Nadal Faces Tricky Road In Indian Wells

3fees

3fees

G.O.A.T.
There is no easy road to the BNP Paribas Open title, and this year, Rafael Nadal’s title defence may arguably be trickier than ever before. For the first time in Indian Wells, the top-seeded Spaniard may have to defeat Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in succession to claim the crown.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/03/10/Indian-Wells-Draw-Preview-Nadal-Federer.aspx

The wear and tear of playing these pros is the issue. No cakewalk to the checkered flag.

Cheers
3Fees :)
 
NatF said:
Nadal, Federer and Murray have tricky roads...Djokovic has an easy one.
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And as we have seen in the past, having an easy road doesn't mean title.
Djokovic had a relatively easy path in AO but didn't help much.

I like the chances for someone in the Nadal-Fed half to lift the trophy.
 
urundai said:
And as we have seen in the past, having an easy road doesn't mean title.
Djokovic had a relatively easy path in AO but didn't help much.

I like the chances for someone in the Nadal-Fed half to lift the trophy.
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Hopefully it's Fed >:)

But I'd be happy for Murray/Wawrinka or a complete underdog to win it. Wouldn't mind if Djokovic got it either, he needs good win.
 
NatF said:
Hopefully it's Fed >:)

But I'd be happy for Murray/Wawrinka or a complete underdog to win it. Wouldn't mind if Djokovic got it either, he needs good win.
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Federer, Murray, Wawrinka, Djokovic... And why not Nadal? :(
 
NatF said:
Surely you know the answer to that...I'm not a fan of Nadal :lol:

I in fact as a rule root against him :twisted:
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Hahaha I understand. It's kinda really hard to like the biggest rival of your favourite player.
I mean even I didn't like it when Fed got crushed in straight sets at AO. I was of course rooting for Nadal. But I guess the Fed fan in me didn't like seeing him get beat like that. Not even from Nadal. 4 sets would have been nicer.
 
Backspin1183 said:
On topic, if Nadal's really playing good, I like his chances even against Murray, Federer and Djokovic.
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Was he ever able to beat even two of them in the same tournament let alone all three? Usually Nadal wins because he has a clown draw all the way to semi or even a final.
 
Backspin1183 said:
Hahaha I understand. It's kinda really hard to like the biggest rival of your favourite player.
I mean even I didn't like it when Fed got crushed in straight sets at AO. I was of course rooting for Nadal. But I guess the Fed fan in me didn't like seeing him get beat like that. Not even from Nadal. 4 sets would have been nicer.
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I don't really think you're a Fed at all...lol

Don't get me wrong I'm glad Nadal is around, it makes the draw more exciting as I get to root against him. It's good to have a villain (for me personally not for anything to do with his character). Having said that I think a big reason I don't like him is because I find some of his fans annoying. It's probably the same with most of the fan bases, the flame wars colour their opinions of the players.

As for the AO 14, it would have been nice if Federer played up to his level but at the same time I'm just happy with the last 4 finish. Hopefully he can build his confidence up and maybe get a win over Rafa at Wimbledon or the USO (I can dream).
 
dudeski said:
Was he ever able to beat even two of them in the same tournament let alone all three? Usually Nadal wins because he has a clown draw all the way to semi or even a final.
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No, he has never been able to defeat even two of them in the same tournament.
I hope this makes you happy.

Let's forget about the ones where he actually did.
 
dudeski said:
Name one?
10clowndraws
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Ok I found one. 2011 FO Nadal beat Murray who had ankle injury and who sucks on clay and old man Federer. I guess that's the hardest draw Nadal ever had. Injured Murray followed by old Federer both on their worst surfaces.
 
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NatF said:
I don't really think you're a Fed at all...lol

Don't get me wrong I'm glad Nadal is around, it makes the draw more exciting as I get to root against him. It's good to have a villain (for me personally not for anything to do with his character). Having said that I think a big reason I don't like him is because I find some of his fans annoying. It's probably the same with most of the fan bases, the flame wars colour their opinions of the players.

