The Race for #1

[herios]

I always thought he would crack long before 30! It has little to do with my not appreciating how he plays, but he has to work so hard; even against the most anonymous of players! There's a reason players like Federer, Haas, Gasquet, and others are nowhere near as broken down even though they're 5+ years older!

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, 1 month younger than Rafa

 

[Fiero425]

I always thought he would crack long before 30! It has little to do with my not appreciating how he plays, but he has to work so hard; even against the most anonymous of players! There's a reason players like Federer, Haas, Gasquet, and others are nowhere near as broken down even though they're 5+ years older!

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, I month younger than Rafa

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

 

[Moxie]

I always thought he would crack long before 30! It has little to do with my not appreciating how he plays, but he has to work so hard; even against the most anonymous of players! There's a reason players like Federer, Haas, Gasquet, and others are nowhere near as broken down even though they're 5+ years older!

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, I month younger than Rafa

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

 

[Fiero425]

I always thought he would crack long before 30! It has little to do with my not appreciating how he plays, but he has to work so hard; even against the most anonymous of players! There's a reason players like Federer, Haas, Gasquet, and others are nowhere near as broken down even though they're 5+ years older!

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, I month younger than Rafa

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

 

[Moxie]

I always thought he would crack long before 30! It has little to do with my not appreciating how he plays, but he has to work so hard; even against the most anonymous of players! There's a reason players like Federer, Haas, Gasquet, and others are nowhere near as broken down even though they're 5+ years older!

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, I month younger than Rafa

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

That's what you hope. For obvious reasons. And it's a little puny to hope it. People have been telling Rafa he wasn't long for the tennis world for some years. I'd be wary of prognosticating that again, based on a few losses. Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

 

[Fiero425]

I think you confused Gasquet with someone else, Richard is 27y old, going to be 28, I month younger than Rafa

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

That's what you hope. For obvious reasons. And it's a little puny to hope it. People have been telling Rafa he wasn't long for the tennis world for some years. I'd be wary of prognosticating that again, based on a few losses. Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

I've been watching tennis on tv since '73 and I just can't remember a top player, esp. a world #1 taking off so many months at a time the way Rafa has had to do over the last several years! He of course has survived longer since he's taken so many extended vacations! That's all Borg asked for "way back when" and they allowed him to walk away! :nono uzzled :huh: So Rafa has just prolonged the agony! lol! :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

 

[Moxie]

I should have said old man, Robredo and add Ferrer! :laydownlaughing Saw him early and was amazed he's still hanging on in pretty good shape!

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

That's what you hope. For obvious reasons. And it's a little puny to hope it. People have been telling Rafa he wasn't long for the tennis world for some years. I'd be wary of prognosticating that again, based on a few losses. Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

I've been watching tennis on tv since '73 and I just can't remember a top player, esp. a world #1 taking off so many months at a time the way Rafa has had to do over the last several years! He of course has survived longer since he's taken so many extended vacations! That's all Borg asked for "way back when" and they allowed him to walk away! :nono uzzled :huh: So Rafa has just prolonged the agony! lol! :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

I don't understand why you act like Nadal having to take injury's off is a knock against him. It's simply a fact. Neither do I see how it compares to Borg's burn-out. If you were being generous, you would say that injury lay-off would prolong Nadal's career, in a good way. I'm sure that's what you mean to say.

 

[Fiero425]

Still, the only one that begs comparison with Nadal is Federer. The others you've mentioned have, (a) had significant injury lay-offs; and/or b) not had the careers that either Nadal or Federer had. Yes, Ferrer gets the biggest kudos for being so fit at his age, without significant injury time lost. However, for all of his 31 years, Ferrer has only played 30 matches more than Nadal. So, yes, Nadal has a lot of tennis years on him, but he's still only 27, which still will give him an edge on his elders, IMO. It's Nadal and Federer who have really played the most matches at the stage of the game, for their tennis years, and I don't think you can compare them with anyone else.

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

That's what you hope. For obvious reasons. And it's a little puny to hope it. People have been telling Rafa he wasn't long for the tennis world for some years. I'd be wary of prognosticating that again, based on a few losses. Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

I've been watching tennis on tv since '73 and I just can't remember a top player, esp. a world #1 taking off so many months at a time the way Rafa has had to do over the last several years! He of course has survived longer since he's taken so many extended vacations! That's all Borg asked for "way back when" and they allowed him to walk away! :nono uzzled :huh: So Rafa has just prolonged the agony! lol! :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

I don't understand why you act like Nadal having to take injury's off is a knock against him. It's simply a fact. Neither do I see how it compares to Borg's burn-out. If you were being generous, you would say that injury lay-off would prolong Nadal's career, in a good way. I'm sure that's what you mean to say.

