Nadal plays non mandatory event, complains about schedule

[Li Ching Yuen]

Let's say that the average player with average conditioning has to play 20 tourney a year.

That makes it about 25-26 full weeks of he should win all of those which is of course impossible. How many weeks does the year have round?

HELLO?

If you're intelligent enough you can make a very flexible schedule for yourself as a pro tennis player.
Sure, there are some idiotic dates set up for some tourneys, like Madrid or Hamburg or Monte Carlo etc...

But even with that, there's still no room for complaining imo...

Does anyone else see some irony in all this?

 

[OrangeOne]

In fact, my new point stands and then some. If Nadal was unbeaten on clay for 2 or 3 years, is there really something wrong with the schedule?

 

[Leonidas]

See my edited post above, you replied while i was making a significant edit.

you mean your point on peaking for a single time? Listen , I studied sport science, and you´re probably right. Anyways, I´m sure if you ask any clay courter, they´d say they prefer 2 tournaments every 3 months spread all over the season, since they were raised on clay and they can adapt to it easily. They would prefer it over 2 months non-stop playing on clay, you can bet on that

 

[OrangeOne]

Let's say that the average player with average conditioning has to play 20 tourney a year.

That makes it about 25-26 full weeks of he should win all of those which is of course impossible. How many weeks does the year have round?

HELLO?

If you're intelligent enough you can make a very flexible schedule for yourself as a pro tennis player.

I don't often agree with your posts, but I couldn't agree more with this post. Also, these guys (the top guys who do most of the complaining) are earning millions. Time to man-up, most people work 48-50 weeks a year and get paid 1-5% (or much less) of what the top pros earn.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

CMM, that's not very nice...

 

[OrangeOne]

you mean your point on peaking for a single time? Listen , I studied sport science, and you´re probably right. Anyways, I´m sure if you ask any clay courter, they´d say the prefer 2-3 tournaments spread all over the season, since they were raised on clay and they can adapat to it easily. They would prefer it over 2 months non-stop playing on clay, you can bet on that

I also meant my point that Nadal has succeeded ludicrously with such a schedule in the past, for multiple years in fact.

But thanks for your considered and thoughtful reply, it's somewhat rare on here.

 

[CMM]

CMM, that's not very nice...

That's the truth.

 

[Leonidas]

I also meant my point that Nadal has succeeded ludicrously with such a schedule in the past, for multiple years in fact.

But thanks for your considered and thoughtful reply, it's somewhat rare on here.

It´s always a pleasure to discuss with people who have knowledge and state facts. We can agree or not, but it´s always good. unfortunately, there are too many trolls on this boards

 

[reversef]

In fact, my new point stands and then some. If Nadal was unbeaten on clay for 2 or 3 years, is there really something wrong with the schedule?

yes, there is still something wrong with the calender. He has had problems every year actually. 2005 and 2006: he couldn't play Hamburg. 2007: He loses the last set 6-0 at Hamburg (6-0, in which physical state was he for such a score?) 2008: he loses at the second round at Rome (he still had the blisters from the previous tournament) 2009: he should have withdrawn from Madrid, he didn't want to and we saw the result. 2010: already one sacrifice with Barcelona. What next?

 

[OrangeOne]

yes, there is still something wrong with the calender. He has had problems every year actually. 2005 and 2006: he couldn't play Hamburg. 2007: He loses the last set 6-0 at Hamburg (6-0, in which physical state was he for such a score?) 2008: he loses at the second round at Rome (he still had the blisters from the previous tournament) 2009: he should have withdrawn from Madrid, he didn't want to and we saw the result. 2010: already one sacrifice with Barcelona. What next?

Yes, that's right, because the players who are huge in the hardcourt swings never miss a tournament there, do they? And those who grind for a living never think maybe they should shorten some points? And those who shorten points don't sometimes lose unexpectedly because of the high-risk games they employ?

Schedules aren't designed around one player, nor are they designed around someone who wins every tournament. By definition, half of the players lose in the first round, 75% lose in the first 2 rounds, leaving those players plenty of time to recover for next week's tournament!

I honestly can't believe a Nadal fan is complaining about schedules in 2005 & 2006, Nadal was forced to miss a tournament? Probably the very reason he ended up wiith the streak he did!

