MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Just wondering, what your honest feelings are about Nadal at this point in time? Doesn't matter to me if you like or dislike him, just be honest, just curious 
Question for Fed fans
- Thread starter MichaelNadal
- Start date
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Hmm, I'm too high to remember your old username lol, but I totally remember you. I hope you've softened up to the Nadal.
K
King Fed WW
Guest
OK...
Well I find him slightly sad to watch these days. The French Open beat down was not enjoyable to watch at all, particularly the last set. He has clearly declined but I don't think he is done, he doesn't need to be at his peak level to win a slam. Outside nole the slams are wide open. Cilic, Stan x2 etc Needs to find a way to adapt, be more aggressive etc. Do something with that serve, I don't know what but something. New racquet might help.
Still think he has got another run left in the tank and think his problems are being slightly overblown.
I definitely think he has another French Open in him. Although I am part of the camp that he hasn't been in good shape at all for 18 months, in fact I think his results have generally been very poor since A0 14, not just 2015. Winning RG14 (where is he was far from his best) maybe helped cloud his 2014 level.This isn't an attack fangirls, just my opinion.
Partly encouraged as it helps Federer, with Nadal being Federer' s kryptonite.
I have seen enough legendary tennis from the big 4 over the past 10 years so I couldn't really care less whether Nadal gets back to a good level from a tennis fan pov.
If his losses come to the new generation then it makes me happy, like Raonic in IW. I hope he loses next time he plays Nishikori.
If Nadal wins RG16, it would probably make part of me smile. Nadal winning the WTF this year would be quality.
Nice humble guy, although I struggle to get personality from him. Although I would rather that than forced personality or attention seeking...
Think he looks terrible in suits.
His uncle is still a clown.
Nadal and Muguruza in Rio 2016 mixed would be quality.
Still tennis' 2nd biggest superstar and the only other man who attracts huge attention in the game.
Never had a problem with the man.
I will continue to troll his fan(girl)s, (or fan oaps?)who provide me with some great entertainment.
Last edited by a moderator:
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
NatF
Bionic Poster
torpantennis
Legend
IMO, careers tend to follow similar sort of pathways:
Federer: PEAK 2004-2007, OFF 2008, LATE RESURGENCE 2009, DECLINE 2010-> (decline at age 28.5)
Nadal: PEAK 2008-2011, OFF 2012, LATE RESURGENCE 2013, DECLINE 2014-> (decline at age 28)
Djokovic: PEAK 2011-2013, OFF 2014, LATE RESURGENCE 2015, DECLINE 2016-> (decline at age 29)
And then you have to take into account that how "decline-friendly" their game styles are. Nadal has relatively weak serve, his game is based on fast foot speed and court coverage so his game definitely isn't friendly in the declining foot speed age! Djokovic has developed his serve and all-court attacking under Becker so his results might decline slower than Nadal. Federer has the serve and the all-court attacking style which is very friendly for good results in decline. STILL, Federer only got one slam post AO2010!
So my honest feeling: Nadal is done winning slams. Djokovic will struggle in winning more than 1-2 slams after AO2016. That age 28.5+ is not friendly for tennis greats.
Federer: PEAK 2004-2007, OFF 2008, LATE RESURGENCE 2009, DECLINE 2010-> (decline at age 28.5)
Nadal: PEAK 2008-2011, OFF 2012, LATE RESURGENCE 2013, DECLINE 2014-> (decline at age 28)
Djokovic: PEAK 2011-2013, OFF 2014, LATE RESURGENCE 2015, DECLINE 2016-> (decline at age 29)
And then you have to take into account that how "decline-friendly" their game styles are. Nadal has relatively weak serve, his game is based on fast foot speed and court coverage so his game definitely isn't friendly in the declining foot speed age! Djokovic has developed his serve and all-court attacking under Becker so his results might decline slower than Nadal. Federer has the serve and the all-court attacking style which is very friendly for good results in decline. STILL, Federer only got one slam post AO2010!
So my honest feeling: Nadal is done winning slams. Djokovic will struggle in winning more than 1-2 slams after AO2016. That age 28.5+ is not friendly for tennis greats.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I still root against him tbh
What u know about heels?
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
1. I don't know what his issue is at this point. But I feel he isn't done.
2. I think he'll be back and have another good year, or a couple more slams, but not likely in 2015.
3. I don't understand why some Nadal fans feel that if he plays Federer right now, he will magically get his confidence back (as though he will become peak/prime Nadal again). This almost suggests that his problem is not age/injury/coaching/mental/decline/playing style/racquet change etc etc but just that he hasn't played Federer in ages, and he needs to play Federer every now and then to keep winning slams. It also means that if Fed were to retire, LOL, then Nadal is FINNISH !
