Rafa hittin with the new paintjob

[Ultimatum]

You know, I just got through watching the finals of the Italian on Tennis Channel. Nadal's knees were not taped, he showed no ill effects, at match point, he basically did a leg press down to the court surface and there was no grimace, no indication of pain whatsoever. He beat a game Djokovic 7-6, 6-2; a good win on any day.

From the Italian, he went to Madrid where he lost to Federer in the finals. Again, he showed no ill effects, no pain, his knees were not taped and he made no indication of anything wrong physically.

Post Madrid? He loses in the QF's of Roland Garros, he bails on Wimbledon and reaches the finals of one tournament losing to Davydenko. He caps off the tournaments at the Masters going 0 - 3 and not winning a set.

He looks positively anorexic compared to his appearance at the Australian at the first of the year. Commentators at all his matches say he:

• doesn't hit the ball as deep as he did
• doesn't hit the ball as hard as he did
• doesn't move as well as he did

I don't know, but one would think that if he's lost weight to compensate for bad knees, and he's fully recovered as he claims, wouldn't he at the very least move better?

Pancho Segura is right, IMO. Nadal's days as a force on the ATP are over. The other guys know how to play/beat him and he can't impose himself on them any longer. The "edge" he once had is gone now.

Although i agree with you on the 3 points, i have to disagree with you on saying that Rafa is past his heyday. He might not be dominant on HC anymore, but he is and will always be a beast on clay and threat on grass. Yeah Bud, Pancho Segura always BS

 

[Aces09]

how do you know he hasn't really switched to the new model ? It looks like he is ripping the ball much harder than usual. i think the new frame has added more power to his game...:shock:

i don't think he'd switch to the exact racquet, he'd probably have the aeroproGT racquet without the cortex, Nadal obviously didn't like the cortex technology when it first came out so it wouldn't make sense if he switched to a racquet with cortex now.

 

[Seth]

Just curious, does anyone think Babolat will put out new dampeners with the new racquets, or keep the current custom-damps?

 

[getbusyliving]

That racquet looks almost identical to the current model.

 

[Rabbit]

Pancho Segura is full of crap.

Yeah, Segura is full of crap. That's why he's sought out by folks playing for a living. That's why Connors said that while his mother taught him how to play tennis, Segura taught him how to win. Segura coached Connors and Stan Smith over periods of time. Connors refined his game for a year under Segura's tutelage in L.A. Connors credits Segura with telling him how to beat Rosewall.

That's how he's picked the winner of the Open this year in delPotro even after delPo had never beaten Federer. Yeah, he's full of crap. And why he picked Rafter's first win over Sampras at the Open. He's probably forgotten more about tennis than the collective minds on these boards will ever know. We should all be so full of crap.

Although i agree with you on the 3 points, i have to disagree with you on saying that Rafa is past his heyday. He might not be dominant on HC anymore, but he is and will always be a beast on clay and threat on grass. Yeah Bud, Pancho Segura always BS

I hope I am wrong because I am a friend of Rafael Nadal. He is a good person and he is a gentleman. But talking about tennis only, the longevity might be only another two or three years because there are too many guys 6-foot-3 and taller coming up and coming on strong. Let me break down his game for a moment to explain. Does he have a great serve? Questionable. Does he have a great return of serve? Questionable. He is great on rallies, great on defense, he has the heart of a lion, the conditioning of a giant and he’s got guts, therefore he wins. But look at some of his biggest matches, with the exception of the Federer match in the French Open final last year, he wins many of these matches in tight ways. Look at the scores. He is winning some sets, 7-5 or 7-6. That shows he is a better player, but not a dominant player. When you win a set 7-5 it means you are just a little bit better than the other guy, not a dominant player and when you win a set 7-6 the margin is so small. Therefore I think there will be a new crop of players like del Potro, who lost today. If del Potro could serve better — his first serve percentage for a guy 6-feet-6 is so bad it is unbelievable — del Potro would be so dangerous. Look at a guy like Cilic or a Querrey — they are big guys who will get better. To beat Nadal you got to have a backhand because his best shot is his forehand crosscourt and on serve on key points he serves to your backhand, pulls you wide and takes you off the court. However, the big guys have good leverage and good reach to get to the ball. The high ball does not bother them the way his high topspin bothers others. Therefore Nadal, in my opinion, could be in a lot of trouble in 2010. Again, I hope I am wrong. I like Nadal very much as a person. He is a gentleman, but I believe these guys coming up are going to be able to play him.

and again

A legendary player and coach, Segura watches tennis daily from the comfort of his couch on Tennis Channel and remains of the game’s leading analysts. How good is he? In a discussion before the start of the US Open, Segura told Tennis Week “Del Potro will win the US Open. Del Potro’s the one.” He reiterated that prediction during a book signing he conducted during the first week of the Open at the National Tennis Center.

