Rafael Nadal on his return, Federer, and Davis Cup

jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
Didn't feel like going through the other thread to see if someone already posted this. If so I apologize.

Spanish paper Marca published a lengthy interview with Rafael Nadal on Tuesday, wherein the Spaniard discusses his return to Montreal (he travels to Canada on Wednesday), his plans for the rest of the season (he’s busy) and, of course, his rival and the “best in history,” Roger Federer.

Nadal tells Marca: “I do not know if I am 100% better, I hope so, but no one realizes until one is in competition.”

“I wanted to be sure,” Nadal said of his decision to play in Montreal, “I’ve trained for four days with little pain, I feel confident running and now is the time to try.”

And Nadal is giving himself plenty of chances to try for the rest of the season. He says if his knees hold up, he will make few changes to his busy playing schedule.

“Davis Cup is always on my calendar.” Nadal says of Spain’s home semifinal against Israel this September. Rafa also lists the following tournaments as on his schedule: “Montreal, Cincinnati, U.S. Open, Davis Cup, if I’m called upon and have no setbacks, then Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and London.”

He keeps hopes modest when it comes to completing his career Slam at the US Open this year:

"I do not know. It depends on different things. How the two previous tournaments go, how my knees respond, that all depends on whether I reach the U.S. Open with the confidence to say, look, I’m ready. If I see that I had doubts in Montreal and Cincinnati, it will be more difficult. I could make the semis and quarter finals in both tournaments and have bad feelings, or make the second and third round and be more prepared."

Nadal says that he is not worried about possibly falling to No. 3 in the world by the US Open, and is happy to count his copious blessings:

"I’m fine where I am and happy for everything that has happened to me, despite my injuries. I am aware that I have 23 years of a happy life and sport and I will be back to work. . .My goal is not to think of the number 1 or 2. My goal is to feel happy and playing competitively and continuing to win big tournaments."

When asked if Roger Federer benefited by his absence the past couple months, Rafa takes the high road:

“Federer is where he deserves to be. Numbers tell and that is the reality.”

Nadal says that Roger is a definite candidate for the GOAT:

“(Federer) is the best in the history that I’ve lived, that’s for sure,” but that Rod Laver’s accomplishments can’t be overlooked. “One must wait for Federer to finish his career to know.“

“I was happy for him (Federer) because I think he deserved it.” Nadal said of Roger’s win at Roland Garros, though he admitted to playing golf during the final. He has not yet watched the tape of his Roland Garros defeat to Robin Soderling, for obvious reasons:

"It was one of the few times that I have not had control of the situation at any time. It was painful, of course. For everything, everything that was happening. Not only for the defeat at Roland Garros, which I would not always win, but for the moment, because I had knee problems for quite some time, had a season emotionally a little hard and when all things come together and the blow fell in my dream tournament – then comes the slump."

When asked if he thinks he can reach Federer’s major total of 15, Nadal is doubtful, saying he is still has a ways to go just to make it to double digits:

“I’m not saying it can’t be achieved (winning 10 majors) but I have always gone step by step. Both in my life and my career. I think in the morning, am I going to train and train well?“
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Rafael_Nadal_Pre_76f7.jpg


Read more: http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/...al-roger-federer-and-davis-cup/#ixzz0NHMP8eNQ
 
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Wow, Nadal is such a perfect sportsman and gentleman. Funny how he isn't too worried about dropping to No. 3 in the rankings before the USO. The possibility of facing Federer in the semis must be exciting - a virtual walkover into the final for Nadal.
 
It's a nice article but Nadal is crazy if the thinks he can play that many tournaments on hard:Montreal, Cincinnati, U.S. Open,Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and London.

This is a guy who is coming off a 2 months rest period after tendinitis problems.If he pounds his knees week after week on HC I doubt he makes it to TMC.

Can't wait for Montreal.
 
I don't think Rafa should play in the DC. Verdasco and Lopez got what it takes to beat Israel. He should take it easy and try to make a lighter schedule come the HC season.

It'll be pity if we can't see a proper YET with no Nadal in the seeds.
 
This contradicts what he said earlier about how he would've liked to stay no 1 for a while longer.I dont buy it esp.since it was hardly a week ago.
That said I wont be surprised to see him come back strong because he always does after a break.
 
Nadal is so humble and gracious - he could have easily said that Fed's last two Slams were bogus, but he took the high road.

His knee pain and emotional issues (divorce) have affected him, and they seem more genuine than Fed's "mono" and "back pain."
 
sureshs said:
Nadal is so humble and gracious - he could have easily said that Fed's last two Slams were bogus, but he took the high road.

