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

[brokenshoelace]

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.

I think it was a sarcastic post.

 

[nehmeth]

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.

I think it was a sarcastic post.

Doh! :snigger

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I'm not going to treat any post as sarcastic, since I know nobody here. But sorry if I offended anyone by not treating the post as sarcastic.

 

[tented]

I'm not going to treat any post as sarcastic, since I know nobody here. But sorry if I offended anyone by not treating the post as sarcastic.

Don't worry about it. You didn't offend anyone, and your response is reasonable in the context of being a newbie. I can assure you that Broken_shoelace was only pointing out the nature of the post you responded to, not criticizing you or anything.

 

[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.

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.

I think it was a sarcastic post.

I wasn't really being sarcastic, just thinking wishfully.

 

[isabelle]

I don't think Nadal will get to 17.

He got to 13 and could get to 17 one day if his knees let him play IMO

 

[Mog]

Nadal has 13 slams and it is possible that he might reach 17 or he may not. But he has the chance, who knows?
But stop talking about his knees. Your achievements is a complete package of skills and fitness.

He had the great clay season with RG and then with his knees he had the best hard court season including USO. So enough about knees.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Sounds like someone is wishing for Nadal's knees to collapse, if they are bringing it up just after he won his 22nd straight hardcourt match (and with no bandages). The 7 month break was to allow his tendons to heal. And Nadal's doctor revealed in February this year that every test shows Nadal's tendons are now at 100% (for the first time in many years). I think its deluded to suggest Nadal will stop at 17 slam titles. He's the most competitive man in sport. He's not going to settle for tying Federer. He's going to surpass Federer. And let's say hypothetically Nadal loses at Roland Garros in 2016 or 2017. He's not going to retire after a loss. He's going to do everything in his power to regain the Roland Garros crown. Nadal was still feeling recovery pains during this year's clay season (just as his doctor said he would). He is now fully recovered and back into the flow of things, so I think you'll see him play much better at next year's Roland Garros. Until someone beats him there, there is no limit to how many slams Nadal will win. And if he wins the other slams next year too, 20+ slams is possible. Minimum 18. Maximum 22.

 

[Front242]

You mention the word deluded and then also claim 22 slams is possible for Nadal. I think that's a more apt use of deluded.

 

[Kieran]

Until someone beats him there, there is no limit to how many slams Nadal will win.

There is, actually. He's definitely not winning 100 slams...

 

[Front242]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

Absolutely agreed. Right until the part about Soderling (he won't be a factor).

 

[Front242]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

Absolutely agreed. Right until the part about Soderling (he won't be a factor).

Yeah Soderling is wishful thinking of course this early. Didn't so much mean at the AO 'cos clearly he won't be a threat there but certainly if he starts getting match tough and gains confidence he can prove to be a factor much later in the year.

 

[Moxie]

Very few players are ever 100% healthy all year long. The notion that no one beats Nadal when he's "100% fit" is pure fanboy nonsense sorry. 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%

As for "I'll try my best", Nadal says that no matter who he is playing and it means nothing. It's just the way he's always been in press interviews.

This is fair, Front. TBH, I don't remember Nadal's foot being an issue at the 2011 USO, but I do remember Novak's back...because it seemed an indicator of just how far Nole was in Rafa's head at that point that he couldn't even beat him injured.

Sorry, Nadal2005RG, but it's can't ALWAYS be about Rafa's injuries. In that case, it was more about his head, anyway. (Which I hope no one takes as an excuse.) Novak was fantastic in 2011, and even pains didn't stop him until late in the year.

 

[Kieran]

I remember Nadal playing four matches in five days at the end of that US Open in 2011, though. And I know players have injuries but none of them of Rafa's stature get to be sidelined for seven months from Wimbledon 2012.

And so on.

It's just fanboy nonsense to compare Rafa's knees to the odd twinge and hangover...

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

I seriously doubt Murray would have beaten Nadal at the 2012 US Open.
I also wasn't impressed with Murray at the 2013 Australian Open.
Nadal has defeated Murray in their last 4 slam meetings (and only one of those was at Roland Garros).

A year later = a year older. But how is that relevant when....
2012 Murray won the US Open. This year he didn't even make the semis.
2012 Nadal didn't even play the US Open. This year he won (and set the record for fewest breaks).
There is no predictable pattern.

