Rafael Nadal: Discuss His Future Scheduling Strategy

[ClayDeath]

he is going to basel, Beijing, and shanghai. and may be foolish enough to work in paris masters.

I believe he has exos lined up on indoor hard courts in south America in December.

this is risky stuff. next knee injury will probably finish all his forward progress.

I don't see why the #1 rank is so damned important. the world knows and the players know that he is the top gun for 2013. showing up healthy, fit, and fresh in 2014 takes precedence over everything now.

I would not have any issues with his going for the #1 rank if he did not have such a long history of knee issues.

he has thrown away over 2 years of his very prime years. that is a luxury he cannot afford anymore. he is in a race against time now and it all ends in 2-3 years.

 

[huntingyou]

Excellent post huntingyou.

I'm afraid some fans lack perspective when it comes to their player. Rafa is a phenomenal athlete but I don't see the career trajectory that some people see for him. If he ends his career with 15-18 slams I wouldn't be shocked but to act as though it's a given for him is something else. Rafa will not be dismissing his rivals either.

Thanks!

I don't know what happened but it feels like we just entered the Twilight Zone after Rafa ran through the American HC season. Yes, he was phenomenal and it certainly boost his case as one of the greatest
but it also took a little bit of luck and such luck it's hard to come by.

Juts look at Andy, it's obvious he had a hang over after realizing his lifetime dream but make no mistake about it......he is one of the few players capable of beating Rafa straight up in a Slam, specially on Hards. He will bounce back at the AO ready to make a push.

It will be a battle between the top 3 players and giving Rafa weeks at #1 and slams that he hasn't won it's borderline crazy and makes discussion impossible to sustain.

 

[Moxie]

The board needs to ban nadal2005rg troll.

Makes any conversation worth having impossible. You guys are letting few personalities ruin the discussion.

Nadal will not win 18 Slams, Nadal will not win 5 UO titles....he will be lucky if he can tie Federer at 17. Also, he will not reach 200 plus weeks at #1......150+ it's possible if he can manage his schedule and perform at a high level next year.

As a matter of fact, Rafa will not beat Murray-Novak back to back at the HC slams; impossible. So at this point, we are talking about draws in order for Rafa to have a good shot at the AO next year.

and please don't dismiss Novak...........he can beat Rafa at RG, eventually he will want it too much and Rafa will want it a little bit less. That's all it will take

finally, Wimbledon it's the most prestigious event in tennis, one more Wimbledon will secure Rafa's place among the all time great grass courters and will give him the unique honor of winning 3+ slams in three surfaces......something that might never be equal in our lifetime.

HY, you are putting forth that Nadal2005RG should be banned because you don't agree with his opinion. Am I right? If it's because he's all over the boards right now with his opinion, well, it's nice to have you back. You haven't been around for a while. People have a right to post, and express their opinions. If folks think that there's too much of one or another, right now, they should counter with opinions and argument. And open threads of their own.

I don't think anyone really wants us to ban a member for having an opinion. For being disruptive...we can moderate. But we also count on the membership to debate forceful posters. If you don't want to do that, then don't complain if they run the conversation. Some of the rest of us are trying.

 

[ClayDeath]

I would have to agree. it is not a bad idea to go after another double: RG+Wimbledon.

that is the ultimate prestige and the ultimate challenge in our sport.

it took over 30 years after borg for somebody good enough to come along and do this. nadal could add to his legendary status in the sport by recording one more double.

he might be able to pull it off with smarter scheduling.

 

[huntingyou]

The board needs to ban nadal2005rg troll.

Makes any conversation worth having impossible. You guys are letting few personalities ruin the discussion.

Nadal will not win 18 Slams, Nadal will not win 5 UO titles....he will be lucky if he can tie Federer at 17. Also, he will not reach 200 plus weeks at #1......150+ it's possible if he can manage his schedule and perform at a high level next year.

As a matter of fact, Rafa will not beat Murray-Novak back to back at the HC slams; impossible. So at this point, we are talking about draws in order for Rafa to have a good shot at the AO next year.

and please don't dismiss Novak...........he can beat Rafa at RG, eventually he will want it too much and Rafa will want it a little bit less. That's all it will take

finally, Wimbledon it's the most prestigious event in tennis, one more Wimbledon will secure Rafa's place among the all time great grass courters and will give him the unique honor of winning 3+ slams in three surfaces......something that might never be equal in our lifetime.

HY, you are putting forth that Nadal2005RG should be banned because you don't agree with his opinion. Am I right? If it's because he's all over the boards right now with his opinion, well, it's nice to have you back. You haven't been around for a while. People have a right to post, and express their opinions. If folks think that there's too much of one or another, right now, they should counter with opinions and argument. And open threads of their own.

