cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
I am saying that Nadal's loss in the first round to a mug is a very bad loss but it is not the end of Nadal at all future slams imo.
Rafael Nadal must consider grass future after Wimbledon - Becker
- Thread starter Crisstti
- Start date
I am saying that Nadal's loss in the first round to a mug is a very bad loss but it is not the end of Nadal at all future slams imo.
Crisstti
Legend
It's hard to believe you're for real. I've got news for you: you don't know if he is lying or faking anything. You really don't.
Do you know who was this doctor?. Would it be the guy who's the doctor of both Bayern München and the German national (football) team?. Can't remember his name, but he's been known to revive player's careers... he was treating Usain Bolt a while ago. I've thought for a while Rafa should see him. Who knows though, maybe he has.
Crisstti
Legend
I suspect you're not a football fan. I don't think you understand just how much of a big deal a World Cup is. Wimbledon is not the same, believe me.
The World Cup is once every four years, there's nothing else like it. Wimbledon might be the most traditional slam, but there are three others basically just like it. Every year.
I'm not sure how he can revisit his approach tbh. What could he do?. His knees are not handling the transition to grass, not sure what he could do.
I certainly think it is, at least off of dirt. I said that was the case BEFORE this result, let alone after. Do you think he's going to win the US Open? If he doesn't, which I think is very likely, that means that 2014 will dawn, and he'll have not won a Slam off of dirt since...2010. That wasn't yesterday-and let us not forget that he STILL has never defended a non dirt title of any kind, so don't get your hopes up for IW. Ahhhh, life is SWEET, Wimbledon, no BP, and he got humiliated as early(round 1), and as quickly(straight sets) as is possible. His sullen followers are slowly emerging from their rat holes, excuses flowing, lol...
WhiskeyEE
G.O.A.T.
I know beyond a reasonable doubt, which is good enough for me.
But who knows. Maybe Nadal has a somatoform disorder that triggers an imaginary pain response in his knees when he's about to lose a match. That's something I might actually believe.
ROTFLMAO!!!!! Can you believe some of these clowns? Many of them practically swooned when BP won the Dirtball, telling all who would listen how to chew their gum, and they got the balls to complain when those who aren't exactly enamored with him point out this less-than-impressive result.
Nah. He actually needs to play some warm-ups like Halle or even an exhibition. He's clearly past his best, and may never win a slam off of clay or even on clay, but he can win matches at Wimbledon if healthy and playing warm-ups. Here is his time line. 2008-2010: peak. So he's now 4 years off of his peak, basically at the level he was in 2005. That's when he won his first slam. So in another year, he'll be at the level he was in 2004. He didn't play in the 2004 FO, but could have won it, and there is definitely less competition now in this weak era, so he could win next year's French open, especially as djokovic is now declining too.
WhiskeyEE
G.O.A.T.
I can't even believe that Nadal has fans, let alone people willing to spend their time defending him.
namelessone
Legend
That's the reality of the internet. People anonymously hating on people they've most likely never met but I guess for some it's a good way to vent frustrations with no consequence.
How many of these people do you think would actually take their complaints(if they are so serious about it) to the actual world? Would they look sane if they stood outside any major tennis event with a pancart saying "bring back wood rackets" or "Nadal is a cheater/faker/etc"/ "Fed has a fat wife and won during weak era"/"Murray is a pusher"/"Djokovic is doped and unfunny"?
People on the grounds would laugh their asses off at them but on the Internet they can spew their BS without any consequence.
namelessone
Legend
Don't worry, they are all children,teens,gays and menopausal women. Or so I've heard.
namelessone
Legend
Becker,Henman and the others are right about grass being bad for Nadal's tendons but I can't picture him skipping Wimbledon.
Rafa's body is too battered to recover in the short time between RG and WB.
He must either choose to battle for RG(where he is barely hanging on and Djokovic is getting closer) or try to recover some lost glory in WB.
