Rafael Nadal gives positive injury update and reacts to ‘strange’ Novak Djokovic fightback

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
I can guarantee Federer would want Rafa to spank Djokovic if they were in the final. Djokovic past 18 months has really hurt his legacy. He is behaving like a clown to be honest. It is a shame as i think he is a good guy but these past 18 months have been a disaster for his image.
Understatement of the last fifteen years!
:oops::rolleyes:
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Your insinuation is what I'm challenging.

I didn't insinuate anything.
But since you brought up the topic -
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues - AO 08, USO 17, Wim 10, Wim 16, Wim 18
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
I stated the facts there regarding Nadal in 12-19, lol. Go be annoyed at the facts if you want.
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues - AO 08, USO 17, Wim 10, Wim 16, Wim 18
Ah, there you go, at least you now state your ridiculous assertion.

Federer hasn't been near as affected by injuries as Nadal has, and you know it!
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Ah, there you go, at least you now state your ridiculous assertion.

Federer hasn't been near as affected by injuries as Nadal has, and you know it!

I didn't insinuate anything. But since you brought up the topic -
federer has been affected less health-wise, but doesn't necessarily change what I said realistic chances of winning the particular slams.
I mean Nadal got injured vs Ferrer in AO 11, but that doesn't matter one flying **** as far as winning the slam goes as he wasn't going to win vs Djokovic at that AO even without injury.
 

maratha_warrior

Hall of Fame
Ah, there you go, at least you now state your ridiculous assertion.

Federer hasn't been near as affected by injuries as Nadal has, and you know it!

But if Fed is was not injured as much as Nadal or Djoker for example , then doesn't it means fed deserves credit for keeping his game less physical . Being fit is a prerequisite for any physical sport ..
 

Beckerserve

Legend
I didn't insinuate anything.
But since you brought up the topic -
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues - AO 08, USO 17, Wim 10, Wim 16, Wim 18
How USO 2017 and WIM 2010? Agree about other three.
But for Rafa i firmly believe AO 2011 (at that point in time he would have beat Djokovic in a Major final as he had a huge mental advantage) AO 2014, USO 2014,2018 2020 were major wins robbed by injury.
For Federer i would add W 2020. But for covid and his injury he would have won last year to bury the memory of 2019.
 
T

TheNachoMan

Guest
USO 2014,2018 2020 were major wins robbed by injury.
2014 - I can somewhat agree. Its hard to determine how Rafa would do against peaking Cilic though. He did lose to Cilic at the AO in 2018
2018 - he would’ve lost to Novak. Hasn’t beaten Novak on HC since 2013
2020 - He wasn’t injured lol. He was just being cautious because RG was next. He 100% would have beaten Thiem and Zverev though
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
But if Fed is was not injured as much as Nadal or Djoker for example , then doesn't it means fed deserves credit for keeping his game less physical . Being fit is a prerequisite for any physical sport ..
Are you actually implying Nadal is not fit?

You would probably be alone on that island!
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
How USO 2017 and WIM 2010? Agree about other three.

fed got injured in Montreal in 2017, remember? he wasn't in full form at the USO - was recovering - first 2 rounds struggled vs tiafoe/old Youzhny and delpo exposed he hadn't fully recovered form in the QF
Wim 10 - had leg injury - which was major part of why he lost to berdych

But for Rafa i firmly believe AO 2011 (at that point in time he would have beat Djokovic in a Major final as he had a huge mental advantage)

djokovic's form was so much better. not going to matter sh*t. He beat fed in straight sets, FFS.

AO 2014, USO 2014,2018 2020 were major wins robbed by injury.

AO 14 is a realistic chance.
USO 14 - sorry, no. didn't play and not realistic to say. Same consistency below for fed and W 2020 below.
USO 18 - nope. Djokovic was in significantly better form. No chance. Nadal has 0 sets vs Djoko on HC from 2013 Beijing to current
USO 2020 - again, didn't play due to COVID and upcoming RG.

For Federer i would add W 2020. But for covid and his injury he would have won last year to bury the memory of 2019.

I am not adding something where there was not much indication - be it for fed or anyone else.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
I didn't insinuate anything.
But since you brought up the topic -
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues - AO 08, USO 17, Wim 10, Wim 16, Wim 18???????

