Why I want Nadal to win USO 2013 - A Roger fan's take

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monfed

Guest
I am a huge fan of Nadal as well. He is my most favorite player of all time to enjoy watching lose. That's why I want his loss to come as soon as possible and be as spectacular as possible.

A repeat of Wim 12 would be quite thrilling. :lol:
 

rajah84

Semi-Pro
Nadal's recent form
Simply - he's been the best hardcourt player coming into the USO. Nadal has been showing us some nice aggressive shot making combined with his usual defensive skills and mental fortitude. Steve Tignor made a very astute comment about Nadal the other day. He writes, "In tight moments, Nadal is the rare player who can find the right balance of aggression and margin".

The USO rewards obviously the most aggressive players, but over 5 sets, low percentage shot making won't cut it. Rafa's gears give him the ability to shift up when needed yet his trademark top-spin game gives him plenty of room.

Federer
Now to the part about being a Fed fan and why this is a departure for me. It isn't like I don't want Roger to win. That's always a Federer fan's *wish*. But that can only happen if Roger is in good form and playing well. And to be honest, I don't enjoy Roger winning ugly. His game was made to flourish and for us fans to enjoy that free-floating, creative genius in full flow.

This hasn't been his summer or even year. I'm hoping by the fall indoor season he finds his mojo again, but right now we'll have to see. I'd be very pleasantly surprised if he does get through 2 of the Top 4 to win the USO.

The Rest
As for Djokovic or Murray, my personal preference is aggressive, creative players and surprisingly Nadal is the one out of those 3 that can do it and take it up a notch. Murray and Djokovic have been lackluster but we'll have to see how things go.

JMDP, Berdych and other dark horses unfortunately haven't proven themselves coming into the open. It'll take a great performance by someone to upset the Top 4 to corner yet another slam.

GOAT Challenge
Some of you may be wondering why a Fed fan would wish his nemesis in the slam race pick up another slam and narrow the GS title gap. I'm supposed to wish that Nadal not win another slam ever again and Federer always remain the slam king.

The truth is we don't know what is going to happen. Fed may not win a slam again and Nadal could catch up, or not. Fed could add 1 or more slams still and make it more difficult.

All the numbers aside, I've come to a point where philosophically I think it is immature to desire Nadal somehow fall off the radar. Let the guy play and let the better man come out on top in the history books. If it is Nadal, so be it - it isn't like he's going to do it by winning some lottery. He'll have to win it just like Roger did.

I've come to realize that although I'm not a Nadal fan, I despise his juvenile fans more than the tennis player himself. If I ignore all the antics and just focus on his tennis shot making between the lines, he's a phenomenal player who will go down as one of the Top 5 best male players of all time even if he doesn't win one more title ever!

So to ignore all that good and just focus on the negative aspects I don't like is not right. I still wish and hope Roger remains the champ in the GS department, but not going to do it by rooting against Nadal.

Nice post. Completely agree.
 

ivan_the_terrible

Hall of Fame
The extraordinary claim here is that he was out for almost 8 months for any reason other than a serious injury.

The other extraordinary claim you believe is that he was out for almost 8 months with a serious (insert body part here) injury. Care to explain his record after said 'serious' injury, which didn't involve surgery to remedy?
 

vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
The other extraordinary claim you believe is that he was out for almost 8 months with a serious (insert body part here) injury. Care to explain his record after said 'serious' injury, which didn't involve surgery to remedy?
plain and simple: an miracle.

vk4ebcb301.png
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
OP was on my blocked list so I'm sure at some point and time he said some horrible things against Rafa. That being said, it's really funny Nikdom, you talk about how "juvenile" Nadal fans are, what stands out in this thread is the hatred from your fellow Fed fans. They judge you as if they have the right to decide what a "true" fan is. It is clear to me that you wish for Fed to win but if that can't happen then Nadal should win. I feel bad for many Fed fans in a way, they are surrounded by a snobby lot who tend to believe they are more refined in their tennis taste than fans of Rafa. In any case, Rafa thanks you for your support.

thumbsupm.gif
 
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nikdom

Guest
OP was on my blocked list so I'm sure at some point and time he said some horrible things against Rafa. That being said, it's really funny Nikdom, you talk about how "juvenile" Nadal fans are, what stands out in this thread is the hatred from your fellow Fed fans. They judge you as if they have the right to decide what a "true" fan is. It is clear to me that you wish for Fed to win but if that can't happen then Nadal should win. I feel bad for many Fed fans in a way, they are surrounded by a snobby lot who tend to believe they are more refined in their tennis taste than fans of Rafa. In any case, Rafa thanks you for your support.