Now I'm sure he won't do this but a strategic tank in RG next year could do wonders for his WB campaign. Nothing is ever sure but I think it's clear by now, after 2 WB in which Nadal has arrived in not the greatest shape and lost to players outside of the top 100(Nadal being a WB champ lest we forget), that he needs both grass warm-up and rest beforehand to make an impact.
Personally I would go for the non-clay slams.
He did a good job of defending RG from Djoko in 2012 and 2013. I don't think anyone would fault him if he loses in 2014, the clay part of his legacy is quite safe I think. However, 3 years have passed since his last non-clay slam(even though the played 3 non-clay GS finals since) and he is not getting any younger.
With rest and the right draw he could win another non-clay slam.
Rafa's body is too battered to recover in the short time between RG and WB.
He must either choose to battle for RG(where he is barely hanging on and Djokovic is getting closer) or try to recover some lost glory in WB.
Now I'm sure he won't do this but a strategic tank in RG next year could do wonders for his WB campaign. Nothing is ever sure but I think it's clear by now, after 2 WB in which Nadal has arrived in not the greatest shape and lost to players outside of the top 100(Nadal being a WB champ lest we forget), that he needs both grass warm-up and rest beforehand to make an impact.
Personally I would go for the non-clay slams.
He did a good job of defending RG from Djoko in 2012 and 2013. I don't think anyone would fault him if he loses in 2014, the clay part of his legacy is quite safe I think. However, 3 years have passed since his last non-clay slam(even though the played 3 non-clay GS finals since) and he is not getting any younger.
With rest and the right draw he could win another non-clay slam.
Crisstti
Legend
No, you don't.
I don't think he needs to skip or lose early in the slam where he has the best chances of winning in order to do that. Especially if the style needed to play on grass is particularly harmful for his knees and if they don't improve. He can rest before the USO and give it a try there, maybe even skip Wimbledon, which sadly looks like it might be a good idea, though I doubt he will.
furryballs
Banned
i thought the great warrior flowerchild loved natural sufaces........ban hardcourts i say!
tennis_hack
Banned
I really fail to see how pounding it out on a hard court in Indian Wells, and ramping up the mileage playing defense for 3+ hours per match stopping and sliding everywhere on a clay-court would be more detrimental to the knees than a couple of hours on a soft, fresh grass court.
Please not with the 'you have to bend your knees more on grass' - you have to bend your damn knees a hell of a lot on a clay court - even on a high ball you still need to explode into the shot with your legs - meaning you have to bend your knees significantly to jump into it. And because clay is slower than grass, you have to explode into a shot more powerfully with your legs to actually get it to penetrate the court.
Please not with the 'you have to bend your knees more on grass' - you have to bend your damn knees a hell of a lot on a clay court - even on a high ball you still need to explode into the shot with your legs - meaning you have to bend your knees significantly to jump into it. And because clay is slower than grass, you have to explode into a shot more powerfully with your legs to actually get it to penetrate the court.
THE FIGHTER
Hall of Fame
stop dreaming. nadal may not be around at (the latter stages of) W for many years to come.
THE FIGHTER
Hall of Fame
missed it for fear of losing.
There is an excellent x ray of Rafa's knee problem as he plays on u tube. Sorry I cannot put it on here but it superimposes exactly what is happening while he plays and it is horrendous what he has to go through. The average person would have given up long ago
fednad
Hall of Fame
Any link??
pds999
Hall of Fame
It's not "a few short rallies" though is it. What about all the practice on grass the week leading up to Wimbledon? You don't seem to understand grass or basic human physiology at all. The movement is so different that it seems fairly obvious the bending and stretching was causing pain. Clay doesn't place the same strain on the knees. Enough people have explained this now. Do you still not get it? As for keyboard physicians, well you can't even spell "tendonitis".
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furryballs
Banned
sooooooooo..............he practiced on grass but was fine....if not why did he play?
jelle v
Hall of Fame
I'm getting really tired of the fact that every time Nadal loses, it's because of injury.
In the past there never was a problem on grass, the problem was always hard court, but when he loses to Rosol in 2012 he suddenly is injured for 7 months and now in 2013 when he loses to Darcis on grass, suddenly grass is the surface that is most difficult for his knees?
