Is Nadal clay specialist that is specialized to special clay?

[beard]

We all know he is clay goat, don't we? Yes, he is...

But, when we look at his clay resume, he is not that good in Madrid, where clay is faster and ball bounce is lower.
Look at the data:
- RG 13 titles from 16 appearances (81.25% tournaments won)
- MC 11 titles from 17 appearances (64.71% tournaments won)
- Madrid (clay) 4 titles from 12 appearances (33.33% tournaments won)
- Rome 9 titles from 16 appearances (56.25% tournaments won)



Nadal is drastically worst compared to other clay tournaments in Madrid... Even in Canada on hard court he has better result... Novak is only one Madrid title short and even have better percentage (3/8 - 37.5%)



So, my question: Is Nadal clay specialist that is specialized to special clay?
It seems so. Apparently even on clay he needs clay that suits his game. Why clay goat isn't that dominate if clay doesn't suites him?
His fans confirm that too: "He doesn't like high altitude", "Madrid is too fast", "It plays as indoor" and many similar...

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Nadal is the High Bounce Specialist.

 

[daphne]

Nadl is a tennis player with clay blinkers on. Therefore he can never be the GOAT.

 

[Third Serve]

Nadal missed out on Madrid in some of his prime and peak years on the surface (2005-2006 being prime years and 2007-2008 being peak years) so the relatively lower title haul has an explanation behind it. However, he does indeed struggle in those particular conditions relative to those of MC, Rome, and RG.

 

[NAS]

Nadal missed out on Madrid in some of his prime and peak years on the surface (2005-2006 being prime years and 2007-2008 being peak years) so the relatively lower title haul has an explanation behind it. However, he does indeed struggle in those particular conditions relative to those of MC, Rome, and RG.

I think you mean Hamburg titles , I may be wrong but I don't think he never missed Madrid open and won 4 titles from 2009 onwards

 

[NatF]

Nadal missed out on Madrid in some of his prime and peak years on the surface (2005-2006 being prime years and 2007-2008 being peak years) so the relatively lower title haul has an explanation behind it. However, he does indeed struggle in those particular conditions relative to those of MC, Rome, and RG.

Yeah, the guy missed out on 4 prime/peak years where it was Hamburg and since 2014 he's basically been a shadow of his former consistency on clay outside the FO. Part of it is also that the conditions in Madrid (and Hamburg before) aren't as conducive to his game.

 

[Forehanderer]

Roger won 3 times, 2 on clay and is also the blue clay champion. All you haters take that. This from wiki

Roger Federer is the only male player to win the tournament on three different surfaces: hard courts (2006), red clay (2009), and blue clay (2012).

 

[The Blond Blur]

#rentfree

 

[beard]

Nadal missed out on Madrid in some of his prime and peak years on the surface (2005-2006 being prime years and 2007-2008 being peak years) so the relatively lower title haul has an explanation behind it. However, he does indeed struggle in those particular conditions relative to those of MC, Rome, and RG.

You have a point, but as you said, skewness is obvious either way...

 

[Sport]

Nadal missed out on Madrid in some of his prime and peak years on the surface (2005-2006 being prime years and 2007-2008 being peak years) so the relatively lower title haul has an explanation behind it. However, he does indeed struggle in those particular conditions relative to those of MC, Rome, and RG.

I think considering the aforementioned issue, it is unfair to delete one of Nadal's titles in Madrid only because it was played on hard. If he won it on hard, a fortiori, he could win it on clay.

Nadal has 5 Madrid titles, not 4.

 

[beard]

#rentfree

#argumentsfree

 

[beard]

I think considering the aforementioned issue, it is unfair to delete one of Nadal's titles in Madrid only because it was played on hard. If he won it on hard, a fortiori, he could win it on clay.

Nadal has 5 Madrid titles, not 4.

You are right but not considering topic. We compare Nadals resume on different clay...

 

[Jokervich]

He is specialized to slow high bouncing courts.

 

[Sport]

Yeah, the guy missed out on 4 prime/peak years where it was Hamburg and since 2014 he's basically been a shadow of his former consistency on clay outside the FO. Part of it is also that the conditions in Madrid (and Hamburg before) aren't as conducive to his game.

You mean since 2018. In 2017 he won 4 out of the 5 clay titles, including Madrid.

 

[NAS]

I think op should take titles from 2009 onwards
MC master 7
Madrid - 4
Rome -6
RG 9
Barcelona -8
He did have some problems but from 2009 it is not too much skew

 

[beard]

I think you mean Hamburg titles , I may be wrong but I don't think he never missed Madrid open and won 4 titles from 2009 onwards

True, same as other clay tournaments... But that topic deserves a new thread...

