Nobody could have expected Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to finish No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings, respectively, at the end of 2017–and with plenty of room to spare. After all, the two all-time greats went into the season ninth (Nadal) and 16th (Federer) in the world, seemingly on the way down instead of on the way up given that they were already into their 30s. Expecting them to combine for one of the four Grand Slam titles would have seemed fair, if not generous. But all four? Absolutely not.
At the other end of the spectrum, no one could have anticipated the brutal injury luck suffered by other top players–namely Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, and Milos Raonic. All five of those men easily played their way into the 2016 World Tour Finals; not one of them appeared at the O2 Arena this time around.
It’s safe to say this past season was full of surprises on the ATP Tour. If it can be taken as a harbinger of things to come, we should expect the unexpected in 2018. As we learned from 2017, nothing–and no one–is certain. Nadal is 31 and Federer is 36; at what point will injury issues finally turn their nibble into a bite, as they did for younger competitors in 2017? How will Murray, Djokovic, and the rest of the infirmary patients bounce back in 2018? Will Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, and David Goffin continue to rise? Is Juan Martin Del Potro ready for a return to the upper echelons of the sport? Can Nick Kyrgios live up to his incredible but currently untapped potential?
Those questions will begin to be answered at next month’s Australian Open. Check out the Online Tennis odds for the Australian Open.
Federer is the oddsmakers’ current title favorite. And why not? The Swiss is the defending champion and coming off a season in which he compiled a 52-5 record with seven titles (two majors: Aussie and Wimbledon). Federer also finished it in good health, despite losing to Goffin at the Nitto ATP Finals.
“Roger has won five titles from the last nine tournaments he’s played and he can’t wait to come back, step out on Rod Laver Arena again,and begin his title defense,” tournament director Craig Tiley commented. “He loves playing here, loves the Aussie fans, and has said his Australian Open win this year was one of the most meaningful of his career.
Djokovic and Nadal are the next two favorites, followed not too far behind by Murray before a big gap separates those four from the likes of Wawrinka, Zverev, Dimitrov, and Kyrgios.
Nadal, who finished runner-up to Federer in Melbourne this past year, has won three of the four slams at least twice. The one exception is the Australian Open, where he triumphed in 2009. The Spaniard played only one match last month in London before withdrawing due to a knee injury. Djokovic (a six-time champion) and Murray (who has never won the Aussie Open but has reached the final on five occasions) are obvious question marks. Kyrgios has already played his fair share of late-night Melbourne classics, but never in the latter rounds.
And with so many top contenders to be seeded lower than usual, we could be in for an especially wild ride Down Under. Fasten your seatbelts.
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who ya got?
Fed
R. Federer might win it.
Rafa won’t reach the semis,
Djoker will shake things up, especially if he is fit.
He has rested enough, he will be ready.
Andy, A. Murray is crazy lol!
If this guy means business, I am sorry for you lol!
Andy is not natural talented, don’t get it twisted but he is aggressive and when fit he is fit and that helps him a lot.
I am not trying to be cunning or unfair but I can’t picture Rafa winning a GS next year, if he does win a slam obviously it would be the French Open but I don’t think he will especially if this guy’s that are coming back are fit and free from injury.
I just can’t see it, maybe I need glasses 😎😎😎😂!
no
all you do here is saying Federer will win and Rafa will not. you have no point of wiev about tennis , you are all about dispraise Rafa . when i see the name Stanley , i want to vommit on your comment.
Saintjimmy, you are the personification of what a weak minded parasite writes/looks like.
It’s one thing to disagree with me but to post that nonsense shows how foolish and weak minded you are.
Please if you disagree with me, disagree, if you don’t like my comments skip it but don’t act like a waste.
I don’t think rafa will win Australian Open or reach the semis of course I could be wrong and if you disagree express your disagreement like a reasonable person not like brainless snowflake.
Learn to disagree cordially.
Love,
Stanley.
Just so you know, I like Rafa a lot but he is not the best.
My support for a team/player is not based on their record or number of trophies they have won…
I will continue this later lol, gotta go.
test
i think the most crucial issue for the winner of AUS Open 2018 is the draw .. there are many top players between the seeds 9-16 . this means Fedal can face Djokovic , Murray , Del Potro , Wawrinka before Quarterfinals .. Federer has the least chance amongs Rafa , Nole and him imo , if Nole has no physical issue , he will easily win this AUS Open , no doubt about it. as a rafan , i am waiting for a lucky draw and a few early upsets , why not 😀
Don’t think Djoko would win, as 1) it’s too soon when he returns; 2) the surface at the AO plays quick unless they revert it back to slow surfaces like prior to 2017.
I’ve no idea who would win, but I feel Rafa IF healthy and fit could; I think Fed would need a good draw and favorable schedule, ie more rest days before the final, for him to win.
He won in 2017 because he was well rested, players like Kei and Stan were injured during the matches despite pushing Fed to five sets; and his final opponent Rafa was more tired than Fed after his five sets battle (with Dimi) in the SF and one less day of rest before the final.
the same thing for Djokovic , he’ll be well rested . but i agree with you about AO 2017 , If rafa wouldn’t run a marathon agaisnt Dimitrov , he could have won. but this time Federer is number 2 seed so he wont be having extra day off before final , we all know that he needs his rest ( we saw this in London at WTF , he was not injured ) and that’s why i favor him least. I have to admit that Rafa must have a favourable draw , maybe being number 1 will pay off Rafa well , lets hope that way.
I think Djoko’s elbow issue was more serious than Fed’s knee issue of 2016, so I feel he won’t be winning big titles so soon.
The extra day of rest before the final depends on the draw, not the seeding. I think this AO is going to be very, very interesting, as in the old Chinese curse. I would not be surprised if we have a first – or second – time slam winner.
To me, the way for Rafa to beat Fed and Djoko (the formidable version especially) is to be aggressive from the get go. By being aggressive right from the beginning, he’ll put them under pressure and into more defensive rather than offensive mode.
Note that each time Rafa beats Djoko, he’s the more aggressive one. Once Rafa begins a match against either being more defensive and in counterpuncher mode, he more often than not let his opponent has the upper hand resulting in him doing all the defending.
Both Fed and Djoko are great when they’re ahead and it’s very difficult to come from behind to beat them; Rafa should already know this and thus should be his aggressive self (like during his FO and Beijing 2017) when facing them.
