Poll: Better Chance Of Winning The French Open: Rafael Nadal Or Serena Williams?

Nadal, but I think Williams knows is her best chance to add another RG trophy to get a second career slam. Is now or never to Serena!

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:21 am

I wouldn’t say never. The thing is she’s had a lot of chances but has failed to deliver.

This is too easy, Nadal. Without a doubt. I have a feeling Serena will have one of those weird upsets again. Maybe not, but we know that won’t happen to Nadal.

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:34 am

Is this a trick question? Rafa, of course! You know Serena will contrive to lose in Paris somehow…….

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:47 am

Rafa for sure. Serena last made a final in 2002, I think.

May 22nd, 2013 at 11:40 am

I think it’s pretty even, but if I had to absolutely pick one, I’d have to go with Nadal. The 3-sets for women’s matches versus 5-sets for men’s matches play a role here too. I think it’ easier to upset someone in a 3-set match than a 5-set match.

May 22nd, 2013 at 12:02 pm

Big Lady won’t win RG.

May 22nd, 2013 at 12:19 pm

Is it just me or the big lady is getting bigger.

May 22nd, 2013 at 12:25 pm

@HR –

It’s just you.

Really – if you’ve never seen her in person, and are just guessing based on pictures and TV, your eyes are fooling you.

(People used to say the same thing about Rafa – how he was “sooo huge” when he’s really quite slim.)

May 22nd, 2013 at 12:29 pm

she already looks like a whale ,how much bigger can she get?!

May 22nd, 2013 at 12:59 pm

I would say based on history Rafa, but Rafa has Djokovic who can legitimately challenge whereas Serena has no one. But she seems to suffer these weird upsets at RG. So who knows. Djokovic is another favorite, Roger following that. After those three the one with the largest outside shot would probably be Birdsh*t. WHo do you guys pick as the dark horse outside the three. I’m not seeing it for Ferrer.

May 22nd, 2013 at 1:10 pm

I have written a similar blog predicting Nadal as french open winner but I think there is a possibility of some upset esp from dark horses like Del Potro, Thomas Berdych and Wawrinka.

May 22nd, 2013 at 2:40 pm

Believe this: the winners will be Serena and Djokovic. Nole wants RG and, although I would love for Rafa to win, he will come up short. Oh well, at least Serena takes home new hardware…go girl!

May 22nd, 2013 at 2:55 pm

I think Serena is playing extremely well right now. I’m not sure who has the right stuff to beat her. I think her chance of winning is probably better than Rafa’s….but being the selfish person that I am, I am pulling for my two favs!!

May 22nd, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Oh, failed to mention who my two favs are….Rafa and Serena. Regarding Serena’s size, don’t think her match play has suffered any because of it.

May 22nd, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Rafa or Serena? Trick question as I don’t think either one of them is beatable. I know Novak beat Rafa in MC, but I think RG is going to be way different if they meet up. Serena’s competitio0n in Sharpie and Azarenka isn’t even close. I think Serena said it best when she said the woman in the mirror is the only one to beat her. I saw Serena at Stanford last year and while she isn’t as big in person as on TV, she is still a very big girl. Cibilkova and Errani together might make 1 Serena.

May 22nd, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Why?

May 22nd, 2013 at 7:05 pm

I think the way she has been playing, it’s gonna take two people to beat her. LOL

May 22nd, 2013 at 7:11 pm

@Anna

Lets face it, with Murray out, Djoker is the only guy that can handle Rafa in a long match. If Fed has ANY chance, he would have to smoke Rafa off in 3 sets. Ain’t gonna happen. The odds makers have it so right with Rafa this year at FO. He will sail through unless some upstart kid( like Rosol ) will take it to him aggressively early. Over a 5 set match, don’t see that happening either as Rafa , on Clay, has all the time in the world ( SLOW courts ) to figure it out.

I mean, figure out the scenarios. How could Rafa lose other than pull an injury thingy?

Djoker has a shot, as he has proven in the past to hang with Rafa, especially in long matches, but this year, leading up to FO, Djoker seems to not prove he has the goods this year and doesn’t look ready.

Rafa all the way here at FO….

____

Fans remember when Serena won AO and commentators said she looked fat? ( she was ). She was unseeded, then went through the draw and won a GS title. I’ll never forget that. Amazing sh!t! Say what you want to say, but on the court she is the best warrior, serve and returner the womens game has ever seen.

