Who will be Nadal's main rival at Roland Garros over next 5 years?

nadal_slam_king

nadal_slam_king

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Djokovic doesn't look much better than the Tsonga at Roland Garros, so who else is there? Maybe Almagro will be Nadal's main rival at Roland Garros. Nadal beat Almagro in 2008 and 2010. The 2010 meeting was Nadal's tightest match of the tournament - 7-6 7-6 6-4. Almagro seemingly has improved since then. Nadal may have improved too however. We'll see.
 
Nobody in sight if it wouldn't be Djokovic. Djokovic is not having a great claycourt season, but if he can somehow refind 2011 form, he's your man.

Nadal will always have a matchup issue with Djokovic like Fed has with Nadal. However, whilst Federer and Nadal are close to each other in consistency, Nadal is just been more consistent over the course of his career than Djokovic. I think the matchup still favours Djokovic a ton though. If Fed and Nadal and Djokovic play equally well (measured against the field for instance), Nadal will always beat Federer, Federer will always beat Novak, Novak will always beat Rafa.
 
joeri888 said:
Nobody in sight if it wouldn't be Djokovic. Djokovic is not having a great claycourt season, but if he can somehow refind 2011 form, he's your man.

Nadal will always have a matchup issue with Djokovic like Fed has with Nadal. However, whilst Federer and Nadal are close to each other in consistency, Nadal is just been more consistent over the course of his career than Djokovic. I think the matchup still favours Djokovic a ton though. If Fed and Nadal and Djokovic play equally well (measured against the field for instance), Nadal will always beat Federer, Federer will always beat Novak, Novak will always beat Rafa.
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LOL that is hilarious. Nadal leads Djokovic 18-14 and 5-3 at the slams. Soon it will be in Sampras-Agassi territory (Sampras leads Agassi 20-14). Nadal's level slipped in 2011, Djokovic's level improved, and that allowed Djokovic to have his first successful year vs Nadal. So far in 2012, Nadal leads 2-1 and both of Nadal's wins were in straight sets, while Djokovic's win was in 6 hours (on Djokovic's favorite slam surface). A match-up problem? In which direction?
 
Nadal's main rivals for the next 5 years at RG would be

1) Novak
2) Murray
3) Tsonga
4) Del Potro
5) Isner
 
nadal_slam_king said:
LOL that is hilarious. Nadal leads Djokovic 18-14 and 5-3 at the slams. Soon it will be in Sampras-Agassi territory (Sampras leads Agassi 20-14). Nadal's level slipped in 2011, Djokovic's level improved, and that allowed Djokovic to have his first successful year vs Nadal. So far in 2012, Nadal leads 2-1 and both of Nadal's wins were in straight sets, while Djokovic's win was in 6 hours (on Djokovic's favorite slam surface). A match-up problem? In which direction?
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I thought "numbers don't matter". I guess they only matter when they favor your argument.
 
I can see Murray being there. He had 18 breakpoints on Nadal at last year's Roland Garros. Nadal didn't play with any confidence that year, but still I see Murray being in the ballpark.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
LOL that is hilarious. Nadal leads Djokovic 18-14 and 5-3 at the slams. Soon it will be in Sampras-Agassi territory (Sampras leads Agassi 20-14). Nadal's level slipped in 2011, Djokovic's level improved, and that allowed Djokovic to have his first successful year vs Nadal. So far in 2012, Nadal leads 2-1 and both of Nadal's wins were in straight sets, while Djokovic's win was in 6 hours (on Djokovic's favorite slam surface). A match-up problem? In which direction?
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A matchup problem, for Nadal. He is probably always gonna be the better claycourter, and maybe even better player, but the MATCHUP doesn't favour him. That's not an insult, but actually a compliment. Nadal, over the course of his career, has played so much better than Djokovic, that if it wasn't for the bad matchup he is for Rafa, Djokovic would have something like 8 wins.
 
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joeri888 said:
A matchup problem, for Nadal. He is probably always gonna be the better claycourter, and maybe even better player, but the MATCHUP doesn't favour him. That's not an insult, but actually a compliment. Nadal, over the course of his career, has played so much better than Djokovic, that if it wasn't for the bad matchup he is for Rafa, Djokovic would have something like 8 wins.
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Wow that is a sweet matchup problem to have. When I saw Nadal stretch a 3-time AO champion to 6 hours, made me believe in Nadal for the first time on the AO surface (even when Nadal won it in 2009 he all but lost to Verdasco, and lost more points than Federer in the final). I never forecast Nadal to win the AO again. But watching that 2012 final, changed my mind.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
Wow that is a sweet matchup problem to have. When I saw Nadal stretch a 3-time AO champion to 6 hours, made me believe in Nadal for the first time on the AO surface (even when Nadal won it in 2009 he all but lost to Verdasco, and lost more points than Federer in the final). I never forecast Nadal to win the AO again. But watching that 2012 final, changed my mind.
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Yeah, Nadal played great, he played a far better tournament than Nole, still lost due to matchup.

But maybe "that's because I understand tennis, while you just look at numbers"
 
joeri888 said:
Yeah, Nadal played great, he played a far better tournament than Nole, still lost due to matchup.

But maybe "that's because I understand tennis, while you just look at numbers"
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Maybe you should look at number for a change. Not everything is subjective.

Your extremely vague use of the term "the matchup" is what's hurting your argument here.
 
Hood_Man said:
Father Time.
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Nadal is no Federer. The level of commitment Agassi found in his 30s is more comparable to Nadal's regular level of commitment, than to Federer's 2 year slam drought. Agassi became the fitness fanatic that Nadal always has been and always will be. And that is what will keep Nadal at a high level for a long, long time.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
Maybe you should look at number for a change. Not everything is subjective.

Your extremely vague use of the term "the matchup" is what's hurting your argument here.
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It's not extremely vague. If both have the same form against every other top 100 player under the same conditions. Djokovic beats Nadal. Nadal beats Federer. Federer beats Djokovic. Davydenko beats Nadal on HC (maybe also on clay, but they've never been equally good on the surface so can't say, it's certainly not a problem for Nadal there).
 
joeri888 said:
It's not extremely vague. If both have the same form against every other top 100 player under the same conditions. Djokovic beats Nadal. Nadal beats Federer. Federer beats Djokovic. Davydenko beats Nadal on HC (maybe also on clay, but they've never been equally good on the surface so can't say, it's certainly not a problem for Nadal there).
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So you think Nadal had a matchup problem in the 2010 US Open final and 2010 World Tour Finals? Nadal beat Djokovic in both, rather convincingly. And how about the 2008 Olympics? And btw, I have no doubt Nadal 2010 would have beaten Djokovic 2011 too. The only reason why Djokovic had some early victories over Nadal on hardcourt, is because Nadal has had a patchy career on hardcourt. He's a late-bloomer on hardcourt. And when Nadal is low on confidence, his hardcourt form suffers the most (2011).
 
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nadal_slam_king said:
You think he will stop receiving platelet treatment?
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I'm not here to speculate what pros do and don't do, and act like we know the individuals as if they're siblings. I'll leave that to the fanboys and fangirls, otherwise these forums will become very boring to them .

I do know that platelet-rich treatments and its variations can only replenish damaged soft tissue so much. It won't ever be 100%. That said, looks like Nadal's hurt knees are still better than most at 100%.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
And btw, I have no doubt Nadal 2010 would have beaten Djokovic 2011 too
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Say Chi Sin Lo said:
I'm not here to speculate what pros do and don't do, and act like we know the individuals as if they're siblings. I'll leave that to the fanboys and fangirls, otherwise these forums will become very boring to them .