Roger will find it difficult to defeat Rafa like he did this year(2017), this doesn’t mean he can’t defeat Nadal but if the meet next year it would be hard.
If Federer wants to win a slam next year(2018), Australian Open is his best chance because once the season progresses this returning player’s will improve and find their form.
R. Federer can win 2 GS’s next year but if he doesn’t win AO he might not win a slam.
That’s a good illustration of my earlier comment about Rafa, he cant change gameplans during matches when losing to another top player who has their own gameplan spot on.He of course is still a great fighter who plays the big points well.
That was to LS.
Big Al, you’re getting it wrong; don’t misinterpret my comment.
What game plan do Fed and Djoko have?? They can only play with one and that is being aggressive when facing Rafa; anything else they’ll lose.
Rafa on the other hand, can be super aggressive to beat them (FO2008; USO2010/2013 for examples), or drags it into a war of attrition to outlast and beat them (AO2009; FO2013/2014 for examples); he certainly has more than one game plan to beat them. So, imo, it’s best that Rafa be aggressive from the get go so as not to use up more energy than necessary, and that may also serve him well for him to last a whole season and cut down on risk of injury.
Lucky, you missed the point. You’re right Rafa plays different ways , with tactics worked out with his coach.But, often has appeared lacking in ability to change tactics during a match when things aren’t going his way . Plenty of examples, not just from 2014-6.
Big Al do you really believe that a player with the second most slams of all time and highest percent of slam titles in slams entered, higher than the mighty God Federer can’t adapt tactics within a match? All of the greats could.
[deleted. these insults are getting old]
Here’s just one example.
SPORTS U.S. Open: Rafael Nadal changes strategy after slow start in semifinals, makes quick work of Juan Martin del Potro after that
http://www.chroniclet.com/sports/2017/09/09/U-S-Open-Rafael-Nadal-changes-strategy-after-slow-start-in-semifinals-makes-quick-work-of-Juan-Martin-del-Potro-after-that.html
The Spaniard gave a wonderful insight into his mind in his post-match interview, discussing the adjustments he made to get back into the match.
https://www.braingametennis.com/how-to-lose-set-1-6-0-win-the-match-by-rafael-nadal/
And when Rafa came back to win the Indian Wells title in 2013 a set and a break down…
“I started the match playing fantastic, then Del Potro started playing a little more aggressive,” said Nadal, whose last hard-court title came in 2010.
“In my opinion, I tried to change too early against his forehand. I was playing much too aggressive for my game.
“When I was able to calm myself, I began to play better. I started to play a little bit slower; my movement was unbelievable. Then I play a fantastic match.”
Seriously man, try to think before you put your foot in your mouth. This gets real old so fast.
Stop the fake news revisionism to beat down Rafa who has won the highest percentage of slams entered.
Big Al, you really really didn’t watch much of Rafa’s matches huh? Rafa not being able to change his game plan during matches? What joke! If he couldn’t, how then he could often turn things around, and snatching victories from jaws of defeats??
You’ve insulted Rafa and his tennis IQ! I’m sure Fed and Djoko won’t agree with you; and that’s why Rafa was having the upper hand vs Fed, and vs Djoko until 2015 when Rafa was having confidence issues.
Even after his seven straight defeats to Djoko, Rafa could turn things around from 2012 onwards; and whatever game plan one had before a match, one had to make adjustments during the match, as against players like Fed and Djoko, there would always be ebbs and flows, and not one sided affairs. For Rafa, it’s about his confidence, when he’s confident he’s able to play his best tennis (his confidence come from trusting his body and his game).
Haha, good one Hawkeye. The Delpo example at USO SF 2017 was a good one, I wonder did Big Al watched that match. If Rafa couldn’t change his tactics during the match, Delpo might be the one going to the final. I doubt Rafa’s coaches were the ones who told him what to do during the match, more like they telling him to avoid Delpo’s FH and that’s why Rafa lost that first set.
I think you’re right, Al. Of course, it’s tough for any player to change tactics during a match when the original plan isn’t going well.
To me the most noticeable thing about Rafa is that he has a default in court positioning, which is to move far back, especially on the return. When things aren’t going well he tends to revert to that, which can work on clay but puts him in a hole on other surfaces.
Rafa couldn’t change game plans during matches when his top player opponents had their game plan spot on? Are you sure?
How about AO2009 when Fed was leading two sets to one but Rafa turned things around in the fourth and then beat Fed 6-2 in the fifth, despite Rafa being more fatigued than Fed ( after his long draining SF)? Or AO2012 when Fed won the first set and Rafa changed the dynamics of the match from set onwards to win? And FO2013 vs Djoko in the fifth set? Or FO2014 final when Rafa lost the first set but went on to win in four?
Do note that Fed and Djoko hardly and rarely beat Rafa in straight sets at the slams (Djoko once only, at FO2015) but Rafa did beat them in straight sets more than once ( Djoko FO2007/ 2008; Fed FO2008, AO2014); so are they always not having their game plan spot on when facing Rafa?
St. James, Nole’s problems are between the ears IMO.
I picked Fed 12 months ago and I’m doubling down given the current state of tennis and Federer’s no end in site conistency.
“I want to vomit on your comment.”
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!
#NomineeForTenGrandBestComment
Lol!
ricky instead of deleting my comments , you can ban this stanley dude for calling others as many assulting words .cause i really did thought that he need a brain when he said he couldnt see Rafa winning a slan in 2018 . and yet he can write brainless and free to go on . Well done Ricky !
by the way thanks hawkeye for nomination 😉
Said poster should be in permanent moderation – can’t believe that hasn’t happened.
Very few comments make me literally LOL so yeah well done SJ. Nice to see your reasonably objective posts (even if mine aren’t always as such).
My posts get more objective in response to more objectivity from others (i.e., not the vomit inducing ones).
Cheers!
I read that Djoko has gotten in O’ Shannesy as his strategy coach. My goodness, he’s really getting in all the help that he can to fight and topple Fedal come next season.
O’Shannessy was boasting about his role in helping Brown in his strategy to beat Rafa at Wimbledon. I mean, beating Rafa at Wimbledon? I didn’t see Kyrgios or Darcis having any particular strategy vs Rafa at Wimbledon, they just play their games well and Rafa was there for the taking.
Maybe Fedal did study their major rivals’ games too in order to formulate plans and strategies to beat them, but it seems that Djoko has to engage so much professional help in order to stay with Fedal, to me that speaks volume about the greatness of Fed and Rafa.
