Report: Rafael Nadal Will Have Surgery After Paris, Will Not Play In London Finals [Video]

Two words: Australian Open.
good and bad decision, he should not play until Abu Dahbi exhibition, then Doha and the ultimate goal: The Double Career grand Slam, a place for the Inmortals, the pinnacle of the sport, The Everest,

October 15th, 2014 at 10:04 am

Is bad that he won’t play but the smart move going into AO. He doesn’t know how his body will react (although being a top athelte don’t see major concerns) so the sooner he gets it done the better.

Another chance to win WTF gone and next year he will be 29. Maybe he will have 1 to 2 last shot for this tourney. It will be odd if he is the only player to have ever finished Number #1 without winning it.

But Australian means more and he beeds the best preparation he can get.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:15 am

He can hit the winning shot in Paris and have his appendix burst, go out dying on the shot, live forever after.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:36 am

http://www.swissindoorsbasel.ch/en-us/News/Tournament-News/ArtMID/6909/ArticleID/17694/Super-Monday-with-Nadal-and-Wawrinka
Rafa will open the Basle tourney

October 15th, 2014 at 10:43 am

As much as its going to be hard not to see Our Great Champion playing it sure is a wise choice to look after himself God bless You Rafa and aspeedy recovery,We will see that smile on your face again.God bless again with love.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:44 am

A few weeks ago the Brit Andrew Castle was pondering injury to Rafa so making it possible for Murray to secure a place at WTF. Well, Mr Castle you have your wish!! Pfffft.
Absolutely classless human being.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:47 am

Good decision to get this op out of the way sooner rather than later. Good luck Champ and hope all goes well for you. Want to see you happy and healthy again.
Vamos Champ!

October 15th, 2014 at 10:52 am

@Giles: spot on re Andrew Castle. He’s the kind of individual who’s so annoying you just want to punch in the face every times he opens his mouth since you know alot of tactless drivel is coming out of there! His incessant celebrity butt kissing is just plain ridiculous at times!

October 15th, 2014 at 10:55 am

Good move if true but personally I rather he have it done now and also skip Basel and Paris. Either way: good to know he’s possibly willing to remove it and take time off to recover. Best of luck Rafa!

October 15th, 2014 at 10:56 am

Well this is something that is really unfortunate for Rafa and am sorry he had to go through. This illness was/is simply beyond his control. Hope he has a speedy recovery and best wishes. His fans are already assuming he’ll be competitive for AO, but not so sure about that unless he can get some actual Tour matches in before then. We’ll see…

October 15th, 2014 at 11:16 am

Smart move. Rafa has had more success at the AO than in the WTF, and obviously wants to start 2015 well.

I know a lot of people are saying that 2014 has been a bad year for Rafa, but I’d say winning RG, Madrid, Rio, and Doha, plus getting to the AO finals is a pretty good year. Not peak Rafa standard, but anyone outside the Big 4 would love results like that in one year.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:17 am

Am very glad he’s not hanging on until after the WTF but wish he’d just have the surgery now. He skipped the November exhibitions to prepare for AO – which I was personally delighted about – so I hope he does have time to work on his game and that dratted second serve which has been a problem all year. Just want him fit and well and lighting up the tennis courts in the way only he is capable of – yes I love Nole and Roger as well but Rafa brings his own irreducible fire and magic to the courts.
Is that true about that twit Castle? the British commentators are so classless…also Castle talks amazing rubbish..all through Wimbledon going on about Dimitrov as part of the new Big 5!! Grigor’s a sweet and talented guy but no way does he belong in that company yet. When Castle said that in front of MacEnroe at one point Mac nearly lost his temper!! always fun to watch Mac try and contain himself when faced with Castle’s and Lloyd’s tasteless and ludicrous comments.
Vamos champ!!