I did mention that the breaks have prolonged his career! It still won't keep him out there like Federer or even Agassi from way back when! :angel:

 

[Moxie]

I'm one of those strange people who believes everyone has a certain amount of "glow" or "inner light" to excel in sports! The reason McEnroe is still playing as a grey-haired old man is because he didn't get into too many wars on the court! He's had some of the longest matches in history; DC win over Wilander in 6 hours, Lendl loss in '84 FO final, and a couple epic battles with Connors in 5 at Wimbledon and the USO, but he didn't have this happen to him in almost every tournament the way Rafa has to barely survive so often against players I've never heard of! I will put a huge bet down that Rafa won't sniff 30 years old on the ATP tour; not even the Grand Masters or Vets! Sorry Rafa-fans! :nono :angel:

That's what you hope. For obvious reasons. And it's a little puny to hope it. People have been telling Rafa he wasn't long for the tennis world for some years. I'd be wary of prognosticating that again, based on a few losses. Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

I've been watching tennis on tv since '73 and I just can't remember a top player, esp. a world #1 taking off so many months at a time the way Rafa has had to do over the last several years! He of course has survived longer since he's taken so many extended vacations! That's all Borg asked for "way back when" and they allowed him to walk away! :nono uzzled :huh: So Rafa has just prolonged the agony! lol! :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

I don't understand why you act like Nadal having to take injury's off is a knock against him. It's simply a fact. Neither do I see how it compares to Borg's burn-out. If you were being generous, you would say that injury lay-off would prolong Nadal's career, in a good way. I'm sure that's what you mean to say.

I did mention that the breaks have prolonged his career! It still won't keep him out there like Federer or even Agassi from way back when! :angel:

Again, that's just hopeful speculation on your part, with all your emoticons. Folks like you keep hoping for him to have a short career. At this point, it can't be considered short, so you just hope for shorter, and less plentiful. But don't pretend that's not what you're hoping for. Otherwise, you wouldn't be insisting his career is nearly over. A fan of the sport might be hoping for a few more good years. A partizan will be calling for his head. :laydownlaughing

 

[Fiero425]

Federer has been down for the count by the estimation of many, and still he's in the conversation.

I've been watching tennis on tv since '73 and I just can't remember a top player, esp. a world #1 taking off so many months at a time the way Rafa has had to do over the last several years! He of course has survived longer since he's taken so many extended vacations! That's all Borg asked for "way back when" and they allowed him to walk away! :nono uzzled :huh: So Rafa has just prolonged the agony! lol! :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

... you would say that injury lay-off would prolong Nadal's career, in a good way. I'm sure that's what you mean to say.

I did mention that the breaks have prolonged his career! It still won't keep him out there like Federer or even Agassi from way back when! :angel:

A fan of the sport might be hoping for a few more good years. A partizan will be calling for his head. :laydownlaughing

Ugly tennis is ugly tennis! I never cared for the way Rafa played, esp. in trying to compare him to Borg! That is a major joke to me, regardless if he's passed by Borg's 6 FO titles due to so many gutless wonders rolling over! With Federer, it was just a bad matchup; lefty to righty, top spin shots high on Fed's bh, etc., but the other players have no such excuse! Nole's pulled his weight obviously, probably taking ownership of their rivalry within the next year or so, but the rest like Ferrer, Murray, Delpo, and others just never stepped up enough IMO! Roger should have more titles, esp. at the FO but for Rafa and other players unable to upset him when they had chances! The only time I can watch a match of his is when he's going down in flames; usually the last game or 2, his whole persona on court bugs me! He gets warnings for time violation and he doesn't seem to care; it's like, "these people came to see me and I'm going to stay out here for as long as it takes!" The constant challenging of calls when he's so wrong, I think he should be penalized for wasting even more time! :snigger :laydownlaughing I could go on, but it's super partisan! :angel: :nono

 

[Moxie]

^ Yep, you're a partisan, which is clear, and always have been.

 

[Kieran]

Come on, Fiero, I told you before, you LOVE Nadal.

LURVE!

LUV.

Love.

You just don't know it yet... :heart: :angel: :lolz:

 

[Fiero425]

Come on, Fiero, I told you before, you LOVE Nadal.

LURVE!

LUV.

Love.

You just don't know it yet... :heart: :angel: :lolz:

Oh yes; I'd love him to leave the stage! I hope I hang on long enough to watch his game disintengrate and fall apart, but if he has any self-respect he'll go before embarrassing himself too much; sorta like old men Ken Rosewall, Jimmy Connors, & John McEnroe! :nono :angel: