Rafa"I will probably be number two again in a few months."
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Jonny S&V
Hall of Fame
GOD DAMMIT, RAFA WHERE IS THE CONFIDENCE, NO?But playing things down as worked for him so far, so maybe he doesn't truly believe this but he wants to take the pressure off 8)
It definitely takes the pressure off of him a little. I hate him when he's on the court but he is one of the athletes I respect the most off of the court.
soyizgood
G.O.A.T.
Nadal has at least a 770 point lead over Federer. He has only about 100 points to defend from USO compared to Federer's 1000. Expect another gain in the lead there.
Nadal has had an amazing year. Even won the USO Series, so he can get a hefty payday if he somehow wins the USO. Life is good if you're Nadal.
Nadal has had an amazing year. Even won the USO Series, so he can get a hefty payday if he somehow wins the USO. Life is good if you're Nadal.
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Motherwasp
Semi-Pro
I think he has great confidence in himself, he's just as verbal about as some other players (Djokovic for example, im not bashing him though 
). I think Rafa likes to keep his cards close to his chest.
). I think Rafa likes to keep his cards close to his chest.We have seen this time and time again, Rafa ALWAYS plays down everything, for two reasons, if it happens he can say well I did tell you this would happen and people don't get carried away with unrealistic expectations, so he doesn't feel as much pressure.
He said Djoko will over take him as No.2 - that didn't happen.
Make no mistake he doesn't EVER want to be No.2 again.
He said Djoko will over take him as No.2 - that didn't happen.
Make no mistake he doesn't EVER want to be No.2 again.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
Really? How do you know this?
To Nadal, it seems that victories and playing well mean more than ranking points.
When he's on the court, he goes all out to win. Once the match is over, he's laid back and doesn't sweat things like ranking points.
Besides, what's the real difference between being ranked #1 and #2?
Bragging rights, which Nadal doesn't seem to care about. A very slightly easier draw in (some) tournaments. Maybe some sort of cash prize or bonus, but again, Nadal doesn't seem overly motivated by money.
He's a multi-millionaire, one of the best known and best loved athletes in his country, he dominates on his preferred playing surface and he has an Olympic gold medal.
If he had Federer's ego, he might sweat the rankings, but his ego is firmly in check. More power to him.
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It has nothing to do with EGO, Nadal is the ultimate competitor who is not happy with anything other than perfection. This includes winning and keeping the No.1 spot.
I think he cares very much about his ranking but isn't obessed by it and plays down any other suggesstion to relieve himself of pressure.
He doesn't want to be in anyones shadow, I also don't think he wants to be known as the greatest no.2 in history either.
Well does it really matter? He has been there and done it - even if he does become number two again there will be many ,many of us still interested in all his matches in the future, grateful that he has given his fans such great pleasure in watching (or downloading the scores). To many of us he will always be number one anyway
Breaker
Legend
I don't think anyone really WANTS to not be number 1. Nadal is just smart enough to realise that it won't last forever, so it will be less of a let down when he inevitably does lose the ranking. It may not be in a few months but it will happen, the tour is very competitive and he knows he needs to keep this level up all the time to keep going with the ranking.
RoddickistheMan
Professional
Rafa is downplaying like crazy. His will to win will not allow him to simply just slowly go back to number 2. My only concern with this statement is how it will affect his perc eption from players in the locker room. I believe that by saying this, it telegraphs to others in the locker room that he believes hes beatable.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
You think, you think, you think.
But you really don't know.
Until you do know, lets let Nadal speak for himself. After all, he's earned that, don't you think?
LuckyR
Legend
Anyone who has spent any time with a very successful World Class sports competitor knows they all have a burning desire to be Number 1. Some talk about it, some (like Rafa) don't. That's a "style" thing. But there is no way someone without a burning competitive spirit is going to happen to end up #1 in the World (against all the other folks who do have such a competitive spirit), by accident.
vtmike
Banned
OH really how do u knw this? do u knw rafa personally?? I am very very sure number 1 means a lotttt to him as it shld to any other player......i dnt think there is any difference in nadal and fed there.......
and y do u think fed has an ego? wat has he said to make u beleive tht he has an ego? or is it ur so blinded by rafa tht u want to put down all other players?
sillymonkey
Hall of Fame
gotta love him, he's so levelheaded.
D
Deleted member 22147
Guest
He is so arrogant on court, but he doesn't seem like that bad a guy off court.
