Proof that Federer is not playing clay tune ups in 2018

[Standaa]

Finally (and I mean finally) we will end the threads, "will Fed play MC!???" I posted all this last month:

1. Fed will be in Malawai during MC
2. Fed will be shooting a two day Lindt commercial during Madrid
3. Fed was attend Prince Harry's wedding during Rome

Yet people thought he was playing the FO with those facts staring them in the face?

It was the same unfathomable nonsense during the 2017 USO when it was obvious Fed was hampered with a bad back, yet you had several Fed fans endlessly say, "he is healthy because he says so."

Why not just let it be for once? Let the people post threads about Fed playing clay if they want to be hopeful/ignorant and don’t let it bother you.

You don’t need to persuade them about your truth if they’re gonna eventually learn about it anyway. Or did you want to be a TTW prophet?

 

[BeatlesFan]

But you did say the same about RAFA then too.

And about Fed too in 2015. And I was wrong that Hillary Clinton would be elected President in 2016. Mortals do err on occasion, no?

 

[BeatlesFan]

Why not just let it be for once? Let the people post threads about Fed playing clay if they want to be hopeful/ignorant and don’t let it bother you.

You don’t need to persuade them about your truth if they’re gonna eventually learn about it anyway. Or did you want to be a TTW prophet?

Fair enough, point taken.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

@BeatlesFan

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Damn.

First the loss at IW
Then this one in MIA

...and finally, him deciding to skip RG2018.

Yeesh. It’s difficult being excited as tennis fan when the best players aren’t in the biggest tournaments.

I’m quite mixed now about what I want to see happen at RG.

Another Nadal triumph?
To inject the Fedal rivalry one more boost.

A young buck to finally make a splash? Because Fedal can’t - and shouldn’t - keep going forever.

I’m pretty sure I would like Goffin or Kohli to win RG, but would that be best for my tennis fandom longterm?

Aaaaaarrrggghhhhh - ******* Fed dropping out of tournaments makes life complicated.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Damn.

First the loss at IW
Then this one in MIA

...and finally, him deciding to skip RG2018.

Yeesh. It’s difficult being excited as tennis fan when the best players aren’t in the biggest tournaments.

I’m quite mixed now about what I want to see happen at RG.

Another Nadal triumph?
To inject the Fedal rivalry one more boost.

A young buck to finally make a splash? Because Fedal can’t - and shouldn’t - keep going forever.

I’m pretty sure I would like Goffin or Kohli to win RG, but would that be best for my tennis fandom longterm?

Aaaaaarrrggghhhhh - ******* Fed dropping out of tournaments makes life complicated.

Most of us knew that Federer was not playing, glad in a way he didn't wait until the very end to pull the rug out, and just went out and said it so people won't ask him anymore. He was never going to compromise his chance of winning Wimbledon for anything.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Damn.

First the loss at IW
Then this one in MIA

...and finally, him deciding to skip RG2018.

Yeesh. It’s difficult being excited as tennis fan when the best players aren’t in the biggest tournaments.

I’m quite mixed now about what I want to see happen at RG.

Another Nadal triumph?
To inject the Fedal rivalry one more boost.

A young buck to finally make a splash? Because Fedal can’t - and shouldn’t - keep going forever.

I’m pretty sure I would like Goffin or Kohli to win RG, but would that be best for my tennis fandom longterm?

Aaaaaarrrggghhhhh - ******* Fed dropping out of tournaments makes life complicated.

Most of us knew that Federer was not playing, glad in a way he didn't wait until the very end to pull the rug out, and just went out and said it so people won't ask him anymore. He was never going to compromise his chance of winning Wimbledon for anything.

You replied in a manner that ignored everything I’d written.

Was it my post you were responding to?

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Damn.

First the loss at IW
Then this one in MIA

...and finally, him deciding to skip RG2018.

Yeesh. It’s difficult being excited as tennis fan when the best players aren’t in the biggest tournaments.