I don't think anyone really wants us to ban a member for having an opinion. For being disruptive...we can moderate. But we also count on the membership to debate forceful posters. If you don't want to do that, then don't complain if they run the conversation. Some of the rest of us are trying.

moxie, I have been in this board since late 2006......I know when a poster it's a legit person looking to exchange opinions, no matter how ridiculous they could be sometimes and when a poster has ONE AIM and only ONE AIM.........and believe me, this aim it's not to exchange opinions. I advice to read the definition of troll and meditate on it.

I'm not going to waste my valuable time on posters like nadal2005.....I did it in the past and recently with cali and I regret it terrible. My time it's precious and I want to talk with the likes of darth, riot, BS, kieran, etc..........I know for a fact all those posters are looking for legit tennis discussions.

 

[huntingyou]

I would have to agree. it is not a bad idea to go after another double: RG+Wimbledon.

that is the ultimate prestige and the ultimate challenge in our sport.

it took over 30 years after borg for somebody good enough to come along and do this. nadal could add to his legendary status in the sport by recording one more double.

he might be able to pull it off with smarter scheduling.

herc, I believe another channel slam in this era will cement Rafa as the GOAT..........he should maximize his schedule for RG-SW19.....forget the ranking and everything else.

 

[Moxie]

The board needs to ban nadal2005rg troll.

Makes any conversation worth having impossible. You guys are letting few personalities ruin the discussion.

Nadal will not win 18 Slams, Nadal will not win 5 UO titles....he will be lucky if he can tie Federer at 17. Also, he will not reach 200 plus weeks at #1......150+ it's possible if he can manage his schedule and perform at a high level next year.

As a matter of fact, Rafa will not beat Murray-Novak back to back at the HC slams; impossible. So at this point, we are talking about draws in order for Rafa to have a good shot at the AO next year.

and please don't dismiss Novak...........he can beat Rafa at RG, eventually he will want it too much and Rafa will want it a little bit less. That's all it will take

finally, Wimbledon it's the most prestigious event in tennis, one more Wimbledon will secure Rafa's place among the all time great grass courters and will give him the unique honor of winning 3+ slams in three surfaces......something that might never be equal in our lifetime.

HY, you are putting forth that Nadal2005RG should be banned because you don't agree with his opinion. Am I right? If it's because he's all over the boards right now with his opinion, well, it's nice to have you back. You haven't been around for a while. People have a right to post, and express their opinions. If folks think that there's too much of one or another, right now, they should counter with opinions and argument. And open threads of their own.

I don't think anyone really wants us to ban a member for having an opinion. For being disruptive...we can moderate. But we also count on the membership to debate forceful posters. If you don't want to do that, then don't complain if they run the conversation. Some of the rest of us are trying.

moxie, I have been in this board since late 2006......I know when a poster it's a legit person looking to exchange opinions, no matter how ridiculous they could be sometimes and when a poster has ONE AIM and only ONE AIM.........and believe me, this aim it's not to exchange opinions. I advice to read the definition of troll and meditate on it.

I'm not going to waste my valuable time on posters like nadal2005.....I did it in the past and recently with cali and I regret it terrible. My time it's precious and I want to talk with the likes of darth, riot, BS, kieran, etc..........I know for a fact all those posters are looking for legit tennis discussions.

I know you have been with us a long time, and I appreciate that you really just want to talk to people whose opinions you value. I'm not trying to undervalue that, but do you really just want us to be that website that bans people out of irritation? Anyway, enough members have spoken. I promise you that an effort will be made at moderation.

 

[huntingyou]

I know you have been with us a long time, and I appreciate that you really just want to talk to people whose opinions you value. I'm not trying to undervalue that, but do you really just want us to be that website that bans people out of irritation? Anyway, enough members have spoken. I promise you that an effort will be made at moderation.

I know it sounds harsh but there is really no other medicine you could use when confronted with such situation. It's hard because everybody it's entitle to their opinion........I mean, do it how you see fit but I'm telling you trolling drives posters away and kills discussion unless everybody just ignore the poster by using the option. That's what I did with a particular poster myself.

 

[Moxie]

I know you have been with us a long time, and I appreciate that you really just want to talk to people whose opinions you value. I'm not trying to undervalue that, but do you really just want us to be that website that bans people out of irritation? Anyway, enough members have spoken. I promise you that an effort will be made at moderation.

I know it sounds harsh but there is really no other medicine you could use when confronted with such situation. It's hard because everybody it's entitle to their opinion........I mean, do it how you see fit but I'm telling you trolling drives posters away and kills discussion unless everybody just ignore the poster by using the option. That's what I did with a particular poster myself.

That is our specific worry. We don't want to over-moderate, but we don't want to drive good people away. We promise to deal with the problem, but we also ask all of you to stay and debate.

