Poll: Should Rafael Nadal Skip Indian Wells And/Or Miami?

Logically, he should avoid both tournaments as he he is feeling his way back on the tour and natural surfaces are less taxing. I think that at this point, he should be focusing on the European clay and grass season and take it from there. These two tournaments are important only for the ranking points but Rafa should not be bothered about his ranking for clay tournaments right now.

February 19th, 2013 at 11:08 am

He should play both. He needs to play himself into form and needs to play higher ranked players to get his game where it needs to be, even if he loses. He needs to start competing with the top 30 to even begin to lift his game to that level. Brazil was a nice start but he must continue to compete.

February 19th, 2013 at 12:29 pm

He should do what he feels is best for him. IF that means playing- then play. IF he thinks he should skip them both- then I hope he does. Best of luck rafa!

February 19th, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Well, just to split the vote, ^_^ I think he should play at least ONE of them, and probably that should be IW as he has historically done better there than at Miami, plus it’s earlier, so he can leave and go practice on clay prior to Monte Carlo.

Also, Fed, Murray and Nole are all signed on for IW. So if Kimberly is right – and I think she makes an excellent point – then Rafa would do well to join the fray and see where he gets to and where his game is at versus the top guys, *prior* to defending his fortress on clay.

February 19th, 2013 at 12:44 pm

I think brando is right and also jane is right. I’m just dreading that if he does IW and loses, what this site will be like.

February 19th, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Wow, his last hard court title was 2010 Tokyo!! He should skip it, that might end up being his last hard court career title anyway……

February 19th, 2013 at 12:57 pm

juljo724, enjoy Rafa’s return. There’s bound to be some rust after a long layoff. I saw a little of the last tournament and Rafa’s forehand is starting to click, so you never know what the future holds.

February 19th, 2013 at 12:59 pm

He should play both. I strongly believe that all matches/loses in 2009 post injury helped him to get more success in 2010.

February 19th, 2013 at 1:02 pm

My heart says yes.
Knee says no.
Bank Account says yes.
Knee says no.

February 19th, 2013 at 1:24 pm

He should play IW, just so I can watch him play, or take advantage of the side courts emptying out when everyone else goes to watch him play. :-)

February 19th, 2013 at 1:35 pm

^^ lol

February 19th, 2013 at 1:55 pm

For everyone rooting for Nadal to get back to 2010 level – you forget he was 23/24 during that year, the peak level for a tennis player.

This year he is 26/27, coming off of a 7 month layoff, with questionable knees. Second, Djokovic is in a form that he wasn’t anywhere near in 2010. Third, Murray is finally a strong contendor. Fourth, Delpo is not injured, and is back to some type of form. Fifth, some youngsters are showing promise, who might end up being tough competitors for Nadal, especially outside of clay.

In 2010, nadal made hay with a 28/29 year old Fed as his primary competition, while he was 23/24. Things are very different in 2013 mate!!

As for Fed, forget about him, he is done and too old to do much this year (31/32 in age). If he gets his 18th slam, all credit to him. Even otherwise he can retire in peace.

February 19th, 2013 at 2:04 pm

As for Fed, forget about him, he is done and too old to do much this year (31/32 in age). If he gets his 18th slam, all credit to him. Even otherwise he can retire in peace.
—
I wish some of His Kingness’s fans would understand this simple concept.

February 19th, 2013 at 2:53 pm

I read a headline that says Azarenka topless Serena.
Ouch.

February 19th, 2013 at 3:11 pm

He should skip both. He does not need to prove anything to anybody. Take seven more months off Rafa and after that just retire

February 19th, 2013 at 4:24 pm

^yep

February 19th, 2013 at 4:27 pm

^yep
—
Why don’t you retire from posting your
Arrotard comments?

I am the best thing that happened to tennis in the last 10 years.

You hate me because I am the GOAT owner.

February 19th, 2013 at 4:34 pm

Geez. These Arrotards are here, there and everywhere!

February 19th, 2013 at 4:39 pm

I don’t understand the question. MS tournaments are mandatory. You can’t chose to be or not to be injured, when to be injured.

For me, the rules are made for Rafa as much as for the other players. All top 4 players would like to play less, and to chose their tournaments and their fee, but they travel and play, whether it’s their favourite surface or not.

Why should Rafa be an exception? Why not a poll: should Roger Federer play only the slams and some exos? Could Djokovic decline tournaments where his appearance fee is less then 1 M? Should Llodra play only on carpet?

February 19th, 2013 at 8:36 pm

“Humble Rafa Says:

My heart says yes.
Knee says no.
Bank Account says yes.
Knee says no.”

————————
You meant:

“Bank Account says yes.
Knee says yessss.”

