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Nadal

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Caesar

Caesar

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I read in the paper this morning that Nadal has lost 14 of his last 15 matches against top 10 players. That was a stat that really made me sit up and take notice.

What's going on with him? Is this a temporary slump, or do the best players have him figured out now? It seems a big change from just a couple of years ago, when it seemed like not even Federer had any answers for his devastating groundstrokes.

Has the renaissance of the allcourt game amongst top players started to damage him when he's not playing on grass? Or will we see him dominant again when the tour moves back onto clay and grass?
 
People always said that his game style was too intense for his body to handle in the long run. Maybe thats true and he is finally in decline. We shall find out tonight!
 

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I think he might be on the decline. Im not sure, but the evidence of the last 11 months suggest his stocks are going down.
 
Dr Awkward said:
I think he might be on the decline. Im not sure, but the evidence of the last 11 months suggest his stocks are going down.
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I made a comparison between him and Leyton Hewitt in another thread.

While Rafa has been more successful then Hewitt, it is a similar game style he plays, relying so much on getting that extra ball back to win points, and working so hard to do so.

I hope he only strained his knee, and pulled out as a precaution, I love the way he plays, and would hate to see him fade away like Hewitt has.
 
Leo Barry You Star said:
Yes, but only the French. Would you like to quote and paraphrase that statement as well?
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So you can't see him winning another Australian, Wimbledon or US Open. Ever? Even though he is still only 23?

If there were structural problems with the knee I might agree, but tendonitis is not degenerative and he is too good not to get at least one more of those three the rest of his career.

IMO his knee issues would effect him more on clay than any other surface given the workload each match.
 
After 2002 Wimbledon if someone said that Hewitt would not win another slam you would have thought they were crazy. It might sound crazy now but I wouldnt be that surprised if Nadal never wins another.
 
I think comparing Nadal to Hewitt is a bit rough. He's got genuine weapons that will trouble any player - his forehand in particular is nothing short of brutal, and before his injury he turned the passing shot into an artform.

I think he's got a couple of slams left in him.
 

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It is not unusual for hard working clay courters to have relatively limited peak years. It is tough on the body.

Nadal's problems are fourfold.
1. His ultra combative style is demanding on the joints.
2. His favourite surface where he gets the majority of his ranking points is tough on the body making for long matches
3. The fear factor the likes of Murray woul dhave felt is gone.
4. His relatively limited game has been found out by the top players who now attack him mercilessly. he doesn't have the weapons to respond.

I hold my opinion on the French given the difficulties Nole and Murray have on the surface but I am confident Rafa willl not agan win a slam outside Paris.
 
Not sure how much it's affecting him, but his parents are currently going through a particularly nasty divorce. It is my understanding that they are a very close-knit family, and that it has affected Rafa in particular being the eldest kid. Obviously he has knee issues, but maybe people need to look at what's happening away from tennis too. Divorce can have a huge impact on people.
 
gaelictiogar said:
It is not unusual for hard working clay courters to have relatively limited peak years. It is tough on the body.

Nadal's problems are fourfold.
1. His ultra combative style is demanding on the joints.
2. His favourite surface where he gets the majority of his ranking points is tough on the body making for long matches
3. The fear factor the likes of Murray woul dhave felt is gone.
4. His relatively limited game has been found out by the top players who now attack him mercilessly. he doesn't have the weapons to respond.

I hold my opinion on the French given the difficulties Nole and Murray have on the surface but I am confident Rafa willl not agan win a slam outside Paris.
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never ceases to amuse me how obsessed you are of Rafa.Whenever rafa bashing is is on, you are there, like a fly on a shit.

Anyway, did we watch the same match vs Murray? Murray played flawless tennis and i actually tip him to win the title now.Rafa played very agressive tennis and Murray was way behind the baseline for majority.Surely, rafa had his chances which he failed to take, but that match had some awesome shot making. however saying his careers over is a bit rich...specially coming from you i take it with a grain of salt.

2ndly whats your obsession with Nole anyway? what has he done except that 1 slam wonder? he hopelessly went down to an average bloke today blowing a 2-1 lead.Nole is unlikely to win another slam with the arrival or Del Potro and Muzza.His fitness is shit and if the match goes to distance it ALMOST always shows.

All this rafa is finished talk is overreaction considering he always goes deep in the tournaments he play.
 

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Total Power said:
never ceases to amuse me how obsessed you are of Rafa.Whenever rafa bashing is is on, you areHe, like a fly on a shit.

Anyway, did we watch the same match vs Murray? Murray played flawless tennis and i actually tip him to win the title now.Rafa played very agressive tennis and Murray was way behind the baseline for majority.Surely, rafa had his chances which he failed to take, but that match had some awesome shot making. however saying his careers over is a bit rich...specially coming from you i take it with a grain of salt.

2ndly whats your obsession with Nole anyway? what has he done except that 1 slam wonder? he hopelessly went down to an average bloke today blowing a 2-1 lead.Nole is unlikely to win another slam with the arrival or Del Potro and Muzza.His fitness is shit and if the match goes to distance it ALMOST always shows.

All this rafa is finished talk is overreaction considering he always goes deep in the tournaments he play.
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Looks who's back! Whats the predictions on Federer this year TP? Since 2008 you've been saying he is in decline. And without bothering to go back to old posts, didn't you predict 2009 to be the year of Nole ... now you are caling him a 1 slam wonder and saying he has done nothing (which is true) but amazing given you were of the opinion that he, amongst a group of others, would dethrone Roger from early 2008.
 
CanonNo1 said:
Looks who's back! Whats the predictions on Federer this year TP? Since 2008 you've been saying he is in decline. And without bothering to go back to old posts, didn't you predict 2009 to be the year of Nole ... now you are caling him a 1 slam wonder and saying he has done nothing (which is true) but amazing given you were of the opinion that he, amongst a group of others, would dethrone Roger from early 2008.
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atleast i am not a bandwagoner and i havent been around cause of work and social life. However you guys are nowhere to be found when fed loses, specially u GT.While he is still on the decline , i predict Muzza to win AO this year :)


p.s yes we all agree nole is very talented but he lacks application.Same as Berdych or Gulbis.
 
Hodgepodge said:
His grand slam record against Fed is pretty good, although admittedly a lot of those wins against Fed would've been on clay courts.
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This has been discussed many times on many forums. Nadal's game at his peak was almost tailor made to trouble Federer. Also the reality is that away from Clay Nadal didn't have the talent to regularly play up to his seeding so he regularly failed to final V Roger away from clay whereas Roger had the talent to final regularly on clay and the majority of their matches have been on clay where Nadal was exceptional.

The H2H record really is not as straightforward as it seems and only one eyed Nadalistas would deny that.

That said he did trouble Fed and his place is tennis history is assured as the man who troubled the GOAT.
 
gaelictiogar said:
Don't worry TP. Rafa's record is safe....it looks like he won't be playing may more matches against Federer though of course quarters and last 16s are possible as he plummets down the rankings.
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atleast i can guarantee you, if thats true, the happiest man on earth will be Fed..however you are in for a bit of a surprise...i am sure you wont be here then.
 
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