Is there any doubt Nadal is going to win the French Open this year?

[BeatlesFan]

There's considerable doubt, obviously. You're dealing with a player with a long and endless history of injuries. He's also 31 and his clay form has been off for 2 years (demonstrably true). He played well at the AO but he's still a full step slower than he once was.

 

[Meles]

Yeah, unlike Nadal, djokovic hasn't decline physically. IF there's someone who can beat 18 majors, it's djokovic IF he stays injury free. I don't have faith in the young guns to be honest. There's nothing remarkable in any of them. I don't see greatness in any of them.

When Fed was 20, you saw footwork, forehand, speed around the court, great serve, amazing touch and manufatured shots you've never seen before.

Nadal at 20, held 2 majors and several masters and already world number two. A true tennis prodigy.

Djokovic at 20 was a major winner with several masters.

Sir Murray not as successful as the other three but at 20, you saw a dominating backhand and court coverage that could only be rivalled by Nadal and Djokovic. He started out winning masters and somehow you knew he was greater than just a collector of masters titles.

What those 4 have in common is the fact they possess several traits that you could say "it belongs to one of the greatest ever".

Federer: forehand, footwork, passing shots, all-court tennis

Nadal: forehand, passing shots, footwork, speed, court coverage, turning defense to offence, mental stregth

Djokovic: backhand, court coverage, return, speed, endurance and mental strength

Murray: backhand, return, speed, court coverage

Now tell me 2 things in (Raonic, Nishikori, Dimitrov, Thiem, Zverev or Goffin's) game that you could say "that's one of the greatest ever".

Did you even watch Auz? Raonic's window is closing because too many players outclass him on speed (Fedal dimi resurgence really hurts him.) You must be daft to dismiss Zverev and Dimitrov. Thiem adding power steadily in next few years will make him very tough. They will get their glory and Zverev impossible to predict since so young. Zverev already has GOAT backhand. Dimitrov has it all.

 

[mike danny]

Did you even watch Auz? Raonic's window is closing because too many players outclass him on speed (Fedal dimi resurgence really hurts him.) You must be daft to dismiss Zverev and Dimitrov. Thiem adding power steadily in next few years will make him very tough. They will get their glory and Zverev impossible to predict since so young. Zverev already has GOAT backhand. Dimitrov has it all.

Zverev is already a problematic match-up for Nadal. If he further improves, Nadal would better watch out.

 

[Meles]

I agree with this. Clay is not his best surface anymore but his legend will frighten most players.

Although he did great in australia and we his fans are claiming a great performance gstting two sets off federer on a surface much more suited to federer it may well be that the faster condiotons these days help nadal as they mask his stamina problems and comparative lack of movement.

He was beating federer and beat raonic and dimitrov when he played on the baseline. Against federer he weng back to the stand with line judge tactic and got his butt handed to him.

On clay if he persists with the stand in lyon tactic he is going to get schooled by someone like thiem or djokovic or wawrinka. He cant cover the court like he used to.

Djokovic being injured though will boost his confidence.

This, but Nadal momentum at French not easy to stop.

 

[Rafa the King]

There is absolutely a lot of doubt. But for the first time in 3 years, I actually feel confident that he will do well in almost every big tourney (Slam, Masters, WTF) he'll enter as long as he is healthy. I truly believe that he will make lots of deep runs and with that win the biggest events if he keeps this up

 

[Rafa the King]

Btw people, clay is still his best surface. The margin is not that big, but even he knew it. If the court was AO 2012 slow, believe me he would have won the tourney if he faced the same opponents. Would have made the Fed, Raonic and Zverev match a lot easier.

 

[Meles]

Zverev is already a problematic match-up for Nadal. If he further improves, Nadal would better watch out.

Beat Fed, Thiem, and Wawa in finals recently (well SF on grass with Fed plus Hopman). Zed just tanked Davis Cup? Good chance to beat nice Montepellier field this week as wild card.

 

[Meles]

Btw people, clay is still his best surface. The margin is not that big, but even he knew it. If the court was AO 2012 slow, believe me he would have won the tourney if he faced the same opponents. Would have made the Fed, Raonic and Zverev match a lot easier.

Somehow Moya has largely fixed his serve game and its an amazing thing.

 

[tenisdecente]

I've penciled him in for RG.




Unless suresh jinxes him again.

Already did. Sorry to tell you that mate

Somehow Moya has largely fixed his serve game and its an amazing thing.