This FO? She may win, she may not. She’s 31 and still doing amazing. Props to her!

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:22 pm

Nadal, of course. he is not the clay GOAT. he is the clay BEAST. GOAT is for sissies.

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:49 pm

Lets face it, I may not like Nadal’s game at all. But mentally, there isn’t a stronger player. He has balls made of steel.

I just don’t like his ugly game.

May 22nd, 2013 at 10:50 pm

Serena.

Nadal has more competition than the WTA can offer. Even if it’s just one guy.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:03 am

Just love how people say Novak is going to win RG because he WANTS it! Like……..the rest of the field is there for an “aw shucks” turn….

So, he didn’t want RG 2012, he lost then remember? The best player will win the tournament, period.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 am

There’s also a big difference between Nadal and Serena. Serena plainly outhits opponents. Nadal grinds them down. Serena wins by hitting more winners. Nadal wins by making fewer errors.

Serena is older. Though I don’t think it matters in women’s tennis. It is pathetic how even some of the top 10 players on the women’s side play – they look like club level players. There’s a lot more game on the men’s side, where even the 100th ranked player can have a damn good game – but loses just because he may not be consistent enough or mentally that strong yet.

Steffi won 22 singles slams without even a backhand!

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:28 am

@nadalista,

quit your hyping already. Any lame duck knows Rafa is the odds on fav. You types are posting twisted stats and fan links like Rafa is the second coming.

Checked the betting sites lately? With top players withdrawing like flies your fav is safe in the shoo in of all Slams. Fed’s only chance at this age is to take him down in 3. Ain’t gonna happen. Nole is not on form , the only guy who has proven to OUTLAST the Beast. Ain’t gonna happen this year either.

So, seriously, nobody is interested unless you are a Rafa Koolaid drinker andhave a Rafa poster in Armani underwear in your bedroom wall ( Sound familiar? )

Keep the trash talking up through RG, cause the real tennis starts at Wimby and USO!!!!

_____

About the response from my post.

expect at least these 2 things

1) “ole geezer’s at it again..yada yada”
or
2) HR aka RFF or RFF aka HR will post some half wit comedic try of a post to counter to be funny. Fail.

Either one never addresses the topics when it is addressed (cause they can’t). They go after the poster. Welcome to Rafafanatic world. VamosKing! Master! KingofDirt! My Rafa! Everyone else sucks!

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:00 am

ROGER WILL WIN THIS YEAR’S ROLAND GARROS BY DEFEATING RAFAEL NADAL (MARK MY WORDS).HE IS NOT GOING TO SIT AROUND.He will come back stronger than ever.

NOVAK AND RAFA ,BEWARE.The old champ is still here to fight

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:23 am

@kimberly
Are we doing a RG challenge?
@RZ
Camping?? OMG if you’re in the UK good luck with that, given the kind of weather we’ve had this year. Andy better win is all, that’d warm u up :)

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:29 am

A few posters on this forum seem to be prejudiced against full figured women……I guess I will have to jump ship here and make a whale sized splash!! Really, people what difference does it make how big Serena is. She is a great athlete and I personnally love her tennis.

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:31 am

Wow, Skeezer is on a big rant tonite. I haven’t been posting here but a day and a half and he or she has already taken a chunk out of my hide. I am thinking I might be too sensitive for this forum……but on the other hand, think I can hold my own!!!

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:41 am

Good joke Jatin.

I think Fed should be happy if he can extend his slam QF streak. Reaching the final would be a huge accomplishment. Anything beyond that is outside the realm of imagination.

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:59 am

No surprises over there. Nadal and Serena are the favourites to win the title. I think if there is a surprise it would be in the men’s section and that is possible if Novak reaches the later stages of the tournament where he may meet Rafa. That would be the match of the tournament and Novak has chances to win. He always plays his best against Nadal and he knows how to tackle him. I would say 55:45 in favour of Rafa.

May 23rd, 2013 at 7:34 am

I think it will all come down to weather on that day between Rafa and Novak. If it is sunny and dry, Rafa will win. If it is a mud court because of wet weather, Novak will prevail.

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:12 am

I hope it will be sunny and dry so that we all tennis fans can see the beauty of real clay court tennis.

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:14 am

“…..Keep the trash talking up through RG, cause the real tennis starts at Wimby and USO!!!!…

…………………………………..

