Waiting for Rafa

[Kieran]

I think Rafa's recovery/return time is being aided by the likely absence (physically or at least mentally) of his chief nemesis, who is (understandably) distracted at least until his baby is born. That should definitely help ease Rafa back into competition .

Rafa's never been the player to rely on others being absent so he can win...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Currently Djokovic is nowhere near as good as Nishikori or Cilic anyway.

That's a huge case of "what have you done for me lately?" buddy. Actually it's a case of "what have you done for me veeeeeeeeeeery lately?"

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I hope he takes good care of the wrist and does not rush into anything. Otherwise it will be like Waiting For Godot...

 

[Front242]

Currently Djokovic is nowhere near as good as Nishikori or Cilic anyway.

That's a huge case of "what have you done for me lately?" buddy. Actually it's a case of "what have you done for me veeeeeeeeeeery lately?"

Not really. Winning Wimbledon was obviously great but since then his results by his high standards have been downright poor.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Currently Djokovic is nowhere near as good as Nishikori or Cilic anyway.

That's a huge case of "what have you done for me lately?" buddy. Actually it's a case of "what have you done for me veeeeeeeeeeery lately?"

Not really. Winning Wimbledon was obviously great but since then his results by his high standards have been downright poor.

That's exactly my point. In this case, "since then" was two months ago. We're really not that far removed.

 

[Front242]

Ok but again my point was there's not much for Nadal to worry about so is there? Novak is far from his best right now but Nishikori and Cilic on the other hand are the 2 to watch out for.

 

[Front242]

We'll see how the distractions of his impending kid affect his game pretty soon. Wouldn't surprise me if he has similar results to post Wimbledon.

 

[Moxie]

This is speculation, but I wonder if Novak will go to Asia, at all, given how close Jelena is to her due date, and how far away those tournaments are. Rafa is not 100% certain to play, and surely not certain about form, if he does. It could be a free-for-all in the Asian swing.

 

[Front242]

This is speculation, but I wonder if Novak will go to Asia, at all, given how close Jelena is to her due date, and how far away those tournaments are. Rafa is not 100% certain to play, and surely not certain about form, if he does. It could be a free-for-all in the Asian swing.

Quite possible alright that he doesn't go there at all.

 

[Kieran]

I think it's more likely that Nishi and Cilic will suffer hangovers from their exploits than Novak be a lame duck for the rest of the year...

 

[jhar26]

Ok but again my point was there's not much for Nadal to worry about so is there? Novak is far from his best right now but Nishikori and Cilic on the other hand are the 2 to watch out for.

I don't think that Djokovic or any other top player is very high on Rafa's list of things to worry about at the moment. After a long-ish absence from the tour he will probably be happy to win a few matches and play without any pain or discomfort. Beating the likes of Djokovic and Nishikori will only preoccupy his mind when he sees them standing on the other side of the net. But if he has done enough winning to get a match with those guys his tournament will already be a success, as first tests go.

 

[herios]

Ok but again my point was there's not much for Nadal to worry about so is there? Novak is far from his best right now but Nishikori and Cilic on the other hand are the 2 to watch out for.

I don't think that Djokovic or any other top player is very high on Rafa's list of things to worry about at the moment. After a long-ish absence from the tour he will probably be happy to win a few matches and play without any pain or discomfort. Beating the likes of Djokovic and Nishikori will only preoccupy his mind when he sees them standing on the other side of the net. But if he has done enough winning to get a match with those guys his tournament will already be a success, as first tests go.

You are right. The majority of fans here underestimated the implications of his wrist injury. All you could read here was that they were almost sure he will be back at the USO. Those photo's released showing him he was hitting the balls with his left hand while his right was protected were misguiding fans.
Wrist injuries are tricky. time will tell the real impact.

 

[lacatch]

There is one DEFINITE cure for Rafa's wrist: clay season . While he has missed many different parts of the year with injuries, does anyone know if he has EVER been injured to the point of having to withdraw from tournaments DURING the clay season?