There is a lot of work to do there. Federer was sucking with the ROS and in the final set of AO with Nadal at 85% of first serves, he got a lot of BP's. It has improved, but not to a decent level yet

 

[Rafa the King]

Already did. Sorry to tell you that mate



There is a lot of work to do there. Federer was sucking with the ROS and in the final set of AO with Nadal at 85% of first serves, he got a lot of BP's. It has improved, but not to a decent level yet

Imo, if you are serving at 85%, it isn't really a first serve is it. He will get away with that in Paris, has done it forever on clay. But on the faster surfaces like this AO, a bigger serve which would get him between 55-65 would probably be better since he already is serving a second servish serve

 

[tenisdecente]

Imo, if you are serving at 85%, it isn't really a first serve is it. He will get away with that in Paris, has done it forever on clay. But on the faster surfaces like this AO, a bigger serve which would get him between 55-65 would probably be better since he already is serving a second servish serve

Yeah, I know serve is not so important in clay, still it is a weapon that he needs to recover since it will help him to shorten matches.
He may or may not get away with it in clay, since a lot of people pound his second serve these days. What I mean is that he has to go on working on the serve

 

[junior74]

 

[dh003i]

Btw people, clay is still his best surface. The margin is not that big, but even he knew it. If the court was AO 2012 slow, believe me he would have won the tourney if he faced the same opponents. Would have made the Fed, Raonic and Zverev match a lot easier.

You don't know he would have won had the surface been like it was in AO 2012. Maybe it makes it more likely, but maybe it makes it even less likely as he is now 30 years old and would have done a lot more running. Consider the possibility that Nadal changed his game to be more aggressive and conserve his body, which helped him get to the finals. The faster courts helped with that.

 

[Hitman's Gurl]

There has to be some doubt. I feel at the moment no one is a lock for any of the slams.

 

[-NN-]

A looooooooooot of tennis to be played before RG. Such great loot to be had in the meantime.

 

[Steve0904]

You don't know he would have won had the surface been like it was in AO 2012. Maybe it makes it more likely, but maybe it makes it even less likely as he is now 30 years old and would have done a lot more running. Consider the possibility that Nadal changed his game to be more aggressive and conserve his body, which helped him get to the finals. The faster courts helped with that.

I agree. I think the slightly faster courts actually help Nadal in his older age due to being able to end points quicker. I still think clay is his best surface and his best shot at another GS is at RG, but I also think as Nadal gets older he'll prefer faster HC's to slower ones. If he is to win on clay he needs to be aggressive like he was at the AO though. He won't win by defending all day like he did in his early years at RG.

 

[-NN-]

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/will-rafa-win-more-majors.582878/

 

[Deleted member 743561]

If Stan goes grayscale, and joins the invisible zebra movement, they'll never know what hit 'em!

 

[The_18th_Slam]

Nadal's claycourt game was built almost completely on his forehand and his agility, and it's those aspects of his game that have declined the most. Yes, there is a doubt. He is one of the favorites, but not even the top favorite, let alone a lock for the title.

 

[Candide]

Has never been beaten. Will never be beaten.

 

[dh003i]

Nadal's claycourt game was built almost completely on his forehand and his agility, and it's those aspects of his game that have declined the most. Yes, there is a doubt. He is one of the favorites, but not even the top favorite, let alone a lock for the title.

I agree with your doubts, but would still put him as the favorite, mainly because I can't justify putting anyone else above him. Djokovic is on a mental hiatus. Wawrinka can be a threat to win any Major if in GOAT-mode, but who knows with him. Murray is solid and has made the finals, but I don't really feel like his game is built for clay and I don't think I'd ever put him as the odds-on favorite at any Major. Federer played a great AO and if he brings that form can do some damage, but we'll have to see what he can come up with on clay, if his backhand looks as good on clay.

So question: If you don't think Nadal is the top favorite, who would you put above him? (I do certainly agree he isn't a lock for the title).

 

[junior74]

If Stan goes grayscale, and joins the invisible zebra movement, they'll never know what hit 'em!

Stan Wawrinka, getting ready for a night out after the ceremony:

 

[TheMusicLover]

What a silly premise. Of course there are plenty other candidates to bag this clay GS, even the more as nobody knows as of yet how anyone's form will be come the clay season.

Bad Trolling attempt, my verdict: 3/10.

 

[SamprasisGOAT]

Djokovic will straight set him again.

 

[vladisimo]

I don't think Nadal will win the RG. The physicality required to win it might be too much for him nowadays. His forehand lacks power and spin to be dangerous there. I actually think slightly faster courts suit him better nowadays (like AO this year, Wimbledon he will keep sucking obv). Also he might get injured come the FO.

Wawrinka and Thiem are my favourites for RG, maybe Murray too.

oh,a wawrinka thiem sem or final would be so great to see..soo much power and shotmaking.

 

[cc0509]

Yes, there is doubt. There is doubt about all of the "favorites" and which one of those if any will win the FO. They all have their issues.

 

[Surion]

Nadal's claycourt game was built almost completely on his forehand and his agility, and it's those aspects of his game that have declined the most. Yes, there is a doubt. He is one of the favorites, but not even the top favorite, let alone a lock for the title.