4. I certainly want to see Nadal play well, esp in non-slams. His winning a slam is an issue because if he gets to 15, certain Nadal fans (not you) will make life hell for Fed-fans, and won't let us catch a wink of sleep ever again.
I am all for Nadal winning another slam if you guys can promise u won't rake us over the coals
Anyway, since it was an open-ended question that's all i have to say for now.
2. I think he'll be back and have another good year, or a couple more slams, but not likely in 2015.
3. I don't understand why some Nadal fans feel that if he plays Federer right now, he will magically get his confidence back (as though he will become peak/prime Nadal again). This almost suggests that his problem is not age/injury/coaching/mental/decline/playing style/racquet change etc etc but just that he hasn't played Federer in ages, and he needs to play Federer every now and then to keep winning slams. It also means that if Fed were to retire, LOL, then Nadal is FINNISH !
4. I certainly want to see Nadal play well, esp in non-slams. His winning a slam is an issue because if he gets to 15, certain Nadal fans (not you) will make life hell for Fed-fans, and won't let us catch a wink of sleep ever again.
I am all for Nadal winning another slam if you guys can promise u won't rake us over the coals
Anyway, since it was an open-ended question that's all i have to say for now.
torpantennis
Legend
There will be. Young generation, Thiem/Coric/Kyrgios/Kokkinakis are rising. Thiem is #15 in 2015 ATP Race! And even Nishikori/Dimitrov will have more of a chance against declining Djokovic.
The_18th_Slam
Hall of Fame
I'll be honest and admit I don't feel particularly bad for him. In fact, I'm kind of enjoying this fall. However, I think he has 1 more Slam left in him. And with that, he'll be the second greatest player of the Open Era, which is a staggering achievement.
I can see him retiring in 2017.
I can see him retiring in 2017.
NatF
Bionic Poster
NatF
Bionic Poster
After all the talk about how Federer didn't actually decline it's hard to feel too much sympathy. But I think Nadal will rise to a stable level eventually below his best but still contending for slams.
gn
G.O.A.T.
True it will happen. But I don't see it happening anytime soon. May be a year and a half later. Djokovic won a GS at the age of 20. Federer and Nadal had real challenge. But none of the players from 90s won a GS. Nishikori is injury-prone. Dimi has showed promise but he is going down now. I think Djokovic will have extra time(unless Murray defeats him in a slam) unlike Fedal.
his old game which relied heavily on his physicality is not going to give him results as he approaches tennis grandpa status. keep in mind that even though he is closer in age to muzz/novak, in tennis terms he is not too far off from freddy given that he has been on tour since 2003. nadal is done unless he revamps his game like fed did in 2014. however, this would mean some coaching changes which I dont think is likely to happen.
I do not dislike nadal (more high quality players around = tennis is better to watch) but I absolutely dislike his obnoxious, delusional and excuse making fans. also I think people who claim federer is not the goat based on his an abysmal h2h against ralph are cluctching at straws since that is only one metric among many other more important ones. until someone comes along with the same records AND an amazing h2h against 'their main rival' fred is the best we have so he remains the goat.
I do not dislike nadal (more high quality players around = tennis is better to watch) but I absolutely dislike his obnoxious, delusional and excuse making fans. also I think people who claim federer is not the goat based on his an abysmal h2h against ralph are cluctching at straws since that is only one metric among many other more important ones. until someone comes along with the same records AND an amazing h2h against 'their main rival' fred is the best we have so he remains the goat.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
torpantennis
Legend
So true. After all the denial of Federer decline, I'd not be too unhappy to see a very rapid decline of Nadal AND Djokovic. For Nadal, it seems to indeed be happening.
The_18th_Slam
Hall of Fame
Yep. "Federer was playing as good as ever in 2011! The field caught up to him!"
gn
G.O.A.T.
As for being serious to OP's question, I think Nadal has to serve really better. I remember Djokovic almost batchslapping every Nadal's serve to winners towards the end of the match at RG. As a fed fan, I did not want Nadal to reach 17. Then all of a sudden, I started to support Nadal at RG because of unstoppable Nole and his FANS(need I say more)
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
As for being serious to OP's question, I think Nadal has to serve really better. I remember Djokovic almost batchslapping every Nadal's serve to winners towards the end of the match at RG. As a fed fan, I did not want Nadal to reach 17. Then all of a sudden, I started to support Nadal at RG because of unstoppable Nole and his FANS(need I say more)
It is ok.
I know, one *earlier* Nole fan almost got me against Nole, but thankfully he is no longer with us (since about January, now he is trolling full force at MTF trying to turn as many as he can against Nole there). I've supported Nole here since the day I joined, and it's saying something how one solitary fan could almost make me want Novak to lose just to spite him.
NatF
Bionic Poster
It is ok.
