Roland-Garros 2013: Nadal won't have a special seeding

[Lukhas]

French source: http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Actualites/Nadal-ne-sera-pas-surclasse/368160

Yet they admit that Nadal, being the best player of the history of the tournament, shouldn't be seeded 5 or 4, the tournament eventually decided not to intervene in the order of the seeded players. They said that what could have been an honour for Nadal would in fact be some low, poor cooking. They realised that it would involve some experimentation, tampering with the draw of Roland-Garros. Which seals the fact that Nadal will be likely seaded 5 or 4 at best at Roland-Garros.

 

[Hood_Man]

Good, it wouldn't be fair on anyone else if they did give him a special seeding. This isn't grass which consists of about 3 weeks of total play for these top players, there's plenty of time to build up ranking points and good form on clay in the build up to Roland Garros.

He wouldn't need it anyway His lower ranking is more dangerous for everyone else than himself.

 

[tennis_pro]

French source: http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Actualites/Nadal-ne-sera-pas-surclasse/368160

Yet they admit that Nadal, being the best player of the history of the tournament, shouldn't be seeded 5 or 4, the tournament eventually decided not to intervene in the order of the seeded players. They said that what could have been an honour for Nadal would in fact be some low, poor cooking. They realised that it would involve some experimentation, tampering with the draw of Roland-Garros. Which seals the fact that Nadal will be likely seaded 5 or 4 at best at Roland-Garros.

The draw is rigged anyway, so it won't make a difference. I'm 100% sure that Nadal will be put as far from Djokovic as possible, that is in Federer's quarter.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Will Ferrer do the best he can to loose early in Madrid and Rome ?

 

[sbengte]

The draw is rigged anyway, so it won't make a difference. I'm 100% sure that Nadal will be put as far from Djokovic as possible, that is in Federer's quarter.

LOL, beat me to it I don't know about Federer's quarter, but opposite half from Djokovic.

 

[Lukhas]

The draw is rigged anyway, so it won't make a difference. I'm 100% sure that Nadal will be put as far from Djokovic as possible, that is in Federer's quarter.

Well despite the fact Murray has clearly stepped his game up since a year, he is somehow still a mug on clay, so it's not like it changes anything. Prime Federer would've loved to have him in his semis in the previous years... :lol: No excuses of course, but he isn't a threat on that surface among the other players of the Big 4 (or even 5 given the fact Ferrer cooks him al dente on clay). You still have to get past him, but really...

 

[veroniquem]

I don't think Rafa would have wanted it any other way. Now just make sure he's nowhere near Nole in the draw and everything will be fine.

 

[Ehh]

I don't think Rafa would have wanted it any other way. Now just make sure he's nowhere near Nole in the draw and everything will be fine.

A true fan wants his guy to face adversity instead of running away from it. If I were Nadal, and someone was owning me left-right and center - I'd want to play a match with that guy every day to suss him out and break his spirit.

Yet, I'm sure the tournie organizers will, in fact, place Nadal as far away from Djokovic as possible. Probably as far away from Federer as possible as well, since they like Fed in France. It is entirely obvious that the draw is nowhere near random, and never has been. If Nadal - or any of the other Big Three was seeded 10, unseeded or a wild card, the same rules would apply;

Nadal/Murray semi (though Murray will probably not get that far), and Federer/Djokovic semi. Like clockwork.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I don't think Rafa would have wanted it any other way. Now just make sure he's nowhere near Nole in the draw and everything will be fine.

In the words of another poster here: "this isn't ethical".

But, then again, you knew that already, didn't you?

 

[veroniquem]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

 

[sbengte]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

Well, Fed-Djoker 2011 was the biggest blockbuster of them all :lol: So technically they could rig the draws by putting Fed in one half, Nadal and Djoker in the opposite half so they are assured of either a Djokodal or Fedal final. But don't worry, they will just go with the easier option that you want :lol:

 

[Ehh]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

...Errr, I hope they have enough common sense to do their damn jobs properly and make the random draws properly random.

Nadal gets Djokovic in the quarters - tough luck. Why should the random draw people have to give him special treatment so he faces the 'maximum adversity' at just the right moment for him? In a random draw, who cares when Nadal meets his nemesis?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I don't get it, why the ITF and ATP don't just put it on paper, that the organizers can do whatever they want with the draws?

It is already obvious, that the big money talk, when it comes to such things.

Why the circus?

As an additional bonus, it will save some individuals the display of "not so admirable" features of their characters.

It will be a win-win situation.

 

[veroniquem]

Well, Fed-Djoker 2011 was the biggest blockbuster of them all :lol: So technically they could rig the draws by putting Fed in one half, Nadal and Djoker in the opposite half so they are assured of either a Djokodal or Fedal final. But don't worry, they will just go with the easier option that you want :lol:

Given Fed's current level on red clay, a Fedal final would suck to high heavens and I think they all know it.

 

[Ehh]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

Man, the indecency of this post requires a second response.

Yes it's true that Nadal/Djokovic is the maximum adversity there is... for Nadal and Djokovic.

What about the other 126 players in the draw? Why should the integrity everyone else's draw be compromised so that Nadal gets to face his adversity at the best possible time for him?

 

[sbengte]

Man, the indecency of this post requires a second response.

Yes it's true that Nadal/Djokovic is the maximum adversity there is... for Nadal and Djokovic.

What about the other 126 players in the draw? Why should the integrity everyone else's draw be compromised so that Nadal gets to face his adversity at the best possible time for him?

And to think some posters accused you of being NSK when you first started posting !

 

[veroniquem]

It's the maximum adversity, period. No other matchup in the field could compare. If Rafa/Nole happened in the quarter, half the spectators would not watch the rest of the tournament. Putting the climax in the middle of the event is a sure recipe for disaster.

 

[sbengte]

I don't get it, why the ITF and ATP don't just put it on paper, that the organizers can do whatever they want with the draws?

It is already obvious, that the big money talk, when it comes to such things.

Why the circus?

As an additional bonus, it will save some individuals the display of "not so admirable" features of their characters.

It will be a win-win situation.

Totally agree. It is the sham of the "random draw" that is more annoying than the actual rigging itself.

 

[JackReacher]

I would love to see the expression on the face of Dj when he finds out he has to play Nadal in the QF. Can Dj win more than a set? If it rains, maybe. But it rained on both days at last year's Roland Garros final and still nothing much went right for Dj. Maybe its true what they say. Maybe it is impossible to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, barring his parents separating.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

And to think some posters accused you of being NSK when you first started posting !

Everyone on Talk Tennis accuses new posters of being 'NSK'. 'NSK' hasn't even posted on Talk Tennis since he was permanently banned. :lol: Even I still get accused of being 'NSK'.

 

[Ehh]

Everyone on Talk Tennis accuses new posters of being 'NSK'. 'NSK' hasn't even posted on Talk Tennis since he was permanently banned. :lol: Even I still get accused of being 'NSK'.

And how would you know, NSK? Or maybe I am NSK, having a conversation with myself. #mindfvck.

Anyway, I can't wait to see the look on Nadal's face when he realizes he has to play Djokovic in the QF instead of a usual bending member of the Spanish Armada.

 

[veroniquem]

I think you're gonna wait a long time... (I would say, semi at worst. No way they're gonna put Rafa in Djoko's QUARTER. Simply not happening)

 

[Ehh]

I think you're gonna wait a long time...

Yeh, I will have to if you have your way and they spoon-feed Nadal another optimal draw.

What kind of fan wants their player to have preferential treatment instead of getting on with it fairly?

 

[veroniquem]

You still don't understand my argument at all. I want the spectators (and me among them) to be treated fairly, meaning: keep the best match for the end.

 

[Relinquis]

haha... have some faith in your boy! why so afraid? Rafa is always the favourite on clay.

top players get byes anyway and play against lower ranked folks first so i don't see the point of rigging the draw any further.

anyway, it's not Djokovic that Rafa will be worried about. Nadal knows Novak's game well and would trounce him should they meet early at RG as it is best of five. The challenge, to Rafa, will come from an unexpected opponent. A Soderling, or Rosol (in fifth set) type performance. Someone who throws something at him that he isn't expecting and somehow finds difficult to adjust to. Against Novak, the match is nearly always on Rafa's racquet, as it was in Monte-Carlo. It's up to him to win or lose. The real threat comes from people who take that part away.

My bets on biggest surprise challenge to Rafa? Dimitrov, Gulbis, Haas or Davydenko. All players he could run into pretty early. All players who could take control of the match when on form. All players who have little to no chance of winning RG. You're not going to out-push Rafa at a best of five on clay, you need to outplay him as Coria almost did in their epic battle.

It's the maximum adversity, period. No other matchup in the field could compare. If Rafa/Nole happened in the quarter, half the spectators would not watch the rest of the tournament. Putting the climax in the middle of the event is a sure recipe for disaster.

 

[mariecon]

You still don't understand my argument at all. I want the spectators (and me among them) to be treated fairly, meaning: keep the best match for the end.

well you know that's going to happen anyway, just like it's happened in Madrid. The organizers will make sure Nadal and Djoker are in the same half and Fed is in Nadal's half so they get their Djokodal final. Hopefully things won't play out as planned.

 

[mariecon]

haha... have some faith in your boy! why so afraid? Rafa is always the favourite on clay.

top players get byes anyway and play against lower ranked folks first so i don't see the point of rigging the draw any further.

anyway, it's not Djokovic that Rafa will be worried about. Nadal knows Novak's game well and would trounce him should they meet early at RG as it is best of five. The challenge, to Rafa, will come from an unexpected opponent. A Soderling, or Rosol (in fifth set) type performance. Someone who throws something at him that he isn't expecting and somehow finds difficult to adjust to. Against Novak, the match is nearly always on Rafa's racquet, as it was in Monte-Carlo. It's up to him to win or lose. The real threat comes from people who take that part away.

My bets on biggest surprise challenge to Rafa? Dimitrov, Gulbis, Haas or Davydenko. All players he could run into pretty early. All players who could take control of the match when on form. All players who have little to no chance of winning RG. You're not going to out-push Rafa at RG.

There are no byes in the majors.

 

[veroniquem]

My bets on biggest surprise challenge to Rafa? Haas .

That's a threat to Djoko, not Rafa Davydenko or Gulbis? Oh come on, you got to be joking! The only one I would agree with is Dimitrov because he's young, hungry and has nothing to lose

 

[sbengte]

You still don't understand my argument at all. I want the spectators (and me among them) to be treated fairly, meaning: keep the best match for the end.

So fair treatment for spectators = rig draws when they are officially supposed to be random. Ok, got it.

 

[veroniquem]

Against Novak, the match is nearly always on Rafa's racquet, as it was in Monte-Carlo. It's up to him to win or lose.

.

Is that so? Then what happened 15 times, 3 of them on clay? Defective racquet? Strategic loss? Pity donation? Sudden irresistible urge to lose? :shock:

 

[King of Clay]

Everyone on Talk Tennis accuses new posters of being 'NSK'. 'NSK' hasn't even posted on Talk Tennis since he was permanently banned. :lol: Even I still get accused of being 'NSK'.

Its crazy. There is some paranoid people on here. I was accused of being Nadal Slam King after my first post.

 

[Ehh]

You still don't understand my argument at all. I want the spectators (and me among them) to be treated fairly, meaning: keep the best match for the end.

Your big (wrong) assumption is that all spectators think the same way you do and want the same matches as you at the same stage of the tournament as you want them. I can assure you that they do not. I, for one, want Nadal to meet Djokovic in the QF. Yet, unlike you, I am not arrogant enough to suggest that they rig the draw according to what I want - I am suggesting simply that they do it randomly. Crazy, I know.

 

[veroniquem]

Is that so? Then what happened 15 times, 3 of them on clay? Defective racquet? Strategic loss? Pity donation? Sudden irresistible urge to lose? :shock:

ETA: More seriously, I'd like to develop a bit on that subject. What M-C showed actually is that when Nole is in his most aggressive mode (and he was ultra aggressive in M-C from the get-go), Rafa has difficulties counteracting because Nole's most aggressive is more aggressive than Rafa's most aggressive (especially on the return) but if Djoko becomes a bit passive , then Rafa can capitalize because they both play at such a high level that the tiniest difference in sharpness and accuracy can make all the difference in the score. If they're both at their best, then you get an epic like AO 2012. To even suggest that such a match is not on both players' racket until the very last second is extremely disrespectful toward players of Nole and Rafa's caliber imo regardless of surface.
This being said, I agree with you that RG is Rafa's territory and he is the heavy favorite there.

 

[TMF]

Spectators don't like rigged draw, only a few of Nadal fans wants it easy for him so he can win more slam. Nadal usually has a favorable draw than Federer and Nole for years.

