Rafael Nadal: I Am Not The Favorite To Finish The Year No. 1

No. 1 is so hard to get, just like the French Open. You have to try very hard and cross your fingers, no?

July 29th, 2014 at 10:36 am

So humble.

July 29th, 2014 at 11:14 am

Personally i dont think it is a case of been Humble,more a case of stating a bona fide fact,he knows with it been the HC season Novak will be favorite to hoover up every title from here on in,and as history and naysayers always parrot the same old clique as Nadal never defending a none CC title blahdy bloody blah,im not really sure what he is exactly supposed to say?

July 29th, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Nadal back to sleeveless shirts for the US Open

July 29th, 2014 at 1:02 pm

Somehow, The pity party at the Australian open & French open were pathetic, especially after the 7 month rest and his finger wagging in 2013 (like his superhero federer’s finger waving and fake explanation for waving it at the 2012 French open semi).

July 29th, 2014 at 4:08 pm

It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the year pans out. Both Rafa and Nole have a lot of points to defend in the next few months, but they are so far ahead of Fed and Stanimal in the rankings that I can’t imagine them not ending up as #s 1 and 2.

July 29th, 2014 at 4:53 pm

Why would Nadal be the favourite as of now?

He is both currently ranked No. 2 and No. 2 in the Race to London.

There is no doubt who the favourite is to finish No. 1.

July 29th, 2014 at 5:16 pm

From hereon, Rafa has a mountain to climb. For he has a lot of points to defend considering that he had an extraordinary American swing last year. May be, if he had won Wimbledon, it would have helped his chances to stay in the reckoning. But, the loss there at the 4th round has made his job much tougher and he will have to sweat it out to even maintain his No.2 position. Will Rafa surprise us again in the hard court season ? Well that remains to be seen considering the resurgence of Novak.

July 30th, 2014 at 12:48 am

aside from strong showings during the US hardcourt season, nadal’s indoor fall season is usually sub par – compared to his lofty clay court seasons – so he’s probably on the money with that comment.

July 30th, 2014 at 12:49 am

he doesn’t care about no.1 because once you’ve had it for a while it doesn’t matter. particularly in this era where it’s going to swap around because equally able players.
1 and 2 give you the same level of draw. and 3,4 as well really unless you have real problem with 1 or 2 and they will consistently beat you in SF instead of F.
as long as nadal stays in the top 4 he’s probably happy. because he’s basically going for the 17 now.
though he has a real chance to sweep the masters too since he won cincy,one of his worst tourn, last year.
he’s made the finals of miami, paris,shanghai and london so is capable of winning them.

yes he probably won’t repeat what he did last year. but it matters not. 2013 was a good laugh, nadal winning those masters and the usopen. and beating federer at cincy and london on fed’s favourite courts.

July 30th, 2014 at 6:25 am

It will be great fun wrestling the #1 ranking back, that’s for sure. When, who knows.In the meantime stay happy and healthy.
Vamos Champ!

July 30th, 2014 at 6:32 am

Nadal will probably end the year No. 2? Who knows? Let’s just enjoy them all playing very soon, because all this tittle tattle about will he won’t he is a filler. We just want action and we want it now!

To see Novak, Rafa, Roger, Stan and Andy back in action very shortly, will give us all more of an idea of how our favourites are doing and will compete during the hard court swing.

It’s been too long.

July 30th, 2014 at 9:52 am

roy,

Yes, a good laugh because he waited Fed turn 32 to finally deliver in Cincy whereas in the past he haven’t achieve a final, perspective…

He is not favorite to end #1 because he almost every year won less points than Novak and Federer, specially after US Open, where he was able to win 3 titles in his entire career.

But agree with you. Right now he is probably more eager to win US Open, which is his second best Slam and he only lost 1 match to Novak in the final in the last 4 years bearing that he missed 2012.

July 30th, 2014 at 11:19 am

@Daniel

that’s correct federer was 32. but clearly it isn’t such a big deal considering he is top 4 still.
also, while federer fans have been calling federer ‘over the hill’ since he turned 28 and excusing every loss … they tend to ignore the fact that federer gained many wins over teenage and early 20s nadal/djoker/murray. if we look at the current players at that age, they are considered immature and undeveloped.

so was nadal at that age. any wins nadal gets over an older federer are evened out by the wins fed got over nadal when fed was prime and nadal was a kid.

the end of year results for nadal are known to be affected by his physical issues and his lack of attendance.
we note he has played only 6/10 of the year end finals he qualified for, yet still made two finals. he has played very few paris events as well, due to injury.

when he is healthy i believe ‘current nadal’ plays very well at the usopen as you indicate with those results.

i say it was a good laugh because it was unexpected by everyone that nadal would win all those events. it was highly amusing.

July 30th, 2014 at 11:37 am

Thanks to novak’s poor health, fedal grabbed tournaments that they had no business winning in 2005, 2007 & 2009-2010. Fed had the nerve to cry due to being a self-worshipping asshole in 2009. His fan boy roddick was beside himself with joy because he pretended he didn’t really fluke the 2003 us open..

July 30th, 2014 at 12:23 pm

roy,

Correction, Nadal qualified for 9 year end finales, from 2005 to 2013 which he skipped 3 (05′, 08 and 12′). He qualified this year but yet to be played.

Yes indeed unexpected he won all those tourneys but not beating Federer who was having a ruff year. He is favorite to beat Federer now on almost every court but if I have to bet I think Fed will get a win over him this year still in one of the fast courts, law of averages, is about time for a Fed win:-)

July 30th, 2014 at 12:46 pm

Nadal out if Roger’s Cup

http://www.rogerscup.com/men/english/currentNews.php?id=NADAL_WITHDRAWS_FROM_ROGERS_CUP_PRESENTED_BY_NATIONAL_BANK_

July 30th, 2014 at 1:09 pm

Nadal have a big chance to be #1 this yr end. Novak will have adjustment on married life that will slightly affect his performance in few months.

July 31st, 2014 at 12:32 am