Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[Moxie]

Yeah - he left a six inch putt for his main rival…

Who almost blew it, v Haas. And Del Potro. Roger had already said that if someone else took out Nadal at the French, he'd have to seize his chance. Soderling, to his credit, made the final, only to crumble. But clearly Roger was nervous about blowing his best chance.

Since this is the Rafa fans thread, I feel I can bring this up again. It has always bothered me that the Federer fans absolutely refuse to believe that Rafa's knees had anything to do with his loss to Soderling in 2009, despite all evidence (during the season, and subsequently) to the contrary. If he was beatable by Soderling, unhampered, he'd have been beatable by others, across the years, and wouldn't have won 14 French Opens to date. Surely, Djokovic was better than Soderling, and he lost way more than he won against Nadal at the French.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Who almost blew it, v Haas. And Del Potro. Roger had already said that if someone else took out Nadal at the French, he'd have to seize his chance. Soderling, to his credit, made the final, only to crumble. But clearly Roger was nervous about blowing his best chance.

Since this is the Rafa fans thread, I feel I can bring this up again. It has always bothered me that the Federer fans absolutely refuse to believe that Rafa's knees had anything to do with his loss to Soderling in 2009, despite all evidence (during the season, and subsequently) to the contrary. If he was beatable by Soderling, unhampered, he'd have been beatable by others, across the years, and wouldn't have won 14 French Opens to date. Surely, Djokovic was better than Soderling, and he lost way more than he won against Nadal at the French.

You are going to get a 'rap on the knuckles' from Fed fans, you know Rafa only loses when he is injured

 

[Moxie]

You are going to get a 'rap on the knuckles' from Fed fans, you know Rafa only loses when he is injured

We might, if they were still around. It was funny how much they complained that Rafa only lost went injured. And then they started to complain that Roger only lost because he was injured. (2017 and 2019 USOs spring to mind.)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

We might, if they were still around. It was funny how much they complained that Rafa only lost went injured. And then they started to complain that Roger only lost because he was injured. (2017 and 2019 USOs spring to mind.)

Yep it is like Pot calling Kettle Black from Fed fans

 

[the AntiPusher]

Oh I agree with this. Rafa has made some scheduling decisions that backfired. Who can forget the Indian thingy after Christmas 2013? I think it’s something we’d all love if he asked us our advice on! But probably last year he felt he needed to play, and somewhere not so strenuous, plus we got to see the dream scene of Rafa playing Gabriela Sabatini but it turns out to probably not have being a great idea in the end.

IW has been a prelude to early injuries if you ask me.. I know Larry Ellison is his boy but darn. I want to see a healthy Rafa on the slower grass at SW19...As for next year, my pipe dream for lack of a better word is that he is able to return to prominent as his high level immediately but that's unlikely. Winter has come and the time of the Night King ( Novak) is upon US and there's no Jon Snow to save Us.

 

[Kieran]

IW has been a prelude to early injuries if you ask me.. I know Larry Ellison is his boy but darn. I want to see a healthy Rafa on the slower grass at SW19...As for next year, my pipe dream for lack of a better word is that he is able to return to prominent as his high level immediately but that's unlikely. Winter has come and the time of the Night King ( Novak) is upon US and there's no Jon Snow to save Us.

Novak is certainly winning a lot of uncontested slams. I remember the day when Federer was closing in on Pete and fans of Novak today would argue back them about the weak era. I think it’s weaker now, in terms of legitimate challengers, and that’s borne out by the figures..

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

IW has been a prelude to early injuries if you ask me.. I know Larry Ellison is his boy but darn. I want to see a healthy Rafa on the slower grass at SW19...As for next year, my pipe dream for lack of a better word is that he is able to return to prominent as his high level immediately but that's unlikely. Winter has come and the time of the Night King ( Novak) is upon US and there's no Jon Snow to save Us.

See, I never liked IW being played in early March (and it seems to be getting earlier each year, lol). IW should be part of the US Open swing, or maybe even part of the fall swing after the US Open.

The only way we see Rafa at a Wimbledon again is if for some reason he doesn't get into the Olympics. Let's be honest, Rafa isn't going to make the transition from clay to grass then back to clay in a matter of a few weeks.

 

[the AntiPusher]

See, I never liked IW being played in early March (and it seems to be getting earlier each year, lol). IW should be part of the US Open swing, or maybe even part of the fall swing after the US Open.

The only way we see Rafa at a Wimbledon again is if for some reason he doesn't get into the Olympics. Let's be honest, Rafa isn't going to make the transition from clay to grass then back to clay in a matter of a few weeks.

PE712. you do realize that Rafa has won the channel Slam twice..

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

PE712. you do realize that Rafa has won the channel Slam twice..

