against Med and Zed who are better HC players than Tsits.
I think Zverev will be very tough but Medvedev will find it tough against rafa if rafa is fully fit and firing. His gamestyle which wears opponent down never troubles rafa who has perhaps most potent grounstroke outdoors the forehand which could just dominate against meddy whereas Zverev's offensive style when he is firing is a recipe to beat Nadal. I think if djokovic doesn't play then Zverev should be licking his lips as I feel he best on HC currently could too good for rest of the field including nadal and Medvedev.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Rg 2021 was huge in terms of historical significance, pre rg rafa was primed to becone GOAT but djokovic just outplayed him. Cut to current situation Djokovic is well ahead but if rafa can win Ao 22 then him going into RG 22 will be a heavy favourite and could again take the case of being in GOAT debate at the very least. Now winning Ao 22 is going to be very challenging which is why it will be monumental, talks of Djokovic skipping can be a huge factor as rafa is still a tough nut to crack for next gen in best of 5 so uf Djokovic doesn't play then rafa would really have to just aim for AO 22 like he primes himself for Rg although he isn't the favourite regardless of djokovic participating. Ao 22 will be really interesting despite Djokovic playing or not as djokovic isn't as overwhelming favourite one thinks.
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!

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mike danny

Bionic Poster
I think Zverev will be very tough but Medvedev will find it tough against rafa if rafa is fully fit and firing. His gamestyle which wears opponent down never troubles rafa who has perhaps most potent grounstroke outdoors the forehand which could just dominate against meddy whereas Zverev's offensive style when he is firing is a recipe to beat Nadal. I think if djokovic doesn't play then Zverev should be licking his lips as I feel he best on HC currently could too good for rest of the field including nadal and Medvedev.
I pick Medvedev over Zverev in a BO5 on a HC.
 

Tennisfan339

Professional
A lot of Grand Slams "went wrong" for the Big-3 over the years.
Sure, Nadal could/should have won RG21 but then the same can be said in many other examples.
Grand Slams Nadal could have won: AO2012, AO2014, AO2017, Wimbledon2007, Wimbledon2018,
Grand Slams Djokovic could have won: AO2014, RG2011, RG2013, USO2012, USO2014, USO2020
Grand Slams Federer could have won: AO2009, Wimbledon2008, Wimbledon2019, USO2009, USO2014, USO2017
RG2021 is just one among others. There is nothing to correct here.
 

Saula

Rookie
If Novak plays his chances will lessen by a significant margin , he is not beating Novak there , especially with the way the surface is now .
Medvedev and Zverev will be favorites over him but not an impossible task to overcome should they eventually meet .
He is the fourth favorite and third if Novak doesn't play there , is it impossible for Nadal to win it ? No . Is it probable ? No .
It is nice seeing him healthy tho , hopefully he is fully fit and ready to go .
 
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Deleted member 770948

Guest
2021 RG was a huge success for Nadal, given the condition of his foot.
He made Djokovic play a 98 minute 3rd Set to take the lead, so while Djokovic won that match, it hurt Djokovic's confidence long-term, knowing that even the most unhealthy version of Nadal could inflict so much pain on Djokovic..... and Nadal had a very winnable Set Point to go up 2-sets-to-1.
So short-term it was a huge victory for Djokovic, but long-term, we all know Nadal has a lot more slams in him than Djokovic, now that Uncle Toni has declared Nadal 100% fit for the AO..... looks like they found the solution to his foot problem.
But the AO is not important for Nadal, its important for Djokovic.
Djokovic needs to win the AO, because he knows a healthy Nadal cruises to 21 at RG.
 
He's likely not winning AO even if Djokovic skips it. At this point I'd say his only reasonable shot at a GS is RG. Next best might be USO but even then, not likely.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
I will be amazed if Novak does not play the AO. It is his best slam and it could land him 21 to start the year. Hard to pass up on that scenario if you are Novak. Nadal has been extremely close to winning the AO a second time, but falling short. Nadal needs this more... it gets him to 21. winning each major twice.. and the French Open looming. Hard to pass up on that scenario if you are Rafa.
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
I would love to see Nadal win another AO, having been close too many times to even want to think back on. He usually performs well, but misses the final push. Doesn't have anything to do with that one RG loss, and that RG loss does not impact this next year's RG either. Nadal will do his usual play, but with that refreshed focus and intensity he gets after every comeback.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Guys. It isn't like Rafa is only losing to Med or Tsits or Zod in Bo3.

He barely squeaked by Jock Sack and got beat by Lloyd Harris, after a long layoff to get his body right.

No amount of animal comparisons are going to help now. He's in steep decline and it will be a huge credit to him if he can recover 2019's form in 2022.
 

Mediterranean Might

Professional
Guys. It isn't like Rafa is only losing to Med or Tsits or Zod in Bo3.

He barely squeaked by Jock Sack and got beat by Lloyd Harris, after a long layoff to get his body right.

No amount of animal comparisons are going to help now. He's in steep decline and it will be a huge credit to him if he can recover 2019's form in 2022.
That was clearly during the injury that stopped his season proven by him pulling out immediately after.

I’m not saying he’s in shape to win the AO, his form will be a big question, but since these losses he’s had a surgery and many months in the sunny mediterranean for some recovery.

So again, a hope for a good Rafa in 2022
 

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
I will be amazed if Novak does not play the AO. It is his best slam and it could land him 21 to start the year. Hard to pass up on that scenario if you are Novak. Nadal has been extremely close to winning the AO a second time, but falling short. Nadal needs this more... it gets him to 21. winning each major twice.. and the French Open looming. Hard to pass up on that scenario if you are Rafa.
Is Nadal really going to win the AO though? After such a long layoff and how competent most of the top players are on hard courts. If Nadal had to play both Zverev and Medvedev, he stands no chance. Even 1 of them would be tough for him.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Rg 2021 was huge in terms of historical significance, pre rg rafa was primed to becone GOAT but djokovic just outplayed him. Cut to current situation Djokovic is well ahead but if rafa can win Ao 22 then him going into RG 22 will be a heavy favourite and could again take the case of being in GOAT debate at the very least. Now winning Ao 22 is going to be very challenging which is why it will be monumental, talks of Djokovic skipping can be a huge factor as rafa is still a tough nut to crack for next gen in best of 5 so uf Djokovic doesn't play then rafa would really have to just aim for AO 22 like he primes himself for Rg although he isn't the favourite regardless of djokovic participating. Ao 22 will be really interesting despite Djokovic playing or not as djokovic isn't as overwhelming favourite one thinks.
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!
If Nadal can win AO22, then you've been dreaming and just overslept your alarm. I'd give Nick Kyrgios a better chance than him.
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
I seriously think if Rafa can win Ao 22 then he is again primed to finish with most grand slams as he can again gain a 2 slam gap at rg which could be final decider for him finishing ahead but if he only wins rg that will not be enough
 

Adam Copeland

Hall of Fame
I seriously think if Rafa can win Ao 22 then he is again primed to finish with most grand slams as he can again gain a 2 slam gap at rg which could be final decider for him finishing ahead but if he only wins rg that will not be enough


What if Rafa doesn't win the AO and FO as well ???

Then???

Realistically that is possible, Daniel Medvedev and Sasha Zverev are red hot and at their peak now or nearly at their peak, there is no beating them.
 
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