Rafa will win a Grand Slam before Roger!

[skaj]

I think the guy was only referring to the career slam, but this was actually a good predicition despite being wrong, because he clearly knew what he was talking about. He saw the potential Nadal had back in the day and didn't need to follow the narrative of the sheep.

Interesting that people used to talk the same way about Borg

Yes, it says "a career grand slam" in the original post. And maybe he was right - Federer completed it at 27, Nadal at 24.

 

[Deleted member 775898]

The OP was right about Fed never beating Rafa in a B05 on clay and Djokovic becoming more of a threat to him on clay than Roger tho.

 

[MeatTornado]

This is the greatest prediction I've seen on this site.

He was wrong about way too much for that to be the greatest prediction

1) Fed did win the Grand Slam before Nadal (2009 vs 2010)
2) Fed did win Wimbledon a month later
3) He says to throw out the Blake/Berdych hard court losses, even though he'd go on to lose the next 3 hard court slams to Ferrer, Tsonga and Murray.

He was right that Nadal would go on to be a winner on every court. A good prediction and not the most popular opinion at the time (I certainly didn't think he could). But not exactly totally off the wall either.

 

[mattennis]

OK - I enjoy watching Roger and Rafa and would like to see both of these great players win a career grand slam. We are fortunate to be around to see this great rivalry - in fact we tennis fans are the winners here. However I thought I'd post this before tomorrow's final. Much as I love Federer's game I think he's going down in 3 (maybe 4) tomorrow (I hope I'm wrong).

However based on their Semifinal performances yesterday there is no way Fed beats Nadal in a best of 5 sets on Clay (ever). Fed's clay court performance (& overall play) is down a bit since last year - too many shanks (inconsistent) and low serving % to trouble Nadal. I'll be surprised if he can defend his Wimbledon title this year (both Nadal and Djokovic will be real dangerous on grass this year).

Yesterday was the second time Roger has been lucky to get past Davydenko in a major (their Australian open meeting in 2005 was also close). On current form they could play tomorrows final on grass and I'd still pick Nadal. Right now I see Djokovic as more of a long term threat to Rafa than Roger on clay - but still a huge gap.

The big surprise will come (to some) when Nadal wins Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open within the next year or 2. He can easily win the French for 3/4 more years. His performance last year at Wimbledon made me a believer that his game translates well to other surfaces. (Last years Wimbledon final was a lot closer than most realize - could easily have gone to 5 sets).

In crushing Roddick at Indian Wells earlier this year Rafa sent a serious message to those who discount his hard court potential - (OK Roddick is not going anywhere these days). (You can forget about those earlier losses to Blake/Berdych on hard courts - that was then, this is now - no way Blake beats Rafa today - on any surface).

Nadal has major weapons that work on all surfaces - speed, determination and remarkable consistency - he moves better, has more power when pulled wide and is better balanced that any other player on the tour. His serve is also underestimated by many - see Agassi's comments about trying to return Nadal's serve and how he could not handle it.

Remember that speed is a huge weapon that does not go into slumps - the scary thing is that Nadal will get even stronger in the next couple of years - I doubt that he can get any quicker. His speed also intimidates his opponents - does anyone want to meet Rafa before the finals in any tournament?

Let the flames begin - but keep it clean!

Superb knowledge of the game!!!

Leave aside the details...he clearly saw the Big Picture: that Nadal would be a force of nature on every surface.

 

[beast of mallorca]

He was wrong about way too much for that to be the greatest prediction

1) Fed did win the Grand Slam before Nadal (2009 vs 2010)
2) Fed did win Wimbledon a month later
3) He says to throw out the Blake/Berdych hard court losses, even though he'd go on to lose the next 3 hard court slams to Ferrer, Tsonga and Murray.

He was right that Nadal would go on to be a winner on every court. A good prediction and not the most popular opinion at the time (I certainly didn't think he could). But not exactly totally off the wall either.

Can you show us a bolder and better prediction made here in TTW ?

The OP saw the great potential of Rafa and Djoker.....in 2007 !!! Beat that

 

[MeatTornado]

Can you show us a bolder and better prediction made here in TTW ?

The OP saw the great potential of Rafa and Djoker.....in 2007 !!! Beat that

By June 2007 Rafa had been ranked #2 in the world for 2 full years. He had 2 RG titles, a Wimbledon final, AO & USO quarters. A Canada, Indian Wells and indoor Madrid title (in addition to his boatload of clay Masters). Let's not act like he spotted some green prospect and made a prediction based on raw talent.

If you want GOD-tier prediction threads:

Sam Querrey to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2016

Marco Cecchinato to beat Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros 2018

 

[beast of mallorca]

By June 2007 Rafa had been ranked #2 in the world for 2 full years. He had 2 RG titles, a Wimbledon final, AO & USO quarters. A Canada, Indian Wells and indoor Madrid title (in addition to his boatload of clay Masters). Let's not act like he spotted some green prospect and made a prediction based on raw talent.

If you want GOD-tier prediction threads:

Sam Querrey to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2016

Marco Cecchinato to beat Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros 2018

Those are fuqing regular predictions that happen in every event, here in TTW. Give me a sweeping and grand prediction like what the OP did re: Djokovic

As for instance, Alcaraz will become a World's number 1 , beating Sinner in his first GS. Like that!!!