I’m quite mixed now about what I want to see happen at RG.

Another Nadal triumph?
To inject the Fedal rivalry one more boost.

A young buck to finally make a splash? Because Fedal can’t - and shouldn’t - keep going forever.

I’m pretty sure I would like Goffin or Kohli to win RG, but would that be best for my tennis fandom longterm?

Aaaaaarrrggghhhhh - ******* Fed dropping out of tournaments makes life complicated.

Thiem or Chung winning is best for business and best for tennis but I’m not getting my hopes even slightly up for that.

Nadal will win RG with little resistance and the “GOAT” debate will continue.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

You replied in a manner that ignored everything I’d written.

Was it my post you were responding to?

I was responding in the manner that really you should not be upset. He was never going to play, it wasn't some hand on heavy heart decision from him. He has now just bluntly said that he has no intentions to step on clay.

And RG does not need Fedal, that story is played out. Lets see some new talent try to emerge on the clay.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nadal will win RG with little resistance and the “GOAT” debate will continue.

He'll be 32, I say he will not win #11. And if Del Po really is mentally into clay and peaks during RG, the big guy has a chance.He doesn't choke against the top players and that FH is.... off the charts! JMDP for his second slam in June in Paris. You heard it here first (of course, you also heard from me that Nick would win a slam in 2017 and 2018...)

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Thiem or Chung winning is best for business and best for tennis but I’m not getting my hopes even slightly up for that.

Nadal will win RG with little resistance and the “GOAT” debate will continue.

Chung would be an interesting win. He gets people excited. Seems to have a great future on slow hard courts so a notable clay win would pair really nicely.

Love him or hate him, we really need someone to step up.

Fedal just can’t continue delivering the way it has forever.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

He'll be 32, I say he will not win #11. And if Del Po really is mentally into clay and peaks during RG, the big guy has a chance.He doesn't choke against the top players and that FH is.... off the charts! JMDP for his second slam in June in Paris. You heard it here first (of course, you also heard from me that Nick would win a slam in 2017 and 2018...)

I’d love to see Delpo win and he’s in great form right now but I just don’t see him beating Rafa on clay.

Nick will definitely win a slam eventually. He’s far too talented not to.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

He'll be 32, I say he will not win #11. And if Del Po really is mentally into clay and peaks during RG, the big guy has a chance.He doesn't choke against the top players and that FH is.... off the charts! JMDP for his second slam in June in Paris. You heard it here first (of course, you also heard from me that Nick would win a slam in 2017 and 2018...)

We could see some new blood emerge at RG, but personally I feel if Nadal tears it up again on the clay leading into RG, he will be very difficult to stop.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

I was responding in the manner that really you should not be upset. He was never going to play, it wasn't some hand on heavy heart decision from him. He has now just bluntly said that he has no intentions to step on clay.

And RG does not need Fedal, that story is played out. Lets see some new talent try to emerge on the clay.

Not sure how first part of your post is relevant to me. I’m talking about my approach as a tennis fan when my favourite isn’t in the picture.

Second part yep. That’s the meat and potatoes of the conversation. It would be nice if someone came along and made things more interesting. @paranoidandroid above mentions Chung. Yeah, coupled with his results on slow HC’s, if Chung made waves on clay it would be really really good for tennis.

 

[Standaa]

He'll be 32, I say he will not win #11. And if Del Po really is mentally into clay and peaks during RG, the big guy has a chance.He doesn't choke against the top players and that FH is.... off the charts! JMDP for his second slam in June in Paris. You heard it here first (of course, you also heard from me that Nick would win a slam in 2017 and 2018...)

How much in denial must one be to say Delpo has a better shot at RG after just one succesful HC tournament than freakin’ Nadal.

 

[Bartelby]

Nadal will come out of the medical re-tooling workshop ready for the clay season, as usual, before returning to the garage, as usual.

 

[Mainad]

And about Fed too in 2015. And I was wrong that Hillary Clinton would be elected President in 2016. Mortals do err on occasion, no?

