If RAFA wins Gold and US Open...it WILL BE the greatest individual season ever!

C

Connors

Banned
To have won the French in such dominating fashion (greatest domination ever in a major--certainly on clay), beat Fed at Wimbledon, win Gold and then win the US Open... Plus, he's won three Masters' events, he'll have won multiple tournaments on three different surfaces and has supplanted Fed at Number One.

People will say Federer's 2005 year was the best, but no way. If Rafa wins Gold (and he will) and can somehow win the US Open, it is far and away the greatest year ever--better than any year Fed has won three majors and double digit tournaments, better than Laver's grand slam, better than anybody.

And don't forget, he also got to the semis of the Australian. Despite what he does in the Fall, this would be unquestionably the greatest individual season any tennis player has ever had. It would surpass anything Graf or Navratilova has done. Why? Because Rafa has to win best of FIVE set matches. The competition on the men's side is far more difficult and the physical and mental energy needed to do what he has done far surpasses what Graf or Navratilova had to do. I'm not diminishing their accomplishments, but the stamina, strength, recovery, focus etc. that Rafa has needed this year is mind-boggling. If he pulls this off, and I think he will, it is the greatest season in tennis history by any individual and should automatically put him in the top five players of all time, even if he is still a little behind Connors. Lendl and Agassi in total majors won.
 
F

fer

Rookie
If he wins the gold medal, the US Open and the masters cup I guess there would be no doubt.
 
M

miyagi

Professional
If he does it then yes it will.

Can he? I would be very suprised.

I will be happy if he wins tomorrow and improves in the USO by two rounds.

People can shut the hell up about him not being able to beat the best on HC's.
 
Otherside

Otherside

Semi-Pro
Connors said:
To have won the French in such dominating fashion (greatest domination ever in a major--certainly on clay), beat Fed at Wimbledon, win Gold and then win the US Open... Plus, he's won three Masters' events, he'll have won multiple tournaments on three different surfaces and has supplanted Fed at Number One.

People will say Federer's 2005 year was the best, but no way. If Rafa wins Gold (and he will) and can somehow win the US Open, it is far and away the greatest year ever--better than any year Fed has won three majors and double digit tournaments, better than Laver's grand slam, better than anybody.

And don't forget, he also got to the semis of the Australian. Despite what he does in the Fall, this would be unquestionably the greatest individual season any tennis player has ever had. It would surpass anything Graf or Navratilova has done. Why? Because Rafa has to win best of FIVE set matches. The competition on the men's side is far more difficult and the physical and mental energy needed to do what he has done far surpasses what Graf or Navratilova had to do. I'm not diminishing their accomplishments, but the stamina, strength, recovery, focus etc. that Rafa has needed this year is mind-boggling. If he pulls this off, and I think he will, it is the greatest season in tennis history by any individual and should automatically put him in the top five players of all time, even if he is still a little behind Connors. Lendl and Agassi in total majors won.
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Feds level of play during 04-06 will always be stuck in my mind. I often laughed when he played wondering how it was possible doing what he did on court.. He will always be the tennisgod in my eyes and despite Rafa pulling off what u say I hold Feds 3 losses-05 was it? and his level of play as the greatest year ever. Magic Year by Rafa though!
 
G

Gilgamesh

Semi-Pro
Didn't Steffi Graf win a golden calendar slam? That is arguably the greatest individual tennis season (male or female) ever.

If Nadal wins Olympic gold and the US Open it certainly will be ranked up there but Federer's 2006 season was just simply incredible. I think he made the final of every tournament he played in except one, 4 grand slam finals, 3 grand slam wins, and a season record of 92-5. Not to mention add the Tennis Masters Cup...wow! Not really his fault the Olympics was not held that year because he mostly likely would have won it IMO. To me that season will rank higher than Nadal's if he manages to win Olympic gold and US Open but it is close.
 
D

Deleted member 3771

Guest
Hes already had one of the best seasons ever. He won 2 slams and beat the #1 and the #3 4 times each. Hes 8-2 versus the top 3 this year. 4-0 v Fed, 4-2 v Joker. :shock:
 
hoodjem

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
Gilgamesh said:
Didn't Steffi Graf win a golden calendar slam? That is arguably the greatest individual tennis season (male or female) ever.
Click to expand...

Nadal did not win the AO.

Graf did it in 1988. It's called a Golden Slam. Only possible since 1984 when tennis was reintroduced into the Olympics.
 
drakulie

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
fer said:
If he wins the gold medal, the US Open and the masters cup I guess there would be no doubt.
Click to expand...