Who is your favourite?

I'd say Nadal, although only slightly ahead of Wawrinka.

 

[Luckydog]

God has taken back his gift he endowed Nadal ---his legs.
Nadal has to fight as a mortal for his glory.
I'm afraid there is a glass ceiling between Nadal and his 10th FO title---looks close and touchable,but far far away in fact.
Anyway,no matter what happend, as long as he fights like a real man(no cheating at least),I respect him.

 

[sbengte]

God has taken back his gift he endowed Nadal ---his legs.

 

[ollinger]

I don't see how Nadal could lose at the French Open. The guy is running around like he is 25 again

how old was he in 2009?

 

[rockbox]

As I was saying.

 

[Meles]

Beat Fed, Thiem, and Wawa in finals recently (well SF on grass with Fed plus Hopman). Zed just tanked Davis Cup? Good chance to beat nice Montepellier field this week as wild card.

As I was saying.

Won the doubles too.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Barring another injury, I don't see how Nadal could lose at the French Open.

Of course there is. You get someone that just has one of those stellar days and maybe Nadal isn't playing his top tennis (which even he admits in a few matches he has been lacking) and viola...Nadal out.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nadal is old and playing way off his peak, but it probably won't matter. The field is so pathetically weak it's almost beyond comprehension. The #1 and #2 players are playing like journeymen, practically. They won't get anywhere near Rafa at the FO because both will have lost before the semis or final. I thought Stanimal might make an appearance this spring, but Stan's been dialing it in ever since the AO. So Nadal basically doesn't have to worry about playing anyone there. Whoever is in his quarter, it'll be like, "who cares?"

Let's put it like this: when Thiem and Zverev are touted as Rafa's "biggest competition" at RG, then hand him the trophy already. The thing that could take him out is an injury (from overplaying this year) or cumulative fatigue by the time he gets to the FO final.

 

[cc0509]

Nadal is old and playing way off his peak, but it probably won't matter. The field is so pathetically weak it's almost beyond comprehension. The #1 and #2 players are playing like journeymen, practically. They won't get anywhere near Rafa at the FO because both will have lost before the semis or final. I thought Stanimal might make an appearance this spring, but Stan's been dialing it in ever since the AO. So Nadal basically doesn't have to worry about playing anyone there. Whoever is in his quarter, it'll be like, "who cares?"

Let's put it like this: when Thiem and Zverev are touted as Rafa's "biggest competition" at RG, then hand him the trophy already. The thing that could take him out is an injury (from overplaying this year) or cumulative fatigue by the time he gets to the FO final.

No, he isn't playing that far off his peak. How often in his career did Nadal make hc finals(relatively speaking?) He's improved his backhand, his serve and his court positioning this year and his speed isn't that declined.

The field is weak overall but it's the same field Federer is dominating at the moment as well and the same field Djokovic dominated since 2014. You admit that, right?

 

[Steve0904]

As I was saying.

It's hard to see past him for sure, but it is probably better to wait until after he wins it (if he does). Just saying.

 

[Feather]

I still think Stan will do well in this RG.

 

[Bender]

God has taken back his gift he endowed Nadal ---his legs.

I thought it was his hair.

 

[Bender]

No, he isn't playing that far off his peak. How often in his career did Nadal make hc finals(relatively speaking?) He's improved his backhand, his serve and his court positioning this year and his speed isn't that declined.

The field is weak overall but it's the same field Federer is dominating at the moment as well and the same field Djokovic dominated since 2014. You admit that, right?

His speed has very much declined. Like Federer, but to a far lesser extent, it's his more aggressive play and positioning that's masking the decline.

 

[rockbox]

It's hard to see past him for sure, but it is probably better to wait until after he wins it (if he does). Just saying.

There is no glory in waiting until after he wins to say it.

 

[Steve0904]

There is no glory in waiting until after he wins to say it.

True enough.

 

[rockbox]

So many naysayers. SMH

 

[tennis4jags]

I want Nadal to win but itll be tough.

I hope you might be one of the happiest Nadal fan after he swept 2017 clay season by 24-1

 

[TahoeTennis]

Nadal is less likely to win the French than he was to win the AUS.
I know it may not make sense to you, only because of his success in that surface. But for an older guy with a lot of mileage and injuries FO is a much tougher to pull off. I would take Wawa, Mur, or Djok ahead of him.

vamos

 

[ChaelAZ]

Today I am 100% sure.
Was only 99.9% sure when it started.

 

[hoodjem]

Barring another injury, I don't see how Nadal could lose at the French Open. The guy is running around like he is 25 again. I'm hoping for a Fed Nadal rematch at both the French and Wimbledon with Nadal taking the French and Fed taking Wimbledon. I pray they are in the opposite side of the draw at both tournaments.

Not any more.