 

[Krish0608]

You’re nitpicking on Rafa’s clay record ? Like seriously?

 

[Sport]

Is Djokovic's resume skewed even on hard?

AO: 9
USO: 3

 

[beard]

I think op should take titles from 2009 onwards
MC master 7
Madrid - 4
Rome -6
RG 9
Barcelona -8
He did have some problems but from 2009 it is not too much skew

That is one concept, other is percentages that I used...

 

[NAS]

True, same as other clay tournaments... But that topic deserves a new thread...

He did missed Hamburg title in some years and Rome in 2008 when he was in his peak

 

[beard]

Is Djokovic's resume skewed even on hard?

AO: 9
USO: 3

Yes it is... You should make a thread on this, but its old topic...

 

[Third Serve]

I think considering the aforementioned issue, it is unfair to delete one of Nadal's titles in Madrid only because it was played on hard. If he won it on hard, a fortiori, he could win it on clay.

Nadal has 5 Madrid titles, not 4.

Untestable, therefore unprovable, therefore irrelevant.

We already have the previous version of Madrid on clay, the Hamburg Masters. Madrid Indoors was essentially a completely different tournament compared to the current Madrid Masters and it makes no sense to count them the same.

My solution is just to lump Hamburg and Madrid together because the conditions are similar enough. Hamburg is our best look at Madrid clay pre-2009, not Madrid Indoors. Still, Nadal skipped Hamburg twice so it's not even that accurate.

 

[NAS]

Is Djokovic's resume skewed even on hard?

AO: 9
USO: 3

In slam yes, in masters and yec no, apart from Cincy he has won every master and yec at least 4 time

 

[NatF]

You mean since 2018. In 2017 he won 4 out of the 5 clay titles, including Madrid.

No since 2014. One exceptional year doesn't erase the decline in consistency he's had since 2014 - I'm aware he won Madrid in 2014 as well, though he was fortunate that Nishi got injured.

 

[Krish0608]

We can have the same argument for Djokovic on HC. Put him on RLA, he turns into an unbeatable GOAT on that surface. Put him on Flushing Meadows he gets frustrated enough to knock out linespeople. Whereas Rafa has been pretty much immaculate on clay. The fact is that Madrid clay plays “abnormally” compared to other clay surfaces.

 

[beard]

He did missed Hamburg title in some years and Rome in 2008 when he was in his peak

I thought in general... But appearance percentages comparing to other surface will reveal the truth...

 

[NAS]

We can have the same argument for Djokovic on HC. Put him on RLA, he turns into an unbeatable GOAT on that surface. Put him on Flushing Meadows he gets frustrated enough to knock out linespeople. Whereas Rafa has been pretty much immaculate on clay. The fact is that Madrid clay plays “abnormally” compared to other clay surfaces.

Djokovic slam count look different unless he wins 4th us open but in master and yec he actually dominated every master and yec apart from Cincy

 

[beard]

Untestable, therefore unprovable, therefore irrelevant.

We already have the previous version of Madrid on clay, the Hamburg Masters. Madrid Indoors was essentially a completely different tournament compared to the current Madrid Masters and it makes no sense to count them the same.

My solution is just to lump Hamburg and Madrid together because the conditions are similar enough. Hamburg is our best look at Madrid clay pre-2009, not Madrid Indoors. Still, Nadal skipped Hamburg twice so it's not even that accurate.

Hamburg is different compared to Madrid considering topic. Madrid is high altitude which don't suit him. Point is that Nadal is specialized to certain type of clay, even on clay he needs special conditions to be that dominate, ultimate clay beast...

 

[Sport]

No since 2014. One exceptional year doesn't erase the decline in consistency he's had since 2014 - I'm aware he won Madrid in 2014 as well, though he was fortunate that Nishi got injured.

I respectfully disagree, as I do consider that that "exceptional" year rebunks your previous claim. In 2017 he didn't lose consistency, and so it should be since 2018 onwards.

 

[NatF]

I respectfully disagree, as I do consider that that "exceptional" year rebunks your previous claim. In 2017 he didn't lose consistency, and so it should be since 2018 onwards.

So the three years preceding 2017 don't count? lol. It's quite clear 2017 was the exception not the rule man.

 

[Martin J]

Untestable, therefore unprovable, therefore irrelevant.

We already have the previous version of Madrid on clay, the Hamburg Masters. Madrid Indoors was essentially a completely different tournament compared to the current Madrid Masters and it makes no sense to count them the same.

My solution is just to lump Hamburg and Madrid together because the conditions are similar enough. Hamburg is our best look at Madrid clay pre-2009, not Madrid Indoors. Still, Nadal skipped Hamburg twice so it's not even that accurate.

