Patrick Mouratoglou:Nadal isn't talented,Wozniacki is more rational than Nadal
- Thread starter Dutch-Guy
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ashitaka2010
Semi-Pro
uh :-?...I really hope Nadal wins RG next year TO EQUAL BORG'S RECORD, who cares about Mouraglouglou & co?
Yeah, right... ALL the French are arrogant ***... (that's why we love Roger :twisted
Mary Pierce is (technically) French.
intrepidish
Hall of Fame
More Mouratoglou today: http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/tennis/patrick-mouratoglou/article/4877/
"Caroline comme Rafaël Nadal chez les hommes...ne symbolisent pas le talent ultime, mais leur courage, leur investissement sont finalement le plus grand des talents que l'on peut attendre d'un numéro un mondial."
Caroline like Nadal in the men's game...do not symbolize the highest talent level but their courage, their commitment are the greatest talent that one can hope for from a world number one
"Caroline comme Rafaël Nadal chez les hommes...ne symbolisent pas le talent ultime, mais leur courage, leur investissement sont finalement le plus grand des talents que l'on peut attendre d'un numéro un mondial."
Caroline like Nadal in the men's game...do not symbolize the highest talent level but their courage, their commitment are the greatest talent that one can hope for from a world number one
JustBob
Hall of Fame
I understand what he's saying. And after reading the original article in French, he never implied that Nadal has no "talent". He bemoans the French obsession with what you could call "raw tennis talent" (think Federer) when there are numerous other qualities and intangibles (which go unnoticed to the French) that make up a champion. I think he does have a point and this French obsession with "tennis artistry" is nothing new.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
The point is that the hype factor backfired at all four slams. Wozniacki was not to be taken seriously at the majors whether the eventual winner was an underdog or great player. She had no hope.
There's a big difference between prediction and hammering guaratees as though her weak game was good enough to take out the best. Now, she ended her USO one round earlier than last year, making the hype a bigger joke in poor taste.
I predicted a new face would win the 2010 FO, and as Schiavone progressed in week one, she seemed to be the most serious contender of the pack. I'm not the only one who saw that, so enough with your easily-shattererd blanket statements.
intrepidish
Hall of Fame
I don't get that from this nor from his litany of articles where contrary to your interpretation he makes it abundantly clear that he himself is a huge Federer sycophant and has a tendency to downplay Nadal for much the same reasons as you note the French do more generally.
In other words, ironically he is precisely one of those French you mention who often obsesses about the beauty of the "King" and when the "King" loses he is at a loss for words (though he still tries hard by writing 3 times more about him than Nadal in the US Open wrap up and gives him advice etc for next time etc)
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M
meg0529
Guest
ummmmmmmmmmm. Lol what? I'm not saying that the French hate Rafa for dominating RG. I'm responding to the fact that a lot of French people dislike Spaniards in general and in tennis Rafa. So it's kind of hilarious, given their dislike for him that he totally dominates RG! What better way to say f you? =D
But if your sarcastic comment makes your day just a little better, then interpret it anyway you like
LOL..predict a new face is a safe bet. For sure, you did not pick Schiavone to win before the tournament started. In fact, most fans would take their chance on Wozniacki winning the USO than Schiavone winning the FO. She wasn't even the dark horse while Wozniacki was a finalist last year. Face it, you are not fooling anyone.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
No, it was not. In fact, certain members of the TW hatetrust were swearing Henin was going to restore her alleged winning ways at her best slam, and completely disregarded anyone as under the radar as Schiavone. Only a few thought a new face would win the event. Next time, try getting something right...which means the opposite of your USO/Magic
all posts about Wozniacki.The French Open this year was a delight. Two relatively unheralded women in Stosur and Schiavone playing smart, well thought out all court tennis with great shotmaking, and showing no fear of the bigger names. Something you rarely see from the new World #1 who tends to brainlessly push each ball back in court and rely on defense and consistency alone to get through matches. Basically a Chris Evert clone (back in the days of wood racquets and the chronological disadvantages of time) 35 year later but without any of the precision, variety, or court craft and impeccable point construction of Chris. Or basically a Sharapova clone from when Maria was back at her best with better movement but not even half the power on each shot Maria at her peak had. Atleast brainless bashing, which I am still not a fan of either, will likely beat brainless pushing if both are done well.
Dilettante
Hall of Fame
TMF: Many French don't want Spaniards to win anything and much less to win anything on French soil. They just can't stand Spain surpassing them in any sport.