In an interview with Tennis Week last April, Segura not only forecast the rise of del Potro and Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the US Open final before falling to the resurgent Kim Clijsters, he also predicted Rafael Nadal’s reign as World No. 1 might not last too long.

I hope I am wrong because I am a friend of Rafael Nadal. He is a good person and he is a gentleman. But talking about tennis only, the longevity might be only another two or three years because there are too many guys 6-foot-3 and taller coming up and coming on strong,” Segura said last April. “Let me break down his game for a moment to explain. Does he have a great serve? Questionable. Does he have a great return of serve? Questionable. He is great on rallies, great on defense, he has the heart of a lion, the conditioning of a giant and he’s got guts, therefore he wins. But look at some of his biggest matches, with the exception of the Federer match in the French Open final last year, he wins many of these matches in tight ways. Look at the scores. He is winning some sets, 7-5 or 7-6. That shows he is a better player, but not a dominant player. When you win a set 7-5 it means you are just a little bit better than the other guy, not a dominant player and when you win a set 7-6 the margin is so small.

Del Potro has an advantage because he is 6-foot-6. If he plays left-handers like Nadal, who play heavy topspin, then the ball bounces high where he likes it and he is hitting downward on every shot due to his height. Del Potro hits the ball hard and clean. He has the potential to be a great player. He has a great backhand, great forehand, he moves rather well, especially for a guy his size, he has a huge serve too and also he is only 20 years old. So he has everything going for him, it’s just a question of time. He can still improve his second serve and his volley game. I believe he will be one of the best players in the world, if not the best player in the world.

I like Nadal very much. I think Nadal is potentially a great player, but he works too hard for every point. He puts so much effort into every point and that can take a toll. I don’t think he is as fluid as Federer or as fluid as del Potro. You can never count out Nadal, but there are so many other guys coming up. How about Verdasco? How about Soderling? How about Cilic? How good will they get? The big guys are changing the men’s game. That is the sad part of the game. You will not see 5-foot-8 guys like I was at the top of the game in the future because the most important part of the game is the serve and the return of serve. What are you gonna do when you play the big gorillas who serve so big? You see how the bigger guys like del Potro and Cilic can play Nadal and Nadal’s return of serve is average — it is not great. In the womens’ game, you can get away with being 5-foot-5 or 5-4 like Henin was or like this girl Oudin at the US Open. But who can serve on the women’s side? The Williams sisters are the only ones in women’s tennis who can serve consistently well — that’s one reason why they always have a shot in the majors.

Tennis Week caught up with Segura on Friday afternoon where before completing this interview, he offered one more prediction: “I like Cilic over Nadal in the (Beijing) semis,” Segura said.

Reading the above, it's tough logic to argue. Hence my initial pronouncement.

Here is the link to the complete interview(s), there are two.

http://blog.tennisweek.com/?p=487

http://blog.tennisweek.com/?p=669

Given the state of the game right now and the ascendency of delPotro and players on the horizon and Nadal's slump, can he maintain? Winning Majors like Federer has done is an anamoly, not the rule. Very few players can come back to win Majors after they've lost their edge.

I've heard more than one commentator opine that the other guys on tour have figured out how to play Nadal. If that's even half true, Nadal is going to have to either do what he does now better, or become more rounded himself. Only time will tell, but if he's lost his edge due to either a clean regime or family issues or whatever the reason, he's lost his edge and it's going to be hard to reclaim it IMO. Segura quantifies Nadal's game much better than anyone else I've heard comment though.

 

[Morrissey]

His muscles look huge. What looks thinner? Some of you people are nuts. I've seen him person. He was never a huge guy at all. Trolls are still trolls it seems. Don't middle aged men have anything better to do than pick on young boys? Kinda sick if you ask me.

I wonder if he is really going to switch to the new hurricanes, or if they are just black versions of the duralast.