 

[nfor304]

NO man, the tour is bad structured because, even if he skips barcelona, he has to play at least every two weeks (Montecarlo, rome , madrid and FO) and then grass season without much rest. I don´t care if Montecarlo is not mandatory, there are 1000 points at stake and Rafa is a clay court specialist so should be able to play it, right?Those are all Masters 1000, so he should be able to play all the Masters 1000 on his best surface. For example, If you´re a hard courter,you have IW, Miami, a few moths later you have Canada open, then cincy, a few months later Shangai, Paris. There are many more HC masters series and you can play all of them rested since they are not in a row, do you understand now? The calendar is made by americans and it favours Hard courters, if One doesn´t see that it means he´s blind

Where did I say the calender is well structured?

I certainly dont think its perfect, but its definitely not as bad as Nadal makes it out to be. As if its the schedule that destroys his knees and nothing else.

Yes Monte Carlo is not mandatory but is still a masters. The reason they made it non mandatory is to lighten the schedule for the players and lessen the number of mandatory events. If Rafa wants to play and gain some points then good for him, but why play it and then say the schedule is too crowded when he could have easily chosen not to play at all, let alone try and play another non mandatory event a week later?

Federer would have been second favorite to win that tournament had he played, but he chose not to. He is easily the second best clay courter of the past 5 years, yet he didn't chase the points in Monte Carlo.

Just because a player prefers a certain surface doesn't mean they have to play ALL of the tournaments they can on that surface. I have never seen Federer show up at the Newport tournament post Wimbledon because he likes to play on grass.

The schedule all comes down to choices, and a players choices can make the tour pretty hard or pretty good. Rafa makes extremely poor choices.

Also how incredibly unreasonable it is for a professional tennis player to have to play a tournament every two weeks right in the very middle of the season. Those ATP schedulers are slave drivers!

What does Rafa even want from the tour? They make one of the mandatory events non mandatory, a move to try and appease players like him who constantly criticize the schedule, and he just plays it anyway, and then complains about it. It seems the ATP cant win.

 

[Rhino]

NO man, the tour is bad structured because, even if he skips barcelona, he has to play at least every two weeks (Montecarlo, rome , madrid and FO) and then grass season without much rest.

So what if he has to play every two weeks for a couple of months, he's supposed to be a professional athlete and he's paid millions to do it.

 

[TennezSport]

Major Point Here...........

Schedules aren't designed around one player, nor are they designed around someone who wins every tournament. By definition, half of the players lose in the first round, 75% lose in the first 2 rounds, leaving those players plenty of time to recover for next week's tournament!

This is a major point that fans often forget. There are 1000 top ranked players trying to make a living in the profession, but even the lowest ranked players are responsible for their own health in order to perform on tour. Rafa is a multi millionaire who built his career foundation on his favorite surface and most of his points come from those tournys. Rafa has chronic tendonitis in both knees, so if you know that this is your bread and butter, why not cut back on other tournys and give your body a rest???

It's called chasing Federer and it will end Rafa career if he does not let it go. He is a CCS that has adapted his game for success on other surfaces, but at a high cost. Either he gets better at scheduling or he retires early, simple as that. Blaming the schedule makes it harder for lower ranked players who need the events and make Rafa look like a spoiled millionaire.

Cheers, TennezSport

 

[Deleted member 21996]

All i know is that Nadal keeps with the same BS on and on about the bad scheduling but i am yet to ear a word from him on the following:

1 - why he plays non mandatory and doubles?

2 - what are his sugestions for re-scheduling

 

[drakulie]

Dear Rafa,

I recently read where you complained about the ATP scheduling being unfair and it being partly to blame for your injuries/health. I believe I may be able to help alleviate the stress of the schedule for you.

Stop playing exos, and doubles.
THE END.
Sincerely,

Drakulie

 

[Leonidas]

Dear Rafa,

I recently read where you complained about the ATP scheduling being unfair and it being partly to blame for your injuries/health. I believe I may be able to help alleviate the stress of the schedule for you.

Stop playing exos, and doubles.
THE END.
Sincerely,

Drakulie

Plus, be selfish as Federer and don´t play davis cup either.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Plus, be selfish as Federer and don´t play davis cup either.

it's not about federer ! stick to the topic... thank you!