Wow, I don't even like Wozniacki that much but this picture is hot.
Wozniacki is better than Nadal
As eye candy.
Wow, I don't even like Wozniacki that much but this picture is hot.
JustBob
Hall of Fame
I cannot comment on what he said in other articles since I haven't read them. As for this one, I don't believe I'm "interpreting" anything since the meaning seemed rather obvious to me, i.e. that raw tennis talent isn't the only factor in developing champions and that other qualities are often overlooked.
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intrepidish
Hall of Fame
It is indeed an interpretation and in fact in the comments section where this appeared even in France plenty of people took it to be insulting to Nadal in fact so clearly your interpretation is contested.
This makes all the more sense given this writer's history some of which I have referenced earlier in this thread.
ashitaka2010
Semi-Pro
And is this an absolute truth?
Roland Garros, the 24 Heures du Mans and the Tour are the most important international events on our 'soil'. One of the few glaring examples, to my knowledge, is Indurain. But we can't declare that Armstrong is adored either, to say the least.
I don't like established 'knowledge' such as: Rafa is hated or despised always and forever because he is Spanish. It is ONE of the reasons.
What's going on with him at RG can be explained by many things, most of them are not very rational, nor intelligent:
- The multiple finals involving Spanish players for almost 20 years (some of them particularly annoying: see Bruguera-Berasategui)
- In 2005, before the tournament, he was already No. 5 and favorite: not exactly an underdog à la Kuerten or Sampras
twisted- He is completely dominant
- His defensive game earlier in his career: Parisian Bourgeoisie definitively didn't like it
- Wimbledon is his favorite tournament
- He does not speak French and 'we' don't understand why because 'we' suppose French is less difficult to learn for a him than English... and we are self-centered
- He did not declare his love by drawing a heart on clay and it's more 'easy' to like a flashy Brazilian than a 'gladiatorial' and curiously shy Spaniard
- 'We' love Federer because he is almost French (in 'our' eyes), has a 'stylish' game and 95% of the French commentators and former/current players are expatriated in Switzerland for tax purposes.
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Dilettante
Hall of Fame
It's the truth, call it "absolute" or "relative" as you please.
It's the main reason. I'm a Spaniard but it's not that offends me, I just note it as an established fact in sports (in arts or cinema for example, France works the opposite way and sometimes they seem to love stuff coming from Spain). Aside from buttpicking, I don't see anything particulary unikeable in Nadal as I don't see it in most tennis players. One might enjoy his game or not, but there's nothing outrageous about him. I enjoy his game a lot, and although I don't specially love or admire his persona -no need to, anyway- he seems a nice guy or at least a normal guy.
All the other possible (but mostly unlikely) explanations you gave are OK to try to explain merely a lack of passion/love from Parisian/French followers towards Nadal. Which is OK.
But lack of love don't equal antipathy. And French showed open antipathy for Nadal from the very beggining for no particular reason. Nothing new, we've seen that in Tour de France for years since Pedro Delgado's times (yes, that's even before Indurain) and don't tell me the French were delighted when Spain won the WC.
It is what it is: look me in the eye and tell me the French are happy when a Spaniard wins anything in sports. We both know what's the answer.
That said, it's a sports thing I guess. I've always been nicely treated in France as a visitor. Maybe I'm more likeable than Nadal though.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
the tennis community all over the world loves you for the Tennis Dictionary thread
Dilettante
Hall of Fame
the tennis community all over the world loves you for the Tennis Dictionary thread
Hahaha, thank you, maybe I'll tell everyone on my next trip. You never know when you'll met a TT reader.
ashitaka2010
Semi-Pro
Ok, you have good points. That's what I think: The open antipathy since 2005 could be explained because he was a young, strong clay court specialist (again) and happened to be Spanish (again). I don't know how to argument with eloquence, because my English is limited, but I feel it's less about hating the Spanish than hating the dominance of one particular country at this particular event. We would dislike the Argentine the same way if they ruled Chatrier.
Btw, he kids adore him since the beginning and, yes, the adults not so much but admire his game since 2008.
The world cup (and even Tour de France): you got me on that one. I wasn't in France and I live with some Spanish speaking friends, maybe I'm biased. But that's not really a good example, because we hate the Italians (football players, of course) way, way more... with all our heart.
True, Buñuel is a semi god here. Or maybe just for me
.
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