Will or should Rafa play WTF?

[StrongRule]

The ATP Finals is one of the biggest five tournaments in the world. There’s the 4 slams and the ATP Finals that make up the 5 most important and legacy defining tournaments in the world. If Rafa does not win this tournament before he retires it will be a HUGE hole in his legacy. He knows it, his uncle knows it and all the tennis world knows it. So YES, he should definitely play in London starting November 10th. My pick is Federer defeating Djokovic for a record setting 7th ATP Finals title.

Omg, again. How can he win the tournament if he doesn't even PLAY IT? He skipped it in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and arrived while being in terrible form in 2009 and 2011. Leave alone the fact that in the years where he came to the tournament in decent form (2010, 2013, 2015) he had to face Federer and Djokovic who were in their best forms. Do you really think Nadal wouldn't have won it at least once if he played it every year? Of course he would, for example in 2017. If he really wanted to win it then he would do it. But he just keeps skipping it, he doesn't really care. I remember in 2008 he actually said Davis Cup final is more important to him. (though at the end he had to skip it as well). Can you imagine him saying something like this about a slam? Yes, he cares about winning WTF much less than haters want to believe he does. It's just that he has 19 slams now, so haters have to find all reasons in the world to bring him down.

I'm 99% sure he will skip it again this year (for the sixth time just in this decade). And this is not going to be a huge hole in his legacy. The real big hole is that he won only 1 AO title in his career.

 

[StrongRule]

As I understand the decision will be made tomorrow. EVERY TIME when Nadal says something like this he ends up withdrawing. So yeah, 99% he withdraws. I will not be surprised if this decision was made months ago. It just looks like he doesn't want to play WTF anymore.

 

[octobrina10]

As I understand the decision will be made tomorrow. EVERY TIME when Nadal says something like this he ends up withdrawing. So yeah, 99% he withdraws. I will not be surprised if this decision was made months ago. It just looks like he doesn't want to play WTF anymore.

Every time you write something about Rafa, you are wrong.

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

Every time you write something about Rafa, you are wrong.

Every time that we write something about Rafa, you believe we're all haters.

 

[hendrasdr]

I think Nadal will withdraw, winning YEC but with risk of more severe abdominal injury is quite dangerous for his career. Nevertheless, djokovic must make it at least to the final, with or without Nadal participation.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

It is an exhibition event, but if there's no injury he should try to stick it out through the group phase and then lose the inevitable semis against most likely RF or Djokovic.

Chances of no 1 are small, but he should give it a shot.

 

[octobrina10]

Every time that we write something about Rafa, you believe we're all haters.

Hmm, I have never noticed you (singular).

 

[Rafa24]

The ATP Finals is one of the biggest five tournaments in the world. There’s the 4 slams and the ATP Finals that make up the 5 most important and legacy defining tournaments in the world. If Rafa does not win this tournament before he retires it will be a HUGE hole in his legacy. He knows it, his uncle knows it and all the tennis world knows it. So YES, he should definitely play in London starting November 10th. My pick is Federer defeating Djokovic for a record setting 7th ATP Finals title.

rafa doesn't give a ***** about the WTF. He's qualified all 15x in his career and has went 8x. outside of huge tennis fans nobody else cares about the wtf. those 35 masters 1000s, olympic gold, davis cups and 19 slams fill the "hole" in his resume by not having a wtf.

 

[Rafa24]

djoker will end year end number 1 most likely even if he does show up and play. his only hope is maybe winning a few matches and having fedr beat djoker.

 

[E36BMWM3]

Nadal needs to play and play his best. Sorry to all the Rafa fans (myself included) but if he eclipses Fed in slams, he will NEVER be considered the GOAT due to his mediocre year-end campaigns. Not one WTF??? gtfoh.

 

[Fedforever]

Will have a scan tomorrow and then decide, apparently.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1191307259390808066

 

[mbm0912]

Rafa Withdral

 

[Shaolin]

Who cares about WTF. He should save himself for the AO.

Basically everyone in tennis history except Nadal fans care about WTF. It's the 5th biggest tournament in the game.

Secretly Nadal fans actually do care but since he will never win it they call it an exo, etc.

Anyway Rafa will be on a fishing boat during the WTF as always. His injury excuse this year is all set.

