Nadal skips Indian Wells and Miami

[fed_is_GOD]

Who saw this coming???

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/194954.html

I guess this guy will play only on clay till he dies.. my sympathies will always be with his fans.. may their souls rest in peace.. :twisted:

 

[forzamilan90]

Noooooooooo

 

[tennisaddict]

Really really sad day for fans od Nadal.

Clarky is yet again right.

 

[fed_is_GOD]

I feel like opening a champagne bottle.. probably a moet and chandon once he announces his retirement (which by the way I am sure is coming soon)

Who else is happy?? :twisted:

 

[Tafmatch]

Really really sad day for fans od Nadal.

Clarky is yet again right.

Only on TW there will be some fans who think this is actually great news. The reign of clay dominance is only beginning, you see?

 

[fed_is_GOD]

Only on TW there will be some fans who think this is actually great news. The reign of clay dominance is only beginning, you see?

Clay dominance??? I wont be too sure of it either.. he lost to a no body at a 250 tourney.. and was break down in 3rd set against another no body.. and we are talking Djokovic and Murray here..

please enlighten me how can he dominate clay??

 

[Tafmatch]

please enlighten me how can he dominate clay??

I don't know either, but it won't be long before someone will explain this to us

 

[beckstennis]

Sad news and a real shame

 

[mariecon]

Let's see how Nads does in Acapulco with a bigger, more talented field. If he does poorly there then I can't see him coming back in a month and a half and dominating the clay. He'll be rusty with no match play for so long.

 

[joeri888]

Smart decision imo. He'll go a full year without hardcourts, and rightly so. I wonder if he'll be fined? Since he announces he won't play before he still plays another event?

Either way, he best takes the fine.

 

[Steve0904]

Well I can't say I'm exactly surprised, but it is a smart move IMO.

 

[iradical18]

I'm not a Nadal fan by any means but I hate to hear this. It's terrible when a player in any sport has to make sacrifices because they simply cannot physically compete. I think his knee is a lot worse than him and his team are letting on and I see an unfortunate early retirement for him.

 

[natalia]

Oh happy day!!!

 

[jaggy]

Probably a wise move on his part

 

[djokovic2008]

Clay dominance??? I wont be too sure of it either.. he lost to a no body at a 250 tourney.. and was break down in 3rd set against another no body.. and we are talking Djokovic and Murray here..

please enlighten me how can he dominate clay??

I know its hard but show some class for once in your life.

 

[Relinquis]

No. Would be a very sad day for tennis. No more epic battles between Nadal and Federer.

Nadal is a good example of a baseliner who isn't a pusher... tennis needs this imo.

I feel like opening a champagne bottle.. probably a moet and chandon once he announces his retirement (which by the way I am sure is coming soon)

Who else is happy?? :twisted:

 

[Gonzo_style]

possible bad news for Nole and Rogi in RG QF?

 

[Jeepers]

Did anyone really think he would go play a hard court tournament he was in no way ready for after spending months practicing for clay?

 

[Carsomyr]

possible bad news for Nole and Rogi in RG QF?

Or bad news for Nadal, who potentially would have to go through the other top three for a title now. Not at all saying he's not capable, but I think it'll be tougher than ever this year.

 

[Sorana fan]

possible bad news for Nole and Rogi in RG QF?

Exactly, I think the best chance for Nole to win Roland Garros would have come had Nadal hurt his knees in IW & Miami hard surfaces

Federer doesnt even count as a contender for the FO, but Nole has targeted it as the main priority

 

[njsigman]

I notice he has not pulled out of his exhibition match on Monday, March 4th vs. Del Potro at Madison Square Garden. Probably making lots of $ for that appearance.

 

[mariecon]

Exactly, I think the best chance for Nole to win Roland Garros would have come had Nadal hurt his knees in IW & Miami hard surfaces

Federer doesnt even count as a contender for the FO, but Nole has targeted it as the main priority

you are deluded. Fed is always a contender. He is the only player to win RG apart from Nads in recent history.

 

[mariecon]

I notice he has not pulled out of his exhibition match on Monday, March 4th vs. Del Potro at Madison Square Garden. Probably making lots of $ for that appearance.

Is it on clay?

 

[fed_is_GOD]

I know its hard but show some class for once in your life.

Is it bad that I am showing my hatred against a player?? and before you guys even say anything.. I want to say it is not because nadal schooled Federer.. because many other people have spanked federer and I dont have such hatred against anyone..

Nadal's excuses, fraudulent antics and every single thing about him makes me repel him..

I think that it is fair that I hate him..

 

[Wolbo]

I thought the Masters 1000 were mandatory events?

 

[Gonzo_style]

you are deluded. Fed is always a contender. He is the only player to win RG apart from Nads in recent history.

You've missed the red clay season in 2012

 

[sdont]

Is it on clay?

No, HC.

10knees.

 

[Towser83]

I thought he would at least wait til after acapulco to announce this. first so he didn't get into trouble cos he could say he was injured. you can't really say "i can play on clay but i am too injured for hc". Probably a smart decision also to not play his rivals on hc.

 

[Al Czervik]

While those tournaments give us something to watch, they are kind of a waste. I wish clay court season could be moved up about a month, although I understand weather might not permit that.

 

[CMM]

I thought he would at least wait til after acapulco to announce this. first so he didn't get into trouble cos he could say he was injured. you can't really say "i can play on clay but i am too injured for hc". Probably a smart decision also to not play his rivals on hc.

He didn't announce anything yet. Marca didn't mention any source and Toni spoke to a radio show today and said they didn't take a decision yet.
But he'll probably pull out...

