Rootin' for the Villain

[Riotbeard]

Kieran,

I will say, for me it will be two sad day when both those guys retire. Tennis will be less entertaining.

Well, that's true, and it'll take a long time before we fans recover and choose replacements for them. Theirs is a rivalry which kind of looked like it would supply a constant stream of classics, about 5 years ago, but they've only met 3 times at majors since then. But even still, it'll be a hard one to ever forget. It stands easily among the pantheon of great tennis rivalries, and contrasts in style of play and demeanor on court...

I think in a lot of ways, in terms of quality matches where who know what the outcome will be, Novak vs. Rafa really became the marquis rivalry of the era. And I think in terms of the actual tennis will be remembered ahead of Fedal, even though the Fedal rivalry will be better remembered in terms of GOAT 4 or 5 years of battling for supremacy of the ATP, but other than a handful of matches... Well there are certainly Fedal classics (to say the least) but it obviously tapered off a bit.

 

[Billie]

I don't recall ever rooting for Nadal in a match.

Then it probably didn't happen, I am sure you would remember 1 time.:laydownlaughing

I wouldn't call them villain, but I probably cheered for all players at one point, even for Federer but that might have been just due to some of his fans that I like, not because of Roger's charming personality.

I think Murray is a nice guy off court, so I cheer for him at times, I used to like Rafa a lot more and strangely at the time when he used to beat Nole more frequently, but since 2011 and his attitude, I cooled off towards him. So those are the 3 biggest rivals of Nole.

I have other favourites that I cheer on when Nole is not involved, but that is not the point here, I guess. I really don't dislike anybody so this is all I have to offer.

 

[Riotbeard]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

 

[calitennis127]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

 

[Riotbeard]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

liberal.

 

[Billie]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

I feel the same; Andy made the best of his opportunities so credit goes to him. I never take Nole losses to other players so personally so that I would attack those players later on or dislike them on that basis alone. Everybody tries their best, as long as they don't trash talk my guy, I don't mind them.

 

[Billie]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

You are special, cali! But one year is enough, stop it now!

 

[Moxie]

^ Hey, Billie: I asked you about a mentioned Nole injury last year, and you said he had a minor surgery. Can you illuminate? Never heard about that. Glad he's better, anyway.

 

[Iona16]

I've probably cheered for and against most players at some point. Andy is always the favourite. Rafa is second. I would root for Novak against Roger. The only big name in tennis I've never cheered on is Roger. I'd like to say it's purely because he's been Andy's nemesis in slams but so has Novak. I have a lot of respect for Roger on and off the court but that's it. I just can't warm to him. He doesn't seem to suffer from a lack of fan support so I think he'll do ok without me

Nobody really stands out as a villain. Do we have too many nice guys in tennis?

 

[Iona16]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

I never take Nole losses to other players so personally so that I would attack those players later on or dislike them on that basis alone. Everybody tries their best, as long as they don't trash talk my guy, I don't mind them.

If only every fan were so enlightened.

 

[Moxie]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

Wow, Hell apparently can freeze over…oh, wait. Only to disprove your age theory, with a 26-27 year old Nadal? *sigh* Enthusiasm deflated. WHAwaawaaa.

 

[Billie]

^ Hey, Billie: I asked you about a mentioned Nole injury last year, and you said he had a minor surgery. Can you illuminate? Never heard about that. Glad he's better, anyway.

We came across that article few months ago, his Italian doctor was quoted as saying it, I will look for it on my other board and give you a link (found it - link is below). I know Nole visited him in Rome at the end of clay season (after Wimbledon). I remember it because I watched a video of a reporter interviewing Nole in the street in front of the clinic and they were asking him about Fabio's streak of wins (which was last year). I don't think it was anything major as he did not miss any time and apparently root canal and tooth extraction are also considered surgeries!

The article is in Serbian so you can try google translate:
http://www.b92.net/sport/tenis/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=05&dd=23&nav_id=852055

 

[TennisFanatic7]

I wouldn't say I have a "villain" in tennis. I'm a Murray man but beyond that I'm pretty neutral. I have my preferences here and there and I like to see youngsters make progress but I watch most non-Andy matches as a neutral. It depends on the situation really.

