Is Rafa in Decline?

[Kieran]

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Toni-In-Paris-Rafael-Nadal-will-have-a-mental-advantage-articolo23851.html

"Rafa's level last year in Madrid was worse than it is now." Toni Nadal.

uzzled

Did he sleep through that final?

He may have been talking about the final, where Nishi was similarly in charge until his injury. Plus, Rafa played better against Grigor, and - definitely - against Berdy, than he did at any stage last year in Madrid...

 

[brokenshoelace]

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Toni-In-Paris-Rafael-Nadal-will-have-a-mental-advantage-articolo23851.html

"Rafa's level last year in Madrid was worse than it is now." Toni Nadal.

uzzled

Did he sleep through that final?

On average, I would say yes, Nadal's level in Madrid last year was worse than his level this year. Rafa looked pretty solid all week. Though I guess you could make a case that his level in the final was so bad that it balances things out, which is fair.

Nevertheless, I actually agree with the way Toni and Rafa are looking at it. His level in the final was SO bad, that you can just call it an isolated incident (at least mentally). In other words, he can't possibly play like this again.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

 

[Kieran]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

You mean, you're not always "double hoping?"

Hater! :devil

 

[Denis]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

Dude I've been suffering for 10 years now, it's not like you guys have nothing to fall back on. We've come to a stage that I still expect Nadal to win RG despite all this, just to not be too disappointed if he gets his decima and I have to wait another year for a player I do like to win my favorite slam.

 

[Kieran]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

Dude I've been suffering for 10 years now, it's not like you guys have nothing to fall back on. We've come to a stage that I still expect Nadal to win RG despite all this, just to not be too disappointed if he gets his decima and I have to wait another year for a player I do like to win my favorite slam.

I have a solution, Denis: make Oz your favourite slam... :snicker

 

[brokenshoelace]

By the way, with respect to everyone, the "desperate measures" and "OMG Rafa/Toni is delusional" comments are ridiculously short sighted and show a lack of understanding for the mindset of one of the greatest athletes in history (I'm sounding like Cali. Ugh).

Nadal is a man who historically, has been one of the mentally toughest athletes in the history of sport. He's ALWAYS been able to find positives in even the most hollow defeats, and not just by mere words, he legitimately turned said defeats into positives (look no further than his comments after the 2012 AO final, or the US Open final in 2011...then look at his results against Novak after that).

Nadal is also the greatest clay courter of all time, by a good country mile, to the point where these guys on tour, with all due respect to all of them, aren't good enough to lace his shoes.

...and yet, a bunch of armchair critics somehow criticize him for...being freaking defiant about his chances at Roland Garros? Really? The same guy who dominated the tournament unlike any athlete in any sport? The same people are criticizing Nadal for trying to put a positive spin after a loss, despite the fact that he's successfully done it his entire career? This is the same guy who didn't take "desperate" measures after far more demoralizing defeats, but now he's desperate? Why? Because he reached a final?

Yes, how dare Nadal try to be upbeat after a loss. He should roll over, cry, and go through 3 slamless years like a certain peer of the same generation before finally getting his shtick together (preferably, he'd hire a has been coach to tweak his serve and completely ruin it in the process). And yes, how dare Nadal show some confidence after a loss on a surface he's terrorized the tour on for literally ten years. Ten whole years.

Get a clue.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

Dude I've been suffering for 10 years now, it's not like you guys have nothing to fall back on. We've come to a stage that I still expect Nadal to win RG despite all this, just to not be too disappointed if he gets his decima and I have to wait another year for a player I do like to win my favorite slam.

That's understandable. Me, I'm a greedy fan who always wants more.

 

[nehmeth]

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Toni-In-Paris-Rafael-Nadal-will-have-a-mental-advantage-articolo23851.html

"Rafa's level last year in Madrid was worse than it is now." Toni Nadal.

uzzled

Did he sleep through that final?

He may have been talking about the final, where Nishi was similarly in charge until his injury. Plus, Rafa played better against Grigor, and - definitely - against Berdy, than he did at any stage last year in Madrid...