 

[veroniquem]

That's a rich comment given the cream puff draw Fed had at RG last year (and a lot of years before that when Rafa got Novak in semi again and again and again while Fed was getting...? Clowns like Monfils).

 

[dgbeclih600]

I don't think Rafa would have wanted it any other way. Now just make sure he's nowhere near Nole in the draw and everything will be fine.

Ohh dont worry there is no way roland garros is going to have a nadal-nole quarter final Im really starting to believe these draws are rigged to hype up the tournament and sell more tickets with having the right semifinals and finals match up.

 

[monfed]

Ralph will draw Fed anyway, so Nadalettes needn't sweat. :lol:

 

[kragster]

Having nadal in djokers half gives the potential for djokodal semi plus about A 50 % chance at fedal final. Having nadal in Feds half gives you fedal semi plus 80% chance of djokodal final. Organizers will play it safe.

As a djokodal fan I'm a bit torn. Having them both play each other in the final is a bit of a win win but it takes away some of the passionate rooting for your player element. Vs having Fred ( the villain) allows me to fully support Rafa or djokovic.

 

[mariecon]

Given Fed's current level on red clay, a Fedal final would suck to high heavens and I think they all know it.

Please do tell how you know Fed's current level on clay when he hasn't played a clay tournament yet this year? And last year he won Madrid. Any final with Federer in it is bound to be exciting and a SRO event.

 

[vandre]

official response from the french open tournament committee...


http://youtu.be/uBHPmYIxaiI

 

[moonballs]

Given Fed's current level on red clay, a Fedal final would suck to high heavens and I think they all know it.

The point is the fed djok semi was the maximum adversity in 2011 RG. From your post shouldn't it be in the final?

 

[BeHappy]

You know, if Federer is fit and Nadal plays Djoker in the SF, Federer could actually beat an exhausted Nadal in the final.

 

[moonballs]

Spectators don't like rigged draw, only a few of Nadal fans wants it easy for him so he can win more slam. Nadal usually has a favorable draw than Federer and Nole for years.

That is fine when he and Djok were no 1 and no 2. But now he is seeded outside top 4 how on earth he hadn't been drawn into Djokovic's half? Of course to Nadal fans that is actually for the protection of Djokovic.

 

[Mustard]

Nadal should be seeded according to his world ranking, just like everybody else should be.

 

[MichaelNadal]

You know, if Federer is fit and Nadal plays Djoker in the SF, Federer could actually beat an exhausted Nadal in the final.

Federer couldn't even get 2 sets on wheelchair Nadal on Chatrier if his life depended on it.

 

[Tenez101]

He'll be put in Ferrer's quarter if he's no. 5, so it won't really make a difference. :lol:

 

[Brett UK]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

The approach suggested here is would be corrupt and must not be followed.

by all means seed players as you see fit. I see the argument to put Nadal at 1 or more likely 2.

However, once the seedings are done, the draw must be 100% random. You can't start putting your own opinions into the draw to influence how Nadal would meet in quarters or semis. It would be corrupt to do so.

 

[Mustard]

My request has nothing to do with avoiding "facing adversity", quite the opposite actually. Rafa/Nole is the maximum adversity there is and as such should only happen in a final. I hope the draw people have enough common sense to see that.

Sorry veroniquem, but I couldn't disagree more. If Nadal is world number 5 after Rome has finished, then he should be seeded at number 5 at the French Open unless one of the top 4 pull out of the tournament. This is professional sport, and no player or matchup is bigger than the sport. Of course, if Nadal ends up on the opposite side of the draw to Djokovic, then fine. If Nadal ends up in Djokovic's quarter, so be it, one of them is going home earlier than expected.

 

[veroniquem]

Oh I agree the seeding should not be changed. Rafa is #5 right now and the draws at IW, M-C and Madrid were just perfect. I just hope the perfection extends to RG that's all :mrgreen:

 

[veroniquem]

Please do tell how you know Fed's current level on clay when he hasn't played a clay tournament yet this year? And last year he won Madrid. Any final with Federer in it is bound to be exciting and a SRO event.

Based on what I saw in 2012 and his overall form has taken a dive since then. (Madrid 2012 had nothing to do with red clay whatsoever- nothing to do with clay, period, to be honest)