LOL. At one time, OP made awesome threads like this.
Looks like he has since been slowly moving over to the dark side as was evident in this recent thread:twisted:
.

Just came to say, hats off to you nikdom.
Everyone else, grow up.

Yes, I'm not denying it. My post history is there to see. I'm not claiming to be a morally superior fan. To be fair, I have been (and can be) that juvenile fan myself, as are many of my fellow Fed fans as NadalBestClass rightly points out.

But it's also true this phenomenon is partly the product of a toxic and hyperpartisan environment like on these boards. It's like the Israel-Palestine conflict - nobody remembers who threw the first stone. My post is a reaction to some other guy who ignores all reasonableness to diss my favorite and I say something about Nadal and so on...

To the person who says this is somehow falling in line with all the detractors, in fact, it is only because I don't frequent these boards as much anymore that I was able to see what my fanhood really means to me.

It is not a limited and confined condition that has to follow what others think it should be. I'm fine with rooting for one player but also being able to see that his competitors are good in their own ways.

I was never able to see that because I did not want to see it. I did not want to admit to myself that Nadal was talented too. I did not want to admit that he can play aggressive tennis - the kind I prefer - and went with the stereotype in my head and that perpetuated by his detractors here.

I came to realize no one stays in the same place forever. If Nadal was one-dimensional at first, he isn't anymore. If Federer was a tennis god walking the earth like a behemoth, he's changed too. I have changed as a fan too. I understood I like a certain kind of tennis, not just a certain player - which doesn't change.
 
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MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Yes, I'm not denying it. My post history is there to see. I'm not claiming to be a morally superior fan. To be fair, I have been (and can be) that juvenile fan myself, as are many of my fellow Fed fans as NadalBestClass rightly points out.

But it's also true this phenomenon is partly the product of a toxic and hyperpartisan environment like on these boards. It's like the Israel-Palestine conflict - nobody remembers who threw the first stone. My post is a reaction to some other guy who ignores all reasonableness to diss my favorite and I say something about Nadal and so on...

To the person who says this is somehow falling in line with all the detractors, in fact, it is only because I don't frequent these boards as much anymore that I was able to see what my fanhood really means to me.

It is not a limited and confined condition that has to follow what others think it should be. I'm fine with rooting for one player but also being able to see that his competitors are good in their own ways.

I was never able to see that because I did not want to see it. I did not want to admit to myself that Nadal was talented too. I did not want to admit that he can play aggressive tennis - the kind I prefer - and went with the stereotype in my head and that perpetuated by his detractors here.

I came to realize no one stays in the same place forever. If Nadal was one-dimensional at first, he isn't anymore. If Federer was a tennis god walking the earth like a behemoth, he's changed too. I have changed as a fan too. I understood I like a certain kind of tennis, not just a certain player - which doesn't change.


You deserve awards for those last 2 paragraphs. That's the difference between a fan and a puppet. Nadal's style HAS changed and anyone refusing to see it doesn't want to. So has Federer. I agree with where you were going in the OP also. I like Federer now more than I ever have, but I can't imagine him thrilling me with his tennis or me wanting to see him struggling... he can't win ugly, but he definitely can lose ugly.
 
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Clarky21

Banned
Am I the only one who thinks Nikdom is just blowing smoke up all of our rear ends and trolling all of us? I don't buy a thing he's saying.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Am I the only one who thinks Nikdom is just blowing smoke up all of our rear ends and trolling all of us? I don't buy a thing he's saying.

Nah, the thread he made about appreciating Rafa's tennis when he was watching him objectively was legit for sure. Anyone that hasn't just taken 5 shots of 25%alc/vol haterade that watches Nadal can see how exciting he can be.
 

rajah84

Semi-Pro
And Nadal fans should do the same and pull for Federer to win the open.

Maybe we could achieve world peace this way!
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
I've come to realize that although I'm not a Nadal fan, I despise his juvenile fans more than the tennis player himself. If I ignore all the antics and just focus on his tennis shot making between the lines, he's a phenomenal player who will go down as one of the Top 5 best male players of all time even if he doesn't win one more title ever!

So to ignore all that good and just focus on the negative aspects I don't like is not right. I still wish and hope Roger remains the champ in the GS department, but not going to do it by rooting against Nadal.

Yeah I kind of agree.I mean I would prefer Djokovic, Fed or Del Potro to win and I'm kind of fed up with the run Nadal is on at the moment what with winning 3 hc masters so far, but if he wins the USO he deserves it. No point in being annoyed about it, doesn't change anything about why I like Federer. I'm more annoyed with players i support playing bad than players i don't support winning. Everyone is trying to win, if Nadal is the winner you can't really take it personally :lol:
 

Chico

Banned
You deserve awards for those last 2 paragraphs. That's the difference between a fan and a puppet. Nadal's style HAS changed and anyone refusing to see it doesn't want to. So has Federer. I agree with where you were going in the OP also. I like Federer now more than I ever have, but I can't imagine him thrilling me with his tennis or me wanting to see him struggling... he can't win ugly, but he definitely can lose ugly.

Now, if you just look yourself in the mirror and try to do the same and apply what you preach here. You can start by removing that stupid signature of yours.
 

bullfan

Legend
Am I the only one who thinks Nikdom is just blowing smoke up all of our rear ends and trolling all of us? I don't buy a thing he's saying.

That is truly rich coming from you, of all people! I'm surprised you didn't call the poster BZ!

According to you a single post is trollworthy, vs the ad nauseum posts you make about Nadal losing everything, and Novak winning everything!

Do you even pay attention to how ludicrous you sound?
 

Clarky21

Banned
That is truly rich coming from you, of all people! I'm surprised you didn't call the poster BZ!

According to you a single post is trollworthy, vs the ad nauseum posts you make about Nadal losing everything, and Novak winning everything!

Do you even pay attention to how ludicrous you sound?

Uh oh!! I seem to have been noticed by you, even though I was lying very still in hopes you would just sniff me and leave me alone. I tried to avoid the shear nuttiness of your insane obsession with me, but you have unfortunately, found me out. They need better security at the funny farm you reside at. The padded cell and straight jacket aren't enough to prevent you from escaping anymore.

And yes, I think Nikdom is trolling all of us, and I still don't buy a thing he's saying.
 
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nikdom

Guest
Yeah I kind of agree.I mean I would prefer Djokovic, Fed or Del Potro to win and I'm kind of fed up with the run Nadal is on at the moment what with winning 3 hc masters so far, but if he wins the USO he deserves it. No point in being annoyed about it, doesn't change anything about why I like Federer. I'm more annoyed with players i support playing bad than players i don't support winning. Everyone is trying to win, if Nadal is the winner you can't really take it personally :lol:

Well said!

Agree completely.
 
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nikdom

Guest
You deserve awards for those last 2 paragraphs. That's the difference between a fan and a puppet. Nadal's style HAS changed and anyone refusing to see it doesn't want to. So has Federer. I agree with where you were going in the OP also. I like Federer now more than I ever have, but I can't imagine him thrilling me with his tennis or me wanting to see him struggling... he can't win ugly, but he definitely can lose ugly.


Thanks man!

It's funny I should **** off both monfed and clarky with the same post (not that I care) - but imagine that, a Fed fan and a supposed Nadal fan are both mad at the same time :)
 

bullfan

Legend
Uh oh!! I seem to have been noticed by you, even though I was lying very still in hopes you would just sniff me and leave me alone. I tried to avoid the shear nuttiness of your insane obsession with me, but you have unfortunately, found me out. They need better security at the funny farm you reside at. The padded cell and straight jacket aren't enough to prevent you from escaping anymore.

And yes, I think Nikdom is trolling all of us, and I still don't buy a thing he's saying.

Sad, sad, sad... You can't stand being called out... So you attack, attack, attack...

And, if you have delusions of anyone sniffing you.....
 

Clarky21

Banned
thanks. I used to get annoyed with Nadal beating Federer but that's his job lol. Everyone is trying to win, but people act like they've done something wrong.

Please. You get annoyed when Nadal wakes up every morning to see another day. Lol. Don't bs about not being annoyed when Nadal beats Fed because you know that's not true.
 

Crisstti

Legend
The other extraordinary claim you believe is that he was out for almost 8 months with a serious (insert body part here) injury. Care to explain his record after said 'serious' injury, which didn't involve surgery to remedy?