True that Kieran. Unfortunately (for him), in the big matches where he usually shines, he's been missing it.

 

[Denis]

BS, still, what's up with the rediculous amount of racket changes?

 

[Denis]

I now am double hoping Nadal wins Roland Garros because the level of schadenfreude is unbearable.

Dude I've been suffering for 10 years now, it's not like you guys have nothing to fall back on. We've come to a stage that I still expect Nadal to win RG despite all this, just to not be too disappointed if he gets his decima and I have to wait another year for a player I do like to win my favorite slam.

I have a solution, Denis: make Oz your favourite slam... :snicker

It doesn't really work that way. Otherwise I would have changed my favorite player too.

 

[tented]

BS, still, what's up with the rediculous amount of racket changes?

As someone once put it to me, "The answer to nine out of ten questions is money."

In a word: Babolat.

 

[tented]

Could Rafa have "the yips"? It's a term more commonly heard in golf, almost always with regard to a more "mature" player.

One of the commentators on the Tennis Channel (I think Paul Annacone) referred a few times to Rafa having the yips.

 

[shawnbm]

Rafael Nadal does not have the yips and he is still one of if not the most feared player once you are on the red clay of Paris. It is like Pistol Pete or TMF feeling the grass under their feet--they are formidable on the grass and Nadal is even more formidable on the red clay at Roland Garros. Everybody needs to chill unless and until he falters there.

 

[Denis]

Rafael Nadal does not have the yips and he is still one of if not the most feared player once you are on the red clay of Paris. It is like Pistol Pete or TMF feeling the grass under their feet--they are formidable on the grass and Nadal is even more formidable on the red clay at Roland Garros. Everybody needs to chill unless and until he falters there.

Nah, that would be boring.

 

[Denis]

BS, still, what's up with the rediculous amount of racket changes?

As someone once put it to me, "The answer to nine out of ten questions is money."

In a word: Babolat.

Ok but that explains one change. Maybe something was lost in translation, but they have been changing rackets like 4 times or so, with another one planned.

And surely Babolat has no interest in this kind of results? Can't they just do a new paintjob?

 

[tented]

BS, still, what's up with the rediculous amount of racket changes?

As someone once put it to me, "The answer to nine out of ten questions is money."

In a word: Babolat.

Ok but that explains one change. Maybe something was lost in translation, but they have been changing rackets like 4 times or so, with another one planned.

And surely Babolat has no interest in this kind of results? Can't they just do a new paintjob?

I've been thinking the same thing: Babolat must be upset Rafa has rejected (even temporarily) their new, highly publicized racket.

I don't know how things work between Nadal and Babolat, but I know with Roger and Wilson, they have worked together a few times to develop a racket to his specifications. The new designs weren't released to the public until he was satisfied. At the '07 AO, he played with a prototype, without telling anyone. Wilson was worried he would lose early -- the worst possible way to introduce a new product.

I'm not sensing the same level of collaboration between Nadal and Babolat -- but who knows.

 

[Fiero425]

Could Rafa have "the yips"? It's a term more commonly heard in golf, almost always with regard to a more "mature" player.

One of the commentators on the Tennis Channel (I think Paul Annacone) referred a few times to Rafa having the yips.

I've watch Rafa on and off for 10 years and I think that's a very appropriate term to use in describing his play yesterday! I've never seen him miss so much and by a lot; looked like "yips" to me! He was also "framing" the ball; both sides! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Wow, nobody got the sarcasm? Lord.

got it straightaway:snicker (wakey wakey you slow gits)

actually I say we must hold off comment on rafa's so-called decline until he has a worse season than gulbis is having right now (1-8 or whatever).

 

[Fiero425]

Wow, nobody got the sarcasm? Lord.

Got it straightaway :snicker (wakey wakey you slow gits)

Actually I say we must hold off comment on Rafa's so-called decline until he has a worse season than Gulbis is having right now (1-8 or whatever).

You think Rafa would hang around long enough for that to happen? I would hope not, but it would only disappoint his fans and the experts that have anointed him "The Greatest Ever!" :ras: :nono :angel: