Why Nadal Is Even Better On Hard Courts Than You Think

[clayqueen]

The ATP Performance Zone examines the Spaniard's hard-court improvement

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has long been lauded for his clay success. But not only has the Spaniard compiled one of the best hard-court records in history; the lefty is performing significantly better than his career average.

According to the ATP Performance Zone, Nadal leads the ATP Tour over the past 52 weeks with a 90.5 winning percentage on hard courts. That puts him well ahead of World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (86%), Roger Federer (81.1%), Daniil Medvedev (75.5%) and Andrey Rublev (75.4%).



Nadal has won 38 of his 42 hard-court matches over the past year. Not only is he winning at a high rate, but he's doing so against highly-ranked players. The 33-year-old has earned 11 of those 38 victories against Top 20 opponents, with seven of those triumphs coming in straight sets. The lowest-ranked opponent Nadal has lost to on hard courts since the start of the 2019 BNP Paribas Open was then-World No. 11 David Goffin at this year’s ATP Cup.

The Mallorcan’s efforts on the surface might always be compared to his spectacular efforts on clay, on which he has a career winning percentage of 91.8 per cent, but his career numbers stack up well in the history books. Nadal currently ranks 11th in career winning percentage on hard courts at 78.1 per cent, ahead of former World No. 1s Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, Jim Courier, Mats Wilander and more.

Why Rafael Nadal Is Even Better On Hard Courts Than You Think | ATP Tour | Tennis

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has long been lauded for his clay success. But not only has the Spaniard compiled one of the best hard-court records in history; the lefty is performing significantly better than his career average.

www.atptour.com

 

[junior74]

 

[clayqueen]

Considering that since 2012, Rafa has only played 2 full seasons due to injury (2015 & 2019) in 2012, he closed his season after Wimbledon missing the London Olympics. In 2013, he decided not to play Australia, as he was coming back from 7 months of being sidelined with injury. In 2014, he suffered a back injury whilst warming up for the AO Final against Stan. Then in the autumn he had surgery for appendicitis. In 2015 he was totally out of form, losing confidence in his game and in his body, losing to just about anybody. In 2016, he suffered wrist injury at RG and pulled out after winning the 2nd round. That injury plus problems with his knees plagued him for the whole year although he played the Olympics because he didn't want to miss out on being the flag bearer twice in a row. In 2017, he suffered knee injury in the Paris Indoors and pulled out of the WTF after losing the 1st RR to Goffin. In 2018, he had surgery on his ankle in November.

In spite of all of the above, he is still up there with Fed and Novak.

 

[clayqueen]

Nadal is unbelievably epic.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Just put a roof above and he loses his mind xD

 

[tennisaddict]

2013 and 2015 Nadal are the same

In 2013, Nadal won every close match
In 2015, Nadal lost every close match

But all his matches were close . Just a point or two made the difference

 

[clayqueen]

Just put a roof above and he loses his mind xD

Rafa has won the USO since they installed the retractable roof; neither Fedr nor Djoker has.

 

[MeatTornado]

Lol at Rafa playing a "full season" in 2019. He retired from IW, avoiding a loss on his record. Then withdrew from Miami, Cincinnati, and Shanghai.

Edit: and retired from Paris.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Rafa has won the USO since they installed the retractable roof; neither Fedr nor Djoker has.

How many times did he play under the roof at USO?
Also it's an open secret that Rafa doesn't play the indoor season which is historically his worst surface.

Added to that he has withrawn from certain HC matches due to physical reasons and that don't count as losses.

Obviously the numbers will be skewed!

PS: Novak won USO in 2018 when the roofs were installed

 

[clayqueen]

2013 and 2015 Nadal are the same

In 2013, Nadal won every close match
In 2015, Nadal lost every close match

But all his matches were close . Just a point or two made the difference

This is sooooo close

 

[clayqueen]

How many times did he play under the roof at USO?
Also it's an open secret that Rafa doesn't play the indoor season which is historically his worst surface.