Charlie_Boy
Semi-Pro
New York Times :
As for becoming No. 1, he doesn’t anticipate additional pressure, if only because he plans on continuing to play every point as if he is leasing, not buying.
“Probably I’m going to be No. 2 another time in a few months,” he said. Then smiling, he added, “You never know, no?”
No, you don’t. But who right now would bet on that?
As for becoming No. 1, he doesn’t anticipate additional pressure, if only because he plans on continuing to play every point as if he is leasing, not buying.
“Probably I’m going to be No. 2 another time in a few months,” he said. Then smiling, he added, “You never know, no?”
No, you don’t. But who right now would bet on that?
boringmember
Rookie
Ditto this. He's had a terrific year, hasn't he?
D
Deleted member 22147
Guest
How's he arrogant on court? He wins?
The way he runs around the court fist pumping at every opportunity, lies on his back when he wins a tournament (wow I have just won my 100th clay tournament I am so surprised, overwhelmed) shouts come on, ALL the time, doesn't care about wasting time and stopping his opponent from serving when he wishes...enough or not?
ramseszerg
Professional
On the surface, he was very humble and did say that he will be #2 again in a few months. But that wasn't the main point he was trying to communicate. It seems that the underlying attitude that made him speak those words was that "I will work just as hard now as when I was #2, and I will keep improving just like Federer did." That great attitude makes him less likely to fall to #2, not more.
babbette
Legend
Oh god not this argument again. How long have you known of Nadal, just curious?
Anybody that knows him from quite some time should know by now that he's just a competitive guy and passionate about competing. (I mean have you ever watched one of his videos playing the playstation?) He doesn't always go on court 100% believing that he can win because there are many great players on the tour, hence why he tends to fall on the ground when a match has been intense against a great player. It's not to show off. It's like a high of having won such an intense and great match.
The way he runs after the coin toss is to pump himself up.
Fist pumps is just his way of celebrating not meant to offend or intimidate the oponent.
And about the time wasting, I will admit he could be faster, but it's just his way of regrouping, calming the adrenaline down a little. It's a habit he's had for a long time.
Enough with the arrogance talks.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
You're generalizing.
Ever spend any time around world class surfers?
And there are countless athletes in team sports who have sacrificed personal glory for the greater good of the team.
LOL.....some people will go to ANY lengths to TRY to validate their opinion.
Look at any one on one sport and tell me that they don't want to be No.1
Tennis is NOT a team sport so your comparison is void!
ag200boy
Hall of Fame
my thoughts exactly
Ignorant Genius
Banned
Name one? Ok.
How about Nadal? He was just quoted as saying he'll probably be #2 again soon. So evidently, being #1 isn't all that important to him or he doesn't think he'll be able to hang on to the #1 spot for long. He just said it during an interview.
Yet you will go to any length to make up excuses for what you think Nadal meant when he said it.
So there you go.
Excuses? LOL.....
Nadal doesn't care what his ranking is.....
Yeah ofcourse you are right.....feel better now?
Ignorant Genius
Banned
I always knew I was right. I don't feel any better or any worse, but thanks for asking.
Really? How so?
I don't know the english experssion for this: down-playing, or understating (I mean other than being humble) ?
He always humbling himself and praising other players. Federer one time sorta complained (during the heated competitions on clay season a few years ago) that Nadal was giving him pschological pressure via such comments...
He always humbling himself and praising other players. Federer one time sorta complained (during the heated competitions on clay season a few years ago) that Nadal was giving him pschological pressure via such comments...
myservenow
Semi-Pro
I think that Cliff Drysdale said yesterday that Del Potro wins the USO Series if he wins the final of Legg Mason today. He is currently 30 points behind Nadal in the standings. If he wins, he gets an additional 25 points. Del Potro is also scheduled to play New Haven next week (but may drop out to rest for the US Open). Not 100 percent sure, but I don't think Nadal is the winner of the USO Series.
Thank you.....At least someone understands how to read in between the lines.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
I'm going to expect you to post a thread titled "NADAL WAS RIGHT, #2 AGAIN"
if it happens in the next 6 months.
If he hangs onto #1, I'll post a thread titled "MIYAGI WAS RIGHT, NADAL WASN'T SERIOUS -- HE'S STILL #1".
