Which would be the biggest slam win for Nadal?
- Thread starter weakera
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StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
AO>USO>Wimbledon.
Breakpointerer
Legend
I'd say AO, then Wimby.
R
Robert Baratheon
Guest
AO>>Wimbledon>>USO>>>WTF==RG..
okay this last one is controversial but don't quote me on it. I ain't arguing if someone quotes me on this. Here's my 2 line explanation.. I don't consider slems as the only metric. I love how Nole has all the important tournaments under his bag. Would like the same for Fraud and Rafa..
and more than all that would love an AO trophy for Andeh.
okay this last one is controversial but don't quote me on it. I ain't arguing if someone quotes me on this. Here's my 2 line explanation.. I don't consider slems as the only metric. I love how Nole has all the important tournaments under his bag. Would like the same for Fraud and Rafa..
and more than all that would love an AO trophy for Andeh.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Why is that? 2 Wimbledon titles, 3 Wimbledon titles, does it really matter? Any extra slam is great anyway, but he isn't fighting for any records in Wimbledon. On the other hand winning a fifth USO would mean equaling the open era record at that slam. Also, for some reason haters are especially MAD when Nadal wins USO, I can't even imagine what the reactions would be if he somehow gets a 5th title.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
But with another USO he would have 5, as many as Fed and Sampras.
As a Nadal fan, I would prefer AO > USO > WB.
And the USO would be very close with the AO in terms of preference.
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T
Tiki-Taka
Guest
Leaning towards Wimbledon. Although it would be sweet seeing him triumph in Australia again after all the close losses and injuries he suffered at that tournament.
No expectations from me though. Not even at the French Open.
No expectations from me though. Not even at the French Open.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Nole has not won the Olympics (yet), which is also an important title. I agree with you that winning the ATP finals would be huge for Nadal.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Interesting opinion.
ForumMember
Hall of Fame
AO and USO..
Grass would be extinct surface soon and all players would any way be stripped of their GS titles (wimby ones) retroactively. No point in amassing those deadwood.
Grass would be extinct surface soon and all players would any way be stripped of their GS titles (wimby ones) retroactively. No point in amassing those deadwood.
Breakpointerer
Legend
Why is that? 2 Wimbledon titles, 3 Wimbledon titles, does it really matter? Any extra slam is great anyway, but he isn't fighting for any records in Wimbledon. On the other hand winning a fifth USO would mean equaling the open era record at that slam. Also, for some reason haters are especially MAD when Nadal wins USO, I can't even imagine what the reactions would be if he somehow gets a 5th title.
I don't know, I just thought 3 slams on each surface would be a pretty cool thing to have..but a 5th USO would be huge too, so I'm not disagreeing with you.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Would be cool, yes. Unfortunately, he missed his best chance for a third Wimbledon title in 2018.
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
AO: Double Career Grand Slam. Nobody has won the same Major twice in the Open Era. Nobody. And he will be the third male player tennis in history if he win that title joining the Australians Roy Emerson and Rod Laver.
Wimbledon: A third title there would mean that Spaniard would become the only male tennis player of the open era and of History to win at least 3 Slams on each surface (Hardcourts, clay and grass).
If he succeeds, he would overcome Mats Wilander who also won at least 2 majors on each surface.
US Open: A fifth title equals the record in the Open Era that has triple owners: Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
Being the fourth player to get it would not be bad at all!
Wimbledon: A third title there would mean that Spaniard would become the only male tennis player of the open era and of History to win at least 3 Slams on each surface (Hardcourts, clay and grass).
If he succeeds, he would overcome Mats Wilander who also won at least 2 majors on each surface.
US Open: A fifth title equals the record in the Open Era that has triple owners: Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
Being the fourth player to get it would not be bad at all!
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StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Federer won 2 of the last 3 AO titles, and you say he has no chance there? All it takes is somebody to take Djokovic out and Federer will become the big favorite.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Oh is that all it takes? lol
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Very interesting perspective and a minority opinion to be sure, but unique.
I'd say Wimbledon for Nadal, since it's the sports pinnacle. Rafa himself has said twice that I know of that if he could win only one more slam, he'd pick Wimbledon. Defeating Novak in an AO final would be pretty epic as well, but nothing tops Wimbledon.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal_King
Hall of Fame
Ao>Uo>Wimb
Frank Bannister
Semi-Pro
Double career slam... LOL
Meme achievement.
Meme achievement.
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
He would be delighted with any of the 3. They would all probably mean the world to Nadal himself, but im sure if he wins the next RG, it will be the same feeling.
