Rafael Nadal

A page and forum to discuss all things Rafael Nadal.

Nadal 5

Current ranking: 14

Last result: Australian Open second round (lost to Mackenzie McDonald)

Next tournament: Roland Garros

38 Comments on Rafael Nadal

  1. You may well be right that it’s over sanju.
    I have been having similar thoughts.
    I also think Novak will lose motivation without Rafa playing. He always says Rafa is his greatest rival and that rivalry can never be replaced.

    • Without looking it up, I forget how many slams Novak has.

      I think Novak has a relaxed attitude about winning. Let’s see if he wins Banja Luka 😀

  2. Anyway, for me Rafa is unique and no player can match him. I am absolutely sure I will never support anyone or feel about them in the same way.
    We should be grateful for the privilege of watching him for so long. Yes there were a lot of bad times as well as good but they were all worth it. There will never be anyone like him.

  3. “Novak fans for sure n maybe Novak must be jumping ..the slam race is now his ..”

    Neither Nole nor his fans could care less about Rafa, he is non factor since Wimbledon, besides, Nole holds 90% of relevant tennis records and that by “stands alone” and share one, he might as well retire now and he is undisputed GOAT, only delusional haters can say otherwise.

    He is clearly the GOAT looking at the stats and numbers and that’s what determines The GOAT, not whether someone likes more style of Nole, Rafa or Roger.

    As much as AJAX FC played by far best football ever in the ‘70s, no team ever came near that AJAX generation, they can’t be called best ever club, that’s Real Madrid, they have a numbers, even I dislike them very very much.
    I admit that as Liverpool FC fan.

  4. Rafa has just pulled out of Rome.
    Expected but scary.
    Will people please stop posting statements by Toni!! Toni really doesn’t seem to know much of what is really going on with Rafa. We have had this before from him ie his confidently predicting Rafa would play tournaments and then not only did Rafa pull out we learnt he had had real problems for ages. This happened when Rafa was out for ages in 21.
    I still have hopes he will play RG though.

    • I didn’t expect it! But agreed that Toni just seems to spout off about Rafa without actually having any inside view these days. It’s hard to see Rafa playing RG with zero matches on clay (even if he enters the 250 or maybe does an exho it won’t be much). With his current ranking, he could easily face some of the best clay players in the world in the first few rounds, so this idea of him easily working his way into the French Open I think is a bit crazy. It’s possible, I suppose, but seems improbable to result in a victory, and therefore I think he has to consider how it effects his legacy. Then again, he has been a master of the improbable at times (and seems to take a whimsical pleasure in that rep). Hope whatever he does, he winds up feeling healthy for a while longer.

      • Rafa says he’s not going to retire any time soon, I’ve no expectations about what happens when he returns, but there’s nothing for him to prove anymore

        • Of course there’s nothing at all for him to prove to the world, as it were. It’s not about that at this stage. But it is about doing things on his terms (to the degree possible.)

          I know he has said he doesn’t plan to retire imminently. I believe that’s his intent and hope he gets all the opportunities he still desires. But he knows (and has acknowledged many times) that his plans may or may not align with physical reality. Roger didn’t intend to retire either but the body suddenly said “that’s it.” This could be his last RG if he plays. He doesn’t know if it is or isn’t. None of us knows. But we all know there will not be many more. I assume that will weigh somewhat in his decision making, one way or the other. In any event, there are many things we cannot know, so we’ll see in a couple weeks.

          • Ruby, I agree with much of what you say.
            Moya said some fairly ambivalent things a few days ago. But the gist of them make me think that Rafa intends to play RG. I don’t think he will think about legacy.
            One obvious point is that Rafa says he hasnt been able to train intensively. So it’s hard to imagine he will be physically fit enough especially after months out. And clay is the most demanding of all the surfaces.
            Heart says one thing, head says another. Especially as he has dropped in the rankings.
            However his winning in Australia after months out was just as improbable so who knows?

          • Ruby on another note. If Rafa does pull out of RG he will almost certainly not play wimby.
            That means he will have been out for 6 months. If you are out injured for 6 months you can apply for a protected ranking where you retain the average ranking for the first 3 months out injured. That would mean he would stay in the top 8.
            That’s if I understand the rules for protected ranking properly which is debatable! Perhaps you have to apply for it when you first get injured.

          • Yeah, for sure, Amy, Rafa can take a protected ranking if he skips both RG and Wimby (I believe he only has to request it within 6 months of his last tournament so I’m sure he will if he decides not to play either. It’s better for the sport overall if he does! No one wants to play Nadal as a floater in the draw.) But it’s hard to know so many things at this point, from whether he is in danger of the injury returning if he plays now to how the rest of his body is holding up to where his head is at to whether he is waiting to hit some specific benchmark in his training before deciding he’s ready to play a GS. Agree very strongly, though, that Rafa has long been a master of the improbable–it’s a big part of his je nais se quoi–and I hope he gets a legit chance to battle the odds, whether now or later. At 37, it’s all improbable!

          • Thanks for reassuring me that is an option Ruby.
            I still think that Rafa is going to do everything he can to play at RG and may take some risks playing there. I don’t believe he will prioritise issues like legacy, getting protected ranking and so on. He is a born fighter!
            If he doesn’t play them it will be hard for me to watch RG. I prefer WTA when there is no Rafole anyway so may pretty much just watch that.
            There are some guys I like ie Jannick, Casper, Felix and Matteo but I don’t see any of them winning. I like the women much more speaking generally..
            RG without Rafa would be very odd and feel desolate…

          • Yes, it always feels odd and almost unjust to have an RG without Rafa! But of course he has missed it before and it doesn’t mean he’s immediately retiring if he decides he can’t play this year. (It’s certainly not just that losing in early rounds could be an unsatisfying way to go out if it’s his last — more so that such a loss might carry physical and mental costs that he probably wants to avoid. Personally, I don’t think he will enter unless he truly can envision himself biting that cup at the end.) I continue to hope he can play to his usual level in a few weeks, but if he can’t, there is still a good chance he can regain his health and play at least one more full competitive clay season in 2024.

            That said, his retirement is coming sooner or later, so the tennis world will have to get used to the idea. I’ve been watching tennis for so long that I’ve seen quite a few beloved players come with excitement and go with great sadness. Rafa will be a very hard one to see move on, but time has to do its thing. We can’t stop it, and Rafa has always accepted that with grace.

  5. I check in here now and then. I also check out VB. I have had a bad feeling about this injury since it happened. I read on VB that Rafa said the injury was very bad. That part of the tendon was torn.

    The fact that he is not ready for the clay season is concerning. The injury does not seem to be healing. I am nervous because it does sound a lot like Fed. He kept postponing his return. Then he finally had to face reality and retire.

    I can’t see Rafa staying out this year and coming back next year. I have always said that long layoffs are not good for an older player. It is just too hard to regain the form required to play at a certain level.

    I am trying to prepare myself.

    • Agree it is all very concerning (and these things can take a sudden turn that forces retirement a la Fed) but also don’t think it’s that unrealistic for him to play next year, assuming this injury comes around and the rest of his body is OK.

      It seems he always wanted to play through the Paris Olympics (which would be very special for him) if it is possible. Even if he drops out of RG and Wimbledon this year, and then jumps back in with a protected ranking in the hard court season, it’s not that much time off and there will be time for him to work his way back into some confidence before the US Open. Plus he doesn’t have very much to defend from last year so there’s not as much pressure in that part of the calendar. It can be a work-in-progress for the rest of 23, with a focus on clay in 24.

      It’s good to be prepared, though, as that’s certainly still a lot to ask!

