Nadal: Fear Factor

[Luxilon Borg]

I know the Nadal "decline" has been discussed more intensely than almost anything here, but I believe
the reason he cannot dominate, crush, and obliterate opponents is due to one thing: FEAR.

His own fear of losing. At his peak he played with no fear, and in his book, he notes fear was a big factor in his career. He would stay up nights wondering if he could perform at his highest level, he claimed to have a fear of the dark, etc.

I know from experience you cannot win playing with fear.

Let's also note that just like Borg, Lendl, Agassi, Courier, etc. he pushed the physical boundaries of tennis forward. Dominic Thiem, an example of numerous other physical animals, is fitter, and stronger than any of his best rivals during his golden years, aside from maybe Federer, who he physically dominated.

And like those others, they found the field followed suit.

 

[10isfan]

I am surprised he talks about fear in his book. When he speaks during interviews, he seems to have wisdom, an introspective reflection about the sport, but no fear of the outcome. He focuses on the process and appears to be satisfied as long as he has given his all during the match.

Whatever is causing this slide, let's see if he can rectify it by FO.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I am surprised he talks about fear in his book. When he speaks during interviews, he seems to have wisdom, an introspective reflection about the sport, but no fear of the outcome. He focuses on the process and appears to be satisfied as long as he has given his all during the match.

Whatever is causing this slide, let's see if he can rectify it by FO.

actually he talks about fear quite a bit in the book...he actually says his mother and sister ridiculed him for his phobias...

 

[Front242]

Fear of stain the underpants, no? Iz the true. Iz why I itch the crack often, no?

 

[mrzz]

I think that the most important thing is the (now lacking) fear that other players had of him.

 

[Fiero425]

I think that the most important thing is the (now lacking) fear that other players had of him.

True enough! Most kids would donate the match to Nadal even when in the lead, but you saw Thiem hold his nerve, play his game, and actual powered his way to the win! Nadal didn't give the match away as much as the kid TOOK it! Of course Rafa helped a little; serve is a deficiency now instead of a weapon! Spraying groundies is becoming routine and his volleying prowess is being undermined of late! :nono :cover ;-)

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Fear of stain the underpants, no? Iz the true. Iz why I itch the crack often, no?

Too much spicy food?

 

[El Dude]

Here's an angle. When Federer fell from the top, we started to see the tarnish in the armor. Now it is quite evident: he's an amazingly gifted, elegant player, but he struggles facing players who are equal or similar to him on either side (either a bit better or a bit worse). He seems to need that edge of superiority to really shine.

With Rafa, we might be seeing his own version of "decline-revealed weakness." Maybe what we're seeing is just how much of his game was his indomitable will and fearlessness. When he loses that mental edge, the weaknesses in his game are revealed. He drops from being nigh unbeatable to a fairly standard top 10 player, with strong-but-not-amazing skills.

Presumably we'll eventually see Novak's version. But I think the basic idea is, when a truly great player loses even just a hair off of the main factor that makes him great, it has a kind of snowball effect. Depending upon how diverse a player's skill set, the fall will be small to more moderate. Roger has a diverse skill, which has seen him fall from #1 to #2-3, whereas Rafa is more specialized so we're seeing him fall from #1 to #5-6. I imagine that Novak's drop will be more akin to Roger's - slow and steady, but still competitive for years after he starts showing decline.

 

[herios]

Here's an angle. When Federer fell from the top, we started to see the tarnish in the armor. Now it is quite evident: he's an amazingly gifted, elegant player, but he struggles facing players who are equal or similar to him on either side (either a bit better or a bit worse). He seems to need that edge of superiority to really shine.

With Rafa, we might be seeing his own version of "decline-revealed weakness." Maybe what we're seeing is just how much of his game was his indomitable will and fearlessness. When he loses that mental edge, the weaknesses in his game are revealed. He drops from being nigh unbeatable to a fairly standard top 10 player, with strong-but-not-amazing skills.

Presumably we'll eventually see Novak's version. But I think the basic idea is, when a truly great player loses even just a hair off of the main factor that makes him great, it has a kind of snowball effect. Depending upon how diverse a player's skill set, the fall will be small to more moderate. Roger has a diverse skill, which has seen him fall from #1 to #2-3, whereas Rafa is more specialized so we're seeing him fall from #1 to #5-6. I imagine that Novak's drop will be more akin to Roger's - slow and steady, but still competitive for years after he starts showing decline.

You are right on, I think. Many tennis analysts and former players predicted Rafa's fall to be steep when it will happen. He is upset by a more wider range of players than Roger is.
His fall on grass is especially magnified at Wimbledon. What happened there in the last 4 years is probably unprecedented for a 2 time winner and 5 time finalist.

 

[Fiero425]

Here's an angle. When Federer fell from the top, we started to see the tarnish in the armor. Now it is quite evident: he's an amazingly gifted, elegant player, but he struggles facing players who are equal or similar to him on either side (either a bit better or a bit worse). He seems to need that edge of superiority to really shine.

With Rafa, we might be seeing his own version of "decline-revealed weakness." Maybe what we're seeing is just how much of his game was his indomitable will and fearlessness. When he loses that mental edge, the weaknesses in his game are revealed. He drops from being nigh unbeatable to a fairly standard top 10 player, with strong-but-not-amazing skills.

Presumably we'll eventually see Novak's version. But I think the basic idea is, when a truly great player loses even just a hair off of the main factor that makes him great, it has a kind of snowball effect. Depending upon how diverse a player's skill set, the fall will be small to more moderate. Roger has a diverse skill, which has seen him fall from #1 to #2-3, whereas Rafa is more specialized so we're seeing him fall from #1 to #5-6. I imagine that Novak's drop will be more akin to Roger's - slow and steady, but still competitive for years after he starts showing decline.