 

[drakulie]

Plus, be selfish as Federer and don´t play davis cup either.

No, Nadal always has the option of retiring from the tour and getting a real job like the rest of us, if he feels playing tennis is too demanding, and scheduling is unfair. Let's see how he feels when he is working 50-70 hour weeks for garbage pay, has NO TIME OFF, and has to feed himself and a family.

 

[OrangeOne]

No, Nadal always has the option of retiring from the tour and getting a real job like the rest of us, if he feels playing tennis is too demanding, and scheduling is unfair. Let's see how he feels when he is working 50-70 hour weeks for garbage pay, has NO TIME OFF, and has to feed himself and a family.

Agreed...to quote....well, me ... from earlier in the thread....

these guys (the top guys who do most of the complaining) are earning millions. Time to man-up, most people work 48-50 weeks a year and get paid 1-5% (or much less) of what the top pros earn.

 

[CMM]

The shame is not his schedule, but the calender. Think that we have one of the greatest clay court players of all time, if not the greatest one, and he only has 5 clay court tournaments a year in his schedule. Even those 5 are too much because of the calender. I would like to know what all those hard-court players would say if they had to play their best tournaments in such conditions.
Do you really think that playing 5 tournaments a year on clay (Roland-Garros, the 3 Masters Series played on the surface and his home tournament) is a lot for a player like him? Certainly not.
The reality is that the calender is done to kill the european clay-court season. I blame the Americans and only them: "Let's get rid of all those tournaments on clay, it's expansive and our players suck on the surface" must be their hymn.

You are right.

 

[reversef]

What does Rafa even want from the tour? They make one of the mandatory events non mandatory, a move to try and appease players like him who constantly criticize the schedule, and he just plays it anyway, and then complains about it. It seems the ATP cant win.

Why is Monte Carlo THE non mandatory MS? If you can't understand that Nadal prefers to play Monte-Carlo than Bercy or Cincinnati or Shanghai, I don't know what to say. But of course, those tournaments are mandatory.
He's a guy who plays all year on his worst surface. He tries to play 5 tournaments a year on his favourite one. Is it much for you? I don't see him playing the south-american clay-court season, he doesn't play on clay after Wimbledon, something he could do. He just wants to play the 3 Masters Series and his home tournament. I think that if ONLY this is too much, it just prooves something: the calender is unfair for the european clay-court season.

 

[CMM]

It's called chasing Federer and it will end Rafa career if he does not let it go.

I agree. That evil topspin monkey should stop chasing the GOAT!

 

[drakulie]

Agreed...to quote....well, me ... from earlier in the thread....

Exactly.

I mean, I love watching nadal and the other pros. They are not only amazing athletes, but entertainers as well, so I suppose they are paid accordingly. However, he needs to either "man-up" and shut up, or retire. He has no one to blame for his scheduling, and always has the option of skipping tournaments. I'm sure the penalty and/or dollar amount he would be fined, he could more than afford.

It's those other thousand guys (who are not in the top 50), the ones who really make the ATP possible, and as a result, rafa a millionaire, who can't afford the schedule to be trimmed.

 

[CMM]

I mean, I love watching nadal

We know you do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jUGufaJek

 

[reversef]

Yes, that's right, because the players who are huge in the hardcourt swings never miss a tournament there, do they? And those who grind for a living never think maybe they should shorten some points? And those who shorten points don't sometimes lose unexpectedly because of the high-risk games they employ?

Schedules aren't designed around one player, nor are they designed around someone who wins every tournament. By definition, half of the players lose in the first round, 75% lose in the first 2 rounds, leaving those players plenty of time to recover for next week's tournament!

I honestly can't believe a Nadal fan is complaining about schedules in 2005 & 2006, Nadal was forced to miss a tournament? Probably the very reason he ended up wiith the streak he did!

Shedules are designed or should be designed to enable the players to do their best. It's very selfish to think about the big names when so many players struggle, I agree. But we all know that the big names are the ones who bring money. The schedule should enable them to compete in the big tournaments.

