Big chance he will. Djokovic broke him physically and mentally at the 2021 RG.
I love MichaelNadal post but I truly would say it over and over again "broke him mentally".Big chance he will. Djokovic broke him physically and mentally at the 2021 RG.
Remember in 2016, Rafa played almost no matches after losing 4R at the USO. He played Beijing and Shanghai, losing early both tournaments. Yet he made the final of the 2017 AO with no match play at all for months. But he was 30 then, not 35. Massive difference in tennis terms.Rafa might because he’s not gonna be very match fit going into it.
5 years on is a long time. Especially in rafa’s case with his taxing style of play and many injuries. If he’s not 100% by Australia or doesn’t think he can win it wouldn’t surprise me if he skips and just prioritises clay.Remember in 2016, Rafa played almost no matches after losing 4R at the USO. He played Beijing and Shanghai, losing early both tournaments. Yet he made the final of the 2017 AO with no match play at all for months. But he was 30 then, not 35. Massive difference in tennis terms.
Remember in 2016, Rafa played almost no matches after losing 4R at the USO. He played Beijing and Shanghai, losing early both tournaments. Yet he made the final of the 2017 AO with no match play at all for months. But he was 30 then, not 35. Massive difference in tennis terms.
5 years on is a long time. Especially in rafa’s case with his taxing style of play and many injuries. If he’s not 100% by Australia or doesn’t think he can win it wouldn’t surprise me if he skips and just prioritises clay.
I think we are overrating this "clay clay clay" thing all the time with Rafa. His level on clay isn't any better than what we saw from him on HC the past year. I don't think surface matters as much as match play and fitness at this point. He was lucky to win anything on clay this year at all, considering the houdini saves on MPs etc
I agree but it will always be the surface he has his best chance on. Simply due to his records and his tennis suits that surface the best. If Rafa wants to pick and choose events to play it’s gonna be clay over hard courts and grass.I think we are overrating this "clay clay clay" thing all the time with Rafa. His level on clay isn't any better than what we saw from him on HC the past year. I don't think surface matters as much as match play and fitness at this point. He was lucky to win anything on clay this year at all, considering the houdini saves on MPs etc
I agree but it will always be the surface he has his best chance on. Simply due to his records and his tennis suits that surface the best. If Rafa wants to pick and choose events to play it’s gonna be clay over hard courts and grass.
True maybe you have a point. If he needs to end points quicker maybe hard courts will be better on his body. Time will tell.I think it used to be but idk how I feel about 36yo Nadal slugging it around on clay. It's the surface he will look the oldest on soon too. A lively HC may be better at this point tbh.
True maybe you have a point. If he needs to end points quicker maybe hard courts will be better on his body. Time will tell.
I think it used to be but idk how I feel about 36yo Nadal slugging it around on clay. It's the surface he will look the oldest on soon too. A lively HC may be better at this point tbh. Like Hitman said, maybe more people can take him out on HC (especially on paper) but tbh I think clay will be hell for him unless he goes back in a time machine.
What he SHOULD focus on is Wimbledon....he still has more game there than anyone barring Djokovic, think Federer might not return to those levels anymore. He can end points quickly, competition is the most weakiest there right now.
I agree. I think clay from now on, he's just going to have to hit too many damn balls to be competitive. I could be wrong and he can come out looking like it's 2017, but I can't see it doing his 36yo body any favors. He might struggle a bit week 1, but I do think he'd have a good chance at Wimby if he can get past R4 or so.
Yes. We know he has the handskills and touch at the net, plus he moves better on the surface than anyone in the next gen, that much is obvious. He should seriously think about it, and target that third Wimbledon title instead of looking at it like an afterthought. He's been good at W every year since 2017, each time in slam winning form.
Biggest problem at this point is his ranking
Draws are crucial.
Yes they are and Nadal is bleeding 2760 points for the rest of the season.....
I still have Nadal as the top draw at RG 2022.I agree. I think clay from now on, he's just going to have to hit too many damn balls to be competitive. I could be wrong and he can come out looking like it's 2017, but I can't see it doing his 36yo body any favors. The whole point construction thing I don't think will be good for him anymore, and a lot of the nextgen are blasting super powerful balls on clay now. With Wimby, he might struggle a bit week 1, but I do think he'd have a good chance at if he can get past R4 or so.