February 19th, 2013 at 8:39 pm

@mat4

Ask nadalista, giles and julio, apparently they have all the Rafa answers relating to Rafa. Love is blind.

February 19th, 2013 at 9:19 pm

@mat4

Nole has been quiet in the news as of late. Me thinks he is smiling through all this…hehe ;)

February 19th, 2013 at 10:10 pm

Question for the ones that watched Rafa in Chile and Brazil, did he complied with 25 seconds rule, was he warned at all or umpires did go easy on him? Just curious.

February 19th, 2013 at 10:17 pm

Andy Roddick, retired since September, moves up in ATP rankings

February 19th, 2013 at 10:41 pm

Wog boy. In answer to your question, NO the umpires did not go easy on him!

February 20th, 2013 at 2:57 am

Giles,

Thanks, I was wandering whether they are going to continue it the way they were doing it in Australia, they were pretty much switched on … enforcing the 25 seconds rule.

February 20th, 2013 at 3:10 am

@Skeez:

I hope Nole is working hard somewhere in the desert (he probably does). He has to improve his transition game and his FH, and to make full use of the improvements of his racquet (lighter, more swingweight).

And yes, he could be smiling. Rafa’s results and game are awful, and he’s now thinking of avoiding tough competition and a beatdown on hard.

He has started to play mind games again, something he stopped to do when he was at his very best, in 2011.

But, anyway, between Rafa and Nole there cannot be peace now. Novak is good enough to threaten Rafa on clay, and Rafa was the second best player on slow hard. They have nowhere to run. And with the thirst for victory they have displayed so far, one will have to destroy the other.

Just hope that Novak will be that one. And he won’t be destroyed too in the process.

February 20th, 2013 at 5:41 am

In my opinion, he should play both the tournaments.

February 20th, 2013 at 6:07 am

Anyway, it seems that the much publicized story about the Nole-Andy era made Rafa lose a bit of his cold and his usual objectivity when speaking about his rivals.

He told “that he was on the point to regain the no 1 ranking” — I quote from memory, here. Rafa never says something like this — Roger and Novak have done occasionally some missteps in interviews, but not Rafa.

Rafa, since his junior days, never faced a rival that beat him regularly and was a favourite against him. He missed the occasion to reassert himself in WB, and now, he has to climb the mountain once again, with Djokovic, Murray and Federer in great form.

Anyway, I don’t think that, with the improvements Novak and Murray have made, his top level on hard is good enough, but he still counts on Andy folding down like he usually does in clutch situations (he did it again in the AO final).

Rafa is a warrior, and he will do everything he can to get to the top again. But if he loses his aura, I don’t see how.

IMHO, if he doesn’t win RG, he won’t ever regain his top level.

February 20th, 2013 at 6:09 am

mat4,

Dissagree, Nole made Andy fold down.

February 20th, 2013 at 6:35 am

Rafa has already stated that he expects to lose several matches before he is back to his best and understandably so. He has been off the tour for seven and a half months and it will take some time and effort before he is able to challenge the big boys, or should I say “big boy” e.g. Joker.
Let’s just wait and see and not be too hasty!
Anything can happen. The wheels of tennis can turn very quickly!

February 20th, 2013 at 7:19 am

@skeezer,

And of course, you are not fond of Rafa, you just cannot resist posting on every thread that’s about…..Rafa!

For somebody who does not love, or care about, Rafa, you sure have a lot to say about him……..

February 20th, 2013 at 8:47 am

Just read that Andy has been nominated for a 2013 Laureus World Sports Award, in the category “Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year”. Very nice.

http://www.laureus.com/awards/2013/nominees

February 20th, 2013 at 11:07 am

Whoa there boys, try playing tennis with bloodied and blistered feet and a hamstring!

February 20th, 2013 at 11:24 am

http://blog.oregonlive.com/tennis/2013/02/roger_federer_and_rafael_nadal.html?
Good read – FEDAL!!

February 20th, 2013 at 11:37 am

@WB:

I agree with you, as always..

“Rafa has already stated that he expects to lose several matches…”

Rafa has stated the obvious. But although he had trained for two months at least already, he had problems against players ranked about 100th on his favourite surface, losing a match against one of them, a set against others.

We see now that avoiding to play the AO was a clever move, especially since “playing at his best” requires a certain state of mind, to “regain his form” necessitates lots of winning, and that only winning gives the last 5% that make the differance.

Djokovic needed nine months at least to “regain his form” after his 2011 injury (he peaked at the USO, but played very well in WB already). JMac never found his level again after his break. Will, in Rafa’s case, 95% be enough? Can he make it to 95%?

