Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[Kieran]

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

Basically he’s victim shaming Rafa, which is nonsense because Rafa’s a 22 time slam champ who was top 2 of 3 for literally decades. He’s got the longest competitive span of the Big 3, in terms of significant achievement.

Novak isn’t like that, he says. This is the guy who played Novak in the Australian open final and didn’t figure out that even a bendy-stretchy figure like Novak can’t play with a hamstring injury. We all know the injury was another dishonest moment, but does Tsitsipas ever think of his own inadequacies when it comes to facing the Big 3?

 

[tented]

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

This, from a player who thinks he’s as important as Novak simply because he was in the finals. You can hear it: “Why isn’t my name next to Novak’s in this list of grand slam champions?”

 

[tented]

Roger Federer hopes Rafael Nadal ‘can go out on his own terms’

 

[Kieran]

Roger Federer hopes Rafael Nadal ‘can go out on his own terms’

He’s very reasonable, isn’t he? Generous about his rivals and wise about the game. I remember Pete was similar, he said it wasn’t in him to cheer against Roger when Roger chased Pete, and basically the reasons were the same, that they think it’s great to see players achieve great things, and it’s good for the sport..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just listening to Feli Lopez who is in commentary on the Ruud match, a very close friend of Rafa, he was asked when does he think Rafa will play next?
Feli said he thinks Roland Garros next and the Olympics are being played at Roland Garros next year as well, though he said knowing Rafa he could play more tournaments, he also said Rafa will play next year, dont count him out, he has come back,from many injuries through his career.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

At a minimum, barring further injury, I think Rafa will play the Australian Open, the clay season (Barcelona, Madrid, Rome), the French Open, and the Olympics in 2024. I can also see Rafa playing either Mexico or IW in between the AO and Barcelona.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At a minimum, barring further injury, I think Rafa will play the Australian Open, the clay season (Barcelona, Madrid, Rome), the French Open, and the Olympics in 2024. I can also see Rafa playing either Mexico or IW in between the AO and Barcelona.

Lets wait and see okay, I dont think Rafa will play a full schedule next year, Feli said he is going well at present, he didnt indicate he would play a full schedule, Feli and Rafa are very close, Feli was one of the few players Rafa invited to his wedding

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Lets wait and see okay, I dont think Rafa will play a full schedule next year, Feli said he is going well at present, he didnt indicate he would play a full schedule, Feli and Rafa are very close, Feli was one of the few players Rafa invited to his wedding

I never said he'd play a full schedule. I think Steffi's final season in 1999 is a good template, but instead of playing Wimbledon, Rafa will instead play the Olympics as his final event.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I never said he'd play a full schedule. I think Steffi's final season in 1999 is a good template, but instead of playing Wimbledon, Rafa will instead play the Olympics as his final event.

I said I dont think he will play a full schedule okay

 

[tented]

At a minimum, barring further injury, I think Rafa will play the Australian Open, the clay season (Barcelona, Madrid, Rome), the French Open, and the Olympics in 2024. I can also see Rafa playing either Mexico or IW in between the AO and Barcelona.

I think, if possible, he’ll play IW (he loves it there, and has won it several times), definitely Barcelona (the stadium is named after him!), RG and the Olympics. Maybe MC, which is also an important tournament to him. Not sure about the AO. Maybe.

 

[Jelenafan]

Wouldn’t rule Wimbledon out , Rafa loves the place & having to withdraw from the SF’s last year was bittersweet.

Suspect he wants to play at least one last Centre Court match and go out on his own terms.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At present this is highly hypothetical, where and when Rafa will play in 2024.I have not even seen Rafa practicing yet, the only picture of Rafa I have seen presently he was in attendance at the Le Mans race.Out of all the Grand Slams, I would think ,Rafa will play Roland Garros next year his backyard, and of course the Olympics which are held at Roland Garros next year as well, Rafa has always loved playing for his country. ( which Feli said in his conversation to Andrew Castle, when he was in commentary, when he was asked which tournaments Rafa would likely play in 2024)

 

[tented]

Wouldn’t rule Wimbledon out , Rafa loves the place & having to withdraw from the SF’s last year was bittersweet.

Suspect he wants to play at least one last Centre Court match and go out on his own terms.

Yes, that’s true. I bet you’re right.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yes, that’s true. I bet you’re right.

I still think it will depend on how Rafa comes through after playing RG and The Olympics, if he plays grass, again this is all hypothetical.

 

[tented]

I still think it will depend on how Rafa comes through after playing RG and The Olympics, if he plays grass, again this is all hypothetical.

Of course it’s all hypothetical. That’s the very nature of the entire discussion, but it’s fun for fans to discuss the hypotheticals.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The problem with Wimbledon is that it is in between the French Open and the Olympics. Maybe a 33 or 34-year-old Nadal could go from clay to grass then back to clay in a matter of weeks, but I can't see him pulling that at 38. That's just asking for an injury, which would end his career. I think he'll play Hamburg, instead of Wimbledon, as a tune-up for the Olympics.

 

[Jelenafan]

Interesting take on Rafa’s “tics”:

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Nadal | Defector

My first response to Rafael Nadal was admiration, but that was short-lived. On a Sunday afternoon in 2005, I watched then-18-year-old Rafa lose a five-set Miami Open final to Roger Federer. Equal parts inspired and deluded, I briefly believed that I—a seventh-grader from rural Maine who trained...

defector.com

Refreshingly, the writer, a long time Federer fan concludes it’s irrelevant the “why” of it, the speculation if its OCD, etc :

…Nadal has taught me to embrace these elements of my mind, and to not let them affect what I can control: my effort, my focus. There’s plenty of cause for self-loathing on the tennis court already; my rules, however logical or illogical, don’t have to add another reason..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Of course it’s all hypothetical. That’s the very nature of the entire discussion, but it’s fun for fans to discuss the hypotheticals.

I dont deal in hypothetical's, I will prefer to wait till I hear confirmation from Rafa/ or his team, or if I see a practice video, then I will post information, that is my opinion.I only posted the conversation here, after I heard what Feli was saying about Rafa to Andrew Castle, when he was on a game at Wimbledon,again that was only Feli's thoughts.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The problem with Wimbledon is that it is in between the French Open and the Olympics. Maybe a 33 or 34-year-old Nadal could go from clay to grass then back to clay in a matter of weeks, but I can't see him pulling that at 38. That's just asking for an injury, which would end his career. I think he'll play Hamburg, instead of Wimbledon, as a tune-up for the Olympics.

Exactly, that was my main concern,with Wimbledon next year and RG and the Olympics,, age is a prime factor, also asking for a injury which he cannot afford.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I think, if possible, he’ll play IW (he loves it there, and has won it several times), definitely Barcelona (the stadium is named after him!), RG and the Olympics. Maybe MC, which is also an important tournament to him. Not sure about the AO. Maybe.

He got to play MC