It's interesting that Roger gets so much credit for starting a trend by taking 7 months off and coming back strong. And I mean amongst general press and commentators, as well. I seem to remember Nadal taking 7 months off in 2012, and coming back to have an excellent 2013, but no one notes that as an example to be followed. Such short-term memories.Hadn't heard about Raonic shutting it down, but I did just read about Kygios and Berdych. I guess it would be too much for the ATP to sit and take notice of all the top players willing to shut down their seasons rather than risk further injury. Of course some of this is due to how Roger's come storming back, but at the same time it's a clue to the ATP that the season is too long.
It's interesting that Roger gets so much credit for starting a trend by taking 7 months off and coming back strong. And I mean amongst general press and commentators, as well. I seem to remember Nadal taking 7 months off in 2012, and coming back to have an excellent 2013, but no one notes that as an example to be followed. Such short-term memories.
I don't think it's correct to say that Nadal started "a bit cold." He didn't win Viña del Mar, losing in the final, but he went on to win everything he played except in another final to Djokovic in MC, through RG. No, he didn't win a Major out of the gate, but he came back refreshed and strong after a long lay-off, which was needed due to injury. That is the thing that is the same, and makes the example. It's not a Federer v. Nadal comparison. The guys taking the year off now aren't 34. They're younger. If they need an example of taking off 5-7 months to recharge the batteries and recovery from injury they have both Nadal and Federer as models. That's all I'm saying. If they need an example of trying to play through and losing even more time, they have del Potro, sadly.Deep down you're right -- people tend to overblow all things Federer, but there are indeed two differences: First, Nadal started a bit cold and gained momentum later -- his first tournament if I'm not mistaken was in Chile where he finished as the runner up. Federer first was AO... and, Nadal was #1 what, one and a half years before he came back, right? Kind of expected for him to win big again (even if he did better than people would bet). Federer, on the other hand, was almost five years without a major.
I don't think it's correct to say that Nadal started "a bit cold." He didn't win Viña del Mar, losing in the final, but he went on to win everything he played except in another final to Djokovic in MC, through RG. No, he didn't win a Major out of the gate, but he came back refreshed and strong after a long lay-off, which was needed due to injury. That is the thing that is the same, and makes the example. It's not a Federer v. Nadal comparison. The guys taking the year off now aren't 34. They're younger. If they need an example of taking off 5-7 months to recharge the batteries and recovery from injury they have both Nadal and Federer as models. That's all I'm saying. If they need an example of trying to play through and losing even more time, they have del Potro, sadly.