I also wonder what O’Shannesy can bring to Djoko’s camp,maybe he’s gonna help him on the unpredictability department.
http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/13/novak-djokovic-strategy-coach-craig-oshannessy-explains-hell-use-statistics-help-stop-roger-federer-rafael-nadal-2018-7157980/
Seems like he’s gonna work with a Math oriented approach,very interesting!
One thing O’Shannessy was right though, about Fedal at the 2017AO final, ie when Rafa had the upper hand in the fifth set, Rafa should have won it by going for it; but Rafa wasn’t able to do that, I guess his poor form of 2015/2016 had more or less affected the way he played and he wasn’t able to step it up when he’s nearing the finishing line.
It takes winning matches after matches for one to regain confidence and be able to deliver where it matters in important matches. In the past, Rafa was always able to do that but after his mini slump ( in 2015/2016) he wasn’t able to do that, at least not so readily.
Exactly LS.
#BTE
Exactly LS, no amount of excuses can change match results which can depend on one or two points. In Nadals case, he always seemed hugely confident when things were going his way, but has had a tendency of not being able to change his gameplan when they weren’t.
Big Al, don’t understand what you mean.
Rafa had always the ability to change things around during his matches when things didn’t work out for him! Don’t know where you get it, that he couldn’t! In fact Rafa is the best when it comes to changing things and stepping it up during a match; and that’s why he is/was able to come from behind to win most of the times when he was trailing.
It’s only during 2015, after coming back from multiple injuries during 2014, that he lost confidence in his own body, that doubts began to surface during his matches when things went tight. Just when things seemed to turn around for him during the clay season of 2016, he got any injury – left wrist injury.
It took him until the clay season of 2017 to regain his confidence – in his body and in his game – and the formidable/ aggressive self on clay resurfaced. I like what I saw of him during 2017 clay season, needless to say esp at RG; his performance during Beijing and later stages of USO were also very impressive from him on the HCs, which I feel only his 2010 USO/ Tokyo and 2013 Canada/Cincinnati/ New York we’re better.
I doubt Rafa would let things slip away from him again, going forward, should things get tight during the match(es).
Well,Rafa didn’t always win from behind or change his game.There were times he simply had no answer,even this year eg against Querrey,Federer.Sometimes to win he just had to play better not necessarily differently.Or play the big points better than his opponent.
Maybe we should distinguish between three and five setters,over the shorter match you’re less likely to see a change in tactics .
Big Al, when Rafa is confident he can do it. You clearly didn’t read carefully, it’s all about his confidence. BO3? At IW vs Nalby in 2010, vs Delpo at IW in 2013, vs Gulbis and also Ferrer at the clay masters, to name a few.
You obviously based your opinion on his recent performances, look further and you’ll find many egs, BO3 or BO5, that he’s able to turn things around. As I’ve said, you’ve not watched his matches enough all these years.
But I have. He does turn things around but not always through clever tactical tennis.More physical tennis,plus sheer guts and determination.His main tactic against Federer over the years has been to hit massive forehands to his weaker backhand.Nothing clever about that.
Big AL obviously only watched Fed vs Rafa matches! You also talked as if Fed was so physically and mentally weak that’s why Rafa with sheer will and physical power could beat him! What nonsense and what insult to both Fed and Rafa!
Do you think Fed is so bad, that he only has a BH?? People like you give the excuse that Fed lost to Rafa because of Rafa attacking Fed’s BH ONLY!
What about Fed’s FH? I thought he has a laser like precise FH? How come he can’t use it to handle Rafa, at least hitting to Rafa’s weaker BH (compared to Rafa’s FH) to gain any advantage? Is Fed’s FH also weak that it couldn’t defend against Rafa’s BH?
It’s more like Rafa was quicker than Fed, anticipated well Fed’s every move, was good enough at both wings to handle Fed’s FH and BH, was able to neutralize Fed’s slices by counterattacking Fed’s FH and Fed wasn’t quick enough to defend against it. Against other opponents, Fed’s quick slices were effective but not against Rafa. Rafa was also able to handle Fed’s great serving too (Fed said that despite himself serving 20+ aces, he still couldn’t beat Rafa at Wimbledon 2008).
When Rafa was playing well, he’s the kyptonite of Fed; Fed admitted that Rafa is/was his most difficult rival; Fed also said that Rafa had two FHs (meaning his BH acted like a FH as well).
BTW, the FH vs BH pattern of play was only effective on clay because of the high bouncing surface. Rafa however was able to beat Fed on almost all surfaces, except indoors. (I do feel that the indoor events were often played at year end when Rafa was often running out of steam).
Compare Djoko vs Fed; Djoko was well balanced from both wings, served and returned well, yet he struggled to beat Fed almost always, with only 2011 and 2015 being the exception. Notice that Rafa is 10-8 vs Fed when winning in straight sets; Djoko is 8-13 vs Fed when winning in straight sets.
It’s more to do with Djoko not being able to handle Fed’s varieties (slices especially, net approaches etc) whilst Rafa was able to deal with and many times neutralized Fed’s varieties. It’s on the quicker surfaces that Fed could at least gain the edge when Rafa had lesser time to counterattack ( Fed 7-3 on fast HCs; 4-6 on slower HCs).
And Big AL, do you think Rafa beat Delpo at USO because of physical power, or sheer determination? Or Kohl at Miami 2017?
I didn’t see the US open match.Kohl at Miami started off well but couldn’t keep up the gameplan ,plus Nadal’s level got better .
I don’t know why you are so aggressive in your defense of your idol(how’s that for tactical confusion)
I still don’t think chsbging tactics are Nadal’s forte,it’s his opponent who has to come up with a gameplan to overcome the wall at the other end of the court.
Big Al is testing our patience here! If you can’t appreciate the intricacies of Rafa’s game, then please stop saying things that irritate his fans. Hawkeye had already given the links to two articles about Rafa and his changing of tactics during his matches; if you’re not convinced by us, at least go read the articles and get educated by them.
In fact, I think Fed’s the one who can’t change his tactics, he only has one style, that is to play aggressive tennis. I see Rafa and Djoko at least could change from defence to offense and vice versa and it’s no wonder they’re getting the upper hand on Fed – Rafa all along and Djoko since he became V2 from 2011.
