The Real Reason Nadal Struggles At Wimbledon Now

[okdude1992]

I think there are lots of reasons, including his knees, the low bounce, fatigue from the clay season etc that make sense.

But OP has a valid argument. Even when Nadal won his 2 Wimbledons, he didn't really cakewalk to the title. He always had close matches early on which he ended up scraping through. The last 3 years, he didn't. To me it just seems like a lack of confidence in the tight moments. And the other players clearly sense it.

 

[Starbuckingham]

The real reason Nadal struggles at Wimbledon now is because lower ranked players play way much better than Nadal at Wimbledon.

 

[triforce defender]

I think there are lots of reasons, including his knees, the low bounce, fatigue from the clay season etc that make sense.

But OP has a valid argument. Even when Nadal won his 2 Wimbledons, he didn't really cakewalk to the title. He always had close matches early on which he ended up scraping through. The last 3 years, he didn't. To me it just seems like a lack of confidence in the tight moments. And the other players clearly sense it.

Thank you for finally getting it. The difference of winning or losing one tiebreak can mean the difference between winning and losing the match on grass.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

But Nadal is a paladin with +200 to Topspin, +100 to mental toughness, and +50 to defense.

Yet he hasn't successfully conducted a raid on Wimbledon since 2010.

 

[okdude1992]

Thank you for finally getting it. The difference of winning or losing one tiebreak can mean the difference between winning and losing the match on grass.

Yes, but to me that has more to do with killer instinct than luck. Especially on return, Nadal has looked passive IMO

 

[Sysyphus]

Rafa hasn't played more tournaments than it has been necessary. Masters 1000 (except Monte Carlo) have been mandatory events and Top-30 players have had to play a minimum of four 500 level tournaments during the calendar year.

The ATP website: ¤¤ Top 30 players (based on the year-end ATP Rankings) must play a minimum of four 500 level tournaments during the calendar year, including at least one event following the US Open (Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event will count towards the minimum of four) ¤¤

Sure, but far from all other top-players play monte-carlo plus a 500 on clay. And it doesn't really alter the fact that he seems rather beat-up come Wimbledon.

 

[Sysyphus]

I think there are lots of reasons, including his knees, the low bounce, fatigue from the clay season etc that make sense.

But OP has a valid argument. Even when Nadal won his 2 Wimbledons, he didn't really cakewalk to the title. He always had close matches early on which he ended up scraping through. The last 3 years, he didn't. To me it just seems like a lack of confidence in the tight moments. And the other players clearly sense it.

Yes, but to me that has more to do with killer instinct than luck. Especially on return, Nadal has looked passive IMO

Yes! I think the sum of the points you bring up here is probably the most reasonable explanation we can come up with at the present moment.

 

[okdude1992]

Yes! I think the sum of the points you bring up here is probably the most reasonable explanation we can come up with at the present moment.

Thank you, friend. Nice avi btw

 

[octobrina10]

Sure, but far from all other top-players play monte-carlo plus a 500 on clay. And it doesn't really alter the fact that he seems rather beat-up come Wimbledon.

I don't think that playing ATP-500 events on HC (during the season) instead of playing on clay (before RG) would be better for Rafa.

 

[Sysyphus]

I don't think that playing ATP-500 events on HC (during the season) instead of playing on clay (before RG) would be better for Rafa.

Agree, in terms of overall. Perhaps not in terms of Wimbledon? Why do you think he does poorly on grass these days then?

 

[addictedtotopspin]

I wanted to know where "he spent his body too much"?

Im HUGE RAFAEL FAN.I litteraly dont sleep when he loses but im also honest.

Rafa in his early period of carreer played much more on defence which takes more fitness, thats on of the reasons why injuries came.(not only ofc).During the years he evolved and became beast like today.If Rafa played 2013 tennis since 2005 now he would have 17-18 SLAMS,35+ masters,atleast 1 WTF and his body would be in great shape and now we would be discusing will he finish carrer with 22 or 25 slams...
But that wasnt real, every player must evolve during the years so as Rafael Nadal.

 

[Bartelby]

Yes, well, Nadal did not invent a way of getting younger.

 

[Sirius Black]

But Nadal is a paladin with +200 to Topspin, +100 to mental toughness, and +50 to defense.

Does Nadal have the triforce of courage?

 

[triforce defender]

Does Nadal have the triforce of courage?

Yes Nadal owns the Triforce of Courage. But Djokovic owns the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Wisdom is split into 8 pieces:-|

 

[Sirius Black]

Yes Nadal owns the Triforce of Courage. But Djokovic owns the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Wisdom is split into 8 pieces:-|

Nadal is also wields his blade with his left hand.

Makes you think.

 

[Bud]

They changed the grass again

 

[vernonbc]

I thought the established reason for this was that grass has a low bounce, which bothers Nadal (with his knee issues) to no end.

As Octobrina said, Nadal himself says this is the reason.

Also being tired after the clay season is another reason. I just don't think he focuses much on Wimbledon any more.