I do know that platelet-rich treatments and its variations can only replenish damaged soft tissue so much. It won't ever be 100%. That said, looks like Nadal's hurt knees are still better than most at 100%.
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Nadal had platelet treatment in early 2010 and then became the first and only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass and hardcourt in a calendar year. Oh yeah, won't ever be 100%.... Nadal actually describes his knees as 100% after the treatment. Same treatment he had before Monte Carlo this year, and this is the first year he hasn't dropped a set at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
 
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If his knees and wrists are up to the job, for me it'd be Del Potro. He's basically a superior Soderling who despite his recent dips, once he gets his confidence back and stops getting drawn against Federer, is the guy who hit straight through Nadal's moonballs.

Djoko and Murray also have the game and mentality to beat Nadal on clay, but the latter needs a grand slam on another surface before he can realise his true potential on clay.
 
RedRae7 said:
If his knees and wrists are up to the job, for me it'd be Del Potro. He's basically a superior Soderling who despite his recent dips, once he gets his confidence back and stops getting drawn against Federer, is the guy who hit straight through Nadal's moonballs.

Djoko and Murray also have the game and mentality to beat Nadal on clay, but the latter needs a grand slam on another surface before he can realise his true potential on clay.
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I have confidence in Soderling. Soderling beat Federer at 2010 Roland Garros don't forget. Not just Nadal 2009. Although Nadal beat Soderling at 2010 and 2011 Roland Garros, easily.

Del Potro appears to run out of steam too often, even when injury-free.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
I have confidence in Soderling. Soderling beat Federer at 2010 Roland Garros don't forget. Not just Nadal 2009. Although Nadal beat Soderling at 2010 and 2011 Roland Garros, easily.

Del Potro appears to run out of steam too often, even when injury-free.
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Doubt if Sodeling will come to that level of play in 2009/2010. He has enough problems of his own.

In 2009 clearly the hatred of Nadal propelled him for that great match. Since then they have buried the hatchet.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
Nadal had platelet treatment in early 2010 and then became the first and only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass and hardcourt in a calendar year.
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I wonder where I have heard that one before. Oh yes, from the greatest ever Nadal fan on this board. He is the only other poaster in TW history to repeatedly quote this fact :D He was a genius and a prophet when he foresaw Nadal becoming the best player of 2012 as is evident from Nadal's form now. Who would have thought that in 2011 !

nadalwon2012 said:
Nadal is the only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass, hardcourt in a calendar year. Nadal has won more masters shields than anyone in history. If Nadal finishes with more slams than Federer, then Nadal is without doubt the greatest tennis player ever to have lived.
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How we miss him :(
 
Very suspicious, is it not, the timing of nadalwon2012's banning and the reemergence of nadal_slam_king?

Very, very suspicious...
 
Sorry OP, I got carried away and got nostalgic when I saw one of the quotes. Back on topic, I think NO ONE. He won't have a single main rival. There will be different players who will make the final against him but no one good enough to be called a 'rival'.
 
It would be even hilarious to assume that Rafa at age 31 would be competing in clay courts. If that's gonna be true, then Roger at age 36 will get a chance to reverse the head to head ON clay.

Again you are a gem to assume that in the next five years which is INDEED a long term, no one will emerge who can dominate Tennis other than your good old Rafa.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
LOL yeah right, ban someone for talking about the same feat. Every Nadal fan knows what Nadal did in 2010.
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Dear NSK, it is not the fact that you mentioned the accomplishment, but the way it was stated.

From nadalwon2012: "the first and only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass and hardcourt in a calendar year."

From you: "the only man in world history to win slams on clay, grass and hardcourt in a calendar year."

Hmm, let's see, the wording is the exact same apart from the omission of "first and" at the beginning.

Now doesn't that sound the least bit suspicious, I wonder...
 
Feather said:
It would be even hilarious to assume that Rafa at age 31 would be competing in clay courts. If that's gonna be true, then Roger at age 36 will get a chance to reverse the head to head ON clay.

Again you are a gem to assume that in the next five years which is INDEED a long term, no one will emerge who can dominate Tennis other than your good old Rafa.
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Federer and Nadal are OPPOSITE athletes. Why compare their physical evolution? Nadal is the greater athlete with the greater capacity long-term.

