Why is Nadal getting better on hard courts but suddenly so AWFUL on grass

[granddog29]

Since 2010 Nadal has been gradually getting better on hard courts (losing out on some additional hard court slams to a GOATing Djokovic in 2011-2012) but he has been getting worse at a rapid rate on grass. WTF is up with that. Grass used to be his 2nd best surface after clay. From 2008 to 2011 he was really overall the one to beat at Wimbledon with 2 titles and 1 final in his appearances there. Since then his grass court game has gone down the drain. It makes no sense since his improvements in his serve and more agressive play SHOULD make him even better on grass, yet he has played only several really bad grass matches in his brief appearances at Wimbledon the last couple years.

Why has his grass game gotten so bad, and can he turn it around. If he gets back to his 2007-2010 level on grass he should be able to dominate the current mens field on grass. Only Murray on that surface could possibly challenge if he returns to that level.

 

[josofo]

there is 1 significant grass tournament a year.

before this grass tournament he almost always plays and wins 4 or 5 clay tournaments in the span of a month and a half.

answer r obviously he is a bit worn out from his huge clay season schedule.

rosol and darcis played really good matches to beat him.

 

[clayman2000]

The transition from clay to grass in addition to the wet grass is now pretty hard for Rafa.

Also, Rafa has found the perfect level of agression on a hard court.

 

[jhhachamp]

He had one bad match...nothing more nothing less. No reason to start a ridiculous thread.

 

[granddog29]

However in past years that was never a problem for him. OK he has some rough matches in the early rounds, but it was usually to someone redlining. Rosol and Darcis were redlining, but Nadal was really crappy in those matches in everyway apart from his serve in the Rosal match, especialy the Darcis match which was pitiful. Just watching his 5 or so matches on grass the last 2 years something is wrong, and for some reason he has just completely lost his feel for playing on the surface. I hope he can get it back somehow though.

He needs to practice more on grass next year, and play a warmup tournament for Wimbledon even if he (as expected) wins the French.

 

[granddog29]

He had one bad match...nothing more nothing less. No reason to start a ridiculous thread.

One bad match, LOL! His matches with Kohlschreiber last year, Rosol last year, and Darcis this year were all bad matches. Incredibly bad. Those are most of the matches he has played on grass the last 2 years too. Sorry it is more than just one bad match. I am not saying he cant turn it around but there is no question he is struggling majorly on grass for the moment.

 

[NJ1]

He had one bad match...nothing more nothing less. No reason to start a ridiculous thread.

Actually it's two, in consecutive Wimbledons. I think it's fair to say his grass game has declined while his play on other surfaces has improved.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Perhaps because his quest is to be the greatest, he's shifted more of his attention to also building up a formidable hard court legacy.

 

[ViscaB]

He can't get low enough anymore on the grass with his knees.

 

[mistik]

He can't get low enough anymore on the grass with his knees.

I also think like you but he wasnt well prepared either the last 2 years. He is no longer 20 years old clay courts takes all his energy as well to expect him to win a channel slam isnt all that realistic anymore.

 

[ViscaB]

I also think like you but he wasnt well prepared either the last 2 years. He is no longer 20 years old clay courts takes all his energy as well to expect him to win a channel slam isnt all that realistic anymore.

Agreed on that. Perhaps he should just crash out in the first round again. I rather see him winning Grand Slams than just getting to the semi-final or final in all of them.

 

[Federer20042006]

My take:

Rosol pulled a Soderling and redlined him off the court, and having seen that, Darcis believed he could win this year against Nadal at Wimbledon.

Once a player proves something is possible against a top player, it inspires others. Federer is open game now after what Stakhovsky did to him.

 

[Vlad_C]

I also think that he doesn't even want to play at Wimbledon at all.
He already got one title there, and that's all he needed.
He doesn't like the weather, the stuck-up snobs at the club, the UK taxes...
He only shows up there because he has to, and he's happy to get out asap.

 

[90's Clay]

So much of the season consists of hard courts, I think you just get more practice on it. Grass is such a SMALL portion of the year, its tough to prepare unless your naturally a grass phenomenon, I don't think Rafa ever was.

Hes very good on grass ( or was) but he's not good to just walk on it expect miracles to happen without proper preparation.

Maybe that will change next year

 

[josofo]

Actually it's two, in consecutive Wimbledons. I think it's fair to say his grass game has declined while his play on other surfaces has improved.

the other guys get a racket 2.



darcis and rosol played well.


he was a little worn out.

 

[sureshs]

He has won Wimbledon twice. Same for FO and USO. He is now focused on winning AO one more time. Wimbledon is not a priority.

 

[clayman2000]

the other guys get a racket 2.



darcis and rosol played well.


he was a little worn out.