You are right on, I think. Many tennis analysts and former players predicted Rafa's fall to be steep when it will happen. He is upset by a more wider range of players than Roger is.
His fall on grass is especially magnified at Wimbledon. What happened there in the last 4 years is probably unprecedented for a 2 time winner and 5 time finalist.

I was definitely in the group of people that knew his decline would be more precipitous than a more classic player! I always thought it insane to use so much physicality to play tennis; destined to be in a wheelchair! We saw girls breaking down back in the 70's & 80's like Austin & Jaeger overextending their bodies! Rafa's matches from early rounds were full scale wars rather than quick battles and it had to catch up with him sooner or later! I thought he was done after his last great run of 2013, but he eeeked out 1 more FO! He looks all at sea when playing these days; sometimes not even in the vicinity of shots he normally would have run for & made a "get" that ultimately would save the point for him! That just isn't happening & it's not just happening against the elite; everyone's challenging him from the 1st Rd on! It's only going to get uglier and I'll make sure to have plenty of videotape to document it all! :dodgy:

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Here's an angle. When Federer fell from the top, we started to see the tarnish in the armor. Now it is quite evident: he's an amazingly gifted, elegant player, but he struggles facing players who are equal or similar to him on either side (either a bit better or a bit worse). He seems to need that edge of superiority to really shine.

With Rafa, we might be seeing his own version of "decline-revealed weakness." Maybe what we're seeing is just how much of his game was his indomitable will and fearlessness. When he loses that mental edge, the weaknesses in his game are revealed. He drops from being nigh unbeatable to a fairly standard top 10 player, with strong-but-not-amazing skills.

Presumably we'll eventually see Novak's version. But I think the basic idea is, when a truly great player loses even just a hair off of the main factor that makes him great, it has a kind of snowball effect. Depending upon how diverse a player's skill set, the fall will be small to more moderate. Roger has a diverse skill, which has seen him fall from #1 to #2-3, whereas Rafa is more specialized so we're seeing him fall from #1 to #5-6. I imagine that Novak's drop will be more akin to Roger's - slow and steady, but still competitive for years after he starts showing decline.

Well worded post. I think you are correct. But I think the thing that separated him from the other "Big Four" was his confidence was SO fragile. Roger, even in the worst of times, had belief, even it if was a bit delusional. Novak, has that now....But Rafa's belief could turn on a dime. One match could make him feel invincible and another like a player ranked # 150.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Here's an angle. When Federer fell from the top, we started to see the tarnish in the armor. Now it is quite evident: he's an amazingly gifted, elegant player, but he struggles facing players who are equal or similar to him on either side (either a bit better or a bit worse). He seems to need that edge of superiority to really shine.

With Rafa, we might be seeing his own version of "decline-revealed weakness." Maybe what we're seeing is just how much of his game was his indomitable will and fearlessness. When he loses that mental edge, the weaknesses in his game are revealed. He drops from being nigh unbeatable to a fairly standard top 10 player, with strong-but-not-amazing skills.

Presumably we'll eventually see Novak's version. But I think the basic idea is, when a truly great player loses even just a hair off of the main factor that makes him great, it has a kind of snowball effect. Depending upon how diverse a player's skill set, the fall will be small to more moderate. Roger has a diverse skill, which has seen him fall from #1 to #2-3, whereas Rafa is more specialized so we're seeing him fall from #1 to #5-6. I imagine that Novak's drop will be more akin to Roger's - slow and steady, but still competitive for years after he starts showing decline.

You are right on, I think. Many tennis analysts and former players predicted Rafa's fall to be steep when it will happen. He is upset by a more wider range of players than Roger is.
His fall on grass is especially magnified at Wimbledon. What happened there in the last 4 years is probably unprecedented for a 2 time winner and 5 time finalist.

Yes, and players that Roger swats aside like fleas, Rafa gets into to the death cage matches with. The difference with Rog is he does not let players PLAY. Period. With Rafa, his opponents can work them selves into the match with long rallies where they start to assimilate to his spin and pace and get emboldened. They actually get to play.

 

[El Dude]

Anyone know if Rafa is still producing the same spin?

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Anyone know if Rafa is still producing the same spin?

Very good question. He switched to Luxilon Big Banger, so i can't imagine he has lost RPMs...but after 10 years plus, they are just used to it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't have numbers with me. But, I believe the sting is surely lost. His FH used to generate 5000 RPM or above before. It is definitely not that caliber now. But, that is just one of many problems he currently has.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I don't have numbers with me. But, I believe the sting is surely lost. His FH used to generate 5000 RPM or above before. It is definitely not that caliber now. But, that is just one of many problems he currently has.

To be accurate, I don't believe he was above 5000..high 4000's.....unless I am wrong.

 

[Carol]

Maybe Rafa needs a consultation with the Dr. Igor who worked so well with Novak for one year and then his 'fear factor' and 'phobias' would disappear

http://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/serbian-doctor-on-how-he-cured-ailing-djokovic-1.1156174

 

[Busted]

I think that the most important thing is the (now lacking) fear that other players had of him.

That and the fact that they all know he's not as fast as he used to be and his footwook has suffered because of it. Speed kills and always has. He can't run down everything anymore and once your wheels start to go - you're a sitting duck. Getting old's a beeyotch, ain't it?

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I think that the most important thing is the (now lacking) fear that other players had of him.

That and the fact that they all know he's not as fast as he used to be and his footwook has suffered because of it. Speed kills and always has. He can't run down everything anymore and once your wheels start to go - you're a sitting duck. Getting old's a beeyotch, ain't it?

Uh, he is 28.

twenty eight.....

 

[El Dude]

He's 29, or 30 in three and a half months.