Nadalites – Rafa Nadal Talk

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hard court is now Rafa's second best surface by winning percentage ( remember when he was touted only as a player that could only play on clay)

Coming into the AO he was 494-10 on HC (.779) but with his seven wins in Melbourne he's now 501-140 (.782).

 

[rafanoy1992]

Regarding about of Best of 5 format: how about this for both men and women only in Slams, okay: In the first three rounds, it will be best of three format, then the last four rounds be best of five format. It gives the top players at least in the first three rounds to be alert from the start of the tournament. Then, in the last four rounds, last woman/man standing...

 

[tented]

Regarding about of Best of 5 format: how about this for both men and women only in Slams, okay: In the first three rounds, it will be best of three format, then the last four rounds be best of five format. It gives the top players at least in the first three rounds to be alert from the start of the tournament. Then, in the last four rounds, last woman/man standing...

No, this should never be implemented. It would throw the entire history of statistics into chaos. If majors could be won with fewer sets, the winners would be less deserving.

 

[rafanoy1992]

No, this should never be implemented. It would throw the entire history of statistics into chaos. If majors could be won with fewer sets, the winners would be less deserving.

It’s not really my idea, I just saw someone suggested it in social media.

 

[Jelenafan]

Regarding about of Best of 5 format: how about this for both men and women only in Slams, okay: In the first three rounds, it will be best of three format, then the last four rounds be best of five format. It gives the top players at least in the first three rounds to be alert from the start of the tournament. Then, in the last four rounds, last woman/man standing...

The French Open (circa 1973-75) men played best of three in the first couple or rounds, so Borg played less sets on his first 2 FO Champs. I also seem to recall that when the USO converted to green clay at Forest Hills, circa 1975-77 the mens early rounds were also best of three, though again I think by the 4th round it was best of five. The first year at the new Flushing Meadows , 1978, on hardcourts they also played the first 3 rounds of the USO mens singles best of three. I don't think those men champions are tainted because they played less sets.

So this idea isn't unprecedented. Change and modifications in sports is part and parcel, there was a time when there were no tiebreakers, no night matches, and just a year ago we had line judges in the Majors, way back the defending champ only played in the championship finals the next year, etc, etc,. I LOOOVE the idea that the women would get to play best of five the last few rounds and that it would be the same for both men and women.

 

[Jelenafan]

Carlos Moya on Rafa's plans/hopes:

Carlos Moya: Rafael Nadal motivated for more big wins after Australian Open triumph | Tennis.com

“We’re taking it week by week,” assures the former No. 1 after Nadal captured his 21st major title in Melbourne.

www.tennis.com

"Historically it's always been better on clay—it's less stressful on the foot," Moya said. "But we're going step-by-step now and we're thinking week by week because we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. He has been very good with the foot this week. Hopefully, that's something in the past, but...no one can be sure. Obviously, the objective is Roland Garros.

And on his scheduling:

Nadal's Australian Open win continues the Big Three's Majors monopoly

Parading the Australian Open trophy after his incredible victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, 35-year-old Rafael Nadal dropped more hints that he has a finite career in front of him.

www.dailymail.co.uk

According to his official sources it is not certain that, as advertised, he will play his next scheduled event, the ATP tournament in Acapulco in late February. Nor is he guaranteed to appear the Miami Open at the back end of March.

However, he does seem committed to feature at the Indian Wells Masters in California, starting on March 10. It appears there will be greater management of his physical resources going forward.

 

[Moxie]

The French Open (circa 1973-75) men played best of three in the first couple or rounds, so Borg played less sets on his first 2 FO Champs. I also seem to recall that when the USO converted to green clay at Forest Hills, circa 1975-77 the mens early rounds were also best of three, though again I think by the 4th round it was best of five. The first year at the new Flushing Meadows , 1978, on hardcourts they also played the first 3 rounds of the USO mens singles best of three. I don't think those men champions are tainted because they played less sets.

So this idea isn't unprecedented. Change and modifications in sports is part and parcel, there was a time when there were no tiebreakers, no night matches, and just a year ago we had line judges in the Majors, way back the defending champ only played in the championship finals the next year, etc, etc,. I LOOOVE the idea that the women would get to play best of five the last few rounds and that it would be the same for both men and women.