I agree. If he wins everything the OP stated, plus the year-end championships>> defintiely will be the greatest year I have witnessed.
 
C

chiru

Professional
i donno guys. i dont know if you can ever top THE grand slam. i know competition si different and bla blah but seriously we're forgetting tha tthere have been some pretty damn good years in the past. mcenroes '84. laver's '69. it's kinda tough to top that imo. if nadal does what you say he'll def be right up there, but to say its for sure hands down above a grand slam, i'm not even sure nadal would take this yr. over getting a calender grand slam.
 
Love Game

Love Game

Talk Tennis Guru
If RAFA wins Gold and US Open...it WILL BE the greatest individual season ever!
Click to expand...

Rafa carries a sense of history with him that I haven't noticed in other players so young and in their prime, so even if 2008 turns out to be the personal best tennis year of his life, Rafa's spurred on by the hopes and dreams of many others, which is one of the reasons he participates energetically in the Olympics and Davis Cup in addition to the other tournaments.

"JANUARY 23 | 2008
RAFA NADAL FOUNDATION LAUNCHED

Rafa Nadal is only 21, but he is already thinking of his future beyond tennis and is convinced his privileged position gives him the chance to help others.

"This can be the beginning of my future, when I retire and have more time," the Spaniard said Wednesday as he launched the Rafa Nadal Foundation in his native town, Manacor, on the island of Mallorca.

"I am doing very well and I owe society," Rafa said.

As he launched the foundation - set to focus on social work and development aid - he was proudly watched by his parents, his uncles and his four grandparents at the restaurant of the Manacor Tennis Club, where he has been playing since he was a child . . ."

http://www.rafaelnadal.com/nadal/en/news/article/rafa-nadal-fundation-launched


Vamos Rafa
2ennvw1.gif
 
C

Connors

Banned
Yes, Laver's '69 was great. But, he was not the all-around brilliant speciman Nadal is. Also, Nadal's competition is greater than what Laver had. Connors and Borg were not on the scene yet. Rosewall and Newcomb were good but not at Federer's level and not at Novak's level, in my opinion.
 
matchmaker

matchmaker

Hall of Fame
You would have to win the GS to be considered as having had the best year ever. It was done before so he would have to do it again.

Now if he won the Olympics the USO and the AO, it would not be in one season but it would be the best 12 month's streak ever.
 
xtremerunnerars

xtremerunnerars

Hall of Fame
If he takes the gold here, wins the USO, wins the USO doubles, and then wins the top 8 tournament, I will be really impressed and might almost maybe fathom the consideration of becoming a fan.


MIGHT
 
D

Deleted member 3771

Guest
what makes Nadals year one of the best already is that hes winning everything with the GOAT contender in the field. Hes thumped the goat contender in 4 big finals this year while Fed was in his prime (still #1).
 
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D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
I don't think it will be a straight sets. I'm convinced Gonzalez can get 1 set off of Nadal on this surface. He got a set off Federer on clay, and we all know Gonzalez does best on hardcourts.
 
C

chiru

Professional
the thing that makes this year in teh same discussion as laver's 69 and mac's 84 is the fact that he's dominated this year over one of the goat contenders in roger. not only that, nadal imo is the single biggest reason why roger hasn't already ascended to goat this year in terms of major titles, and obviously is the reason roger isn't all surface goat at the french. it's the fact that nadal took no.1 from roger, as opposed to roger handing no.1 over to nadal. nevertheless, it's really, really hard to argue with 69 laver. i'll have none of that "the competition is tougher" b.s. i'm with pete on this, you can't compare eras, you just can't. is this one of the best years ever? yes? can there be a best year ever? hard to say, but if you have to pick one its 69 laver no doubt imo. and anyone who knows me knows ive been pulling for rafa pretty hard since he came on the scene. so i'm a bonified nadal fan.
 
CyBorg

CyBorg

Legend
Connors said:
To have won the French in such dominating fashion (greatest domination ever in a major--certainly on clay), beat Fed at Wimbledon, win Gold and then win the US Open... Plus, he's won three Masters' events, he'll have won multiple tournaments on three different surfaces and has supplanted Fed at Number One.

People will say Federer's 2005 year was the best, but no way. If Rafa wins Gold (and he will) and can somehow win the US Open, it is far and away the greatest year ever--better than any year Fed has won three majors and double digit tournaments, better than Laver's grand slam, better than anybody.

