What next for Rafa?

[Kieran]

It's not really inevitable due to the style of play - Novak plays a rugged and vicious defensive game, he even skids on hards and grass and he does the splits and bends himself out of shape, but he hasn't had any significant injuries from it...

 

[herios]

It's not really inevitable due to the style of play - Novak plays a rugged and vicious defensive game, he even skids on hards and grass and he does the splits and bends himself out of shape, but he hasn't had any significant injuries from it...

Tell me what was the longest period you can remember, that Rafa played injury free continuously?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There is a more serious incentive for people to play on as long as they could, besides "love of tennis". The sponsorship contracts typically has a clause that says player must be active (meaning at least x number of matches in an year in order to be paid big sums). Because, you were great one time, you have lot of lucrative contracts. You can milk money out of them as long as you are active even if you are not winning anything.

This is applicable to all big name players and not directed exclusively at Rafa. Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy all have incentive to play on despite bad results due to lucrative contracts.

 

[herios]

There is a more serious incentive for people to play on as long as they could, besides "love of tennis". The sponsorship contracts typically has a clause that says player must be active (meaning at least x number of matches in an year in order to be paid big sums). Because, you were great one time, you have lot of lucrative contracts. You can milk money out of them as long as you are active even if you are not winning anything.

This is applicable to all big name players and not directed exclusively at Rafa. Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy all have incentive to play on despite bad results due to lucrative contracts.

And the money is just too much to try to do other things instead.

 

[Kieran]

It's not really inevitable due to the style of play - Novak plays a rugged and vicious defensive game, he even skids on hards and grass and he does the splits and bends himself out of shape, but he hasn't had any significant injuries from it...

Tell me what was the longest period you can remember, that Rafa played injury free continuously?

Exactly. And other attritional players have had nothing wrong with them. It isn't only an inevitability based upon his style of play...

 

[herios]

It's not really inevitable due to the style of play - Novak plays a rugged and vicious defensive game, he even skids on hards and grass and he does the splits and bends himself out of shape, but he hasn't had any significant injuries from it...

Tell me what was the longest period you can remember, that Rafa played injury free continuously?

Exactly. And other attritional players have had nothing wrong with them. It isn't only an inevitability based upon his style of play...

But it has to be something else, beside the "black cat", because I am not a superstitious man. It means that his body is not as strong that is looks like, with all those muscles. It is called, prone to inuries, if I am not mistaken.

 

[Kieran]

Tell me what was the longest period you can remember, that Rafa played injury free continuously?

Exactly. And other attritional players have had nothing wrong with them. It isn't only an inevitability based upon his style of play...

But it has to be something else, beside the "black cat", because I am not a superstitious man. It means that his body is not as strong that is looks like, with all those muscles. It is called, prone to inuries, if I am not mistaken.

Totally agree, even about the cat! I hate cats! But I also agree with you when you said above, that he may suffer more injury. Unfortunately :nono

 

[DarthFed]

This was likely one of his last decent chances, extremely easy draw until the semis (Monfils is playing well but always rolls over on the big stage vs. the best players). And while he would've been a clear underdog in the semis vs. Nole, the latter may not be quite 100% so it may not have been the usual foregone conclusion.

Chances are thankfully against the rat winning another slam but it's not impossible, the fact of the matter is the young guys still don't look to be that threatening (Thiem, Zvererv, Kyrgios, etc. have all flamed out a lot lately) so it is still a very top heavy tour with the usual suspects until we see otherwise.

 

[the AntiPusher]

This was likely one of his last decent chances, extremely easy draw until the semis (Monfils is playing well but always rolls over on the big stage vs. the best players). And while he would've been a clear underdog in the semis vs. Nole, the latter may not be quite 100% so it may not have been the usual foregone conclusion.

Chances are thankfully against the rat winning another slam but it's not impossible, the fact of the matter is the young guys still don't look to be that threatening (Thiem, Zvererv, Kyrgios, etc. have all flamed out a lot lately) so it is still a very top heavy tour with the usual suspects until we see otherwise.

:laydownlaughing. You are priceless:clap

 

[El Dude]

AP, that's pretty crappy. I was the one who suggested that Rafa might retire after next year and I am not "trying push him out due to the threat of #17."

I'm so sick of the pro/anti-Rafa debate, and the folks that assume if you aren't a fan then you're a hater. Grow up.

El Dude.. Don't take it personally..I think you are fair about Rafa ..I was just responding to B3 comments regarding retiring after next year.. The man says that he is committed to playing the game and is trying to get back to level to where he can compete for majors..that's doesn't sounds like he is gonna retire..Murray went thru a bad period where he wasn't winning major but there was no suggestion of that he may retire..your post telling me to grow up was unfair..

I took it personally because I mentioned the possibility of his retirement in the OP, and you equated that perspective with a Fedfan hating on Rafa. Evidently you were referring to B3, but you didn't say as much.

