Was Nadal simply not motivated enough to break the slam record?

[aman92]

When Djokovic is asked about this, he never shies from the fact that he wants the record and will do everything in his capacity to achieve it. Rafa has never openly spoken about trying to become the slam leader and while he has always deflected these questions throughout his career, could it be the case that he is simply not driven enough to do the same to break the record?
Some of his withdrawals - USO last year and Wimbledon this year, seem too conservative for me. I get he wants to avoid injuries but these were golden chances squandered when the slam lead was so close. He might regret these decisions down the line when he doesn't end up with the record.

 

[Hitman]

He was plenty motivated, you need to understand that the big three have very different personalities and they deal with pressure, expectations in their own way....I mean Rafa during his absolute peak at RG would say he would need to try his best to win no?

So they are different, doesn't mean it is not effective. They all have a massive amount of slams each.

 

[D.Nalby12]

He had enough motivations. But Djokovic' level shocked him in semi final. He expected an easy match - he got 5-0 start as well. But then Djokovic raised his level. Nadal' fitness wasn't upto the mark in this RG. After just 2 hours of play he looked exhausted and started making errors.

 

[alexio]

it wasn't a question of motivation at all, funny title

 

[Madinolf]

He won 13 games in a row between the end of the quarterfinals and the beginning of the semi, then he got unmotivated.

 

[aman92]

He had enough motivations. But Djokovic' level shocked him in semi final. He expected an easy match - he got 5-0 start as well. But then Djokovic raised his level. Nadal' fitness wasn't upto the mark in this RG. After just 2 hours of play he looked exhausted and started making errors.

I am not talking about one specific match.. In general towards the latter stages of their careers looking at some of his recent withdrawals

 

[TripleATeam]

No, I think his body just isn't listening.

In 2012-13 he lost almost a whole season to injury. Various other injuries in 14-16, and other sporadic injuries throughout his career. He kept being slow and steady in spite of this, but there's a limit to how much he can push his body and I think he took advantage of the opportunities as they came.

One doesn't simply get to 20 slams without the motivation to be the best there ever was.

This is particularly true in the case of his late career, where he needs to pick and choose his battles and listen to his body. If he needs time off, he better take it if he plans on going for the next RG. By having a must-win slam, he also values the opportunity to go for it more highly than his chances at other slams.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I am not talking about one specific match.. In general towards the latter stages of their careers looking at some of his recent withdrawals

He is motivated. But not as Djokovic who is obsessed with record. He will take no rest till he gets on top.

 

[maratha_warrior]

Rafa said he was aiming to win around 25 slams after his 2020RG win .
Motivation isn't an issue for Big-3 .

 

[Strale]

Nadal was motivated but he had 1 problem

Novak.

 

[Strale]

He is motivated. But not as Djokovic who is obsessed with record. He will take no rest till he gets on top.

This is not true...

They are motivated to have the record and that is why Federer is still humiliating himself just to try and snatch even 1 more

Nadal taking tactical brake in order to prepare himself for USO...

A man who doesn't care would play wimbldon

 

[Standaa]

“nadal biggest fighter not motivated enough to fight”

 

[Street]

When Djokovic is asked about this, he never shies from the fact that he wants the record and will do everything in his capacity to achieve it. Rafa has never openly spoken about trying to become the slam leader and while he has always deflected these questions throughout his career, could it be the case that he is simply not driven enough to do the same to break the record?
Some of his withdrawals - USO last year and Wimbledon this year, seem too conservative for me. I get he wants to avoid injuries but these were golden chances squandered when the slam lead was so close. He might regret these decisions down the line when he doesn't end up with the record.

The guy who has kept destroying his body throughout his career wasn't motivated by records but by the love of the game, no?

 

[zagor]

Keep mind that he's the only one of the 4 who isn't married and has kids. Overall, he's one of the most driven athletes I've ever seen in any sports, what he says in the press is largely irrelevant (actions, not words).

 

[Hitman]

Keep mind that he's the only one of the 4 who isn't married and has kids. Overall, he's one of the most driven athletes I've ever seen in any sports, what he says in the press is largely irrelevant (actions, not words).

He's married. Just no kids yet.