Those sour grapes you’re munching on, they also make good wine, no?

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:20 am

I agree the weather is a huge factor in a rafa Novak match. Let the court be sunny and dry so that topspin bounce may Kil six feet high!

Margot I want to do the bracket challenge but last time the tennis channel was so terrible. Any posters who want to help find a good venue? If not I will set up tennis channel today.

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:28 am

Thank you Kimberly :)

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:31 am

and @skeezer, during RG 2013, limit your posts to discussions about the tennis and not about Rafans………I dare you!

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:37 am

I’m really curious if the Nadal fans were ever fans of clay court tennis before Nadal. I hate the clay court tennis. The look, the styles, all of it sucks. But I do like watching Nadal at his best on the surface because his forehand is awesome. But I don’t like watching him camp 10 feet behind the baseline, nor do I like watching anyone camp behind there on any surface. Unfortunately that’s how most clay court tennis is played. It sucks. It rewards pushing.

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:07 am

Ben the irony for me as a Rafa fan is that the finals i have enjoyed the most,are not the CC FO finals,i enjoyed the USO in 2010 where he had more pop on his serve and went for his shots more,likewise at IW against Delpo this year,also not so many long points and bass line grinding,same with both his wimbledon finals,i like CC tennis but i agree its not the most pleasing to the eye,but it is what it is typical CC tennis,anyway it will soon be over for another year,so we should enjoy it or just be glad when its over,as the case maybe.

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:35 am

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Each to their own. As a Rafan , I am not going to be drawn into justifying my likes and dislikes, sorry.

For me, it’s very simple: if you do not enjoy clay court tennis, don’t watch it, bye-bye!

And guess what, we will know if you are not watching because you will not be seen on tennis-x blog!

Can’t wait for tomorrow………

#RafaInNole’sHalf

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:34 am

Clay is my favourite surface. The red clay is very pleasing to the eye unlike the cold blue HC’s. Grass is great as well.

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:38 am

The Rafa has landed:

http://instagram.com/p/ZqFngLwDB6/#

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:39 am

Vamos King.

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:49 am

Those who do not like clay court tennis (and all things Rafa), look away now!

http://www.tennis.com/your-game/2013/05/art-nadal/47472/#.UZ4sUMpRCDc

Brain Game: The Art of Nadal

Rafael Nadal returns to Roland Garros in 2013 as the winner of seven of the past eight French Open championships and the owner of an astounding 52-1 record. A closer examination of Nadal’s eight attempts to win in Paris reveal the inner workings of his physical game and how he has become the undisputed King of Clay.

In eight years, he has won 98 percent of his matches, 89 percent of his sets, 65 percent of his games and 57 percent of his total points. At the French Open, he gets better at everything—even in statistical categories you would expect to see a decline:

BREAK POINT WIN PERCENTAGE
Nadal has converted 50.4 percent of his break points in Paris, which is more than 5 percent higher than his career average. Opponents have only converted 29.7 percent of their break points, meaning the Spaniard has an advantage of more than 20 percent in this key area. Of the other French Open contenders—Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and David Ferrer—only Ferrer and Murray have a higher break point win percentage in Paris compared to the rest of their careers.

OPPONENT BREAK POINT WIN PERCENTAGE
It’s considered easier to break serve on clay—unless you face Nadal. In Paris, Nadal loses his serve much less often (a little more than 4 percent). While Nadal becomes more difficult to break, his rivals all become slightly easier to break.

VERSUS FIRST SERVES
It’s no surprise that all of these players win more points against their opponents’ first serves in Paris, but the amount Nadal improves is startling. He’s more than 6 percent better against first serves in Paris versus the rest of his career. Federer improves the second most at 3 percent.

VERSUS SECOND SERVES
Nadal also shows the most improvement against second serves (3.5 percent). Murray and Federer remain about the same in this category, while Djokovic declines slightly and Ferrer almost matches Nadal with an improvement of 3.3 percent.

#UncleToniKnowsTennis

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:56 am

http://alturl.com/3vaeh
The Nadal on Chatrier!

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:14 am

So Rafans don’t have to justify their likes and dislikes? Only Rafans, though, right?

Alison, I agree. I don’t root for Nadal but his performance at Indian Wells this year was incredible. When he’s so aggressive it’s quite a sight to behold.

