How Worried Are We For Novak?

[Andy22]

Nadal hasn't beaten Federer anywhere since 4 years.

So its only a matter of time federer to Afraid to play Nadal on clay that's why skipped the clay court season last year because he knows Nadal will Rollover Federer.

 

[DarthFed]

Well the last Federer beat Nadal on clay was 2009, grass 2007,Hard courts is only surface he's beaten Nadal for 8 years.

Yes so basically Rafa has done an excellent job avoiding Roger on grass since 2008. He isn't ever playing like 2008 again and Roger is unlikely to play as bad as he did that day too. That'd be a real rollover...

 

[Andy22]

Nadal could finally have good Wimbledon this year might win it.also that if Rafael nadal end 1NO for second year in a row that would be 5 times.

 

[DarthFed]

Nah, Roger hasn't won enough Wimbledon's yet (his own fault), time for #9 this year.

 

[Andy22]

Nadal had really hard draws at Wimbledon and USO last year so, will he get a bit of luck

 

[El Dude]

Nadal had really hard draws at Wimbledon and USO last year so, will he get a bit of luck

At the USO? Are you serious? This is who Nadal played at the USO (with ranking):

Dusan Lajovic (85)
Taro Daniel (121)
Leonardo Mayer (59)
Alexander Dolgopolov (64)
Andrey Rublev (53)
Juan Martin del Potro (28)
Kevin Anderson (32)

That is one of the easiest paths to a Slam title in recent memory, although this year's Australian Open was close. Only del Potro was anywhere close to a top ten caliber player - and no players were even ranked in the top 25. That's an ATP 500 path.

 

[DarthFed]

Nadal had really hard draws at Wimbledon and USO last year so, will he get a bit of luck

Hard draw at the USO??? Now I've heard it all. That may have been the easiest path to a slam victory in the Open Era. Wimbledon wasn't too hard either, he's had many good draws there. He just isn't good on any kind of fast grass, thankfully for him they've made the Wimbledon grass trash and they play with a heavy ball. He'd have been lucky to even make one final on real grass and if he had made it he would've been baptized by Roger. Be grateful for the trash grass or it'd be 10-0 at least in Wimbledon titles.

 

[DarthFed]

At the USO? Are you serious? This is who Nadal played at the USO (with ranking):

Dusan Lajovic (85)
Taro Daniel (121)
Leonardo Mayer (59)
Alexander Dolgopolov (64)
Andrey Rublev (53)
Juan Martin del Potro (28)
Kevin Anderson (32)

That is one of the easiest paths to a Slam title in recent memory, although this year's Australian Open was close. Only del Potro was anywhere close to a top ten caliber player - and no players were even ranked in the top 25. That's an ATP 500 path.

No need to be diplomatic here. This year's Aussie wasn't anywhere near that.

 

[Busted]

Nadal could finally have good Wimbledon this year might win it.also that if Rafael nadal end 1NO for second year in a row that would be 5 times.

Did I miss something? Is Wimbledon changing to clay courts this year? :lulz2:

 

[Busted]

At the USO? Are you serious? This is who Nadal played at the USO (with ranking):

Dusan Lajovic (85)
Taro Daniel (121)
Leonardo Mayer (59)
Alexander Dolgopolov (64)
Andrey Rublev (53)
Juan Martin del Potro (28)
Kevin Anderson (32)

That is one of the easiest paths to a Slam title in recent memory, although this year's Australian Open was close. Only del Potro was anywhere close to a top ten caliber player - and no players were even ranked in the top 25. That's an ATP 500 path.

I concur that this year's AO draw turned out to be an easy one for Roger - except for the final. At least he had to play someone who's a legit top 5 player to his 20th title. Nadal's US Open draw was a 250 event - not 500. The second Roger lost to DelPo Nadal started polishing the trophy. I'm sure he's hoping for a similar draw at the French Open - and that Roger's skips the clay season again. Even if he did beat Roger at the FO - he knows Roger won't just roll over and let him win easily. BTW - WTH would Nadal fans do if he and Roger played on clay and Roger won? Poor babies would need to change their diapers...

 

[Busted]

No need to be diplomatic here. This year's Aussie wasn't anywhere near that.

Actually...if you look at the rankings of the guys Roger played - the average was 43. The average for Nadal at last year's US Open was 63.

Cilic - 6
Chung - 58
Berdych - 20
Fucsovics - 80
Gasquet - 31
Struff - 55
Bedene - 51

There's a crap draw (Roger's AO win)...and then a "shithole" draw (Nadal's US O win).

 

[Moxie]

seeing as he's had this injury and now rehabilitation, I personally am moving back the time to assess what Novak's slam future will look like. I had previously said that I would wait until at least after Wimbledon, now I'm writing off all of this year... I'm still biased towards him being done as a major force, but not yet willing to write him off completely

I think we still have to see when he comes back, and how well. I know we've been saying that for ages. And, depending on when he comes back, it may be close to a year off, minus 3-4 matches at the AO. IF he comes back healthy for the clay season, he may yet be able to be a force by the US Open series.