And don't forget, he also got to the semis of the Australian. Despite what he does in the Fall, this would be unquestionably the greatest individual season any tennis player has ever had. It would surpass anything Graf or Navratilova has done. Why? Because Rafa has to win best of FIVE set matches. The competition on the men's side is far more difficult and the physical and mental energy needed to do what he has done far surpasses what Graf or Navratilova had to do. I'm not diminishing their accomplishments, but the stamina, strength, recovery, focus etc. that Rafa has needed this year is mind-boggling. If he pulls this off, and I think he will, it is the greatest season in tennis history by any individual and should automatically put him in the top five players of all time, even if he is still a little behind Connors. Lendl and Agassi in total majors won.
Click to expand...

lithgowintriguedmu8.jpg
 
R

rolandg

Semi-Pro
Connors said:
Yes, Laver's '69 was great. But, he was not the all-around brilliant speciman Nadal is. Also, Nadal's competition is greater than what Laver had. Connors and Borg were not on the scene yet. Rosewall and Newcomb were good but not at Federer's level and not at Novak's level, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Everything in this post is absurd.
 
J

janipyt05

Professional
fer said:
If he wins the gold medal, the US Open and the masters cup I guess there would be no doubt.
Click to expand...


So its not GREAT THAT his won 5 titles in a row which inculde 2 slams, i love how folks move the goal post when it comes to Rafa, had this been Fed run you would be calling it the greasted year. First is he won't win on hard court, he does, then its slow hard court that he won so it didn't count, so he wins on fast hard court, then he'll never win on grass he does now if he wins Gold he has to win masters cup for it to be the greatest year, WOW

SAD
 
D

deme08

Professional
TheNatural said:
what makes Nadals year one of the best already is that hes winning everything with the GOAT contender in the field. Hes thumped the goat contender in 4 big finals this year while Fed was in his prime (still #1).
Click to expand...

This is not true since Federer has clearly past his prime and has other issues like mono and boredom from being #1 for hundreds of consecutive weeks. Federer was bound to take a break with or without the Nadal factor.
 
D

deme08

Professional
If RAFA wins Gold and US Open...it WILL BE the greatest individual season ever!
Click to expand...
No, it won't be. Unless you say "...it WILL BE the greatest individual season ever with the weakest field of players ever!"
 
T

TooGood

New User
deme08 said:
No, it won't be. Unless you say "...it WILL BE the greatest individual season ever with the weakest field of players ever!"
Click to expand...

Following your logic, Federer should not be considered GOAT either...I mean he basically played against the same "weak" field of players aading the advantage that he didn't have to face a GOAT contender.
 
J-man

J-man

Hall of Fame
I would say it would be more incredible than Federer's past seasons. But he has to capture the US Open. But he's been looking good at the Olympics making it past Djokovic who gave him a hell of a fight (played on decoturf as well with the same ball). Its shaping up to be a great year for him.
 
G

GeoffB

Rookie
If Nadal wins the US Open, I think I'd be willing to call this the greatest individual season ever, at least the best in the open era. Purely by the numbers, I don't think it quite matches Fed's 2006 season, because Rafa didn't make it to the finals of every slam. However, if Rafa does win the USO, he'll have a "surface slam" - Grass, Clay, and Hard Court. This is something only one other player has managed to do over the course of a career (Agassi), and Rafa would have managed to do it in a single calendar year. Add in the Olympics as a wild card, and yeah, I do think it would exceed Fed's 2006, despite the slightly lesser performance in the slams (W-F-W-W for Fed vs SF-W-W-W for Nadal).

Of course, this is assuming that Nadal will win the US Open! If he doesn't, then I'd rank Fed's 2006 above Nadal's 2008.
 
drakulie

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
janipyt05 said:
So its not GREAT THAT his won 5 titles in a row which inculde 2 slams, i love how folks move the goal post when it comes to Rafa, had this been Fed run you would be calling it the greasted year. First is he won't win on hard court, he does, then its slow hard court that he won so it didn't count, so he wins on fast hard court, then he'll never win on grass he does now if he wins Gold he has to win masters cup for it to be the greatest year, WOW

SAD
Click to expand...

Huh??? Where does this come from?? Where did the poster say it's "not great". He said if rafa wins the, gold, US, and year-end championships >>"there would be no doubt". I agree. he would need to win the year end championships. remember, he didn't play in the finals of the AO Open. 2006 Federer played in every slam final, winning 3, and also won the year end championshhips. He only lost to two player that year, and reached the final of every tournament he played in, minus one (Cincy).
 
