Marion Bartoli: Rafa Nadal no longer in ‘Big Four’

[thomasferrett]

Let's bump this thread when Nadal lifts the US Open trophy.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Well Federer and Nadal are pretty much done at the moment but Era of Big 3 is still going on with third All Time Great player still denying everyone for #1 spot in Tennis for more than 11 straight years. This era will be finished when someone dethrones Djokovic and I hope he gets worthy successor like Federer, Nadal. Surrendering top spot to someone like Murray, Dimitrov, Raonic etc would directly interrupt this domination. If someone from new generation with huge talent ascends to the top then we can hope for similar era in future.

I agree with this. When Djokovic gets dethroned, that is when the curtain will finally come down on this era. This is basically the final chapter of this epic saga that started with Federer in 04.

 

[marc45]

"Marion Bartoli very BIIIIIG", Rafa remarked, spreading his arms wide as he spoke.

yeah, Bartoli is a Big 4

 

[britam25]

Has anybody yet informed Rafa of this news? How did he take it?

And, in related news, it was reported that the sky is blue and water is wet.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Nadal is going through a tough time at the moment, but if somebody can fight his way to the top again it's him. People have declared him done before multiple times, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a huge comeback next year.

 

[RalphJ]

Marion Bartoli doesn't know anything about Nadal. He'll get back, just give it a little time. Wimbledon's not the best indication for him anyway.

 

[IamGroot]

Nadal is going through a tough time at the moment, but if somebody can fight his way to the top again it's him. People have declared him done before multiple times, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a huge comeback next year.

Depends on whether he has the same doctor as before

 

[bullfan]

Marion Bartoli doesn't know anything about Nadal. He'll get back, just give it a little time. Wimbledon's not the best indication for him anyway.

Marion knows better than any of us what the scuttlebutt over Nadal is.

 

[RalphJ]

Well, even if she does, she's pretty negative anyway.

 

[Sentinel]

And, in related news, it was reported that the sky is blue and water is wet.

The sky isn;t blue, silly ! it appears blue because it reflects the oceans.

 

[tennis_commentator]

So you admit 2013 was the exception, yet you say that Nadal "just" has to replicate his 2013 form? I never expected Nadal to reach his top form in 6 months, re-read my posts: I even say that it's clearly not looking like it so far.

The form of 2013 was not an exception, the pace of the comeback was.
Its taken longer to regain confidence.
Although he may have now caught up, as Rafa is better on grass in 2015 than he was in 2013, by far.
His Stuttgart and Wimbledon performances (yes even the Wimbledon loss to Brown, when Rafa had 42 winners, 15 unforced errors, 72% 1st serves in, 9 aces, 26/41 net points won) were WAY better than his horrible 2013 Wimbledon.
And I think Rafa can replicate/exceed his 2013 form at the US Open and/or indoor season.

 

[Lukhas]

The form of 2013 was not an exception, the pace of the comeback was.
Its taken longer to regain confidence.
Although he may have now caught up, as Rafa is better on grass in 2015 than he was in 2013, by far.
His Stuttgart and Wimbledon performances (yes even the Wimbledon loss to Brown, when Rafa had 42 winners, 15 unforced errors, 72% 1st serves in, 9 aces, 26/41 net points won) were WAY better than his horrible 2013 Wimbledon.
And I think Rafa can replicate/exceed his 2013 form at the US Open and/or indoor season.

There's no comparison between 2013 and today. Nadal has played more matches, has less tournament wins/finals and a lower ranking. How many passes/return winners he threaded against a S&V player who plays high risk tennis is irrelevant to this. Do I think he can come back? Sure I do. Do I believe (emphasis on "believe") he can sweep the HC season without making changes in his workflow? No, not without some changes. He can't just sort it out by "working harder" all the time, which is what I've been talking about. Time goes on the same for everyone, and past a certain age it becomes more difficult to just do whatever you were doing 5+ years ago and expect the same level of success just by "working harder". That's what I'm talking about: Nadal is in a spiral and environment where the only solution to his issues is "working harder". Ain't gonna work like that forever. At some point he has to "work differently".

 

[zep]

The sky isn;t blue, silly ! it appears blue because it reflects the oceans.

I can't be sure if you are serious or joking. I hope you are joking though.

 

[West Coast Ace]

So Bartoli is following the Wilander/JMac announcing scheme: say something outrageous from time to time to get your name in the tennis news. Ok. Carry on.

 

[Beacon Hill]

^ Why would you expect a player to reach his top level again in just 6 months of a comeback?
2013 was the exception, not the common pace of a comeback.
That's where I think you've lost it (and where many fans have lost it).
Not all comebacks go at the same pace, and when Rafa regains confidence I shudder to think what people will say to cover their outlandish doomsday comments which I'll be quoting.
Uncle Toni will pretty much own the world after this (not that he's into the whole "I told you so" thing).

Were you the poster that went on and on predicting Rafa would have a great grass court season? Maybe Nadal will challenge for majors again, and maybe he won't. But you'll just keep singing the same song no matter how much evidence to the contrary builds up, so your comments can't be taken seriously.

 

[Kalin]

Bartoli is clueless. Of course Rafa is a member of the Big 4.

Lance Armstrong, Marion Jones, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Nadal. As big as it gets. And yes, I counted them, it is 4 of them.

 

[Sentinel]

I can't be sure if you are serious or joking. I hope you are joking though.

I hope you are joking that you aren't sure whether I am serious or joking.

Only Fedace could have said something like that seriously !

 

[britam25]

Bartoli is clueless. Of course Rafa is a member of the Big 4.

Lance Armstrong, Marion Jones, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Nadal. As big as it gets. And yes, I counted them, it is 4 of them.

ROTFLMAO!!!! When I read that first sentence, I was, like, wtf? But, ya got me, ya got me good, lol...

 

[Mainad]

I can't be sure if you are serious or joking. I hope you are joking though.

I think he's joking.

 

[IamGroot]

I mean .. right now Djokovic is the Favorite to win any Tournament on any Surface against any Opponent.

Last thing he did was to beat the current Number 2, Roger Federer, on his favorite Surface .. while Grass is considered to be Djokovics weakest Surface.

The guy lost in a shocking Final at the FO and was expected to somewhat decline mentally due to that loss ... instead he came back even stronger, without playing any Tournament in preparation .. to win Wimbledon.

I mean ... what "Big 4" are we talking about here?

I was impressed with the way Novak mentally regrouped after Stanimal took him down at the FO. I thought it might be like 2013 all over again, Djoker turning into a huge mental midget in all the slams.

If there is any current big 4 it is Djok, Fed, Stan and Murray.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Bartoli is no longer invited to Mallorca.

 

[PeteUSA]

His shots are lacking depth.

Rafa needs to go down with string tension.