October 15th, 2014 at 11:22 am

Interestingly the ATP site has not yet reported this story.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:26 am

Wonder if Castle and LLoyd will be writing him off again at the WTF? They did that the year before last saying he was never going to be the same, was basically toast as Mac would say…Murray and Nole were the future, Fedal was dead and buried…
Even given their low standards of commentary this just goes to show that no-one knows how things will pan out or what the future holds. The very next year Rafa was #1 and Fed may be this year. Hoping for some great Fedal matches next year as well as Rafole.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:31 am

@Skeezer 11:16

As an avid fan of Rafa, I agree with you on this one, I’m not sure he will be ready for AO…..He needs to do this surgery asap, imo. No match play?? I realize the surgery can be done by a small incision….but I agree he would need match play before Australia.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:41 am

On the one hand im glad he will have the surgery,and hopefully with no furthur risk to his health be back and competeing at the AO next year,on the other hand im dissapointed he wont be playing the WTFs again,its sad that that window of oppotunity will probably now close for him,and he will most likely end his career with that title missing from his resume,oh well im a great believer in if these things are meant to happen they will if not then they wont?ce la vie….

October 15th, 2014 at 11:43 am

Okiegal he might play an exho before the AO?….

October 15th, 2014 at 11:45 am

Rafa will get match play before AO. Why are you assuming he won’t? He will play Abu Dhabi and then Doha pre-AO.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:46 am

There has to be some great motivation for Nadal to drop the year end championship yet delay the surgery by still playing Basel. I would not be surprised if he loses in his first Basel match regardless of who he plays against.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:54 am

@Mark Anderson 10:36

A rather odd comment……morbid imo …..still trying to figure out why you would say such a thing. Even teasing……..it was in very poor taste.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:56 am

Alice Castle indeed does change his opinion depending on the direction of the wind,i remember him saying those things,after Novak won the AO in 2013,he was also going to win the FO, Novak and Andy would be be new rivalry,Rafa wouldnt be the same,he would never be number 1 again,never win anything off clay again,pretty much what alot of naysayers said on this very forum wrong again,after Rafa won the USO last year he was saying he would surpass Roger,go figure….

October 15th, 2014 at 11:56 am

Okiegal i thought that myself,where were the moderators one must ask?….

October 15th, 2014 at 11:59 am

And I would not be surprised if he wins in his first Basle match!
:)

October 15th, 2014 at 12:01 pm

@ Hippy Chick…yeah it is very irritating and as a Brit I do envy other countries who have more informed commentaries. Oh and I have a violent allergy to nationalism in relation to these things as well..tennis is an international sport afterall and it’s far better that it crosses boundaries rather than enforcing them.
I do think Castle is a bit bats…ie over his big 5 comments all during Wimbledon..he seems to develop these mad crushes. I wonder what his spiel will be this year? Fed the greatest one supposes as long with writing off Rafa again..

October 15th, 2014 at 12:02 pm

@ Mark Anderson..your incredible wit is such as to leave us all dying.. leaving you the sole master of the blog, living inside it forever…

October 15th, 2014 at 12:05 pm

gurus say that Djokovic will win the next AO, die hards of the swiss will say he is the top contender especially if he wins the Davis Cup, but like the Carol Reeds movie, there is Third Man, who wants follow the path of Rod Laver (Roy Emerson greatness is debatble), a place only for The Inmortals, an unprecedented record in the Open Era, a demonstration of willpower.

I dont know which record will be greater, a double career grand slam or an 11th season in a row winning a major
Vamos Rafa!

October 15th, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Alice im a Brit too,Tim is alot less annoying as a commontator than he was as a player,except for when he says very much so at end of every sentence,and thank goodness Boris Becker is Novaks coach now so i dont have to listen to him commontating anymore….

October 15th, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Inmortality by Amado Nervo

“No, the story of our love was not
so ephemeral: among the smooth folios
of the virginal book of your memory,
as blue petals are the suffering, noble
and caste-like glories of my verses.

“You cannot forget me; I condemn you
to a tenacious souvenir. My love
has been the highest point of your life,
the best; and only between the mud and
the smile, there surges the pale lotus
of the forgotten.

“You will see me wherever, in the uncertain
nightfall, in the golden dawn;
and when you labor in the deserted corridor,
while the monotonous threads of rain
tremble in your orchard.

