Welcome back Rafa - You were missed

[Hitman]

Finally had time to watch both of Nadal's matches in full.

Not going to talk about the technical side, but will say this, it is really good to see him back. Just waves and waves of crazy memories came back to me while I was watching him play. He had only been gone a year, but I had a bit of a nostalgia overload. Happy for him, his fans, and tennis in general.

We bicker all the time about who wins this and who wins that, when the truth is, it is all about how they make you feel as a fan of the sport that matters the most. At least for me that is the case.

 

[Nostradamus]

i think rafa can pass novak this year in slams. he will likely win the aussie open with novak's arm injury now and at the french open ,, he will just roll over everybody. so that give him 25 slams to pass novak.

 

[nolefam_2024]

I hope he faces Carlos now.

 

[Sport]

Quick highlights of Nadal's matches, for those who haven't seen them:

Nadal vs. Thiem

Nadal vs. Kubler

 

[Wooly]

We all know that probably his career is at its end, Federer is gone, and Djokovic will also not play for 10+ Years ... and i loved to watch these 3 play, so many good memories, and such a luck to be able to watch the probably best 3 Tennis Players of all time from start to end ... I hope Nadals body will give him maybe one more Year, and that he could retire in Style and not for injury reasons.

 

[DSH]

Quick highlights of Nadal's matches, for those who haven't seen them:

Nadal vs. Thiem

Nadal vs. Kubler

This is how Nadal should play from now until his retirement: Pim, pam, pum!

 

[clayqueen]

I think the era of the Big 4 may never happen again. The consistency of those 4 players making the Semi-Final or higher in every tournament they entered for 10 consecutive years will be hard to repeat. Murray deserves his place at the top table because he maintained the top 4 level for almost a decade. There was a time when threads were opened to discuss, some might say argue about, which one of Djokovic or Murray would be in Federer's or Nadal's half of the draw - they were that consistent.

Yes Murray only has 3 slams same as Stan but he is far better than Stan because he's also got a load more M1000s

 

[nolefam_2024]

I think the era of the Big 4 may never happen again. The consistency of those 4 players making the Semi-Final or higher in every tournament they entered for 10 consecutive years will be hard to repeat. Murray deserves his place at the top table because he maintained the top 4 level for almost a decade. There was a time when threads were opened to discuss, some might say argue about, which one of Djokovic or Murray would be in Federer's or Nadal's half of the draw - they were that consistent.

Yes Murray only has 3 slams same as Stan but he is far better than Stan because he's also got a load more M1000s

But those days were prior to 2011.

Djokovic turned pro in 2003 I think but became top 10 only in 2007. 2007-10 4 years

Vs 2011-23 13 years.
It's no debate about Djokovic Murray. He is not near big 3 level.

 

[clayqueen]

But those days were prior to 2011.

Djokovic turned pro in 2003 I think but became top 10 only in 2007. 2007-10 4 years

Vs 2011-23 13 years.
It's no debate about Djokovic Murray. He is not near big 3 level.

Of course tennis started in 2011.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Tennis didn't start in 2011. But Murray is not near big 3. Can't accept that. Once upon a time he was considered better than Djokovic but that was far too long back. A lot has happened since then.

 

[clayqueen]

Tennis didn't start in 2011. But Murray is not near big 3. Can't accept that. Once upon a time he was considered better than Djokovic but that was far too long back. A lot has happened since then.

Why do you think they were called the Big 4?

 

[nolefam_2024]

Why do you think they were called the Big 4?

Hype.

 

[SpinWizard]

Quick highlights of Nadal's matches, for those who haven't seen them:

Nadal vs. Thiem

Nadal vs. Kubler

I almost forgot how fckin epic Nadal is. It is incredible and privilege to watch him play. God i missed him...

 

[pirhaksar]

Finally had time to watch both of Nadal's matches in full.

Not going to talk about the technical side, but will say this, it is really good to see him back. Just waves and waves of crazy memories came back to me while I was watching him play. He had only been gone a year, but I had a bit of a nostalgia overload. Happy for him, his fans, and tennis in general.

We bicker all the time about who wins this and who wins that, when the truth is, it is all about how they make you feel as a fan of the sport that matters the most. At least for me that is the case.