I wish you hadn't erred on that one.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I wish you hadn't erred on that one.

She’s just as crazy and psychopathic as the maniac we’ve got now.

Ric Flair 2020

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Why not just let it be for once? Let the people post threads about Fed playing clay if they want to be hopeful/ignorant and don’t let it bother you.

You don’t need to persuade them about your truth if they’re gonna eventually learn about it anyway. Or did you want to be a TTW prophet?

In fairness the conversation on Fed playing clay did get quite testy at times, I don’t hold it against @BeatlesFan for taking a victory lap on his/her prediction coming true.

 

[BeatlesFan]

How much in denial must one be to say Delpo has a better shot at RG after just one succesful HC tournament than freakin’ Nadal.

Let it go, buddy. Nadal is 32 years old and hasn't played a full event since October, so anything's on the table for RG now. Bagging on or praising someone for a false or correct prediction is a waste of everyone's time. I've been wrong a million times in my life, but guess what? So has everyone else, but some just won't admit it. There's nothing wrong or sinful about making wrong predictions. If I think Del Po can win RG in June, why argue it? It's as valid as all those thinking Zverev or Thiem will do it.

 

[MugOpponent]

As long as Rafa is healthy I'd be stunned if someone else won Roland Garros. The odds bear this out as Nadal is a -125 favorite to win. We all love Del Potro and it's great to see him in good form but let's be real, Del Potro is not winning against Nadal at Chatrier in a best of five.

If Del Potro is winning a slam this year, it's going to happen at the US Open. As of today he's arguably the favorite.

 

[Bartelby]

Rafa is almost always healthy for the clay season. It's the miracle of modern medicine.

 

[Standaa]

In fairness the conversation on Fed playing clay did get quite testy at times, I don’t hold it against @BeatlesFan for taking a victory lap on his/her prediction coming true.

Well she seemed to have gotten involved in any thread regarding this topic for the past half a year just to tirelessly repeat the same song over and over again about how she’s annoyed with these threads and how it’s super obvious what will the outcome be, and those threads kept popping anyways so I was asking myself why not just let it be, it was WAY too obvious to me that the debate wasn’t gonna stop until the decision was officially announced.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[Bartelby]

Your friends were commenting on the issue, but I decided to delete it just the same before you rushed in to pretend to be shocked.

So if you want to delete your commentary and my initial response, it's up to you. You can file my comment for further reference six months from now.

Your aim, perhaps, is to have this fine thread nuked?

Not sure what world you currently occupy to have developed the opinion that this damage can be undone.

 

[Standaa]

Let it go, buddy. Nadal is 32 years old and hasn't played a full event since October, so anything's on the table for RG now. Bagging on or praising someone for a false or correct prediction is a waste of everyone's time. I've been wrong a million times in my life, but guess what? So has everyone else, but some just won't admit it. There's nothing wrong or sinful about making wrong predictions. If I think Del Po can win RG in June, why argue it? It's as valid as all those thinking Zverev or Thiem will do it.

Excuse me but if Nadal is fit for the clay season it just seems ridiculous to favour anyone else over him to win RG maybe because the results of the last 12 years strongly indicate we should favour him. But it’s of course your opinion and you’re perfectly allowed to keep it. It just that an objective prediction and a wish are different things.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Well she seemed to have gotten involved in any thread regarding this topic for the past half a year just to tirelessly repeat the same song over and over again about how she’s annoyed with these threads and how it’s super obvious what will the outcome be, and those threads kept popping anyways so I was asking myself why not just let it be, it was WAY too obvious to me that the debate wasn’t gonna stop until it was officially announced.

I’m one of those that really wanted to see Fed take a stab at RG2018, so I know how it felt to have my opinions and views mocked. But its also a fact the dialogue got ugly from all sides as this issue had Fedfans knotted up.

Given the manner @BeatlesFan voiciferously argued his/her end of the matter I don’t hold it against @BeatlesFan for feeling vindicated in some sense.