From what I have seen, I also think that his best won’t be enough any more, except perhaps on clay. Djokovic and Murray have clearly improved, and I am almost certain that Djokovic already plays at his level of 2011 despite the racquet change, and that he has found his mojo again after the AO win.

The most important thing, for Rafa, is to find his 2010 serve. I believe that he works on this, and this is probably the only part of his game where he could improve substantially.

February 20th, 2013 at 11:51 am

Here you have a video of Rafa at 16.

http://www.servicegagnant.net/2013/02/08/video-nadal-a-16-ans/

He obviously has the same built and muscles he had at 18 and later in his career.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:05 pm

nadalista: “@skeezer,

And of course, you are not fond of Rafa, you just cannot resist posting on every thread that’s about…..Rafa!

For somebody who does not love, or care about, Rafa, you sure have a lot to say about him……..”

Couldn’t have said it better myself…LOL

February 20th, 2013 at 12:26 pm

M

February 20th, 2013 at 12:33 pm

Mat4 i suppose theres not really much point in Rafa bothering to play tennis anymore then(sigh),just wondering what ever happened to the theory of lets wait and see,and that anything can happen,dear me the mans only been back playing a fortnight,give him chance puurlease.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:38 pm

Some stats about Murray:

He NEVER won against Djokovic after the loss of one of the first two sets (out of 18 matches).

Against Nadal, he managed to win in Rotterdam 2009 after losing the second set, and in Tokyo 2011 after losing the first set. What is interesting is that Rafa lost the third set 6-0 both times. I don’t remember that Rotterdam match, but I have watched the Tokyo encounter and Murray’s play was outstanding.

Against Federer, he won 5 three setters and a five setter, out of 20 matches.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:45 pm

@alison:

You just broke my heart..

I think you took my comments way too seriously. But, indeed, if he makes the top once again, he will be the first in the open era.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:47 pm

mat4, I understand what you mean and I also understand where alison is coming from. It would be nice for Rafa to make the top again, though he has nothing to prove about being a top tennis player (only 1 of 2 with the Golden Slam). Myself, I will be watching and just thinking good thoughts and wishes each time he plays and hope for the best.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:52 pm

It’s too early to tell about Rafa imo. He could be back to his best by the Euro clay season and that could give him both momentum and confidence. Then, you never know!

Andy, meanwhile, is behind closed doors with Ivan, so who knows what they’re cooking up. ;)

Fed and Nole are gearing up to take the courts at Dubai, so we’ll get a sense of Nole’s form after the AO.

Delpo just won a tournament, too. And Raonic. And then Dimitrov and Tomic are both making a little bit of headway.

Lots to which to look forward, methinks; plenty of question marks in the air, so that kind of makes the next part of the season all rather exciting.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:55 pm

Mat4 fair enough,no harm or foul,realistically im with you in that its unlikely he will dominate ever again,but thats not to say,that hes still not got what it takes to win a GS here or there,i just think people seem a bit too quick to write him off,such is life though i suppose.

February 20th, 2013 at 12:58 pm

@juljo724:

I am a Nole fan: of course I hope Rafa won’t make it. I am biased… a bit.

But I was also a Connors fan, I liked Wilander very much, Safin too. It was easy with Connors, because although he stopped winning, he was there, near the top, playing well. The deception was terrible with Wilander–his best year was the last one he was relevant in slams. Safin… Hopefully, I travelled a lot so I missed his downfall.

So, I don’t take victories for granted, while I know decline is inevitable, and comes way too fast. Just hope Nole will win a few slams more.

February 20th, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Oh Safin.

February 20th, 2013 at 1:10 pm

mat4, I like Nole too. He has come a LONG way since he was mainly called “joker” and I find it hard to figure who might win when him and Rafa play. Those times, I just wish for a good, interesting match, and I’m usually not disappointed.

February 20th, 2013 at 1:13 pm

@jane:

I watched a bit of Dimitrov yesterday. This boy won’t ever make it. Raonic, with his serve, has a better chance, but realistically, they are not made of such stuff as dreams are made of. Tomic, perhaps, he has improved a lot, but at his age, both Djokovic and Murray were top 10 players, Roger was around the 10th position too (no need to mention Rafa), so he better hurry.

And I didn’t count out Rafa. Just mentioned those bad results, since all Rafans were hurrying to comfort themselves. A bit ;-)

February 20th, 2013 at 1:18 pm

For all the Nadal fans devoid of rationality…

Nadal couldn’t win a single slam without breaking tennis rules over and over again. If he stayed within 25 seconds every time or suffered a point penalty every time he broke the rule – he would never win a slam.

Can you show me a single slam he has won without repeatedly violating the rules of the game?

