The Fall of Rafael Nadal
- Thread starter ClayDeath
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now lets get to the business at hand:
what are your expectations for rafa at the north American hard court circuit?
what are your expectations for rafa at the north American hard court circuit?
Carol
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Honesty I have not any idea how he will do at next HC. First I'd like to know if his wrist is going to be ok and if he would have enough time to practice. I know that he is going through and intense therapy and also has a very good Doctor who always has taken a good care of him
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I love this post, Carol, it's so true. The hatred can't possibly be for Rafa, because Rafa has done nothing but play the game of tennis. The commentators will never forgive him for showing Federer to be human. Rafa is a thorn in their side. One of the things that get me the most is the BS "physical style" crap they've been spewing for years, which doesn't make a lick of sense. The game is physical and everyone who's in the game plays a physical game, because tennis is a physical sport.
They only have this "physical" excuse for Rafa, but they ignore the injury laden del Potro, Haas, Vika, and a host of others. Sadly, they've convinced many people about the lame 20 second rule which has NEVER been used in tennis. One only has to view old matches to see how long people took between points, but yet, many people label Rafa a rule breaker and a cheater based on the stupidity of the commentators. Notice though, that they've only started recently giving other people time violations to cover their backs.
It's amazing how only a few can convince the masses. It's the nature of humans to follow without thinking for themselves.
Carol
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But you know? at the end most of the good tennis followers will remember Rafa like a one of the gratest and admirated player since he was 18 years old and also like great person in and off of the court like many players say and people who knows him close and that's the most important thing
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Precisely, as a fan of Rafa's it's not about titles and trophies it's about someone playing the game honorably, treating not just his peers but everyone on the tour both male and female with respect. Always taking the time to let fans infringe because he understands his role as a public figure. It's remaining humble, never downtalking others, and never acting like a diva. It's his humanity for me, like Rafa has said in the past, and I'm paraphrasing, "It's only a game." But to do it with as much honor as he does is just unbelievable.
As a fan, I could never be disappointed in Rafa, because to me, he's a walking example of what a sportsperson should be, the same person they were when they came on the tour. Priceless!
negative.
it is not only a game.
it is his whole world. tennis is what made him what he became.
without it he would have been working for his father for a nominal living.
get this right: tennis is his whole world. it is the only world he has ever known and the only world he will ever know.
they all say that it is just a game. but the game nets some of them $1 billion dollars.
so it is not a game. it is their entire world. it is their profession. that is what they do. that is what they are good at.
it is not only a game.
it is his whole world. tennis is what made him what he became.
without it he would have been working for his father for a nominal living.
get this right: tennis is his whole world. it is the only world he has ever known and the only world he will ever know.
they all say that it is just a game. but the game nets some of them $1 billion dollars.
so it is not a game. it is their entire world. it is their profession. that is what they do. that is what they are good at.
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In the scheme of the universe it is only a game. We are not what we do or what we amass. When people take things and put them into different contexts they make it more than a game. A great example of this is the Great Depression when people lunged out of buildings because their status and lives were ruined by the stock market. These people, without their "things and status" jumped to their deaths because their self-worth was not in themselves, but in their accumulated assets which were privy to the market.
I wouldn't have jumped out of a tall building based on material things, you take a loss and keep it moving.
It's OK for it to mean that to you, but it will never mean that to me...in a million years. I don't get that mindset at all. Happiness and contentment whatever my circumstances does it for me. No one outside of me determines my worth. Only I have the privilege of deciding what I will and won't do and what others think, do, or say about my endeavors is their problem, not mine.
Rafa is happy, win or lose. Even during his "darkest moments" according to his fans, he is enjoying himself, his family and loved ones and he is still financially set for life. Why would he be worrying about things that are not under his control? We disagree on this...totally.
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there is not anyone out there who is not winning matches if that is what they are determined to do.
players who cant even move and who have damn near no game and are nearly 35-38 year old are doing well at slams simply because they are determined to.
rafa just doesn't care to win. I cant understand how people don't see that. he has done exactly nothing to improve his game and his fitness since 2010.
that is the biggest reason why he cant win and now wont bother because the mountain to scale is simply too steep.
we told you about these injuries. now injured 7 times in last 8 years. that is what happens when you refuse to put in the long hard yards on the fitness front.
it will lead to one injury after another until you are irrelevant. and that is what he is now. irrelevant in the sport.
that rank means nothing.
inactivity has ruined his game but lined his pockets.
he is more popular than ever and richer than ever. he is making more money than ever before.