Nadal will be winning Roland Garros for many more years. The only thing Nadal should worry about physically is the Australian Open - 40 shot rallies on hardcourt aren't good for anyone, let alone someone over 30.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
Federer and Nadal are OPPOSITE athletes. Why compare their physical evolution? Nadal is the greater athlete with the greater capacity long-term.

Nadal will be winning Roland Garros for many more years. The only thing Nadal should worry about physically is the Australian Open - 40 shot rallies on hardcourt aren't good for anyone, let alone someone over 30.
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Anyone with common sense can understand the kind of Tennis Rafa plays is really hard on body and he is already complaining a lot. If you think he will win even at age 30, fighting for each point running like a rabbit, then good luck with that :)

He has 12 more Grand slams, that's three more years. After that he won't be playing at top level.
 
Feather said:
Anyone with common sense can understand the kind of Tennis Rafa plays is really hard on body and he is already complaining a lot. If you think he will win even at age 30, fighting for each point running like a rabbit, then good luck with that :)

He has 12 more Grand slams, that's three more years. After that he won't be playing at top level.
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I bet you thought he wouldn't be having his greatest ever Roland Garros at age 26..... :lol:
Maybe you started to figure it out this year when he didn't drop a set in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome for the first time in his career.... :lol:
You probably thought he was done in 2009..... :lol:
 
nadal_slam_king said:
I bet you thought he wouldn't be having his greatest ever Roland Garros at age 26..... :lol: You probably thought he was done in 2009..... :lol:
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I was shocked when I heard about his loss to Soderling in 2009. I was happy that Roger may win FO and Roger did win that. However, I was not stupid to assume that Rafa was done winning RG's at age 23. It's not the result that I take into consideration. After three years Rafa would be 29. Roger plays an effortless game and so he is not tired at the end of the year. At the same time I don't think he will be comfortable playing five sets on clay consecutively. Rafa can do that. But by year end he is totally spent.

Roger may win slams at age 31 but Rafa won't. After three years he would be 29. And you claim that he will win RG at age 31. You know very well that RG is the most physically demanding and you still assume that Rafa would be very healthy and winning RG after RG. Good luck with you ! I don't think it's possible.
 
If Federer had focused on his fitness as much as Nadal does, maybe Federer wouldn't be in year 3 of a slam drought. No chance of that happening to 30-year-old Nadal. Of course it helps that Nadal is more dominant on clay than Federer ever was on any other surface. It's going to be a lot of fun watching Federer retire with a 5, 6 or 7 year slam drought :)
 
nadal_slam_king said:
I bet you thought he wouldn't be having his greatest ever Roland Garros at age 26..... :lol:
Maybe you started to figure it out this year when he didn't drop a set in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome for the first time in his career.... :lol:
You probably thought he was done in 2009..... :lol:
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And RG is NOT yet over.

For guys like Roger, Novak, Rafa the competition starts only from QF. So Rafa is yet to play a match. We will talk after the tournament is over whether Rafa had his greatest RG ever or not :wink:
 
Feather said:
And RG is NOT yet over.

For guys like Roger, Novak, Rafa the competition starts only from QF. So Rafa is yet to play a match. We will talk after the tournament is over whether Rafa had his greatest RG ever or not :wink:
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Yep you can wait and see how much of a has-been Federer is at the slam level. I've known for many years that Nadal would be the greater winner post-30.
 
Easy answer. Nadal's biggest rival will always be the French Crowd.

Normally, he knocks them out cold. But they are persistent, and some time do %$&* him up. 09 being the example when they got one on him.
 
nadal_slam_king said:
Djokovic doesn't look much better than the Tsonga at Roland Garros, so who else is there? Maybe Almagro will be Nadal's main rival at Roland Garros. Nadal beat Almagro in 2008 and 2010. The 2010 meeting was Nadal's tightest match of the tournament - 7-6 7-6 6-4. Almagro seemingly has improved since then. Nadal may have improved too however. We'll see.
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rafa's biggest rival will be his butt crack and his water bottles.
 
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