AO 2008 - Fedr lost to Djokovic in the final
Wim 2010 - Fedr lost to Berdych in the QF
Wim 2016 Fedr lost to Raonic in the SF
USO 2017 - Fedr lost to Delpo in the QF
Wim 2018 - Fedr lost to Anderson in the QF
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
How USO 2017 and WIM 2010? Agree about other three.
But for Rafa i firmly believe AO 2011 (at that point in time he would have beat Djokovic in a Major final as he had a huge mental advantage) AO 2014, USO 2014,2018 2020 were major wins robbed by injury.
For Federer i would add W 2020. But for covid and his injury he would have won last year to bury the memory of 2019.

o_O
You are exaggerating too much!
If we look ahead a few years to the future, it is as if you were saying that Nadal would not win RG 2025 because he was injured when he would turn 39 at that time, practically the same age as Federer, if he had played Wimbledon 2020.
At that age the chances of winning a Major are practically nil, regardless of the player's name.
:(
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
AO 2008 - Fedr lost to Djokovic in the final
Wim 2010 - Fedr lost to Berdych in the QF
Wim 2016 Fedr lost to Raonic in the SF
USO 2017 - Fedr lost to Delpo in the QF
Wim 2018 - Fedr lost to Anderson in the QF

I said:
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues
not
Federer has missed those slams

Also fed lost to djoko in AO 2008 in the semi, not final.
 
T

TheNachoMan

Guest
AO 2008 - Fedr lost to Djokovic in the final
Wim 2010 - Fedr lost to Berdych in the QF
Wim 2016 Fedr lost to Raonic in the SF
USO 2017 - Fedr lost to Delpo in the QF
Wim 2018 - Fedr lost to Anderson in the QF
He actually lost to Novak in SF 8-B
 

Amritia

Hall of Fame
If he gets beaten up in next few matches or he withdraws , or he overcomes injury and reaches semis /finals , he doesn't need to explain it to anyone for them to give him clean chit .
If he wins despite being hindered, fair enough.
But if he’s moving normally, that is impossible with a muscle tear which he said he has.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
I said:
Federer has missed winning chances at slams as many as Nadal if not more due to health issues
not
Federer has missed those slams

Also fed lost to djoko in AO 2008 in the semi, not final.
What was wrong with him?
 

RS

Bionic Poster
Somebody should make a thread called slams the big 3 could have won with no injury.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
fed got injured in Montreal in 2017, remember? he wasn't in full form at the USO - first 2 rounds struggled and delpo exposed he hadn't fully recovered form in the QF
Wim 10 - had leg injury - which was major part of why he lost to berdych



djokovic's form was so much better. not going to matter sh*t. He beat fed in straight sets, FFS.



AO 14 is a realistic chance.
USO 14 - sorry, no. didn't play and no guarantee.
USo 18 - nope. Djokovic was in clearly better form. No chance. Nadal has 0 sets vs Djoko on HC from 2013 Beijing to current
USO 2020 - again, didn't play due to COVID.



I am not adding something where there was not much indication - be it for fed or anyone else.
Cannot agree about USO 2018. Rafa was way better than Djokovic that event. The Nadal v Thiem match was the real final in some ways.
I cannot remember Federer v Berdych 2010 so will take your word on that. At the time i remember thinking Federer is in decline if he loses to Berdych at his halloewed ground.
Ao 2011 i am certain Nadal would have intimidated Djokovic in that final after the USO final a few months before. At the time Djokovic was at Majors initimidated by Rafa. The whole dynamic shifted later that year at M1000 level when he got out of Nadals shadow and for a while turned the tables.
 
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abmk

Bionic Poster
What was wrong with him?