14 majors and his skyrocketing popularity will allow him to hit $1billion in net worth at some point in life.
big money had to be one of the factors for the complacency.
big money just made it that much easier to walk away from the sport. but the biggest reason he is irrelevant in the sport is because he never bothered to improve, progress, innovate, and take his fitness and physicality to the next level.
the youth and his once relentless drive to compete, battle, and win served him well.
players who cant even move and who have damn near no game and are nearly 35-38 year old are doing well at slams simply because they are determined to.
rafa just doesn't care to win. I cant understand how people don't see that. he has done exactly nothing to improve his game and his fitness since 2010.
that is the biggest reason why he cant win and now wont bother because the mountain to scale is simply too steep.
we told you about these injuries. now injured 7 times in last 8 years. that is what happens when you refuse to put in the long hard yards on the fitness front.
it will lead to one injury after another until you are irrelevant. and that is what he is now. irrelevant in the sport.
that rank means nothing.
inactivity has ruined his game but lined his pockets.
he is more popular than ever and richer than ever. he is making more money than ever before.
14 majors and his skyrocketing popularity will allow him to hit $1billion in net worth at some point in life.
big money had to be one of the factors for the complacency.
big money just made it that much easier to walk away from the sport. but the biggest reason he is irrelevant in the sport is because he never bothered to improve, progress, innovate, and take his fitness and physicality to the next level.
the youth and his once relentless drive to compete, battle, and win served him well.
Carol
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Meanwhile some people are under the rain others are under the sun...
Meanwhile some people are under the rain others are under the sun...
Rafa is the only one who could have stopped djokovic.
now watch djokovic take every tournament and every slam under the sun.
bring on the vacations and the good life.
rafa looks like he has lost or shed nearly 70 % of his fitness and physicality.
clearly this is over. and it has been for a long time but you folks just did not want to believe it.
rafa looks like he has lost or shed nearly 70 % of his fitness and physicality.
clearly this is over. and it has been for a long time but you folks just did not want to believe it.
Carol
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Rafa never loses his smile, he always looks happy and I'm sure he will be back to give more than one upset to some folks...
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Meanwhile some people are under the rain others are under the sun...
Rafa has to love his life. His life appears to be so balanced. He has he best of both worlds. He's not sacrificing his family and relationships for tennis only, in the pursuit of more hardware. He still has a high paying job, is working on his academy and helping others. I don't think it can get any better to be honest. He has such a great perspective about life, career, and family. Amazing man.
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Rafa never loses his smile, he always looks happy and I'm sure he will be back to give more than one upset to some folks...
That's what I love the most about him, Carol. The pursuit of happiness, rather than the constant chasing of temporary accolades. History shows us that achievements fade; no matter how lofty they appear at a certain moment in time. It's best to enjoy your life and not get hung up on such superficial and trivial matters. At the top of the list of things that I prioritize is contentment in myself, my family and my life. There is nothing that man can do that affects my sense of self-worth. That's how I see Rafa, and it's why I respect him so much. He is the most well-rounded athlete, him and Serena. That is so endearing, they have awesome careers, but they also live at the same time. I love that.
nothing seems to work on Rafa. nothing.
the more these 40 year olds win with little or no game in these slams the less motivated rafa gets.
just bring on the endless vacations.
you play and compete to win. winning is the only thing.
there is nobody out there who is a rafa fan that does not want him to win.
only a damn fool would say that it is ok for him to keep getting killed out there and also keep getting injured time and again.
it is not ok. he should do something about it but we know he wont.
the more these 40 year olds win with little or no game in these slams the less motivated rafa gets.
just bring on the endless vacations.
you play and compete to win. winning is the only thing.
there is nobody out there who is a rafa fan that does not want him to win.
only a damn fool would say that it is ok for him to keep getting killed out there and also keep getting injured time and again.
it is not ok. he should do something about it but we know he wont.
Thank goodness somebody had the guts and the courage to go fight Djokovic.
This is what happens when you believe in yourself and when you put in the time on the practice courts.
Djokovic even at 60 percent is the most dangerous player alive.
Losing is just not in his DNA.
You have to be willing to fight him.
This is what happens when you believe in yourself and when you put in the time on the practice courts.
Djokovic even at 60 percent is the most dangerous player alive.
Losing is just not in his DNA.
You have to be willing to fight him.
No doubt of that General.
There is also no substitute for putting in the hours during practice, especially training off-season.
You can't play 10 months of the year at a high level reaching the business end of most tournaments without being fit
Or, you can go on vacations on the boat, swimming, playing golf, playing poker, walk around with a big smile enjoying life, and see where that gets you on the court.
