Rafael Nadal Returns to Barcelona: “I’m Not Invincible” [Video]

I think he is making a big mistake playing Barca. He has played a lot of tennis this season, almost as much as Djokovic despite not winning any titles. Djokovic even had rest during Monte Carlo, Nadal didn’t. He is going to be tired and will risk his knees like he did in 2009. If he plays himself out, he might blow his chances at the French Open. I thought he’d learned that lesson once already.

He should stop caring about being #1. He didn’t care that much in the past. Let Djoker take it if he can. If he does, I can’t see Djoker holding onto it for that long, because he too will have worn himself out just to get there. I think he will run out of steam soon enough. He’s had a fantastic start to the season, but I can’t see him remaining at that level all season round. He has in the past complained about “mental fatigue” mid way through a season, not to mention physical fatigue. He’s improved his fitness a lot, but he’s no iron man.

Novak will come off the boil. Nadal should not concern himself too much with staying #1 at the expense of his health.

April 19th, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Just read something interesting. According to Emilio Sanchez Vicario’s blog, the balls being used on the clay this year are slower than in the past, which does not benefit Spanish players, especially Nadal. The action he usually gets on the ball is dampened making it easier for players like Murray to return. I wonder who came up with this idea?

April 19th, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Anna, across all the clay tournaments? Even RG?
It seems weird that its not up to each tournament which balls to use.

April 19th, 2011 at 3:49 pm

Dari – apparently RG has the option to use whatever balls they like, but the next three tournaments leading up to FO will be using these new balls. ATP rules apparently, but FO is the exception.

April 19th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

@2:22 probably the same idiots who wanted the surfaces to play more like each other than not.

April 19th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

anna – can you post the link pls?

April 19th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Hey, here is the real news — Davydenko finally won a match!

April 19th, 2011 at 6:37 pm

WTF, agree with this statement. What is Rafa’s problem. He should prioritize the number of grand slams not the ranking. This strategy will jeopordize both in my opinion.

April 19th, 2011 at 7:31 pm

Also, Ferrero won his first match after being sidelined for seven months due to wrist and knee injuries. I have always like his game.

April 19th, 2011 at 7:40 pm

WTF, I also agree, but for one thing… Rafa may have said he didn’t care about #1 before, but that was before he was unquestionably the best player in the world currently – which, Nole’s stellar 2011 notwithstanding, he still clearly is. (OF course, Rafa also says every match will be difficult, and we all know that’s a fib. :) )

April 19th, 2011 at 7:54 pm

ferrero! i even forgot about him. great win on the come back. mallise is a tough opponent too.

I see stepanek lost to milos again. three loses to milos this year..go milos.

April 19th, 2011 at 8:53 pm

+ ++++JC Ferrero I knew he was out and was “coming back”, but you know how these things go. Good for him

April 19th, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Agree WTF, Kimberly and Eric. Rafa will feel stupid if he jeopardizes the FO for a measly 500 points in Barca, especially since he has been complaining about being tired since Miami.

WTF, I don’t however agree that “mental fatigue” will be Djokovic’s downfall. Earlier, he was fatigued because he tried so hard but got no results. I think the adrenaline from winning will take care of any mental fatigue, provided he stays healthy.

April 19th, 2011 at 10:24 pm

As crazy as it sounds I wouldn’t cry if he had an early round loss like queens or Rome 2008

If he insists on playing it and wins I think he should skip Madrid. 5 tournaments is too much in thebclay season. Four is much better. Hasbtnhe learned this lesson?

Or maybe I’m just an idiot and indent known what I’m talking about.

April 19th, 2011 at 10:59 pm

I don’t know, I think playing Barcelona might be good for Rafa. He certainly has a great chance of winning it. Sod hasn’t been playing well for a while, now Murray’s out, and Rafa beat Ferru in straights while not playing very well, so maybe it will be a relatively easy 500 points. I wouldn’t mind a loss in Madrid, as long as he’s been winning elsewhere and it doesn’t affect his confidence too much.

I want him to hold on to no. 1, especially for year-end, and I don’t think he’ll be winning USO this year, so now is the time to amass points. Of course, losing at RG would be worse than losing no. 1 or anything else, but Rafa’s knees and overall health seem fine, and while he’s playing more this year than last, it’s still less than 2009. Anyhoo, Vamos Rafito! Show ’em who’s King of the Dirt!

April 20th, 2011 at 9:05 am

Kimmi – that link is http://emiliosanchezvicario.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/slower-balls-do-not-stop-nadal-of-winning-montecarlo-english-spanish/

April 20th, 2011 at 12:03 pm

stu, I just don’t think Novak will go the entire season undefeated. He’ll eventually either get tired, or injured, then lose confidence. Everyone has highs and lows throughout a season. Only Federer in his prime avoided that, and he’s no Federer. Federer is a lot tougher built I think. He can endure anything he’s ever had to. Never complained about heat or fatigue, or retired from a match, and rarely got seriously injured.

I’m not saying mental fatigue will be Novak’s downfall. But in past seasons he has chalked down some of his early losses to that very thing, after having great early seasons. I think 2008 when he lost to Safin at Wimbledon, that was the reason he gave. It will probably be a factor once again in some capacity.

April 20th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

soderling crashed and burned in Barcelona v. Dodig? Wonder if the absence of Magnus Norman is takign effect.

April 20th, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Hasn’t Soda been nursing an injury? I don’t think he’s played a match in a while. Still, this seems unusual, especially looking at the score.

April 20th, 2011 at 3:26 pm

4giv 4 bein slight off-topic bt al i wana say’s nole wont bt nadal imo in any clay tournament dis yr, bt he’d surely chaleng n at least sow som seeds of doubt in rafa’s head, if not 4 FO, at least 4 WIM/USO. best of luck to nole n muzza. may dey win d wimby n uso respectivly. n honestly speakin i’d b glad if eithr JMDP/Nole/Fed win FO n eithr Rod/Fed/Nole/Muzza win WIM/USO.

April 20th, 2011 at 4:48 pm

btw, if anythin, i jst lov d new(old?) look of muzza n was glad 2 see him completly match rafa 4 a larg part of match in MC. hop d new look brings muzza his 1st slam not latr dan by d 2011 USO. d guy has max talent bt litl luck so far in slams. hope muzza joins d GS club finaly dis year similar to JMDP who’d a thrashin at AO 09, but win at US 09. somthin similar hapenin 2 muzza dis year’s al dat i hope.

April 20th, 2011 at 4:58 pm

muzza wid his longr hair’s symbolisin raw talent.

April 20th, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Kimberly, I think Barcelona could work in Rafa’s favour as he builds and hones his clay game. Also Melzer wins again, and I see Monfils really does seem to have Gasquet’s number!

April 21st, 2011 at 11:12 am

huh, symbolic hair, lol. ;) But if it helps Murray win, then for sure!

April 21st, 2011 at 11:12 am