As for the AO 14, it would have been nice if Federer played up to his level but at the same time I'm just happy with the last 4 finish. Hopefully he can build his confidence up and maybe get a win over Rafa at Wimbledon or the USO (I can dream).
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I am ;) but I think I started liking him less since I joined this forum. Most probably to do with his fanboys because I am and will always be a bigger fan of Nadal.
I don't know about you but I don't enjoy seeing great champs fall. This is why I don't understand why certain fanbases can love it when Nadal gets humiliated in a match. Because he's really much better than that.

Whenever Federer is playing well, I still see him as threat to Nadal despite 23-10. But I'm glad Nadal is almost always able to bring his best against Roger. I think Roger brings out the best in Nadal. But Nadal can bring out the worst in Federer.

Federer is still capable of winning a slam or two more. I wouldn't mind if it happens. I just hope Nadal can win a few more too.
 
Backspin1183 said:
I couldn't care less about proving you wrong. You're a huge Nadal hater and will never have one good thing to say about him.
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I have one good thing to say about Nadal. Two actually. One, he is by far clay GOAT. Two, he is by far the most consistent and dedicated to picking his butt player ever!
 
Backspin1183 said:
I am ;) but I think I started liking him less since I joined this forum. Most probably to do with his fanboys because I am and will always be a bigger fan of Nadal.
I don't know about you but I don't enjoy seeing great champs fall. This is why I don't understand why certain fanbases can love it when Nadal gets humiliated in a match. Because he's really much better than that.

Whenever Federer is playing well, I still see him as threat to Nadal despite 23-10. But I'm glad Nadal is almost always able to bring his best against Roger. I think Roger brings out the best in Nadal. But Nadal can bring out the worst in Federer.

Federer is still capable of winning a slam or two more. I wouldn't mind if it happens. I just hope Nadal can win a few more too.
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I was never a fan of Nadal - but I didn't actively dislike him until the last few years. I won't pretend it's because of his fans, but they do make it easier.

Define humilated? I though the Rosol match was pretty epic, by all accounts it was an exciting match. Like the Stakhovsky match with Federer the year later. I'd rather see one of my favorites take out Nadal then a bum though. Hopefully in an epic encounter. But in the absence of those players in the draw I'm forced to side with the little guys ;)

I hope Federer wins Wimbledon for the 8th time. I'd be happy if Nadal won a few more slams but Federer also got one or two as well.
 
NatF said:
I was never a fan of Nadal - but I didn't actively dislike him until the last few years. I won't pretend it's because of his fans, but they do make it easier.

Define humilated? I though the Rosol match was pretty epic, by all accounts it was an exciting match. Like the Stakhovsky match with Federer the year later. I'd rather see one of my favorites take out Nadal then a bum though. Hopefully in an epic encounter. But in the absence of those players in the draw I'm forced to side with the little guys ;)

I hope Federer wins Wimbledon for the 8th time. I'd be happy if Nadal won a few more slams but Federer also got one or two as well.
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The Rosol match was good. Rosol was just too good for him especially in the 5th set.

The match against Steve Darcis was really bad. Nadal had never lost in Rd1 of a slam before. But more than the loss, I was disappointed with Nadal because he just didn't show much fight in the match. It was like ok Steve's playing good, I think I'll go home fishing in the mediterranean. There's no shame in losing. Not trying enough is disappointing. But for me that was the only match where I was disappointed with him. I'm proud of him, much more than I am of my other favourite sports stars.
 
Backspin1183 said:
The Rosol match was good. Rosol was just too good for him especially in the 5th set.

The match against Steve Darcis was really bad. Nadal had never lost in Rd1 of a slam before. But more than the loss, I was disappointed with Nadal because he just didn't show much fight in the match. It was like ok Steve's playing good, I think I'll go home fishing in the mediterranean. There's no shame in losing. Not trying enough is disappointing. But for me that was the only match where I was disappointed with him. I'm proud of him, much more than I am of my other favourite sports stars.
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Yeah, Rosol was a monster in that fifth set. Fearless tennis.

Agreed about Darcis, that was bad from Nadal. He wasn't prepared to go the extra mile. I expect he'll be determined this year though.

As much as I loved Federer's glory years there's something compelling about watching a champion in decline with the same desire to compete as always. I still quite enjoy this chapter of Federer's career, although 2013 was no picnic. I love watching the older guys like Federer, Hewitt etc...trying to out play the younger guns.
 
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