 

[NAS]

He missed us open because he decided to go all out for RG 20, he knew his body can't handle 2 back to back slam after not playing for more than half an year.
And the way Thiem, Zverev and Tsits got injured, he was right
Just think he play in Usopen and get injured or loose to Thiem in semi( already lost to Thiem in AO qf), then he get tired for RG.
Same way he is going all out for us open , why do you think he is even taking part in Washington also, to save his top four ranking.
If he can take part in Washington, Canada and Cinci before Us open then he can surely play Olympics instead of Washington but he is going for slam record and ranking point

 

[zagor]

He's married. Just no kids yet.

My bad, I forgot.

Still, I think the point stands regardless. Even if you're a millionaire who can afford everything kids are still additional work in terms of planning, time etc.

 

[Hitman]

My bad, I forgot.

Still, I think the point stands regardless. Even if you're a millionaire who can afford everything kids are still additional work in terms of planning, time etc.

He was practicially married anyways, he was with her for about 15 years or so, just made it legal. But yeah, I get your point.

 

[Nole_The_Champion]

He is motivated. But not as Djokovic who is obsessed with record. He will take no rest till he gets on top.

Btw Nadal explicitly said he didn't want to start a family (have children) yet because of his career.

"When I finish my career, then it will be the main topic."

Star Nadal spoke. When does he plan his children and what will happen to his career? - World Today News (world-today-news.com)

 

[Indigo]

Nadal is not guaranteed to get past 20 considering he aims at RG exclusively nowadays. If 2021 RG repeats to Rafa in 2022 at this age plus the chance of injury that could end career ubruptly, 21 would seem very unlikely.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

It’s his body that is not motivated.

 

[Nole_The_Champion]

All Big 3 have incredible motivation for records,
they wouldn't be who and where they are otherwise.

Everything else sounds and looks like:

 

[Tigerlion]

When Djokovic is asked about this, he never shies from the fact that he wants the record and will do everything in his capacity to achieve it. Rafa has never openly spoken about trying to become the slam leader and while he has always deflected these questions throughout his career, could it be the case that he is simply not driven enough to do the same to break the record?
Some of his withdrawals - USO last year and Wimbledon this year, seem too conservative for me. I get he wants to avoid injuries but these were golden chances squandered when the slam lead was so close. He might regret these decisions down the line when he doesn't end up with the record.

He was carrying an injury which was pretty obvious all clay court season. Nothing major but seems related to the back which has been an issue all year much like Federer 2013 or 2014 i think when he had a niggling persistent back problem.
Nadal is obviously aware of the significance of a 5th Us Open as he sacrificed Wimbledon for it. He probably had more chance at Wimbledon but a 5th USO is massive and he knows it. Might help him if Djokovic wins W and is going for calendar slam as Djokovic would feel massive pressure without doubt.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Novak extracts slams from 3 places. Rafa usually extracts slams from RG. It's not about motivation

 

[Jai]

Obviously he is very motivated. The very reason he sat out Wimbledon was to recover from physical and mental fatigue and make a charge at the USO this year. Just because the Big 3 phrase their ambition in different words doesn't mean the immensity of the drive varies.

 

[Tigerlion]

Obviously he is very motivated. The very reason he sat out Wimbledon was to recover from physical and mental fatigue and make a charge at the USO this year. Just because the Big 3 phrase their ambition in different words doesn't mean the immensity of the drive varies.

60 slams between the 3 players suggests there is a modicum of motivation there.

 

[MichaelNadal]

It’s his body that is not motivated.

When is Djokovic gonna start aging bro?

 

[NintendoTennis1990]

Yet

 

[maupp]

Are we trying to pull the Kyrgios excuse for Nadal?

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I think he is motivated but it does not consume him and he does not value himself according to the numbers. I think he's by far the most secure of the big 3.

 

[vex]

When Djokovic is asked about this, he never shies from the fact that he wants the record and will do everything in his capacity to achieve it. Rafa has never openly spoken about trying to become the slam leader and while he has always deflected these questions throughout his career, could it be the case that he is simply not driven enough to do the same to break the record?
Some of his withdrawals - USO last year and Wimbledon this year, seem too conservative for me. I get he wants to avoid injuries but these were golden chances squandered when the slam lead was so close. He might regret these decisions down the line when he doesn't end up with the record.