J

janipyt05

Professional
drakulie said:
Huh??? Where does this come from?? Where did the poster say it's "not great". He said if rafa wins the, gold, US, and year-end championships >>"there would be no doubt". I agree. he would need to win the year end championships. remember, he didn't play in the finals of the AO Open. 2006 Federer played in every slam final, winning 3, and also won the year end championshhips. He only lost to two player that year, and reached the final of every tournament he played in, minus one (Cincy).
Click to expand...


Yeah its seems to be the poster says no doubt it would be a great year but needs to win US and Masters Cup... it is not already a great year, too many people keep adding to what Rafa needs to do when he gets past it up pops another challenge before anyone can say you know what Rafa did good this year finish, celebrate in his success and just give it too him because he has undoubtedly proved all you who think Rafa is a)1 dimentinal, b) a grinder, he burst on the scene with a young game but as time has gone by he has gotten better. Finish

Like i said had it been Fed winning all these things no doubt people wouldn't question that his year is out of this world, double standard.
 
drakulie

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
janipyt05 said:
Yeah its seems to be the poster says no doubt it would be a great year but needs to win US and Masters Cup... it is not already a great year, too many people keep adding to what Rafa needs to do when he gets past it up pops another challenge before anyone can say you know what Rafa did good this year finish, celebrate in his success and just give it too him because he has undoubtedly proved all you who think Rafa is a)1 dimentinal, b) a grinder, he burst on the scene with a young game but as time has gone by he has gotten better. Finish

Like i said had it been Fed winning all these things no doubt people wouldn't question that his year is out of this world, double standard.
Click to expand...

Uhmmmm.

rafa is to have the "greatest year ever", he needs to surpass what other before him have done. It is that simple. The OP fell short on what he would need to accomplish, which would include the year-end championships. Get a grip. No one keeps "adding" on to what Rafa would need to do. The tennis year does not end at the US Open, it ends at **THE END OF THE YEAR**, WHICH INCLUDES THE YEAR END CHAMPIONSHIPS.

There is no doubt Rafa is having what could be one of, if not the greatest year ever>> but he is not there yet.
 
JeMar

JeMar

Legend
Connors said:
Yes, Laver's '69 was great. But, he was not the all-around brilliant speciman Nadal is. Also, Nadal's competition is greater than what Laver had. Connors and Borg were not on the scene yet. Rosewall and Newcomb were good but not at Federer's level and not at Novak's level, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

lol. It's one thing to see all these couch jocks give arbitrary judgements about the very best in the world, but this is just in a league of its own. Just about everyone who knows anything about the sport considers Laver the very best there ever was... to say that Nadal is more of an "all-around brilliant specimen" than Laver is asinine. As of right now, the conversation between greatest of all time belongs to Laver, Sampras, and Federer. Nadal doesn't even make most people's top five lists.

Yes, Nadal is a brilliant baseliner, but he cannot even match the tennis vocabulary of a number of players in his era. As for winning two (possibly 3) majors and the Olympics in a single calendar year, yes, it is a good year, but it is consistent greatness that will determine who will make it into those top five lists. Wilander won three majors in 1988 and got to the quarters of the fourth, yet nobody would dare compare him to some of the all-time greats I've already mentioned.

Laver was consistently great for 23 years, Sampras was consistently great for ten or eleven years, Federer's been consistently great for 6 years and won basically everything under the sun, pulling off the greatest 4-year run in tennis history. All three of these players have fluid, effortless games that allow for longevity. Nadal has an aggressive baseline game that breaks down opponents, but it also breaks down his body. He'll still young, so you haven't seen the full effects of this yet. We will see where he stands three to four years from now, but people need to put Nadal in proper perspective.

As for the Djokovic mentions, this really has to stop. I can understand Nadal, but not Djokovic. The guy's accomplished just about as much as Petr Korda, Gaston Gaudio, and Andy Roddick right now. Yeah, I like his game, but I'll take Rosewall and Newcome over him any day.
 
racquetfreak

racquetfreak

Semi-Pro
if he wins us open and '09 australian, that would be a modified golden grand slam - although not all in same calendar year, it would still be a singular achievement in mens tennis. steffi is the only person to win a golden grand slam. seles probably would have if not for a demented graf fan.
 
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Topaz

Topaz

Legend
As many have alread said...yes, it is an awesome year (already), however...he has not surpassed what others have already done.

Namely, the golden slam of Steffi Graf.

Or, just to think of another...the clay court win streak of Chris Evert.