Rafa is a counterpuncher, naturally he’ll have plenty of game plans and tactics to go to, if not how can he be that good in winning so many slams and titles, and having the upper hand over Fed all along? Brute force? Don’t you think Gonzo, Verdasco or some of the younger players, who hit as hard as possible, are the ones using brute force? See what have they achieved?
In fact, Rafa is one of the best in neutralizing brute force; when it seemed his opponents were having the upper hand with their brute force, Rafa somehow knew how to absorb the blows and then forced errors out of these opponents.
Brute force? I said Rafa was physical,meaning fast ,strong and lots of topspin.No insult there.
I did read the articles.
All top players vary their tactics,such as return position etc as Joe said above.
It’s one thing to do that,another to radically change a gameplan when it’s not working.
He might have to,though, because Delpis backhand will get better with all the practise,just like Rogers!
yes, Delpo’s BH has been getting a lot better since the start of last year. Confidence thing most likely.
“It’s one thing to do that,another to radically change a gameplan when it’s not working.”
Lucky is right. “radically” LOL. And there’s the moving the goalposts without committing to anything with another subjective word.
So tell me “Big” Al (BTW, if you have to put the word in your moniker… just sayin’), when has Federer “radically” changed tactics mid match so much more “radically” than Rafa in the examples I’ve provided.
Such utter inconsistent and biased nonsense just because others would dare suggest that Federer might not be the defacto GOAT (which is subjective ICYMI).
#GTFOH
Big Al, didnt Rafa attacked Delpo’s FH from set two onwards, by hitting his FH DTL? It’s not about attacking the BH only! You really didn’t understand Rafa’s game, and isn’t changing court positions, where one hits to and from, etc part and parcel of tactical change ups?
The thing about Rafa is this – he knows when to be aggressive and when to be defensive, when to move up to the net and when to stay back, which is why he’s always so effective when at the net. And, that’s his intelligence, not rushing the net for the sake of rushing, but knows when to do what. He’s able to figure out what’s his opponent’s weaknesses and attacks those, ie play to his opponent’s weaknesses.
Lucky, that’s why Rafa is the ONLY male player to have won multiple slams on all three surfraces and has the highest percentage of slam wins in slams played among the all time greats in the open era.
“Big” Al could possibly understand if he tried but you can’t lead a rabid Fedfan to the obvious.
Seems that Big Al didn’t watch much of Rafa’s matches, prior to 2015!
LS, right again. All the greats have to be good at adaptation or they wouldn’t be where they are today.
Fedfans always trying to take Rafa down LOL, convincing no one (particularly not even themselves) in the process.
Agree. He didn’t have that ‘pillow’ of confidence to land on during stormy conditions
Now he has!
Dimitrov is a top 3 contender. Don’t like to see Fed the favourite 🙂
Have to agree that the draw will be crucial to win this tournament….there are just too many threats in the 5-16 slots….Goffin….JDP…..Big Dawg etc….but I still like Fed to win it all.
Roger never gave up even when it looked ugly I really like that, people who are hopeful even when the odds are against them are inspirational.
My 2017 was like that, there were times when I lost my serve in the 5th set😂 but by the grace of God I won at the end hurrah!!!
That Australian Open final(2017) was awesome baby, I hope R. Federer wins it next year but if he doesn’t then let Novak Djokovic win it.
I think it will be too early 4 Novak or other injured players to regain form but if Roger doesn’t win it then (1) N. Djokovic, (2) A. Zverev, (3) Stan Wawrinka, (4) Delpo, (100) Gerald Melzer, (1999) Kento Takeuchi, (2000) RAFAEL NADAL😂😂😂😎!
Okay calm down don’t get it twisted, Rafa is in my top 10 to win it if he is fit but honestly I don’t think Rafa will win it, if he makes it to the semis it will surprise me, next year will be really hot.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, love you all👌.
Go gag on a chunk of coal in your stocking. Should be plenty now with the coal industry “restored”.
Hope Krampus pays you a visit.
I didn’t see the US open match.Kohl at Miami started off well but couldn’t keep up the gameplan ,plus Nadal’s level got better .
I don’t know why you are so aggressive in your defense of your idol(how’s that for tactical confusion)
I still don’t think chsbging tactics are Nadal’s forte,it’s his opponent who has to come up with a gameplan to overcome the wall at the other end of the court.
Kohl was unconscious in Miami for one set
I do remember the Gulbis- Nadal match on clay,he outplayed Nadal hitting a huge number of winners for a set and a half.
And then? Gulbis still lost the match!
It’s not about attacking only, it’s about how to neutralize your opponent’s strength and Rafa did just that to win.
Big Al, of course you don’t believe that. not surprising given the idol your defending by diminishing Nadal.
For me, it’s not about defending idols. Stop self projecting.
I call out unsubstantiated lazy criticisms on any player including Federer. If you were around last January, you’should know that.
Anyone that thinks that a player who can win multiple slams on all three surfraces is not an expert at changing tactics, is either willingly blind out of necessity or doesn’t understand tennis.
How many other male players in the open era have won multiple slams on grass, on clay and on hard court? (Don’t hurt yourself.)
Exactly, Hawkeye! 👍
Maybe to Big Al, only by drastically changing from baseline game to net rushing game within a match qualifies as change of game plan; changing from defense to offense or vice versa wasn’t!
Anyway, Rafa has also proven that he can play from the baseline, and then changed to a more offensive game by playing more inside the court with more net approaches, I think that’s good enough to be called ‘changing game plan’ within a match.
Who really cares what construct “Big” Al requires to diminish other players to help him feel better.
I’m just going to call him on it.
The Bryans?
Wrong.
#ThanksForPlaying
#PleaseTryAgain
Think Rafa will win, he will be extremely hungry for the 🏆
1)Who ever said Federer was my idol? He’s not even my favourite player .I don’t have one.
2) Nadal can play a range of tactics,knows when to approach the net , etc etc, (what top player cant) but his main weapon that sets him apart from other players is his physicality which Ive already described. Thats his main ‘gameplan’. If that can be neutralised, he can be beaten, even on clay.
A bit like the school bully in the playground ,take away his big weapons and you’re left with a rather mentally weak individual, for bullies are basically cowards.
That’s the point Ive been trying to get across , and while I dont like this aspect of his game (especially the loud grunting that seems to appear at important moments ) I do respect his other talents as a player, and I actually like him as a person.
3) Sorry LS/Hawkeye, but I think Im still at least as objective a tennis fan than you, actually Ive always preferred watching aggressive baseliners to s&v artists ,so its not a particular style Ive a problem with.
This comment by Big Al is really interesting and funny, everyone needs to read this.
Big Al,if you think Rafa’s main weapon is the physicality you’re going on the wrong way,he’s much more than that. He can change the patterns of his play according to his opponents strenghts and weaknesses,varying between agressive/defensive approaches very easily,given his ability to do so.
For me,his biggest weapon his the forehand and more specifically his trademark shot is the forehand DTL,one of the greatest shots ever,IMO.
Just look at the way he evolved his backhand,turning it in a great weapon,particularly the CC that was HUGE this year. That shows he’s one of the most tactically wise players ever.
Ha ha, finally Big Al, after all the blah, blah, blah from him, it’s very obvious that:
1) Big Al doesn’t like Rafa so he’s biased against Rafa;
2) he doesn’t know a thing about Rafa, calling him a bully who only has his physicality as his main weapon and calling him a coward once his physicality couldn’t help him win anymore;
3) he really doesn’t know what Rafa’s game is all about; I guess he doesn’t know the intricacies of the game, just knows about attacking and going for winners and not much else.
So how was Fed great or be the so called Goat, when he could be bullied into submission by the ‘bullying’ Rafa?? Now if Rafa is the big bully with his physicality, then why do you think he won’t just hit winners after winners right away to blow his opponents off the court with his physical power? Don’t the likes of Gonzo, Verdasco, or hard hitters from the young generation fit the ‘big bully’ bill better?
Again, Big Al simply doesn’t know Rafa’s game, that’s the conclusion one gets reading so many of his comments.
Too much like risk taking.Rafa would never play like that.I wish he would,he’s got the power.
Players only take as much risk as required to beat their opponents.
When both are at the top of their games, Federer has to take more risk to beat Rafa than vice versa.
Even Fed has said as much when he loses to Rafa.
#DoYourHomework
#ThankYouComeAgain
#Next!
“Big” Al should know that Rafa took more risk in 2017 out of necessity to end No. 1 becoming the only male player to reclaim No. 1 three times.
Hey, “Big” Al, how many male players in the Open Era have won multiple slams on all three surfraces???
#SilenceIsGolden
Jimmy Connors ?
Big al is not very big on tennis IQ.
Since you insist on an answer ,Connors won 5 US Opens on all three surfaces, but I don’t expect you to have known or appreciate that .
I insist on a correct answer that you are seemingly incapable of.
Connors won one clay alam.
One is not multiple slams on each slam surface.
But I wouldn’t expect you to know that.
Math is hard for those with preformed conclusions.
#GameOver
#PleaseTryAgain
LS,Seems like most if not all of your posts ,has some comment to the effect that Nadal was a better player than Federer .
I’m only responding to that , after a long time of reading it.
Yes, I do believe that its a physical thing that is Nadals main advantage, and makes him very hard to beat over the distance on any surface, especially on clay.
I’m not biased against Nadal, I did name the RG final as one of the best matches of the year.
Rafa is a better thinker than Fed on the tennis court, it’s obvious. It’s just that Rafa takes the tougher route of being a counterpuncher than an attacking player; his coach and uncle Toni chose to turn him into a counterpuncher rather than an attacking player. To me, Rafa has all the weapons to be an aggressive attacking player and would be a very good one, given his physical gifts.
However, Rafa himself and Toni prefer Rafa to be good at both defence and offence, works on strategies and game plans to win his matches; not by overcoming his opponents with brute force or raw power, which I think they know won’t last long as Rafa ages.
Such Big Al BS.
Rafa “bullied” his way to schooling Fed at Wimbledon in the best match of all time on grass.
Slow grass,aka green clay
No one else could beat him on it during the weak era.
Big Al still can’t bring himself to answer the question.
The avoidance is exquisite.
But… didn’t Fed also win on slow grass, aka green clay? And he won eight of them!
Your point? He’s a player better suited to fast surfaces…
Your point then, about green clay??
Fed didn’t win any major on quick surfaces! He won on already slowed down surfaces, ie after 2002, from quick during 1990s to early 2000s, to medium quick from 2002 onwards! You guys talked as if he’s all conquering on quick surfaces, some even view him better than Sampras on quick surfaces (grass,HCs and carpets). Ridiculous!!
The already slowed down Wimbledon surfaces suited Fed to the T, that’s why he’s winning on them, but not on super quick grass. And some Fedfans still couldn’t get over the fact that both Djoko and Rafa had beaten Fed on Wimbledon surfaces that suited Fed more than both of them; and claimed that they could only win Wimbledon beating Fed on the ‘slow’ Wimbledon grass but they forget Fed is the biggest beneficiary of the slowed down grass.
Interesting comments,LS
For a player who can only attack to actually have an advantage on a slower(grass) surface than his rivals,two of the best defensive players ever.Seems illogical,but I’ll keep an open mind about it.
But,seems like you also to saying Fed did play on the fast Nineties grass,but had far more success on the slower stuff,therefore it suits him better.Not necessarily.
Why
“but I’ll keep an open mind about it.”
Bweaaahahahahahaha!!!
1. That would be a first.
2. You’d have to START with an open mind first before you can KEEP an open mind.
(Aside: still waiting for a correct answer but not expecting one from you.)
#HopeThisHelps
Hitting lot of forehands to Feds backhand when no need.Hardly classic grass stuff.
Not what most believe about the best match of all time.
Poor “Big” Al. So much rationalizing.
Well, Rafa’s FH CC was always to Fed’s BH wasn’t it? Just like his BH CC was to Fed’s FH. If Rafa applied his FHDTL more, it would be even more nightmarish for Fed!
Hawk, I don’t claim to know everything about tennis,and I do have an open mind ,which is why I don’t have a favourite player . In fact I like most players .I enjoy trying to predict matches, trying to understand who’s going to win and why.
As for your insistence on an answer , why don’t you just ask me what 1+1 is ,I’m more likely to give a sensible answer.
All I know is that based on your answer of Connors, you think 1=2 so no more difficult math for you.
Nah Big Al, please bear in mind that Fed is five to six years older than Rafa/Djoko, and he had played on grass for a long long time already! Unless you think Fed is/was dumb, you have to give the advantage to him over Rafa and Djoko on grass when both Rafa and Djoko didn’t play much on grass until they played on the main tour.
I thought that is simple logic? How come it never cross your mind?