Saying "because the players who are huge in the hardcourt swings never miss a tournament there, do they?" is a summit of hypocrisy. Don't you see how many tournaments are played on HC? Players who shine on the surface have the whole year except this time of the year (from the beginning of april till the beginning of july: 3 months. And still, in those 3 months, there are 2 different surfaces.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

CMM, he is a top 8 player with a nice sponsorship

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

yes, there is still something wrong with the calender. He has had problems every year actually. 2005 and 2006: he couldn't play Hamburg. 2007: He loses the last set 6-0 at Hamburg (6-0, in which physical state was he for such a score?) 2008: he loses at the second round at Rome (he still had the blisters from the previous tournament) 2009: he should have withdrawn from Madrid, he didn't want to and we saw the result. 2010: already one sacrifice with Barcelona. What next?

Perfect Schedule for Nadal apparently

AO - Green Clay as per Cesc Fabregas
IW/Miami non mandatory
MC
-2-3 weeks off, depending on how King Rafa feels-
Barcelona (also make Barcelona MS 1000)
-Another 2-3 Weeks off-
Rome
-2-3 Weeks off
Madrid
-2 weeks off
RG
-End Season-

Is that right?

 

[reversef]

Perfect Schedule for Nadal apparently

AO - Green Clay as per Cesc Fabregas
IW/Miami non mandatory
MC
-2-3 weeks off, depending on how King Rafa feels-
Barcelona (also make Barcelona MS 1000)
-Another 2-3 Weeks off-
Rome
-2-3 Weeks off
Madrid
-2 weeks off
RG
-End Season-

Is that right?

No, just 2 more weeks for the clay season would be ok. There would be some air to breathe? And it would just be normal. Tell me which other part of the season is so compact? NONE.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

No, just 2 more weeks for the clay season would be ok. There would be some air to breathe? And it would just be normal. Tell me which other part of the season is so compact? NONE.

The US HC summer swing - Atlanta, then LA which are 250s, DC which is a 500, w/ 2 MS in Canada and Cincy back to back. Then only 1 week off before the US Open. I'm not disagreeing that the schedule is bad, but clay isn't the only part of the season that's not right. Guys basically get only 1 week to prepare for Wimbledon, that's a bigger problem than the clay season IMO.

 

[reversef]

The US HC summer swing - Atlanta, then LA which are 250s, DC which is a 500, w/ 2 MS in Canada and Cincy back to back. Then only 1 week off before the US Open. I'm not disagreeing that the schedule is bad, but clay isn't the only part of the season that's not right. Guys basically get only 1 week to prepare for Wimbledon, that's a bigger problem than the clay season IMO.

I only see 2 MS, not 3.
The grass season gets an even worse treatment than the clay season, I think we all agree about that. It's still the same part of the year. From Miami to Wimbledon, it's just terrible.

 

[TennezSport]

Relax......

No, Nadal always has the option of retiring from the tour and getting a real job like the rest of us, if he feels playing tennis is too demanding, and scheduling is unfair. Let's see how he feels when he is working 50-70 hour weeks for garbage pay, has NO TIME OFF, and has to feed himself and a family.

Relax Drak,

Rafa is just misunderstood and well past that option with well over 28.5M in the bank with the family owning several hotels, resturants and travel agencies in Mallorca with loads of amenties. Rafa is just the sweet rich kid who is used to getting what he wants, except a good tour schedule :twisted:

Cheers, TennezSport

 

[~ZoSo~]

Exactly.

I mean, I love watching nadal and the other pros. They are not only amazing athletes, but entertainers as well, so I suppose they are paid accordingly. However, he needs to either "man-up" and shut up, or retire. He has no one to blame for his scheduling, and always has the option of skipping tournaments. I'm sure the penalty and/or dollar amount he would be fined, he could more than afford.

It's those other thousand guys (who are not in the top 50), the ones who really make the ATP possible, and as a result, rafa a millionaire, who can't afford the schedule to be trimmed.

Fair point but he isnt the only current player to complain about some aspect of the game, despite it having made him enormously wealthy

 

[TheLoneWolf]

Exactly.

I mean, I love watching nadal and the other pros. They are not only amazing athletes, but entertainers as well, so I suppose they are paid accordingly. However, he needs to either "man-up" and shut up, or retire. He has no one to blame for his scheduling, and always has the option of skipping tournaments. I'm sure the penalty and/or dollar amount he would be fined, he could more than afford.

