I'm not talking about a comparison of top 10 records. The point is that Nadal can't challenge for majors or maintain No.2 ranking if he can't beat top 10 players. You claim that Nadal isn't finished as a force in tennis, but then conveniently ignore his terrible form and failure to beat big opponents in the last 5 months. And there's no reason to believe he'll turn it around at AO as it's his worst slam (never been past the 4th round) and he doesn't generally play well on HC.
Nadal to retire next year?
- Thread starter wayne50
- Start date
I'm not talking about a comparison of top 10 records. The point is that Nadal can't challenge for majors or maintain No.2 ranking if he can't beat top 10 players. You claim that Nadal isn't finished as a force in tennis, but then conveniently ignore his terrible form and failure to beat big opponents in the last 5 months. And there's no reason to believe he'll turn it around at AO as it's his worst slam (never been past the 4th round) and he doesn't generally play well on HC.
I honestly don't get the point of posters who come on forums to try to start flame wars or bait other posters. I also don't understand the point of coming on a forum to bash/hate about a tennis player. It's almost as if some people have nothing better to do or can't entertain themselves more usefully.
psamp14
Hall of Fame
nadal lost to hewitt in the 4th rd of the AO in 2005, in 5 grueling sets...that was before nadal really showed his presence
yes, as a great marveler of federer, i do think nadal will continue to compete for grand slams, and he isnt finished as a force in tennis
you just hate him for some reason, maybe his long hair, extreme western forehand, maybe you're racist, or you just have pure hatred against nadal and think anyone who plays like that should not be winning
well even if i am wrong on all those, i mean CMON dude, we all know that an avg nadal clay court season will keep him in the top 5, as he is still very good on slower hard courts!
and he holds a substantial lead over #3...i dont see him losing the #2 ranking for sometime....
yes, as a great marveler of federer, i do think nadal will continue to compete for grand slams, and he isnt finished as a force in tennis
you just hate him for some reason, maybe his long hair, extreme western forehand, maybe you're racist, or you just have pure hatred against nadal and think anyone who plays like that should not be winning
well even if i am wrong on all those, i mean CMON dude, we all know that an avg nadal clay court season will keep him in the top 5, as he is still very good on slower hard courts!
and he holds a substantial lead over #3...i dont see him losing the #2 ranking for sometime....
psamp14
Hall of Fame
i agree gilgamesh....wayne50 is uselessly posting today...he joined like last yr in december, averages like .10 posts, and now comes out to bash nadal
I'd just like to say that it's good to see such taut analysis and rock-solid common sense. As another poster who is passionate about shedding an unbiased light of reason on the pro game, I welcome you. Looking forward to more of your controversial but well-reasoned and balanced views in the future.
You should have waited a bit with your Nadal bashing. He will play Robredo next, who is #7 and who is Nadal's beeyach. In 3 tries Robredo couldn't win a single set of him. Worse he can't even win 5 games in a set against Nadal. So basically he makes Nadal vs Blake look pretty even.
http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/headtohead/?player1=Robredo,+Tommy&player2=Nadal
I expect topspinmonkey to whoop Robredo's ass in straights and make you look pretty silly. Of course if Robredo wins or if even makes it a very close 3 setter than I guess that will make you right.
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Nadal_Freak
Banned
Nadal has not adapted well to indoor hard courts. Even outdoor hardcourts bother Nadal because of how easy it is to take the ball early by players like Blake, Berdych, and Joachim Johannson. Nadal has not lost any of his game but he has had some bad luck with the draw. I don't think anyone has figured Nadal. They have a gameplan but only a few have the weapons to use it fully. Clay court though no one can rush Nadal on his shots and therefore Nadal is still the clay court king.
edit: Nadal just came off a stomach injury so if he had to chance to beat Blake this wasn't one of them considering being rusty.
edit: Nadal just came off a stomach injury so if he had to chance to beat Blake this wasn't one of them considering being rusty.
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vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
well... ferrero was in the same situation as robredo and he still managed to beat nadal in straight sets at cincinnati !
so i have some faith in robredo... come on tommy, you can do it !
this is the occasion to prove us that you didn't qualify in shanghai for nothing : kick the topspinmonkey out of the tournament !
It doesn't matter if he beats Robredo, as Denko will kill Nadal thus eliminating him.
does this mean federer can fianly take home a french and maybe grandslam year?
What a thoughtless comment by the original poster, Wayne Rooney or whatever his name is. If he was to watch the Nadal-Blake match, he would see actually how evenly matched both players were, with amazing rallies, and nadal hitting many mind blowing, curling passing shots past blake.
REGARDLESS of what Nadal does or does not win, his style of play makes for some of the most amazing and tense baseline rallies I have seen. That is why his matches are intersting and that is why he is quite enjoyable to watch.
Dont let your 'Nadal prejudices' come to light EVERYTIME Nadal loses(even with such a close match like this!).
AND by the way, EVEN IF Nadal was to lose to everyone including Wayne Rooney (the original poster), he still gives Mr Federer problems and will continue to do so I'm sure.
REGARDLESS of what Nadal does or does not win, his style of play makes for some of the most amazing and tense baseline rallies I have seen. That is why his matches are intersting and that is why he is quite enjoyable to watch.
Dont let your 'Nadal prejudices' come to light EVERYTIME Nadal loses(even with such a close match like this!).
AND by the way, EVEN IF Nadal was to lose to everyone including Wayne Rooney (the original poster), he still gives Mr Federer problems and will continue to do so I'm sure.