Not sure the players really think about double career slam etc. They just want to win. Although for Nadal, I think winning off of clay holds significance for him personally. Its easy to see what it means to him winning the USO.
Not sure the players really think about double career slam etc. They just want to win. Although for Nadal, I think winning off of clay holds significance for him personally. Its easy to see what it means to him winning the USO.
beard
Legend
Not in tennis... Gold can give player enormous satisfaction and joy, but in terms of tennis achievements its close to be totally irrelevant...
If there's no Rafa's fans (I like Rafa too) to occasionally mention Olympics during forum dick measuring, I wouldn't remember tennis exists on Olympic games.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
The thing about AO is his history there. So many heartbreaking losses. It doesn't mean he deserves another title there, you can't "deserve" anything in tennis. But it's sad that every year something bad has to happen at AO.
It feels weird him winning a lot of USO. Easy draws, slowed down surface, piling them up in 30s etc. Doesn’t compare to what the current record holders (OE) did.Why is that? 2 Wimbledon titles, 3 Wimbledon titles, does it really matter? Any extra slam is great anyway, but he isn't fighting for any records in Wimbledon. On the other hand winning a fifth USO would mean equaling the open era record at that slam. Also, for some reason haters are especially MAD when Nadal wins USO, I can't even imagine what the reactions would be if he somehow gets a 5th title.
A 2nd AO with a win over Djokovic would be number 1 I think. Or a 3rd W beating one of Fed/Nole.
BringBackSV
Hall of Fame
Hahahahahaha
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal will take any slam he can get. And who knows if he will win more.
That being said, the AO is the absolute biggest. Gives him a double career grand slam which Fedavoic have not been able to achieve. It would be a historical feat and would balance out his resume as well.
Unfortunately for Nadal though, AO is the slam he is LEAST LIKELY to win. The surface just doesn't suit him. The bounce is lower and the forehand doesn't penetrate the court the same way as it does in the UsOpen. Every AO, Nadal ends up defending and running since his spin is ineffectual and his shots sit up. So the only way he can win is by chasing balls and cannot dictate play. No wonder he has so many injuries and retirements there.
That being said, the AO is the absolute biggest. Gives him a double career grand slam which Fedavoic have not been able to achieve. It would be a historical feat and would balance out his resume as well.
Unfortunately for Nadal though, AO is the slam he is LEAST LIKELY to win. The surface just doesn't suit him. The bounce is lower and the forehand doesn't penetrate the court the same way as it does in the UsOpen. Every AO, Nadal ends up defending and running since his spin is ineffectual and his shots sit up. So the only way he can win is by chasing balls and cannot dictate play. No wonder he has so many injuries and retirements there.
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
Sport
G.O.A.T.
From the 1990s onwards it has gradually become an important title in my view and in the view of many top players. Anyhow, we disagree and it's fine. Let us move on.
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Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Well for now, I would say AO20. He holds off the young guys, holds off djoker and fed, and would be able to pass Fed at his tourney in May. It would also be a pretty epic FO in that case. He would also be half way there...
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Good point.
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
RG ends in early June.
Either way, this is the top 10 of oldest male tennis players to win Slams in the Open Era:
1. Ken Rosewall AO 1972; 37 years and 2 months and 1 day.
2. Roger Federer AO 2018; 36 years, 5 months and 20 days.
3. Ken Rosewall AO 1972; 36 years, 2 months and 12 days.
4. Roger Federer Wimbledon 2017; 35 years, 11 months and 6 days.
5. Ken Rosewall US Open 1970; 35 years, 10 months and 11 days.
6. Roger Federer AO 2017; 35 years, 5 months and 21 days.
7. Andre Gimeno RG 1972; 34 years, 10 months and 1 day.
8. Ken Rosewall RG 1968; 33 years, 7 months and 7 days.
9. Rafael Nadal US Open 2019; 33 years, 3 months and 5 days.
10. Rafael Nadal RG 2019; 33 years and 6 days.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
When did Rafa say that?
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clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
I can see why you try to block it out of your mind. One bronze medal in 3 attempts is pretty poor.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
You're right. Beating Djokovic twice to win the USO is nothing to write home about.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
In spite of so much handicap for Nadal in Australia, he's beaten Fed there 3 times. He is 3:1 against Fed at the AO.
2 half decent wins. Fed has about 5-6 top wins there between 2004-2009.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
2004-2009 includes the weak era.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
My point is that AO is Nadal's least favorite surface among the slams. His game just flows much better at the UsOpen. He can push his opponents back at the deco-turf which is more spin friendly and higher bouncing.
