McEnroe talking about Nadal and Roland Garros

[nadal]

History is in Nadal’s grasp and McEnroe believes Novak Djokovic has the best shot of stopping the muscular Mallorcan.

“Despite the results this past weekend on clay in Madrid — Novak Djokovic testing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer beating him for the title, the question in Paris is not ‘Can anyone beat Nadal?’….it’s ‘Can anyone take a set from him?’ That’s what it’s come to at Roland Garros,” McEnroe says. “The fact that he has improved so much on the other surfaces has actually helped his clay court game. Others in the past who made adjustments to better themselves on faster surfaces — Lendl, Wilander and Courier come to mind — saw their clay court play suffer. Nadal is serving better, being more aggressive with his backhand and coming inside the court more often. He’s absolutely steamrolling people. He used to win on clay with his defense, now he is as good an offensive player. It’s scary to see he’s so much better than he already was. We’re watching history — he’s on his way to surpassing Bjorn Borg as the best ever on clay, and he has a serious chance at the Grand Slam this year.

“As for Federer, the most common question I get asked is ‘What’s wrong with Roger?’ Well, until he loses early in a major you can’t ask. He has been in the last four Grand Slam finals and has an amazing streak of reaching at least the semis in 19 straight majors. So you can’t write him off. What he did Sunday was impressive; he played the right style — was aggressive and didn’t get into many long rallys. It’s the first time I’ve seen him adjust his game on clay versus Nadal. But the biggest factor was the altitude in Madrid, which helps a big server. He is capable of losing to a number of people and that streak is in jeopardy. Even though Nadal defeated Djokovic in the semis in Spain, in a best-of-five match he still has the best chance to upset the reigning four-time champ.”

http://www.nadalnews.com/2009/05/19/johnny-mac-lurves-rafa/#more-5341

 

[veroniquem]

It is not the first time Fed "adjusts" his game against Rafa on clay. He did it as well at Hamburg 2007. It's easy to be aggressive vs a passive worn out Nadal. It will fail massively vs "warrior" Rafa.

 

[Swissv2]

You better watch out if Nadal gets "tired" at RG then! LOL

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

It is not the first time Fed "adjusts" his game against Rafa on clay. He did it as well at Hamburg 2007. It's easy to be aggressive vs a passive worn out Nadal. It will fail massively vs "warrior" Rafa.

Damn, you want his room key, don't you???

 

[R_Federer]

It is not the first time Fed "adjusts" his game against Rafa on clay. He did it as well at Hamburg 2007. It's easy to be aggressive vs a passive worn out Nadal. It will fail massively vs "warrior" Rafa.

Like Federer was trying his 100% in that final (Madrid) as well. So cut the BS.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Only way Nadal loses to Fed in final. The day of the Semis Fed completes his match barely before it rains. Nadal is forced to play the Semis on Saturday and plays an exhausting match with Djokovic. Nadal wins in over 4 hours. Nadal loses to Fed from exhaustion in the Finals. A lot of things have to go wrong for Nadal to lose.

 

[Swissv2]

Only way Nadal loses to Fed in final. The day of the Semis Fed completes his match barely before it rains. Nadal is forced to play the Semis on Saturday and plays an exhausting match with Djokovic. Nadal wins in over 4 hours. Nadal loses to Fed from exhaustion in the Finals. A lot of things have to go wrong for Nadal to lose.

So long as Nadal is "tired" he will lose (hey, just calling it as people are sayin it, LOL)

 

[LanceStern]

It is not the first time Fed "adjusts" his game against Rafa on clay. He did it as well at Hamburg 2007. It's easy to be aggressive vs a passive worn out Nadal. It will fail massively vs "warrior" Rafa.

What was the point of saying this?

 

[Nadal_Freak]

What was the point of saying this?

That Fed can't beat Nadal 100% on clay.

 

[manny pacquiao P4P king]

That Fed can't beat Nadal 100% on clay.

no one gonna beat nadal 100% at the FO for a long time, maybe nalbandian, i dont know.

federer bt nadal fair and square in madrid, if nadal is supposedly the fittest player the sport has ever seen then he can play a few long matches in the space of a few days.........and didn't he get a days rest.

 

[LanceStern]

That Fed can't beat Nadal 100% on clay.

And why would she mention that for any reason?

federer bt nadal fair and square in madrid, if nadal is supposedly the fittest player the sport has ever seen then he can play a few long matches in the space of a few days.........and didn't he get a days rest.