 

[ClayDeath]

I would have to agree. it is not a bad idea to go after another double: RG+Wimbledon.

that is the ultimate prestige and the ultimate challenge in our sport.

it took over 30 years after borg for somebody good enough to come along and do this. nadal could add to his legendary status in the sport by recording one more double.

he might be able to pull it off with smarter scheduling.

herc, I believe another channel slam in this era will cement Rafa as the GOAT..........he should maximize his schedule for RG-SW19.....forget the ranking and everything else.

and what a way that would be for him to finish his career.

that is by far the toughest test in our sport:

rg is the most difficult slam to win and Wimbledon ranks very high in prestige.

I would worry less about the Australian open and dream more about this channel challenge.


just as nole said that RG was his highest priority last year, similarly nadal can make this channel slam a huge priority for himself in 2014. and then just let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Iona16]

Excellent post huntingyou.

I'm afraid some fans lack perspective when it comes to their player. Rafa is a phenomenal athlete but I don't see the career trajectory that some people see for him. If he ends his career with 15-18 slams I wouldn't be shocked but to act as though it's a given for him is something else. Rafa will not be dismissing his rivals either.

Thanks!

I don't know what happened but it feels like we just entered the Twilight Zone after Rafa ran through the American HC season. Yes, he was phenomenal and it certainly boost his case as one of the greatest
but it also took a little bit of luck and such luck it's hard to come by.

Juts look at Andy, it's obvious he had a hang over after realizing his lifetime dream but make no mistake about it......he is one of the few players capable of beating Rafa straight up in a Slam, specially on Hards. He will bounce back at the AO ready to make a push.

It will be a battle between the top 3 players and giving Rafa weeks at #1 and slams that he hasn't won it's borderline crazy and makes discussion impossible to sustain.

After Andy won the US Open last year he was asked how many majors he thought he could win and he said "3". Some people thought he was setting a low target but he reminded people just how hard it had been to win one. After he won Wimbledon there were ex-players etc saying he could win 6+ majors. Right now I'd be happy to see him win another one. I don't feel the need to try and jump ahead.

I don't think we should be giving players slams they haven't won yet. Even a player as talented and accomplished as Rafa will be thinking no further ahead than slam #14.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

The board needs to ban nadal2005rg troll.

Makes any conversation worth having impossible. You guys are letting few personalities ruin the discussion.

Nadal will not win 18 Slams, Nadal will not win 5 UO titles....he will be lucky if he can tie Federer at 17. Also, he will not reach 200 plus weeks at #1......150+ it's possible if he can manage his schedule and perform at a high level next year.

Ask yourself this: Have you been right about Nadal regarding the following:
- being the only man ever to win slams for 9 years in a row,
- the only man ever to win slams on clay/grass/hardcourt in a calendar year (2010),
- the only player to win 26 masters shields,
- win 22 hardcourt matches in a row at age 27....
- defeat djokovic in 6 of their last 7 meetings (post-2012 AO)?

And also ask yourself whether you know more than Toni Nadal. Toni Nadal said-

"It is not too far way," Toni Nadal told The Australian after Nadal collected the 13th major of his career by mowing down Novak Djokovic in an electrifying final of the US Open. "It is getting very, very close for Rafa to be level with Roger or more."

BTW I said 4-5 US Open titles. See, if Nadal wins a 3rd US Open title, 4-5 US Open titles will be on the cards. Now are you willing to rule out Nadal winning that 3rd US Open title? He has 2 already, and now in his hardcourt prime.

And weeks ranked number 1, he already has 102 weeks, and with a huge chance at maintaining the top ranking for all of 2014 (he can gain major points at the Australian Open, Miami, Wimbledon) even without defending events like Canada/Cincy. He is in a truly advantageous position, especially since his doctor ran all kinds of tests on his knee and found his tendons to be 100% healthy in 2013 (unlike 2008-2012, when he had regular knee problems). So let us follow that path and say Nadal will have 160 weeks by the end of 2014....are you then going to say "Nadal won't have a chance of being ranked #1 during 2015".....? It would be foolish to rule out 2015 (especially considering that Nadal said his top priority is the 2016 Olympics). And that would indicate 200+ weeks is attainable.

You can oppose whatever you want, but its not fair to disallow others their right to an opinion. I suspect not all of you are from democratic countries, but I'm pretty sure this forum is intended to be democratic.

 

[ClayDeath]

I cannot see nadal winning another u.s. open at the moment.

lets just say that it all worked out for the best this time.

more slams on natural surfaces are more likely from my own vantage point going forward.

this is a guy who was limping during practice at Wimbledon.


next knee injury is right around the damn block if he is not careful.

this blundering buffoon was practicing on his indoor hard court in Mallorca before showing up for Wimbledon. and all the while he complained about the constant pain in the knee.