“You will have to remember! This is
my inheritance that my pain has given you,
that nothing is spellbound.
“You will be at the lighted top of your
existence, and an ineffable reproach
in your conscience and an immortal trail
inside your soul!”

October 15th, 2014 at 12:21 pm

@Chick…..regarding that asinine post from MA…I started not to let it slide because everyone else seemed not to have paid any attention to it….but couldn’t do it. Glad some others spoke up.

Regarding Rafa, his surgery, match play…it’s the recovery time issues. Will he be completely healed in time for Doha and Abu Dhabi? That’s the question I have. All that remains to be seen…..still wish he would have it now, but it’s in the hands of the doctors I would think. I wish him the best and hope for a speedy recovery so that he will be able to fulfill his calendar obligations.

October 15th, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Steve 27 well Our pyschic friend claimed Rafa would win the AO,Novak the FO,Andy Wimbledon,and either Raonic or Dimitrov would win the USO next year….

October 15th, 2014 at 12:32 pm

@Chick….regarding my post at 12:29……should have said: “I started to let it slide”……I’m sure after reading further, you knew what I meant…..

October 15th, 2014 at 12:36 pm

@ Hippy Chick – “if these things are meant to happen”…
Meant by whom?
Some special deity who watches over tennis?

Occam would be annoyed with you!

October 15th, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Colin meant by fate,well its my believe anyway,in my own personal sappy opinion,for what its worth….

October 15th, 2014 at 12:54 pm

Hippy Chick…ha,ha…very much so is definitely Tim’s refrain…he’s more likeable though as a commentator than as a player and at least he does know what he’s talking about. I have a sneaky affection for Boris but I don’t think he’s helped Nole..he seems to have imparted this crazy Boris thing which worked for him of charging the net &tc under pressure which is great if you’re a serve and volleyer but not if you’re a baseliner…I mean what was Nole thinking at the AO when he bungled those points against Stan…he’s had a very poor hardcourt year by his standards.

October 15th, 2014 at 1:05 pm

The rafa mystery finally unveils….IMO though, its a well calculated and fair enough decision. He need at least couple of months rest before AO….so unfortunately the WTF has to be taken off his schedule :(

But now basel is going to be very exciting….considering thr is no delpo, and stan off late is going cold.

I have a hunch….rafa’s gonna eat the sunday brunch at the Suisse ;))

October 15th, 2014 at 1:08 pm

Alice the positive thing for me is,if Boris is a coach anybodys coach,then at least he cant be irritating me as a commontator lol,as for Novak unusual by his standards,but Rafa didnt clean up on clay this year either,an unconventional year for both players on their best surfaces i suppose….

October 15th, 2014 at 1:12 pm

Hippy Chick..yes indeed…! If Rafa can only have a good year healthwise – he hasn’t played all the slams since 2011 – then there are loads of points on offer so we need to think positive.
I think he can still be a player at AO with the 2 tournaments before as long as he gets a good draw for the first week and can play himself into form.
I don’t care too much about the rankings but obviously it wouldn’t be great for him to get Nole on his side of the draw although that would be great for everyone else as the 2 could play one of their epics and knock each other out in doing so…RAfa can raise his ranking by R. Garros I hope..really don’t want another 2013 scenario. I think tournaments other than Wimby should seed according to surface then none of this would happen.

October 15th, 2014 at 1:20 pm

@Hippy Chick “Tim is alot less annoying as a commontator than he was as a player.” LOL. Was it the roller coaster matches, the should have won defeats, or the fist pumping?

October 15th, 2014 at 1:32 pm

Latest update (via a Tweet from Ben Rothenberg), Rafa hasn’t decided yet to pull out of London but is going to see how he feels after Basel. https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/522425946092355585

October 15th, 2014 at 1:36 pm

^ Similar Tweet from Christopher Clarey of the New York Times. https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/522424353393487873

October 15th, 2014 at 1:37 pm

Oh Rafa..please give it a rest..please…who cares about the WTFinals ..!!
not good news..

October 15th, 2014 at 1:42 pm

RZ LOL bit of both,hated the way he lost that semi against Goran after been two sets up,shouldve made the final and choked it all away,the best chance he ever had of winning Wimbledon and he blew it grrr,thank god for Andy….

October 15th, 2014 at 1:49 pm

Where does all this misinformation come from? Is it because of the language barrier? Totally opposite reports…….just saying.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

Alice agree although its an important tournament,not as much as his health,hes on a hiding to nothing IMO if he plays that….

October 15th, 2014 at 2:12 pm

Hippy Chick…yes, what really worries me is that he’s going to get into a spiral like at the end of 2009 when he lost all his matches and wasn’t a factor at AO. How is losing matches – given his need for rhythm and confidence going to help him? And then we had that awful confidence spiral after AO in the spring..do we have to relive this over and over again, bound to the wheel as it were?!!
Sorry! am so gloomy at the thought of it all…I think it might be a good thing if he doesn’t do well in Basle and that forces him to rethink. Of course if he could play and win tournaments I would be delighted but I just can’t see it..I mean is he still playing under antibiotics?! He’s being very stubborn.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:24 pm

I can join the chorus of disapproval regarding Andrew Castle, but thinking of British ex-players, does anyone remember Mark Cox as a commentator? He was a walking definition of b-o-r-i-n-g!

It’s a pity Martina Navratilova is restricted to summing up rather than commentary, because she is usually well worth hearing.

Hippy Chick, is there a branch of Poundland near you? The other day I got a copy of Mark Hodgkinson’s book about Andy there. It’s not great, but it’s worth a read, though the author avoids any mention of the breakup of the marriage of Andy’s parents (probably a condition of Andy’s cooperation).

October 15th, 2014 at 2:25 pm

hopefully they make the best decision for his health, not waiting too long.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:27 pm

I agree that he goes for AUOPEN.
That will be there push to take out Federer slamwise.
a 2015 combo auo/garros almost garantees more then 17.
but I dont care for Paris/basel.
I feel T just taking the money with basel contract.

So in mistake by nadal team. money doesnot care for history.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:28 pm

Alice i here you,and agree with you….

October 15th, 2014 at 2:34 pm

Sienna i must say its refreshing to here you actually fighting Rafas corner for a change,and for me to actually be agreeing with what your saying,i nearly fainted reading your post….

October 15th, 2014 at 2:37 pm

RZ,
I noticed the tweets back @ Clary, and there is some truth in that also.
Un needed Drama.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:37 pm

Read the title and thought the op was a done deal. Now reading the comments, it isn’t?
Wishing Rafa well, whatever the decision. Think he should prioritise his health, however.
And yes, Castle is an annoying twerp. The best commentators are on tennistv.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:40 pm

Colin i actually read quite alot but mostly spiritual stuff,i read Rafas Autobiography and found it quite boring,i didnt actually want it but hubby bought me it for a christmas some years back,i read it only because i didnt want him to feel he had wasted his money,so i wont be reading Andys as their personal lives dont appeal to me,fair enough if its what intersts others though,although ill probably be lambasted for saying this?….

October 15th, 2014 at 2:45 pm

@Okiegal – there has been a few examples in the past of Uncle Toni and/or the Rafa camp saying one thing and Rafa saying something else. Pure speculation here but I’d guess this is more of the same.

October 15th, 2014 at 2:55 pm

happy chick.
I dont fancy rafa corner, but lets face it.
they play for history and that means winning slams and upping the slamcount.

rafa is no slouch or nitwit. He/they see what cilic or dimitrov can do in 1 or 2 years.
rafa would not find away around guys hitting the zone like they can.
he will make his move come januari.

it really is the last shot at overtaking Federer.

GOAT WILL BE DECIDED IN 2015. I feel both rafa and Fed will pull away from tennis after 2016. 1 more olympic and slam cyclus.

October 15th, 2014 at 3:02 pm

“The best commentators are on tennistv.”
Heavens no!
The best commentators are on Tennis X.

October 15th, 2014 at 3:02 pm

The best commentators- bar none- are pretty much American:

– Brad gilbert: Enthusiasm, insight, great voice and very honest. Great commentator on the game.

– John McEnroe: Some dislike him, but I love his passion and enthusiasm. The guy is a character. Yeah sometimes it can be too much for some but he always comes from a good place and he’s great at getting you invested in the match since he’s so dialed into it himself.

