Most boring AO in recent memory?

[the AntiPusher]

How do you know its misplaced? Have you seen many players achieve the Channel Slam, since Borg? Only two have, and coincidentally they both have made nine finals in their better slam, and five in their tougher one, out of Paris and Wimbledon. And nor is it simply fatigue. There's no question that it's taking more out of Rafa to defend his clay patch, so getting preparation time is more problematic. If wimbledon came before RG, with six weeks build-up, I'm sure he'd do a lot better there, but it's a surface where he needs more time to get ready as he's aging, and maybe the extra week this year will be the tonic he needs.

There is, of course, GSM's solution, which would help him too, but I wouldn't recommend it...

Kirean.. I truly believe that the damp cold weather (I have to first give credit to a poster who earlier mentioned that Rafa has had problems bending his knees which is a sign on inflamation or pre arth..symptoms ) is major reason but I have to give credit to his opponents who have just flat out outplayed him.

 

[Kieran]

^^ Absolutely, that's the other thing, the men who beat him played exceptional tennis for that stage of the tourney...

 

[Riotbeard]

^^ Absolutely, that's the other thing, the men who beat him played exceptional tennis for that stage of the tourney...

All this is beside the point... Autopilot basically said if Nadal had survived Kyrgios he would have blown through Raonic and Fed.

If it's fatigue from the channel slam, then why would rafa easily beat harder opponents later in the tournament when he is so "fatigued?"

 

[Mile]

Obviously Muzza was bad choice that day when Adidas was considering who to sponsor Djoker or Muzza. Adidas left Muzza.

Now, it can go deeply down and down...

 

[auto-pilot]

^^ Absolutely, that's the other thing, the men who beat him played exceptional tennis for that stage of the tourney...

All this is beside the point... Autopilot basically said if Nadal had survived Kyrgios he would have blown through Raonic and Fed.

If it's fatigue from the channel slam, then why would rafa easily beat harder opponents later in the tournament when he is so "fatigued?"

Krygios plays a style that is nothing like Raonic, and nothing like Federer.
I know people like to pigeon-hole the great servers, but these 3 guys have almost nothing in common.
Raonic looks clumsy when he plays Nadal (even on Raonic's favorite surface of hardcourt), while Kyrgios is very athletic and coordinated.
And Federer is nothing like Kyrgios either.
And I never said Nadal would have "blown through" Raonic/Federer.
All I did was remind people of the history of Raonic-Nadal, the most lopsided match-up I've ever seen, because its not just statistically lopsided, its visually cruel.
So do I think Nadal had a great chance of beating Raonic at Wimbledon? Yes I do.
Downgrade Kyrgios as much as you want, but Nadal was playing aggressive and sharp tennis (perhaps TOO aggressive, as he was refusing to move back, and kept returning Kyrgios' serve from ON the baseline) perhaps even better than his 2010 Wimbledon level.

 

[Kieran]

^^ Absolutely, that's the other thing, the men who beat him played exceptional tennis for that stage of the tourney...

All this is beside the point... Autopilot basically said if Nadal had survived Kyrgios he would have blown through Raonic and Fed.

If it's fatigue from the channel slam, then why would rafa easily beat harder opponents later in the tournament when he is so "fatigued?"

Auto-pilot said that "Nadal was in good enough form to take out Raonic in QF and enjoy a semi-final versus Federer." This is speculative, and didn't happen because Nick played tennis at Wimbo like good ole Pete, coolly lamming down big huge serves under the most extreme pressure. A performance I admired to the hilt. The "fatigue" thing isn't the issue, my view is that he lacks time to adjust between the two majors, because he's finding it harder to defend his patch on clay...

 

[auto-pilot]

^ That's a great point Kieran, and its a good sign for Nadal in 2015.
People in general seem to have a real problem in trying to understand Nadal and the reasons for his wins and losses.
But I think you've nailed it- at Wimbledon its less about fatigue and more about preparation.

 

[DarthFed]

He prepares for Wimbledon by losing early to corn puffs in the early rounds of Queens/Halle. Gets him all set to struggle with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in the first couple rounds. Preparation, fatigue, all excuses. He struggles because he can't win on just wheels and topspin in the 1st week when it's playing faster and bouncing lower.

 

[Kirijax]

Just a thought. Would Nadal have more Wimbledon titles if he hadn't been so successful at the French?

 

[auto-pilot]

Just a thought. Would Nadal have more Wimbledon titles if he hadn't been so successful at the French?

Probably, but I'm glad he didn't.
Because winning TEN of a slam event is the greatest achievement in the history of sport - especially considering that Roland Garros is the most physical of all the slams.
To win TEN of them is surreal, it feels weird just typing it/saying it

 

[Riotbeard]

He prepares for Wimbledon by losing early to corn puffs in the early rounds of Queens/Halle. Gets him all set to struggle with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in the first couple rounds.

:laydownlaughing

 

[auto-pilot]

At least Nadal has only lost in the 1st Round of a slam ONCE, while Federer has done that SIX times.

 

[DarthFed]

Just a thought. Would Nadal have more Wimbledon titles if he hadn't been so successful at the French?

No. He'd have zero if he didn't do so well at the French as he is a confidence player. 2008 and 2010 were his best years on clay, best years ever outright.

 

[Kirijax]

Just a thought. Would Nadal have more Wimbledon titles if he hadn't been so successful at the French?

Probably, but I'm glad he didn't.
Because winning TEN of a slam event is the greatest achievement in the history of sport - especially considering that Roland Garros is the most physical of all the slams.
To win TEN of them is surreal, it feels weird just typing it/saying it

Um....raising hand slowly....

He hasn't won ten yet.

 

[DarthFed]

At least Nadal has only lost in the 1st Round of a slam ONCE, while Federer has done that SIX times.

That's nice. All 6 came before Roger won a slam. Maybe we can compare the early round losses (QF and before) each had in their respective primes when they were competing for titles.

 

[auto-pilot]

^ Yeah if only we could erase our losing years, we'd look perfect.
That's history for ya.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Just a thought. Would Nadal have more Wimbledon titles if he hadn't been so successful at the French?

I don't see the correlation. In fact, I'd argue part of what allowed Nadal to play so well at Wimbledon is the confidence and momentum he carries over from winning the French.

 

[brokenshoelace]

At least Nadal has only lost in the 1st Round of a slam ONCE, while Federer has done that SIX times.

Can someone ban you again already?

 

[auto-pilot]

BTW extra kudos for Nadal, making the QF at this AO when he almost didn't even play it.
I was pretty sure he wasn't going to play the AO when in Doha he said he may not be ready and may begin his season in Rio instead.
He's got a huge future at the hardcourt slams considering his absolute worst form is good enough for a QF birth at the only slam he hasn't won twice.
Nadal was definitely the redeeming feature of this AO and supplied us with the most exciting match and the best celebration of a victory.

 

[Front242]

At least Nadal has only lost in the 1st Round of a slam ONCE, while Federer has done that SIX times.

Can someone ban you again already?

Most likely this is NADAL2005RG reincarnated.