 

[Moxie]

Excellent post huntingyou.

I'm afraid some fans lack perspective when it comes to their player. Rafa is a phenomenal athlete but I don't see the career trajectory that some people see for him. If he ends his career with 15-18 slams I wouldn't be shocked but to act as though it's a given for him is something else. Rafa will not be dismissing his rivals either.

Thanks!

I don't know what happened but it feels like we just entered the Twilight Zone after Rafa ran through the American HC season. Yes, he was phenomenal and it certainly boost his case as one of the greatest
but it also took a little bit of luck and such luck it's hard to come by.

Juts look at Andy, it's obvious he had a hang over after realizing his lifetime dream but make no mistake about it......he is one of the few players capable of beating Rafa straight up in a Slam, specially on Hards. He will bounce back at the AO ready to make a push.

It will be a battle between the top 3 players and giving Rafa weeks at #1 and slams that he hasn't won it's borderline crazy and makes discussion impossible to sustain.

After Andy won the US Open last year he was asked how many majors he thought he could win and he said "3". Some people thought he was setting a low target but he reminded people just how hard it had been to win one. After he won Wimbledon there were ex-players etc saying he could win 6+ majors. Right now I'd be happy to see him win another one. I don't feel the need to try and jump ahead.

I don't think we should be giving players slams they haven't won yet. Even a player as talented and accomplished as Rafa will be thinking no further ahead than slam #14.

Good point, Iona. It's not that it's just modest, it's that it's realistic. They're all playing at such a high level, who can predict that one gets something over the others?

 

[Jelenafan]

I worry about Rafa playing the back to back grind of Bejing/Shanghai and Basel/Paris Indoors. If he can overtake Nole with a win at Bejing, I'd think it woudl be smart to withdraw from Shanghai even though it is a Masters. I'd skip Basel and just play Paris before London.

 

[ClayDeath]

he might skip paris. at least I am hoping he skips it.

 

[Front242]

I cannot see nadal winning another u.s. open at the moment.

lets just say that it all worked out for the best this time.

more slams on natural surfaces are more likely from my own vantage point going forward.

this is a guy who was limping during practice at Wimbledon.


next knee injury is right around the damn block if he is not careful.

this blundering buffoon was practicing on his indoor hard court in Mallorca before showing up for Wimbledon. and all the while he complained about the constant pain in the knee.

And the blundering buffoon's hard court practice won him 2 hardcourt masters 1000 titles at Montreal and Cincy and the US Open. Not bad for a blundering buffoon, or maybe, just maybe, the practice paid off.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

clay death may not appreciate Nadal's efforts, but Nadal's fans certainly do. This year has been even more fun than 2010. The only thing left is to say hello and goodbye to Murray. Let's hope they meet soon, although either way they'll surely meet at the World Tour Finals (where Nadal beat Murray in 2010). I've always found Nadal-Murray more entertaining than Nadal-Djokovic.

 

[Iona16]

clay death may not appreciate Nadal's efforts, but Nadal's fans certainly do. This year has been even more fun than 2010. The only thing left is to say hello and goodbye to Murray. Let's hope they meet soon, although either way they'll surely meet at the World Tour Finals (where Nadal beat Murray in 2010). I've always found Nadal-Murray more entertaining than Nadal-Djokovic.

Do you know what happened when Murray played Nadal in Tokyo 2 years ago? Andy beat Rafa in 3 sets. The last set was 6-0 and Rafa won just 4 points in that set. Do you know what that means? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Do you know why? It's because it was TWO years ago and it was ONE match. Rafa isn't the player he was then but neither is Andy. Does that mean Andy will win? No, it doesn't. It doesn't mean Rafa will either.

 

[Moxie]

clay death may not appreciate Nadal's efforts, but Nadal's fans certainly do. This year has been even more fun than 2010. The only thing left is to say hello and goodbye to Murray. Let's hope they meet soon, although either way they'll surely meet at the World Tour Finals (where Nadal beat Murray in 2010). I've always found Nadal-Murray more entertaining than Nadal-Djokovic.

Do you know what happened when Murray played Nadal in Tokyo 2 years ago? Andy beat Rafa in 3 sets. The last set was 6-0 and Rafa won just 4 points in that set. Do you what that means? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Do you know why? It's because it was TWO years ago and it was ONE match. Rafa isn't the player he was then but neither is Andy. Does that mean Andy will win? No, it doesn't. It doesn't mean Rafa will either.

Actually, a think a lot of folks are really itching to see the two of them play...precisely because it has been 2 years, and Rafa hasn't played Andy since Lendl came on board. And yes, Andy won the last meeting.