Now, you may not agree with the rules, but given what they are (and I think they are sensible), why should a player be revered for breaking the rules over and over again? Or is that what Nadal fans like – breaking rules over and over again??

Ha ha, I can only imagine the vitriole that will come out now…. go ahead and hurl….

February 20th, 2013 at 1:36 pm

As I stated elsewhere, above post is proof it’s not the Rafa fans doing the most whining and complaining.

February 20th, 2013 at 1:48 pm

Mat4 fair enough like i say no harm or foul,i was just saying is all.

February 20th, 2013 at 1:49 pm

@alison:

:-)

February 20th, 2013 at 1:54 pm

Mat4 thanks lol,right back atcha ;-)

February 20th, 2013 at 1:55 pm

@Ben: Hi, Ben.

@Juljo724:

Watching all their matches in the last 5 years, I think that 1. Rafa learned Novak the right attitude toward the game: never say die, always focused, respect the opponent 2. that they have almost destroyed each other, and that they still can destroy each other.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:04 pm

On the other side, although it is not so obvious, I also believe that game wise, all the changes Novak has introduced in his game are under Roger’s influence.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:09 pm

Will never forget the AO final where Nole and Rafa could barely stand and they finally brought them chairs to sit on. That was another great match between the two.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:18 pm

That match was a perfect example of their war of attrition. They needed three months to recover after that. The toll on their bodies was terrible.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Totally agree mat4. And I’m sorry, but yes it was a long match, but it was a war and them being wore out was not due to Rafa breaking time rules. Them being wore out was due to those two showing why they are at the top of tennis.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:28 pm

@juljo724:

They both broke rules, and the match shouldn’t have last that long.

But they both played taxing semis, and the physical and emotional stress was intense.

But look: after the USO, they both were in a slump, and Novak got injured. After the AO final, they had unexpected losses and played far from their previous form.

After the FO, Djokovic was in a slump, and Rafa got injured.

So, is there a pattern here?

February 20th, 2013 at 2:42 pm

Hi mat4,

To answer your question about Nole’s whereabouts, he is still in Europe and he will be watching Milan game in Milan against Barcelona cheering Milan before he leaves for Dubai. He was practising in Monte Carlo with his brothers until now.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:53 pm

^ Actually match already started.

February 20th, 2013 at 2:57 pm

@WB:

Damn it! I hoped he cheered for Juve..

February 20th, 2013 at 2:58 pm

Tell me about that, he also goes for Red Star Belgrade:(

February 20th, 2013 at 3:10 pm

@wog Boy. Is hé gong to support Partizan?Give me a break…

February 20th, 2013 at 3:18 pm

@WB:

He roots for Red Star Belgrade, not Partizan Belgrade?

I see that this boy has some sense after all..

February 20th, 2013 at 3:20 pm

Here we go,I knew you are going to turn up courbon.

February 20th, 2013 at 3:21 pm

@Courbon:

I remember Savicevic played for Red Star. Then Stojkovic (he played for l’OM). Then Dzajic (he played for Bastia in his time).

Who played for Partizan Belgrade? Perhaps Curkovic, that made my team (StE) lose the final of the EC in 1976 against the Bayern Munich?

February 20th, 2013 at 3:24 pm

@Courbon

A clip for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2t6LXi5dHM

You will certainly note my good taste, my finesse, and my deep knowledge of foodball..

February 20th, 2013 at 3:40 pm

…football…

February 20th, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Mat4 just to say thankyou,as i really enjoyed that clip,i love that free spirit way of living,that the gypsies lead.

February 20th, 2013 at 3:50 pm

mat4,

Because of this song I will forgive you, one of the best ever Gypsy songs if not best ever “Cigani lete u nebo.” That song asks for bottle of Vodka but I am at work today. You got me now, I haven’t heard it for a long time, I think I am going to call sicky today;)

BTW, if you remember AO final this and last year then you remember big bloke in Nole’s box, well that was Vlade Divac former Partizan, LA and Sacramento player, I was more into basketball than football, played myself in Partizan juniors … I wasn’t very good:(

February 20th, 2013 at 3:53 pm

@alison:

The film is exceptional. One of my favourite.

February 20th, 2013 at 3:57 pm

@WB:

I liked basket-ball very much, more than football, but I stopped watching twenty years ago. I watched Brabender, Meneghin, Dalipagic…

I can quote the best Yugoslavian and European team ever, the one from 1989. I was very fond of Drazen Petrovic.

February 20th, 2013 at 4:02 pm

Mat4 i think for me its all about getting back to nature,back to basics without the need for meterealistic things,for which there is to much of in society today,its such a pure way of living.