– Rob Koening: Great voice. Probably the best commentators voice on tour. And he’s a excellent reader of proceeding, tactic etc.

– Darren Cahill: The little I hear/see of him the more informed I leave regarding my views of the game. He’s an honest Aussie and those guys usually hit the nail on the head with most calls.

HM: Pat McEnroe, Boris Becker (I like the fun vibe he brings to commentating, always there for a joke).

Us Brits? I cannot name commentator I like. So many just plain annoy: Andrew Castle, Greg Rusedksi, snoozefest John Lloyd and Tim Henman.

Too many bores to name!

October 15th, 2014 at 3:13 pm

As far as Castle goes? I believe it is just his speculation on permutations of how Andy might possibly make WTF.

No different than Sean predicting after Wimbledon how Roger might possibly finish ahead of Rafa this year speculating an injury before Rafa even developed his wrist problem (and now appendicitis)!

Looks like both prognostications have become real!

Plenty of time for Nadal to have his surgery and play Abu Dhabi and Doha lead up tournaments which are critical for his AO preps. I’ve read of NFL QBs and NHL hockey players playing regular season games less than two weeks after surgery.

I’ve also seen a hockey player put off surgery for several years!

So, if he is capable in the short term, of course he should play Basel and Paris but he does not want to gamble on WTF as it could affect lead ups to Australia.

That is why he would skip WTF if necessary obviously. His priority should be slams, not WTF, at this point in his career and his actions are showing his head is in the right place.

October 15th, 2014 at 3:19 pm

wrong thread

October 15th, 2014 at 3:22 pm

Ilike the American ones,J.Mac,Frew McMillan,Jim Courier,agree on the Brits although i dont mind Barry Cowan,Judy didnt do a bad job,but Anne Keothavong come on nice girl but please never again,Virginia Wade,Tracey Austin,Martina Navratilova,Joe Durry,Annabell Croft dont mind any of them….

October 15th, 2014 at 3:22 pm

Justin Gimelstob is a sexist asshole though…saying that Kournikova was a ‘douche’ although he would relax his high principles enough to feast on his stud brother’s leavings if she was on that menu. Sorry for retelling this gross story…cannot understand how someone can say things like that and not be sacked. He was commenting on the final set of Nole-RAfa at R.GArros 2013 and it was really offputting.

October 15th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

The worst commentator by FAR is David Mercer!!! (Patrick McEnroe is a distant second.)

Favs are:
– Killer “Rafer” Cahill
– Robbie “Like a Mongoose on Amphetamines” Koenig
– John “Answer the Question Jerk” McEnroe.

Cliffy Drysdale is a guilty pleasure for me so to each his own on that one!

October 15th, 2014 at 3:28 pm

Yes Gimbelstob got off way too easy and should not be on the airwaves.

Honourable mention to Martina Navratalova also!

October 15th, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Alice dont remember that one,i remember Annabell Croft saying Serena had an enormous backside,and John Innverdale saying Marion Bartoli was never gonna be a looker even though the girls bloody gorgeous,although the two mustve made up now that Marion commontates at the French Open since she retired….

October 15th, 2014 at 3:36 pm

HIppy Chick…John Invertwat annoys a lot of people!! I like watching the rugby as well..six nations especially and it is dreadful having to listen to the rubbish he spouts…his ego is huge.
I wish they’d find someone else for Wimbly..must be plenty others who could do a better job.

October 15th, 2014 at 3:40 pm

John Barrett at the BBC for Wimbly is pretty awful also don’t you think…
Mark Petchey is also irritating..

October 15th, 2014 at 3:46 pm

I dont mind Petch TBH….

October 15th, 2014 at 3:50 pm

BTW..this is maybe the wrong thread but has anyone seen the ludicrous and homophobic comments Dolgopolov has been posting? guy sure has issues..this is not the first time he’s come up with some very very weird stuff. Lindsay Gibbs of the Changeover was reporting in on her twitter feed.

October 15th, 2014 at 4:33 pm

Roddick should try to comment tennis matches, perhaps to give some advices how to beat Federer.

