Little Federer V Nadal comparison on clay

[gaelictiogar]

We all know that Rafa has been victorious in his 4 outings on clay V Federer. All huge games. 2 finals at paris adn a final each at rome and Monte which are high value masters event and arguably the 3rd adn 4th most important events in Europe.

It is commonly - and correctly - held that rafa is king of clay. how far behind is roger?

Match score: 4-0
Set score: 12-5
Service game score: 91-78 or 54% - 46%
points score: 575-542 or 51% - 49%


Roger is about 8 points per match or 3 games per match behind on average. 6 of 17 sets have gone to tie breaks where Rafa leads 4-2.

Rafa has generally won the decisive points on clay but with Roger taking 49% of points played and 46% of games played it shows how the 4-0 lead may be somewhat unreflective of the real standing on clay and how much it relies on Rafa continuing to nail the big points as he did at Rome Paris. Does a lot depend of rafa's confidence?

 

[Total Power]

A bit misleading. On hardcourts its 2-2 and its 50-50 on points.At wimbledon, if you leave out the first set choke Nadal is actually ahead 51-49 on points. Those points do not mean anything, many times federer has 61 and 62 sets...where rafa gave it up.Its WHEN you win the points that matters most.On RG last year where Rafa won comfortably, Roger still won 47% of the points, but Rafa won comfortably...you see what i mean? At monte carlo, where Rafa won comfortably as well, Roger still managed to win 47% of the points.Or you can take the masters cup example where roger won 64 75 but Rafa still won 47% points.Its ALWAYS close when federer and rafa are playing.A few points here and there decides their fate

 

[gaelictiogar]

I don't disagree. With Roger winning 49% of points but only 46% of games we see evidence that the real difference has been not so much the ease with which they take points from each other on the surface - which is almost equal - but rather the fact that Rafa has won most of the Big points. If the score was 4-2 to Roger rather than Rafa in the tie breaks the results would be radically different. It is really that close.

this I argue is a confidence thing rather than a technique thing. Rafa feels he is going to win on clay so does. his lead over Roger on clay may well depend more on confidence than any technical game based issue. The Euro season will be fascinating since Rochey feels Fed is a better player now than last year and I suggest that is the case and of course Rafa is a year older and possibly stronger.

Gonzo could be a wild card. was melbourne a blip or is he the real number 3 waiting to have a big year? he is certainly a bigger danger than the official number 3.

 

[Total Power]

I don't disagree. With Roger winning 49% of points but only 46% of games we see evidence that the real difference has been not so much the ease with which they take points from each other on the surface - which is almost equal - but rather the fact that Rafa has won most of the Big points. If the score was 4-2 to Roger rather than Rafa in the tie breaks the results would be radically different. It is really that close.

this I argue is a confidence thing rather than a technique thing. Rafa feels he is going to win on clay so does. his lead over Roger on clay may well depend more on confidence than any technical game based issue. The Euro season will be fascinating since Rochey feels Fed is a better player now than last year and I suggest that is the case and of course Rafa is a year older and possibly stronger.

Gonzo could be a wild card. was melbourne a blip or is he the real number 3 waiting to have a big year? he is certainly a bigger danger than the official number 3.

Confidence? he almost beat him at rome.....and then everyone said he is set to beat rafa at RG and then BANG! i dont think its techinical either.....i just think rafa is better on clay.I guess we will find out soon, but let me tell you this, i wont be surprised if he beats rafa on clay but having said that HE WILL NOT BEAT RAFA AT RG.

 

[Borry]

You have to say Nadal has the edge on clay.

The French Open final last year showed that Federer cannot get away with dropping a gear on his tennis against Nadal on clay like he could against any opponent on any other tournament played on different surfaces (e.g. the Gonzalez final last Sunday). However that doesn't and shouldn't take away anything from Nadal, full credit to him.

Nadal has easily been the best clay courter over the last two years.

 

[Drummond]

Rome is the faster surface and that’s the main reason he held two match points against Nadal last year. Roland Garros is a lot slower and that plays right into Nadal’s hands. Despite the fact Federer has improved since this time last year, I am extremely confident Nadal will take out the French Open.