They’ve all been playing on grass for a long time now.Rafa was better on it 2006-8 when he’d less experience than now,by the same wooly logic.
How long does it take to adjust from clay to grass? Was Fed brought up on the stuff ,or on clay like the others?
Excuse me Big Al, Fed was playing on grass for at least five to six years ahead of Rafa and Djoko, you think Fed is so dumb that he took a long time to adjust to grass that Rafa and Djoko could catch up with him immediately once they started playing on grass, five/six years later than Fed?? What wooly logic, to quote you.
Fed had the advantage that’s why he was winning Wimbledon from 2003-2005, before Rafa made final in 2006 to face him. If Rafa and Djoko were born five/six years earlier, perhaps Fed won’t win eight Wimbledon!
Big Al, pay attention next time when you read my posts. It’s already been explained as to why Rafa had problems on grass, since 2012 when he had his serious knee injury that he had to take six months break to heal. Without his knee problem, I’m sure Rafa can win a few more Wimbledon and Fed a few less, my take!
Amazing the lengths you go to discredit Feds Wimby achievements ,no doubt if Nadal hadn’t knee injury he’d never have lost to anyone,never mind the LLs .
Big Al, don’t you find yourself amazing, the length you go about discrediting Rafa??
I thought that’s simple logic, yet you can’t grasp it!
Em…he certainly bullied him in the RG final that year, and it had bad effect on Federer, which is probably why he dropped the first two sets.
Nah, Rafa also made Fed worked like hell in 2007 Wimbledon, and Fed as usual, had to rely on TBs to win two sets before pushing the match to five sets.
In the end ,though,he turned on the brilliance and Nadal had no answer
Nah, Rafa injured his knee during the fifth set I think. He fell down during a point, and got his knee taped. Fed wasn’t that brilliant in the fifth set, just seized the chance when it happened.
In fact Rafa was more brilliant during the match until the fifth set when he got injured. Fed couldn’t break Rafa’s serves except only once; and he needed two TB sets to win his two sets before going into the fifth.
Rafa OTOH won his two sets by breaking Fed’s serves, despite Fed having a more solid serve and serving aces! Not forgetting Rafa was disadvantaged by the schedule, having to play on five consecutive days due to the rain whilst Fed was well rested before the final.
Fed was being pushed to the limit and at the end of it, he looked relieved more than feeling happy. He said in his post match interview on court that he’s happy to win the title before Rafa started winning them all! How true was that, that Rafa beat him in the following year to win his (Rafa’s) first Wimbledon!
I truly suspect that you didn’t watch the match; if not you won’t be here saying how brilliant Fed was in the fifth set, when clearly Rafa was subpar after his fall.
Big Al, you’re the one so said that, I didn’t!
My post of Dec 27 at 8.16 pm was in response to Big Al’s post of Dec 27 at 5.57pm, where Big Al was making wrong assumptions about me.
Quote LS:
‘Without his knee problem, I’m sure Nadal would have a few more Wimbys, and Federer less! ‘
Your sure? But we could also say if the grass was faster low bouncing, Fed could have won ten Wimbys by now and Nadal lucky to get one .
On this particular knee injury, I have heard Nadal saying it affected him worse on grass, but I find that hard to believe, how does he play so well on HC in the same period 2012- ? Yet lose to Darcis,Brown etc at Wimby.
Why? I’ve already explained – Rafa couldn’t bend his knees low on grass, and grass is low bouncing surface, hence from 2012 onwards, he had problem on grass.
If the grass is quicker, then players like Roddick, even Karlovic, would benefit from it and Fed would not beat Roddick at Wimbledon all the time. Fed might not have more than what he had now, and Rafa might win only one Wimbledon instead of two (he would make use of his big serve of 2010 to win a Wimbledon on fast grass), my opinion.
Yeah, but Nadal has obviously benefitted from the higher bouncing grass, and not being able to bend his knees isn’t anyone elses fault-he chose to play the way he does, and ended up injured (never mind his ‘congenital foot defect’, thanks Hawk).
no disrespect to Rodddick,Karlovic etc but I think it would have helped Fed more than them , in every way except maybe serve.
The fast grass benefits the big server, if not how Stich, Ivanesevic, and Krajeck won their only Wimbledon? So Roddick and players like Karlovic would have their chances; I doubt Fed is any better than Sampras on fast grass so Fed would also lost some on fast grass, not unlike Sampras!
And, Rafa had no problem playing his way, as he reached five finals, winning two of them. You talked as if Rafa deserved his injuries, how amazing the extent you go to, to discredit Rafa (yet you’re BS’ing here about how you’re not a biased tennis fan, blah blah blah!).
Rafa’s knee issue had something to do with Djoko at the AO2012, when they couldn’t finish off each other until it ended at nearly six hours. Rafa injured his knees then (he played and then withdrew from Miami SF that year because of pain in knees). It was later diagnosed that he had inflammation of the fat pads of his knees and he had to take months off to let them heal.
Rafa also had a tough fight against Djoko at Madrid in 2009, and they spent 4 hours playing a three sets SF with neither relenting and Rafa barely beat Djoko in the final set TB after saving MP! The match had resulted in both having injury issues and both lost early at the FO that year. Djoko more an injury to his ego, as he’s upset that he couldn’t take down Rafa after a 4 hour tussle and with a MP chance.
If there’s no one like Djoko standing in Rafa’s way, Rafa would be much healthier, with fewer injuries, as Djoko is the only one who could match Rafa in stamina, skills and mental fortitude, so each slam victory (by either of them) is always a hard fought one, until 2015 when Rafa had his confidence issues.
See, Big Al, how biased you are when it comes to Fed? Yet, you’re here telling us Fed is not your idol! Cut the crap!
Id love to see this Rafa, who doesn’t have to bend his knees to play well on really fast courts.
Id also love to see Fed playing on such a court, it hasn’t happened often .Dubai, maybe.
See, you’re here discrediting Rafa yet again! If you think Rafa couldn’t adapt fast enough, from one surface to the next, then what about Fed? Fed wouldn’t do well from clay to fast grass too, don’t you think? If Fed wanted to win on fast grass, chances are he won’t reach five FO finals! It works the same way for both, and in all likelihood, Rafa would adapt better than Fed, because Rafa is used to adapting to different surfaces when he plays; whilst Fed plays only one style on any surface.
They had played at Dubai fast court and Rafa as a 19 year old coming back from injury, beat a Fed who’s playing well the whole match, in three sets!