AO 2008 - Fed had mono. Affected early HC season.
Wim 2010 - Fed had leg injury
Wim 2016 - Fed had knee issues, also fell making it worse. Skipped 2nd half of 2016 due to this
USO 2017 - Fed had back injury in Montreal. Was recovering by the time of USO (health and form, form more so)
Wim 2018 - Fed had hand injury. Affected 2nd half of 2018 for him.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
2014 - I can somewhat agree. Its hard to determine how Rafa would do against peaking Cilic though. He did lose to Cilic at the AO in 2018
2018 - he would’ve lost to Novak. Hasn’t beaten Novak on HC since 2013
2020 - He wasn’t injured lol. He was just being cautious because RG was next. He 100% would have beaten Thiem and Zverev though
Yeah ok ill agree about 2020 as self inflicted. And Djokovic was more robbed in fairness.
USO 2018 i disagree. That Nadal v Thiem match was arguably the best match of all time. Something like 180 winners i think.
I do think the three hard courts (and only 3) that Rafa can beat Novak are USO IW and Canada. Anywhere else he would need Novak to be way off.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
Yeah ok ill agree about 2020 as self inflicted. And Djokovic was more robbed in fairness.
USO 2018 i disagree. That Nadal v Thiem match was arguably the best match of all time. Something like 180 winners i think.
I do think the three hard courts (and only 3) that Rafa can beat Novak are USO IW and Canada. Anywhere else he would need Novak to be way off.
Thread?
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Cannot agree about USO 2018. Rafa was way better than Djokovic that event. The Nadal v Thiem match was the real final in some ways.
I cannot remember Federer v Berdych 2010 so will take your word on that. At the time i remember thinking Federer is in decline if he loses to Berdych at his halloewed ground.
Ao 2011 i am certain Nadal would have intimidated Djokovic in that final after the USO final a few months before. At the time Djokovic was at Majors initimidated by Rafa. The whole dynamic shifted later that year at M1000 level when he got out of Nadals shadow and for a while turned the tables.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
Injuries are apart of sport. Don’t really see the point tbh.
Yes agree. But in lockdowns such fantasy talk should be indulged.
But you are right. If we play what if then we coukd say Brazil would have won world cups of 1982 had they had Careca fit or 1990 had they had Romario fit. And we could go on and on.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Cannot agree about USO 2018. Rafa was way better than Djokovic that event. The Nadal v Thiem match was the real final in some ways.

Nope, not at all.
Nadal had to rely on Khachanov chokiing to win vs him. lost a set vs Basilivasvili.
Got bagelled by Thiem.

Djokovic was clearly better in the SF/F of USO 2018, no question. He handled both Nishi and Delpo comfortably.
Djoko also handled Millman comfortably in the QF (but you may not think much of Millman of an opponent, so you can give that less importance).
IMO Djokovic would've taken out Thiem in 4 sets at the USO.


Ao 2011 i am certain Nadal would have intimidated Djokovic in that final after the USO final a few months before. At the time Djokovic was at Majors initimidated by Rafa. The whole dynamic shifted later that year at M1000 level when he got out of Nadals shadow and for a while turned the tables.

eh, he beat fed in straight sets in AO 11.
took him 5 sets to beat fed in USO 11

took a set of Nadal in USO 10
what is he going to do to a Nadal in much worse form in AO 11 and djokovic himself being in much better form? win, obviously.

He probably loses a set to Nadal in AO 11, but I'd be surprised if it goes 5. AO 11 was his best tournament in slams from start to finish. Only time he played better at the AO matches wise were AO 13 SF vs ferrer and AO 16 SF vs fed.
 

maratha_warrior

Hall of Fame
If he wins despite being hindered, fair enough.
But if he’s moving normally, that is impossible with a muscle tear which he said he has.

He felt he has a muscle tear based on the pain he felt at that moment , and he also said he will first do scan , so it might be a tear or a sprain ...

If doctor says He has sprain then , he will still find it dificult to beat top players in coming rounds .

If he feels better and plays next match , that doesn't mean he needs to explain things to those who are disappointed with him for staying in the tournament ...

If he needs to explain , other top players needs to explain too ..
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Really? May i ask why. Genuinely interested as i loved it. But would love to know what u disliked about it.

it was a dramatic match, good match quality wise, not great.
Also Nadal was mediocre in the first. Match had some choking from Thiem.

Total # of winners was like 122 as per TA, not remotely close to 180

2018 US Open QF: Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem Detailed Stats | Tennis Abstract

matches in this century at the USO better than it on top of my head quality wise: quite clearly:

USO 01 Sampras Agassi
USO 04 Federer agassi
USO 05 Agassi Blake
USO 05 Federer Hewitt
USO 07 fed Roddick
USO 09 fed delpo
USO 11 fed djoko

just the big ones on top of my head

there are other ones arguable: Fed-Djoko USO 08, Fed-DJoko USO 15, Nadal-Djoko USO 10 etc.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
it was a dramatic match, good match quality wise, not great.
Also Nadal was mediocre in the first. Match had some choking from Thiem.