This is not to say I agree with it, or even like it.

But I can definitely understand it.

 

[Standaa]

I’m one of those that really wanted to see Fed take a stab at RG2018, so I know how it felt to have my opinions and views mocked. But its also a fact the dialogue got ugly from all sides as this issue had Fedfans knotted up.

Given the manner @BeatlesFan voiciferously argued his/her end of the matter I don’t hold it against @BeatlesFan for feeling vindicated in some sense.

This is not to say I agree with it, or even like it.

But I can definitely understand it.

I don’t hold it against her either, no way. If she’s feeling vindicated and proud about proving to those people something so obvious over and over again then good for her.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

I don’t hold it against her either, no way. If she’s feeling vindicated and proud about proving to those people something so obvious over and over again then good for her.

I don’t want to be telling people how to write, it isn’t my place. Nor does it really do anything for me.

Given you posted this message, the origin of our own exchange...

Why not just let it be for once? Let the people post threads about Fed playing clay if they want to be hopeful/ignorant and don’t let it bother you.

You don’t need to persuade them about your truth if they’re gonna eventually learn about it anyway. Or did you want to be a TTW prophet?

...and @BeatlesFan not only liked your post, but responded with this...

Fair enough, point taken.

...I should think a constructive way to phrase it might be:

”I don’t hold it against her either, no way. If she’s feeling vindicated and proud about proving to those people then good for her.”

Forgive me if I’m being entirely too presumptuous in editing what you’ve written, or suggesting how you should fashion messages. I can see how this can come across quite awkwardly.

The truth of it is I really liked your original post, and liked how @BeatlesFan responded. It seemed like a nice finish to the aforementioned nastiness on these clay threads.

Generousity and courteousness are very good things to have in our conversations.

 

[Bartelby]

My thoughts exactly!

Generousity and courteousness are very good things to have in our conversations.

 

[Standaa]

I don’t want to be telling people how to write, it isn’t my place. Nor does it really do anything for me.

Given you posted this message, the origin of our own exchange...



...and @BeatlesFan not only liked your post, but responded with this...



...I should think a constructive way to phrase it might be:

”I don’t hold it against her either, no way. If she’s feeling vindicated and proud about proving to those people then good for her.”

Forgive me if I’m being entirely too presumptuous in editing what you’ve written, or suggesting how you should fashion messages. I can see how this can come across quite awkwardly.

The truth of it is I really liked your original post, and liked how @BeatlesFan responded. It seemed like a nice finish to the aforementioned nastiness on these clay threads.

Generousity and courteousness are very good things to have in our conversations.

I wasn’t trying to sound hostile, it’s that I have made myself clear in my original post that, unlike you, I didn’t understand her tendency to get annoyed at the endless threads about the same topic instead of trying to ignore them and the tendency to try to prove something to people who obviously won’t listen until it’s announced officially by Federer himself. But she was right in the end and some people have noticed it so her effort seems to have paid off. It’s 4 AM in my country so I’m not really able to recognize how exactly will my sentences come off to some people, but I didn’t mean to sound hostile with that post.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

My thoughts exactly!

Whaaaaaaaaattttttt?

I like it better when you disagree with everything I write and say. And jump attack me over the head with your cane.

Ha!

Some people are at their finest when being disagreeable.

Others don’t know how to disagree in style, it’s better finding some little thing to agree about about lest it become another bland, generic, namecalling thread.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

I wasn’t trying to sound hostile, it’s that I have made myself clear in my original post that, unlike you, I didn’t understand her tendency to get annoyed at the endless threads about the same topic instead of trying to ignore them and the tendency to try to prove something to people who obviously won’t listen until it’s announced officially by Federer himself. But she was right in the end and some people have noticed it so her effort seems to have paid off. It’s 4 AM in my country so I’m not really able to recognize how exactly will my sentences come off to some people, but I didn’t mean to sound hostile with that post.

True.

