The Ultimate FEDAL (Wars) Thread

[Moxie]

The victories this year by Fed over Nadal have been a beat down. This is owning someone. Not a blip. It's a trend that cannot be washed away by age or Fed just "figured it out". If someone wanted to argue that if Fed had played the clay court season he wouldn't have 4 consecutive wins this year I'm ok with that. But then I would counter had Fed played any of the clay court events he would have ended up #1...

Talk to me about the AO final, then, which wasn't a beat down. And if you don't think Roger "figured (something) out," please explain why it took so long. And I must add: if Roger had played any of the clay court events, he may well not have been healthy enough to win Wimbledon. That was the point of skipping the clay season. So, no, you don't get to just make that statement.

 

[Moxie]

the Town was good but I am always disappointed in a movie when he doesnt get Killed.. My favorite Ben Afleck movie was Smokin Aces. His role was a cameo and he gets killed immediately. Perfect movie for me

Argo.

 

[Carol]

And I’ve never claimed that Rafa is better than Roger in HC outdoor but he is as good as him
Jzzzz to say something that Federer’s fans don’t like it’s like walking through a minefield

 

[the AntiPusher]

Good win by Rafa although he played at half speed , IMO.. I see he is now the World’s number 1 playing for the year.. although I will admit.. I think it should be Roger

 

[the AntiPusher]

Argo.

I heard it was a good movie.. Moxie.. My wife refuses to watch another Ben movie with me because all I do is complain about how lousy of an actor he is.. much better behind the camera I hear

 

[Moxie]

I heard it was a good movie.. Moxie.. My wife refuses to watch another Ben movie with me because all I do is complain about how lousy of an actor he is.. much better behind the camera I hear

I love that the Fedal Wars thread has now turned into the Movie Reel thread. (If I have to move this again...! :lulz2: ) Argo is a really good film, political thriller and funny, too. Ben's flat affect works for his character, who has a built-in melancholy.

 

[Federberg]

And I’ve never claimed that Rafa is better than Roger in HC outdoor but he is as good as him
Jzzzz to say something that Federer’s fans don’t like it’s like walking through a minefield

it's a minefield of your own making. I will be frank with you, if you think a player who has won 18 titles on hard court is as good as a player who has won 65 titles. You are beyond delusional. I would pay for an Uber to take you to an asylum, but who knows you might be writing this from one already...

 

[Federberg]

Good win by Rafa although he played at half speed , IMO.. I see he is now the World’s number 1 playing for the year.. although I will admit.. I think it should be Roger

I actually disagree with you. I think Rafa earned the number 1 ranking by playing through the year. I don't like the precedent that Serena has set in the WTA infecting the ATP

 

[the AntiPusher]

The victories this year by Fed over Nadal have been a beat down. This is owning someone. Not a blip. It's a trend that cannot be washed away by age or Fed just "figured it out". If someone wanted to argue that if Fed had played the clay court season he wouldn't have 4 consecutive wins this year I'm ok with that. But then I would counter had Fed played any of the clay court events he would have ended up #1...

AO wasnt a beat down but the better player won.. I can admit that much

 

[Federberg]

AO wasnt a beat down but the better player won.. I can admit that much

I have to agree with this. To my eyes, something miraculous happened in Australia and I'm not sure Rafa has come to terms with it yet. But strangely the most significant match was probably Indian Wells. Rafa clearly tried to stamp his authority there again, and it was tough for a few games, but Roger pulled away. Miami was shockingly easy, particularly given the struggles Roger had had against Berdych and Kyrgios. Since then it's fair to say that Roger has rented space in Rafa's head, and he keeps upgrading the real estate. Watching Shanghai it felt like Roger was sipping champagne in a Penthouse suite overlooking Central Park. If he beats Rafa comfortably in London this will be something different to the streaks that Novak has had against Rafa. At least in those ones it looked like Rafa was in the contest, these ones look too comfortable for Roger at this point. And I for one still find it shocking

 

[Carol]

Like I don’t have enough with the antis Nadal.......

 

[MartyB]

Talk to me about the AO final, then, which wasn't a beat down. And if you don't think Roger "figured (something) out," please explain why it took so long. And I must add: if Roger had played any of the clay court events, he may well not have been healthy enough to win Wimbledon. That was the point of skipping the clay season. So, no, you don't get to just make that statement.

Okay about the beat down in the AO but in that final set it was miraculous in the way that Fed took it to him no? Nothing has changed since that final set either this year. And yes Fed conceded the entire clay court season and with that the #1 ranking but he did win #19 at Wimbledon. With all that being said Fed has left Nadal in the dust this year. Can that dynamic be altered? Of course but until Nadal can alter his game I don't see him beating Fed on any other surface but clay until Fed has lost this current edge.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Like I don’t have enough with the antis Nadal.......