 

[octobrina10]

Double post

 

[Deleted member 763691]

There is no doubt, Djokovic and Federer fans NEED Rafa to win the World Tour Finals, because if Rafa never wins it then the World Tour Finals will never be necessary for an all-time great.
And if the World Tour Finals are not necessary for an all-time great, then Djokovic/Federer's wins are not significant

 

[Fedforever]

There is no doubt, Djokovic and Federer fans NEED Rafa to win the World Tour Finals, because if Rafa never wins it then the World Tour Finals will never be necessary for an all-time great.
And if the World Tour Finals are not necessary for an all-time great, then Djokovic/Federer's wins are not significant

An interesting logic.

However the logic does mean on OGM in Singles is not significant either. Given that neither Djoko or Fed have won it it's even more insignificant.

 

[BeatlesFan]

A month out could prove costly for AO20 preparation.

I seriously doubt that. He's skipped the WTF many times in the past and went on to make the final of the AO or at the very least made a strong showing there. Playing in the WTF or not playing would not have no impact on his prep for next year or the AO.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

There is no doubt, Djokovic and Federer fans NEED Rafa to win the World Tour Finals, because if Rafa never wins it then the World Tour Finals will never be necessary for an all-time great.
And if the World Tour Finals are not necessary for an all-time great, then Djokovic/Federer's wins are not significant

Good thing Nadal won pretty much all other tournaments, otherwise tennis would have been insignificant altogether eh...

 

[Terenigma]

I think he won't play it but he should. I don't believe his injury is anything too serious but it's enough of an excuse to keep him out of the WTF and i genuinely think he was scared of an in-form Djokovic at Paris and losing the mental edge going into 2020 where both of them could cement their legacy. So yeah, he's gonna leave Djokovic to maybe take #1 and be ready for 2020.

 

[Lleytonstation]

I seriously doubt that. He's skipped the WTF many times in the past and went on to make the final of the AO or at the very least made a strong showing there. Playing in the WTF or not playing would not have no impact on his prep for next year or the AO.

It will if he can't play till late December.

 

[TennisFan3]

Every time that we write something about Rafa, you believe we're all haters.

Excellent post. That poster does that. He/She feels that any post which does NOT say Nadal is GOAT and will smash his opponents - means that it is written by a Nadal hater.
Very insecure, obsessed fans. Not true tennis fans at all.

 

[TennisFan3]

I seriously doubt that. He's skipped the WTF many times in the past and went on to make the final of the AO or at the very least made a strong showing there. Playing in the WTF or not playing would not have no impact on his prep for next year or the AO.

I'd say that skipping WTF will enhance Nadal's chances at the AO. The inevitable losses at WTF won't weight him down.
He would rather remember UsOpen win and have confidence with that instead of being battered in what has always been the worst part of the season for him.

 

[octobrina10]

Excellent post. That poster does that. He/She feels that any post which does NOT say Nadal is GOAT and will smash his opponents - means that it is written by a Nadal hater.
Very insecure, obsessed fans. Not true tennis fans at all.

Djoko fanatic, every time you write something about Rafa or Rafans, you are wrong. I do not participate in the GOAT debates

 

[TennisFan3]

Djoko fanatic, every time you write something about Rafa or Rafans, you are wrong. I do not participate in the GOAT debates

I'm not a Djokovic fanatic at all. But you are a Nadal fanatic who is obsessed and has lost all objectivity.

 

[Red Rick]

Just give me my Djokovic/Nadal WTF final with #1 on the line.

 

[octobrina10]

I'm not a Djokovic fanatic at all. But you are a Nadal fanatic who is obsessed and has lost all objectivity.

You are a Djoko fanatic who uses every opportunity to demean Rafa.

 

[GabeT]

There is no doubt, Djokovic and Federer fans NEED Rafa to win the World Tour Finals, because if Rafa never wins it then the World Tour Finals will never be necessary for an all-time great.
And if the World Tour Finals are not necessary for an all-time great, then Djokovic/Federer's wins are not significant

TTW posts are making less and less sense over time!

 

[Lleytonstation]

TTW posts are making less and less sense over time!

So you want Rafa to win? never knew you felt this way.

 

[helterskelter]

So by definition if he loses then he was not healthy.

According to this logic, Nadal can never really lose to any other player.

He only ever loses to his body.

When you say “this logic,” what you really mean is just “logic.” Nadal never really losing is one of the great axioms or mathematical logic, up there with “two contradictory things cannot both be true,” “don’t assume in your argument something already stated in your premise,” and “Federer never lost until he turned 10 billion years old.” Parsimony dictates not muddying the water by suggesting that there are other logics.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

 

[weakera]

Playing is simply not worth the risk. Priorities #1, #2 and #3 should be beginning 2020 in perfect physical condition.