I'm going to take your post and start a thread in the General Tennis Discussions, so we can discuss it for women and for men. Many posters wouldn't find it here. Give me a minute.

 

[Jelenafan]

It's jarring to see the current top 10, nobody other than Rafa and Novak is older than 25 years, which means Rafa is playing opponents at least 10-15 years younger than him.

Let's look at his 3 last opponents at the AO.

Dennis Shapovalov DOB 4/15/1999 21 years old
Matteo Berrettini DOB 4/18/96 25 years old
Daniil Medvedev DOB 2/11/1996 25 years old

Now the ANCIENT ONE :
Rafa Nadal DOB 6/03/1986 35 Years old

So Rafa played back to back to back someone 14 , 10, and 10 years younger than the arthritic Bull. These guys physically are in their prime years. I'm waiting patiently for Nadal to finally get the "Methusaleh" or in spanish "Matusalen" treatment , ie having the excuse that he's old and decrepit and it's a miracle he beats the younger player and if they beat him, well they should because he has one foot in a retirement home. Sarcasm Off.

 

[rafanoy1992]

It's jarring to see the current top 10, nobody other than Rafa and Novak is older than 25 years, which means Rafa is playing opponents at least 10-15 years younger than him.

Let's look at his 3 last opponents at the AO.

Dennis Shapovalov DOB 4/15/1999 21 years old
Matteo Berrettini DOB 4/18/96 25 years old
Daniil Medvedev DOB 2/11/1996 25 years old

Now the ANCIENT ONE :
Rafa Nadal DOB 6/03/1986 35 Years old

So Rafa played back to back to back someone 14 , 10, and 10 years younger than the arthritic Bull. These guys physically are in their prime years. I'm waiting patiently for Nadal to finally get the "Methusaleh" or in spanish "Matusalen" treatment , ie having the excuse that he's old and decrepit and it's a miracle he beats the younger player and if they beat him, well they should because he has one foot in a retirement home. Sarcasm Off.

Here are some stats for Nadal against some players in the Top 10 (I will include Shapovalov here) not named Djokovic:

vs. Medvedev 4-1, Slams: 2-0
vs. Zverev 6-3, Slams: 1-0
vs. Tsitsipas 7-2, Slams: 1-1
vs. Berrettini 2-0, Slams: 2-0
vs. Rublev 2-1, Slams: 1-0
vs. FAA 1-0, Slams: 0-0
vs. Sinner 3-0, Slams: 2-0
vs. Shapovalov 4-1, Slams: 1-0

Total H2H record: 29-8 (78.3%); Total H2H record in Slams: 10-1 (90.9%) (8 of those wins are at HC Slam, and Sinner is the only one who has not faced Nadal at a HC slam).

Another fun fact: 36 out of 37 matches happened AFTER Nadal turned 30 years old!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Manacor City Council may discuss naming a street,airport or erecting a statue for Rafa.( I personally would like that to happen when he retires).

 

[Moxie]

The Manacor City Council may discuss naming a street,airport or erecting a statue for Rafa.( I personally would like that to happen when he retires).

Manacor has an airport? LOL. Those statues can be gross. I'd go with a nice "avenida", (and I agree, wait until he retires.)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Manacor has an airport? LOL. Those statues can be gross. I'd go with a nice "avenida", (and I agree, wait until he retires.)

Well they could re-name the airport Rafa Nadal Airport lol!.....I am not into statues....a street name would be fine...

 

[Andy22]

 

[Vince Evert]

How many times has Rafael Nadal been taken to 5 sets at the four Grand Slams?

Here's a list -

2022 Australian Open Final: R. Nadal d. D. Medvedev, 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
2022 Australian Open Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. D. Shapovalov, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3
2021 Australian Open Quarterfinal : S.Tsiptsipas d.R. Nadal, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
2017 Australian Open Final : R. Federer d. R. Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2017 Australian Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d. G. Dimitrov, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
2017 Australian Open Round 3 : R. Nadal d. A. Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
2015 Australian Open Round 3 : R. Nadal d. T. Smyczek, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 7-5
2012 Australian Open Final : N. Djokovic d. R. Nadal, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
2009 Australian Open Final : R. Nadal d. R. Federer, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
2009 Australian Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d, F. Verdasco, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
2007 Australian Open Round 4 : R. Nadal d. A. Murray, 6-7, 6-4, 4-6,6-3, 6-1
2005 Australian Open Round 4 : L. Hewitt d. R. Nadal, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2
2005 Australian Open Round 2 : R. Nadal d. M. Youzhny, 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 7.5, 6-3