Conditions couldn't be more different, though...

In Madrid, the game is faster compared to the regular clay due to the altitude, so it favors power players/hard hitters and their serve&fh combo.

Hamburg was extremely slow due to a sea level altitude (higher air density) and the weather - it is colder and the moisture in the air is high as well, so the balls are heavier and the bounce is lower. That's why Nadal's results inevitably suffered.

Both tournaments have really atypical clay conditions.

 

[Hitman]

That's taking specialist to a whole new level....

 

[Martin J]

That's taking specialist to a whole new level....

Yeah, it seems today is the day of the specialist specialized to a special surface.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Nadal is the High Bounce Specialist.

no bounce, no bull.

 

[TennisFan3]

We live in a world where 4 titles out of 12 is PATHETIC. The fact that Nadal has won in double digits at other clay tournaments penalizes him.

 

[beast of mallorca]

We all know he is clay goat, don't we? Yes, he is...

But, when we look at his clay resume, he is not that good in Madrid, where clay is faster and ball bounce is lower.
Look at the data:
- RG 13 titles from 16 appearances (81.25% tournaments won)
- MC 11 titles from 17 appearances (64.71% tournaments won)
- Madrid (clay) 4 titles from 12 appearances (33.33% tournaments won)
- Rome 9 titles from 16 appearances (56.25% tournaments won)



Nadal is drastically worst compared to other clay tournaments in Madrid... Even in Canada on hard court he has better result... Novak is only one Madrid title short and even have better percentage (3/8 - 37.5%)



So, my question: Is Nadal clay specialist that is specialized to special clay?
It seems so. Apparently even on clay he needs clay that suits his game. Why clay goat isn't that dominate if clay doesn't suites him?
His fans confirm that too: "He doesn't like high altitude", "Madrid is too fast", "It plays as indoor" and many similar...

Nadal is a Specialist in making Feddy and the Feddyphants cry. And that makes him Mythically Epic

 

[Deleted member 771911]

He'd have even more Clay titles if Madrid was proper clay conditions.

 

[Beckerserve]

We all know he is clay goat, don't we? Yes, he is...

But, when we look at his clay resume, he is not that good in Madrid, where clay is faster and ball bounce is lower.
Look at the data:
- RG 13 titles from 16 appearances (81.25% tournaments won)
- MC 11 titles from 17 appearances (64.71% tournaments won)
- Madrid (clay) 4 titles from 12 appearances (33.33% tournaments won)
- Rome 9 titles from 16 appearances (56.25% tournaments won)



Nadal is drastically worst compared to other clay tournaments in Madrid... Even in Canada on hard court he has better result... Novak is only one Madrid title short and even have better percentage (3/8 - 37.5%)



So, my question: Is Nadal clay specialist that is specialized to special clay?
It seems so. Apparently even on clay he needs clay that suits his game. Why clay goat isn't that dominate if clay doesn't suites him?
His fans confirm that too: "He doesn't like high altitude", "Madrid is too fast", "It plays as indoor" and many similar...

No he is a much more complete player than say a truly one trick pony on say greenset and plexi hard court that cannot translate onto Deco turf as an example

 

[Texas Tennis Fan]

He is specialized to slow high bouncing courts.

This.

 

[Texas Tennis Fan]

Is Djokovic's resume skewed even on hard?

AO: 9
USO: 3

It is skewed, just not as much as Nadal's which is majorly skewed. But then I expect Djokovic to win more slams at Wi and USO. Clay will be harder because he faces a specialist there.

 

[Texas Tennis Fan]

In slam yes, in masters and yec no, apart from Cincy he has won every master and yec at least 4 time

Monte Carlo only twice also.

 

[MichaelNadal]

You’re nitpicking on Rafa’s clay record ? Like seriously?

They gotta stay busy SOMEHOW during clay season

 

[SardinesForDinner]

Impressive chart. Case closed.

 

[aldeayeah]

This post illustrates perfectly the current weak troll era.

 

[Deleted member 748597]

This post illustrates perfectly the current weak troll era.

Wait... I peaked in the weak era?

 

[aldeayeah]

Wait... I peaked in the weak era?

Longevity is your only hope now.

 

[Forehanderer]

Nadal is a Specialist in making Feddy and the Feddyphants cry. And that makes him Mythically Epic

OP's a Djoker fan

 

[MichaelNadal]

This post illustrates perfectly the current weak troll era.

Facts, the strong era trolls were amazing

 

[Mainad]

Nadal is the only player in the current era to win multiple Slams on all 3 surfaces.

He is just special.

 

[Backspin1183]

Yes. Mark my words. Nadal will never beat Djokovic or Federer in a non clay Slam final.