Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[Moxie]

Nadal looks so fresh in this tournament (AO) The one concern coming in was his movement, but it’s impressive so far. I do think that the FH looks better than it’s looked for awhile though he can still get tentative at times.

despite his lack of Matchplay , so far he hasn’t looked that rusty at all.

He has said recently that he feels differently now than he did when he was younger about having to get in so many matches before a Major. Wise. He's learned to trust his game, and not just take confidence from recent wins and match-play.

 

[Jelenafan]

He has said recently that he feels differently now than he did when he was younger about having to get in so many matches before a Major. Wise. He's learned to trust his game, and not just take confidence from recent wins and match-play.

Let’s see if he skips one of the clay tournaments this year before Roland Garos.

 

[Moxie]

Let’s see if he skips one of the clay tournaments this year before Roland Garos.

I really hope he does. I've always thought Madrid should be the one. Or at least Barcelona.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Let’s see if he skips one of the clay tournaments this year before Roland Garos.

He will not skip MC, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome unless he is injured. He is not going to skip them as a measure of precaution.

 

[Jelenafan]

He will not skip MC, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome unless he is injured. He is not going to skip them as a measure of precaution.

You’re probably right. In particular with MC and Barcelona, how do you skip tournaments you’ve won 10 times ? The Italian is always a soft spot because some of his greatest wins have been there in winning 8 times.

I do get the feeling for whatever reasons he’s got no great love for Madrid, indeed at times he seems contemptuous with that tourney and feels pressured to participate for national/political reasons.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

You’re probably right. In particular with MC and Barcelona, how do you skip tournaments you’ve won 10 times ? The Italian is always a soft spot because some of his greatest wins have been there in winning 8 times.

I do get the feeling for whatever reasons he’s got no great love for Madrid, indeed at times he seems contemptuous with that tourney and feels pressured to participate for national/political reasons.

Yes, it is true that among the four Ralph likes Madrid the least. But he plays in there anyways due to it being a mandatory tourney and due to it being in Spain.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Let’s see if he skips one of the clay tournaments this year before Roland Garos.

I really hope he does. I've always thought Madrid should be the one. Or at least Barcelona.

Nadal and clay are one entity. If he skips a clay tournament it’s as if he’s skipping his own soul.

 

[Moxie]

He will not skip MC, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome unless he is injured. He is not going to skip them as a measure of precaution.

He has skipped Barcelona in the past, in order not to overplay, so it's not unprecedented.

You’re probably right. In particular with MC and Barcelona, how do you skip tournaments you’ve won 10 times ? The Italian is always a soft spot because some of his greatest wins have been there in winning 8 times.

I do get the feeling for whatever reasons he’s got no great love for Madrid, indeed at times he seems contemptuous with that tourney and feels pressured to participate for national/political reasons.

Well, technically he's won them both 11 times. He doesn't care for Madrid because the surface/altitude doesn't suit his game, and Ian Tiriac has practically blackmailed him in the press into playing, in the past. The upside is that it's in Spain, though.

Yes, it is true that among the four Ralph likes Madrid the least. But he plays in there anyways due to it being a mandatory tourney and due to it being in Spain.

He's earned the right to skip a couple of mandatories by now, I think. One, for sure. I can't remember the formula of wins/years on tour.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

He has skipped Barcelona in the past, in order not to overplay, so it's not unprecedented.

He skipped Barcelona as a preemptive measure only one year. Moreover that is due to the way calendar was structured in that year. If he had to play Barcelona, that would have meant playing for three weeks in a row which he wanted to avoid. Incidentally that is the only year where he did Clay-Sweep (winning all three clay masters and RG in the same year.

Rafa has has already confirmed his participation in Barcelona this year .

 

[Moxie]

He skipped Barcelona as a preemptive measure only one year. Moreover that is due to the way calendar was structured in that year. If he had to play Barcelona, that would have meant playing for three weeks in a row which he wanted to avoid. Incidentally that is the only year where he did Clay-Sweep (winning all three clay masters and RG in the same year.

Rafa has has already confirmed his participation in Barcelona this year .

Still, I think it's clear that he's learned that he not only doesn't need to play as much as he used to think he did to be ready for a Major, if anything, this one has shown that fresher is better. I do think he'll take a lesson away from that. He's talked about it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

He's earned the right to skip a couple of mandatories by now, I think. One, for sure. I can't remember the formula of wins/years on tour.

I believe Rafa satisfies all the conditions for exemptions and so can miss even all the mandatory tournaments. But, the reason he likes to play in as many clay tourneys as possible should be obvious to you. He can accumulate lot of points there (almost guaranteed). Just from the clay points alone he can be in top 10. Why would he want to miss out on them?

 

[Moxie]

I believe Rafa satisfies all the conditions for exemptions and so can miss even all the mandatory tournaments. But, the reason he likes to play in as many clay tourneys as possible should be obvious to you. He can accumulate lot of points there (almost guaranteed). Just from the clay points alone he can be in top 10. Why would he want to miss out on them?

Hm, interesting, thanks. It is obvious why he likes to play the clay tournaments. It is just as obvious, to me, you, and I think to him, that, at this age and state of knees, he's got to protect his RG. If he plays them all, for points or just because he likes them, he's a fool, IMO.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I do not have a problem with him playing at Barcelona because the court conditions is similar to the court conditions at Roland Garros. On the other hand, Madrid is just not a good preparation for him. I really wish he just skips Madrid and rest his body.

 

[tented]

I do not have a problem with him playing at Barcelona because the court conditions is similar to the court conditions at Roland Garros. On the other hand, Madrid is just not a good preparation for him. I really wish he just skips Madrid and rest his body.

I doubt he’ll skip Madrid — the pressure to play in Spain is too great. If the Madrid tournament were elsewhere, and all things stayed the same (altitude, court, etc.), he would skip it for sure.

 

[Jelenafan]

Ion Iriac is just an ass.

 

[Andy22]

I like see that nadal does with Miami + india wells, he should skip both to be honest, maybe just play Indian wells seeing has nadal won that event 3 times.

 

[Andy22]

This is that I think nadal should play this season 1. Indian wells 2. Monte carlo 3. Madrid 4. Rome 5. RG 6. Wimbledon 7. Rogers cup 8. USO 9. China open 10. WTF

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I posted his planned schedule in Post #741.

Barring injuries he plan to play in all of them.

 

[King Roger]

When is Nadal retiring that’s all we need to know

 

[Horsa]

When is Nadal retiring that’s all we need to know

Someday.