Miss Carol.. things may turn around and I think that Carlos and team will make it their number priority in the off season.. to address the return of serve issue and how to be more offensive vs Federer.. unlike the others, my opinion is Rafa tweaks his game just a tad to defeat Fed and Novak.. he will rule the grand slams again with the exception of Wimbledon

 

[Obsi]

I actually disagree with you. I think Rafa earned the number 1 ranking by playing through the year. I don't like the precedent that Serena has set in the WTA infecting the ATP

I can’t believe this imbecile admitted it.

 

[Federberg]

I can’t believe this imbecile admitted it.

Do you agree with me?

 

[MartyB]

Miss Carol.. things may turn around and I think that Carlos and team will make it their number priority in the off season.. to address the return of serve issue and how to be more offensive vs Federer.. unlike the others, my opinion is Rafa tweaks his game just a tad to defeat Fed and Novak.. he will rule the grand slams again with the exception of Wimbledon

However, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka etc. will be back in the mix along with Fed on those surfaces + the other guys that are currently in the top ten and moving higher.. Nadal doesn't just have to improve his return of serve issues against Fed but those guys as well.

 

[Moxie]

I have to agree with this. To my eyes, something miraculous happened in Australia and I'm not sure Rafa has come to terms with it yet. But strangely the most significant match was probably Indian Wells. Rafa clearly tried to stamp his authority there again, and it was tough for a few games, but Roger pulled away. Miami was shockingly easy, particularly given the struggles Roger had had against Berdych and Kyrgios. Since then it's fair to say that Roger has rented space in Rafa's head, and he keeps upgrading the real estate. Watching Shanghai it felt like Roger was sipping champagne in a Penthouse suite overlooking Central Park. If he beats Rafa comfortably in London this will be something different to the streaks that Novak has had against Rafa. At least in those ones it looked like Rafa was in the contest, these ones look too comfortable for Roger at this point. And I for one still find it shocking

Okay about the beat down in the AO but in that final set it was miraculous in the way that Fed took it to him no? Nothing has changed since that final set either this year. And yes Fed conceded the entire clay court season and with that the #1 ranking but he did win #19 at Wimbledon. With all that being said Fed has left Nadal in the dust this year. Can that dynamic be altered? Of course but until Nadal can alter his game I don't see him beating Fed on any other surface but clay until Fed has lost this current edge.

It's shocking! It's miraculous! It's miraculous AND shocking! I get why you guys are like kids at Christmas, given Roger's year AND beating Rafa 4 times to boot. I don't agree that Roger is in Rafa's head. I think he's in his game, yes. But 12 years of mostly one-way traffic don't put a player in your head. Djokovic has space in Nadal's head, for sure, but I still think Rafa can turn the tables on Roger. Federer is 36, and it's not going to be Christmas every day until he turns 41 or whatever. I'm not trying to harsh anyone's buzz, but as I Nadal fan I have the right to predict that things can go back to the way of the world for most of their careers, as much as you have the right to believe that this year is suddenly the way forward, no give backs.

 

[El Dude]

I think that is possible, @Moxie, but the one caveat I would add is that most of that dominance was on clay (13-2), and Roger seems intent on avoiding Rafa on clay. Roger leads the h2h off clay at 13-10; even if we factor out this year, it is essentially even at 9-10...so the point being, unless Roger goes back to playing clay, going back to how things were will essentially put them as even overall.

 

[Moxie]

I think that is possible, @Moxie, but the one caveat I would add is that most of that dominance was on clay (13-2), and Roger seems intent on avoiding Rafa on clay. Roger leads the h2h off clay at 13-10; even if we factor out this year, it is essentially even at 9-10...so the point being, unless Roger goes back to playing clay, going back to how things were will essentially put them as even overall.

I take your point, but that would presume that nothing has changed in the 13 years they've been playing each other. Rafa has also made adjustments, and improved on HC. Also, he's the better of the two at adjusting to an opponent.

 

[El Dude]

I take your point, but that would presume that nothing has changed in the 13 years they've been playing each other. Rafa has also made adjustments, and improved on HC. Also, he's the better of the two at adjusting to an opponent.

Well, I think it really depends upon what Roger did to "figure out" Rafa. A lot of it seems to not be him figuring something out about Rafa, but fixing a deficit (relative to Rafa) and turning it into a weapon: his backhand. A lot of Roger's problem was Rafa's left-handedness, which Rafa would exploit by hitting to Roger's backhand.

So how does Rafa adjust? Where can he hit the ball? It may be that the only way he can "adjust" and regain the edge is if Roger declines first, because Roger didn't as much "figure Rafa out" as he did fix a problem he had with the match-up.