The withdrawals were tactical. Rafa has maxed out his body and won 20 freaking slams with a physically difficult approach. He knows when he has to hit the pause button. He knew his body couldn’t do these back to back slams and he needed to pick his best spot. He won RG20 but we saw him worn down by the clay season by the end of RG21. He knows USO21 is his next best chance so he’s zeroed in on it

 

[Lleytonstation]

it wasn't a question of motivation at all, funny title

New narrative: Fed and Rafa don't care about slam numbers.

 

[Cortana]

I think Djokovic has by far the highest motivation. Growing up in poverty and war gives you a different perspective. Compare that to the white prince who drunk his milk out of golden milkbottle.

 

[aman92]

I think Djokovic has by far the highest motivation. Growing up in poverty and war gives you a different perspective. Compare that to the white prince who drunk his milk out of golden milkbottle.

He didn't grew up in poverty ffs.. Dunno where this myth had originated from

 

[Enceladus]

My bad, I forgot.

Still, I think the point stands regardless. Even if you're a millionaire who can afford everything kids are still additional work in terms of planning, time etc.

He can pay for nannies, I have no doubt that Fed and Djoker have them. Fed and Djoker certainly didn't get up at midnight to change diapers of his children lol.

I think Nadal has a problem, maybe he's infertile.

 

[Mustard]

Nadal stays in the present. And he's equalled the record.

 

[MiamiWeekendWarrior]

This is not true...

They are motivated to have the record and that is why Federer is still humiliating himself just to try and snatch even 1 more

Nadal taking tactical brake in order to prepare himself for USO...

A man who doesn't care would play wimbldon

Fed isn't humiliating himself any more than Connors was when he was still playing at age 39.

 

[Strale]

He got destroyed by some random kid at his pet slam...

Now you can list all the defensive arguments but the question is how much?

How much time will he waste losing to anonymous players untill it is enough...

 

[MiamiWeekendWarrior]

He got destroyed by some random kid at his pet slam...

Now you can list all the defensive arguments but the question is how much?

How much time will he waste losing to anonymous players untill it is enough...

How much what? Again, Connors wasn't winning much at age 40 either. I don't recall any top pro, even of GOAT status, who was dominating the field at that age. Even Borg failed to win a single match when he attempted a comeback at age, what was it, 34??

 

[FlamingCheeto]

Yep you're right, Nadal and Federer are surely inferior to Nole and want him to prove their mediocrity. They anxiously await Novak to tie them tomorrow and to beat them at the USO.

 

[ghostofMecir]

“nadal biggest fighter not motivated enough to fight”

OP is currently in the denial stage. @aman92

 

[StannisTheMannis]

He simply wasn’t good enough. Just as Federer simply wasn’t good enough to hold it.

 

[SonnyT]

What was he supposed to do? He wasn't motivated, therefore lost the 4th set 6-2?

Actually he was so motivated in the 1st 3 sets, that he ran out of energy, and therefore, exhausted himself, in the 4th!

 

[James P]

Rafa doesn't care about Roland Garros' anymore.

 

[NoleIsBoat]

He won 13 games in a row between the end of the quarterfinals and the beginning of the semi, then he got unmotivated.

Pre semi final 2021 RG Nadal was the best ever and would defeat 2008 Nadal even.

After 5-0 he became unmotivated and injured.

 

[MeatTornado]

He didn't grew up in poverty ffs.. Dunno where this myth had originated from

His childhood gets worse every time people tell the story.

 

[weakera]

It really just boils down to timing. Federer got to enjoy 2004-2008, Djokovic got to enjoy multiple stretches without serious big three competition. Nadal never enjoyed such seasons.

This is a cope, and a fact

 

[NoleIsBoat]

It really just boils down to timing. Federer got to enjoy 2004-2008, Djokovic got to enjoy multiple stretches without serious big three competition. Nadal never enjoyed such seasons.

This is a cope, and a fact

… except 2010, the 2 USO he vultured between 17-19 , the 3 RG won without facing big 3

 

[ibbi]

Rafa likes to fish and play golf. He has spent many years making you (presumably) happy, allow him to do whatever makes him so.

Actual footage of Nadal in his element:

 

[-NN-]

I think Nadal is more motivated than anyone, no? Isn't he putting off having a family for the sake of tennis career? Last time I checked, Jelena spat out babies.


Djokovic is honest and transparent about his ambition, and that's really kool.