Would you like Federer to be on tour when Nadal wins 18th slam title?

[nehmeth]

That US Open 2011 was the most frenetically paced physical final I've seen and they were both drained at the end. Djokovic's back spasms made him unable to serve better than Sara Errani so maybe you should be looking into how an injured Djokovic serving WTA style won rather than the notion that Nadal wasn't 100%

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

 

[Front242]

That US Open 2011 was the most frenetically paced physical final I've seen and they were both drained at the end. Djokovic's back spasms made him unable to serve better than Sara Errani so maybe you should be looking into how an injured Djokovic serving WTA style won rather than the notion that Nadal wasn't 100%

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

 

[britbox]

Things can change very quickly in tennis - when people make projections about slam numbers, they often project what is happening in the present into the future as if the player and the environment around them won't change.

My guess is he won't get to 18. Six majors is a hall of fame career in itself and I suspect he will have more injury concerns in the future not less.

Exactly, the change is happening very fast. The best claycourter is suddenly the best hardcourter. I'm not actually looking too far ahead, just until June next year. Nadal with 15 slams by June next year is my prediction. I think we can all agree that he is the favorite to win 2013 USO and 2014 RG. The only slam I'm going out on my own with is AO 2014. You are welcome to believe injury will end his career after that. But nobody has ever been right before about Nadal's knees being career-ending. As Nadal himself said last year "Nobody has ever retired with what I have". But you are entitled to believe in the injury. Agree to disagree.

I didn't say injury would end his career after the AO 2014. I said injuries will likely play some factor during the remainder of his career. He's already had two lengthy breaks out of the game. As with most players, they are prone to picking up more injuries as they get older, not less. I'm not necessarily just talking about his knees.

Most of the projections revolve around a "What did you do for me today" argument.... i.e. Somebody wins a major then they get projected to win a ton more. Somebody gets knocked out early... they are chopped liver.

The knee jerk reactions to Andy Murray's departure prove the point. Some people suggesting "he might never get back".. only a few months ago, some people were penning him to "definitely" win 6 or 7 majors.

 

[shawnbm]

If Rafa breaks the record, Roger will be there to congratulate him either way.

 

[DarthFed]

Why does Djokovic only win the Australian Open? Is Djokovic only healthy/on in Australia? The only year he won other slams was 2011, and that Wimbledon he won was after Nadal injured his foot in the Del Potro match. That foot also plagued Nadal's chances at 2011 US Open because if you recall correctly Nadal said just before 2011 USO that he wasn't ready for the USO because due to his foot he hadn't trained at all after Wimbledon until he arrived in Canada. He said he wasn't ready physically but that "I'll try my best". As you can see, he ran out of energy in the 4th set of the USO final. Outside of Australia (6 hour final in 2012), I've never seen Djokovic beat a 100% fit Nadal at a slam.

IF you take Rafa at his word he has never lost a match at 100%. Even some of his (reasonable) fans knows he is a drama queen about injuries and he makes tons of excuses. He was fine in both of those matches referenced. Djokovic went a draining 5 sets just before both HC GS finals and was nursing a bad shoulder going into the 2011 USO, so if anyone wasn't healthy... And as for Wimbledon, Rafa was so hurt that he beat Del Po and then easily beat Murray in the semi. This is the first time I've heard anyone suggest he was injured that final.

 

[nehmeth]

That US Open 2011 was the most frenetically paced physical final I've seen and they were both drained at the end. Djokovic's back spasms made him unable to serve better than Sara Errani so maybe you should be looking into how an injured Djokovic serving WTA style won rather than the notion that Nadal wasn't 100%

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

You're completely correct. The back problem never fully healed and it messed up his results for the rest of 11.

The serve analogy killed me. I had coffee in my sinuses.

 

[nehmeth]

Where would I like Federer to be when Nadal wins his 18th Slam? lot

I would like him to be enjoying life in the real world with everyone else (including the OP), because for now, 18 is just a fantasy.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal fans in a nutshell:

- Nadal wins a major.... Beware Federer! He's coming for your record! Soon to be GOAT!
- Nadal injures his knees and sits on the sidelines... What a buffoon! Poor scheduling! No more hard courts! His career is over!

Honestly, I've yet to see any other fanbase have such kneejerk over the top reactions to everything, whether positive or negative. And this says something considering Fed fans once projected 20+ majors and Novak fans though Novak cqn maintain his 2011 level non stop for tge next century and a half.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

One thing is for sure, I'd rather be chasing 18 than owning 18. Once you've won 18, you are probably close to retirement (although it will be impossible to tell when Nadal is close to retirement, as he is the comeback king). I'm in no hurry to see 18 (unless he's headed for 22 slams).

 

[brokenshoelace]

That US Open 2011 was the most frenetically paced physical final I've seen and they were both drained at the end. Djokovic's back spasms made him unable to serve better than Sara Errani so maybe you should be looking into how an injured Djokovic serving WTA style won rather than the notion that Nadal wasn't 100%

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

You're completely correct. The back problem never fully healed and it messed up his results for the rest of 11.
The serve analogy killed me. I had coffee in my sinuses.

Never fully healed as in it's currently boythering him still, two years later? In which case i can play the knee card for the rest of eterniy. Since we know for a fact that they'll never fully heal, as evidenced by his layoffs. Let's not do what we criticize others for doing.

 

[brokenshoelace]

One thing is for sure, I'd rather be chasing 18 than owning 18. Once you've won 18, you are probably close to retirement (although it will be impossible to tell when Nadal is close to retirement, as he is the comeback king). I'm in no hurry to see 18 (unless he's headed for 22 slams).