I know, one *earlier* Nole fan almost got me against Nole, but thankfully he is no longer with us (since about January, now he is trolling full force at MTF trying to turn as many as he can against Nole there). I've supported Nole here since the day I joined, and it's saying something how one solitary fan could almost make me want Novak to lose just to spite him.
Yeah I went through a phase of serious dislike against Nadal due to some of his fans comments on here. Nowadays I just try to revel in the banter though
My thought is Nadal has done. Time is not his friendly counterpart.
He is Federer's greatest nemesis. Of course I feel safe thinking he is not a force at slams anymore, but I feel sad at the same time. Vacuumed. An era has gone. Two great players has passed their finest days on tours and their greatness can only be seen on boring youtube short videos.
I hope some great young players with interesting playing style will rise and I will cheer for them. Of course not against my favorite.
He is Federer's greatest nemesis. Of course I feel safe thinking he is not a force at slams anymore, but I feel sad at the same time. Vacuumed. An era has gone. Two great players has passed their finest days on tours and their greatness can only be seen on boring youtube short videos.
I hope some great young players with interesting playing style will rise and I will cheer for them. Of course not against my favorite.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
emmm...... "honest" feelings, really ?Just wondering, what your honest feelings are about Nadal at this point in time? Doesn't matter to me if you like or dislike him, just be honest, just curious
his fall in the rankings really isn't quick enough for my taste... step on the gas, man !
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
I just hope Rafa stays on tour long enough with his current form.
If he retires now, all we will hear is ,even with a career beset with injuries he made 14 majors, ignoring 9 of 14 was achieved on his beloved clay.
If he retires now, all we will hear is ,even with a career beset with injuries he made 14 majors, ignoring 9 of 14 was achieved on his beloved clay.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Neutral about him most of the time, root against him when he's playing any of my favourite players, don't want him to break Fed's slam record. Will definitely miss him when he retires because I'm so used to him being there and producing thrillers against the very best, the same way I felt about Agassi or Sampras despite not being a big fan of them when they were playing (individually, I loved their matches so not the completely same situation I guess). Despite everything, as a tennis fan I feel glad to have witnessed arguably the best CC player ever at his best, it is something that will stay with me.
Also think he has by far the most obnoxious fanbase I've ever seen when he's dominating the game that is by and large more about hating one particular player (Fed) than celebrating Nadal's triumph. Speaking about TW you had two posters in particular (Dork Knight and LOLville) that would cover the forum's general discussion with a dozen of Fed bashing threads and start reviving old ones as soon as the novelty of the new ones wore off, completely dictating the narrative.
Also think he has by far the most obnoxious fanbase I've ever seen when he's dominating the game that is by and large more about hating one particular player (Fed) than celebrating Nadal's triumph. Speaking about TW you had two posters in particular (Dork Knight and LOLville) that would cover the forum's general discussion with a dozen of Fed bashing threads and start reviving old ones as soon as the novelty of the new ones wore off, completely dictating the narrative.
K
King Fed WW
Guest
Very true. Many Federer fans hate Nadal because they are Federer fans.
Many Nadal fans are Nadal fans because they hate Federer.
Nadal's H2H with Federer is not only the reason Nadal has a lot of haters, it is also the reason for a lot of his fans
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Nadal's losses aren't as big of a treat as they were before but I still enjoy them. I'm surprised how I don't get angry anymore when he wins which wasn't the case until late 2014.
Murrayjuannow
Banned
I am bery bery bery brightened of de Nadal....... Looking good gonna win USO
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Somewhere between like, annoyed at, sympathetic towards and feeling sorry for him... It's complicated...
I will say that I am not enjoying his current form at all and that I find it to be bad for tennis as a whole at the moment.
I used to be a Nadal fan and even though he has brought upon the most painful losses for me as a Fed fan, I doubt I would have liked Fed as much as I do if Rafa wasn't there to make their historic rivalry. It was their contrast in styles and on court personas which made me as invested in tennis as I was really and I can only be thankful to him for that. All in all I can say that I greatly appreciate him and that I wish a much deserved final haul for him. Vamos Rafa!
I will say that I am not enjoying his current form at all and that I find it to be bad for tennis as a whole at the moment.
I used to be a Nadal fan and even though he has brought upon the most painful losses for me as a Fed fan, I doubt I would have liked Fed as much as I do if Rafa wasn't there to make their historic rivalry. It was their contrast in styles and on court personas which made me as invested in tennis as I was really and I can only be thankful to him for that. All in all I can say that I greatly appreciate him and that I wish a much deserved final haul for him. Vamos Rafa!
Last edited:
Levi_Ackerman
Legend
A fedfan happy that Nadal is tanking. What a surprise!
@MichaelNadal, what did you really expect when you created this thread? You didn't expect Fedfans to start falling over themselves to express solidarity and sympathy for Rafa, did you?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
A fedfan happy that Nadal is tanking. What a surprise!