The red clay is not appealing to the eye that’s such bs! Before HDTVs it was impossible to see anything on red clay! Bring back the smurf clay! At least you can follow the ball.

In any case, it’s a valid question, nadalista. You just don’t want to reveal that you don’t know anything about tennis outside of Rafael Nadal. If Nadal dominated on hard courts they wouldn’t look so cold and blue.

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 am

@kimberly
Have u had a look at “Global Tennis Network?”
Anyone else?
I’ve done it as an individual and it was quite easy to navigate.

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:49 am

Margot i pre registered for Global tennis network bracket challenge last week,as they sent me an email,they said that they would send me another email when it was open for picks,i havent heard anything so i just assumed it wasnt open yet,so i dont really understand whats going on TBH?

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:59 am

clay is a poor cousin to grass and hard court, although I occasionally enjoy matches on it. fans are inclined to prefer the surfaces on which their favourite players specialize or excel on. there must be a reason why most of all-time classic matches have been on other surfaces.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:19 pm

Ben – I think it was you that asked “why” the matchup between Nole and Rafa at FO will be different than at MC. Rafa had treatments on his knee in Spain after leaving IW, and it kept him off the practice court until just a few days before the tournament. While he made it to the final, I think you’ll agree, his play at that tournament was nothing special and certainly not what it is now after winning Barca, Madrid and Rome. Rafa is in full flight at this juncture, and Nole is not, and that’s all it takes. He beat Nole three times on clay last year while struggling with the knee. The knee was an issue again at MC this year, but I think everything is in place for Rafa’s 8th RG win now. Having said that, anything can happen in sports, and it doesn’t have to be Nole who pulls off the upset.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:32 pm

As much as i looking forward to the FO this year as a fan of Rafas to see if he can get that record,i actually cannot wait for the GC season to start,im looking forward to seeing how Rafa bounces back at Wimbledon after the dissapointment of last year,as well as been the best ever on clay,hes also no slouch on grass either 5 finals and two slams,no active player except Roger has been in more Wimbledon finals or won more titles than Rafa,and Wimbledon is considered the holy grail of GS tennis,not too bad for someone whos regarded as a one dimensional CC player eh.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Anna, I don’t believe Nadal was “struggling” with his knee last year.

As far as form thus far goes, I wouldn’t really say Nadal is in full flight. His last 2 matches were great, sure, but they came against guys who he completely dominates. A tad misleading. But, save for Barcelona, he’s actually struggled a bit going through in each tournament. Close calls in Monte Carlo before losing. Almost lost to Ferrer in Madrid. Was extended again by Ferrer in Rome but almost lost to Gulbis, too. So, maybe he’s a little more vulnerable (tough to say, this is Nadal, after all).

As for Djokovic, I don’t know what’s going on with him so I have no idea.

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:55 pm

Nadal on clay is like MJ on a basketball court, Gretzky on the ice, Brady throwing the football, Sampras on grass…It’s just cool to see a super athlete completely in tune with their game and their surroundings. Hate clay or love it, you have to appreciate the dominance of Nadal. When’s he’s healthy and focused, everybody else is playing for 2nd place.

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:03 pm

The pole should be: Who will win the french, Djokovic or Nadal…

I mean really.

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:48 pm

Alex apparantly clay is for one dimensional ball bashers and over achievers anyway,so it hardly matters who thinks who will win the FO,without clay Rafa would have nothing to show for his career apparantly,for what its worth i think and i hope Rafa will win it,but thats just my own worthless opinion,but what do i know as a Rafa fan apparantly nothing about tennis.

May 23rd, 2013 at 2:19 pm

Lebron is better, Rodgers is better, Federer is the best.

May 23rd, 2013 at 2:26 pm

Rafa is the King of Clay, but Serena is the Queen of Everything!

It’s more an indictment to the weakness of the WTA tour than the strength of Serena when I say that I believe Serena will have better chances than Rafa.

May 23rd, 2013 at 2:40 pm

Never been a fan of the best overall sportsman/sportswoman its apples and oranges IMO,its nice to think of them as the best in their own paricular fields of sport,Federer the tennis GOAT,Phelps the swimming GOAT,Bolt the runner GOAT,Sir Steve Redgrave the Olympic GOAT for rowing IMO,however i suppose if tennis is your favorite sport and Federer is your favorite player,you will probably say Roger is the overall best ever sportsman,nothing wrong in that and nothing against Federer i just think its a concept thats way OTT,no harm or foul just saying.