I'd rather own 18. Since that means i chased them and succeeded.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Nadal fans in a nutshell:

- Nadal wins a major.... Beware Federer! He's coming for your record! Soon to be GOAT!
- Nadal injures his knees and sits on the sidelines... What a buffoon! Poor scheduling! No more hard courts! His career is over!

Idiot in a nutshell: see the above post ^

The description used in no way describes me. I've been a Nadal fan since 2004, and I never criticized Nadal's scheduling. His scheduling is what allowed him to become the first man ever to win slams for 9 years in a row. And in November 2012 I was guaranteeing the world that Nadal was going to win 18+ slam titles. The fact that he was taking several months away from the game was a great sign. As Toni said, they won't be using "band-aid" solutions anymore (numbing injections/painkillers), and Nadal would only return when 100%. It was obvious Nadal was going to dominate 2013. Imagine playing most of your career with damaged tendons, and then starting a year with your tendons 100% healthy (as Nadal's doctor told him in February this year after running all tests).

 

[NADAL2005RG]

One thing is for sure, I'd rather be chasing 18 than owning 18. Once you've won 18, you are probably close to retirement (although it will be impossible to tell when Nadal is close to retirement, as he is the comeback king). I'm in no hurry to see 18 (unless he's headed for 22 slams).

I'd rather own 18. Since that means i chased them and succeeded.

Nadal will own 18+ slams, but I bet all the money in the world that Nadal is enjoying this year a lot more than he'll enjoy the final year of his career. I mean, look at Federer this year. Does that look fun? All you retire with is trophies/stats. You don't get to play epic slam finals once you are retired. The journey is the reward, not the trophies/stats.

 

[honey1269]

I hope Nadal is still on tour when Federer wins #18 and maybe #19
Nadal has "bad knees" you know

 

[nehmeth]

That US Open 2011 was the most frenetically paced physical final I've seen and they were both drained at the end. Djokovic's back spasms made him unable to serve better than Sara Errani so maybe you should be looking into how an injured Djokovic serving WTA style won rather than the notion that Nadal wasn't 100%

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

You're completely correct. The back problem never fully healed and it messed up his results for the rest of 11.
The serve analogy killed me. I had coffee in my sinuses.

Never fully healed as in it's currently boythering him still, two years later? In which case i can play the knee card for the rest of eterniy. Since we know for a fact that they'll never fully heal, as evidenced by his layoffs. Let's not do what we criticize others for doing.

Um... I qualified it Broken - the rest of 2011 (see above). That muscle tear hampered him the rest of that season. He was fine when he started 2012.

 

[DarthFed]

Good to know Wafa now has a clean bill of health...until the next time he loses.

 

[brokenshoelace]

:laydownlaughing ".... unable to serve better than Sara Errani" got me.

Well said Front.

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

You're completely correct. The back problem never fully healed and it messed up his results for the rest of 11.
The serve analogy killed me. I had coffee in my sinuses.

Never fully healed as in it's currently boythering him still, two years later? In which case i can play the knee card for the rest of eterniy. Since we know for a fact that they'll never fully heal, as evidenced by his layoffs. Let's not do what we criticize others for doing.

Um... I qualified it Broken - the rest of 2011 (see above). That muscle tear hampered him the rest of that season. He was fine when he started 2012.

Ah I see. He DID lose to Nishikori and Ferrer so you're probably on to something.

 

[nehmeth]

Seriously though, he was serving so timidly Bambi could've returned them but he still won. Just wanted to counter the silliness that Nadal wasn't 100% there (he was simply tired from a crazy match and they both were) as Djokovic couldn't even serve in set 4 so seriously who was worse off? I say Sara Errani's half brother for winning the set with no serve thanks to back spasms.

You're completely correct. The back problem never fully healed and it messed up his results for the rest of 11.
The serve analogy killed me. I had coffee in my sinuses.

Never fully healed as in it's currently boythering him still, two years later? In which case i can play the knee card for the rest of eterniy. Since we know for a fact that they'll never fully heal, as evidenced by his layoffs. Let's not do what we criticize others for doing.

Um... I qualified it Broken - the rest of 2011 (see above). That muscle tear hampered him the rest of that season. He was fine when he started 2012.

Ah I see. He DID lose to Nishikori and Ferrer so you're probably on to something.

Muscle tears aren't fun. :nono

http://www.sbnation.com/tennis/2011/9/19/2434922/novak-djokovic-rib-injury-davis-cup

 

[lindseywagners]

It all makes sense now. No wonder they've never played at the U.S. Open. In 2016, right after the Rio games, it will be 35-year-old Federer and 30-year-old Nadal playing in the final at Flushing Meadows. Rog and Rafa, who now also has reached 17 Slams, will play in the Match of the Century.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

It all makes sense now. No wonder they've never played at the U.S. Open. In 2016, right after the Rio games, it will be 35-year-old Federer and 30-year-old Nadal playing in the final at Flushing Meadows. Rog and Rafa, who now also has reached 17 Slams, will play in the Match of the Century.

Yeah but I think it will more likely be at Roland Garros, because the youngsters (Raonic, Tomic etc.) are weakest on clay, so there should be a window open for a declining Nadal/Federer to dominate clay in 2016. And no sign yet of Murray challenging for Roland Garros. Djokovic will still be trying to win Roland Garros to complete the Career Grand Slam of course.