Bear in mind he's younger than Rafa.

You know there are fewer than 12 months between them, right?

 

[Andy22]

At the USO? Are you serious? This is who Nadal played at the USO (with ranking):

Dusan Lajovic (85)
Taro Daniel (121)
Leonardo Mayer (59)
Alexander Dolgopolov (64)
Andrey Rublev (53)
Juan Martin del Potro (28)
Kevin Anderson (32)

That is one of the easiest paths to a Slam title in recent memory, although this year's Australian Open was close. Only del Potro was anywhere close to a top ten caliber player - and no players were even ranked in the top 25. That's an ATP 500 path.

Well not as easy as you say winning 7 best of seven Matches at a major is hard no matter who play. Plus Nadal played some really good players like del potro USO champion, And A.Dolgopolov high Ranking 14, K.Anderson USO Runner up

 

[Andy22]

Hard draw at the USO??? Now I've heard it all. That may have been the easiest path to a slam victory in the Open Era. Wimbledon wasn't too hard either, he's had many good draws there. He just isn't good on any kind of fast grass, thankfully for him they've made the Wimbledon grass trash and they play with a heavy ball. He'd have been lucky to even make one final on real grass and if he had made it he would've been baptized by Roger. Be grateful for the trash grass or it'd be 10-0 at least in Wimbledon titles.

Well I think some of the players Nadal beat at USO was really good. like USO Champion del potro,A.dolgopolov high ranked 14, USO Finalist K.Anderson, L.Mayer 500 title champion. So beating a grand slam champion World Ranked 14, player USO finalist, 500 ATP champion, I would not say that was easy.

 

[Moxie]

Well I think some of the players Nadal beat at USO was really good. like USO Champion del potro,A.dolgopolov high ranked 14, USO Finalist K.Anderson, L.Mayer 500 title champion. So beating a grand slam champion World Ranked 14, player USO finalist, 500 ATP champion, I would not say that was easy.

Give it a rest, Nadalgoat2. It wasn't a hard draw. It was a bit of a gift.

 

[Federberg]

I think we still have to see when he comes back, and how well. I know we've been saying that for ages. And, depending on when he comes back, it may be close to a year off, minus 3-4 matches at the AO. IF he comes back healthy for the clay season, he may yet be able to be a force by the US Open series.

You know there are fewer than 12 months between them, right?

I'm aware. That's neither here nor there. Rafa's been around much longer and has more wear and tear on his legs. If Novak gets past this elbow issue he could be a threat for years to come

 

[DarthFed]

Well not as easy as you say winning 7 best of seven Matches at a major is hard no matter who play. Plus Nadal played some really good players like del potro USO champion, And A.Dolgopolov high Ranking 14, K.Anderson USO Runner up

Del Po simply isn't that good anymore after the injury, thus the low ranking. And Anderson got that high because he made the USO final after beating no one to get there. And Dolgopolov??? Hilarious. It really was like an ATP 250 but Nadal did what he needed to. The real challenge was to not celebrate early, i.e. Don't look a gift horse in the eye. And Nadal took care of business easily.

 

[herios]

I'm aware. That's neither here nor there. Rafa's been around much longer and has more wear and tear on his legs. If Novak gets past this elbow issue he could be a threat for years to come

Right on. Nadal is older one year but in tennis years you can make that easily 2.
Rafa played 1063 matches on tour, Novak 950. The 113 differential is approx. 2 years, as they do not play more than 70 per year, unless you are Thiem.

 

[Nekro]

Right on. Nadal is older one year but in tennis years you can make that easily 2.
Rafa played 1063 matches on tour, Novak 950. The 113 differential is approx. 2 years, as they do not play more than 70 per year, unless you are Thiem.

Yeah but they have tot different body types.... Nadal is massive, thick boned with strong joints, etc.... Novak's body is a lot more fragile.... So you can't really compare them based on the number of matches played....

 

[Moxie]

I'm aware. That's neither here nor there. Rafa's been around much longer and has more wear and tear on his legs. If Novak gets past this elbow issue he could be a threat for years to come

I knew you would say that, and it's an old saw, but Novak has been catching up to Rafa in "tennis years" over the past few, and he also plays a heavy attritional style. IF he gets past this elbow issue - on his racquet arm - and I'm not sure about the right hand surgery. He's also had wrist and shoulder issues over the last 3 years, wrist recurring (by observation) and shoulder chronic, to hear his fans tell it. And he's got a new serve to deal with. Sure, he could be a threat for years to come...look at Roger and Rafa. But I think he's past the point of saying he's that much younger than Rafa, chronologically or in tennis years.