October 15th, 2014 at 4:34 pm

@Steve..don’t remember Roddick beating Federer many times!!? that rivalry was all one-way

October 15th, 2014 at 4:49 pm

I don’t know who the Brits are on some of the matches, but there is one that I think has a major crush on Rafa. This particular match was on you tube and the comments were coming in right an left about the commentator. I think it was a match at Queens…..it was pretty funny!! My fav is Killer Cahill. I will get lambasted over my favorite woman buts it’s Pam Shriver……because when little things happen during the matches….player spats, umpire decisions, etc….you can bet she will get in there and try to find out the scoop. We women are good at that because we like to stir things up! Lol
The absolute worst is Jim Courier and Gimblestob.
I think Chris Evert needs to hang it up to………terrible. I like Drysdale, because I love to hear him talk. The Macs…..umm they’re Ok, I guess.

October 15th, 2014 at 5:29 pm

@RZ……You are probably right…Rafa and Uncle T. do get their wires crossed sometime. Tony told a reporter he would quit coaching way before Rafa retired. The reporter told Rafa what he said and Rafa asked him when Tony said that because he had talked to him the night before and he didn’t say anything to him about it. It was pretty funny……it seemed as though Rafa was in the dark about the whole thing…….a failure to communicate. Maybe Rafa’s English is screwing them up!! LOL Whatever the problem, they need to be on the same page.

October 15th, 2014 at 6:10 pm

Humble Thanks to everyone. See you on the other side.

October 15th, 2014 at 6:24 pm

Poor rafa. Hope he gets fixed up. Too bad he cant try for WTF! Maybe AO for him.I don’t know who the heck is going to win WTF.

My faves are Johnny Mac and martina.

October 15th, 2014 at 9:12 pm

This is a worst news for me and everyone on over the world!!!

October 15th, 2014 at 9:29 pm

Most commentators have a crush on the Arrogant One, just like most people in this forum.

For some reason, they hate people with humility and humbleness.

October 15th, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Very perplexed by Rafa’s decision…

Why not do the surgery now & make appearance @ 02 to gradually kickstart 2015 season? Dial it in if needed, it’s just an end-of-year exo.

Must be big appearance $$ @ stake in Basel & Paris (just like in China)

That said, I would never count him out at until he decides to hang up his sneaks…

October 15th, 2014 at 10:41 pm

what’s wrong with Toni and nadal. Get the surgery done ASAP in order to return to normalcy and prepare for AO15.
There is no way nadal can return to no1 this year . He should just dump the rest of the season and focus on the slams for 2015.

I simply can’t understand the smartness of the nadal camp.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:51 pm

Humble Rafa Says:
Most commentators have a crush on the Arrogant One, just like most people in this forum.

For some reason, they hate people with humility and humbleness.

October 15th, 2014 at 9:
——————————————————————————
It actually most of the world.

October 15th, 2014 at 10:54 pm

“Must be big appearance $$ @ stake in Basel & Paris (just like in China)”
Makes sense.

October 15th, 2014 at 11:48 pm

I am gonna have 10% chances of winning AO after the rest.But if I could take multiple toilet breaks during matches at AO chances may boost to 50% or even more.

October 16th, 2014 at 1:46 am

@Toilet Break ^^^^^^…..flush that comment, it stunk up the the TX chat room!! Lol

October 16th, 2014 at 2:07 am

I don’t think players receive appearance fees for the Masters 1000 tourneys.
@tennismonger???
@skeezer???

October 16th, 2014 at 4:22 am

Skeeze @3.02
Lol! u think? Really????????
Fleming is my favourite, love his oh so dry delivery
@Alice
Plenty of casual sexism on tennisx alas. Agree re Inverfail, he almost spoils 6 nations. Can’t stand a few on there tho., Woodford/Gorscott etc. Andrew Cotton is OK tho., as is Shane Williams.

October 16th, 2014 at 5:12 am

https://twitter.com/genny_ss/status/522694697148747776
Really really difficult choice, who do you think will win? This bloody farce of a poll goes on every year and apart from maybe a couple of years we always have same rigged winner!
Just give it a rest already Stefan Edberg Award!!

