Nadal: nobody has had to retire with what I have

Crisstti

Legend
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2208011/Rafael-Nadal-interview-struggle-injury.html

Silly headline, but interesting otherwise.

Not sure it was posted already.

‘All that is in my mind is to keep working hard to come back,’ he says. ‘I cannot think about the future because it’s not like if you break your arm and you know you will have a few weeks like this, then a few weeks like that and then you are back. This is a day-by-day thing, I have checks every week to see how I’m improving. I can’t predict what will happen.’

‘I hope you see me in Australia,’ says Nadal, who is in the Spanish capital to promote his involvement with PokerStars. ‘That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar, but I cannot say for sure it is going to happen.

‘The only thing is to recover well. I want to be 100 per cent when I come back. I don’t want to keep playing every day with doubts, not knowing if my knee is going to answer all the questions.’

‘Was it a mistake to play at Wimbledon? Maybe, but when you are playing well it is hard to stop. At Roland Garros I had to play with anti-inflammatories to get through. After that I felt really bad. My practice before Wimbledon was terrible. I played the first round with injections, otherwise it would have been impossible. That doesn’t help the knee.
‘I’ve played a lot in pain before as other people have done. The problem is when you run and you are thinking about where you are planting your leg. It is impossible to compete like that.

‘For me the Olympics was very tough. I was very, very sad for three weeks around then. I had the chance to carry the Spanish flag. It only comes every four years. Missing the US Open was hard but you think you will have more chances.

‘The Olympics is once every four years and you don’t know how many more you will get. I will work very hard to be in Rio but it is in four years. I am 26-and-a-half, I love competition, playing tennis, and this was actually a season I enjoyed playing more than others. I have the motivation to come back and that’s what I’m going to try.’

‘You know I’ve said many times in press conferences that Andy would win a Grand Slam and now he has won. He deserves it more than anyone. I am very happy for him. The normal thing is that it will help him. When you are winning tournaments like this your confidence is higher, it is easier to repeat what you’ve done before. It’s good for tennis that he has come to the level that was expected.’

‘I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake with our game. You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements.
‘It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 per cent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before but there aren’t that many options.’
 

Clarky21

Banned
How does he know that for sure? Isn't it possible that the injury he has led to something worse that could cause an athlete to retire?


And yet again he's complaining about hardcourts while continuing to play needless exo$ on them. His credibility is shot about this subject,and quite frankly,I am sick of his constant harping about it.


Also,Basketball players DO play on a hard surface so I am not sure what version of basketball he has been watching at his compound in Mallorca.
 

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
maybe i'm naive but i choose to believe what he says.
it's either that or he's a total fraud.
i prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt.
 

Alexandros

Professional
That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar... Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 per cent sure it is wrong.

So he complains about hard courts, attributes his injuries to them and yet his first competitive match back he decides to play... on a hard court?
 

cknobman

Legend
Reporter: "When are you coming back Rafa?"

Nadal: "Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 per cent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before but there aren’t that many options."

Reporter: "Yes we get that, but when will you play next?"

Nadal: "Mubadala World Tennis Championships in December."

Reporter: "That surface is a hard court, no?"

Nadal: "Vamos!!"
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
I think if Nadal really was caught for doping, he should be banned from the ATP for 2 years and stripped of all of his titles. The same should apply for every other player.
 

Crisstti

Legend
So he complains about hard courts, attributes his injuries to them and yet his first competitive match back he decides to play... on a hard court?

Lol, what would you have him do?. Wait until the clay court season to come back?

You wish.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Because many people think he's a cheater and is doping. I'll reserve judgement but the talk of a silent ban is out there. I think he's been serving a ban and is using the knee excuse.

Only people like you. The losers of the world. Give me a credible name. Yannick Noah? LOL. Anyone who bases what they say on facts, obviously would never say it.

BTW, why is it that Rafa can't match Djokovic in a 5-setter? And why is it that Rafa can't match 31-year-old Federer in year-long durability? Rafa falls short in both aspects of physical strength.
 
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TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't hear any player who SUCKS on clay is complaining about the surface, and say having clay courts is wrong.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
LOL exactly what I was thinking!! what form of basketball was he watching???

No the question is what basketball have you been watching? Are you so dumb that you think they play basketball on concrete? The wood floors have plenty of give to them and have no resemblance whatsoever to a hard tennis court.GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
How many of you retards actually been on a good basketball court?

Wood is way softer and has way more flexibility to protect the player than concrete or asphalt with a thin layer of cover, how stupid you have to be to not know it?