February 20th, 2013 at 4:04 pm

mat4,

That team was the only team that could give hard time to Dream Team, it was best ever European team, unfortunately they were never to play again after all the hell broke loose in Yugoslavia, just think about Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, Drazen Petrovic and the others who played after for Croatia and Vlade Divac, Predrag Danilovic, Pedja Stojakovic and others who played for Serbia, the second lot won the world Title beating USA on the way in the middle of the USA in 2002 Indianapolis.

February 20th, 2013 at 4:11 pm

C’mon Messi, c’mon Barca!!

February 20th, 2013 at 4:14 pm

@alison:

“Tabor uhodit v nebo” The whole film can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udkz19ISbZs&wide=1

English subtitles work well. The film is very poetic, and the music…

February 20th, 2013 at 4:27 pm

Thankyou Mat4 its beautiful:-)

February 20th, 2013 at 4:36 pm

^Just call me the tennis x hippy chic^.

February 20th, 2013 at 4:38 pm

@alison:

Why “hippy”?

Anyway, I am also fond of this film because I had a colleague of mixed Ukrainian/Gypsy origin in my youth. She was probably the most beautiful woman I met, a pure Gypsy girl, while her sister was fair and blond, a true Slavic Cossack.

February 20th, 2013 at 5:10 pm

Mat4 that way of life is very appealing,its not quite the same,but i love the native american way of living,dancing around camp fires,drum healing,flute playing,meditation,head massages,reiki healing,crystal healing,tibetan singing bowls,and foraging of the land,granted its not all the same,but they have their own personal natural ways of living.

February 20th, 2013 at 5:23 pm

@alison:

Unfortunately, those traditional ways of living are disappearing slowly. I started to travel through Eastern, Central and South Europe (and then work there, finally marry a Slavic girl) thirty years ago, in the communist era, and everything has changed since then.

IMHO, the influence of the Western countries was a complete disaster.

But I watched similar changes in my hometown. France has changed too, for the worse, especially in industrialized regions.

February 20th, 2013 at 5:42 pm

^ I am sure Kusturica agrees with you.

February 20th, 2013 at 6:52 pm

@WB:

I watched most of his films, but I liked his first film best, “Do you remember Dolly Bell?”.

February 20th, 2013 at 7:22 pm

^ “Venti quatro mille baci.”

February 20th, 2013 at 7:54 pm

Lets try again:

” Ventiquattromila baci.” I was never good in Italian.

San Remo 1961.

February 20th, 2013 at 8:00 pm

You mean… this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl204CfCGRg

or this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5-3_vaiGSU

February 20th, 2013 at 8:09 pm

Both of them, Adriano Celentano was big and I was big fan of him. I cannot give you a link but try “Susanna, Fantastico 5, 1984” pricless thing.

February 20th, 2013 at 8:17 pm

“priceless”

February 20th, 2013 at 8:18 pm

@mat 4 I Can’t Bélive you remembre Curkovic!My father-in law played with him!His Surname Is Courbon-thé n’aime I use for business ans thés blog.Ale vert!!!!!

February 21st, 2013 at 12:02 am

@Wog Boy. i was thé same- préféred basket-Drazen was m’y Idol .What à player…Watched Kusturica ans His band 6 montes agoin London.Very good.I went to after party ans met him.Nice Guy

February 21st, 2013 at 12:08 am

Courbon,

I watched “Kusturica @ The No Smoking Orchestra” in Sydney Opera House few years ago, It was great and Dr Nele was all over the place. I also stayed few nights in his Timbertown village, where he lives in one of the houses, about 6-7 years ago and it happened that he was there and we had a drink in one of the restaurants named “Travnicka hronika” in his Timbertown village on Mokra Gora. If I didn’t know who he is I would think he just another local with a good sense of humor.
I think it is better if we wait for Nole’s thread so we can talk more, some people get upset if we are not talking tennis.
Check “Unza Unza Time” on YouTube, it is only five minutes one , good one, has English subtitle:)

February 21st, 2013 at 12:33 am

@Courbon:

Memory is a strange thing. I can’t remember much more important things, but I didn’t forget my team that played the final of the Cup of European Champions, nor the match, played in Glasgow. Les Verts were so close to the title.

February 21st, 2013 at 3:51 am

Who care?

anyway, Nadal lose again. excuse injury as usual.

arrogant sore loser.

February 21st, 2013 at 5:26 am

^^^ Makes sense!

February 21st, 2013 at 11:26 am

Roger is class but unfortunately his fans are CR@P #Fact

February 21st, 2013 at 11:29 am

@Sean:

I really have some difficulties to understand the poll.

Is it a hypothetical question: if he could chose, what should he do to manage his knees?