It’s tricky business writing things on the internet and not having them turned inside-out for kicks by whoever comes along in the next minute.

I suppose I’d invested quite a bit of myself into these clay threads. Something I’d not done before. I need to be open minded about the idea there were people on the other side of the fence. Heck, it’s perfectly plausible the more each side went at it, the more it made the other camp respond. After all, this is what makes an issue heated.

In this regard, I’m probably looking for some healthy closure on the matter - your original post and @BeatlesFan’s response seemed like it for me.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Clay as a surface has stepped up in level. Federer needs a bit more training to evolve, one year isn't enough.

lol

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Thrilled that he will be taking the break he needs and that he has his eyes on the prize.

No getting distracted by lousy dirt. Rest up. Save yourself. Get ready to put everything down and leave your mind and body out there for one more run at the Single-Handed Men's Championship of the World.

For the first time in the history of the sport the champion of champions - the all time outright Wimbledon record holder - will return to Centre Court, rested and prepared. Unrivaled, unmatched, and unafraid.

Nothing to prove, and everything to defend.
Can he do it again?

 

[kevaninho]

I was responding in the manner that really you should not be upset. He was never going to play, it wasn't some hand on heavy heart decision from him. He has now just bluntly said that he has no intentions to step on clay.

And RG does not need Fedal, that story is played out. Lets see some new talent try to emerge on the clay.

Shouldn't he have said it earlier then, rather than wait till hes in a bad mood because he lost a match? Smacks of sour grapes.

 

[Mr Feeny]

In fairness the conversation on Fed playing clay did get quite testy at times, I don’t hold it against @BeatlesFan for taking a victory lap on his/her prediction coming true.

We remember. You going around calling Federer fans who wanted to skip clay "pathetic" and insisting that he should play RG.

Thankfully Federer's thoughts were in line with most of us.

 

[Mr Feeny]

Shouldn't he have said it earlier then, rather than wait till hes in a bad mood because he lost a match? Smacks of sour grapes.

How exactly does that smack of sour grapes?
He can say it wheneer he chooses. It doesn't really make a difference or tell us much about his disposition.

You're adorable.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Shouldn't he have said it earlier then, rather than wait till hes in a bad mood because he lost a match? Smacks of sour grapes.

I think he said it at the right time. When he won Miami last year, he said he would not play...did anyone say it was sour grapes then?

 

[Shaolin]

Damn.

First the loss at IW
Then this one in MIA

...and finally, him deciding to skip RG2018.

Yeesh. It’s difficult being excited as tennis fan when the best players aren’t in the biggest tournaments.

I’m quite mixed now about what I want to see happen at RG.

Another Nadal triumph?
To inject the Fedal rivalry one more boost.

A young buck to finally make a splash? Because Fedal can’t - and shouldn’t - keep going forever.

I’m pretty sure I would like Goffin or Kohli to win RG, but would that be best for my tennis fandom longterm?

Aaaaaarrrggghhhhh - ******* Fed dropping out of tournaments makes life complicated.

Don't get upset...he could have retired years ago and here he is winning slams in 2018 still. Life is good. What really matters is W and USO. Lots of great tennis ahead.

Silver lining is these losses are going to **** Fed off and he will come back strong.

 

[True Fanerer]

Don't get upset...he could have retired years ago and here he is winning slams in 2018 still. Life is good. What really matters is W and USO. Lots of great tennis ahead.

Silver lining is these losses are going to **** Fed off and he will come back strong.

I think it was too much information to process at once for some of us(myself included). Hope you're right and he comes back ready to kick some a*s on grass.

 

[nikdom]

Don't get upset...he could have retired years ago and here he is winning slams in 2018 still. Life is good. What really matters is W and USO. Lots of great tennis ahead.

Silver lining is these losses are going to **** Fed off and he will come back strong.

Vamos.

Sorry, Cum Jetz.

 

[BeatlesFan]

WTF? What an interesting amount of speculations but I seriously doubt your information

@kOaMaster
Do you still seriously doubt the information?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

We remember. You going around calling Federer fans who wanted to skip clay "pathetic" and insisting that he should play RG.