May 23rd, 2013 at 2:41 pm

I think best and greatest are not necessarily one in the same. Federer is the greatest male tennis player on account of all of his achievements. He’s achieved more than any other player therefore he’s the greatest. But Nadal is make a strong case for actually being the best.

I think Lebron is the best basketball player but he’s obviously not the greatest. That honor belongs to Bill Russell (you can’t argue with 11 rings out of 13 seasons plus being a player-coach for a few of those seasons).

Phelps is the greatest Olympic swimmer on account of all of his medals, but there’s no such thing as “best” in swimming. There’s the fastest. But that changes in almost every big competition as records continue to be broken. So he can’t be the “best”.

May 23rd, 2013 at 3:09 pm

I refuse to dignify that question with an answer.

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:10 pm

@Ben Pronin:

“But Nadal is make a strong case for actually being the best.”

What exactly is this case? How can you be the best player of all time if

a) you have spent majority of your era as the no.2 player on the ATP rankings?

b) you are the 3rd best in your own era in 3 out of the 5 most important titles of the year [4slams + WTF]

I think Federer fits the “best tennis player” title too as well as the greatest. Yes, he has a losing H2H against a “rival” but it is better to lose 5 times to Rafa in slams than lose to players like [ferrer, blake, youzhny or rosol – none of these guys have ever beaten federer in a grandslam]

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:31 pm

“But Nadal is make a strong case for actually being the best.”

What exactly is this case? How can you be the best player of all time if

a) you have spent majority of your era as the no.2 player on the ATP rankings?

b) you are the 3rd best in your own era in 3 out of the 5 most important titles of the year [4slams + WTF]

I think Federer fits the “best tennis player” title too as well as the greatest. Yes, he has a losing H2H against a “rival” but it is better to lose 5 times to Rafa in slams than lose to players like [ferrer, blake, youzhny or rosol – none of these guys have ever beaten federer in a grandslam]

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:32 pm

Simon i get the rest,but how is Rafa 3td best in this era just wondering?

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:36 pm

Alison:

I have the same question but I think he means rafa is 3rd in “3 out of the 5 most important titles of the year [4slams + WTF]”. My guess would be the AO, USopen, and the WTF are the 3 titles where Federer/Djokovic have better records than Rafa. As I put these thoughts down, it makes sense.

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:44 pm

^ sorry for the typos. I meant to say, “what I think he means.” in the 1st line.

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:48 pm

Danny Morris yeah fair enough,the only GS where Novak has more slams is the AO and the WTF,the FO case closed,Wimbledon 5 finals to Rafa and 2 titles,Novak 1 final and 1 title,USO 1 title a piece although Novaks been in more finals,Rafas won at least 1 GS for 8 consecutive years Novaks not done that,people will argue that Novaks won more majors of his best surface than Rafa has off his which is obviously clay,but clay is still a surface,Novak has yet to complete the career GS,Rafa has 11 GS,Novak has 6,i dont believe IMO that there is a right or wrong answer as you could make a case for both,Novak you could say is a more complete player than Rafa,but 2nd best in the era is subjective,again i dont think as i say that theres a right or wrong answer IMO.

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:03 pm

It is perfectly legit to say Rafa is the 2nd best of this era. I mean, come on , the stats dont lie.

*Most MS1000 titles
*2nd most career titles (active players) 9th all time
*2nd most Majors (active players), 4th in open era
*record time spent at no.2
*career Golden Slam
*best career winning % in open era (83.3%)
* 2nd player to win multiple Majors across all surfaces, (2hard, 7 clay, 2grass) first was Wilander
*joint 1st with Sampras, Borg, and Federer for most consecutive years winning at least one Major

And I can really go on and on. Anyone saying that Rafa is anything but at least the 2nd best of this era must be on some seriously messed up stuff.

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:25 pm

Danny, you are right.

Djokovic has a better record than Nadal at AO,USopen and Year end. He might soon have more weeks at no.1 than Rafa and quite possibly at wimbledon.

One must say Djokovic is closer to tracking down Nadal’s achievement than Nadal is to tracking Federer. I mean Roger is 6 slams and about 200 weeks at no.1 ahead of nadal, whereas rafa is only 5 slams and 20 weeks at no.1 ahead of Djokovic.