Because, players have obligations, duties that they can’t skip. Acapulco is not mandatory, IW and Miami are. So, the only logical answer could be that he has to skip Acapulco, plays IW and see how the knees react. Because I am not convinced that playing two tournaments on clay, day after day, in single and doubles, is less stressing than play one tournament on hard.

Otherwise, we would have top players skipping Madrid, or Rome, Cincinnati, Paris, to prepare for the FO, the USO and the YEC. They are already playing some of this tournaments with half strength (don’t want to say “tanking”), faking injuries…

The ATP needed years to find the best solutions to earn more money, and it requires from the top stars to be present at top tournaments whenever it is possible. Why should Rafa be an exception? Is there no way, for him, to play less, manage his health, and respect the ATP rules?

If his knee problems are so acute, why didn’t he lose some weight? Why hasn’t he hired a professional to rework his movements on the court? Why the only thing he does is to avoid mandatory tournaments with stiff competition and chose lesser tournaments with big extra money?

February 21st, 2013 at 11:34 am

mat4. Too many questions!! Why don’t you ask Rafa instead of Sean??

February 21st, 2013 at 11:54 am

@mat4: Nadal doesn’t have to play both IW and Miami. He received an annual exemption from one M1000 tournament when he reached 600 matches on tour. In theory, he could skip one. Next year, he’ll get another exemption because it will be his 12th year of service on tour.

Federer has reached all three of the exemption milestones, I believe, and so he’s fully exempted from the requirement of playing every M1000 tournament. Obviously, it’s a trade-off for guys since those tournaments also offer the most points outside of majors.

February 21st, 2013 at 12:24 pm

@Sean Randall:

SPOT FRIGGING ON!

Your 10.01 post hits the nail on the head regarding this matter.

Rafa’s STATED priority is the CLAY SWING in europe and FO!

That’s it!

He’s on his comeback trail and considering that fact and what he has as his stated priority it’s makes NO SENSE whatsoever for him to play either IW and MI.

Even on-rafa fans such as JANE have suggested he should skip MIAMI.

BOTTOM LINE:

Rafa will do whatever he feels is best for him and his aspirations- like ANY OTHER PLAYER.

ATP will deal with him IF they have an issue- IF not then they’ll let him be.

Now IF some non-rafa fans have a problem with that then…. TOUGH LUCK i guess!

Accept it and move on rather than whining on and on about it!

You do not root for the guy- so WHY on earth go on about him like some concerned supporter of his?

Especially when HIS supporters are fine with his scenario?

UNLESS you like to moan and groan about him- in which case:

Please continue and waste your life in doing so!

It ain’t going to hurt rafa or his standing at all- a few PETTY comments on some internet blog.

Please continue if you have to: it’s just your time that you are needlessly wasting.

Have fun!

February 21st, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Brando. Well said!

February 21st, 2013 at 12:43 pm

@Sean: obligations to play tournaments are suspended if a player has a bona fide injury, which constitutes good cause.

Players, particularly those in the top 30, can’t just skip tournaments whenever they want. To quote a classic movie: “This isn’t ‘Nam — there are rules.”

February 21st, 2013 at 1:13 pm

@T_M_R:

I knew about these rules, but I forgot Rafa had already played more than 600 matches. Anyway, thanks.

@Sean:

Rafa was injured for most of this tournaments.

Then, I see my remark as twofold:

one, what should Rafa do to protect his health _and_ continue to play tennis, and more important,

two, our implicit perception that our fav can do whatever he wants despite the rules.

Today, it is to play whenever he wants, tomorrow, what would it be? There was a survey, recently, that showed that 70% of the questioned persons would rather watch doped athletes running 9,5 seconds in a 100 m race than clean athletes running 10,2.

I believe I could have a point, here.

February 21st, 2013 at 1:44 pm

I think there are too many mandatories anyway. Players should be given more choice and more flexibilty. If they choose to lose points by missing tournaments, surely that’s up to each individual? It’s not like football where you can bring on the subs. The number of injuries most players succumb to, testifies to the schedule being too hard.

February 21st, 2013 at 1:47 pm

@Margot: top 30 players are required to play 12 tournaments per year — the 8 M1000 tournaments and 4 M500 tournaments. Call it 13 if they are top 8 in the world, as they’d then also have to play the World Tour Finals. I don’t think that’s asking too much.

As far as just letting them do whatever they’d like, the ATP is a business at the end of the day, and while I certainly don’t prefer to look at it as such, there are stakeholders like venues and sponsors, etc. Fans need to buy tickets in order to keep this whole thing going, and in order for that to happen, top players need to play.

February 21st, 2013 at 1:56 pm

@Margot:

I agree with you. We see, year after year, top players avoiding some of those tournaments in a way or another.