Thankfully Federer's thoughts were in line with most of us.

He also claimed that he knows what he is talking about.

 

[Steve0904]

We remember. You going around calling Federer fans who wanted to skip clay "pathetic" and insisting that he should play RG.

Thankfully Federer's thoughts were in line with most of us.

Yeah. That was hilarious from the outside. Getting involved in it for me, was quite pointless. I would've supported whatever decision Federer made, but I'm happier that he's skipping clay.

The feeling I'm getting from the genuine Federer fans that wanted him to play on clay is that they're disappointed that he's not playing. What that tells me is that they don't really care what Federer wants, they just wanted to see him play on clay to see how his game works on the surface.

The downside of that being legitimate injury. In which case I'm sure many of the ones wanting him to play on clay would've then regretted it, and if he bombed on clay we would've just said "I told you so." His chances on clay were always slim. Not sure why so many lost their minds over this.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Shouldn't he have said it earlier then, rather than wait till hes in a bad mood because he lost a match? Smacks of sour grapes.

No it doesn't lol

It smacks of him being tired and realising he needs a rest if he is to have a good chance at Wimbledon.

He makes being the best player in the world at age 36.5 look easy, but it really isn't.

 

[kOaMaster]

@kOaMaster
Do you still seriously doubt the information?

Well played!
I still don't believe #2 and I don't think #3 is any kind of "proof" - if Federer would want to play RG, he would skip it.

 

[Deleted member 742196]

Yeah. That was hilarious from the outside. Getting involved in it for me, was quite pointless. I would've supported whatever decision Federer made, but I'm happier that he's skipping clay.

The feeling I'm getting from the genuine Federer fans that wanted him to play on clay is that they're disappointed that he's not playing. What that tells me is that they don't really care what Federer wants, they just wanted to see him play on clay to see how his game works on the surface.

The downside of that being legitimate injury. In which case I'm sure many of the ones wanting him to play on clay would've then regretted it, and if he bombed on clay we would've just said "I told you so." His chances on clay were always slim. Not sure why so many lost their minds over this.

Lord, I’m probably going to get myself harangued a million different ways for what I’m about to say, because I am disappointed he isn’t going to make an attempt at RG this year.

Why should I be as invested in what he wants? How is it relevant to me as his fan what he wants? His wins and losses aren’t mine. His life choices have no consequence to me. I like the dude, I love his tennis, and I’m a great fan of his, but nothing he accomplishes has any personal relevance to me.

It’s an interesting thing you wrote, the past month I’ve had to think a bit more about what being a fan of his means to me. And where I draw the line between Fandom and worshipdom. This clay issue has brought the matter to the forefront in my mind, so I’m quite glad for it.

I’m a fan of Federer’s tennis. That’s where I want to be. It may not be a distinction others want to dwell on, but it’s important for me to be clear about, especially to myself.

Great post. I like the ones that force you to confront your issues. But then this is also why I like tennis in the first place. And yes, why I like Federer.

What I can say is Federer obviously knows best how to manage his career. And me wanting something different at times from his career choices in no way conflicts with how I wish to carry out being a tennis fan of his.

Federer plays tennis for his gain. Not mine.

I’m a fan of his tennis for my gain. Not Federer’s.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Lol, Rusty, I wish you reached those conclusions before you were walking around telling people how they should feel about Federer's chances, insulting them and actually making a laughing stock of yourself, while trying to explain the tennis behind your optimism for Federer's success at RG.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

So he has confirmed that he will be skipping the clay season again. I get his reasons but can't say I agree. Why the obsession with Wimbledon when he has already won it 8 times? He has only won the FO once and this is really a bit of an asterix on his record. Nobody has won every slam twice and he could do it with Nadal still a bit suspect injury wise. Surely he could play one warm up clay event and then the FO and then have a complete rest before Wimbledon and maybe skip Halle.