Never underestimate Rafa, he’s Fed’s nemesis, whether you want to admit it or not. When both are playing well, it would be nightmarish for Fed.
If Fed plays one style on any surface , then logically he would find it easier to adapt .
Especially , since Rafa would have played and won many more matches on the clay , so would be tired and have less time to prepare on grass.
And Big Al, want to compare Fed’s serves to Sampras’?? And on fast grass? Chances are Fed would lose more than Sampras on fast grass, not difficult to see that.
What nonsense, when Rafa made the transition from clay to grass successfully every time from 2006-2011. Rafa was fit enough to play many matches on clay yet had enough time and talent to adapt quickly to playing on grass.
Fed playing one style would find it difficult to win on slow clay and then fast grass. He also need to adapt from slow to fast surfaces, as clay and grass are different surfaces, don’t you think??
Big Al, you seriously missed the point. If the grass is fast, then Fed would play his S&V style and, you think he can S&V his way to FO finals? So, he would probably lost early at the FO and then go deep at Wimbledon, not unlike Sampras at the FO, perhaps slightly better . The slowed down grass suit Fed to the T, as he changed his game from S&V to baseline game as early as 2003/2004 so he was basically playing the same game on clay and on grass and everywhere.
Fed more talented than Sampras on fast grass? Sampras had the best running FH, and the best first and second serves. I doubt Fed would win seven, not to mention eight Wimbledon on fast grass. Roddick, the one you think nothing about on grass, pushed Fed to the limit on slowed down grass at 2009 Wimbledon final, imagine that match was played on fast grass!
Rafa is more like Borg in that he plays a clay court game on clay, then adjust his game to play and adapt to grass. He may not be as good as Borg, who won six FOs on slow clay and then won five Wimbledon on fast grass, but Rafa with his talent esp in adapting will win a Wimbledon or two on fast grass.
And, that’s assuming Rafa (and Djoko) didn’t have the chance to play on fast grass all along (which is quite unlikely, as they would have played the juniors on fast grass too if the grass surfaces remained as quick as ever).
In all likelihood, they would then play differently on fast grass; Rafa tried S&V at Wimbledon in 2003 when he’s 17. Had the grass surfaces remained at the 1990s quickness, chances are he and Djoko would be playing a net approaching game on grass, and would beef up their serves from young to win on fast grass. IOWs, they would play differently from how they’re playing now on grass.
So would Federer .
And Nadal would have struggled to make the switch from clay to grass, if it were that fast.
By the way, Djokovic was noted by Nadals team as a problem when they were juniors, because his game matched up against Nadals even back then.
Come to think of it, Fed is the biggest beneficiary of the slowed down grass at Wimbledon, as he need not do much adapting or adjusting from slow clay to slow grass; he would find it hard to adjust to fast grass had the grass remained fast all along!
In the 90s, very few players could make that successful transition from clay to fast grass. No reason to assume todays players would have, either.
I wouldn’t compare Sampras to Federer on fast grass,pretty even but Fed is more talented.
Speculative.
Consistently inconsistent.
Given that Rafa is highly talented and more adaptable than Fed, he would do better than Fed when switching from slow clay to fast grass, the way Borg did. The only thing is, Borg might be better than Rafa in adapting imo, hence his five Wimbledon on fast grass.
I think Rafa’s BIGGEST WEAPON IS HIS MENTAL STRENGTH…His FH or BH, physicality or speed just landed 2,3 or 4th ranked compared to his mental strength…And combined with his other assets,that is the way he destroyed his opponents actually…That is what makes him so feared by his peers in his prime years..many of them already lost before they even get out on court..
Only when he suffered confidence crisis & anxiety in 2015/16 & start to got beaten by a nobody,then other player’s start to realize that they can beat Rafa actually coz his mental strength also suffered greatly in this period…
Absolutely Mira,he’s the most resilient player ever. While most of the players get frustrated when things don’t go their way in a match,Rafa always keeps fighting,playing every point like his life depends on it,and that has made him win some very close matches against the very top players.
I made my point based only on the tennistic capabilities,my bad.
Agreed. Rafa’s fight and mental strength is unreal
Haha…That’s alright Gaviria!…And that is our Rafa!…He won many matches by this quality alone…We read many statements from his peers that is very hard to play against Rafa because not only they have to fight against him through physicality but mentally & emotionality as well…How can u stay with him for 3,4,5 hrs straight if u’re mentally weak?
The famous match this year against Dimitrov at AO is a classic example…What made Dimi lost in that match?He’s much younger than Rafa..He’s really good at that time..his movement more fluid than Rafa…Dimi is a clone of Novak..U throw him a ball to the end of the earth,and he will get it back with an amazing gets that will stunned u…Yeah…his mental strength failed him…As great as his other assets..he can’t match this one aspect of his superior…
Mira, it’s not just physical or mental, it’s more of Rafa’s ability to think his way out of a situation; if Rafa was a few years younger, he would possibly win the match earlier. And, so much for Rafa being a big bully with his physicality, when Dimi was five years younger, as strong or as quick if not stronger/quicker than Rafa.
Rafa doesn’t always play at his absolute best all the time but he’s able to sustain a good level throughout a match for a longer period than most of his top level opponents, whom just couldn’t do the same. They may play at a higher level than Rafa but couldn’t sustain that for long and so they may lose it in the end, when Rafa could ride the storm and gets his win.
Lucky…Totally agree with everything u said!…Patrick McEnroe,when he’s commentated at AO 09 [i think] said that Rafa is a THINKER..He said that after Rafa successfully turned things around when he was 0 40 against Roger and ended up winning the set in the end..
Many people said that Roger is genius on court..and i agree with that ..but Rafa also genius in his own way too…we saw many times in the past that he can scramble out from critical situations with his patience,determination & desire to win a point…and he did just that…
Right .So you’re saying Rafa doesn’t have any more physicality than anyone else,not his ability to chase impossible shots down nor hit massively topspin shots 2 inches off the court for 100 mph winners. His mental strength /confidence fighting ability couldn’t possibly be based on that.
Counterpunchers do tend to have those qualities,eg Connors,Hewitt,Borg.
I’ve already said I respect Nadal even I don’t like certain things about his game.
And yes I was liking him to a bully but it’s more a physchological effect than a physical one,on his opponent.