Added to that he has withrawn from certain HC matches due to physical reasons and that don't count as losses.

Obviously the numbers will be skewed!

PS: Novak won USO in 2018 when the roofs were installed

Luckily for Djokovic, Rafa had to retire in the SF against Delpo giving Djoker a clear run in the final.

 

[SecondToNone]

Lol at Rafa playing a "full season" in 2019. He retired from IW, avoiding a loss on his record. Then withdrew from Miami, Cincinnati, and Shanghai.

Also retired from Paris indoors

 

[clayqueen]

Also retired from Paris indoors

That makes 2015 the only full season he has played since 2011.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Luckily for Djokovic, Rafa had to retire in the SF against Delpo giving Djoker a clear run in the final.

Damn, facts just proved to be too good for you that you have to resort to this xD

 

[clayqueen]

Damn, facts just proved to be too good for you that you have to resort to this xD

Rafa leads Djoker at the USO

 

[tennisaddict]

This is sooooo close

Djokovic on cruise to win the 3rd set.

Nadal’s aggressive lawn mower celebration caused choking by Novak

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Rafa leads Djoker at the USO

photo website upload

Too bad they haven't played more often here, but it'll be 2-2 all soon I can tell you that..

 

[clayqueen]

Too bad they haven't played more often here, but it'll be 2-2 all soon I can tell you that..

Too bad Rafa has been either injured ore recovering from injury and lack of match play when he's faced Djoker since 2012.

 

[weakera]

Nole always gets so angry when Rafa beats his brains in on HC lol

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Too bad Rafa has been either injured ore recovering from injury and lack of match play when he's faced Djoker since 2012.

??
He's earned 9 victories over Djokovic since 2012. Was he injured or recovering from injury or lacking match play then? Or you'll have excuses just for his losses? They both are of same generation, so there's nothing separating them.
Though I agree that part of Djoker's domination comes from the 2015-16 time where nadal was in his worst ever form since he entered top20, and Djokovic failed to reach him as much in 2017-18(resurgent rafa).
But to say rafa lacked match practice or he was recovering from injury for all losses, and not in wins, is not fair..

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Djokovic on cruise to win the 3rd set.

Nadal’s aggressive lawn mower celebration caused choking by Novak

Djoker wasn't winning that match. Just accept it.
He was an error machine that day. Especially off the forehand wing

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

2013 and 2015 Nadal are the same

In 2013, Nadal won every close match
In 2015, Nadal lost every close match

But all his matches were close . Just a point or two made the difference

Lol please don't fall so low to the likes of VBians such as octo and django...

 

[clayqueen]

He's earned 9 victories over Djokovic since 2012. Was he injured or recovering from injury or lacking match play then? Or you'll have excuses just for his losses?

It just proves how good Rafa is that he can beat anyone at 60%.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Rafa has won the USO since they installed the retractable roof; neither Fedr nor Djoker has.

2018 uso.
Djoker beat delpo in the finals 6-3 7-6 6-3

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

It just proves how good Rafa is that he can beat anyone at 60%.

I believe any of big4 can beat the opponent if the other guy is just at 60%

 

[Bender]

ombaleeble

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

So @clayqueen , basically what you're saying is that rafa was just at his 60% in some of his most dominant and/or historical runs ever?? (RG2012, Rome 2019, USO 2013, MC 2012, Rome 2012 etc???)

It just proves how good Rafa is that he can beat anyone at 60%.

 

[clayqueen]

2018 uso.
Djoker beat delpo in the finals 6-3 7-6 6-3

Luckily for Djoker, Rafa pulled out of the SF against Delpo or he would have beaten Djoker in the final.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Nole always gets so angry when Rafa beats his brains in on HC lol

A feeling that he hasn't had in over 6 years xD

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Luckily, Rafa pulled out of the SF against Delpo or he would have beaten Djoker in the final.