I like my chances.
jrachiever
Rookie
Does it occur to any of you that what Nadal actually thinks has nothing to do with what he says in an interview? He's been trained to be guarded with the media and it's a smart decision. Just give your standard boring responses then go out and focus on playing.
It's way too difficult to be forthright and outspoken and have it create a positive effect on your career. Look at Djokovic. He likes to speak his mind and gets ripped left and right and constantly has articles printed with misleading partial quotes. No thanks.
It's way too difficult to be forthright and outspoken and have it create a positive effect on your career. Look at Djokovic. He likes to speak his mind and gets ripped left and right and constantly has articles printed with misleading partial quotes. No thanks.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
You're right. It would have been crazy for Nadal to say he was proud or excited or happy to be #1 when he was asked about it.
Does anyone remember what happened that Russian player who said she didn't like Sharapova's outfit.......it was published in papers everywhere!!! 2 games later the press were still asking her about that....as if her comments weren't clear enough.
Why not give boring answers and let your tennis do the talking!
LuckyR
Legend
Not so much. It is not an accident that you used surfing as your single example. It is the one "sport" I can think of where the world's best soul surfer could win a tournament if the waves happened to come in just right for them. OK, I'll give you surfing, but I think you're generalizing if you think that the soul surfing personality is a common one for successful Pros other sports.
As for your team sports analogy, someone who plays for the win and not for a personal record is trying to be #1, the #1 team, which in team sports is how it is measured.
Atherton2003
Hall of Fame
Rafa is so nice and humble - a very grounded, gracious individual. There are not enough surperlatives to describe this guy.
Ignorant Genius
Banned
Not so fast. You're the one who made a sweeping generalization about world class athletes. I didn't make any generalizations at all. I pointed out that there is at least one exception to your generalization. And I never said that the surfer mindset is indicative of athletes in any other sport....you made that leap on your own.
As far as the team thing goes, some athletes know that their team won't be #1 overall, but that the team will be better if they make a personal sacrifice.
My take on it is, given that I believe the above comment is true, Rafa will be promoted as a number 1 who is the antithesis of Federer. No $500 haircuts, no fancy clothes, no apts in Dubau or hob-nobbing with celerities, just going along with his simple life, hanging out with his life long friends...etc.
And the comments about not setting himself up for a fall in case or a lapse back to # 2 by always admitting that it might happen would save him from Federer-like media articles about "What's his problem", Nadal having said "I warned you it could happen.? and they would leave him alone.
But you also have to remember that Nadal has hired IMG & an agent to work for him...and the function of IMG is to find the most advantageous and lucrative sponsors, the most advantageous publicity, and the most favourable media. He will be marketed IMO as the Simple Guy, Senor Joe Everybody, rather than the man Federer has become...the man who wears long pants a white blazer with his initilal on it, with matching F caps for members of his bench. People could almost imagine that he carried his jeweled crown in his fancy white carrying case.
You won't see Rafa with his own line of perfume, but you might see him with his own a line of jeans and sweatshirts. That is, it his family says it would be OK.
TheTruth
G.O.A.T.
Absolutely.
If you go into a press conference saying "I gained the #1 spot by improving my court positioning on various sources. The plan was to flatten out my forehand and play more aggressively. I did all this with the intention of dethroning Federer and taking the top spot."
These type of statements incur the wrath of fans and pundits everywhere. No, you keep your cards closer to chest and say. "I have the #1 now, but who knows? I may not be able to sustain it (cough).
The reality?
I worked hard to get it, and anyone who takes it will have outperformed me. I'm not going away meekly, just like I didn't when I was under pressure from Djokovic.
jrachiever
Rookie
Here's a quote for you.
"The feeling for sure is very happy to be No. 1. There is satisfaction."
You honestly expected him to start gushing over himself?
TheTruth
G.O.A.T.
Did you hear Jimmy Arias say, "Rafa may very well be the most humble #1 in history."
It looks like your analysis is spot on. They are already creating the image he is going to be percieved as.
MonsieurCrocodile
New User
I'd like to open my post up by saying I am both huge fans of Nadal and Federer. Why? I think in the coming months and years, their skills will bring out the best in one another and provide some of the most entertaining and passioned tennis in recent memory.
At any rate, I wanted to investigate-- what bothers you all about Federer's supposed lifestyle? I hardly think Federer to be intensely arrogant; in his defense, when you're as good as he is, why shouldn't you consider yourself the best?