@MichaelNadal, what did you really expect when you created this thread? You didn't expect Fedfans to start falling over themselves to express solidarity and sympathy for Rafa, did you?
No, but I genuinely don't need them to lol. I was serious about just wanting to know. I get what I need from Rafa, if the next guy doesn't that's on him.
The_18th_Slam
Hall of Fame
And who has the French Open title?
If anyone is butthurt after 17 Slams, well, they've got delicate sensibilities
The_18th_Slam
Hall of Fame
You mad, son?A fedfan happy that Nadal is tanking. What a surprise!
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
Please specify. About him here and now or about him historically speaking?Just wondering, what your honest feelings are about Nadal at this point in time? Doesn't matter to me if you like or dislike him, just be honest, just curious
As for the former, he's showing glimpses of good form, but I still don't root for him and can't see that happening safe for a sentimental Barcelona or Rio-title.
It's "good" to see him try and work through a crisis though - simply to see how he deals with it. Safe of Novak's rise in 2011 and his injury and family troubles in late 2009, he's hardly been in a real crisis (am not counting the 2012-injury in this regard as he came back to win immediately - unlike in 2009, where he went 11 months without a title despite playing most of the time) in the sense that he starting winning from a very young age and never really stopped.
FD3S
Hall of Fame
For all the strife the rivalry caused, I'm glad Nadal was around. If anyone thinks the weak era talk is bad now, it would have been a thousand times worse had Federer walked away with two Calendar Slams in 06/07. Plus, I genuinely believe they made each other better players, and in tandem they were absolutely fantastic for our sport. I don't like his game and I question some of his habits, but still I respect the hell out of his accomplishments without reservation.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Inanimate_object
Hall of Fame
It's sad to see Nadal struggling. Perhaps more so than when Federer was struggling in 2013. Nadal has always carried a huge amount of expectations on his shoulders. Both his fans and his detractors impossibly expect things that we were used to seeing at his best. So when one man fails to win a single clay masters during Euro clay, everyone jumps down his throat and thinks he should retire, or he was forced off steroids, or he doesn't care enough to change his game/coach. The reality of it is that this tough period for Nadal - though not irreversible - is simply the inevitability that many fans had forgotten existed. This holds true for Federer fans. On some level it must upset them to see Nadal in the dumps because it reminds them, that's where everyone, including Federer is heading. That these two athletes have been world-class for so long makes us kind of forget they are still mortal.
I know there are Federer fans who don't like Nadal to the extent that they find it good fun to cheer against a player. However I'd like to think majority of the fan-base does not carry vindictive trait. Most Federer fans should love Nadal. He's one half of one the most defining rivalry in modern tennis. When both are at their best, it allows us to daydream we are still in that time where there were two titans larger than life, whose mythos had grown so large as to inspire a hybrid grass-clay exhibition. Retirement is fast calling both Federer and Nadal. Best to enjoy both of them while you have the chance, no matter whose side you're on.
I know there are Federer fans who don't like Nadal to the extent that they find it good fun to cheer against a player. However I'd like to think majority of the fan-base does not carry vindictive trait. Most Federer fans should love Nadal. He's one half of one the most defining rivalry in modern tennis. When both are at their best, it allows us to daydream we are still in that time where there were two titans larger than life, whose mythos had grown so large as to inspire a hybrid grass-clay exhibition. Retirement is fast calling both Federer and Nadal. Best to enjoy both of them while you have the chance, no matter whose side you're on.
Levi_Ackerman
Legend
I don't even know.
Novak And The Net.
Banned
Can't stand the way he is playing right now. Like certain aspects of his game, but hate all his "other" stuff, MTOs, Time wasting, ETC...
D
Deleted member 307496
Guest
One can easily say Nadal is at his peak right now and the field has made his results seem lackluster.
zagor
Bionic Poster
That quite simply depends on which player you like more (or not at all), nothing else.
Not nearly to the extent that Fed did/does. Even at Wimbledon this year when he's 33 the idiotic media and fans were making him out to be the favourite against a 6 years younger fellow all-time tennis great that was tearing through the field this year (won every big tourney bar FO).
You got it the other way around, Nadal is probably heading to where Fed has been for the last 4-5 years (despite his serve and shallow depth of the field allowing him to keep the high ranking at times). This might (I'm not writing Nadal off for USO this year) be the first year since 2004 that Nadal won't win a slam, his fans have been very spoiled in that regard (not so much in others, like his injury layoffs).
I don't "love" a player if I don't love his playing style/game, who they are as people in their personal life is not my business (nor do I care for their media constructed images). I can (and do) respect Nadal as one of the giants of my favourite sport but that's as far as it goes.
One thing you said I can fully agree with though I don't think Nadal will retire anytime soon while Fed will probably call it quits in 2016 or 2017 the latest.
Similar threads