Anyhow, I speculate as such because of the situation: he's 30 years old, hasn't made it past a QF in over a year, and hasn't won a Slam in over two years. When Murray was in a "bad period" he was still competing, the same with Federer, for the most part. The most marked thing about Rafa's "slump" is that he isn't going deep in ANY Slams.

I do think Rafa really wants to figure things out, but my hypothetical was based on the idea that he either doesn't figure it out next year, in which case I think it is reasonable to think that he might want to retire, or he storms back to the top once more and wants to go out there.

This hypothetical has nothing to do with fear that he might win 17, a record that will inevitably be broken. Whether it is Rafa (unlikely), Novak (possible) or someone decades from now, who knows. I hope to see it happen, though!

 

[El Dude]

There is a more serious incentive for people to play on as long as they could, besides "love of tennis". The sponsorship contracts typically has a clause that says player must be active (meaning at least x number of matches in an year in order to be paid big sums). Because, you were great one time, you have lot of lucrative contracts. You can milk money out of them as long as you are active even if you are not winning anything.

This is applicable to all big name players and not directed exclusively at Rafa. Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy all have incentive to play on despite bad results due to lucrative contracts.

This is a good point that I didn't think about. Of course at some point if and when they drop far enough, some of those endorsements will fall away. On the other hand, someone like Federer might be able to keep that Rolex endorsement for years after he retires.

 

[the AntiPusher]

AP, that's pretty crappy. I was the one who suggested that Rafa might retire after next year and I am not "trying push him out due to the threat of #17."

I'm so sick of the pro/anti-Rafa debate, and the folks that assume if you aren't a fan then you're a hater. Grow up.

El Dude.. Don't take it personally..I think you are fair about Rafa ..I was just responding to B3 comments regarding retiring after next year.. The man says that he is committed to playing the game and is trying to get back to level to where he can compete for majors..that's doesn't sounds like he is gonna retire..Murray went thru a bad period where he wasn't winning major but there was no suggestion of that he may retire..your post telling me to grow up was unfair..

I took it personally because I mentioned the possibility of his retirement in the OP, and you equated that perspective with a Fedfan hating on Rafa. Evidently you were referring to B3, but you didn't say as much.

Anyhow, I speculate as such because of the situation: he's 30 years old, hasn't made it past a QF in over a year, and hasn't won a Slam in over two years. When Murray was in a "bad period" he was still competing, the same with Federer, for the most part. The most marked thing about Rafa's "slump" is that he isn't going deep in ANY Slams.

I do think Rafa really wants to figure things out, but my hypothetical was based on the idea that he either doesn't figure it out next year, in which case I think it is reasonable to think that he might want to retire, or he storms back to the top once more and wants to go out there.

This hypothetical has nothing to do with fear that he might win 17, a record that will inevitably be broken. Whether it is Rafa (unlikely), Novak (possible) or someone decades from now, who knows. I hope to see it happen, though!

Yeah but to tell me to grow up when all I was doing was responding to someone's post was unnecessary.

 

[El Dude]

LOL. I love how you turned this around and are trying to get an apology out of me, when you were the one that made a silly and pejorative generalization about "Fed fans on this board."

And yes, those sorts of statements are--and the pro vs. anti-Rafa debate in general (on both sides) is-- childish. I'm not saying we shouldn't debate the merits of different players--that is part of the fun. But this endless back and forth between Rafa-haters and Rafa-avengers is beyond tiresome and muddies the waters for the rest of us.

 

[the AntiPusher]

LOL. I love how you turned this around and are trying to get an apology out of me, when you were the one that made a silly and pejorative generalization about "Fed fans on this board."

And yes, those sorts of statements are--and the pro vs. anti-Rafa debate in general (on both sides) is-- childish. I'm not saying we shouldn't debate the merits of different players--that is part of the fun. But this endless back and forth between Rafa-haters and Rafa-avengers is beyond tiresome and muddies the waters for the rest of us.

Nah.. Not longing for an apology but I thought you were fair

 

[El Dude]

:cover

 

[isabelle]

Next appearance : DC tie vs India (along with Ferru)

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Next appearance : DC tie vs India (along with Ferru)

Spain has become that bad that they play India. :snicker

 

[Fiero425]

Next appearance : DC tie vs India (along with Ferru)

Spain has become that bad that they play India. :snicker

You expect them to win w/o Rafa? Same happened with Serbia! You need your #1 player even w/ all their talent! :nono

 

[herios]

Next appearance : DC tie vs India (along with Ferru)

Spain has become that bad that they play India. :snicker

You expect them to win w/o Rafa? Same happened with Serbia! You need your #1 player even w/ all their talent! :nono

Team "C" of Spain should be able to beat India.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Spain has become that bad that they play India. :snicker

You expect them to win w/o Rafa? Same happened with Serbia! You need your #1 player even w/ all their talent! :nono

Team "C" of Spain should be able to beat India.

Xisca can win against India.