Fact that he beat Fed, doesn't mean as much. He never met Fed at the UsOpen. Maybe he would beaten Fed there too, and maybe multiple times.
Nadal has had tons of injuries/retirements at the AO because he has to defend too much there. He also had, what his coaches say, the worst loss of his career : 2014 AO final.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
You are just second guessing going by what's happened. He's had a lot of bad luck there one year after another.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Are you always going to disagree with me for the sake of disagreeing?
I'm just talking about visual feedback. Do you play tennis?
Even before Nadal won the AO/UsOpen - it was clear that UsOpen favored his game better. The reason people felt he might not win the UsOpen was because he was usually injured by the time he got there in NYC or exhausted from overplaying. As in 2008 and 2009.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
It was the general idea that Rafa would never win the USO and that became even more ingrained after he won Wimbledon in 2008 and the AO in 2009, then hey presto, he won the USO in 2010 and people said it was because the court had been slowed down, his serve had improved etc. etc.
Exhibit A
U.S. Open 2010: 10 Reasons Why Rafael Nadal Will Never Win the U.S. Open
It may seem blasphemous to say that Rafael Nadal, the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world, will never complete his career Grand Slam. Yet the 24-year-old lefty from Spain will never win the U...
bleacherreport.com
U.S. Open 2010: 10 Reasons Why Rafael Nadal Will Never Win the U.S. Open
ADAM FROMAL AUGUST 31, 2010
- It may seem blasphemous to say that Rafael Nadal, the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world, will never complete his career Grand Slam.
Yet the 24-year-old lefty from Spain will never win the U.S. Open, no matter how many times he enters the tournament field.
As the U.S. Open kicks off this year, tennis fans will have the pleasure of watching Nadal hit winners and win matches during the beginning.
Enjoy it while it lasts. Here are 10 reasons why Rafa will never win the U.S. Open.
Reason 7: Playing Style
- Rafael Nadal simply doesn't have a playing style suited to winning the U.S. Open.
He plays aggressively and relies on his ability to chase down balls, his footwork, his consistency, and the forehands he hits with so much topspin.
Those forehands tend to land significantly short of the baseline and bounce high and long. This negates the advantage a player would normally have when his/her opponent hits short shots.
Now, there are multiple problems with hitting those high-spin shots at the U.S. Open.
For starters, the ball at the U.S. Open is slightly different than the ones used at the French Open and doesn't allow Nadal to put quite as much spin on the ball as he would like. The hard courts also cause the ball to bounce more predictably and takes away some of his advantage.
Although he has improved his serve dramatically, he still relies on consistency and not sheer power. On hard courts, power is much more useful and he would benefit dramatically from the ability to not just consistently get serves in, but also to consistently ace his opponents.
With the speed of opponents serves in Flushing Meadows, Nadal also tends to return balls much shorter and gets himself into trouble.
Finally, Nadal plays with a very physical style. Nadal himself says that he sometimes has trouble on hard courts and may need to change his tour schedule to include fewer hard court tournaments.
The wear and tear from the courts at Flushing Meadows may always cause his level of dominance to drop as the tournament goes on into the later rounds.
Reason 9: The Big Hitters
Reason 10: Players Yet to Be Named
- The tennis landscape is always changing.
Just as the reins were handed over to Federer and Nadal from Agassi and Sampras, the current stars will eventually have to give way to the next generation of superstars.
There are always going to be good young players, and while we don't know who they are yet, there will eventually be some.
It is very plausible that one of those players becomes a dominant force soon and minimizes Nadal's chances of ever hoisting this trophy.
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TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Ignore the drama queens about surface slowing down. It's all drivel which has NOT been verified. If Nadal wins, then somehow the surface always needs to be very slow. Never mind that slow surfaces don't ALWAYS work for Nadal's game - as Nadal himself has stated.
Anyway, empirically speaking, Wimbledon is still the fastest slam. The plexicushion at AO is generally slower than the Deco turf at the UsOpen. But the reason Nadal's game flows better in the UsOpen is because of the size of the court and the bounce and spin off the surface. It's not related to speed per se.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Wimbledon.
victorcruz
Hall of Fame
This is what makes Rafa a goat. It was his last slam to check off the career grand slam list yet he has won that his 2nd most. Not that winning 4 in 10 years is some sort of ridiculous achievement.
But def ombeleeble
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
Rafa has always said that the French Open is the most important tournament to him.
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