Rafa was not beating even del potro that year at USO, let alone leave beating Djokovic aside.
He surely was the best player in-form coming into the tournament, but passive play & back to back slugfests with zoning big hitters zapped him. He was lucky & clutch to get past Khachanov and Thiem. Delpo wasn't going to let him pass through though, even if rafa had enough energy to finish the match.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

A feeling that he hasn't had in over 6 years xD

7 Years bhai

 

[Sport]

A feeling that he hasn't had in over 6 years xD

Breakpointerer did it again, killing Nadal since 9 July of 2019.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Breakpointerer did it again, killing Nadal since 9 July of 2019.

I believe it was may 19th, 2019.
But anyways, @Breakpointerer was talking about HCs

 

[Sport]

@HetTheGreaterer

Slayyy

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Slayyy.

@MichaelNadal

 

[Breakpointerer]

Breakpointerer did it again, killing Nadal since 9 July of 2019.

?

 

[Sport]

?

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

 

[Breakpointerer]

Thanks for explaining properly.

 

[NatF]

Rafa was not beating even del potro that year at USO, let alone leave beating Djokovic aside.
He surely was the best player in-form coming into the tournament, but passive play & back to back slugfests with zoning big hitters zapped him. He was lucky & clutch to get past Khachanov and Thiem. Delpo wasn't going to let him pass through though, even if rafa had enough energy to finish the match.

You don't understand. If Nadal beat Delpo that would mean he wasn't injured, and Nadal always wins when he's not injured.

 

[Deleted member 770948]

Hope they play the US Open this year so Rafa ties the US Open Open Era record.

 

[RF-18]

But 2006 Nadal is a better player

 

[junior74]

A feeling that he hasn't had in over 6 years xD

Since US Open 13 (last win), Nadal has not won a set against Djokovic on HC. 0-19!

Since AO17, Nadal has not won a set against Federer on HC. Hasn't beaten Federer on HC since AO14.

Fedovic - Nadal: 25-0 in sets on HC in that stretch.

Berry good score against the field, though, which probably tells us the field is berry ombeleeble tough, although I am not sure how.

 

[Shaolin]

So great on hardcourts that when they put a roof up he cant win a match and fakes injuries to get out of playing every year.

 

[PeoplesChamp]

Nadal is good at vulturing HC when the opportunities come.

That's about it.

 

[tennisaddict]

Lol please don't fall so low to the likes of VBians such as octo and django...

2013
IW Finals - Delpo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Madrid QF - Ferrer - 4-6, 7-6, 6-0
Rome 3R- Gulbis 1-6,7-5,6-4
RG-SF- Novak 64 36 61 67 97
Montreal SF - Novak 64 36 76
Cinci QF- Fed - 57 64 63

2015
Doha R2 - Berrer - 61 36 46
Rio Final - Fognini - 61 26 57
IW QF - Raonic- 64 67 57
Cinci R16 - Lopez- 75 46 67
USO R32 - Fognini- 63 64 46 36 46
Shanghai SF- Tsonga -46 60 57
Paris QF - Stan - 6-7, 6-7

 

[Backspin1183]

The king of hard courts!

 

[daggerman]

Too bad Rafa has been either injured ore recovering from injury and lack of match play when he's faced Djoker since 2012.

He's injured relatively more often because his play style is hard on his body. If he'd played a less demanding style throughout his career, he'd have been injured less, but he also would've won less.

It cuts both ways.

 

[clayqueen]

He's injured relatively more often because his play style is hard on his body. If he'd played a less demanding style throughout his career, he'd have been injured less, but he also would've won less.

It cuts both ways.

Rafa is injured more often because he was a child prodigy, beating the big boys on the seniors tour as a teenager before his body was fully ready for it.

 

[tennis_pro]

Can't lose if you don't play. How many matches outside of clay has he won vs Djokovic and Federer in the last 6 years?