I thought that a good solution would be for any top player to play at least 6, perhaps 7, of those 9 tournaments. But how would they chose which ones (not) to play? Paris, at the end of the season, would have the most problems. On the other side, MC manages to have an excellent field despite no being mandatory.

February 21st, 2013 at 1:57 pm

“the_mind_reels Says:

[…]

As far as just letting them do whatever they’d like, the ATP is a business at the end of the day, and while I certainly don’t prefer to look at it as such, there are stakeholders like venues and sponsors, etc. Fans need to buy tickets in order to keep this whole thing going, and in order for that to happen, top players need to play.”

Excellent post.

February 21st, 2013 at 2:00 pm

@Sean: we’ve already established that he can skip one of them if he likes, injury or not.

As for what happens in your scenario, I don’t know. Nadal’s situation where he was out for so long and now is back but has made it very clear that he’s trying out his knees to see how they hold up — I don’t know if there’s a ton of precedent for this with other top players in the past. Usually someone is hurt, they recover, and then they’re back.

If he gets a medical exam and it’s determined that he’s injured after Acapulco, then he’s injured and doesn’t have to play. I have no way of knowing for sure, but I can’t imagine that the ATP always just goes off of the word of a player’s doctors.

February 21st, 2013 at 2:27 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/21447998
He will follow his doctor’s orders.

February 21st, 2013 at 2:47 pm

@Sean:

I am quite aware of your point.

But, DO YOU approve it?

Finally, nor the ATP nor the sponsors are that powerless.

February 21st, 2013 at 2:49 pm

@Sean:

Kudos for saying it like it is.

Folks need to accept it!

BOTTOM LINE:

IF Rafa (or Fed) say they shall not play a tourny since they are injured or don’t feel too well then do you REALLY BELIEVE that the ATP are going to push them on this?

THEY WON’T!

Why?

Since Fed or Rafa are their main draw, their cash cow, the MONEY MEN!

LOL, IF Rafa says:

‘My knees need a rest. I am still not 100%. My doctor has said that i should take it easy. It’s stupid to play IW and MIAMI in this scenario, no?’

LOL, the ATP response will most likely be:

‘No worries rafa. We hope to see you once you are a 100%. We love you!’

They won’t push him on this.

Some folks need to get over it and accept this reality!

IF rafa doesn’t want to play IW and MIAMI that is HIS decision.

IF the ATP are cool about, then what’s the point of moaning about it when the governing body is fine with it?

IF rafa’s very own fans are cool with it and aren’t complaining, then WHY should you moan and groan about it when you don’t root for him?

FREE TIP:

IF you have a problem with such a thing, moan about the ATP not rafa!

But let’s face it:

That’s all some folks want to do here: MOAN about rafa!

February 21st, 2013 at 3:13 pm

I don’t know why, Brando, but your post made me think of this Lydia Davis poem. :) Plus _the mind reels_ already made a reference to “Nam”. So this must be the poem of the day!

———————-

“She hated a mown lawn. Maybe that was because mow was the reverse of wom, the beginning of the name of what she was—a woman. A mown lawn had a sad sound to it, like a long moan. From her, a mown lawn made a long moan. Lawn had some of the letters of man, though the reverse of man would be Nam, a bad war. A raw war. Lawn also contained the letters of law. In fact, lawn was a contraction of lawman. Certainly a lawman could and did mow a lawn. Law and order could be seen as starting from lawn order, valued by so many Americans. More lawn could be made using a lawn mower. A lawn mower did make more lawn. More lawn was a contraction of more lawmen. Did more lawn in America make more lawmen in America? Did more lawn make more Nam? More mown lawn made more long moan, from her. Or a lawn mourn. So often, she said, Americans wanted more mown lawn. All of America might be one long mown lawn. A lawn not mown grows long, she said: better a long lawn. Better a long lawn and a mole. Let the lawman have the mown lawn, she said. Or the moron, the lawn moron.

———————

February 21st, 2013 at 4:14 pm

Brando. Another great post. :-)))))

February 21st, 2013 at 4:29 pm

Posters need to realise that Rafa is the BOSS and he will make a decision that is right for him! #VamosChamp

February 21st, 2013 at 4:34 pm

Jane. A bit of a tongue twister, too much lawn mowing going on! Was Lydia sober when she wrote this poem?
So what is the moral of the poem?

February 21st, 2013 at 4:42 pm

^ LOL, I don’t know if she was sober. The anagrams and tongue twisters are deliberate methinks; she wants us to stumble over the connections (sound, word, meaning). I assume she is critiquing, in part, post-WWII economic boom and the growth of suburbs & private property since the poem is mainly about “land”, i.e., lawns as well as the ensuing control and ownership thereof. A lot of wars are fought over land after all. Perhaps she’s looking for something more organic and natural (an unmown lawn, a mole, less “law” and “order”). But who knows? Maybe there are other morals.

February 21st, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Did people hear about Rebecca Marino? She’s quitting tennis due to on-going depression, firstly, but she’s also come out and said that the “bullying” she encountered via social media took a toll. Too bad. :/

http://tinyurl.com/apa4rc3

February 21st, 2013 at 4:56 pm

@jane:

Yes, I read about her yesterday in French. After your comment, I just found an article about her problems.

February 21st, 2013 at 5:51 pm

@Jane:

‘I don’t know why, Brando, but your post made me think of this Lydia Davis poem. :) ‘

Maybe it’s because my words in the blog are like me in life: poetry in motion!

LOL! Just messing! :-)

Re Rebecca Marino:

I did not know of it until you brought it up.

Looked it up and well it’s just plain sad to see and quite tragic really.

This part in an article bothered me especially:

”Social media has also taken its toll on me,” Marino said, saying that she would receive numerous tweets that tell her to “go die” and “go burn in hell” and even scold her for costing her money if people had bet on her during certain matches.”

That is truly awful to hear of, yet, quite frankly speaking it just exposes a disgusting aspect of the internet and social media interaction that we even see displayed on Tennis-X every now and then:

Unfortunately ANYBODY can gain access to the internet. Sadly that also includes mean people with nothing but hate on their mind.

Truly sad that it is as such! :-(

February 21st, 2013 at 8:19 pm

@jane….an aside: “mowing the lawn” is my least favourite gardening job. In fact if they weren’t so good for blackbirds etc., doubt if I’d bother. In the UK the sight of a neat, tidy lawn, mown within an inch of its life; is the give-away that there’s a male gardener at home…:)

February 22nd, 2013 at 2:48 am

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Rafael-Nadal-the-true-champion–articolo8578.html
Rafa fans.

February 22nd, 2013 at 3:45 am

Brando/Jane great posts,been bullied away because of the media, when your only crime was to play tennis,and although theres alot of good stuff on the tennis x forum,its also my belief that some posters have been bullied away from posting on this forum too,when their only crime was to have a difference of opinion :-(

February 22nd, 2013 at 4:40 am

@alison:

It happens to everyone of us from time. My way of protecting my mental health is to read a post only when I see a familiar name, one of the core posters here I virtually know for years.

Those are the only posters I am certain I can disagree with (it is never a problem when you agree), argue, and whom you can learn from. And you can be sure that they will try to understand what you have written, taking in account the fact that you are not a native English speaker.

From time to time, I discover a new, knowledgeable and balanced poster, but they are few.

I miss a lot of interesting posts, that way, but I am certain not to be “surprised” in a bad way.

Finally, I am absolutely certain that some posters left because of the insane level of personal attacks. I also believe that the situation was better a few years ago, although it could be just the usual illusion about good old times.

February 22nd, 2013 at 7:00 am

It doesn’t matter which one he skips. He has not won a tournament outside clay in about 30 months. I donot see him winning either of these 2 masters, this year. Not with the way he has played the last 2 tournaments.

I just hope he can continue his recovery and win atleast the FO like he has done the last 2 years.

February 22nd, 2013 at 8:48 am

Mat4 theres alot of truth in your post,i have for the most part(i think)managed to get along with most people,fortunatly i have only had the odd one or two that have attacked me personally,and now i dont bother with them anymore,unless they address me personally,i dont mind objective critisism,but the personal insults get a bit much sometimes.

February 22nd, 2013 at 11:29 am

Indian Ninya i see where your coming from,but just because he hasnt won a HC title in a long time,doesnt nesassarily mean to say that he wont win a HC title ever again,and with a little bit of luck he just might again,ya never know.

February 22nd, 2013 at 11:33 am

I think Rafa should play doubles to get a feel on HC for IW, then if he comes out ok, then enter singles for Miami..

February 22nd, 2013 at 12:42 pm

@Staff

Loved your in the trunk stuff on the home page, friggin great sh!t!

February 22nd, 2013 at 6:10 pm

@Skeez:

You mean… Rafa and Roger playing the senior tour?

February 22nd, 2013 at 7:36 pm

^ya! But every item in the trunk is good ;)

February 22nd, 2013 at 7:50 pm

At least, on the senior tour, Rafa won’t have to worry about the knees: he’s always ready for exhibitions :-)

February 22nd, 2013 at 7:57 pm

[…] are almost confirmed. A week ago we asked how Rafael Nadal and his bum knee should schedule the upcoming March Masters Madness in Indian Well and Miami. If you were among the 41% who voted […]

February 26th, 2013 at 9:17 am