justasport
Professional
And what would a hangover mean for 2019?
Agreed that he's definitely in a tough situation right now mentally, but he's such a warrior and I would love to see a Djokovic vs Nadal final at Roland Garros 2019! I sincerely hope he recovers so he can give everything he's got to break the slam record that my man Roger Federer currently holds. Some would say, why do you want Nadal to be healthy and give everything he's got to break the most important record in tennis? Well, because I want Roger to be able to say that he held off a fit and motivated Nadal and Djokovic from breaking his record. That would be an epic feeling for the Swiss Maestro and his fans to have! Another reason is because through the years I have learned to not only respect Nadal and Djokovic, but actually like and enjoy watching them play. Of course, I hate it when they beat Federer or win a slam and get a step closer to his record, but that's because I'm a fan of Federer and not a hater of Djokovic and Nadal. These three guys have made each other so much better and pushed the game to heights it's never seen before, and probably won't see again in my lifetime anyways. So, in short I hope Rafa can bounce back with vengeance and have a great 2019 season.Rafa is now in a unique situation. He is finding it impossible to beat Novak AND Roger. He has never been here before and you can tell he is not handling it well mentally.
When he loses to them on clay then we are talking.... H hasn't met Fed in nearly 2 years and lost to Djokovic in his favourite slam and Nadal's worst after a 4 month layoff. He'll recoverRafa is now in a unique situation. He is finding it impossible to beat Novak AND Roger. He has never been here before and you can tell he is not handling it well mentally.
Some would say, why do you want Nadal to be healthy and give everything he's got to break the most important record in tennis? Well, because I want Roger to be able to say that he held off a fit and motivated Nadal and Djokovic from breaking his record. That would be an epic feeling for the Swiss Maestro and his fans to have!
When he loses to them on clay then we are talking.... H hasn't met Fed in nearly 2 years and lost to Djokovic in his favourite slam and Nadal's worst after a 4 month layoff. He'll recover
I don't think you have to worry too much about Rafa mentally. He's come back from tough losses before. I would be more worried about his body holding up.
Rafa is too strong not to bounce back mentally; he always does. Thar doesn't guarantee results, but he should contend for at least two of the remaining three majors this year.
Rerun the very beginning of the match and watch Nadal's face as they come out of the corridor and enter the court. I do not recal seeing anything close to that expression on Nadal's face on court ever PRIOR to a single point played.
it is Djokovic he should recover from mentally, not the defeat. It is not a 24 year old youth trying to outnadal Nadal in a 'if you are a man enough' style, like he did in his first run in 2011. It is further improved Djokovic from Doha 2016 finals against Nadal. Find Nadal's stats in that match, and listen what Nadal said at the presser about Djokovic's play in that finals.
Now, imagine AO19 scenario at RG19. It starts and Djokovic struggles a bit, losing a set once or twice, while Nadal kills them all he plays like flies. Then comes SF. Rafa wins in straight sets and Djokovic wins it in straight sets, but the match lasts 1:23 and with Djokovic making 5 UE, or it lasts 2:03 and with 9 UE, since it is clay, with Djokovic preventing an opponent from 'taking a breath' on court. Then comes the finals, and Djokovic starts doing the same thing to Nadal, but this time in Nadal's front yard.
LOL citing Federer when he has only consistently stopped Nadal one year in his career (2017).Rafa is now in a unique situation. He is finding it impossible to beat Novak AND Roger. He has never been here before and you can tell he is not handling it well mentally.
Federer?He's Finnish
LOL citing Federer when he has only consistently stopped Nadal one year in his career (2017).
2014: lost in straight sets against Nadal at the AO.
2015: only played one match on indoor hard courts.
2016: didn't play.
2017: beat Nadal four times on HC.
2018: didn't face Nadal.
2019: hasn't faced Nadal.
Who stopped Nadal at Wimbledon 2018? Who stopped Nadal at the Australian Open 2019? Djokovic, not Federer. Djokovic is Nadal's problem, not Federer. Federer hasn't reached a Grand Slam semifinal since the Australian Open 2018, more than one year ago.
SwissFederer?
Rafa is too strong not to bounce back mentally; he always does. Thar doesn't guarantee results, but he should contend for at least two of the remaining three majors this year.
When he loses to them on clay then we are talking.... H hasn't met Fed in nearly 2 years and lost to Djokovic in his favourite slam and Nadal's worst after a 4 month layoff. He'll recover
USO 2018: Nadal (SF) had a better result than Federer (QF).