I really believe Nadal has knee problems, but what I'm really sick of the same excuse being used under different circumstances every time. First hard court, now grass. I would say hard courts are heavier for the knees from own experience with hard courts, but alright, I'll believe that grass is hard on the knees if the experts say it, but in the past Nadal's knee problems focussed around the hard court season, now grass apparently is his kryptonite.
In the past there never was a problem on grass, the problem was always hard court, but when he loses to Rosol in 2012 he suddenly is injured for 7 months and now in 2013 when he loses to Darcis on grass, suddenly grass is the surface that is most difficult for his knees?
I really believe Nadal has knee problems, but what I'm really sick of the same excuse being used under different circumstances every time. First hard court, now grass. I would say hard courts are heavier for the knees from own experience with hard courts, but alright, I'll believe that grass is hard on the knees if the experts say it, but in the past Nadal's knee problems focussed around the hard court season, now grass apparently is his kryptonite.
Rafa
The level of hate on these boards amazes me, all these top players deserve respect for there ability and if any of them ever faked injury I would be surprised. These guys including Rafa are winners in every sense of the word and don't throw the towel in on a whim, that's why we so often can see them come from 1 or even 2 sets behind and beat lesser players, losing is not an option they would ever consider and play to the last point. The idea that us amateurs are here criticising them and pointing the finger is just plain laughable . Do we really believe Rafa is so not bothered about Wimbledon the crown jewel of tennis, that he would bother turning up at all if he felt he may as well give it up rather than do his best to turn that match around. In short Rafa had a problem but Darcis played a blinder and all credit to him, on another day an 80% Rafa may have done for him but all he stuck at it and turned the screw so good luck to him.
The level of hate on these boards amazes me, all these top players deserve respect for there ability and if any of them ever faked injury I would be surprised. These guys including Rafa are winners in every sense of the word and don't throw the towel in on a whim, that's why we so often can see them come from 1 or even 2 sets behind and beat lesser players, losing is not an option they would ever consider and play to the last point. The idea that us amateurs are here criticising them and pointing the finger is just plain laughable . Do we really believe Rafa is so not bothered about Wimbledon the crown jewel of tennis, that he would bother turning up at all if he felt he may as well give it up rather than do his best to turn that match around. In short Rafa had a problem but Darcis played a blinder and all credit to him, on another day an 80% Rafa may have done for him but all he stuck at it and turned the screw so good luck to him.
pds999
Hall of Fame
To be fair, Rafa hasn't said anything about the knees at all. So not sure who your rant is directed at?
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furryballs
Banned
yet........................
jelle v
Hall of Fame
In his press conference he is asked about his physical condition.
His answer is that it is not the right time to talk about that, but he is confident he will have a good recovery.
Although his answer might seem polite, I think he should have answered that there are no problems and that Darcs beating him has nothing to do with his knees. Instead he gives -what seems like- a polite answer, but actually it isn't.. well in my opinion anyway.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
I have to agree with this. Some of you guys are just ripping him apart relentlessly.
furryballs
Banned
not him......his shortsighted fans...
furryballs
Banned
and we all know what causes blindness
namelessone
Legend
Well not just for his knees, but especially for his battered knees. Tsonga,Becker,Henman among others mentioned how tough a surface grass can be for guys and gals with knee issues. Tsonga said this before Nadal lost btw.
furryballs
Banned
how many clay tournaments has he skipped through injury?im talking about the FO and masters 1000?
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
I agree that there are a few short sighted fans here, especially after reading some of the posts on here recently. But Nadal doesn't need to be thrown under the bus in almost every thread on this board. The guy lost, and it was going to happen at rate he was burning the candle at both ends the past few months.
If his shortsighted fans want to live in a bubble, let them. But Nadal doesn't need to be ripped into again and again. He's moved on, and so should we. We have plenty of tennis ahead of this Wimbledon.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
No evidence to suggest that.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Yes, that was BS--and you're right: too many clay events can be the culprit.