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I wouldn't make that prediction yet unless he's injured really badly. He's still no.2. He might not have done that well but he's holding his ground (Though it was the clay tournaments that brought him to no.2) he probably will win RG next year.
As with his Master's Cup campaign, he's fortunate enough to be put with Davydenko and Robredo. I think he'll beat Robredo but Davydenko may be a bit tougher cause he's a machine (his game ain't pretty but it works). He's gonna have to win the next two matches which I think he can but is gonna have to get his game together.
As with his Master's Cup campaign, he's fortunate enough to be put with Davydenko and Robredo. I think he'll beat Robredo but Davydenko may be a bit tougher cause he's a machine (his game ain't pretty but it works). He's gonna have to win the next two matches which I think he can but is gonna have to get his game together.
ty slothrop
Semi-Pro
based on this apostolic, positively delphic wisdom you cite, I would without question be comfortable wagering heavily on this precise and preordained outcome.
psamp14
Hall of Fame
i agree with your post mate...its just that players like nadal, with such intensity and tense baseline rallies, players like roddick, with personality and charisma, players like hewitt with fist pumping, and of course federer with his calmness, collectiveness, and cool demeanor on court...are part of the reason such players are good for tennis, simply stated
it was a very close match, score-wise, and play-wise....nadal was in it all the way, until just that tiebreak
ACE of Hearts
Bionic Poster
As a Fed fan, i wanna see Nadal get better because Fed will eventually start figuring him out, like some of these guys have.I am hoping he wins his next 2 matches.
ty slothrop
Semi-Pro
I am not giving up on Rafa as his determination is very strong. I am however, a little worried about his physical health.
At the TMC he has both knees supported, he is wearing special supports in his shoes to prevent further foot issues, he has ripped his stomach and chest muscles all at the age of 20yrs.
He still has to cover too much court with his style of play. More wear and tear on the body. His serve will never be a monster due the the hammer grip he uses (prob with using the non dominate hand). He is losing more points on first serves trying to protect the sitter second serve; add more stress, cover more court.
He wins on pure determination and physical srength, but how long can he keep that up??? Only time will tell.
TS
dude, you hit it exactly. you can totally see the niggling injuries taking a toll on his confidence - not so much in his strokes, but his confidence in trusting his body. and if he can't play balls-out physical tennis, he is vulnerable.
I said last year when he was so muscular that he needs to drop some weight and get lighter, he can't keep carrying all that mass around playing ten feet behind the baseline. if he doesn't move in and start to get more cheap points off of his serve, I could see the physical toll curtailing his career.
psamp14
Hall of Fame
you bring in another point...that he may be carrying too much weight around....but i dont really think so...i think he should not do any more training associated with weights, just endurance training, as if he needs it, and conditioning...nothing to build mass
he is listed as 188 lbs...isnt federer listed at 6'2'' 188? of course i doubt that too...i think he's just 175 or around there
but you did bring up a good point that he needs to shorten points on his own serve...hit a flatter serve, of course practice it more to build confidence, and win some cheap points off it
of course remember he is still 20, so he can play on winning long baseline rallies for at least 3-4 yrs more...
its about 25 when the body cant win those super long rallies consistently, and must play more efficiently and effectively
joe sch
Legend
Nadal is a great athlete, has an unmatched champions mentality, and is willing to adapt his game. Both he and Roddick know that they must make changes to start beating Federer and some of the other great young players. In Nadals case, he is learning to flaten out winners and end point sooner. Both Nadal and Roddick will be playing more aggressive allcourt tennis, which is exciting because it will make Federer do the same. At the very least, Nadal should be able to win many dirt titles and contend for slams for the next 5 years. The retirement talk is just flame bait.
ty slothrop
Semi-Pro
we'll see...I'm no hater, but it seems to me like he's already breaking down
FedFan_2007
Banned
Nadal will never be king of hardcourts. At best he can hope to get his fair share of MS titles and maybe 1-2 AO and a US Open before he's done.
TheGhostOfAgassi
Talk Tennis Guru
Good prediction!
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Nadal said in the interview that he will play for at least several more years. that means at least 3-4 more years. He might break Federer record if he does that, and I think that is what he really wants to do. since he is the true GOAT
TahoeTennis
Legend
Vamos EPIC bump! 13 years of crushing the haters dreams
TheIntrovert
Hall of Fame
Someone probably made a thread, somewhere, in 1987 saying Nadal will retire soon
BHud
Hall of Fame
TahoeTennis
Legend
And then all will the tire anytime he darn well pleases
chjtennis
G.O.A.T.
My prediction: There is a great chance Federer will retire in 2021, or even in 2020(if he plays on, I think he will get injure in 2022-2024. That won't surprize anyone. The surprizing prediction is, Nadal will likely struggle in 2020-2025, and may retire as early as 2021 as well. Nadal will struggle with fatigue/personal problems in 2020-2021, but the real problem will hit him from 2022-2025, which is injuries, that will eventually make him retire. Probably, Nadal will struggle with results in 2020-2021, then various forms of injuries will hamper him in 2022 onwards, which will force him to retire in 2024. Nadal won't be the same player he is now from next year. Djokovic? He will struggle for results from 2020 to 2023 and may decide to retire. He will go through a lot of personal/mental difficulties and will look very blunt from next year.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Another one "predicting" Nadal will retire the same year than Federer despite being 5 years younger and being in far better form (Federer has failed to make a GS SF in a year).
You never learn. That is not a "prediction", that is a wish.
TahoeTennis
Legend
Wait.