His knee pain and emotional issues (divorce) have affected him, and they seem more genuine than Fed's "mono" and "back pain."
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HAHAHAHAHA "more genuine" HAHAHAHAHA
 
He's a big faker. He says his knee has been bothering him for some time yet he manages one of the best starts of his career in 2009. Magically those same troublesome knees just happen to knock him out of the FO. The same knees which gave him such early success. Uhhh, how about we consult Occam's razor? He lost simply because Soderling was better than him on that day. He's just not as consistent on his best surface as Fed is on his best surfaceS.
 
sureshs said:
Nadal is so humble and gracious - he could have easily said that Fed's last two Slams were bogus, but he took the high road.

His knee pain and emotional issues (divorce) have affected him, and they seem more genuine than Fed's "mono" and "back pain."
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I don't understand this at all... How could he have easily said that the last two slams were bogus? How is not saying that "the high road"? How can his problems "seem more genuine"? This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read...
 
OroDeSantoro said:
I don't understand this at all... How could he have easily said that the last two slams were bogus? How is not saying that "the high road"? How can his problems "seem more genuine"? This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read...
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Really? Do a search on some other of the poster's Fed bashing, you're bound to find a few more even more ridiculous, IMO. :)

(Actually, it looks like I confused Sureshs with another poster - apologies. I won't delete the above however - although I agree with many points he's raised in the past, I don't with this one and the continual 'last 2 grand slams not being valid wins' etc..)
 
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I'm surprised that he'd go through with a full fall schedule. I get the necessity of everything leading up to the USO and Davis Cup, but the fall indoor tournaments will just add wear to his body.

He's in a difficult position. Knowing that he doesn't have the healthiest knees, does he try to pace himself with regular rest intervals (which limits the "groove" he can get into) in an effort to prolong his career, or does he just try to get as much play in as reasonably possible before having to hang it up. Regardless, even if he chose option number two and played a fairly packed schedule the rest of the year, I don't get why he'd play so much in the fall.

As always a humble gentleman.
 
bruce38 said:
He's a big faker. He says his knee has been bothering him for some time yet he manages one of the best starts of his career in 2009. Magically those same troublesome knees just happen to knock him out of the FO. The same knees which gave him such early success. Uhhh, how about we consult Occam's razor? He lost simply because Soderling was better than him on that day. He's just not as consistent on his best surface as Fed is on his best surfaceS.
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And how do you know he is a faker? Can you read minds?

I don't see what is so spectacular in Nadal's long break from tennis.Last year after another tendinitis flare-up he stayed on the bench 2 and a half months,missing very important events like TMC and Davis Cup finals.
He rested from 31 Oct 08'-20 Jan 09',when AO 09' started.We all know what happened there.His knees took a beating in tough matches like the simon one,the semifinal with verdasco and the final with federer.The result? In the following tournament,in rotterdam, he got injured in the final.By his own account he has been playing with pain since Monte Carlo.So it's not like he is making this stuff up.

No one retires from Wimbledon unless they've got real issues,and trust me they aren't low confidence,but bum knees.Obviously losing at the FO couldn't have done any good but Nadal would have loved nothing more that to come back strong for Wimbledon.Unfortunately for him and his fans,his knees didn't allow him to.
 
Nadalfan89 said:
Such a good sportsman...

Truly the GOAT
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Yes, the GOAT of having illegal substances in your body, and practicing like a maniac before and DURING Wimbledon, then all of a sudden INJURED...oh yeah,remarkable.
 
Aabye said:
See, you don't have to be a fan to realize he isn't a bad kid. Just like I still don't care for Federer but I can admit he's probably the GOAT.
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Yeah , i wrote that before i found out a bunch of things today...in another thread, a strong case.
 
namelessone said:
And how do you know he is a faker? Can you read minds?

I don't see what is so spectacular in Nadal's long break from tennis.Last year after another tendinitis flare-up he stayed on the bench 2 and a half months,missing very important events like TMC and Davis Cup finals.
He rested from 31 Oct 08'-20 Jan 09',when AO 09' started.We all know what happened there.His knees took a beating in tough matches like the simon one,the semifinal with verdasco and the final with federer.The result? In the following tournament,in rotterdam, he got injured in the final.By his own account he has been playing with pain since Monte Carlo.So it's not like he is making this stuff up.

No one retires from Wimbledon unless they've got real issues,and trust me they aren't low confidence,but bum knees.Obviously losing at the FO couldn't have done any good but Nadal would have loved nothing more that to come back strong for Wimbledon.Unfortunately for him and his fans,his knees didn't allow him to.
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Yes I read minds. Anymore questions you naive little girl?
 
