The Mystery And The Magic of Rafael Nadal

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

I think these are the factors for his greatness:

1. first and foremost athletic ability

2. relentless will to fight

3. hunger and drive to achieve

4. topspin forehand and generally his ground game

5. humble and modest upbringing that has kept him somewhat down to earth and grounded in reality


that, however, does not and should not mean that I am happy with him.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

The forehand, the wheels, the incredible will and unmatched mental toughness. And perhaps most importantly, the desire to always improve.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

now he did let some of that desire and hunger go at the end of 2010. he was probably worn out. this guy has been winning slams since he was 18.

that is what led him to say that he felt like he had been playing tennis for 100 years.

and nole took full advantage of course.



now it looks like some of his famous hunger and drive is back.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

it looks like the clay warrior has a winning record against ALL of the top 30 players.

according to the ATP site anyway.

 

[shawnbm]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

Clay, DarthFed, Broken and Kieran have said it all. He is one of the five best tennis players I have seen in the Open Era--regardless of occasion or surface--something I would NOT have said a few years ago. He is probably the one great player who has most "evolved" over time as he played, and I DON'T think he would have but for the all surface prowess and dominance of Federer. He set out to beat the best, not just on clay, but across the board. Simply an amazing player who I have appreciated more over the years.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

winning record against all top 30 players shows that there are no answers for topspin if it is backed by movement, real hunger and drive, and relentless will.

he let himself slip in 2011 but he may be trying to make some of that up right now.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

what is rafa`s place in history if he captures the u.s. open?

how would you size it up?

 

[rafanoy1992]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

what is rafa`s place in history if he captures the u.s. open?

how would you size it up?

Clay death, if Nadal surpass Sampras in Grand Slam count, then I would say he is second in the GOAT category behind Federer.

Hopefully, those 2-3 slams are outside of the French Open.

As Nadal fan, I do wish he accomplish something that no other male player has done in the Open Era which is win ALL Major Slams at least twice.

If he could win this year's US Open, then I really think he has a great chance to accomplish that feat in next year's Australian Open.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

he surpassed Sampras yesterday.


sampy the single dimensional pony does not have nadal`s resume mate.


if we must play around with this goat game then it is just between roger and nadal. so in that fun game for the ordinary folks among the masses, roger has the inside track with 17 slams. that is what the history is going to say.


Sampras is not in the conversation anymore. and neither is borg.


they both got passed up yesterday.



clay warrior will be 4 slams short after this u.s. open should he snatch it.

I have a feeling that he may go for the record if he gets this u.s. open crown.

he will have 3 years to get 4-5 slams.

he may just end up being tied with roger.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

this is the question we may be asking if nadal captures the u.s. open:


can nadal hit/reach 17 slams?


yes or no?

he is 27. you have to believe that he will play until he is 30 or 31 if he can just keep himself healthy.

 

[rafanoy1992]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

this is the question we may be asking if nadal captures the u.s. open:


can nadal hit/reach 17 slams?


yes or no?

he is 27. you have to believe that he will play until he is 30 or 31 if he can just keep himself healthy.

I don't think he will reach 17 even if he wins the US Open. But, anything can happen especially to a player like Nadal.

Here's another interesting similarity between Nadal and Federer: It was five years ago that Federer won his 13th major at the US Open. In addition, Federer was also 27 years old when he won his 13th Major. So, is history on Nadal's side? We will see...

 

[Star1054]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

this is the question we may be asking if nadal captures the u.s. open:


can nadal hit/reach 17 slams?


yes or no?

he is 27. you have to believe that he will play until he is 30 or 31 if he can just keep himself healthy.

I don't think he will reach 17 even if he wins the US Open. But, anything can happen especially to a player like Nadal.

Here's another interesting similarity between Nadal and Federer: It was five years ago that Federer won his 13th major at the US Open. In addition, Federer was also 27 years old when he won his 13th Major. So, is history on Nadal's side? We will see...

Not hardly....the playing still of Nadal does not indicate the longevity of Federer.

Even if Nadal is playing at 31.....he would not be playing the brand of tennis he does now. So it would be unlikely for him to have the same level of success.

 

[britbox]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

Star1054 makes a valid point (welcome to the boards by the way). We've already seen Nadal take two lengthy absences with physical issues. Where he stands in four years time is too difficult to call... but I'd suspect there will be more timeouts in the interim.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

what is rafa`s place in history if he captures the u.s. open?

how would you size it up?

The same place it is now.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

he surpassed Sampras yesterday.


sampy the single dimensional pony does not have nadal`s resume mate.


if we must play around with this goat game then it is just between roger and nadal. so in that fun game for the ordinary folks among the masses, roger has the inside track with 17 slams. that is what the history is going to say.


Sampras is not in the conversation anymore. and neither is borg.


they both got passed up yesterday.



clay warrior will be 4 slams short after this u.s. open should he snatch it.

I have a feeling that he may go for the record if he gets this u.s. open crown.

he will have 3 years to get 4-5 slams.

he may just end up being tied with roger.

If you're so dismissive of Sampras vis-a-vis Nadal, saying "he doesn't have his resume," then how on earth could you say it's between Nadal and Federer? Sampras is closer to having Nadal's resume than Nadal is to having Roger's.

 

[britbox]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

BS - Where would you rank Rafa's slot in history as it stands pre-USO?

(For the record, I still have Pete above Rafa)

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

By the way, this "will Nadal catch up to Federer" narrative is brought up literally every time Nadal wins a major...only for him to get injured afterwards, or suffer a drop in form or whatever... I'm not saying he will or won't (though my money is on the latter), but acting like winning the US Open can suddenly prove to be a huge turning point is misguided. Rafa's chance to catch up to Roger disappeared when he lost 3 major finals to Novak and got injured after Wimbledon last year.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

BS - Where would you rank Rafa's slot in history as it stands pre-USO?

Behind Federer, Laver and Sampras. Though I'm always on the fence regarding Laver given how different tennis was back then, in more than one way.

 

[britbox]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

BS - Where would you rank Rafa's slot in history as it stands pre-USO?

Behind Federer, Laver and Sampras. Though I'm always on the fence regarding Laver given how different tennis was back then, in more than one way.

We're singing from the same hymn sheet then. I'd put Rafa fourth also and behind the same names, but also share the same view on comparisons with the Rocket.

 

[ClayDeath]

RE: Rafael Nadal : What Makes Him Great

this is the question we may be asking if nadal captures the u.s. open:


can nadal hit/reach 17 slams?


yes or no?

he is 27. you have to believe that he will play until he is 30 or 31 if he can just keep himself healthy.

I don't think he will reach 17 even if he wins the US Open. But, anything can happen especially to a player like Nadal.

Here's another interesting similarity between Nadal and Federer: It was five years ago that Federer won his 13th major at the US Open. In addition, Federer was also 27 years old when he won his 13th Major. So, is history on Nadal's side? We will see...

Not hardly....the playing still of Nadal does not indicate the longevity of Federer.

Even if Nadal is playing at 31.....he would not be playing the brand of tennis he does now. So it would be unlikely for him to have the same level of success.

welcome to the forums star.