I know some of you think those feats aren't 'worthy' because they have been accomplished by women, though I would argue that if you think that, then shouldn't they have been broken by now? ;)

Again, this is no way diminishes the fact that this year for Rafa has been awesome. He could stop now, not play anything else for the rest of the year, and that wouldn't change.
 
VamosRafa

VamosRafa

Hall of Fame
Steve Tignor, blogging for tennis.com, said that in his opinion if Rafa wins the USO, it will be the greatest tennis season since Laver's in '69. I am sure there would be debate about that, but it would be Phelpsian in many respects. Some folks here didn't think Rafa should even bother showing up for the HC season -- and this was after he won Wimbly.

I don't have the stat handy, but I recently saw Rafa's W-L record on HC, and even I was surprised how good it is. He has been an underrated player throughout his career and, as others have pointed out, no matter what he does, it won't be enough to convince some folks he isn't a flash-in-the-pan, cookie-cutter, dime-a-dozen claycourter who is going to be in a wheelchair by the time he is 24, if not sooner.

Nonetheless, I think he is going to have a big task ahead of him at the USO, not so much with the pressure but with being overdone. He has to be exhausted. I don't know how he made it through the Olympics so handily, except that the rest of the field didn't seem exactly fresh. This is why I think Del Potro is a threat to the big three. He hasn't been hopping time zones and dealing with the drama and pressure those guys have faced.

Rafa has two big things going for him that he didn't have before any prior USO -- confidence and a better serve. I cannot remember a time when Rafa has held serve so easily on a HC. He also knows that he can beat any contender out there. Those will weigh against the fatigue factor.

Also, I don't think the Master's Cup would add much in terms of prestige to the year. It certainly would cap it off, and it could be exciting if No 1 is at stake. But most of the guys are toast by then. The USO is the remaining great prize.
 
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C

Coria

Banned
JeMar said:
lol. It's one thing to see all these couch jocks give arbitrary judgements about the very best in the world, but this is just in a league of its own. Just about everyone who knows anything about the sport considers Laver the very best there ever was... to say that Nadal is more of an "all-around brilliant specimen" than Laver is asinine. As of right now, the conversation between greatest of all time belongs to Laver, Sampras, and Federer. Nadal doesn't even make most people's top five lists."

I've watched many of Laver's matches. He was great. But he lost a lot of matches as well to Rosewall, someone Nadal would eat for lunch. He would be overpowered by Nadal, pure and simple. You so ridiculously minimize his groundstrokes and what they do to people, it makes you look stupid. Nadal would overpower Laver, even if Laver had a stronger frame. Nadal would not allow Laver to dictate many points. And he'd pass him a ton. Nadal is stronger, faster and too powerful for Laver. That's a FACT if you've watched these two at their best, something you apparently have not done.


"Yes, Nadal is a brilliant baseliner, but he cannot even match the tennis vocabulary of a number of players in his era. As for winning two (possibly 3) majors and the Olympics in a single calendar year, yes, it is a good year, but it is consistent greatness that will determine who will make it into those top five lists. Wilander won three majors in 1988 and got to the quarters of the fourth, yet nobody would dare compare him to some of the all-time greats I've already mentioned."


Because of the way Nadal has won, beating one of the two greatest grass court players ever at Wimbledon and completely DESTROYING everybody at the French (including losing but 4 games to Fed in a best of five final), then winning Gold...he's already better than Agassi, Becker, Wilander, Edberg, Lendl, Connors, McEnroe. If he wins the US Open, something Borg did not do, he'll be as good as Borg, in my opinion.

"Laver was consistently great for 23 years, Sampras was consistently great for ten or eleven years, Federer's been consistently great for 6 years and won basically everything under the sun, pulling off the greatest 4-year run in tennis history."


Laver was very, very good most of those years, but great? He had his share of losses to Rosewall and Emerson in between '62 and '69 slams. Check his record. He did not dominate consistently, as you suggest.
Click to expand...
 
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JeMar

JeMar

Legend
Greatness is something that is also measured by longevity. Who's to say that he won't have a Wilander-like career? Sure, he's having an incredible year, but he still has something to prove before you compare him to the other players I mentioned.

Just look at Federer. A year ago, 75% of tennis followers were ready to proclaim him the greatest of all time. Now that the wheels have sort of fallen off (temporarily or not), we're not so sure. Nadal's game places him much nearer to that edge than does Federer's.

Nadal needs to dominate on other surfaces for a few more years before he gets close to the Top 3.
 
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