 

[Gonzo_style]

Or bad news for Nadal, who potentially would have to go through the other top three for a title now. Not at all saying he's not capable, but I think it'll be tougher than ever this year.

Nadal might be in better shape in May, we'll see....

 

[DropShotArtist]

Prediction: Nadal will skip all HC tournaments for the entire year. The knee pain will mysteriously arise again almost immediately after Wimbledon.

You heard it here first!

 

[CMM]

No sure why Fed fans are so happy. Federer is also skipping two Masters 1000.

 

[Towser83]

He didn't announce anything yet. Marca didn't mention any source and Toni spoke to a radio show today and said they didn't take a decision yet.
But he'll probably pull out...

Hmm ok. well maybe a spot of bad PR and it slipped out early.

 

[mariecon]

I thought the Masters 1000 were mandatory events?

They are. Apart from Monte Carlo, the faux MS1000. But Nads can withdraw from one other Masters event without penalty since he has played over 600 matches on tour. Therefore without a medical excuse he's supposed to be penalized. But I guess he doesn't really care about that. Flipping the bird to the ATP.

 

[mariecon]

No sure why Fed fans are so happy. Federer is also skipping two Masters 1000.

He is? He's skipping Miami. Monte Carlo isn't mandatory. And he is allowed to skip as many Masters as he wants without penalty.

 

[Murrayfan31]

Retirement here we come.

 

[Sorana fan]

you are deluded. Fed is always a contender. He is the only player to win RG apart from Nads in recent history.

He won with an injured Nadal and in a babyNole a babyMurray era.

He is only a threat in Wimbledon nowadays, you ****s need to accept his time is almost over

 

[CMM]

He is? He's skipping Miami. Monte Carlo isn't mandatory. And he is allowed to skip as many Masters as he wants without penalty.

What does that have to do with what I said? He's still skipping two Masters 1000, penalty or not.

 

[veroniquem]

Clearly, Rafa is gambling everything on clay (he will be playing 8 clay events in a row). Those clay events represent around 6000 points. If he pulls it off, he won't have to worry about the rest of the season or ranking issues at all. Good luck to him wih that strategy.
ETA: I like the idea of not switching surfaces back and forth and keeping it simple. February to June: clay. June-July: either continue with clay (He can play Hamburg, Stuttgart, Gstaad, etc) or give W a shot if he feels like it. Summer/fall: some hard court, USO a must. Skip indoor and AO for a longer off season and more rest. Et voila.

 

[njsigman]

Is it on clay?

All the tournaments at the Garden are on a hard court

 

[sdont]

He won with an injured Nadal and in a babyNole a babyMurray era.

He is only a threat in Wimbledon nowadays, you ****s need to accept his time is almost over

Nadal is injured again this year. Murray has yet to prove he can be a real threat in RG.

As for Nole, if Nadal gets upset, it's him who'll feel the pressure.

If Fed's time is almost over, it's not just over yet.

 

[Towser83]

No sure why Fed fans are so happy. Federer is also skipping two Masters 1000.

I don't know either, i'm actualy bit disappointed as it would have been a good chance for fed or nole to get a win over Nadal and close the h2h a little instead of next meeting on clay and seeing it grow wider. Not to be mean but for years Nadal always played federer at the right time for him and now when it would be the wrong time, he ducks the events.

 

[Towser83]

Clearly Rafa is gambling everything on clay (he will be playing 8 clay events in a row). Those clay events represent around 6000 points. If he pulls it off, he won't have to worry about the rest of the season or ranking issues at all. Good luck to him wih that strategy.
ETA: I like the idea of not switching surfaces back and forth and keeping it simple. February to June: clay. June-July: either continue with clay (He can play Hamburg, Stuttgart, Gstaad, etc) or give W a shot if he feels like it. Summer/fall: some hard court, USO a must. Skip indoor and AO for a longer off season and more rest. Et voila.

if Nadal after 8 months off still has to maybe skip wimbledon and the AO, that's not too good...

 

[ivan_the_terrible]

Nadal's more mature now, he pulls out when it's hard. It's much better for him to play when it's soft, he can pace himself better to get the very satisfying results.

 

[veroniquem]

if Nadal after 8 months off still has to maybe skip wimbledon and the AO, that's not too good...

At AO, he either gets injured (2007, 2010, 2011) or he plays exhausting marathon matches (2009: Verdasco/Fed, 2012: Djoko) that set up a catastrophic physical collapse later in the year. He's infinitely better off skipping it if you ask me. (Although of course, as a spectator, I will miss him).

 

[citybert]

He should play doubles only at both events

 

[bluetrain4]

This doesn't surprise me.

He's just coming back, he has chronic knee problems that will never fully go away, these events don't lead up to a Slam, so what's the point of (1) "wasting" his knees on hardcourts at this point, and (2) possibly looking bad against top-level players?

It would be nice to see him at these events, but fairly understandble.

I just hope he plays the USO.

 

[Start da Game]

he skipped a hardcourt grandslam (AO) just because it intervenes and disrupts his lengthy comeback process.......who the fcuk cares about two glorified ******** hardcourt events scheduled in the middle of clay season?

good decision.......he is targeting french open and wimbledon.......

 

[Towser83]

At AO, he either gets injured (2007, 2010, 2011) or he plays exhausting marathon matches (2009: Verdasco/Fed, 2012: Djoko) that set up a catastrophic physical collapse later in the year. He's infinitely better off skipping it if you ask me. (Although of course, as a spectator, I will miss him).

There is no logical reason why he should always get injured there though. Unless he just doesn't prepare at the start of the year in the right way.