Total # of winners was like 122 as per TA, not remotely close to 180

2018 US Open QF: Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem Detailed Stats | Tennis Abstract

matches in this century at the USO better than it on top of my head quality wise: quite clearly:

USO 01 Sampras Agassi
USO 04 Federer agassi
USO 05 Agassi Blake
USO 05 Federer Hewitt
USO 07 fed Roddick
USO 09 fed delpo
USO 11 fed djoko

just the big ones on top of my head

there are other ones arguable: Fed-Djoko USO 08, Fed-DJoko USO 15, Nadal-Djoko USO 10 etc.
I would not have expected you to say this tbh.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Federer was injured that Safin match. His back waw much like Rafas at this event. Fully fit Federer would have beat Safin in 4.

nope. Had nothing whatsoever to do with back at all.
Fed had a minor foot issue and only in the 5th set.

I have watched only some highights of Nadal at this AO, so not going to comment on that.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
nope. Had nothing whatsoever to do with back at all.
Fed had a minor foot issue and only in the 5th set.

I have watched only some highights of Nadal at this AO, so not going to comment on that.
I am sure Fed had a back issue AO 2005? Pre google days i think though so doubt will be any info now.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
I would not have expected you to say this tbh.

why not?
Both djoko and fed were better in USO 15 final than both nadal & thiem in USO 18 QF

a bagel for Nadal?
thiem also choked in that USO 18 QF.
I criticise fed more for 2015 USO final choking, but that's because I hold him to a higher standard.
If you are making a straight comparision ...

you cannot be serious thinking either Nadal of USO 18 QF or Thiem would beat Djoko of USO 15 final.

I don't think Nadal of USO 18 QF even beats fed of USO 15 final based purely on form. if he does, it'd be due to mental factor, nothing else honestly.
 

augustobt

Legend
Lol. From all the players in the world, Nadal should be the last one to publicly even talk about someone else’s injuries.

Nadal claimed to have played a match with appendicitis in 2014. Not one, but two.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
why not?
Both djoko and fed were better in USO 15 final than both nadal thiem in USO 18 QF

a bagel for Nadal?
thiem also choked in that USO 18 QF.
I criticise fed more for 2015 USO final, but that's because I hold him to a higher standard.
If you are making a straight comparision ...

you cannot be serious thinking either Nadal of USO 18 QF or Thiem would beat Djoko of USO 15 final.

I don't think Nadal of USO 18 QF even beats fed of USO 15 final. if he does, it'd be due to mental factor, nothing else honestly.
Fair enough.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
I am sure Fed had a back issue AO 2005? Pre google days i think though so doubt will be any info now.

from what I remember, it was a leg issue (ankle I think). It was minor and only came into the picture in the 5th set in any case.
That 5th set was top notch quality wise and drama wise anyways.
 

Amritia

Hall of Fame
yes, you did disrespect me by assuming I would only consider result of a match while talking about its quality (projecting your own bitter self).

Stop posting cr*p (even more so making it personal vs me) and I won't use any foul language.

This wasn't even a debate/discussion b/w you and me. You just tried to take a potshot at me based on BS. And when I hit back with reality, you are whining.
Eh, not really.

@DSH made a comment which could be aimed at all fans, that we prefer matches where our favourite players won. It was hardly an insult.
Then you responded with a stream of abuse. Apologise.
 
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NonP

Legend
I was about to say y'all shouldn't waste time on pressers and Nadal of all people should think twice before accusing anyone of faking an injury, but all I see is him saying Novak's 5-set escape was a "strange" match.

Did I say parsing pressers is a giant waste of time?
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
I was about to say y'all shouldn't waste time on pressers and Nadal of all people should think twice before accusing anyone of faking an injury, but all I see is him saying Novak's 5-set escape was a "strange" match.

Did I say parsing pressers is a giant waste of time?
The Anglo-Saxon press likes to misrepresent statements -in this case by Nadal- referring to Djokovic, who is known to be the perfect target for criticism and they appeal to provocative headlines to sell more and attract a young audience eager for entertainment.
:D
 
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