Aabye said:
Drak spreading his "theories" again. Hey, just between us, I've got this bridge, see...
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Yes, well his "theories" really made a lot of sense, and who are you to totally dismiss that, what IF Nadal has used some forbidden substances, how big of a jackass would that make you?
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
Yes, well his "theories" really made a lot of sense, and who are you to totally dismiss that, what IF Nadal has used some forbidden substances, how big of a jackass would that make you?
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Who am I? A person with more than a smidgen of common sense, who doesn't believe in declaring people guilty based on circumstantial evidence. And given the fact that the ATP hasn't kicked out Nadal yet it seems a lot of people in that organization share my sentiments.

If Nadal did use drugs there would be a lot of bigger problems then my frequent posts defending him. It would imply that the past five years have been a complete sham, that a GOAT candidate was cheated out of many a GS, that the ATP was derelict in their duty, that Mac would never be able to raise his vocie again he would be so heartbroken. All of those things are slightly bigger than one little poster feeling completely bummed because one of their favorite players ended up being a liar and cheater.

And if Rafa comes back, never gets busted for drugs, and wins more Slams, how much of libelous idiot does that make drak? One honking big one.
 
Aabye said:
Who am I? A person with more than a smidgen of common sense, who doesn't believe in declaring people guilty based on circumstantial evidence. And given the fact that the ATP hasn't kicked out Nadal yet it seems a lot of people in that organization share my sentiments.

If Nadal did use drugs there would be a lot of bigger problems then my frequent posts defending him. It would imply that the past five years have been a complete sham, that a GOAT candidate was cheated out of many a GS, that the ATP was derelict in their duty, that Mac would never be able to raise his vocie again he would be so heartbroken. All of those things are slightly bigger than one little poster feeling completely bummed because one of their favorite players ended up being a liar and cheater.

And if Rafa comes back, never gets busted for drugs, and wins more Slams, how much of libelous idiot does that make drak? One honking big one.
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You are blessed with common sense, thats nice, and i agree with what you say but one cant help to wonder when the circumstnces are being a little weird, it would be a lot easier trying to explain my doubts towards him in Swedish but i guess u are American or British right?
 
yung goon said:
practice and playing matches are completely different.
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It is, but NOT for Nadal, that you really should know!! He practices like it was his last practice ever or as if it was a Slam-final. Ive even seen him practice 2 times.
 
bruce38 said:
Yes I read minds. Anymore questions you naive little girl?
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Nice mature attitude:rolleyes:

Since you imply he was faking his injury after RG,do you mind adressing Nadal's long break last year? Why did he skip TMC(an important event he has never won) and Davis Cup final(which meant very much to him)?
I'm guessing he didn't have tendinitis last year,right? He must have been making it up.

I don't know what I find more disturbing:the fact that people actually think that Nadal is faking his injury(a guy who has had a lot of problems over the years) or that some of them believe the wimbledon withdrawal is due to low confidence.I can already see Nadal saying to himself: "no way I'm winning wimbledon this year.Better pull out.Sure,I'll be losing the chance to defend my hard earned title from last year,I'll give Federer the nr.1 position again after fighting 160 weeks to get it but ah,screw it.I'd rather relax by the pool.Oh,and since drakulie knows I'm doping I'm better off staying at home.
Tio Toni,I'll be holding a press conference tonight".

Hilarious....
 
Please keep the doping evidence out of here. Either give concrete evidence, or it's not true. You think the ATP and ITF would really cover up for Nadal? Nadal is not bigger than the sport of tennis, and if a cover up was discovered, it would kill the sport of tennis. You think they'd risk the sport to cover Nadal's ass? Come on, let's be serious here guys.
 
yung goon said:
basically what your saying is that nadal withdrew from wimbledon so his dope would wear off and dissapear?
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I think Roger Federer is the best player that ever lived...Every kid playing tennis in the world really should look up to him as a role-model,and tennis-wise due to his excellent technique...I dont really have anything against Nadal, i can appreciate Nadal giving Federer trouble, and i respect what Nadal has achieved at such a young age...but this really does not make any sense to me...soi guess i am leaning towards that it can be that way,Yes.
 