Good post, I agree. Prefer Djokovic over Rafa but I would be a clown to disrespect and discount the guy. Its bizarre why so many didn’t think he wouldn’t come back strong especially against the average field. Whatever he says, if injury free, firmly believe he won’t rest until he gets the slam record over Djokovic (so will Djokovic for that matter). These guys are just cut different - their mindset and competitive spirit is unparalleled. Sure they have aged but that mindset doesn’t change. As Rafa said he hasn’t forgotten how to play.

 

[kailash]

Hype.

I agree. There's no Big 4.

Just the Big 3 in this era, and there's no way to asses the previous ones.

 

[clayqueen]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1742151278153658407

Good post, I agree. Prefer Djokovic over Rafa but I would be a clown to disrespect and discount the guy. Its bizarre why so many didn’t think he wouldn’t come back strong especially against the average field.

Where would you put De Minaur in the 'field'?

 

[Halfdan]

Finally had time to watch both of Nadal's matches in full.

Not going to talk about the technical side, but will say this, it is really good to see him back. Just waves and waves of crazy memories came back to me while I was watching him play. He had only been gone a year, but I had a bit of a nostalgia overload. Happy for him, his fans, and tennis in general.

We bicker all the time about who wins this and who wins that, when the truth is, it is all about how they make you feel as a fan of the sport that matters the most. At least for me that is the case.

Where can I find full match replays?

I only watched the highlights from both matches, and it was just an absolute joy to see him back.
The game is better for it, and it just demonstrated yet again for me how much each of the big 3 are missed and will be missed when they're gone for good.
Hoping for some epic battles between Rafa and Novak this season

 

[vanioMan]

Finally had time to watch both of Nadal's matches in full.

Not going to talk about the technical side, but will say this, it is really good to see him back. Just waves and waves of crazy memories came back to me while I was watching him play. He had only been gone a year, but I had a bit of a nostalgia overload. Happy for him, his fans, and tennis in general.

We bicker all the time about who wins this and who wins that, when the truth is, it is all about how they make you feel as a fan of the sport that matters the most. At least for me that is the case.

Preach. That feeling/emotion is much bigger than any record or stat.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Murray is deserving of being in that Big 4 club, agree with @clayqueen there. Sure, not quite at that high a level as the other 3 but I think if his hip hadn’t killed his momentum, he’d have won quite a few more slams. Murray could play ball alright, and still is a fabulous shot maker in my opinion. Of course we can never know for sure what might have been..…anyway, cool thread and yes, it is really wonderful to have Rafa back and playing so well. In fact, it’s AWESOME!

 

[Milanez82]

Murray is deserving of being in that Big 4 club, agree with @clayqueen there. Sure, not quite at that high a level as the other 3 but I think if his hip hadn’t killed his momentum, he’d have won quite a few more slams. Murray could play ball alright, and still is a fabulous shot maker in my opinion. Of course we can never know for sure what might have been..…anyway, cool thread and yes, it is really wonderful to have Rafa back and playing so well. In fact, it’s AWESOME!

At the end of 2016, before his hip issue Murray had 3 slams.
Federer had 17, Rafa 14 and Djokovic 12.

Even if he won a few more, he wouldn't come close to any of them even if they never won another slam.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

At the end of 2016, before his hip issue Murray had 3 slams.
Federer had 17, Rafa 14 and Djokovic 12.

Even if he won a few more, he wouldn't come close to any of them even if they never won another slam.

Valid point, for sure. I’m just saying that to me, he definitely was a stand-out from the "pack," and a special player in his own right. On statistics, I agree with you.

 

[Milanez82]

Valid point, for sure. I’m just saying that to me, he definitely was a stand-out from the "pack," and a special player in his own right. On statistics, I agree with you.

He stood out for sure and could definitely draw the best from the other 3. I'm pretty sure he wins a few more in any other era.

 

[Fabresque]

Why do you think they were called the Big 4?

British PR forced his name into the conversation even when it was blatantly obvious Djokovic would turn out to be the better player.

 

[esvc]

Welcome back Ralph, Mallorca misses you.