October 16th, 2014 at 8:12 am

@ Margot. Yes, glad you mentioned Fleming – I really like him and he is often very perceptive.
I remember his comment during this year’s Wimby that Rafa was running great on the points themselves but walking like an old man between them and that he must have a very high pain threshold.
For the six nations I absolutely love it when Brian Moore and Eddie Butler do the commentary together – hilarious double act!! Invertwat really makes my blood boil but I actually do like Guscott,Jiffy,Wood and co even though others don’t..they do know their stuff afterall…Shane is a sweet guy so agree with that. Autumn internationals starting in a couple of weeks and the worst of the worst is Stuart Barnes on Sky…the biggest chip on the shoulder in the northern hemisphere after never being picked for England and he never lets a moment go by without saying something sour.

October 16th, 2014 at 8:15 am

@Toilet Break..can we have a break from you please? that would be awfully nice…

October 16th, 2014 at 8:35 am

Probably, just like Halle, Basel is paying a lot of money to Nadal, reason why he must play said event. But playing bercy and not the WTF is weird. He knows that he has zero chance of winning the WTF, but he could also skip Paris and have the procedure early, thus, early recovery.It makes no sense to me. We all know that he really wants the double slam. But do not get carried away, since the only time tha Nadal won the Aussie open is also the only time in which he lost a match in Roland Garros

October 16th, 2014 at 8:42 am

the Rafa beater, the great Davy, retires from Tennis;;
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Davydenko-confirms-retirement-from-tennis-5826416.php

October 16th, 2014 at 8:51 am

The Italian dubs team Bracciali and Starace are in trouble once again for match fixing……Skeezer’ s
above link reminded me…..read about it on another site. I wonder how times players do it and never get caught.

October 16th, 2014 at 9:29 am

The Great Davy has retired. What a game he had. Will be sorely missed.

If he was American, he will be in the Hall of Fame for sure.

Great game to match his great personality.

October 16th, 2014 at 9:39 am

Probably, just like Halle, Basel is paying a lot of money to Nadal, reason why he must play said event.
—
The tournament director at Basel is kind of a wacko. He won’t give you a dime until you play, unlike the Petroleum tournament where you can just go to a few parties and collect your petrodollars.

October 16th, 2014 at 10:22 am

Qualifier Berankis beats Raonic!
I’ve always maintained that Raonic is rubbish.

October 16th, 2014 at 10:28 am

skeezer. Tagging Rafa again? Nothing better to do?

October 16th, 2014 at 10:30 am

https://twitter.com/tenniseurope/status/522719013278068736
Rafa 14 years ago today.

October 16th, 2014 at 10:49 am

“The Great Davy has retired. What a game he had. Will be sorely missed.”
Yes HR, one less moniker for you mock.
—-
@giles,

You are correct, kind of. Appearance fees are common ( Dubai and Basel as an example ) in non masters 1000 tournaments, especially when there is no requirement to show up. Don’t have an issue with appearance fees. I think these Tennis pros should get the money whilst they can, its a short career. They’re done early in life with half of there life to go.

October 16th, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Actually there is requirement to show up at the masters. The have to play. Only allowed to skip MC who is non mandatory.

Unless you achieve Federer like status where he has more than 600 wins years on tour and some other parameter that I forgot what it is. Somebody can check.

They make their money (appearence fees) in the smaller rich tourneys.

October 16th, 2014 at 3:05 pm

@Giles

Thanks for that link…..have never seen this one. Wow, so young……many good knees ago!!

October 16th, 2014 at 3:13 pm

I am not sure whe he is waiting till Paris ? But still something is good than nothing and hope he sticks by this report and has this surgery done after Paris Masters so that he can be fully fit for the Australian Open.

October 17th, 2014 at 7:35 am

Michael i dont know but maybe hes trying to just get some matches under his belt,or try to win Paris a title hes never won before,personally i think hes on a hiding to nothing and should just call time on this season,which was a dissapointing one anyway,but what do i know?