Truth and truth, but I don't think it's a days rest. Nadal goes to sleep for say 6-8 hours (if that much because you're still on that high from winning a great match), but then you have to wake up and train and warm up and get ready to play Fed. So it's hardly a days rest

 

[R_Federer]

Okay they're athletes. Not freakin housewives that need days rest. Both Nadal and Federer didnt put 100% into the Madrid final and Federer still won. Period.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

And why would she mention that for any reason?



Truth and truth, but I don't think it's a days rest. Nadal goes to sleep for say 6-8 hours (if that much because you're still on that high from winning a great match), but then you have to wake up and train and warm up and get ready to play Fed. So it's hardly a days rest

Some Fed fans like to blow off the part that Nadal was exhausted for the final. Like Nadal threw everything at Fed and Fed figured something out. Even to the point of some saying it would translate to RG. Not even close. Vamos!

 

[R_Federer]

Some Fed fans like to blow off the part that Nadal was exhausted for the final. Like Nadal threw everything at Fed and Fed figured something out. Even to the point of some saying it would translate to RG. Not even close. Vamos!

Dude Fed did not throw everything at Nadal either. In fact Fed was playing in like 60% gear. Yet he won. So STFU man.

 

[P_Agony]

It is not the first time Fed "adjusts" his game against Rafa on clay. He did it as well at Hamburg 2007. It's easy to be aggressive vs a passive worn out Nadal. It will fail massively vs "warrior" Rafa.

Actually it's easy when your serve doesn't let you down. The serve is the most important shot in the game, and Fed's serve was brilliant in that match. He kept Nadal guessing, and Nadal's return game really suffered from it. Fed also went for his shots without fear. Sure, some of them were unforced errors, but some were winners, and some forced Nadal to errors. Finally, Federer also excuted the dropp shot to perfection. The best drop shot in the sport by far, as proven both aginst Del Potro and against Nadal.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

History is in Nadal’s grasp and McEnroe believes Novak Djokovic has the best shot of stopping the muscular Mallorcan.

“Despite the results this past weekend on clay in Madrid — Novak Djokovic testing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer beating him for the title, the question in Paris is not ‘Can anyone beat Nadal?’….it’s ‘Can anyone take a set from him?’ That’s what it’s come to at Roland Garros,” McEnroe says. “The fact that he has improved so much on the other surfaces has actually helped his clay court game. Others in the past who made adjustments to better themselves on faster surfaces — Lendl, Wilander and Courier come to mind — saw their clay court play suffer. Nadal is serving better, being more aggressive with his backhand and coming inside the court more often. He’s absolutely steamrolling people. He used to win on clay with his defense, now he is as good an offensive player. It’s scary to see he’s so much better than he already was. We’re watching history — he’s on his way to surpassing Bjorn Borg as the best ever on clay, and he has a serious chance at the Grand Slam this year.

“As for Federer, the most common question I get asked is ‘What’s wrong with Roger?’ Well, until he loses early in a major you can’t ask. He has been in the last four Grand Slam finals and has an amazing streak of reaching at least the semis in 19 straight majors. So you can’t write him off. What he did Sunday was impressive; he played the right style — was aggressive and didn’t get into many long rallys. It’s the first time I’ve seen him adjust his game on clay versus Nadal. But the biggest factor was the altitude in Madrid, which helps a big server. He is capable of losing to a number of people and that streak is in jeopardy. Even though Nadal defeated Djokovic in the semis in Spain, in a best-of-five match he still has the best chance to upset the reigning four-time champ.”

http://www.nadalnews.com/2009/05/19/johnny-mac-lurves-rafa/#more-5341

All the stars aligned in Madrid for Federer. Mcenroe is spot on he knows Fed only won because Nadal was worn out due to no rest day between matches and because the altitude helped his biggest weapon and masked his biggest weaknesses by helping to keep the points short.

With the extra rest day at Roland Garros no one will be tired, so the better player will win. Joker showed in Rome that hes the number 2 on the real clay. Anyone who doesn't see Joker as Nadal's biggest threat is Blind.

Federer has to get over 80% of first serves in to have a chance to beat Joker or Nadal on the Roland Garros clay to make up for their baseline superiority, but even then he'll probably still lose. Notice how the *******s always focus on the first serve % every time Federer loses instead of focusing on his baseline inferiority?The baseline inferiority is always explained in terms of a mental lapse, or mono, or some other rubbish excuse...lol

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Dude Fed did not throw everything at Nadal either. In fact Fed was playing in like 60% gear. Yet he won. So STFU man.

Fed played the best he could. No way he could play better. Nadal played alright for 8 games. Then had a horrible service game and lost the set. Something was not right you knew after that game.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

All the stars aligned in Madrid for Federer. Mcenroe is spot on he knows Fed only won because Nadal was worn out due to no rest day between matches and because the altitude helped his biggest weapon and masked his biggest weaknesses by keeping the points as short as possible.