 

[octobrina10]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1191668464240529409

 

[Genious at Work]

Basically everyone in tennis history except Nadal fans care about WTF. It's the 5th biggest tournament in the game.

Secretly Nadal fans actually do care but since he will never win it they call it an exo, etc.

Anyway Rafa will be on a fishing boat during the WTF as always. His injury excuse this year is all set.

Seriously, man. It's all in the slams. Can't trade 5 WTFs for 1 slam.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1191668464240529409

Was hoping to see him play before season ends.

 

[Chadalina]

He will lose his first match then claim he is injured again.

 

[Shaolin]

Seriously, man. It's all in the slams. Can't trade 5 WTFs for 1 slam.

It's a huge hole in the resume no matter how you spin it

 

[acintya]

he should play and he should destroy everyone on his path

NADAL GOAT

 

[James P]

I hope he plays. Any news on that front? Saw the draw was already released.

 

[LETitBE]

did he announce before or after the draw came out?

 

[Genious at Work]

It's a huge hole in the resume no matter how you spin it

When you have a 1 million dollar suit (slams) who cares if you have a hole in your sock (the WTF)?

 

[Lleytonstation]

When you have a 1 million dollar suit (slams) who cares if you have a hole in your sock (the WTF)?

The question is, if you have a 1 million dollar suit, why do you have a hole in your sock?

 

[Sport]

It's a huge hole in the resume no matter how you spin it

The lack of Olympic Gold in singles is also a big hole in the resume. Roger Mr. Silver Federer.

 

[Sport]

The question is, if you have a 1 million dollar suit, why do you have a hole in your sock?

Nothing is perfect, not even an expensive suit (great resume). All players have a "must" no matter how great they are.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Nothing is perfect, not even an expensive suit (great resume). All players have a "must" no matter how great they are.

Gold for Djoker and fed.

 

[Shaolin]

The lack of Olympic Gold in singles is also a big hole in the resume. Roger Mr. Silver Federer.

Yeah it really sucks he can't be in the elite company of Massu, Rosset etc. The Olympics have played such a vital part of tennis history.

 

[Sudacafan]

1. YES, he should definitely play in London starting November 10th.
2. My pick is Federer defeating Djokovic for a record setting 7th ATP Finals title.

1. Agree
2. Not happening

 

[Mainad]

Yeah it really sucks he can't be in the elite company of Massu, Rosset etc. The Olympics have played such a vital part of tennis history.

Well, he's already in the elite complany of Gaudio, Costa, Korda and Johansson so he has plenty of experience mixing with the best.

 

[Deleted member 763691]

I think he won't play it but he should. I don't believe his injury is anything too serious but it's enough of an excuse to keep him out of the WTF and i genuinely think he was scared of an in-form Djokovic at Paris and losing the mental edge going into 2020 where both of them could cement their legacy. So yeah, he's gonna leave Djokovic to maybe take #1 and be ready for 2020.

Djokovic has a mental edge over Federer and Rafa (except for on clay, where Rafa has won their last 3 meetings).
Anyway, it makes no difference, because Djokovic is well behind them in the slam race, and Rafa has a 2-1 record vs. Djokovic at the US Open.
Djokovic has never had a winning record over Rafa at the US Open, despite regularly having the 'mental edge'.
So what can Djokovic do in 2020? Not much, because Rafa has the edge at Roland Garros and US Open.

Djokovic wants nothing to do with Rafa in the Final, because it will mean Rafa has wrapped up the year-end-#1.
And Rafa can make sure they only meet in the Final, because Rafa plays on the last day of Round Robin and can choose his SF opponent
I doubt Djokovic is good enough to beat Medvedev in a SF anyway, so the Final will probably be Rafa vs. Medvedev.....or Federer vs. Medvedev.
Thiem is good enough to qualify for the SF too.

 

[blablavla]

Wouldn't he have "vultured" Vienna or another smaller tournament if it was that important to him?

Clearly Tokyo was just prep for the Olympics next year

Play Tokyo, Shanghai, Vienna, Paris and London?
risking to repeat Murray performance?

I think at this point one needs to choose between short term benefit and trying to extend the career.
he is not 23 years old.

 

[Genious at Work]

The question is, if you have a 1 million dollar suit, why do you have a hole in your sock?

When you have a milliion dollar suit nobody looks at your socks, that's why.