It's those other thousand guys (who are not in the top 50), the ones who really make the ATP possible, and as a result, rafa a millionaire, who can't afford the schedule to be trimmed.

Sorry, but this is just a bunch of left wing commie bologna. If that were true, then nobody would be entitled to complaining, because there is always someone who has it worse than they do. People complain about catching colds all the time, even as there are people fighting for their life, or afflicted with terminal diseases everywhere.

Nadal doesn't know how to pace himself, yes (hopefully he will learn.) But the scheduling sucks, and that is a fact. Let's not forget also that if it weren't for the players, the ATP wouldn't even exist. The ATP needs players like Nadal to make money. If you think Nadal has made a lot of money off tennis, you would fall off your rocker if you even could imagine how much money the ATP has made off Nadal.

The more tournaments, the more money the ATP makes. But by treating these top athletes as cash cows they are throwing stones on their own roof in the long term. As for the other 45 players in the top 50, I'm sorry, but it's the top 5 that make all the money for the ATP. I'm even willing to bet that if it weren't for Fed and Nadal the ATP wouldn't make even close to what they have been making lately.

Enough with the crap already.

 

[mandy01]

Sorry, but this is just a bunch of left wing commie bologna. If that were true, then nobody would be entitled to complaining, because there is always someone who has it worse than they do. People complain about catching colds all the time, even as there are people fighting for their life, or afflicted with terminal diseases everywhere.

Nadal doesn't know how to pace himself, yes (hopefully he will learn.) But the scheduling sucks, and that is a fact. Let's not forget also that if it weren't for the players, the ATP would be crap. The ATP needs players like Nadal to make money. If you think Nadal has made a lot of money off tennis, you would fall off your rocker if you even could imagine how much money tennis has made of Nadal.

The more tournaments, the more money the ATP makes. But by treating these top athletes as cash cows they are throwing stones on their own roof in the long term.

Enough with the crap already.

It's all mutual actually.Nadal needs the ATP just as much as they need him.If Nadal goes away somebody else will come up-yes,it may take some amount of time but somebody will eventually take his place.
The ATP has to look at everyone's needs when deciding upon a schedule and that's not an easy task.Yes,the schedule isn't perfect but it isn't as bad as made out to be.The lower ranked players NEED these tournaments.And let's not forget that players like Nadal were also in the lower-ranked group at one point of time.I don't think he must've been complainning a whole lot in those days.
When big stars show-up an event gets more attention-in turn the other players contending with them get the required attention especially if they end up performing well( and tennis needs all the talent it can get.),the revenue goes up and last but not the least that ATP can afford the fat appearance fees,prize money,all the facilities and all that these top players ask for.

 

[TheLoneWolf]

It's all mutual actually.Nadal needs the ATP just as much as they need him.If Nadal goes away somebody else will come up-yes,it may take some amount of time but somebody will eventually take his place.
The ATP has to look at everyone's needs when deciding upon a schedule and that's not an easy task.Yes,the schedule isn't perfect but it isn't as bad as made out to be.The lower ranked players NEED these tournaments.And let's not forget that players like Nadal were also in the lower-ranked group at one point of time.I don't think he must've been complainning a whole lot in those days.
When big stars show-up an event gets more attention-in turn the other players contending with them get the required attention especially if they end up performing well( and tennis needs all the talent it can get.),the revenue goes up and last but not the least that ATP can afford the fat appearance fees,prize money,all the facilities and all that these top players ask for.

I actually respect your argument, well done.

But I still think the scheduling needs improvement. Amongst a number of other problems, where are the grass MS tournaments?

 

[TennezSport]

Clear thinking.......

It's all mutual actually.Nadal needs the ATP just as much as they need him.If Nadal goes away somebody else will come up-yes,it may take some amount of time but somebody will eventually take his place.
The ATP has to look at everyone's needs when deciding upon a schedule and that's not an easy task.Yes,the schedule isn't perfect but it isn't as bad as made out to be.The lower ranked players NEED these tournaments.And let's not forget that players like Nadal were also in the lower-ranked group at one point of time.I don't think he must've been complainning a whole lot in those days.
When big stars show-up an event gets more attention-in turn the other players contending with them get the required attention especially if they end up performing well( and tennis needs all the talent it can get.),the revenue goes up and last but not the least that ATP can afford the fat appearance fees,prize money,all the facilities and all that these top players ask for.

