Is this the beginning of The Incline?

[Kirijax]

Although Rafa lost, he didn't lose the way he's lost other times this year, looking befuddled and confused. He played a straight match and all the components of his game appear to be clicking into gear. He's not there fully yet but even in defeat, I'd still say this match was more a sign of incline than decline. His confidence is better, and mentally he's much more assertive. Worryingly for everybody else, he's serving very well, and the forehand is dangerous.

All this is an improvement even on Beijing, so two tourneys in a row have given us a reason to believe. But he's not fully back. I think the barometre of these things is how he does against the very best, and he's not there yet. But now I think he'll get there, and now I think he can win big again. A lot depends on whether he can keep this up. To misquote Bob Dylan, it's not bright yet, but it's getting there...

If Nadal keeps this up, things are going to be mighty interesting when the clay court season rolls around. He may not be able to win many hard court titles any more but clay.....

 

[Kieran]

He may win titles anywhere if he gets back to near his best, but even though he's playing better, that's still a couple of months away. I'd be more keeping an eye on Oz, than the clay, for the moment. That would give us a better idea of where he is...

 

[nehmeth]

He may win titles anywhere if he gets back to near his best, but even though he's playing better, that's still a couple of months away. I'd be more keeping an eye on Oz, than the clay, for the moment. That would give us a better idea of where he is...

Completely agree. Ralf is building toward Oz, looking to further his legacy with two career grand slams.

 

[Kirijax]

He may win titles anywhere if he gets back to near his best, but even though he's playing better, that's still a couple of months away. I'd be more keeping an eye on Oz, than the clay, for the moment. That would give us a better idea of where he is...

Completely agree. Ralf is building toward Oz, looking to further his legacy with two career grand slams.

While Nadal is getting better, him winning the Aussie Slam would be almost as shocking as Djokovic not winning it.

 

[Kieran]

He may win titles anywhere if he gets back to near his best, but even though he's playing better, that's still a couple of months away. I'd be more keeping an eye on Oz, than the clay, for the moment. That would give us a better idea of where he is...

Completely agree. Ralf is building toward Oz, looking to further his legacy with two career grand slams.

While Nadal is getting better, him winning the Aussie Slam would be almost as shocking as Djokovic not winning it.

This year he reached the qf, and he was playing tripe. I'm not saying he'd win - and they way he's playing now, he won't win it - but it would take his pulse to see where he's improved over twelve months. If he continues the incline, of course he could win it. But as the man once said, "if...."

 

[herios]

Completely agree. Ralf is building toward Oz, looking to further his legacy with two career grand slams.

While Nadal is getting better, him winning the Aussie Slam would be almost as shocking as Djokovic not winning it.

This year he reached the qf, and he was playing tripe. I'm not saying he'd win - and they way he's playing now, he won't win it - but it would take his pulse to see where he's improved over twelve months. If he continues the incline, of course he could win it. But as the man once said, "if...."

Let's get realistic, he will not win it.

 

[Kieran]

While Nadal is getting better, him winning the Aussie Slam would be almost as shocking as Djokovic not winning it.

This year he reached the qf, and he was playing tripe. I'm not saying he'd win - and they way he's playing now, he won't win it - but it would take his pulse to see where he's improved over twelve months. If he continues the incline, of course he could win it. But as the man once said, "if...."

Let's get realistic, he will not win it.

Let's get even more realistic, there's a whole quarter of a year before it starts. Far too early to start talking about Oz in terms of who can, and can't, win it...

 

[herios]

This year he reached the qf, and he was playing tripe. I'm not saying he'd win - and they way he's playing now, he won't win it - but it would take his pulse to see where he's improved over twelve months. If he continues the incline, of course he could win it. But as the man once said, "if...."

Let's get realistic, he will not win it.

Let's get even more realistic, there's a whole quarter of a year before it starts. Far too early to start talking about Oz in terms of who can, and can't, win it...

Yes, there are tons of possibilities. We will talk about them a lot. But I still say that Rafa will not win it. I could bet on it.

 

[Kieran]

Let's get realistic, he will not win it.

Let's get even more realistic, there's a whole quarter of a year before it starts. Far too early to start talking about Oz in terms of who can, and can't, win it...

Yes, there are tons of possibilities. We will talk about them a lot. But I still say that Rafa will not win it. I could bet on it.

Why not? Plenty of bookmakers would love to meet you. You might get better odds on Nole not winning it, though.

 

[Riotbeard]

Let's get even more realistic, there's a whole quarter of a year before it starts. Far too early to start talking about Oz in terms of who can, and can't, win it...

Yes, there are tons of possibilities. We will talk about them a lot. But I still say that Rafa will not win it. I could bet on it.

Why not? Plenty of bookmakers would love to meet you. You might get better odds on Nole not winning it, though.

I don't think Rafa will be any where near a favorite, but there are definitely stranger things, and Rafa still has some time.

I do agree the asian swing, showed the most improvement of any other period this year, especially going down the line with the forehand. The first set of the beijing final felt closer than the scoreline.

 

[nehmeth]

I do agree the asian swing, showed the most improvement of any other period this year, especially going down the line with the forehand. The first set of the beijing final felt closer than the scoreline.

The first set in Beijing had at least half a dozen "moments" where the match could have tipped either way. The Asian swing was huge for Ralf and should give him confidence heading into next year.

 

[herios]

I do agree the asian swing, showed the most improvement of any other period this year, especially going down the line with the forehand. The first set of the beijing final felt closer than the scoreline.

The first set in Beijing had at least half a dozen "moments" where the match could have tipped either way. The Asian swing was huge for Ralf and should give him confidence heading into next year.

The Asian swing was played on outdoors HC and Beijing was one of the slowest.
Now let see how Rafa's form will hold up indoors on lower bounce. The incline could be flattened or worse, swung into a decline once more.

 

[nehmeth]

^^
And Fed's incline begins again.

 

[Why So Serious?]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

 

[Kirijax]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

It's bound to happen somewhere! Maybe at the WTF.

 

[isabelle]

I'm curious to see what he'll do in Basel, Bercy and Masters, he hasn't played Masters for a while, I guess he'll try to play his best tennis

 

[Why So Serious?]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

It's bound to happen somewhere! Maybe at the WTF.

I hope Fedalovic are all in the same group. Now that would be fun!

 

[Kirijax]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

It's bound to happen somewhere! Maybe at the WTF.

I hope Fedalovic are all in the same group. Now that would be fun!

Haha! Wouldn't that be a hoot!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

It's bound to happen somewhere! Maybe at the WTF.

Even if it does not happen at Basel, Bercy or London, it will happen in New Delhi on Dec. 12th, guaranteed.

 

[Kirijax]

There is no doubt Nadal is getting back to form. Unfortunately for him he is not great indoors but it will be interesting to follow his progress in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will have at least one Fedal meeting at last.

It's bound to happen somewhere! Maybe at the WTF.

Even if it does not happen at Basel, Bercy or London, it will happen in New Delhi on Dec. 12th, guaranteed.

What? Another Asian ONE MILLION DOLLARS a pop exo? Or that funky team thing they got going on?