With the extra rest day at Roland Garros no one will be tired, so the better player will win. Joker showed in Rome that hes the number 2 on the real clay. Anyone who doesn't see Joker as Nadal's biggest threat is Blind.

Federer has to get over 80% of first serves in to have a chance to beat Joker or Nadal on the Roland Garros clay to make up for their baseline superiority, but even then he'll probably still lose. Notice how the *******s always focus on the first serve % every time Federer loses instead of focusing on his baseline inferiority?The baseline inferiority is always explained in terms of a mental lapse, or mono, or some other rubbish excuse...lol

Agreed. Rome is very similar to Roland Garros in my opinion. You are a great poster.

 

[OddJack]

Mac better stick to his commentator duties. He is one of the worst when it comes to predictions. He once stood on his head in front of tv because he wrongly predicted a match. Two things mac cant do: coaching and odds making.


Things change quickly in tennis.


Here is my prediction:

When Nadal loses his FO crown he wont even make the final.

If he does, I hope it's against Roger.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Well, tennis isn't for him then.

Thats like saying I am the worlds greatest marathon runner. But I get tired after 5kms.. And I only like to run on flat tracks, and it can't be at altitude...

Oh, and can I run at night. I don't like the sun....

A new poster but yet you act like you've been here for awhile as an old troll name. I can see why some think you are Chris_In_Japan

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Pin head. I am in Australia..

So was he.

 

[delphi17]

Well, tennis isn't for him then.

Thats like saying I am the worlds greatest marathon runner. But I get tired after 5kms.. And I only like to run on flat tracks, and it can't be at altitude...

Oh, and can I run at night. I don't like the sun....

your analogy is so bad..
are you sure you are australian?

 

[R_Federer]

Well, tennis isn't for him then.

Thats like saying I am the worlds greatest marathon runner. But I get tired after 5kms.. And I only like to run on flat tracks, and it can't be at altitude...

Oh, and can I run at night. I don't like the sun....

+1.............

 

[gj011]

A new poster but yet you act like you've been here for awhile as an old troll name. I can see why some think you are Chris_In_Japan

He is indeed ChrisInJapan, just exposed himself in another thread. Should have figured it our earlier.

 

[Tennis_Bum]

Dude Fed did not throw everything at Nadal either. In fact Fed was playing in like 60% gear. Yet he won. So STFU man.

Your response is funny, especially the last sentence. I don't know if Fed played 60% or so, if he did then I am very happy. But I think Fed played to really test himself to see how far his game was in term of the French. Of course, a win was a boost to his confidence. Let's hope he could continue to serve well and move well. His forehand better not let him down this time or he'll have a really hard time getting to the final, regardless who will be there.

 

[gj011]

I have to be honest. You are becoming very boring now.. You really need to move on you half-witt...

First its some mike guy, now I am a Chris..:-?

No you are Chris. I must admit it took me longer than usual to figure you out.

 

[FD3S]

I have to be honest. You are becoming very boring now.. You really need to move on you half-witt...

First its some mike guy, now I am a Chris..:-?

I totally pegged you for a Bob. Or a Kenny. I guess Wolfgang works, too.

 

[Tennis_Bum]

All the stars aligned in Madrid for Federer. Mcenroe is spot on he knows Fed only won because Nadal was worn out due to no rest day between matches and because the altitude helped his biggest weapon and masked his biggest weaknesses by helping to keep the points short.

With the extra rest day at Roland Garros no one will be tired, so the better player will win. Joker showed in Rome that hes the number 2 on the real clay. Anyone who doesn't see Joker as Nadal's biggest threat is Blind.

Federer has to get over 80% of first serves in to have a chance to beat Joker or Nadal on the Roland Garros clay to make up for their baseline superiority, but even then he'll probably still lose. Notice how the *******s always focus on the first serve % every time Federer loses instead of focusing on his baseline inferiority?The baseline inferiority is always explained in terms of a mental lapse, or mono, or some other rubbish excuse...lol

You are beyond blind. Fed was ahead of Djoko in Rome but lost it not because Djoko outplayed him. Fed broke Djoko in set 2 and set 3 but self-destruct. Don't ask me how to explain it. He was struggling big time, but the point is that Djoko wasn't playing great tennis. Fed just let the opportunities slipped away in Rome. So Djoko is not #2 clay player by a long shot. No, Murray ain't it either. Murray sucks on clay and is overrated as a player. I sure hope Fed makes to the final and meets Nadal. I just want to see if Fed could prove all the critics wrong again.

Could it be that Nadal be upset before the final? McEnroe doesn't know everything and isn't always right about tennis. So let's see what will happen this year at the French.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

Who's ChrisInJapan? And why is he so infamous???

 

[FD3S]

A poster that was banned a while ago, if I recall correctly. I'm not sure if he was ever truly infamous - confrontational at times, and he could definitely rub people the wrong way, but he seemed like an okay poster to me, with a fair bit of tennis knowledge. (Nowhere near nadalgirl in terms of being irritating.)

Plus, the dude did an ace job on a Pure Drive repaint a while back.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

You are beyond blind. Fed was ahead of Djoko in Rome but lost it not because Djoko outplayed him. Fed broke Djoko in set 2 and set 3 but self-destruct. Don't ask me how to explain it. He was struggling big time, but the point is that Djoko wasn't playing great tennis. Fed just let the opportunities slipped away in Rome. So Djoko is not #2 clay player by a long shot. No, Murray ain't it either. Murray sucks on clay and is overrated as a player. I sure hope Fed makes to the final and meets Nadal. I just want to see if Fed could prove all the critics wrong again.

Could it be that Nadal be upset before the final? McEnroe doesn't know everything and isn't always right about tennis. So let's see what will happen this year at the French.

I'll explain it for you :Self destruct, mental collapse= baseline inferiority

Mcenroe knows what hes talking about.In Rome, Joker started set 2 and 3 slowly then he dominated and won 5-0 in both those sets. After starting the sets slowly he took Federer apart and broke him at will

 

[P_Agony]

I'll explain it for you :Self destruct, mental collapse= baseline inferiority

Mcenroe knows what hes talking about.In Rome, Joker started set 2 and 3 slowly then he dominated and won 5-0 in both those sets. After starting the sets slowly he took Federer apart and broke him at will

It's funny how when Federer self-destructs against Djokovic, saying that he beats himself is "mere excuses" and "not giving any credit to Djokovic". Yet, when Fed beats Nadal, excuses like "He was tired" are perfectly legit.

hypocrisy at its best.

 

[P_Agony]

Agreed. Instead of self destructing. Maybe he should have said he was tired.

Then the Naltards would shower him with love and support

Welcome to the forum by the way

And don't mind gj011 - he's just a troll.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Welcome to the forum by the way

And don't mind gj011 - he's just a troll.

You mean welcome his new username to the forum.

 

[P_Agony]

You mean welcome his new username to the forum.

Huh?

10 chars

 

[P_Agony]

Whatever:roll:

Am I missing something here? I didn't get what he mean...

Edit: Oh, right. Yes, everytime someone argues with gj011 he adds them to the "green troll army of vtimke". I doubt he has more than 5 people on this forum who can stand him at this point.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

You win some you lose some. Its called sport..

So what?

Exactly so what if Joker is the 2nd best on clay now.Whats the big deal for the *******s, it's not like they'll give Federer a special prize if he was the 2nd best on clay.

 

[nadal]

P AGONY your profile picture is very old from 2 years you must better change it and live now instead of living in the past CHECK THE RANKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[P_Agony]

Exactly so what if Joker is the 2nd best on clay now.Whats the big deal for the *******s, it's not like they'll give Federer a special prize if he was the 2nd best on clay.

The 2nd clay courter is the one that will reach the FO final. The 1st clay courter is the one that will win it. All other tournys mean squat compared to FO, so while I'm happy Fed won Madrid, if he doesn't reach the FO final and Djoko does, I will consider Noval the 2nd best clay courter. Of course, if Nadal somehow losses the FO, I will not consider him the best clay courter of the season, despite winning Rome, MC, and Barcelona.

The majors are just that much bigger than everything else.

 

[P_Agony]

P AGONY your profile picture is very old from 2 years you must better change it and live now instead of living in the past CHECK THE RANKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm aware of the rankings, thank you.

For me Federer is and will always be #1. I recgonize Nadal is the best player in the world today. He's a great champion, acheived a lot in very little time, has a fighting spirit like no other, etc.

But still, I'm a fan of Federer, and I will support Federer, thus for me he is #1.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

The 2nd clay courter is the one that will reach the FO final. The 1st clay courter is the one that will win it. All other tournys mean squat compared to FO, so while I'm happy Fed won Madrid, if he doesn't reach the FO final and Djoko does, I will consider Noval the 2nd best clay courter. Of course, if Nadal somehow losses the FO, I will not consider him the best clay courter of the season, despite winning Rome, MC, and Barcelona.

The majors are just that much bigger than everything else.

That's normally the case but since Nadal dominated Fed so easily in the 2008 FO final, we have to use common sense and give consideration for Joker being the 2nd best, and any reasonable person would see that he was the 2nd best based on him reaching the semi and giving Nadal a considerably tougher match than Fed at the FO 08.

 

[mandy01]

Agreed. Instead of self destructing. Maybe he should have said he was tired.

Then the Naltards would shower him with love and support

The *******s wouldnt stop trash-talking him no matter what he did :lol:
The rules change when it comes to Roger Federer
Everytime Nad boy says he's tired and injured,he has pain in his famous ***,
Altitude caused problems etc etc.he's giving reasons and nobody should call him out on it.
When Roger gives his reasons,he's condescending,arrogant and there'll be DOZENS of idiotic threads .

 

[Leublu tennis]

Both Nadal and Federer didnt put 100% into the Madrid final and Federer still won. Period.

Read this for an intelligent analysis of Roger's game in Madrid.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=262306

 

[bolo]

History is in Nadal’s grasp and McEnroe believes Novak Djokovic has the best shot of stopping the muscular Mallorcan.

“Despite the results this past weekend on clay in Madrid — Novak Djokovic testing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer beating him for the title, the question in Paris is not ‘Can anyone beat Nadal?’….it’s ‘Can anyone take a set from him?’ That’s what it’s come to at Roland Garros,” McEnroe says. “The fact that he has improved so much on the other surfaces has actually helped his clay court game. Others in the past who made adjustments to better themselves on faster surfaces — Lendl, Wilander and Courier come to mind — saw their clay court play suffer. Nadal is serving better, being more aggressive with his backhand and coming inside the court more often. He’s absolutely steamrolling people. He used to win on clay with his defense, now he is as good an offensive player. It’s scary to see he’s so much better than he already was. We’re watching history — he’s on his way to surpassing Bjorn Borg as the best ever on clay, and he has a serious chance at the Grand Slam this year.

“As for Federer, the most common question I get asked is ‘What’s wrong with Roger?’ Well, until he loses early in a major you can’t ask. He has been in the last four Grand Slam finals and has an amazing streak of reaching at least the semis in 19 straight majors. So you can’t write him off. What he did Sunday was impressive; he played the right style — was aggressive and didn’t get into many long rallys. It’s the first time I’ve seen him adjust his game on clay versus Nadal. But the biggest factor was the altitude in Madrid, which helps a big server. He is capable of losing to a number of people and that streak is in jeopardy. Even though Nadal defeated Djokovic in the semis in Spain, in a best-of-five match he still has the best chance to upset the reigning four-time champ.”

http://www.nadalnews.com/2009/05/19/johnny-mac-lurves-rafa/#more-5341

Mcenroe is right, the question is how many sets will nadal lose at RG!

 

[Cyan]

That Fed can't beat Nadal 100% on clay.

Exactly. The 2 flukes of Fed vs Rafa on clay(Hamburg 2007, Madrid 2009) were when Rafa was dead tired at the end of the claycourt season.

 

[ksbh]

James ... if I may take the liberty to answer that question!

ChrisInJapan is a (ex?)-forum member fortunate enough to have a daughter that is so intelligent that at 6 years of age, she can analyze tennis styles to conclude that Federer is a better player than Nadal! ROFL X 100!

As to why he is infamous, I can only hazard a guess but perhaps because his outrageous claims about his daughter suggest that he does not have the intelligence of a 6 year old?! Of course, the little girl must be 7 by now

Who's ChrisInJapan? And why is he so infamous???

 

[MichaelChang]

James ... if I may take the liberty to answer that question!

ChrisInJapan is a (ex?)-forum member fortunate enough to have a daughter that is so intelligent that at 6 years of age, she can analyze tennis styles to conclude that Federer is a better player than Nadal! ROFL X 100!

As to why he is infamous, I can only hazard a guess but perhaps because his outrageous claims about his daughter suggest that he does not have the intelligence of a 6 year old?! Of course, the little girl must be 7 by now

Verbal attacks on other people's family, especially a little girl, is not gentlemen's behavior.

 

[vtmike]

That Fed can't beat Nadal 100% on clay.

That Nadal can't beat Fed 100% on hard & grass.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

That Nadal can't beat Fed 100% on hard & grass.

Nadal did it twice lately. Australian Open and Wimbledon.

 

[R_Federer]

Nadal did it twice lately. Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Who said Federer was 100% at last years Wimbledon? Remember mono? If you people use the same excuses for Nadal I dont see why we cant use the same for Federer.

As for Australian Open we can also use an excuse similar to Nadal of altitude...where we can say the courts are slow in Australian Open and the result would be different in a US Open match .