Rafa - Calendar Grand Slam - 2014?

[GameSetAndMath]

Read the following article.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rafael-nadal-could-end-goat-debate-calendar-slam-162500892--ten.html

Will it happen?

 

[Moxie]

Everyone has been salivating over the notion of someone getting the calendar Grand Slam ever since the first time Roger got 3 in one year. Will it happen for Rafa in 2014? It's as unlikely as it ever is, though I will say, if he's going to do it, it will have to be next year. At least one Djokovic fan here has already expressed hope that Nole will do it next year. Nothing to do but wait for Oz, because that will provide us with the only person who at least has the possibility.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

1. I think his chances look brighter than before considering his North American hard court
sweep of 2013.

2. AO is probably more difficult for RAFA than the other 3 slams at this time.

3. If Rafa manages to snatch AO, suddenly his chances of calendar grand slam will
skyrocket.

4. (K)needsless to say, all of the above are subject to ...............

 

[Moxie]

I agree that he seems to have increased his chances, given his new affinity for the HCs, which is why I'm not sure why you think AO is the most difficult of his obstacles. Probably you mean because Djokovic is in his way there, and Novak does love Oz, but I don't see how it's a bigger obstacle than Wimbledon, which has gotten the better of him the last 2 years, by far.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I do not think Nadal or anyone will achieve the Calendar Grand Slam in the near future. I just think it requires a lot of work and luck to achieve this spectacular feat.

Now, what do I think is possible is Nadal winning his second Career Grand Slam in 2014. I know two players have won two career grand slams, but no male player has won each Grand Slam at least twice in the Open Era.

 

[Kieran]

No, he won't, and not only because it would involve winning FIVE slams in a row. He won't do it because there should be enough good players to stop him at least once - and maybe twice - in the majors next year...

 

[brokenshoelace]

No.

 

[Tennis Miller]

No, he won't, and not only because it would involve winning FIVE slams in a row. He won't do it because there should be enough good players to stop him at least once - and maybe twice - in the majors next year...

Agreed. And also, to put it bluntly, when was the last time he had two strong healthy years in a row? It could happen, but history is against him. On the other hand, betting against Rafa could be a costly proposition.

(Is that wishy-washy, on-the-fence enough?)

Cheers

TM

 

[Riotbeard]

No, he won't, and not only because it would involve winning FIVE slams in a row. He won't do it because there should be enough good players to stop him at least once - and maybe twice - in the majors next year...

This.

 

[August]

He's struggled on grass in the recent years, so Wimbledon will be hard for him.

Also, he hasn't been able to back great seasons 2008 and 2010 with another one. So how he could do that now?

And the AO surface is obciously a bit similar to the WTF, slow but quite a low bounce. And we remember the WTF final.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And the AO surface is obciously a bit similar to the WTF, slow but quite a low bounce. And we remember the WTF final.

The AO surface is medium paced, not slow, and the ball bounce is quite high actually.

 

[August]

And the AO surface is obciously a bit similar to the WTF, slow but quite a low bounce. And we remember the WTF final.

The AO surface is medium paced, not slow, and the ball bounce is quite high actually.

Sometimes you hear the AO has a high bounce, sometimes you hear it has a low bounce. Given how high-bouncing most courts are nowadays, I think it has a high bounce, but lower than an average surface on the tour.

But definitely I wouldn't call it medium-paced.

 

[DarthFed]

The AO is definitely not a low bounce and I think it could be called slow, it is a lot closer to IW and Miami than Cincy and USO.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And the AO surface is obciously a bit similar to the WTF, slow but quite a low bounce. And we remember the WTF final.

The AO surface is medium paced, not slow, and the ball bounce is quite high actually.

Sometimes you hear the AO has a high bounce, sometimes you hear it has a low bounce. Given how high-bouncing most courts are nowadays, I think it has a high bounce, but lower than an average surface on the tour.

But definitely I wouldn't call it medium-paced.

The AO is a pretty high bounce. It reacts very well to Nadal's spin, and the hot conditions help.

It's a slow to medium court. All players say that.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

no way..not with djokovic, del potro, and a rested murray (he won 2 majors carrying back injury), an improving raonic and Federer still a potential winner maybe.

and there is his poor form at Wimbledon in recent years, and his wonky knees.

and rafa might have to face the player no one wants to play..the mighty grigor dimitrov.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I agree that he seems to have increased his chances, given his new affinity for the HCs, which is why I'm not sure why you think AO is the most difficult of his obstacles. Probably you mean because Djokovic is in his way there, and Novak does love Oz, but I don't see how it's a bigger obstacle than Wimbledon, which has gotten the better of him the last 2 years, by far.

Yes, I am saying that due to the stranglehold of Djokovic on AO.

True, Nadal has not performed well recently in Wimbledon. However, his
overall track record in Wimbledon (5 finals and 2 titles) is much better than
his track record in AO, I suppose.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Will it happen for Rafa in 2014? It's as unlikely as it ever is, though I will say, if he's going to do it, it will have to be next year.

Rafa had Wimbledon problems in recent years. The consensus seems to be that if he can
get out of the early rounds, he becomes a serious contended at Wimbledon. In the early
rounds, it is apparently a problem because he does not get enough practice to play well
on grass. If that be really the case, the extra week of break between FO and Wimbledon,
might help him. This extra week starts from 2015 only.

So, I don't understand why you say, it is 2014 or never.

My take; it is 2014 or 2015 or never.

 

[Moxie]

I agree that he seems to have increased his chances, given his new affinity for the HCs, which is why I'm not sure why you think AO is the most difficult of his obstacles. Probably you mean because Djokovic is in his way there, and Novak does love Oz, but I don't see how it's a bigger obstacle than Wimbledon, which has gotten the better of him the last 2 years, by far.

Yes, I am saying that due to the stranglehold of Djokovic on AO.

True, Nadal has not performed well recently in Wimbledon. However, his
overall track record in Wimbledon (5 finals and 2 titles) is much better than
his track record in AO, I suppose.

Nothing to do but wait for the AO, I guess.

Will it happen for Rafa in 2014? It's as unlikely as it ever is, though I will say, if he's going to do it, it will have to be next year.

Rafa had Wimbledon problems in recent years. The consensus seems to be that if he can
get out of the early rounds, he becomes a serious contended at Wimbledon. In the early
rounds, it is apparently a problem because he does not get enough practice to play well
on grass. If that be really the case, the extra week of break between FO and Wimbledon,
might help him. This extra week starts from 2015 only.

So, I don't understand why you say, it is 2014 or never.

My take; it is 2014 or 2015 or never.

I like your thinking. I hadn't thought about the extra week. Maybe I was thinking about his age as being a "now or never." Realistically, I think the Calendar Slam is a pipe dream with this field, but I'm willing to go with you and say that Rafa has 2 more years where it MIGHT be possible. :clap

 

[kskate2]

No one is winning a calendar slam right now.

 

[Kieran]

"Right now" is correct, but I believe it'll be done within ten or fifteen years. The game is ripe for it, the surfaces have aligned and all it takes is a player of Fedal calibre to have a season without a main rival. Roger almost achieved it - except he had to face Rafa in Paris. Other than this, he was virtually unopposed. Somebody will do it. It's more in reach now than it's ever been since Rocket Rod did it...