During the past 2015-2016 off season, then 21 year old Lucas Pouille (who just reached the Wimbledon QF) trained with Roger Federer in Dubai.
Here is what Pouille's coach Emmanuel Planque had to say about Federer's work ethic and how they learned from it:
"We've watched Roger work. You think everything comes easily. But it's exactly the opposite. He's started associating volume and quality. We didn't realise so much work was involved. We couldn't believe it. I saw sessions from 1 PM to 9 PM where Roger finished by taking off his shorts and socks and walking directly to the ice bath with a towel wrapped around himself. He was that cooked. Seeing that, for us that was education."
Lesson - if one wants to become and stay relevant as a pro tennis player, from your early years even to your 40's, one must put in the hard yards, even for a player with Federer's enormous talent. If not, one ends up leaving too much on the table. It's a choice all players must make.
Federer and Pouille teams training in Dubai
Respectfully,
masterclass
Last edited:
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No doubt of that General.
There is also no substitute for putting in the hours during practice, especially training off-season.
You can't play 10 months of the year at a high level reaching the business end of most tournaments without being fit
Or, you can go on vacations on the boat, swimming, playing golf, playing poker, walk around with a big smile enjoying life, and see where that gets you on the court.
During the past 2015-2016 off season, then 21 year old Lucas Pouille (who just reached the Wimbledon QF) trained with Roger Federer in Dubai.
Here is what Pouille's coach Emmanuel Planque had to say about Federer's work ethic and how they learned from it:
"We've watched Roger work. You think everything comes easily. But it's exactly the opposite. He's started associating volume and quality. We didn't realise so much work was involved. We couldn't believe it. I saw sessions from 1 PM to 9 PM where Roger finished by taking off his shorts and socks and walking directly to the ice bath with a towel wrapped around himself. He was that cooked. Seeing that, for us that was education."
Lesson - if one wants to become and stay relevant as a pro tennis player, from your early years even to your 40's, one must put in the hard yards, even for a player with Federer's enormous talent. If not, one ends up leaving too much on the table. It's a choice all players must make.
Federer and Pouille teams training in Dubai
Respectfully,
masterclass
No doubt of that General.
There is also no substitute for putting in the hours during practice, especially training off-season.
You can't play 10 months of the year at a high level reaching the business end of most tournaments without being fit
Or, you can go on vacations on the boat, swimming, playing golf, playing poker, walk around with a big smile enjoying life, and see where that gets you on the court.
During the past 2015-2016 off season, then 21 year old Lucas Pouille (who just reached the Wimbledon QF) trained with Roger Federer in Dubai.
Here is what Pouille's coach Emmanuel Planque had to say about Federer's work ethic and how they learned from it:
"We've watched Roger work. You think everything comes easily. But it's exactly the opposite. He's started associating volume and quality. We didn't realise so much work was involved. We couldn't believe it. I saw sessions from 1 PM to 9 PM where Roger finished by taking off his shorts and socks and walking directly to the ice bath with a towel wrapped around himself. He was that cooked. Seeing that, for us that was education."
Lesson - if one wants to become and stay relevant as a pro tennis player, from your early years even to your 40's, one must put in the hard yards, even for a player with Federer's enormous talent. If not, one ends up leaving too much on the table. It's a choice all players must make.
Federer and Pouille teams training in Dubai
Respectfully,
masterclass
At the same time though, when has Federer won big since 2012? Everyone has their own path and the fans really don't have a say in setting someone else's priorities. Nor was Federer born with a bone defect that makes Rafa prone to knee injuries. I don't understand how people ignore that congenital bone defect and its part in creating injuries for Nadal.
But, regardless of how good Nadal has been, people still don't take into account what he's done with all of the injuries that have beset him. Name one other injury prone player like Haas, Tsonga, Monfils, et al who have had a fraction of the success that Rafa has had.
What Rafa has done is unprecedented and he gets no credit for it. When he is healthy he is not off playing poker and vacationing. He's on the court with everyone else grinding on the tour.
In this tournament, for example, who has Federer played? Pella, Willis, Evans and Steve Johnson; a virtual cake walk to the quarterfinals? This gives him an opportunity to ease his way into the tournament. These type of draws allow Federer to maintain his ranking at all times.
Had Rafa played I can't imagine he'd get a cakewalk of a draw like this. Ever.
I don't think people look at all of the variables. If that's the case why aren't people comparing the other injury prone players? They seem to get to pass every time. All the criticism leveled at Nadal is a bit overkill, IMO. I'm just saying.