Well done and truely clearly thought out; commendations. No one and I mean no one is bigger than the game. Every player has the right to add to the required schedule to fit their needs; their responsibility. If you don't get is right it's on you, no one else. Learn and adapt or retire, just fact.

Cheers, TennezSport

 

[TheTruth]

Sorry, but this is just a bunch of left wing commie bologna. If that were true, then nobody would be entitled to complaining, because there is always someone who has it worse than they do. People complain about catching colds all the time, even as there are people fighting for their life, or afflicted with terminal diseases everywhere.

Nadal doesn't know how to pace himself, yes (hopefully he will learn.) But the scheduling sucks, and that is a fact. Let's not forget also that if it weren't for the players, the ATP wouldn't even exist. The ATP needs players like Nadal to make money. If you think Nadal has made a lot of money off tennis, you would fall off your rocker if you even could imagine how much money the ATP has made off Nadal.

The more tournaments, the more money the ATP makes. But by treating these top athletes as cash cows they are throwing stones on their own roof in the long term. As for the other 45 players in the top 50, I'm sorry, but it's the top 5 that make all the money for the ATP. I'm even willing to bet that if it weren't for Fed and Nadal the ATP wouldn't make even close to what they have been making lately.

Enough with the crap already.

Great analysis.

 

[TheTruth]

It's all mutual actually.Nadal needs the ATP just as much as they need him.If Nadal goes away somebody else will come up-yes,it may take some amount of time but somebody will eventually take his place.
The ATP has to look at everyone's needs when deciding upon a schedule and that's not an easy task.Yes,the schedule isn't perfect but it isn't as bad as made out to be.The lower ranked players NEED these tournaments.And let's not forget that players like Nadal were also in the lower-ranked group at one point of time.I don't think he must've been complainning a whole lot in those days.
When big stars show-up an event gets more attention-in turn the other players contending with them get the required attention especially if they end up performing well( and tennis needs all the talent it can get.),the revenue goes up and last but not the least that ATP can afford the fat appearance fees,prize money,all the facilities and all that these top players ask for.

That's an excellent point.

The only problem I have though, is the situation they had recently when Andy Murray withdrew and the way the tournament director treated him. They needed Andy at that venue to bring in more revenue and when he didn't come they gave him a lot of bad press. So, I guess that's the kind of pressure the big dogs get. It doesn't seem like it's that's easy to just forego tournaments, especially mandatory ones.

 

[reversef]

Well done and truely clearly thought out; commendations. No one and I mean no one is bigger than the game. Every player has the right to add to the required schedule to fit their needs; their responsibility. If you don't get is right it's on you, no one else. Learn and adapt or retire, just fact.

Cheers, TennezSport

It's true, but the players can still give their opinion. There is a council. There are even representants for the players ranked high (top 50 or something like that) and lower ranked players. Each player who has the opportunity to speak should do it to defend his interests and the interests of his group (whether it's related to the surface or the ranking). If the players had never complained about the calender, it would be even worse.
But the players don't get much. The women complained too and got a better calender.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I only see 2 MS, not 3.
The grass season gets an even worse treatment than the clay season, I think we all agree about that. It's still the same part of the year. From Miami to Wimbledon, it's just terrible.

What if Nadal was a HC specialist instead of a CC specialist, is my point? HC is also pretty packed - in the spring there's 500 in Rotterdam, 500 in Memphis, 500 in Dubai, then IW/Miami back to back. If your argument is that every guy should play every event on their favorite surface, in order to get the most points possible, wouldn't HC specialists have the same argument about the way those events are packed within a month or so?

Then you go to the spring and you have 500 in DC, MS in Canada/Cincy back to back to back. Then only 1 week off for the USO. The clay season is actually more spread out than any of the other seasons save for grass - there's a 500 in Acapulco before IW/Miami even start, then MC, which is non mandatory, 500 in Barcelona, MS in Rome, week off, MS in Madrid, week off, then RG.