Nothing extraordinary about it. Other than him being an extraordinary player that is, which you don't want to accept.

What he had didn't necessarily require surgery.
 

Crisstti

Legend
thanks. I used to get annoyed with Nadal beating Federer but that's his job lol. Everyone is trying to win, but people act like they've done something wrong.

Well, you used to be annoyed just a few days ago IIFC :)
Nothing wrong with that really, but another thing is to act like the player winning is doing something wrong, like you say.
 

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
Agree with this sentiment. As an objective Nadal fan, I want Nadal to earn his USO this year after his first one was literally gifted to him. Unfortunately, it will be the same this year, with him having a bye all the way to the final, playing only his pigeons. In the final, he will run over a very tired Delpo/Murray/Djoker in straights. So, it is a done deal that Nadal wins this USO but people will continue saying Nadal was handed the trophy and didn't have to earn it :neutral:
Coming from a seven month rest, he would run over even Godzilla and Iron Man 3 if they were in the draw. I agree it is irritating how people will keep saying Rafa was gifted his non-clay Slams citing draws, weather, walkovers, retirements etc.
 

Chico

Banned
Please. You get annoyed when Nadal wakes up every morning to see another day. Lol. Don't bs about not being annoyed when Nadal beats Fed because you know that's not true.

The pot calling the kettle black. A poster who is annoyed when Djokovic wakes up in the morning to see another day, is calling out others about the same thing.

Unbelievable hypocrisy.
 

jg153040

G.O.A.T.
All I'm saying is that Nadal's knee problems should get worse, not better, as he ages. In fact an unnatural surface should be his 'Achilles heel' at this point in his career. Instead, he's dominating the HC season, apparently due to 7-month layoff.

Makes perfect sense, no?

I don't think non clay surfaces are his "heel". It's just that competition is tougher. Which is logical. Of course everybody will tailor their games to most represented surfaces. That is HC today.

In Lavers time competition on grass was probably tougher. We can just look how many great HC players we have the past years. Fed, Murray, Nole, Delpo, Roddick, Safin, Hewitt, even old Agassi. Even floaters like Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling are very dangerous and on HC can take out everyone.

We don't have any great clay courters. Yes, Nole and Fed are the best we have, but they aren't natural on clay with their games. They are just so talented and lack competition. That is why they go deep on clay.

I'm not saying competition today on clay or grass is weak. But it's weaker than on HC.
 

jackson vile

G.O.A.T.
This whole USO is ruined for me, I wanted to see Federer and Nadal. Also, I don't think Nadal can make it past either Murray or Novak.
 
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nikdom

Guest
Congrats nikdom!


Yeah right, it's all my fault :)

Grow up guys and see reality. I'm as devoted a fan as any, but to see that Fed hasn't been in good form all year is not hate but honesty.

I still think he can get out of his slump but if you're expecting him to win 2 slams a year till the day he decides to quit, you are deluded.
 

jackson vile

G.O.A.T.
You think he did not play well last night? To me, not having break chances is not playing well. Not converting a ton of break chances, there is something fishy going on. Especially when we are talking Federer vs Robredo here.

Looked an awful lot like Federer was giving it away.

Yeah right, it's all my fault :)

Grow up guys and see reality. I'm as devoted a fan as any, but to see that Fed hasn't been in good form all year is not hate but honesty.

I still think he can get out of his slump but if you're expecting him to win 2 slams a year till the day he decides to quit, you are deluded.
 

10is

Professional
I still think he can get out of his slump but if you're expecting him to win 2 slams a year till the day he decides to quit, you are deluded.

Are you kidding?! This isn't about "expecting" Roger to win at this juncture. It's about "supporting" him "as a fan" regardless, through thick and thin rather than bandwagon jumping and "wanting" him to lose because "he isn't playing well", which is what you stated in your asinine OP. Hence the congratulations.
 
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nikdom

Guest
Are you kidding?! This isn't about "expecting" Roger to win at this juncture. It's about "supporting" him "as a fan" regardless, through thick and thin rather than bandwagon jumping and "wanting" him to lose because "he isn't playing well", which is what you stated in your asinine OP. Hence the congratulations.

If you think about your "support", it really is more about you than Roger.

YOU want him to win despite his obvious bad form because YOU ARE supporting him and it would be bad for YOUR feelings when the player YOU like isn't winning for you. This is kind of fandom that wishes THEIR guy always win to keep THEM happy and has no regard for the phase someone is going through.