You know, the way he works at the French Open really makes me feel like one of his main goals is to never lose at Roland Garros again.

Some guys win a tourney so many times and begin to lose a bit of desire because they have already win there so much, but for Nadal its like the opposite: he wants people to look back and say "how on earth did he win that many times there"

 

[Crisstti]

The transition from clay to grass in addition to the wet grass is now pretty hard for Rafa.

Also, Rafa has found the perfect level of agression on a hard court.

Yeah, but why is it now harder than before?. I agree with ViscaB is has to be his knees. And maybe he's more exhausted now after the clay season because he's somewhat older.

Maybe if he's in better shape physically next year then. Who know if it's possible for him to win the channel slam at this stage in his career though. I hope so anyway.

 

[tusharlovesrafa]

I also think that he doesn't even want to play at Wimbledon at all.
He already got one title there, and that's all he needed.
He doesn't like the weather, the stuck-up snobs at the club, the UK taxes...
He only shows up there because he has to, and he's happy to get out asap.

hey he got two titles there!!

 

[Federer20042006]

I also think that he doesn't even want to play at Wimbledon at all.
He already got one title there, and that's all he needed.
He doesn't like the weather, the stuck-up snobs at the club, the UK taxes...
He only shows up there because he has to, and he's happy to get out asap.

Uh, Nadal has said his favorite tournament is Wimbledon.

 

[Finesse4sum]

Rafa has so many finals and the obvious 2 WB titles so noone has ever called him a grass mug even with the 2 early losses.

Nadal looked winded against Ferrer in the final. I dont think Nadal cares about winning on grass anymore. Hes going to try to pad is hardcourt resume as much as possible before he retires.

 

[jhhachamp]

One bad match, LOL! His matches with Kohlschreiber last year, Rosol last year, and Darcis this year were all bad matches. Incredibly bad. Those are most of the matches he has played on grass the last 2 years too. Sorry it is more than just one bad match. I am not saying he cant turn it around but there is no question he is struggling majorly on grass for the moment.

Well he had a major injury last year (which caused him to miss nearly a whole year), so that explains why he was not playing so great then. Again, I say, it was just one match...no need to start another ridiculous thread. If he wins the Australian and the French next year, and then loses early again, then this thread would be more appropriate.

 

[tennis_hack]

He doesn't prioritize Wimbledon. He doesn't care about it enough.

If he made it his goal to win Wimbledon, no-one could come close to stopping him, period. It's as simple as that.

 

[Mainad]

I also think that he doesn't even want to play at Wimbledon at all.
He already got one title there, and that's all he needed.
He doesn't like the weather, the stuck-up snobs at the club, the UK taxes...
He only shows up there because he has to, and he's happy to get out asap.

You obviously know zilch about Nadal and Wimbledon. He has spoken many times about how it was always his first childhood dream to win it, not RG or anywhere else, but Wimbledon! Carlos Moya when speaking about how he helped mentor Nadal as an up-and-coming young player, confirmed Nadal's desire to win Wimbledon and confirmed it had been his desire also and that of most of the Spanish players. Wimbledon carries an endless prestige about it!

BTW, he has won TWO Wimbledon titles, not one.

 

[bullfan]

Maybe The odds favor playing on hard courts, given how many tournaments there are.

 

[Goosehead]

I also think that he doesn't even want to play at Wimbledon at all.
He already got one title there, and that's all he needed.
He doesn't like the weather, the stuck-up snobs at the club, the UK taxes...
He only shows up there because he has to, and he's happy to get out asap.

wimbledons weather is fine, no worse than the French open,

he won Wimbledon 2 times..not just once..

stuck up snobs ?..they got class and standards and some bloke picking his arse 2348times a Wimbledon isn't going to get approval and rightly so.

he shows up because he wants to..

so, apart from your comments being totally wrong..you were right. :twisted:

 

[Federer20042006]

He doesn't prioritize Wimbledon. He doesn't care about it enough.

If he made it his goal to win Wimbledon, no-one could come close to stopping him, period. It's as simple as that.

Absolutely false. Nadal has said repeatedly that Wimbledon is his favorite tournament. It was his biggest goal. He actually doesn't really care about the French that much.

People assume because he is the clay court GOAT that the FO must be his favorite tournament, but that's not the case. That's why he's always envied Federer a little...Federer's Wimbledon success and grass court game.

 

[Hercule Poirot]

He had one bad match...nothing more nothing less. No reason to start a ridiculous thread.

I guess his gut feeling was not misplaced.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

He doesn't prioritize Wimbledon. He doesn't care about it enough.

If he made it his goal to win Wimbledon, no-one could come close to stopping him, period. It's as simple as that.

2012-15, 2017 Wimbledon moral champion.