Short On Confidence, Rafael Nadal Begins Clay Campaign In Monte Carlo [Video]

Rafa is miscounting for la decima or his hands are more famous then other part of body.

April 11th, 2015 at 5:40 am

OK, it is a Rafa thread, but I post this comment here, because it could be appropriate — in a way, Monica Seles was the Rafa of her days.

In an article of “fantasy tennis” at tennis.com, in a “fantasy tournament of champions”, they gave the victory to Steffi Graf in their match. There was an interesting debate in the comments, so I guess that was the point.

It was a period when I watched a lot of tennis, just like now. For me, there were no doubts that Monica was the superior player. From her 17 to the stabbing, two years later, she won 8 slams and 3 Tour finals. Then, it was the way she did it. She made her first final at the FO 1990, and won it, beating Graf in two. Then she lost in the 3rd round at the USO, but made her next final at the AO and won again. She played 7 slams and made 7 finals in 1991 and 1992 and won 6 of them, losing only in WB 1991 to Graf (where she didn’t grunt). If it wasn’t domination, I don’t know what domination is.

We can’t know how far she would have go, but it is reasonable to expect that she would have played well at least in 1993. She still had to physically peak, and her truncated career showed that she could stay relatively injury free for years. Virginia Wade said that “Steffi was beginning to get the hang of Monica”, but basically, I can’t see how she could have done it. Steffi’s backhand was a liability Monica used the way Rafa destroyed Fed’s backhand. And then, usually the younger player — Monica in this case — improves his H2H over the older, not the way around. Just to remind that at Hamburg, that last match they played, Monica was heading to 2-0 win.

Another ugly thing in the story is not only the stabbing, but the reaction of the German authorities that let Parche walk free. It was a matter of politics, something not for this blog.

April 11th, 2015 at 5:40 am

monica seles would have been Goat where not for stabbing. She was not rafa but she already put away all of her opponents and would have likely to dominate tennis for next 4/5 years. missing out on 10-15 slams.

April 11th, 2015 at 5:48 am

MC draw is out! Rafa in Novak’s half.
Milos, Stan in Roger’s half.

April 11th, 2015 at 7:27 am

Well thats that then Rafa has no chance of winning MC this year,lets just give the trophy to the invincible/irepessible Novak now lol….

April 11th, 2015 at 7:33 am

Irrepressible sorry excuse the spelling error,anyway just thought id get that one in before the naysayers claim that Rafa stands no chance with Novak in his half,after all they know best and can predict the future….

April 11th, 2015 at 7:36 am

Tome Gainey has the knack for titling his articles in a manner that is derogatory towards Nadal. At first, I thought it was just his style but when I noticed that they are always directed to Rafa, I realized it’s more due to bias. That’s not quite appropriate for a journalist? Or is he.

April 11th, 2015 at 7:57 am

Tom Gainey has the knack for titling his articles in a manner that is derogatory towards Nadal. At first, I thought it was just his style but when I noticed that they are always directed to Rafa, I realized it’s more due to bias. That’s not quite appropriate for a journalist? Or is he.

April 11th, 2015 at 7:57 am

Hippy Chick, Hippy Chick, I did not do that on purpose. I corrected the spelling of Tom and voila, double posts! You and Okiegal has made me conscious about my spelling and grammar. :-)

April 11th, 2015 at 8:01 am

“have” HAHAHA!

April 11th, 2015 at 8:02 am

were not

April 11th, 2015 at 8:09 am

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2015/410/mds.pdf
Monte Carlo draw

April 11th, 2015 at 8:12 am

Nadal has a tough draw if it goes according to seeding.

2nd round – Thiem
Q – Ferrer
S- Djokovic

April 11th, 2015 at 8:24 am

Everyone needs to get behind me for the clay court season. Everyone on this forum. I really mean it.

Or you can have the next Rod Laver – Mr. Egg Lover grabbing the limelight from the Arrogant One.

Everyone should know – one owner is better than two.

April 11th, 2015 at 10:44 am

To all of the bakers out there, question….Who got the cupcake draw??

April 11th, 2015 at 10:51 am

@Markus 8:01

Regarding typos…..I don’t want anyone across the the pond to think I’m a total idiot! Lol The spell check on my Kindle does some weird stuff too…..but I try appear to my fellow posters that I have a wee bit of intelligence. Seriously, for the most part I always know what the poster means when there is a mistake and I’m they sure can too!!

April 11th, 2015 at 10:58 am

im whit humble on this one.

April 11th, 2015 at 11:06 am

Markus dont be consious lol….
Markus dont be consious lol….

April 11th, 2015 at 11:39 am