October 17th, 2014 at 8:26 am

Here’s the latest on the Rafa surgery decision, although it doesn’t really tell us anything new (will see how he feels after he plays Basel).

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/10/nadal-settling-surgery-date/53047/#.VEEwnvldWSo

October 17th, 2014 at 11:09 am

Last 4 times Fed won WTF he beat Nadal: 06′, 07′, 10′ amd 11′. If Nadal isn’t playing this year Fed is not winning;-)

October 17th, 2014 at 11:30 am

Daniel you can relax,with the way Nadals played this year,abysmal on grass,abysmal on HCs,below average on clay by his standards,its unlikely he would beat Federer anyway,rest assured its likely your second favorite whos Novak would win,and more likely Nadal would get whitewashed….

October 17th, 2014 at 12:26 pm

HC. I love your vocabulary “whitewashed”. NOT!
Always looking on the bright side for Rafa! NOT!

October 17th, 2014 at 12:38 pm

nadal has had the worst health (injuries etc) in the past 3 years. hope it improves. not playing at the year end finals is probably fine for him, given his lack of success there. as always, he’s certainly going to aim to be back at full strength for the clay court season.

October 17th, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Agree andrea.

Last yEar Nadal as on a high after US Open swing defetated Federer in Londin convincingly fo the first time and lost to Djoko in London finals. Won Doha and fnals in AO. He was sure of his game in HC.

This year basicalky after Wimbledn he didn’t have enough matches under his belt and depending on how his performance goes in Base and Paris it can only linger his confidence more. I doubt he will have surgery and return fresh as a Dasy to make a real run at AO 15. Nada needs to win matches he builds hos confidence on it. my guess is dependomg on how his surgery goes he will want to be fully read and back to his standards by clay season for an 10 RG. Of couse the double career Slam is in the line evrytime he plays AO from now on but don’t rank his favoritism so high there. We hve to evaluate what will happen in next weeks first.

October 17th, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Poeple have pontificated for years,on how he wont have a long career,his body and his style of play aint made for tennis, how he will retire soon,regardless of that,hes done alright 14 GS,winning 1 every tear for ten years consecutively,still ranked in the top 5,not too shabby overall,although with the way some people talk sometimes,anyone would think he was such a failure….

October 17th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

I was making fun of the Stat regaring London HC. To me I prefer Nada to play and see if Fed can get a chance of another win. It’s about time ;-)

Actually I am hoping for Murry to win Londn is year. If Nadal imdeed doesn’t play amd Murray gets in, most likelly wht better for2015 than him winning in his home soil?! Beatomg a few top 10 and probably one of Noval or Roger. Invrease his ranking and get confidence for a decent 2015 push.

Of couse if the battle for #1 is still on than I’ll rather have Fed and Djoko fighting in the finlas, specially after Shangai. Of Not Murray pr one of the others.

Fed wnnin a 7th will only help of he has a chance to retunr to #or is yea or next. Because if Djoko wins it again he will basically garantee #1 till Miami as he has less to defend in AO and Dubay compared to Fed and Nadal. If he increase his margin he can hold #1 for a long time.

October 17th, 2014 at 2:18 pm

As regards the AO,Novak will be the favorite not Rafa,lets be realistic,Stan was lucky to beat him this year,a second career GS for Nadal has passed him by,the oppotunity passed him by earlier this year,and he wont win the WTFs,as that window is also now closing,his record off clay is at best average….

October 17th, 2014 at 2:19 pm

Ferrer ans Murray wll pss Dimitov next week already as #8 and #9. All contender won today and are playomg semis in tourneys: Berdych, Cilic, Ferrer, Murray and Dimitrov. Ferrer and Murra will neutralize o e a otherif both play final.
Dimitov also with Berdych and Coli is alone in Moscow

Hope for Berdych nd Ferrer to lose early because Berdych at least looks like will be a shoe om for one of the spots.

October 17th, 2014 at 4:52 pm

Well thats something i suppose….

October 17th, 2014 at 4:56 pm

Federer has taken away much to Rafa at the Masters, two passes to the final, a title and possibly other classification to semifinals.

October 18th, 2014 at 7:57 am