Yep, and it's rather sad he follows every single Nadal related thread to show everyone how much he loves him. (sarcasm) He's lost it over the years, used to respect the dude. As for Nadal, he looks the same, especially in the beginning with the cut sleeves on his shirt showing his muscles.
Love the racquet and the bag BTW!

 

[Morrissey]

You know, I just got through watching the finals of the Italian on Tennis Channel. Nadal's knees were not taped, he showed no ill effects, at match point, he basically did a leg press down to the court surface and there was no grimace, no indication of pain whatsoever. He beat a game Djokovic 7-6, 6-2; a good win on any day.

From the Italian, he went to Madrid where he lost to Federer in the finals. Again, he showed no ill effects, no pain, his knees were not taped and he made no indication of anything wrong physically.

Post Madrid? He loses in the QF's of Roland Garros, he bails on Wimbledon and reaches the finals of one tournament losing to Davydenko. He caps off the tournaments at the Masters going 0 - 3 and not winning a set.

He looks positively anorexic compared to his appearance at the Australian at the first of the year. Commentators at all his matches say he:

• doesn't hit the ball as deep as he did
• doesn't hit the ball as hard as he did
• doesn't move as well as he did

I don't know, but one would think that if he's lost weight to compensate for bad knees, and he's fully recovered as he claims, wouldn't he at the very least move better?

Pancho Segura is right, IMO. Nadal's days as a force on the ATP are over. The other guys know how to play/beat him and he can't impose himself on them any longer. The "edge" he once had is gone now.

I'm keeping this one along with the other ones that predicted his demise back in 2005. Still waiting for it.

 

[Morrissey]

Pancho Segura is full of crap.

and so is Rabbit.

 

[Morrissey]

Yeah, Segura is full of crap. That's why he's sought out by folks playing for a living. That's why Connors said that while his mother taught him how to play tennis, Segura taught him how to win. Segura coached Connors and Stan Smith over periods of time. Connors refined his game for a year under Segura's tutelage in L.A. Connors credits Segura with telling him how to beat Rosewall.

That's how he's picked the winner of the Open this year in delPotro even after delPo had never beaten Federer. Yeah, he's full of crap. And why he picked Rafter's first win over Sampras at the Open. He's probably forgotten more about tennis than the collective minds on these boards will ever know. We should all be so full of crap.





and again




Reading the above, it's tough logic to argue. Hence my initial pronouncement.

Here is the link to the complete interview(s), there are two.

http://blog.tennisweek.com/?p=487

http://blog.tennisweek.com/?p=669

Given the state of the game right now and the ascendency of delPotro and players on the horizon and Nadal's slump, can he maintain? Winning Majors like Federer has done is an anamoly, not the rule. Very few players can come back to win Majors after they've lost their edge.

I've heard more than one commentator opine that the other guys on tour have figured out how to play Nadal. If that's even half true, Nadal is going to have to either do what he does now better, or become more rounded himself. Only time will tell, but if he's lost his edge due to either a clean regime or family issues or whatever the reason, he's lost his edge and it's going to be hard to reclaim it IMO. Segura quantifies Nadal's game much better than anyone else I've heard comment though.

We'll see how right you think you are in a few months. Then we'll let you have it

 

[Rabbit]

Yep, and it's rather sad he follows every single Nadal related thread to show everyone how much he loves him. (sarcasm) He's lost it over the years, used to respect the dude. As for Nadal, he looks the same, especially in the beginning with the cut sleeves on his shirt showing his muscles.
Love the racquet and the bag BTW!

If you're referring to me, all I can say is that it's regretful that you have chosen to get personal for someone voicing their opinion. I, and some others, think Nadal cheated and abhor that. You disagree and yet I don't make a personal affront to you because of that. Rather than make any rebuttal, you disparage personally. With regard to your comment about following every thread Nadal is mentioned in and "showing the love", that's patently false and a wrong characterzation.

and so is Rabbit.

and more...

We'll see how right you think you are in a few months. Then we'll let you have it

Let me have it? Wow...I don't have a problem with anything I've posted. As I said in one of the posts on this thread, it is this side of impossible for any pro to reclaim his dominance once he's lost his edge. I think, again for whatever reason, that Nadal has lost his. I can only assume that you would prefer me not to offer an opinion as to what Nadal's edge came from, but then you would have to refrain from posting any of your thoughts and opinions as well. With regard to your personal attacks, maybe you should start with refraining from those first and see how it works out for you.