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Please keep the doping evidence out of here. Either give concrete evidence, or it's not true. You think the ATP and ITF would really cover up for Nadal? Nadal is not bigger than the sport of tennis, and if a cover up was discovered, it would kill the sport of tennis. You think they'd risk the sport to cover Nadal's ass? Come on, let's be serious here guys.
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If someone wants to speculate about it, where should they then do it? In a street-corner or on a board? I respect u and i think you are a great poster but it shouldnt be sssccchhh:d down all the time, ppl have the right to talk about it and speculate about it.
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
If someone wants to speculate about it, where should they then do it? In a street-corner or on a board? I respect u and i think you are a great poster but it shouldnt be sssccchhh:d down all the time, ppl have the right to talk about it and speculate about it.
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I mean, but not in every thread related to Nadal. If you don't have evidence, why try to bring it up in every single thread unless it is a fact. It seems you guys are discussing it in the other thread, so why feel the need to bring it up in this one?
 
jamesblakefan#1 said:
I mean, but not in every thread related to Nadal. If you don't have evidence, why try to bring it up in every single thread unless it is a fact. It seems you guys are discussing it in the other thread, so why feel the need to bring it up in this one?
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You are right, that probably was my fault, i was a little shocked when i read it in another thread, thought about it a little bit...then posted it here, OK. My bad, and i might add, i R E A L L Y hope he has done nothing wrong. That would totally mess up tennis-history for the last 5 years:shock:
 
namelessone said:
Nice mature attitude:rolleyes:

Since you imply he was faking his injury after RG,do you mind adressing Nadal's long break last year? Why did he skip TMC(an important event he has never won) and Davis Cup final(which meant very much to him)?
I'm guessing he didn't have tendinitis last year,right? He must have been making it up.

I don't know what I find more disturbing:the fact that people actually think that Nadal is faking his injury(a guy who has had a lot of problems over the years) or that some of them believe the wimbledon withdrawal is due to low confidence.I can already see Nadal saying to himself: "no way I'm winning wimbledon this year.Better pull out.Sure,I'll be losing the chance to defend my hard earned title from last year,I'll give Federer the nr.1 position again after fighting 160 weeks to get it but ah,screw it.I'd rather relax by the pool.Oh,and since drakulie knows I'm doping I'm better off staying at home.
Tio Toni,I'll be holding a press conference tonight".

Hilarious....
Click to expand...

Better still why don't you explain how with this so-called injury he destroys the first 3 contenders he faced, including annihilating Leyton Hewitt with the bad knees. And then magically, those knees got bad in the 4th round which causes him to lose to Soderling. Can you pin point a place in the match where they suddenly went bad? And those SAME knees which then result him losing an exhibition match a week later to the SAME Hewitt that he just crushed a week earlier with the SAME knees. Explain that ex-lax. The only reasonable explanation? Yes he has had tendonitis, but that didn't stop him from starting is best ever season in 2009. It also didn't stop him from getting to the 4th round of the FO. And they also were NOT the cause of him losing to Soderling or magically missing Wimby. He has aches, like all professional athletes, and he blamed his loss to the guy he hates in Soderling, on his "injury". No doubt they bother him, but they did not cause all of this. Ok? Happy fairy princess?
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
I think Roger Federer is the best player that ever lived...Every kid playing tennis in the world really should look up to him as a role-model,and tennis-wise due to his excellent technique...I dont really have anything against Nadal, i can appreciate Nadal giving Federer trouble, and i respect what Nadal has achieved at such a young age...but this really does not make any sense to me...soi guess i am leaning towards that it can be that way,Yes.
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you dont respect nadal at all judging by your posts on tt. everyone here knows that. you just want to kick a man while hes down. i guess gael monfils is doping too since hes buff and didnt play wimbledon. seriously give it a rest duck. your losing respect with every post
 
yung goon said:
you dont respect nadal at all judging by your posts on tt. everyone here knows that. you just want to kick a man while hes down. i guess gael monfils is doping too since hes buff and didnt play wimbledon. seriously give it a rest duck. your losing respect with every post
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Oh sure "duck" (whatever the hell that means) Im not the one who got banned, so i guess your respect around here aint that high either.
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
You are blessed with common sense, thats nice, and i agree with what you say but one cant help to wonder when the circumstnces are being a little weird, it would be a lot easier trying to explain my doubts towards him in Swedish but i guess u are American or British right?
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Yes, unfortunately Swedish is not one of the languages I speak. As far as the circumstances being weird? Not extremely, and it certainly doesn't point towards drugs. At worst, it points to the slight possibility that Nadal WAS really injured and decided to play a stupid exo for the money. In that case, he would be a greedy punk, but not a cheater and not a coward.

TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
It is, but NOT for Nadal, that you really should know!! He practices like it was his last practice ever or as if it was a Slam-final. Ive even seen him practice 2 times.
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Ooh, this concept of Nadal as a superb practice player has been going around for a long time. Where did you see him practice? At a Slam or at home? If it was at a Slam then it can't really be trusted. I've read Federer is very lax at Slams, but when in Dubai he really pushes himself. Rafa could be the opposite.

TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
If someone wants to speculate about it, where should they then do it? In a street-corner or on a board? I respect u and i think you are a great poster but it shouldnt be sssccchhh:d down all the time, ppl have the right to talk about it and speculate about it.
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They can speculate about it here, and on a street-corner if they wish. Both have the same amount of credibility. But don't go around claiming you have "proof" and "evidence" unless you either want to get hounded forever or you're willing to back it up.
 
yung goon said:
you dont respect nadal at all judging by your posts on tt. everyone here knows that. you just want to kick a man while hes down. i guess gael monfils is doping too since hes buff and didnt play wimbledon. seriously give it a rest duck. your losing respect with every post
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I respect what he has A C H I E V E D on the tenniscourts around the world, but i dont respect the time-delaying, the butt-picking ,that something always is wrong when he loses etc, no i dont.
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
Oh sure "duck" (whatever the hell that means) Im not the one who got banned, so i guess your respect around here aint that high either.
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it means you duck questions. and im not quite sure who you are talking about since ive never been banned. just because someone doesnt post on here every single day doesnt mean theyre banned.
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
I respect what he has A C H I E V E D on the tenniscourts around the world, but i dont respect the time-delaying, the butt-picking ,that something always is wrong when he loses etc, no i dont.
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Love him or hate him, don't spread lies and rumors. And be careful of those lies and rumors you read on the internet.
 
Aabye said:
Yes, unfortunately Swedish is not one of the languages I speak. As far as the circumstances being weird? Not extremely, and it certainly doesn't point towards drugs. At worst, it points to the slight possibility that Nadal WAS really injured and decided to play a stupid exo for the money. In that case, he would be a greedy punk, but not a cheater and not a coward.



Ooh, this concept of Nadal as a superb practice player has been going around for a long time. Where did you see him practice? At a Slam or at home? If it was at a Slam then it can't really be trusted. I've read Federer is very lax at Slams, but when in Dubai he really pushes himself. Rafa could be the opposite.



They can speculate about it here, and on a street-corner if they wish. Both have the same amount of credibility. But don't go around claiming you have "proof" and "evidence" unless you either want to get hounded forever or you're willing to back it up.
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I dont think he will need that kind of pocket-change that exos give.
I saw him practice during week one of Wimby 2008 and Us Open 2008, he practiced as if there was no tomorrow.
I dont have proof, but i think i am entitled to speculate all i want. He is probably not ( i hope not) doping but i still think what happened before Wimbledon was really strange, I mean still..he was the defending champion.
 
yung goon said:
it means you duck questions. and im not quite sure who you are talking about since ive never been banned. just because someone doesnt post on here every single day doesnt mean theyre banned.
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Alright then , i got u mixed up with someone else then.
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
I respect what he has A C H I E V E D on the tenniscourts around the world, but i dont respect the time-delaying, the butt-picking ,that something always is wrong when he loses etc, no i dont.
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im willing to bet that whenever fed loses to nadal you blame it on federer playing bad. or nadal juicing. which means you D O N T respect what hes achieved
 
TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
I dont think he will need that kind of pocket-change that exos give.
I saw him practice during week one of Wimby 2008 and Us Open 2008, he practiced as if there was no tomorrow.
I dont have proof, but i think i am entitled to speculate all i want. He is probably not ( i hope not) doping but i still think what happened before Wimbledon was really strange, I mean still..he was the defending champion.
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You are speculating. Drakulie is rumormongering until he offers proof.
Like I said, how Federer practices at Slams is not the way he really practices.
You don't need proof to speculate, although if you don't have at least one or two articles to foment your story, most people will assume your speculations are based purely on a fertile imagination and blatant bias. Neither of those things get a lot of respect on these boards.
Injuries are strange in general.
 
Aabye said:
You are speculating. Drakulie is rumormongering until he offers proof.
Like I said, how Federer practices at Slams is not the way he really practices.
You don't need proof to speculate, although if you don't have at least one or two articles to foment your story, most people will assume your speculations are based purely on a fertile imagination and blatant bias. Neither of those things get a lot of respect on these boards.
Injuries are strange in general.
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Respected or not around here i could care less about, im pretty satisfied with what i have achieved in tennis. Alright then fair enough, we might collide again in the future...until then.. Have a nice day
 
yung goon said:
im willing to bet that whenever fed loses to nadal you blame it on federer playing bad. or nadal juicing. which means you D O N T respect what hes achieved
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I usually blame it on small margins.
What do you blame when Nadal loses to Fed?
 
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