The main thing to understand in this is this - sure the ATP schedule in general sucks, but Nadal isn't helping matters by scheduling himself to play every CC event under the sun. Yeah I know Barcelona is a home event for him, but you don't see Roddick playing the Delray Beach's and Newports of the world just b/c they're in America, do you? Nadal as some point has gotta stop being so damn stubborn and realize that "Yeah, the schedule isn't that good, but I'm not helping matters either by scheduling tourneys back to back like this, no?" Just b/c Nadal is finally doing what he should have been all along by playing MC, skipping Barca, playing Rome and Madrid, doesn't mean now he should turn and rip the schedule again.

 

[TheTruth]

Why is Monte Carlo THE non mandatory MS? If you can't understand that Nadal prefers to play Monte-Carlo than Bercy or Cincinnati or Shanghai, I don't know what to say. But of course, those tournaments are mandatory.
He's a guy who plays all year on his worst surface. He tries to play 5 tournaments a year on his favourite one. Is it much for you? I don't see him playing the south-american clay-court season, he doesn't play on clay after Wimbledon, something he could do. He just wants to play the 3 Masters Series and his home tournament. I think that if ONLY this is too much, it just prooves something: the calender is unfair for the european clay-court season.

Agree, it's the scheduling of the calendar.

 

[mandy01]

That's an excellent point.

The only problem I have though, is the situation they had recently when Andy Murray withdrew and the way the tournament director treated him. They needed Andy at that venue to bring in more revenue and when he didn't come they gave him a lot of bad press. So, I guess that's the kind of pressure the big dogs get. It doesn't seem like it's that's easy to just forego tournaments, especially mandatory ones.

I agree.I thought that was poorly handled by the tournament director.He clearly had a hard time hiding his disappointment.

Yes,there's pressure for the top dogs,no doubt-but I think for them-the good mostly outweighs the bad .Yes,they're under the media's gaze all the time but they also NEED the media in ways not unfamiliar to you and I.

 

[TheTruth]

I agree.I thought that was poorly handled by the tournament director.He clearly had a hard time hiding his disappointment.

Yes,there's pressure for the top dogs,no doubt-but I think for them-the good mostly outweighs the bad .Yes,they're under the media's gaze all the time but they also NEED the media in ways not unfamiliar to you and I.

You're right. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes for all the money in the world.

 

[Emet74]

Look, I'm normally pretty sympathetic to players and there's no question the ATP calander overall has flaws.

That said, I don't think that this was the time and place for Nadal to make this complaint. As has been pointed out, the tourney he is withdrawing from is non-mandatory, as was the event he just played.

The tour has made some adjustments to make the clay season more reasonable. Remember when Fed and Rafa both withdrew from Hamburg after the 5 set final in Rome? There the withdrawal was clearly due to a scheduling problem, as both those events were mandatory yet these stars found themselves physically unable to compete at both. Adjustments were made, including the end of best of five masters finals.

This current MC/Barca situation just isn't on that level.

 

[clayman2000]

What if Nadal was a HC specialist instead of a CC specialist, is my point? HC is also pretty packed - in the spring there's 500 in Rotterdam, 500 in Memphis, 500 in Dubai, then IW/Miami back to back. If your argument is that every guy should play every event on their favorite surface, in order to get the most points possible, wouldn't HC specialists have the same argument about the way those events are packed within a month or so?

Then you go to the spring and you have 500 in DC, MS in Canada/Cincy back to back to back. Then only 1 week off for the USO. The clay season is actually more spread out than any of the other seasons save for grass - there's a 500 in Acapulco before IW/Miami even start, then MC, which is non mandatory, 500 in Barcelona, MS in Rome, week off, MS in Madrid, week off, then RG.

The main thing to understand in this is this - sure the ATP schedule in general sucks, but Nadal isn't helping matters by scheduling himself to play every CC event under the sun. Yeah I know Barcelona is a home event for him, but you don't see Roddick playing the Delray Beach's and Newports of the world just b/c they're in America, do you? Nadal as some point has gotta stop being so damn stubborn and realize that "Yeah, the schedule isn't that good, but I'm not helping matters either by scheduling tourneys back to back like this, no?" Just b/c Nadal is finally doing what he should have been all along by playing MC, skipping Barca, playing Rome and Madrid, doesn't mean now he should turn and rip the schedule again.