I do, but Rafa last did so in 2010, when he was 24. Rafa is going to be 38, and fourteen years removed from his last Wimbledon title, next year. I think it's more likely that Rafa plays the Olympics than Wimbledon, but what's for certain at this stage in his career is that he is only playing one. If Rafa was 34, I can see him trying to do both, but I can't see it at 38.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Guys I don't think Nadal is coming back, unfortunately we will be stuck with watching Pushovic and the spanish guy who gets cramps after 2 sets. It's time to move on to pickleball.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Guys I don't think Nadal is coming back, unfortunately we will be stuck with watching Pushovic and the spanish guy who gets cramps after 2 sets. It's time to move on to pickleball.

Actually I have seen Rafa play 'paddleball' lol!

 

[tented]

Guys I don't think Nadal is coming back, unfortunately we will be stuck with watching Pushovic and the spanish guy who gets cramps after 2 sets.

I hope you’re wrong, but I suspect you’re right. We’ll definitely see Rafa on court again — there’s no doubt of that — but his days of winning big titles are almost certainly over. More likely, he’ll go next year to tournaments which matter to him the most, including the Olympics (if possible), as a kind of farewell tour.

I was absolutely convinced after he won the 2019 US Open that was going to be his last epic major-final battle. I also told myself I would be happy if he never won another major, because it was such an incredible victory.

When he won the 2022 AO final — an even more astonishing feat; one of his greatest ever — again I told myself I would be satisfied if that was it. The 14th RG was extremely satisfying. Pulling out of Wimbledon was tragic, after playing so well to get that far. But we Rafa fans have been through these agonizing moments many times.

No matter how many more titles Novak wins, I will always hold Nadal in special regard for many reasons.

It's time to move on to pickleball.

 

[Jelenafan]

Yeah - he left a six inch putt for his main rival…

Well yeah

IW has been a prelude to early injuries if you ask me.. I know Larry Ellison is his boy but darn. I want to see a healthy Rafa on the slower grass at SW19...As for next year, my pipe dream for lack of a better word is that he is able to return to prominent as his high level immediately but that's unlikely. Winter has come and the time of the Night King ( Novak) is upon US and there's no Jon Snow to save Us.

At this point only the Danish Angel can….

 

[Moxie]

At this point only the Danish Angel can….

View attachment 8319

And perhaps another Spanish Bull.

 

[Jelenafan]

And perhaps another Spanish Bull.

View attachment 8320

Well yeah, but unfortunately….

 

[Moxie]

Well yeah, but unfortunately….

View attachment 8321

Just you wait #shorttermmemory

 

[Moxie]

I hope you’re wrong, but I suspect you’re right. We’ll definitely see Rafa on court again — there’s no doubt of that — but his days of winning big titles are almost certainly over. More likely, he’ll go next year to tournaments which matter to him the most, including the Olympics (if possible), as a kind of farewell tour.

I was absolutely convinced after he won the 2019 US Open that was going to be his last epic major-final battle. I also told myself I would be happy if he never won another major, because it was such an incredible victory.

When he won the 2022 AO final — an even more astonishing feat; one of his greatest ever — again I told myself I would be satisfied if that was it. The 14th RG was extremely satisfying.

He did those, he might have another one up his sleeve. I don't have great hope, but, hey, why not? Like I said, I just wanted him to pass Pete at 14. 8 Majors later.

Pulling out of Wimbledon was tragic, after playing so well to get that far. But we Rafa fans have been through these agonizing moments many times.

Indeed.

No matter how many more titles Novak wins, I will always hold Nadal in special regard for many reasons.

Co-signed. Possibly greatest warrior that men's tennis has ever seen. Indomitable spirit. Thrilling player, and competitor. Elegant player who never broke a racquet.

View attachment 8316

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He did those, he might have another one up his sleeve. I don't have great hope, but, hey, why not? Like I said, I just wanted him to pass Pete at 14. 8 Majors later.

Indeed.

Co-signed. Possibly greatest warrior that men's tennis has ever seen. Indomitable spirit. Thrilling player, and competitor. Elegant player who never broke a racquet.

As Rafa fans we have witnessed some amazing matches, comebacks from Rafa over the years, he is truly the 'best competitor' there has been in men's tennis, so even when he does make his comeback to the tour next year, or maybe playing for Spain in DC later this year, we always know he will compete at his highest level, win or lose, as fans we really cant ask for more..

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I think Rafa's best chances to win titles next year are at the BO3, not the BO5. I can see him winning a few tournaments, even Masters tournaments, during the clay court season and the Olympics to put him past Ivan Lendl's 94 titles. One last French Open would be gravy.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Interesting quotes from the young Greek.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/wild-shots-fired-at-rafael-nadal-cost-him-his-career/news-story/cbb78817bc4c3f22bd302b743bad5e5c