I agree only on this site can you read some of this crap and say to yourself are these guys serious, all you can say is wow.
 

RF20Lennon

Legend
No the question is what basketball have you been watching? Are you so dumb that you think they play basketball on concrete? The wood floors have plenty of give to them and have no resemblance whatsoever to a hard tennis court.GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL someone's mad!!! And wood is still hard by the way and some basketball courts are concrete!
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
LOL someone's mad!!! And wood is still hard by the way and some basketball courts are concrete!

Basketball is an indoor sport at the professional level. Even at the junior level it is indoor. The only people who play on concrete are people who are just playing with their friends at school or something.

No professional player attends training on a concrete court. And no professional team plays on a concrete court. And wood is nothing like concrete. Wood is a forgiving surface that doesn't tire you out compared to concrete. When I play basketball on wood it feels closer to playing tennis on clay or grass than hardcourt.
 

RF20Lennon

Legend
Basketball is an indoor sport at the professional level. Even at the junior level it is indoor. The only people who play on concrete are people who are just playing with their friends at school or something.

No professional player attends training on a concrete court. And no professional team plays on a concrete court. And wood is nothing like concrete. Wood is a forgiving surface that doesn't tire you out compared to concrete. When I play basketball on wood it feels closer to playing tennis on clay or grass than hardcourt.

I will try to arrange with the Director of the Aussie to change it to wood!! Would Rafa prefer polished or rough???
 

Murrayfan31

Hall of Fame
I cringe with every Nadal interview. Especially when he mentions hard courts as being negative.
The fool got injured at the end of the clay season both times.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Nadal is such a moron. He complains endlessly about hard courts but does nothing to adjust his style of play to it.

If Rafa changed his game he would damage his chances at Roland Garros. And nothing is more important than Roland Garros. And he can't just change his game for 2 months per year, it would be all or nothing.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
If the "concrete" hardcourts are so ridiculous how come Roger hasn't been crippled by them?

Completely different DNA. Federer has ballerina *pukes* feet, Rafa is more flat-footed. Plus Rafa is prone to knee tendinitis. Federer is not (but Federer is prone to back problems).
 

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
If Rafa changed his game he would damage his chances at Roland Garros. And nothing is more important than Roland Garros. And he can't just change his game for 2 months per year, it would be all or nothing.

So that's Nadal's fault that he builds his entire game around 2 months of the calendar. He hasn't won a non-clay title in more than 2 years now.
 

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
Completely different DNA. Federer has ballerina *pukes* feet, Rafa is more flat-footed. Plus Rafa is prone to knee tendinitis. Federer is not (but Federer is prone to back problems).

So Federer is a superior athlete, is he supposed to apologize for that? My god, what am I dealing with in this forum?:confused:
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
So that's Nadal's fault that he builds his entire game around 2 months of the calendar. He hasn't won a non-clay title in more than 2 years now.

Are you saying that's a bad thing? Clay means more to Rafa than any other surface. If he lost Roland Garros it would be like death. Losing at the other slams is minimal.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
So Federer is a superior athlete, is he supposed to apologize for that? My god, what am I dealing with in this forum?:confused:

Where did you get the word "apologize" from? Not sure what your point is. It's simple: Nadal struggles on hardcourts. Federer doesn't.
 

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
Are you saying that's a bad thing? Clay means more to Rafa than any other surface. If he lost Roland Garros it would be like death. Losing at the other slams is minimal.

Because it means more for Nadal's legacy to win another AO/USO then another RG at this point. Far more, but he knows he's incapable.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Because it means more for Nadal's legacy to win another AO/USO then another RG at this point. Far more, but he knows he's incapable.

Nah, you are 100% wrong. Losing at Roland Garros is DEATH. You saw 2009. Nothing is even close to losing at Roland Garros. Nadal already won the Career Grand Slam (the 2nd youngest player ever to do it). Legacy is complete.
 

namelessone

Legend
I cringe with every Nadal interview. Especially when he mentions hard courts as being negative.
The fool got injured at the end of the clay season both times.

Nope, that's when he broke down, that's not when the pain came back.

Both in 2009 and 2012 his problems started reappearing in the HC season before April. Nadal has physical problems in Rotterdam 09, in 2012 he started feeling pain since IW and even in 2010(a great year for him) he had knee problems in Miami.

On clay, he can go on painkillers and last longer because of the cushion of the surface, even if points are longer(though to be honest, today points are almost as long on HC as well). Even when Nadal is reasonably healthy, his knee problems always come back during hc season, especially when overplaying.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Nope, that's when he broke down, that's not when the pain came back.