You're right but I think Rafa would LOVE to win Wimbledon again. His knee is so much better now after last year's stem cell treatment that I think he was optimistic about his chances this year but then his back acted up on him. Even then, if he had gotten Federer's draw instead of the tough one he had, I think he would have made it to the final this year. Rafa hasn't lost his talent and ability to win on grass and if he's physically able, I have no doubt he will again.

By the way, the low bounce specifically bothers (bothered) Rafa on the backhand side because he had to plant his left leg (and bend) to hit his backhand. He has adjusted that shot since then and now hits it off his right leg but in that match against Darcis, he couldn't hit anything but slices and Darcis was smart enough to hit to that side all day long.

 

[BringBackSV]

You're right but I think Rafa would LOVE to win Wimbledon again. His knee is so much better now after last year's stem cell treatment that I think he was optimistic about his chances this year but then his back acted up on him. Even then, if he had gotten Federer's draw instead of the tough one he had, I think he would have made it to the final this year. Rafa hasn't lost his talent and ability to win on grass and if he's physically able, I have no doubt he will again.

By the way, the low bounce specifically bothers (bothered) Rafa on the backhand side because he had to plant his left leg (and bend) to hit his backhand. He has adjusted that shot since then and now hits it off his right leg but in that match against Darcis, he couldn't hit anything but slices and Darcis was smart enough to hit to that side all day long.

Huh? It was no certainty he would have gotten past Stan or Raonic, hell he lost to the guy Raonic dismissed. I think Rafa will have a better chance this year though (provided he's healthy) with the extra week and likely improved confidence on the surface. It also doesn't hurt that there is a lack of quality grass court players.

 

[triforce defender]

Nadal is also wields his blade with his left hand.

Makes you think.

It's true that Nadal is the Chosen Hero of tennis. He wields his racket like Link wields the Master Sword. The 2nd half of 2014, Nadal was down to his last 3 heart containers and his magic meter was low. But drinking the blue potion in the offseason should revive his health magic meter.

 

[Smasher08]

But he is still good enough to take it to tiebreaks in matches he lost. Again, it's not like he's losing those sets by huge margins; he gets to the tiebreaks and just loses them. His knees are good enough to get him to tiebreaks, then his knees are good enough to win Wimbledon again.

I thought the established reason for this was that grass has a low bounce, which bothers Nadal (with his knee issues) to no end.

As Octobrina said, Nadal himself says this is the reason.

Also being tired after the clay season is another reason. I just don't think he focuses much on Wimbledon any more.

The other thing to remember is that he's been going out early while the grass is still fast. If he started these tournaments in the semis, conditions might actually play to his strengths.

In the early rounds, the speed and slickness of the grass exacerbates his difficulties. And the tour knows it, so his opponents (rightly) go into the match believing the upset is there for the taking.

 

[Sirius Black]

It's true that Nadal is the Chosen Hero of tennis. He wields his racket like Link wields the Master Sword. The 2nd half of 2014, Nadal was down to his last 3 heart containers and his magic meter was low. But drinking the blue potion in the offseason should revive his health magic meter.

Is it true that Nadal has used the questionably legal stamina potion to recover from long matches?

 

[Steve0904]

Tiebreaks are more or less based on luck. In 2011, Novak Djokovic won 10% fewer tiebreaks than expected for someone of his caliber and yet he had his best season ever. Link to tiebreak analysis is here: http://heavytopspin.com/2012/10/18/the-luck-of-the-tiebreak/

Good one. :lol: I hope you don't really believe that. I haven't been on this site in a while, but it's very relieving to know it never changes.

 

[vernonbc]

Huh? It was no certainty he would have gotten past Stan or Raonic, hell he lost to the guy Raonic dismissed. I think Rafa will have a better chance this year though (provided he's healthy) with the extra week and likely improved confidence on the surface. It also doesn't hurt that there is a lack of quality grass court players.

Stan had to get by Federer before he would have gotten to Nadal and again, Fed's cupcake draw played in his favour. Stan was playing his third bo5 in three days and was sick for that match. I am very sure that Rafa would have won even if Stan had been healthy. Except for AO14 where Rafa was obviously injured, Stan had never even so much as won a set against him.

Kyrgios was flat as a pancake after his big win and Raonic had didn't get much opposition from him. Milos would, however, have had trouble with Rafa whom he has never beaten. Even Fed didn't have any problem beating him and Milos has given Fed a lot of grief in the past whereas Rafa has beaten him pretty easily and I'm sure he would have again.

I agree that the extra week is going to benefit Rafa, and if his back and his knee hold up in '15, and if he gets a decent draw, he will have a very good chance at Wimbledon. Lot of ifs but that's true for any of the players but not all of the players are as good on grass as Rafa has been.

 

[kOaMaster]

No tiebreak yesterday, was there?

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

bending knees is cheating: that isn't fair and shouldn't be allowed.
they should force players to play on stilts:

 

[NGM]

But he is still good enough to take it to tiebreaks in matches he lost. Again, it's not like he's losing those sets by huge margins; he gets to the tiebreaks and just loses them. His knees are good enough to get him to tiebreaks, then his knees are good enough to win Wimbledon again.

If he is so good, he did not need to play tiebreak against 100+ players at the first place.