Some Nadal facts after 2017 Australian Open that may surprise you

[reaper]

But back to the AO, it was the final of 2014 against stan that rocked Rafa more than anything I've ever seen, he was going into that final playing incredible tennis off the back of a second USO victory, and for him to encounter that injury along with Stan coming of age....

This was the one match that caused all of the trauma of last part of 2014, 2015 and 2016 combined, it was because of that final. It destroyed his intensity and confidence, i think even he had incredible belief that he was going to finally win a second AO in that final against Stan

Nadal insists he was injured going into that final, but it didn't become visible (at least to this viewer) until he was down a set and a break. The injury then contributed to Wawrinka losing the 3rd due to nerves. Without the back injury that final was looking like a straight setter to Wawrinka.

 

[The Green Mile]

Rafa with more matches won than Agassi, shouldn't be that surprising? Agassi only played the AO nine times in his Career. Pretty incredible that he won 4 titles out of that.

Actually thinking about it more, Rafa would have only played the AO a few more times than Agassi in this present time. He usually made the QF at the least though. Hmmm....

 

[mike danny]

I think it's one of the reasons ppl don't want to say he's better than Sampras despite having the same number of majors.

An interesting stat, just for trivia, nothing more:

If you take out HC from Federer's total he ends up with an 8-7 record in GS finals. He still ends up with more slams than Rafa if you take 2 slams out of his total vs just 1 for Rafa

Take out grass and Federer ends up with 11-7 record in GS finals.

Either way Fed seems to come out on top.

 

[mike danny]

Andy will have his day, he's played great tennis in Melbourne it will happen

The loss to Mischa Zverev though was Murray's most embarrassing loss. Even Nadal wouldn't have lost to such a guy in his worst state like 2015-2016.

 

[mike danny]

I mostly chalk that up to him having to compete with Federer and Djokovic.

I probably just value the career slam a lot tbh

Yes, true, but many Nadal fans say he owns Federer and Djokovic in the big matches. As such, Nadal would have done better in the dominance department given this aspect.

 

[mike danny]

Come on, Nadal is just a BAD PLAYER now. Forget the past. Maybe he was good back in 2008-2009 but now he is just weak, especially mentally. Got the easiest ever draw in AO and still lost.

Just good? The guy was incredible back then? As dominant as Federer and Djokovic, but only for a shorter period.

 

[Charlemagne]

Come on, Nadal is just a BAD PLAYER now. Forget the past. Maybe he was good back in 2008-2009 but now he is just weak, especially mentally. Got the easiest ever draw in AO and still lost.

This is bs

 

[mandy01]

Who's the one that cancelled their trip?

Healthy food...

 

[SinjinCooper]

Nadal has won more matches (51) at the Australian Open than 4X winner Andre Agassi (48).

A curious piece of trivia, but not one that says anything much about either player's success there. Agassi skipped the Aussie the first eight years of his career, and ten times overall. His average trip there was a lot more successful than Nadal's.

 

[xFedal]

Just good? The guy was incredible back then? As dominant as Federer and Djokovic, but only for a shorter period.

2008-09 Nadal went 87W-6L

 

[MichaelNadal]

Healthy food...

I'm doing a better job of it

 

[sarmpas]

Yes you do make your own luck, but why do people never talk about the injuries he has suffered at the AO?

And yes, each of the times he suffered an injury at the AO he was playing at a much higher level than this AO17 just gone. There has never been a definitive definition of "bad luck" but Rafa's injuries at the AO are as close as you will ever get

Smoother games are easier on the body. Nadal is not smooth on court. He never gives up which is a positive and a negative in different ways. Injuries are a symptom of his style but as said you gain some and lose some. His injuries are not unexpected 'freak' occurrences like Edberg defaulting an Aus Open final against Lendl after pulling a stomach muscle or Becker's wimbledon default after feeling his wrist go on serve or a playing quiting a match after rolling an ankle.

 

[georgemccauley]

Smoother games are easier on the body. Nadal is not smooth on court. He never gives up which is a positive and a negative in different ways. Injuries are a symptom of his style but as said you gain some and lose some. His injuries are not unexpected 'freak' occurrences like Edberg defaulting an Aus Open final against Lendl after pulling a stomach muscle or Becker's wimbledon default after feeling his wrist go on serve or a playing quiting a match after rolling an ankle.

Yeah I think we all agree that the way he plays is punishing on his body. The examples you suggested are more smoother easier on the body players.

It's just that injuries in the same event in 2010, 11 and 2014 are quite hard to believe

 

[sarmpas]

Yeah I think we all agree that the way he plays is punishing on his body. The examples you suggested are more smoother easier on the body players.

It's just that injuries in the same event in 2010, 11 and 2014 are quite hard to believe

This is conjecture on my part to a degree, the Aus Open is very early in the season so players' bodies may not be as battle hardened against stresses and strains as they might be after a few months into the season. Nadal as many agree has a physically taxing game, such that he has often physically struggled at the end of seasons for at least a couple of years. Again that's down to his schedule/playing style and not my defination of bad luck.

"You reap what you sow"