 

[brokenshoelace]

There is one DEFINITE cure for Rafa's wrist: clay season . While he has missed many different parts of the year with injuries, does anyone know if he has EVER been injured to the point of having to withdraw from tournaments DURING the clay season?

2004 he had to skip Roland Garros. 2010 he skipped Barcelona. That's about it.

 

[Moxie]

Ok but again my point was there's not much for Nadal to worry about so is there? Novak is far from his best right now but Nishikori and Cilic on the other hand are the 2 to watch out for.

I don't think that Djokovic or any other top player is very high on Rafa's list of things to worry about at the moment. After a long-ish absence from the tour he will probably be happy to win a few matches and play without any pain or discomfort. Beating the likes of Djokovic and Nishikori will only preoccupy his mind when he sees them standing on the other side of the net. But if he has done enough winning to get a match with those guys his tournament will already be a success, as first tests go.

You are right. The majority of fans here underestimated the implications of his wrist injury. All you could read here was that they were almost sure he will be back at the USO. Those photo's released showing him he was hitting the balls with his left hand while his right was protected were misguiding fans.
Wrist injuries are tricky. time will tell the real impact.

I don't think any one underestimated it, after what Del Potro has gone through, though surely some of us were optimistic that it would be the Djokovic version of a wrist injury, i.e., skip a tourney or two and it's over. Basically everyone who weighed in said they'd rather see him skip the USO than risk further injury, and I'm sure everyone feels the same about Beijing, etc.

 

[Billie]

This is speculation, but I wonder if Novak will go to Asia, at all, given how close Jelena is to her due date, and how far away those tournaments are. Rafa is not 100% certain to play, and surely not certain about form, if he does. It could be a free-for-all in the Asian swing.

Quite possible alright that he doesn't go there at all.

Providing everything is OK and on schedule with Jelena, Nole will go to Asia. Not only he is going to play, but he is also taking some dozen Serbian kids, young tennis players, with him for some tennis clinic in China. I read an interview with one of the kid who is very excited about the upcoming trip.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There is one DEFINITE cure for Rafa's wrist: clay season . While he has missed many different parts of the year with injuries, does anyone know if he has EVER been injured to the point of having to withdraw from tournaments DURING the clay season?

2004 he had to skip Roland Garros. 2010 he skipped Barcelona. That's about it.

2004 is due to injury. 2010 is a conscious scheduling decision as playing in it would
have meant playing for three weeks in a row. Actually, 2010 clay season was the best
Rafa ever had as he won all three clay Masters and RG in that year.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I wonder if Nadal will use the 2-handed backhand vs. Tsonga in the exhibition match.
Probably will, as he's training with it now.
But I honestly find his backhand slice more entertaining than his 2-hander (except for the passing shots) :s

Remember that 2009 AO match when Nadal refused to use the 2-hander vs. Simon?
That was astonishing, and the only match he's ever chosen to slice non-stop from start to finish.
Its ironic, considering Simon has no problem with Federer's slice, so I wonder why Nadal chose the tactic.
It was the right tactic, as Nadal beat Simon in straight sets that day (revenge, because Simon beat Nadal in 2008), so was probably the result of some video analysis where they found Simon likes Nadal's 2-hander :clap

 

[brokenshoelace]

I wonder if Nadal will use the 2-handed backhand vs. Tsonga in the exhibition match.
Probably will, as he's training with it now.
But I honestly find his backhand slice more entertaining than his 2-hander (except for the passing shots) :s

Nadal's backhand slice is mostly mediocre. Can be quite serviceable when it's on but generally, it's inconsistent except on grass.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Nadal's backhand slice is mostly mediocre. Can be quite serviceable when it's on but generally, it's inconsistent except on grass.

Nadal loves using the backhand slice at the US Open, especially vs. Djokovic :clap
Nadal almost never misses a backhand slice.
Nadal gives it more air than Federer, but is just as consistent.
I think Nadal should use it way more than he does, as he almost never hits an error with it.