Both in 2009 and 2012 his problems started reappearing in the HC season before April. Nadal has physical problems in Rotterdam 09, in 2012 he started feeling pain since IW and even in 2010(a great year for him) he had knee problems in Miami.

On clay, he can go on painkillers and last longer because of the cushion of the surface, even if points are longer(though to be honest, today points are almost as long on HC as well). Even when Nadal is reasonably healthy, his knee problems always come back during hc season, especially when overplaying.

The truest post on Talk Tennis.
 

SQA333

Hall of Fame
Not gonna enjoy this year's World Tour Finals as much anymore... can't relish seeing Nadal get hammered on an indoor hard court. :(
 

Vcore89

Talk Tennis Guru
Rafa has had enough at the WTF, smart move to elude the tournament he can't win. AO is conquerable but I doubt he can win it this time. Either Murray or Djokovic wins this. Rafa however, wins another an eighth RG.
 

RF20Lennon

Legend
Not gonna enjoy this year's World Tour Finals as much anymore... can't relish seeing Nadal get hammered on an indoor hard court. :(

He's not going to be playing lol. But if someone just sped up the damn courts!! He wouldnt be running as much and therefore we wouldnt have players getting injured like this. But NO! the ATP will do anything to watch 15 hour matches on a surface that is not meant to slide on and we have injuries like this. SPEED UP THE DAMN COURTS!!!
 

ruerooo

Legend
So he complains about hard courts, attributes his injuries to them and yet his first competitive match back he decides to play... on a hard court?

Why do I get the feeling you'd be the type who'd complain if he tried to get the tournament moved to a claycourt (which isn't something Rafa would ever do, but the way TT posters flail ... :roll: ) ?
 

ruerooo

Legend
Not gonna enjoy this year's World Tour Finals as much anymore... can't relish seeing Nadal get hammered on an indoor hard court. :(

If he's not coming back till that end of December exho, then he's not going to be playing at WTF.
 

Vcore89

Talk Tennis Guru
He's not going to be playing lol. But if someone just sped up the damn courts!! He wouldnt be running as much and therefore we wouldnt have players getting injured like this. But NO! the ATP will do anything to watch 15 hour matches on a surface that is not meant to slide on and we have injuries like this. SPEED UP THE DAMN COURTS!!!

Just add one more grand slam to make it 5. However, make it the fastest of courts. Make them play on ice!:cool:
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
and i must agree with Nadal. all the others had to retire with whatever they had and not with Nadal has...


jebesus... is that guy stupid or what?
 

sbengte

G.O.A.T.
And yet again he's complaining about hardcourts while continuing to play needless exo$ on them. His credibility is shot about this subject,and quite frankly,I am sick of his constant harping about it.

Also,Basketball players DO play on a hard surface so I am not sure what version of basketball he has been watching at his compound in Mallorca.

Made me LOL, I have been missing your posts, Clarky :)
 

Alexandros

Professional
Lol, what would you have him do?. Wait until the clay court season to come back?

You wish.

I would have him shut up and play if he is going to play on hard courts or if he is going to complain about them then yes, put his money where his mouth is and only play on clay if it bothers him so much. He would be a one man boycott, because I doubt any of his peers would follow suit.
 

Crisstti

Legend
I would have him shut up and play if he is going to play on hard courts or if he is going to complain about them then yes, put his money where his mouth is and only play on clay if it bothers him so much. He would be a one man boycott, because I doubt any of his peers would follow suit.

Nonsense. There are two slams and many masters on hard courts, he can't control that nor replace those tournaments with clay or grass ones, so he has every right to say what he thinks of hard court and still play on them. If you don't like it, tough luck.

I don't hear any player who SUCKS on clay is complaining about the surface, and say having clay courts is wrong.

He's complaining about the surface being bad for player's health. He's not complaining that it doesn't suit his game.

So Federer is a superior athlete, is he supposed to apologize for that? My god, what am I dealing with in this forum?:confused:

He's less injury prone, and no one said anything about apologizing.

Because it means more for Nadal's legacy to win another AO/USO then another RG at this point. Far more, but he knows he's incapable.
 

vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
and i must agree with Nadal. all the others had to retire with whatever they had and not with Nadal has...


jebesus... is that guy stupid or what?
but think again on it... you never had to retire from the TV because of the 'game' that the nadal has ? ;)
(ok ok... you're right: not definitely ! there still was inspector columbo on the other channel...)
 

Alexandros

Professional
Nonsense. There are two slams and many masters on hard courts, he can't control that nor replace those tournaments with clay or grass ones, so he has every right to say what he thinks of hard court and still play on them. If you don't like it, tough luck.

