I don’t wanna cause a big row here just an opinion. I like rafa. The recent announcement he pulled out of Rotterdam isn’t a surprise. Recent years theirs been a similar theme, aka skipping hard court in the spring in preparation for clay. We all KNOW- for facts Rafa is gonna play next up probably in Monte Carlo, playing at 250% he might get beat in one of the warm ups but at RG he will be like the terminator. Basically unstoppable. So in his press release, why doesn’t he just say that? ‘I’m 34, I need to manage the body better and schedule better in order to play at a higher level at grand slams’, instead of going back to the ‘injury’ that wasn’t apparent at the end of Australia. Pretty sure that’s what Feddy did back in 2017 when he was 35, skipped clay and basically told everyone he was prioritising grass and Wimbledon.
Why doesn’t Rafa just say it how it is?
- Thread starter DanG7
- Start date
Tennis_Freak99
Legend
Clay has magical healing properties
That’s interesting, as he was playing ‘injury free’ in Australia
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
A cortisone shot to his spine allowed him to play without pain, that doesn't mean his back doesn't still need to heal.
maratha_warrior
Hall of Fame
Comeon , it's not like he is Djokovic who would lie and claim fake injury after being 2-0 sets up against a player who never reached 4th round..
Why do you doubt the Rafa Nadal ??
Why do you doubt the Rafa Nadal ??
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
i have lower back problems as well and it is impossible to play your best with that going on. and knowing rafa, he won't play if he can't play his best tennis
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
People always use these petty excuses to pull out of tournaments for a variety of reasons. It isn't specific to Nadal. The pretty obvious reason is that he is pulling out of a tournament whose organizers were probably pretty excited to have him coming to line their pockets, and in normal circumstances letting down the crowds who bought tickets to see him. Saying you're injured is better PR than saying "Sorry, I'm old" as if he didn't already know that before signing up.
King No1e
G.O.A.T.
Nadal was clearly injured (even if it wasn't that bad) at AO. Sure, maybe he would've played on if this happened during the clay swing instead of before Rotterdam, but he'd deserve a break regardless.
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
I mean it’s Rotterdam, who the hell cares 
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
I mean it’s Rotterdam, who the hell cares
Texas Tennis Fan
Professional
I agree with all of this. I also think that there are strategic reasons not to let your opponents (especially Djokovic) know exactly what you are going to do with respect to your schedule until the end when Djokovic is unlikely to change his schedule. For example, even if Nadal is 99.99% certain he will not play Miami, why announce it now? Djokovic could then think as to whether or not he may want to "vulture" points there to have an even bigger lead on Nadal than he has now (assuming he is healthy). If Djokovic then announces he is going, it becomes a lot harder public relations-wise for Nadal to change his mind.
It is a lot easier to announce at the last moment that you cannot come which gives your opponent no time to respond rather than announce ahead of time. There may also be issues with appearance fee negotiations to come into play. Maybe I won't come unless I am guaranteed a certain amount of money. Those negotiations can be ongoing up to a few days before the draw.
As a businessman, I see nothing wrong with any of this. It just keeps options open and keeps your opponent and tournaments guessing for an advantage to you. As the poster said, this is not just Nadal, but any high level player in tennis and any sport would be advised to do it this way.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Rotterdam's nothing but a made up city in a made up country.I mean it’s Rotterdam, who the hell cares
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
You can't expect transparency or truth from a world class athlete of Rafa's stature. Tennis is a business, first and foremost. Do you really expect him to say, "I'm gonna sign up for Rotterdam 'cause Kraijeck needs to sell tickets and I'm gonna sign up for Miami but I'm not gonna play either tournament?" Rafa has a long history of doing this, though he does it a lot less since 2017. Agassi used to do it too. In 2009 and and other years, Rafa announced he was playing the summer events, only to pull the plug and basically sit out the rest of the year. No criticism of Nadal here, it's not something new or even revelatory, he's done it sporadically throughout his career.
roger presley
Hall of Fame
He's not playing only because Krajicek can not pay him for it.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
the nadal ?!... lying ???
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Beckerserve
Legend
It is the opposite actually. He was clearly hindered in Australia. He looked so slow v Norrie and missed loads of overheads. Only reason i think he played australia was he was already there and wanted some matches. I have seen him hunfreds of times and at no stage was his body language suggesting he thought he was in contention to win the event. He was never playing Rotterdam .
I dount he plays MC. I expect him to return in Barcelona.
Cupcake
Hall of Fame
What can you expect from a city with the word Rot in it's name?
(Just a joke - no offense intended.) (Unless you are not a Rafa fan)
Texas Tennis Fan
Professional
He said he was not hindered second week. Try again.
