Which fanbase excuse is more valid? Nadal fans vs Sampras fans

[Megafanoftennis100]

Both fanbases made excuses to try to diminish the legitimacy of their favourite player's losses.
When Nadal lost at his favourite Slam in 2021 to Djokovic, the eventual champion, Rafa fans claimed that Nadal was injured and was playing on one leg. They say that if he were healthy, he would have destroyed Djokovic, like he did the previous year.
When Sampras lost at his favourite Slam in 1996 to Krajicek, the eventual champion, Sampras fans claimed that Sampras was emotionally wrecked due to the death of his coach (whom he had a close relationship with) that happened only less than two months before Wimbledon.

But are those fan arguments valid? Or are they simply products of wishful thinking?

 

[Kralingen]

Um… obviously the Nadal one, considering Sampras’s coach Gullikson was diagnosed during the Australian Open in 1995, a year where Pete rebounded to win Wimbledon and the US Open.

The tournament in which it affected Sampras was the ‘95 AO, his only Slam final lost to Agassi. No reason it would be a factor at Wimbledon ‘96.

 

[RS]

Both fanbases made excuses to try to diminish the legitimacy of their favourite player's losses.
When Nadal lost at his favourite Slam in 2021 to Djokovic, the eventual champion, Rafa fans claimed that Nadal was injured and was playing on one leg. They say that if he were healthy, he would have destroyed Djokovic, like he did the previous year.
When Sampras lost at his favourite Slam in 1996 to Krajicek, the eventual champion, Sampras fans claimed that Sampras was emotionally wrecked due to the death of his coach (whom he had a close relationship with) that happened only less than two months before Wimbledon.

But are those fan arguments valid? Or are they simply products of wishful thinking?

Well what do you think?

 

[Mustard]

Um… obviously the Nadal one, considering Sampras’s coach Gullikson was diagnosed during the Australian Open in 1995, a year where Pete rebounded to win Wimbledon and the US Open.

The tournament in which it affected Sampras was the ‘95 AO, his only Slam final lost to Agassi. No reason it would be a factor at Wimbledon ‘96.

Tim Gullikson died on 3 May 1996. Pete Sampras definitely had Tim in his thoughts throughout his 1996 French Open run to the semi finals.

 

[Mustard]

Both fanbases made excuses to try to diminish the legitimacy of their favourite player's losses.
When Nadal lost at his favourite Slam in 2021 to Djokovic, the eventual champion, Rafa fans claimed that Nadal was injured and was playing on one leg. They say that if he were healthy, he would have destroyed Djokovic, like he did the previous year.
When Sampras lost at his favourite Slam in 1996 to Krajicek, the eventual champion, Sampras fans claimed that Sampras was emotionally wrecked due to the death of his coach (whom he had a close relationship with) that happened only less than two months before Wimbledon.

But are those fan arguments valid? Or are they simply products of wishful thinking?

It doesn't matter. The whole point of tennis is that you win on the day or fail in the attempt, no matter what mental or physical shape you're both in.

 

[jackson vile]

Nadal is always injured so it’s all the same

 

[Sport]

Nadal coudn't move in the 4th set of the RG 2021 SF and then skipped both W and the USO that year due to the foot injury, so he was indeed injured in the aforementioned match. It's not a excuse, it's a fact.

Just see the difference with RG 2020 and RG 2022, where Nadal could properly move the entire match.

If I were a Novak fan, I'd be far prouder in beating 2015 Nadal in Paris. He was displaying the worst level of his career, but at least he was healthy unlike in 2021. The RG 2013 SF is also something Novak fans should be proud of. The man took peakdal to 5 in a RG SF! Credit where is due!

 

[DSH]

Both fanbases made excuses to try to diminish the legitimacy of their favourite player's losses.
When Nadal lost at his favourite Slam in 2021 to Djokovic, the eventual champion, Rafa fans claimed that Nadal was injured and was playing on one leg. They say that if he were healthy, he would have destroyed Djokovic, like he did the previous year.
When Sampras lost at his favourite Slam in 1996 to Krajicek, the eventual champion, Sampras fans claimed that Sampras was emotionally wrecked due to the death of his coach (whom he had a close relationship with) that happened only less than two months before Wimbledon.

But are those fan arguments valid? Or are they simply products of wishful thinking?

Nadal played that edition of RG at 50%, his second worst performance there after the 2015 edition, where he was a shadow of his true self.

 

[alexio]

i think petros' case is slightly ahead

 

[djokovic the conqueror]

Sampras' excuse is more valid. It takes a long time to get over the loss of someone you care about.

Nadal on the other hand, wasn't actually injured. He was beaten fair and square in the RG 2021 semifinal, but Nadal fans think Nadal is invincible on clay and can't accept that he is capable of losing on clay. In order to deny reality and help them sleep, they create an excuse that Nadal's foot was "injured" after the 1st set. If his foot was truly injured after the 1st set, he would've retired from the match eventually. Do you expect any sane person to believe someone with a foot injury can play a grueling 3rd set and then win the first two games in the 4th set? Nadal was outclayed by Djokovic. It's as simple as that.

 

[messiahrobins]

Nadal coudn't move in the 4th set of the RG 2021 SF and then skipped both W and the USO that year due to the foot injury, so he was indeed injured in the aforementioned match. It's not a excuse, it's a fact.

Just see the difference with RG 2020 and RG 2022, where Nadal could properly move the entire match.

If I were a Novak fan, I'd be far prouder in beating 2015 Nadal in Paris. He was displaying the worst level of his career, but at least he was healthy unlike in 2021. The RG 2013 SF is also something Novak fans should be proud of. The man took peakdal to 5 in a RG SF! Credit where is due!

RG2022 was such a key match in retrospect. Had Djokovic won that match he would be undisputed goat now. That French Open i feel defined Nadals legacy more than any other slam including AO 2022. Because it was the FO people seem to just dismiss it as Nadal taking care of business as usual but it truly was utterly remarkable at his age with a numb foot beating four top 10 players including his other great rival.
As for Sampras in some ways it didnt really matter as personally i think had Becker not broke his wrist that event he would have won anyway and beat Sampras had they met. The beneficiary was Krajicek as to get Sampras not at his best and for becker to get a freak injury and end up with washington in the final was about as lucky an event in history.