Is Nadal REALLY declining?

  • Thread starter TheMagicianOfPrecision
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rafan

Hall of Fame
I'm sure this was said before. I think it's a simple formula. If you play hard physical game, it will catch up with you relatively sooner than later. You will simply burn out or injuries will start creeping up. Rafa is no exception. Like someone said, he is trying to match Federer's slam record but with his style of play I don't think he has a chance and I haven't even mentioned mental part.

Yes you have a point. Something Rafa said about Djoko starting the ascent of his great performances at the wrong time made me think . Was he really thinking of his own rise to the top and all the pain and hard work he has had to endure and was he thinking that Djoko will have a short time span? It is hard to look into what is going to happen this year and it will be crucial but not really the end of Rafa's rise to being number one. It all depends on whether Djoko can keep it up and nobody knows better than Nadal what a price Djoko will have to pay to continue his rise
 

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
So going by Clarky's wonderful argument of "everyone other than Joker playing crap", then once again we are back to looking at results as the only decent way to figure anything out.

Then only results determine whether someone is declining or not, since crap play is ruled out, since every else is also playing crap.

I hope all of us can finally agree on this, or is there still some wiggle room for Clarky and others to escape.

p.s. I'd like a serious reasonable answer, and not the usual "you are delusional" one.
 

dafinch

Banned
It's not about age but mileage.

Lendl being the exception a gazillion years ago, most players decline after 600 matches. It even happened to Federer. Djokovic should pass the 600 matches next year and that's when we will see a gradual decline from the Serbian. He should try and win as many slams as he can in 2012 and 2013 because in 2014 it will be harder for him at the slams.

This year I expect multiple slams from the Serbian but in 2013, I'm not sure he will win multiple slams. A slam probably but multiple slams is not something I'm sure he will do in 2013 and 2014 for several reasons mainly the mileage.

I alluded to "mileage" in my comment about Nadal's "lovely still(sic)" when I meant to say lovely "style." I read once that a tour official mentioned that Nadal's sneakers get bald faster than any other player-makes sense, more running around, and, of course, more matches played than most players-and he added, "Why should his knees be any different?" Knee problems early in the year after just a few tournaments is an ominous sign, IMO-if it's legit.
 

Lsmkenpo

Hall of Fame
An athlete can't stay on PEDs year round, the body grows a tolerance to them and they do not help as much, the athlete has to cycle on at the time of the season he deems most critical to his success.

This is why we see players seemingly go from injured and out of shape to super human level a month later. If a player was legitimately injured and couldn't train they wouldn't suddenly show up a month later ready to grind out 5-6 hour matches.
 
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zagor

Bionic Poster
Will have to wait and see until the end of the year to be sure what is what. However, Nadal did look rather subpeak at FO 2011, also Wim 2011 was rather sloppy regardless of Novak playing a great match.

So Nadal is still in prime, however he is not playing peak anymore. Perhaps that will change next year, but I am not sure Nadal has his head 100% in the game. He does not seem to be trying as hard, and seems he has other stuff on his mind.

So did Nadal suddenly return to his peak this year? He's no longer sloppy?
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
Will have to wait and see until the end of the year to be sure what is what. However, Nadal did look rather subpeak at FO 2011, also Wim 2011 was rather sloppy regardless of Novak playing a great match.

So Nadal is still in prime, however he is not playing peak anymore. Perhaps that will change next year, but I am not sure Nadal has his head 100% in the game. He does not seem to be trying as hard, and seems he has other stuff on his mind.

What about now? Is Nadal still sloppy, subpeak, flat, uninspired etc.
 
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