I tend to support against Rafa, Nole and to a lesser extent, Roger, just because I'm a typical Brit and I like the underdog to succeed, and of those guys playing each other, I will tend to support Federer over the other two and Djokovic over Nadal. Again, I think this is simply because Rafa has had the best of it in the last 18 months so I like to see things shake up, and obviously Roger is more of an "underdog" these days than Novak.

 

[Iona16]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

Andy made the best of his opportunities so credit goes to him.

Ok, I'm going to have to ask you what you mean as that's probably the last thing I'd ever say about Andy.

 

[Billie]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

Andy made the best of his opportunities so credit goes to him.

Ok, I'm going to have to ask you what you mean as that's probably the last thing I'd ever say about Andy.

We were talking about Andy's two slam final wins over Nole, nothing else, no overall record or achievements or records over any other players. Every player needs to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Nole couldn't cope with those two finals (and many more btw against other players), Andy did and he won them. I am sure there were cases where Nole took advantage of Andy's physical or mental state in other matches. It is all part of the game. I am sure they will have many wins against each other in future.

 

[Iona16]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

Andy made the best of his opportunities so credit goes to him.

Ok, I'm going to have to ask you what you mean as that's probably the last thing I'd ever say about Andy.

We were talking about Andy's two slam final wins over Nole, nothing else, no overall record or achievements or records over any other players. Every player needs to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Nole couldn't cope with those two finals (and many more btw against other players), Andy did and he won them. I am sure there were cases where Nole took advantage of Andy's physical or mental state in other matches. It is all part of the game. I am sure they will have many wins against each other in future.

Thanks for clarifying Billie.

 

[calitennis127]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

Wow, Hell apparently can freeze over…oh, wait. Only to disprove your age theory, with a 26-27 year old Nadal? *sigh* Enthusiasm deflated. WHAwaawaaa.

Moxie, memory check time for you. When he returned in early 2013 you should recall how many people were saying that his movement had declined and his best days were behind him.

 

[calitennis127]

^^

I think Andy is a nice guy off the court too. Don't love his game, but I was happy for him that he has some slams, although I wish he had gotten his slam at 2012 wimby and not at Nole's expense, but still am happy for him. I have rooted for Andy every all big 4 finals without novak.

Yeah, I was happy for Murray that he got his coveted Wimbledon title, but I really wouldn't want to see him win another Slam unless it is necessary for suppressing Nadal's BS.

 

[Moxie]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

Wow, Hell apparently can freeze over…oh, wait. Only to disprove your age theory, with a 26-27 year old Nadal? *sigh* Enthusiasm deflated. WHAwaawaaa.

Moxie, memory check time for you. When he returned in early 2013 you should recall how many people were saying that his movement had declined and his best days were behind him.

His movement had declined somewhat, but that's not about his age. It's about his tendonitis. And anyone who thought his best days were behind him was quickly proven wrong last year. As I said, last year he was only 26-27. I'm not sure what your theory or beef really is about saying that age affects players, but I don't know how Rafa last year proved or disproved it. That was a comeback from injury. Let's talk about how age is affecting Nadal when he's about 30, eh?

And my own memory check does not remind me of any time last year that you actively rooted for Rafa. You argued that his movement was unchanged, but you also insisted that he won a few big matches that others "should" have. (IW, RG, Cincy and the USO spring to mind.) I'd be curious to know which matches you were actually rooting for him to win.

 

[Kieran]

I somewhat rooted for Nadal in 2013 to disprove the age-ists.

Wow, Hell apparently can freeze over…oh, wait. Only to disprove your age theory, with a 26-27 year old Nadal? *sigh* Enthusiasm deflated. WHAwaawaaa.

Moxie, memory check time for you. When he returned in early 2013 you should recall how many people were saying that his movement had declined and his best days were behind him.

That's a large leap then to attribute that to his age. It was because he was rusty. Some people after his first match back last year were analysing how he looked and drawing worried conclusions. My own feeling was, let's wait til the clay season. It takes a while for the spurt and speed to return. It takes matches.

Rafa is at the stage where he's a veteran and he's heading towards old age - tennis wise - so welcome to the team, brother! We can do with a few more cheering for our feller around here... :clap