And I have every right to comment and criticise what he says, if you don't like it, tough luck.
 

cknobman

Legend
Here is what this boils down to really:

Thousands of professional tennis players have played on hardcourts over the years and their careers have been just fine.

Hard courts are the toughest on the body and today they make up more of the tour than any other surface.

Players have expressed the desire to play FEWER hardcourt tournaments.

Nadal is the only one expressing the desire to REMOVE hardourts from the tour and trying to pass his opinion that they are bad for the sport as a fact.

Nadal is taking his own personal issues/feelings and trying to project them onto the entire tour.

Nadal then proceeds to conflict with his own desires/opinions by making his first matches back from injury (supposedly caused by hardcourts) at an exhibition match (note this is entirely his own choice to play) which will be played on a hardcourt (the very surface he says needs to be removed from the game). Keep in mind that as an exhibition match Nadal does not need or have to play it and furthermore he could choose to play an exhibition match anywhere on Earth on any surface he wishes but instead he is choosing to play on a hardcourt.

So you see where the lack of respect for his statements comes from, dont you?
 
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namelessone

Legend
Here is what this boils down to really:

Thousands of professional tennis players have played on hardcourts over the years and their careers have been just fine.

Hard courts are the toughest on the body and today they make up more of the tour than any other surface.

Players have expressed the desire to play FEWER hardcourt tournaments.

Nadal is the only one expressing the desire to REMOVE hardourts from the tour and trying to pass his opinion that they are bad for the sport as a fact.

Nadal is taking his own personal issues/feelings and trying to project them onto the entire tour.

Nadal then proceeds to conflict with his own desires/opinions by making his first matches back from injury (supposedly caused by hardcourts) at an exhibition match (note this is entirely his own choice to play) which will be played on a hardcourt (the very surface he says needs to be removed from the game). Keep in mind that as an exhibition match Nadal does not need or have to play it and furthermore he could choose to play an exhibition match anywhere on Earth on any surface he wishes but instead he is choosing to play on a hardcourt.

So you see where the lack of respect for his statements comes from, dont you?

If Nadal's body is ready to go by say, mid December, where exactly do you want him to make his comeback? Hell,from Toronto(mid August) till February 4th 2013 there are nothing but HC events(last clay event this year was on 22 July in Kitzbuhel) until Movistar Open 2013 in Santiago. Barring a clay tie with Spain Nadal could only come back on HC until the southamerican clay swing of next year. The tour is 65% HC people, there is no escaping it and people are accusing Nadal of coming back to HC when in fact two thirds of the time you will be stepping on concrete when you want to play a tennis match.

Point is, if he wants to play in AO he has to come back to on HC and looking at the calendar, from August 2012 - February 2013 he has ONLY hc events in sight.

Can you please give me a link where Nadal says he wants ALL hardcourt events to go away from the tour? Every Nadal statement I've heard is about having FEWER hardcourt events. He usually just says that they are bad for the bodies of the players but I've never heard him say eliminate them all from the tour.
 

cknobman

Legend
If Nadal's body is ready to go by say, mid December, where exactly do you want him to make his comeback? Hell,from Toronto(mid August) till February 4th 2013 there are nothing but HC events(last clay event this year was on 22 July in Kitzbuhel) until Movistar Open 2013 in Santiago. Barring a clay tie with Spain Nadal could only come back on HC until the southamerican clay swing of next year. The tour is 65% HC people, there is no escaping it and people are accusing Nadal of coming back to HC when in fact two thirds of the time you will be stepping on concrete when you want to play a tennis match.

Point is, if he wants to play in AO he has to come back to on HC and looking at the calendar, from August 2012 - February 2013 he has ONLY hc events in sight.

Can you please give me a link where Nadal says he wants ALL hardcourt events to go away from the tour? Every Nadal statement I've heard is about having FEWER hardcourt events. He usually just says that they are bad for the bodies of the players but I've never heard him say eliminate them all from the tour.

First: Nadal could organize an exhibition match on clay practically anywhere in the world (how bout Spain for starters), I mean hes already playing an non tour exhibition match already isnt he? Why not organize his own on a surface that wont hurt his knees?

Second: This is the quote I am referring to:
"I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake "with our game," Nadal said. “You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements. It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 percent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren’t that many options." source: http://www.tennis.com/news/2012/09/rafa-more-hard-courts-100-percent-wrong/39557/#.UGynu03A85w

That quote does not explicitly say he wants fewer hard courts nor does it explicitly say he wants them eliminated but read it and tell me what impression your left with?
 
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