Leave Rafa be! Let him enjoy his golf!Yes. Come back for Clay and another shot at USO.
LolI think we are overrating this "clay clay clay" thing all the time with Rafa. His level on clay isn't any better than what we saw from him on HC the past year. I don't think surface matters as much as match play and fitness at this point. He was lucky to win anything on clay this year at all, considering the houdini saves on MPs etc
The guy doesn't lose sets in rg and suddenly his level of play outside and in rg is same. Ok sure.
This x1000. All we heard through the QFs was how Nadal was in sublime form and going to roll through everyone - media AND fans. Then he comes out guns a blazing, looks great the first 3-3.5 hours of the match, sliding around like Michelle Kwon, retrieving drop shots like they were a warm-up drills, and finally starts to look tired in the 4th. What does that tell you? Like my boy @Halba says, he can't play long matches anymore. He got beat on his best surface while healthy, then murdered in the last set while he was feeling the pain Novak inflicted upon him. Remember what Martina said after the 2nd set? Something to the effect of "this is grueling, physical tennis. One of these guys is not going to be able to keep this up and will get tired". That guy was...Ralph.Big chance he will. Djokovic broke him physically and mentally at the 2021 RG.
Yeah Novak definitely mentally crushed Rafa as well as physically. Rafa still hasn’t got over that loss.This x1000. All we heard through the QFs was how Nadal was in sublime form and going to roll through everyone - media AND fans. Then he comes out guns a blazing, looks great the first 3-3.5 hours of the match, sliding around like Michelle Kwon, retrieving drop shots like they were a warm-up drills, and finally starts to look tired in the 4th. What does that tell you? Like my boy @Halba says, he can't play long matches anymore. He got beat on his best surface while healthy, then murdered in the last set while he was feeling the pain Novak inflicted upon him. Remember what Martina said after the 2nd set? Something to the effect of "this is grueling, physical tennis. One of these guys is not going to be able to keep this up and is going to get tired". That guy was...Ralph.
I hope he comes back 100% again at next year's FO, so Novak can take him out...again. @Djokovic_is_the_best#1
I’m not sure mentally. Nadal always mentally fights but RG 21 was the first time I seen him physically done on Clay. If he won that 3rd set he would of gained the momentum and mentally would of done him loads, but I still think Djokovic wins in 5.Big chance he will. Djokovic broke him physically and mentally at the 2021 RG.
This is so true. Rafa is goat on clay, but you have to also ask the level of competition on clay which is low. Same is true of Wimbledon which is why Djokovic may win 2-4 more of those alone due to low level of competition. Hard court is a whole different situation. Many players play a much higher level there. Medvedev is looking scary good for how much he thrashed an in-form Carreno Busta,Yes there is some overrating, but its not just about Rafa on clay as a specific one to one thing, it's that the depth of competition is the toughest on HC, and always has been for decades now. Clay is still where he has the best chances.
And sorry, to actually answer the question posed in this forum (I did not see this addressed):This x1000. All we heard through the QFs was how Nadal was in sublime form and going to roll through everyone - media AND fans. Then he comes out guns a blazing, looks great the first 3-3.5 hours of the match, sliding around like Michelle Kwon, retrieving drop shots like they were a warm-up drills, and finally starts to look tired in the 4th. What does that tell you? Like my boy @Halba says, he can't play long matches anymore. He got beat on his best surface while healthy, then murdered in the last set while he was feeling the pain Novak inflicted upon him. Remember what Martina said after the 2nd set? Something to the effect of "this is grueling, physical tennis. One of these guys is not going to be able to keep this up and will get tired". That guy was...Ralph.
I hope he comes back 100% again at next year's FO, so Novak can take him out...again. @Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Edit: People rejoiced after Nadal's 3 set W over Novak at Rome. No one cared to consider reality: Novak played 2 matches and 5 hours the day before, and 3 matches and 8 hours total across those 1-1.5 days. Then at this year's RG, he spent more time on court and back to back 3.5 hour matches leading up to the semis....and we're making excuses for Ralph? Give me a break.