 

[skraggle]

If you're referring to me, all I can say is that it's regretful that you have chosen to get personal for someone voicing their opinion. I, and some others, think Nadal cheated and abhor that. You disagree and yet I don't make a personal affront to you because of that. Rather than make any rebuttal, you disparage personally. With regard to your comment about following every thread Nadal is mentioned in and "showing the love", that's patently false and a wrong characterzation.



and more...



Let me have it? Wow...I don't have a problem with anything I've posted. As I said in one of the posts on this thread, it is this side of impossible for any pro to reclaim his dominance once he's lost his edge. I think, again for whatever reason, that Nadal has lost his. I can only assume that you would prefer me not to offer an opinion as to what Nadal's edge came from, but then you would have to refrain from posting any of your thoughts and opinions as well. With regard to your personal attacks, maybe you should start with refraining from those first and see how it works out for you.

Nice to see someone on these boards responding to criticism with class and not taking bait/feeding flame war.

 

[Tennisallday]

I wonder if the cortex will go on sale when the GT comes out

 

[Marshredder]

I wonder if the cortex will go on sale when the GT comes out

The cortex is part of the racquet, it will be on all the new racquets.

 

[Bashi]

The cortex is part of the racquet, it will be on all the new racquets.

i think he means the old non-gt cortex

 

[E36BMWM3]

You know, I just got through watching the finals of the Italian on Tennis Channel. Nadal's knees were not taped, he showed no ill effects, at match point, he basically did a leg press down to the court surface and there was no grimace, no indication of pain whatsoever. He beat a game Djokovic 7-6, 6-2; a good win on any day.

From the Italian, he went to Madrid where he lost to Federer in the finals. Again, he showed no ill effects, no pain, his knees were not taped and he made no indication of anything wrong physically.

Post Madrid? He loses in the QF's of Roland Garros, he bails on Wimbledon and reaches the finals of one tournament losing to Davydenko. He caps off the tournaments at the Masters going 0 - 3 and not winning a set.

He looks positively anorexic compared to his appearance at the Australian at the first of the year. Commentators at all his matches say he:

• doesn't hit the ball as deep as he did
• doesn't hit the ball as hard as he did
• doesn't move as well as he did

I don't know, but one would think that if he's lost weight to compensate for bad knees, and he's fully recovered as he claims, wouldn't he at the very least move better?

Pancho Segura is right, IMO. Nadal's days as a force on the ATP are over. The other guys know how to play/beat him and he can't impose himself on them any longer. The "edge" he once had is gone now.

I'm jumping in way late to this conversation and apologize, but wanted to say a couple of things about this post... I saw some of you fellas arguing over this. It's my opinion that Nadal's days as a force on the ATP are NOT over... This past week is a small sample I believe, and while he hasn't had top caliber players as he will tomorrow against Davydenko, we gotta admit that the guy's moving and hitting WAY better as compared to the last quarter of the 2009 season.

Now I'll refer to your comment about the tape on his knees and how he didn't have any on... The guy had PATELLA tendonitis, which is why he taped his knees right below the knee cap. He took them off because he sad the pain had subsided and was in the upper part of his knees, THAT'S the real reason, not because his pain was gone and his knees were healed (once you get tendonitis and you keep putting your body through as much punishment as Nadal, best you can do is treat, not cure)...

Has Nadal lost some weight, I'd say he has let go of a bit of muscle, MAYBE... this can be confusing because his muscularity was much more clearer while wearing his sleeveless, plus the guy's not even as big as you make him out to be... he's got one huge bicep for sure, but his body is tennis player average. Has he ever been on steroids, I don't think so considering the passion and love he has for the game. It's easy to see the pride he has for the sport and his career just by seeing him play, a guy who'd be on 'roids in my opinion would not act like such a great ambassador to the sport.

As far as his 2009 slump, after having such a successful 2008 and first half of 2009, a player's confidence will indeed be tested after what he went through the second half of 2009. He did lose his edge during this time, a lot having to do with his physical capability, but maybe more mentally and psychologically. Seeing him play was sad compared to how he played in AO and other tournaments. I always youtubed his semifinal match with Verdasco and the difference were noticeable.

I say give the guy a chance, let the rest of his career pan out and once he's really ready to give up the sticks, we can judge and analyze.

 

[Tennisallday]

The cortex is part of the racquet, it will be on all the new racquets.

Yes I meant the non gt version of the racquet should have been clearer

 

[Guamanian G]

They should have done something like the APD!
The new pj still looks kinda the same