To me, I'd rather that Roger be happy with the way he's playing and allow us to enjoy his brilliance when he's playing well than blindly wish he win somehow only because I WANT IT SO.

As for supporting Nadal, I don't see where the problem is. Take the situation now that Roger is out. Who would you support? If you support no one, then it goes back to my first point. If you do, then it is someone right? Why not the guy who is playing well and would be deserving of the title if he does win?
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
If you think about your "support", it really is more about you than Roger.

YOU want him to win despite his obvious bad form because YOU ARE supporting him and it would be bad for YOUR feelings when the player YOU like isn't winning for you. This is kind of fandom that wishes THEIR guy always win to keep THEM happy and has no regard for the phase someone is going through.

To me, I'd rather that Roger be happy with the way he's playing and allow us to enjoy his brilliance when he's playing well than blindly wish he win somehow only because I WANT IT SO.

As for supporting Nadal, I don't see where the problem is. Take the situation now that Roger is out. Who would you support? If you support no one, then it goes back to my first point. If you do, then it is someone right? Why not the guy who is playing well and would be deserving of the title if he does win?

If it makes you feel any better, unlike a lot of people who posted here, I get what you're trying to say here and in the OP. But you may be talking to a bunch of Fedangelists so reasoning with them may be pointless...
 

DragonBlaze

Hall of Fame
Yea I get you nikdom. Some people won't agree but that's always the case isn't it :).

Definitely sad to see Federer playing that way and I agree, I would not want him to win playing like THAT. I mean there's grinding out an ugly win because your A game isn't working, but this has been more the case of Federer's C game not working all year long. Just playing so erratically. Sometimes overly passive, sometimes overly aggresive. Just weird all around.

Let's hope he still has something left in him.
 

Crisstti

Legend
I don't think non clay surfaces are his "heel". It's just that competition is tougher. Which is logical. Of course everybody will tailor their games to most represented surfaces. That is HC today.

In Lavers time competition on grass was probably tougher. We can just look how many great HC players we have the past years. Fed, Murray, Nole, Delpo, Roddick, Safin, Hewitt, even old Agassi. Even floaters like Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling are very dangerous and on HC can take out everyone.

We don't have any great clay courters. Yes, Nole and Fed are the best we have, but they aren't natural on clay with their games. They are just so talented and lack competition. That is why they go deep on clay.

I'm not saying competition today on clay or grass is weak. But it's weaker than on HC.

That Fed and Novak aren't clay specialists doesn't mean they aren't better clay players than clay specialists.

On theory, the competition on hc would be tougher, and and maybe when comparing at the same moment the surfaces it is, but that varies in a few years, the competition Rafa has faced to win his clay slams hasn't been easier than that that Fed faced for his hc slams.
 
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nikdom

Guest
Yea I get you nikdom. Some people won't agree but that's always the case isn't it :).

Definitely sad to see Federer playing that way and I agree, I would not want him to win playing like THAT. I mean there's grinding out an ugly win because your A game isn't working, but this has been more the case of Federer's C game not working all year long. Just playing so erratically. Sometimes overly passive, sometimes overly aggresive. Just weird all around.

Let's hope he still has something left in him.


I hope so too. But it's a fool's errand now to keep speculating about an imminent turnaround. It might happen, it might not. It might take time... or worse yet, even if the turnaround in form happens, he's ranked so low as to make it even harder to contend at the slams. So we have to wait and see.
 
M

monfed

Guest
Are you kidding?! This isn't about "expecting" Roger to win at this juncture. It's about "supporting" him "as a fan" regardless, through thick and thin rather than bandwagon jumping and "wanting" him to lose because "he isn't playing well", which is what you stated in your asinine OP. Hence the congratulations.

Yea and to top it off it wants the nadal to win. :lol:
 
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nikdom

Guest
What a fighter! I knew he was playing phenomenal hard court tennis but even so, incredible performance!
 
well , a sampras and federer fan told me yesterday that he want that nadal wwin today because if nole wins , nadal anyway will surprass sampras and maybe roger.

and maybe djoker too.

but he will support nadal in the next slams because maybe nadal only surprass fed and sampras , but not djokovic.

he thing this because with the next generation so weak , even djokovic winning today would win 14 slams
 
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