Once Nadal steps foot on clay his full powers are restored and he becomes a different player. Trust and believe he is not pressed if your name is not Djokovic and even then if it's a RG final, Rafa is still the man to beat and has never lost at that juncture. He will be fine once he gets on clay but Djokovic looks too strong for him on hardcourt these days. Rafa always bounces back though and will be fine.
Wow people actually making out the RG 2015 has any baring on Nadals clay form LOL
The guy was playing his worst ever season on the tour, even on clay, yes.
Of course the current best player in the world was going to smoke him, when plenty of mugs were also beating him on clay.
I honestly think some people just goggle H2H results and come up with ' Oh Djokovic easily beat Nadal in his back yard 4 years ago, so he has his number '
Think of it this way. If Nadal has a gruelling battle against Djokovic and Federer as per his usual self takes advantage from the weak era again, it'll sting the Nadal (we're talking Master level here, not sure if that's possible given the rankings though but rankings can change).
At RG, Nadal is definitely the man to beat. But, if the ranking would allow it, and Nadal has to get past both super Djokovic and weak era benefitting Federer and/or Thiem, it'll be interesting.
Imagine the Nadal in 2011 having to go through Djokovic and Federer. Not sure if he would have won RG 2011.
Don't bring up "in 06-08 he beat Djokovic and Federer often at RG," that was baby Djokovic. Not super Djokovic.
2017 and 2007.LOL citing Federer when he has only consistently stopped Nadal one year in his career (2017).
2014: lost in straight sets against Nadal at the AO.
2015: only played one match on indoor hard courts.
2016: didn't play.
2017: beat Nadal four times on HC.
2018: didn't face Nadal.
2019: hasn't faced Nadal.
Who stopped Nadal at Wimbledon 2018? Who stopped Nadal at the Australian Open 2019? Djokovic, not Federer. Djokovic is Nadal's problem, not Federer. Federer hasn't reached a Grand Slam semifinal since the Australian Open 2018, more than one year ago.
In 2007 he just had one more victory, 3-2. But he was destroyed by Nadal at RG in 4 sets, and almost lost to Nadal in a close 5 sets match at Wimbledon 2007 (with Nadal having 4 break points in the 5th). So even in 2007 he did not dominate Nadal.2017 and 2007.
And you can't give other years to Nadal just like that.
Now he finally knows what it's like to have a skewed-by-surface matchup issue. It'd be particularly fun if Fed and Djoker were 25. They'd deck him on clay too.When he loses to them on clay then we are talking.... H hasn't met Fed in nearly 2 years and lost to Djokovic in his favourite slam and Nadal's worst after a 4 month layoff. He'll recover
He wasn't destroyed at RG 2007.In 2007 he just had one more victory, 3-2. But he was destroyed by Nadal at RG in 4 sets, and almost lost to Nadal in a close 5 sets match at Wimbledon 2007 (with Nadal having 4 break points in the 5th). So even in 2007 he did not dominate Nadal.
Destroyed.In 2007 he just had one more victory, 3-2. But he was destroyed by Nadal at RG in 4 sets, and almost lost to Nadal in a close 5 sets match at Wimbledon 2007 (with Nadal having 4 break points in the 5th). So even in 2007 he did not dominate Nadal.
Do you even believe the ******** things you are saying? Federer hasn't reached a Grand Slam semifinal since the AO 2018, more than one year ago. Yet, you are saying that "Nadal is not in Federer's level anymore"
Will be difficult as Djokovic as nothing to defend really till WimbledonTo be honest, a final showing at the AO was a great way to start his 2019 season. When he pulled out of Brisbane, I had my doubts he would play AO. Not only did he play but also did so well we got carried away by his form, forgetting that he had just returned from an injury and no competitive tennis for 4 months.
If he stays healthy, he could still get back to number 1 ranking in a few months.
Rafa is now in a unique situation. He is finding it impossible to beat Novak AND Roger. He has never been here before and you can tell he is not handling it well mentally.
Do you even believe the ******** things you are saying? Federer hasn't reached a Grand Slam semifinal since the AO 2018, more than one year ago. Yet, you are saying that "Nadal is not in Federer's level anymore"
RG 2018: Nadal (W) had a better result than Federer who withdrawed.
WB 2018: Nadal (SF) had a better result than Federer (QF).
USO 2018: Nadal (SF) had a better result than Federer (QF).
AO 2019: Nadal (F) had a better results than Federer (4R).
Nadal has had better results than Federer in 4 Grand Slams in a row. So contrary to what you say, Federer is not in Nadal's level anymore. While Nadal is only stopped by one guy (Djokovic) in the final or semifinals, Federer is stopped by nobodies in early rounds.
Absolutely he will recover, he is probably the best ever mentally strong player tennis has ever produced