  6. Nny, gonna try again!
    First of all its great to see you😀
    For my part, I agree with much of what you say. I can’t see Rafa being out a long time and coming back next year. He has had too many physical struggles. I didn’t expect him to be playing at 37 and to make a comeback in his 38th year stretches credulity to breaking point.
    Also I can’t ignore the rotten stretch he was going through before he got injured. He has scarcely won a match since wimby and his confidence has been shot to pieces. I was hoping he could recover confidence through playing on clay. If he doesn’t then I am seriously worried about how he will play if he comes back later in the season. ( on no account should he come back in the autumn!).
    Fed had his last productive year at 38. But that is Fed with way less injuries and a game which is better suited to shortening the points. To imagine Rafa making a comeback at 38 seems very implausible.
    The longer the periods you take out are the more you lose fitness and Rafa himself talks about slowing down.
    As for not wanting to retire, Fed didn’t want to retire but was forced to. It happens to everyone.
    I still have hopes he can make it to RG. But if he can’t then I am seriously worried.
    It’s great to see you nny!😀

  7. For me Rafa being out injured and forced to retire will be very difficult. Other Rafa fans talk about the players they are going to support. But, while I like certain players at a personal level, there is no one I feel strongly about.
    Rafa for me is a complete one off. Unique, special and irreplaceable. There is no one else like him.

  8. I won’t post the link (unless asked) as I don’t want to upset anyone or bring bad juju but just want to say there is footage of Rafa ending his practice yesterday in pain and with sorrow. I guess it could be misinterpreted, and truly hope it is, but it really does not appear he will be playing competitively any time soon from this.

  9. Let’s just have hope Amy, I believe he will definitely play French open. What happened in the video doesn’t look like something serious hence why he is still practicing today. The question is whether he will win the French open after playing nothing since January. I believe he will play the French open. Let’s not give up hope. All will be well with Rafa. I believe in him.

    Vamos Rafa

    • I do hope Happy. Have lovely fantasies about him winning one moment but get very low and fearful others.
      Rafa is actually clasping his knees in the video! I don’t see why he would do that if it was the hip hurting.
      My instincts say he will do everything he can to play including take risks. It’s Roland Garros! He will take risks to play there he won’t anywhere else. That’s what he said after playing with a numb foot last year.
      What is clear is that he is doing everything humanly possible to get there.

  10. There are press reports saying Rafa is holding a press conference tomorrow and is set to withdraw from RG.😪😪😪😪😪

  11. So Rafa has withdrawn.😪😪
    Expected but still painful. Says he is taking several months out and doesn’t know when he will return. Hopes maybe to play Davis cup at end of year. Wants to play next year and that will be his last.

  12. Hey Guys!!! Just chiming in after hearing about Rafa pulling out of RG!!! Although it’s sad news but I think
    It’s great for Rafa! Now he can focus on his health and recovery without the added pressure of working hard to be fit to play slams! Taking the year off will be great for him and so when he comes back he’ll be playing for the love of the game and not to be making records. He can retire knowing that he gave his very best and made his fans proud!!! So Rafa, take good care, and we miss you!! Vamos!!!

  13. Happy Birthday to our dear Rafa! I wish his keyhole hip surgery turns out well and that he’s able to celebrate his birthday with his family.

    I’m patiently waiting for his return to tennis; hopefully within this year. Vamos Rafa!

    • Yes, hope he’ll be recovered enough to enjoy his birthday and be able to fulfill his dream of returning for one beautiful last go-round in 2024. But mostly just hope the surgery was able to decrease his pain. Whether he is able to return to play a few slams or not, he has a whole long life ahead of him.

  14. Happy birthday Rafa!🎂🎂🎂
    Really hope the arthroscopic surgery works.
    I was feeling glum about the future tennis wise but have renewed optimism.
    I mentioned on another thread that I listened to 3 a podcast about the big 3 with Gill Gross, Joel Drucker and Amy Lundy Dahl. All 3 were positive about Rafa’s future and none are actually Rafa fans so no bias!
    Come back and win next year’s RG Rafa!!
    Tignor wrote that this year RG felt flat without Rafa. Agree 1000%

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