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
he should probably just stop coming to Australia but you've gotta be in it to win it and there's always a chance for him to pick it up in this field
Crazy Finn
Hall of Fame
Except RG, maybe.
Yeah, I mean he was a couple of successful overhead from the SF. You never know. Look at USO 2020. If Novak pulls a muscle against Zverev, maybe he actually loses (maybe). Nishikori got a finals. You never know what can happen...
Beckerserve
Legend
Well.he was as he just pulled out of an event!!.
terribleIVAN
Hall of Fame
This COVID situation with a reduced number of tournaments kind of plays in favour of Rafa and Novak, since they can rest a little more their old bodies and thus prolong their stay at the top.
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
I wonder why you created this issue instead of sticking to the fact (what Rafa said).
Your Feddy's doings have no impact on Rafa.
the nadal ?!... lying ???
Reported by someone..
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
'ben rottenberg' lied!
The Acapulco tournament director tweeted:
Translated via Google:
Raul Zurutuza: "Good afternoon everyone. I want to be very clear about Rafa's topic: he decided not to play in Acapulco because of his back injury, it's that simple and transparent. Acapulco will always be Rafael Nadal's home and we wish him a speedy recovery."
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
No, you are lying.the nadal ?!... lying ???
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
Actually:
¤¤ Tickets for the 2021 Rotterdam tournament will move to 2022.
Given the current epidemiological status and the associated measures, it has become less and less expected that a substantial audience can be present in the stadium.
Given the necessary preparation time, it has been decided to move the tickets already sold for 2021 to the 49th edition in 2022.¤¤
Tickets For The ABN AMRO WTT 2021 Will Move To 2022 - Tennis TourTalk
Organizers decided to move the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament tickets already sold for 2021 to the 49th edition in 2022.
www.tennis-tourtalk.com
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
Rothenberg assumes ....
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Are you calling Rafa cheap?
Tennis_Hands
Banned
He was probably not offered his usual chunk of cash, since this year the draw is there anyway due to the situation with the virus and the tourney doesn't lack star power, so he "decided" not to play.
Cringe that a supposed straight shooter like yourself is now resorting to PC.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
These large appearance fees indicate that these events are both wealthier than usually suggested, and also that prize money is doubly skewed against lower-ranked players.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
The larger (if not the entire) amount of these appearance fees come from the sponsors exclusively to get a player in the lineup, so those are not money of the tournament. The tournament wouldn't have that money otherwise: they are a direct investment from the companies that sponsor the event.
JustMy2Cents
Hall of Fame
Man, I'm new around here, but even I've seen this stale comment from you umpteen times. And what a pathetic sense of humor the people 'liking' this possess!the nadal ?!... lying ???
Such empty lives you guys must lead to enjoy this junk!
Really pity you Heartburn Club guys!!
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
That still does not refute the two points I made and, in any event, you are merely describing how the tournament goes about drumming up funds. It's their choice.
The AO chose to give more money to players who were eliminated the earliest. so that was their choice.
The AO chose to give more money to players who were eliminated the earliest. so that was their choice.
The larger (if not the entire) amount of these appearance fees come from the sponsors exclusively to get a player in the lineup, so those are not money of the tournament. The tournament wouldn't have that money otherwise: they are a direct investment from the companies that sponsor the event.
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
He/she (you quoted) and his/her comrades 'liking' him/her have been Rafa haters since Rafa started to beat their beloved Fed in Miami in 2004. It's as simple as that.Man, I'm new around here, but even I've seen this stale comment from you umpteen times. And what a pathetic sense of humor the people 'liking' this possess!
Such empty lives you guys must lead to enjoy this junk!
Really pity you Heartburn Club guys!!
Tennis_Hands
Banned
I didn't address both your claims, but only the first, and your implication, that the tournaments are wealthier is partially or entirely false. If they don't have that money (which they don't) they are not "wealthier" by that amount.
You second claim could also be false, as those are not official prize money. Their purpose is entirely different.
AO doesn't give appearance fees, so it is irrelevant, but if we consider the warm up events as part of the AO tour (especially this year) AO definitely paid the stars more than they did in official prize money.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
I wonder why you created this issue instead of sticking to the fact (what Rafa said).
Your Feddy's doings have no impact on Rafa.
You are cheating the readers. You are not wondering at all.
beard
Legend
Can't be true, because Novak said he was on pain killers and most here claimed he is lying...
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
I googled. That's what your Feddy actually said:
ATP: ¤¤ The next year, in 2017, Federer skipped the entire clay-court season for the first time. The prior season, he had missed the last five months of the year to give his knee more time to recuperate.
“It was a decision for my longevity, for my health, for my family,” Federer said.¤¤
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