There's no evidence to suggest he would still be around either. You and THE FIGHTER have different opinion.
Agree with every word of this, but many of his head-in-the-sand fans continue to pretend that this didn't happen, very typical.
jelle v
Hall of Fame
He should just take any doubt away, but instead his answer implies that he is injured.
I'm not a Nadal hater, anyone can read back my posts to check, but Nadal has a great share in creating this illusion of being unbeatable when he is fit. There is always something wrong with his knees. I think he is a great tennis player (love(d) the Fedal matches), but this aspect of his tennis career, really annoys me :|
Crisstti
Legend
Because there is an old Aussie code that you are obviously completely unaware of, which says, if you're injured, don't play, if you play, don't make injury excuses. It's self serving and disrespectful to the opponent.
rosewallGOAT
Banned
One thing I worry about is Nadal's knees and his years of knee injuries have just had too much cummulative wear over the years now for grass. Bending down low and making those little adjustments are more important on grass than any other surface, and that might just be too hard for him to do anymore. I thought his poor play last year on grass was a fluke, but now 2 years and 3 grass tournaments in a row it probably is more than that.
Perhaps though if he can avoid another serious injury he can regain his grass form of 2006-2011 where he made the finals of all 5 Wimbledons he played. One thing that is clear now is that a warmup tournament for Wimbledon is a must for him. He is clearly rusty and out of practice on grass, and he cant just go cold from the French to Wimbledon anymore. At the very least he needs to put lots of serious grass practice in sometime before next years Wimbledon, if he is still serious about winning future titles there.
Perhaps though if he can avoid another serious injury he can regain his grass form of 2006-2011 where he made the finals of all 5 Wimbledons he played. One thing that is clear now is that a warmup tournament for Wimbledon is a must for him. He is clearly rusty and out of practice on grass, and he cant just go cold from the French to Wimbledon anymore. At the very least he needs to put lots of serious grass practice in sometime before next years Wimbledon, if he is still serious about winning future titles there.
rosewallGOAT
Banned
That is what people said last year too but it makes no sense. The fact Nadal has done so poorly in 3 grass tournaments over 2 years in a row now means he is for the moment a very weak grass court player. He once was a great grass court player, and is still by far the 2nd best grass player of his era, but at the moment he sucks on it. You cant beat nothings in early rounds then you definitely arent going to beat the big guns in later rounds. Whether he can fix that in the future and become a good grass player again remains to be seen.
RafaIsBack
Professional
thanks for this interview crisstti, very interesting 
Crisstti
Legend
You're welcome 
I'm glad it seems Rafa's knee isn't really worse than it has been for months. Now, how well it has been all this time is another issue, but still.
He didn't make injury excuses. But to say he should have said it was perfect when he was limping during the match is ridiculous.
That is definitely what is worrying about this, and is what many people have said. Clearly he cannot play well on grass with his knees how they are. Now, he couldn't either in 2009 and he got better, I hope he will now too.
I'm glad it seems Rafa's knee isn't really worse than it has been for months. Now, how well it has been all this time is another issue, but still.
He didn't make injury excuses. But to say he should have said it was perfect when he was limping during the match is ridiculous.
That is definitely what is worrying about this, and is what many people have said. Clearly he cannot play well on grass with his knees how they are. Now, he couldn't either in 2009 and he got better, I hope he will now too.
You're welcome
I'm glad it seems Rafa's knee isn't really worse than it has been for months. Now, how well it has been all this time is another issue, but still.
He didn't make injury excuses. But to say he should have said it was perfect when he was limping during the match is ridiculous.
That is definitely what is worrying about this, and is what many people have said. Clearly he cannot play well on grass with his knees how they are. Now, he couldn't either in 2009 and he got better, I hope he will now too.
<<Now you're just being obtuse. Who said anything about claiming that his knees were "perfect?" A simple, "I was fit to play but my opponent was too good today" would have sufficed. You can pretend all you want that he didn't try and plant an injury seed, but rational people read you-and BP himself-like an open book.>>
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