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:45 pm

Rafa’s record at Wimbledon is far better than Djokovic’s. Rafa made 5 consecutive finals winning 2, Novak has made just a singular final, albeit he did win that one.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:03 pm

To Ben’s point of “Greatest” vs. “Best” (or really, on a tangent from Ben’s point), I used to be in the camp that thought that Fed could not be considered the GOAT because of his poor head-to-head record against Rafa. But it later occurred to me that Fed has accomplished all he has *despite* his poor record against Rafa, and that should really count for something.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Teeg and Simon you both make good points,i dont think there is any right or wrong answer,like Teeg says Rafa has records that Novak is nowhere near,but as Simon says also some that Novak could easily surpass,i suppose you could make a case for either/both really.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:06 pm

RZ agree that Roger is the GOAT though,that one was never ever in doubt for me,tennis aint about H2Hs,its about what you do against the whole field.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:09 pm

@alison,

I agree. But as it stands now, Rafa is ahead of Novak. The numbers dont lie.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:12 pm

Teeg thankyou for the stats:).

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:13 pm

@Alison

I wouldn’t let yourself get to upset about what some people post. Above all else Rafa is a great player and I’m sure deep down everyone know that, whether you think he wins ugly or not. :)

————–

Very interesting discussion, I must admit I have not heard the stat about Djokovic being closer to Nadal, than Nadal to Fed.

Maybe some quadratic equations would do some of these stats justice? lol

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:34 pm

I don’t think Federer’s head-to-head with Nadal in any way detracts from his title as Greatest of All Time. Think about what “greatest of all time” means: greater than anyone else. If Federer’s head-to-head with Nadal means he’s not the GOAT, then who would be? Nadal? Sampras? Federer has achieved much more than either of those two players.

Every player has some sort of weakness or aspect in his record that is not better than EVERYONE else. For Federer, it could be the h2h, or the fact that he’s never won Rome; for Nadal, it could be number of weeks at #1, where he trails Federer by a large margin, or his lack of a World Tour Finals title; for Sampras, the lack of a career grandslam perhaps.

There is no such thing as a perfect player. Calling Federer the greatest of all time isn’t the same as calling him perfect; it only means calling him the closest to perfect among all tennis players.

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:48 pm

Rafa is favoring his knee. You can clearly see that from watching replays. I think Nole has a bigger issue with his ankle than he wants people to think. But, why wouldn’t all of them have some kind of physical issue, especially the players who go deep into tournaments. Their bodies take a beating. These athletes amaze me!! I have got a great appreciation for all of the ones who train tirelessly. Kudos!! Love your sport!!

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 pm

When is the draw out?

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:59 pm

17 slams (including all 4).
302 weeks at No. 1.
6 YEC.

Nothing else matters that much or is remembered.

Perhaps his slam finals streak and records – 24 slam finals, 5 finals+ in all 4 slams, 17 or 18 consecutive slam finals (incl 10 straight).

Right now Nadal is quite behind on all three counts:

11 Slams
about 100 weeks at No. 1
0 YEC.

Yes, Djokovic is closer to Nadal than Nadal is to Federer. And going from 11 to 17 slams is a lot tougher than going from 6 to 12.

It amazes me that people still want to downplay Fed’s record by refering to his H2H against Nadal, which is 2-13 on Clay, 8-7 otherwise – with a 5 year age disadvantage.

Yes, Nadal is superior to Fed (and everyone else) on clay. That’s all you can say by looking at even their H2H. What’s surprising there??

Against Djokovic – Nadal is 14-4 on clay, 5-11 otherwise. Pretty clear what it says.

And if you go by just since 2011, even on clay they are about even.

May 24th, 2013 at 12:52 am

Thanks Alex i will try not to get too upset about what people say in future,about Rafa and Novak been the 2nd best in this era,both Teeg and Simon made some good points,that are pretty much as i said Rafa has plenty of records that Novak wont surpass,and some that Novak probably will surpass,so you could make a case for both or either,but i repeat what i have said many times before Federer is the greatest ever,regardless of his H2H against Rafa,its what you do against the entire field,end of story.

May 24th, 2013 at 6:11 am

Gretzky was the most dominant athlete to ever play any sport. His records will likely last for many decades if not centuries. The guy averaged almost 50 goals and 100 assists over a 20 year career. No one is even close.

May 24th, 2013 at 10:39 pm