Soderling beat Nadal in 4 sets at 2009 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2010 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2011 Roland Garros.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

I seriously doubt Murray would have beaten Nadal at the 2012 US Open.
I also wasn't impressed with Murray at the 2013 Australian Open.
Nadal has defeated Murray in their last 4 slam meetings (and only one of those was at Roland Garros).

A year later = a year older. But how is that relevant when....
2012 Murray won the US Open. This year he didn't even make the semis.
2012 Nadal didn't even play the US Open. This year he won (and set the record for fewest breaks).
There is no predictable pattern.

Soderling beat Nadal in 4 sets at 2009 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2010 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2011 Roland Garros.

Except his post has nothing to do with that. He didn't say Murray could have beaten Nadal at the US Open this year. He just said he'll be a threat in the future.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I remember Nadal playing four matches in five days at the end of that US Open in 2011, though. And I know players have injuries but none of them of Rafa's stature get to be sidelined for seven months from Wimbledon 2012.

And so on.

It's just fanboy nonsense to compare Rafa's knees to the odd twinge and hangover...

Don't forget, the only reason Nadal took 7 months away from the game was because he wanted his tendons to be 100%. Nadal said he will never play again at less than 100%. By February 2013, Nadal's doctor said his tendons are now 100%, for the first time in MANY years (probably about 7 years). And before you say it, yes Nadal was in pain during the South American swing and limping a bit at Indian Wells. But his doctor said even though his tendons are now 100%, there would be recovery pain for a while. By Montreal, the bandages were gone.

In 2012, Nadal could have played the Olympics at 70% or the US Open at 60%, but that was not the agreement. Uncle Toni said "No more bandaid solutions" which means he won't play with painkillers or numbing injections. The only way to reach 100% is to take months away from the game. You see how most of the ATP tour is playing with niggling injuries and not taking time off? Nadal did that his entire career, until 2012. Nadal and his team rose above the trend. They took the road less traveled, and went into semi-retirement in order to heal. Federer said more players should do it. But they won't, because it takes discipline. Nadal had the required discipline, and he's reaping the benefits - prime hardcourt form.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

I seriously doubt Murray would have beaten Nadal at the 2012 US Open.
I also wasn't impressed with Murray at the 2013 Australian Open.
Nadal has defeated Murray in their last 4 slam meetings (and only one of those was at Roland Garros).

A year later = a year older. But how is that relevant when....
2012 Murray won the US Open. This year he didn't even make the semis.
2012 Nadal didn't even play the US Open. This year he won (and set the record for fewest breaks).
There is no predictable pattern.

Soderling beat Nadal in 4 sets at 2009 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2010 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2011 Roland Garros.

Except his post has nothing to do with that. He didn't say Murray could have beaten Nadal at the US Open this year. He just said he'll be a threat in the future.

A threat to who? He's already a threat to Djokovic and Federer. He hasn't been a threat to Nadal (at the slams) since January 2010. Murray has a long road to travel.

 

[Iona16]

Just remember how quickly things change in tennis. If Murray regains form and wins a slam here or there it's one or two less chances that year for Nadal, Djokovic, Fed and everyone else. That's how it works. A year later they all have chances again but they're also a year older. Staying in contention to win slams is no walk in the park. If Soderling comes back and comes back well he may well also prove to be a big spoiler for the top guys and again make slam draws wide open, not to mention JJ and hopefully other guys on the rise.

I seriously doubt Murray would have beaten Nadal at the 2012 US Open.
I also wasn't impressed with Murray at the 2013 Australian Open.
Nadal has defeated Murray in their last 4 slam meetings (and only one of those was at Roland Garros).

A year later = a year older. But how is that relevant when....
2012 Murray won the US Open. This year he didn't even make the semis.
2012 Nadal didn't even play the US Open. This year he won (and set the record for fewest breaks).
There is no predictable pattern.

Soderling beat Nadal in 4 sets at 2009 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2010 Roland Garros.
Nadal beat Soderling in straight sets at 2011 Roland Garros.

Except his post has nothing to do with that. He didn't say Murray could have beaten Nadal at the US Open this year. He just said he'll be a threat in the future.

A threat to who? He's already a threat to Djokovic and Federer. He hasn't been a threat to Nadal (at the slams) since January 2010. Murray has a long road to travel.

You do realise that Rafa hasn't played Andy in nearly 2 years. That is a long time in tennis. Rafa isn't the same player he was 2 years but neither is Andy. I look forward to them playing each other again.

Even as a Rafa fan I'm finding this thread way over the top. Why can't fans just enjoy slam #13 or speculate when #14 could come?