Nadal v Federer over hyped

P

Pantera

Banned
Obviously everyone gets excited when they play, no need to explain why. But, on clay and grass, is it really a rivalry?

2008 Wimbledon final was arguably the greatest match ever, but if Federer wins today, as is likely, it would prove what I always thought, it was a bit of a glorious one-off and critical in their rivalry but not relevant as to the better grass courter, which is Federer, by a distance.

Basically on clay, Nadal even at 75% will win, and Federer on grass at 805% should win...2008 I think people forget Federer served awfully by his standards.

Both their matches with Djokovic on grass are more interesting as its not as clear cut to predict.

My own view is if Nadal loses today (in 4 sets I feel) I will be disappointed but not overly so as I think Rafa had a brilliant event and bagged the FO which is not as certain as it used to be given his age and the presence of Thiem and Djokovic.

A Nadal v Federer SF or final at the US Open however would be EPIC!! And the Americans are the best at promotion and we should all go to New York as Times Square would basically have them posted everywhere.

Clay and Grass though...result is easy to predict unless one has a bad day.
 
Towser83

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
It is refreshing to hear a Nadal fan admit that Fed wasnt his best in 2008. However I would say Fed played good tennis but was nervous. In 2007 he played very well, had some nerves in that one too but overall played well and Nadal really pushed him and only faltered in the final set, in the first 4 sets he was edging Fed

Fed at his best would beat Nadal but Nadal at his best will always be a very strong opponent even on grass. Whatever happens here i don't know if it tells us much, Fed is past his best and though Nadal is playing very well it's hard to compare him to his 2007-2011 spell on grass

I think the thing to remember is the fact that they are even still in the running to win Wimbledon is quite remarkable. I expect Nadal to win but even if he doesnt he's had a great comeback on grass the past 2 years and will probably have another shot next year
 
Eren

Eren

Professional
Pantera said:
Clay and Grass though...result is easy to predict unless one has a bad day.
Click to expand...

No, small sample size. Clay is Nadal's all the way.

Also, Federer never had the chance to have back-to-back matches on grass in a period of a month with little time to improve and adapt his game. Little time to recover mentally too from these losses on clay. Nadal was always going into the grass court season with the momentum on his side. Nadal never had that issue on grass vs. Fed because they only played one match per year lol.

So grass is FAR from a certain win for Fed.

It's not Nadal's fault, it's just how the ATP schedule works.
 
TearTheRoofOff

TearTheRoofOff

G.O.A.T.
4 sets, 5 sets, 5 sets with reversed result. Today's result is 'predictable'? Really?

You even add 'if one of them has an off day'; you've seen Fed from the last few years, right?

This match is wide open, with I think the bookies making Nadal the slight favourite. Also the grass is playing like a beach.
 
T

Thetouch

Professional
Imagine if Djokovic somehow loses his match today (he will go first).....the Fedal match will be huge and both players will fight to death. That would be epic.
 
J

JackGates

Legend
Pantera said:
Obviously everyone gets excited when they play, no need to explain why. But, on clay and grass, is it really a rivalry?

2008 Wimbledon final was arguably the greatest match ever, but if Federer wins today, as is likely, it would prove what I always thought, it was a bit of a glorious one-off and critical in their rivalry but not relevant as to the better grass courter, which is Federer, by a distance.

Basically on clay, Nadal even at 75% will win, and Federer on grass at 805% should win...2008 I think people forget Federer served awfully by his standards.

Both their matches with Djokovic on grass are more interesting as its not as clear cut to predict.

My own view is if Nadal loses today (in 4 sets I feel) I will be disappointed but not overly so as I think Rafa had a brilliant event and bagged the FO which is not as certain as it used to be given his age and the presence of Thiem and Djokovic.

A Nadal v Federer SF or final at the US Open however would be EPIC!! And the Americans are the best at promotion and we should all go to New York as Times Square would basically have them posted everywhere.

Clay and Grass though...result is easy to predict unless one has a bad day.
Click to expand...
On grass, yes it is a rivalry. Because Fed is older and Wimbledon is always after FO, where Rafa is at his peak and when he gets his mental edge over Federer. On clay, I agree, it's not a rivalry.

But, come on, they played two five setters on grass and Nadal just won comfortably on clay, so I will say this match is going to be quite interesting.
 
S

ScottleeSV

Hall of Fame
tennisaddict said:
Fed is 38. He is not expected to win. I give him 30% chance
Click to expand...

This.

Nadal is hands down favourite (as say the bookmakers). Federer is historically better on grass but this is 2019 and he's pushing 38. Maybe he can swashbuckle his way to a set today but that's about it.
 
George Turner

George Turner

Hall of Fame
This is a terrible match all right. I'd rather watch a re run of Djokovic-Goffin, or one of his beatdowns over Nishikori. True drama.
 
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