I disagree with you.

Firstly, Rafa loves Barcelona because it is his home club. He loves it there. Its like the way Federer feels with Basel, Djokovic with Belgrade and so on.

Secondly, Roddick does play small events. San Jose, Memphis, Indy, and Washington are 4 American events.

Thirdly, if you are saying that Roddick doesnt play the Dalray Beaches, well the equivilent of that for Nadal is Casablanca, Estoril, Stutgart etc.

Fourthly, its been hard to skip MC, Barcelona and even Rome all these years when hes winning. I know that players (except Fed) hate not to defend titles. Its also common courtesy.

 

[The-Champ]

I disagree with you.

Firstly, Rafa loves Barcelona because it is his home club. He loves it there. Its like the way Federer feels with Basel, Djokovic with Belgrade and so on.

Secondly, Roddick does play small events. San Jose, Memphis, Indy, and Washington are 4 American events.

Thirdly, if you are saying that Roddick doesnt play the Dalray Beaches, well the equivilent of that for Nadal is Casablanca, Estoril, Stutgart etc.

Fourthly, its been hard to skip MC, Barcelona and even Rome all these years when hes winning. I know that players (except Fed) hate not to defend titles. Its also common courtesy.

those tournaments are not in Spain bro'

 

[nfor304]

I disagree with you.

Firstly, Rafa loves Barcelona because it is his home club. He loves it there. Its like the way Federer feels with Basel, Djokovic with Belgrade and so on.

Secondly, Roddick does play small events. San Jose, Memphis, Indy, and Washington are 4 American events.

Thirdly, if you are saying that Roddick doesnt play the Dalray Beaches, well the equivilent of that for Nadal is Casablanca, Estoril, Stutgart etc.

Fourthly, its been hard to skip MC, Barcelona and even Rome all these years when hes winning. I know that players (except Fed) hate not to defend titles. Its also common courtesy.

Federer hasn't played Gstaad for a few years now. Its right after Wimbledon and he usually skips it to give his body a rest. Kind of like what Nadal should be doing instead of trying to play Barcelona every year straight after a Masters.

I'm pretty sure that tournament means a lot to Federer too, since its in Switzerland. Its the one where they gave him a cow after he won his first slam.

 

[TheLoneWolf]

Federer hasn't played Gstaad for a few years now. Its right after Wimbledon and he usually skips it to give his body a rest. Kind of like what Nadal should be doing instead of trying to play Barcelona every year straight after a Masters.

I'm pretty sure that tournament means a lot to Federer too, since its in Switzerland. Its the one where they gave him a cow after he won his first slam.

I'd like to know what Mirka thinks about that. :twisted:

 

[drakulie]

Sorry, but this is just a bunch of left wing commie bologna. If that were true, then nobody would be entitled to complaining, because there is always someone who has it worse than they do. People complain about catching colds all the time, even as there are people fighting for their life, or afflicted with terminal diseases everywhere.

Nadal doesn't know how to pace himself, yes (hopefully he will learn.) But the scheduling sucks, and that is a fact. Let's not forget also that if it weren't for the players, the ATP wouldn't even exist. The ATP needs players like Nadal to make money. If you think Nadal has made a lot of money off tennis, you would fall off your rocker if you even could imagine how much money the ATP has made off Nadal.

The more tournaments, the more money the ATP makes. But by treating these top athletes as cash cows they are throwing stones on their own roof in the long term. As for the other 45 players in the top 50, I'm sorry, but it's the top 5 that make all the money for the ATP. I'm even willing to bet that if it weren't for Fed and Nadal the ATP wouldn't make even close to what they have been making lately.

Enough with the crap already.

Listen, get your head out of Nadal's rear end and open your eyes. Yes, Nadal and everyone else in the world has a right to complain. However in this case, Nadal has no right to complain, being that he plays exos, doubles, and events he is not mandated to play. So, until he stops with the "extra curricular activity", he needs to shut the F up, and stop complaining about the schedule, when the fact is, he is to blame, and no one else. It simply makes him look like a spoiled little girl, and hypocrite.

 

[abmk]

^^^

I agree. First he needs to the needful and even then if there are some problems, then complain ...