2013 French Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d. N. Djokovic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7
2011 French Open Round 1 : R. Nadal d. J. Isner, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4

2018 Wimbledon Semifinal : N. Djokovic d. R. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8
2018 Wimbledon Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. J.M. Del Potro, 7-5, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2017 Wimbledon Round 4 : G. Muller d. R. Nadal, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13
2012 Wimbledon Round 2 : L. Rosal d. R. Nadal, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
2010 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. R. Haase, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
2010 Wimbledon Round 3 : R. Nadal d. P. Petzschner, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
2008 Wimbledon Final : R. Nadal d. R. Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7
2007 Wimbledon Final : R Federer d. R. Nadal, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
2007 Wimbledon Round 3 : R. Nadal d. R. Soderling, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5
2007 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. M. Youzhny, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
2006 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. R. Kendrick, 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4

2019 U.S. Open Final : R. Nadal d. D. Medvedev, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
2018 U.S. Open Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. D. Theim, 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7,7-6
2016 U.S. Open Round 4 : L. Pouille d. R. Nadal, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
2015 U.S. Open Round 3 : F. Fognini d. R. Nadal, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
2004 U.S. Open Round 1 : R. Nadal d. I. Heuberger, 6-0, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3

 

[Andy22]

 

[Andy22]

How many times has Rafael Nadal been taken to 5 sets at the four Grand Slams?

Here's a list -

2022 Australian Open Final: R. Nadal d. D. Medvedev, 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
2022 Australian Open Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. D. Shapovalov, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3
2021 Australian Open Quarterfinal : S.Tsiptsipas d.R. Nadal, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
2017 Australian Open Final : R. Federer d. R. Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2017 Australian Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d. G. Dimitrov, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
2017 Australian Open Round 3 : R. Nadal d. A. Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
2015 Australian Open Round 3 : R. Nadal d. T. Smyczek, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 7-5
2012 Australian Open Final : N. Djokovic d. R. Nadal, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
2009 Australian Open Final : R. Nadal d. R. Federer, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
2009 Australian Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d, F. Verdasco, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
2007 Australian Open Round 4 : R. Nadal d. A. Murray, 6-7, 6-4, 4-6,6-3, 6-1
2005 Australian Open Round 4 : L. Hewitt d. R. Nadal, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2

2013 French Open Semifinal : R. Nadal d. N. Djokovic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7
2011 French Open Round 1 : R. Nadal d. J. Isner, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4

2018 Wimbledon Semifinal : N. Djokovic d. R. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8
2018 Wimbledon Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. J.M. Del Potro, 7-5, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2017 Wimbledon Round 4 : G. Muller d. R. Nadal, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13
2012 Wimbledon Round 2 : L. Rosal d. R. Nadal, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
2010 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. R. Haase, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
2010 Wimbledon Round 3 : R. Nadal d. P. Petzschner, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
2008 Wimbledon Final : R. Nadal d. R. Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7
2007 Wimbledon Final : R Federer d. R. Nadal, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
2007 Wimbledon Round 3 : R. Nadal d. R. Soderling, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5
2007 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. M. Youzhny, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
2006 Wimbledon Round 2 : R. Nadal d. R. Kendrick, 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4

2019 U.S. Open Final : R. Nadal d. D. Medvedev, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
2018 U.S. Open Quarterfinal : R. Nadal d. D. Theim, 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7,7-6
2015 U.S. Open Round 3 : F. Fognini d. R. Nadal, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
2011 U.S. Open Round 4 : L. Pouille d. R. Nadal, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
2004 U.S. Open Round 1 : R. Nadal d. I. Heuberger, 6-0, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3

Great post However You change L.pouille vs. Nadal US open as it was 2016 RD 4

 

[tented]

 

[tented]

 

[Andy22]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa Nadal has confirmed he will team up with Roger Federer at the Laver Cup this September in London, representing Team Europe. (tickets go on sale in March)