Sorry,that was to LS
Big Al, you’re saying Rafa relies on his physicality more than anything else, and that’s obviously wrong. Rafa relies more on his mental strength, his tennis brain, if not he’ll just be another Verdasco, or another hard hitter. His physicality is God’s gift to him but he’s not relying on that to bully people around; he’s using that to counter attacks, ie to first defend himself from attacks and then think of ways to fight back. Perhaps that’s Toni’s intention for Rafa – to turn him into an all round player who’s good at defence and offense, rather than relying on brute strength to hammer others into submission.
Which of the top players dont rely on physicality when they’re given the gift? Fed has his movements too, and he’s also hitting with power, just not the easy power as per Delpo, or brute force as per Gonzo, it’s not like he’s hitting powder puff shots. Fed also is physically very fit, if not he won’t be able to win five setters so often. Djoko and Murray too are very quick, fit and strong.
Rafa’s uniqueness lies in his unbelievable topspin and unbelievable quickness in movement esp on clay, and that may be why he’s such a good counterpuncher, but to be a great counterpuncher like him, a good tennis brain is essential and that separates him from any other counterpuncher.
Well I agree with a lot of that.But all other top players have good tennis brains surely,even the first strikers like Raonic. It’s not unique to counterpunchers or Nadal.
Lucky, Big Al is saying Raonic heavily uses his brain on the court and so do other players. I don’t think he is comparing Raonic to Rafa in any sense he’s just saying that Rafa isn’t the only one with a good tennis brain. Not everything is a competition or comparison w rafa lol
‘ Rafas uniqueness lies in his topspin and speed ‘ I agree,that is all part of the physicality .It depends what you mean by that word.
“Rafa doesn’t have any more physicality than anyone else”
Big Al thinks he’s Joe Smith
Sarcasm
Big Al, you’re serious?? Then why they keep losing to Rafa, when Rafa didn’t even need to blow them off the court?
You want to compare Raonic to Rafa?? Even Fed won’t have Rafa’s tennis brain on court! He can’t solve the Rafa problem for so long now and has to pick his battle in order to have the upper hand.
Even before Fed’s current run (when he still trailed the H2H 23-10), most of his deficit was due to Rafa’s huge advantage on clay (13-2). At that time, Rafa led off clay, 10-8, all credit to him, but not exactly a massive advantage. Most impressive is his winning record (4-3) in slams against Fed, even off clay.
Since adopting the larger racquet, Fed has gained a decisive advantage over Rafa, in my opinion. I would love to see that advantage tested on clay, but we may never see that again, unfortunately.
LS, you can have an excellent tennis brain and be useless on the court. Ive heard Raonic commentating, he’s very insightful.And not exactly useless on court…you really havent too many good things to say about anyone except Nadal.
Rafa has recovered much of his confidence, but not to pre 2014 levels. Anxiety is s bitch to overcome.
The racquet helps but Rafa’s lack of consistent shot depth is the big difference leading to losses to the exGoat.
Big Al, don’t you think Fed too relies on his physicality?? If not how can he be quick enough to move forward to attack and takes away time from his opponents? In fact Fed relies heavily on his foot speed to play his attacking tennis and that’s part of physicality too, right?
It’s just that his is different from Rafa/Djoko/Murray’s who make use of theirs to counterpunch.
Pretty sure all top players can do that… I’ve seen several matches where Fed Novak Andy even Stan ride the wave to the win after playing subpar tennis throughout
Benny, that’s against ‘inferior’ players. Only Djoko can rival Rafa in playing the counterpuncher role after turning into v2. Murray is another with very good tennis brain but he’s not as good as Rafa where physicality is concerned that’s why he lost to Stan in five sets at the FO this season. Without his good tennis brain, he could not last for five sets against Stan.
Benny and Big Al, Raonic’s ‘good’ tennis brain can only help him that much, ie reaching one slam final at age 27, his ‘good’ tennis brain certainly not as good as that of Rafa’s!
The only one I feel who may be as good as Rafa where tactical tennis brain is concerned is Murray, which explains why matches between them are usually played with much tactics involved, but Rafa beats Murray most of the time because Rafa is the one with killer instincts and knows when to make the killer blow.
Benny, Fed is no where near like Rafa or Djoko where defending is concerned. His game is about attacking, and against Rafa and Djoko, he has to take even more risk, moves out of his comfort zone, in order to have a chance of beating them; that may explain why he usually loses to them when the match goes the distance.
Fed may have all sorts of varieties in his game (which big four guy doesn’t have?) but his game style is always the same, ie attacking style. Try getting him to counterpunch the whole match, or junk balling the way Murray used to do (in the past).
When I watched Fed’s matches, I know how he would play and it’s always the same; at least Rafa (and Murray) vary their game plan – vary their court positions when hitting or returning, vary their degree of defence vs offence, vary the way they play on different surfaces, etc
Baloney!
To frustrate Rafa in a tennis court it’s a tall order and extremely hard to do so.
For sure the match against Dimitrov at the AO is the living prove that Rafa’s a mental fortress,but again there’s more than that. Remember many people said Rafa was done outside of clay? He just shut up the whole skeptics that doubt him,winning the Us Open and also winning a fast hard court tournament,Beijing.
Just look at the SF against Delpo. After losing the first set,many considered it was a matter of time until Rafa was sent home,but he changed his tactics,going more agressively for Delpo FH,surprising him and getting him out of balance many times,turning the match thereafter. That speaks for itself and shows the extremely high tennis Q.I. he has.
QI ? Yeah. He attacked the backhand, that didn’t work now he attacks the forehand.Or maybe he’s simply taking a leaf from his own rivals book, who use that tactic successfully against him.
Rafa has a good tennis brain and can use it on the tennis court, Raonic couldn’t, so? What it proves? Rafa is smarter when he can put that into use whilst Raonic couldn’t. ‘Easier said than done’ isn’t that true?
Rafa is very smart in that he could solve the Fed problem the very first time he played Fed whilst most of Fed’s peers couldn’t. From then, he knew of Fed’s weaknesses and kept attacking them.
The problem for Fed’s opponents is his quickness in attacking that takes away time from his opponents to react but once the trio of Rafa, Djoko and Murray appeared, Fed couldn’t have it easy anymore vs them because they’re quick, quicker than the rest hence they’re able to match Fed in quickness and able to counter Fed’s attacks. It’s no wonder both Rafa and Djoko (v2) have the edge over Fed in the H2H and Murray was leading the H2H until his back surgery in 2013; though Murray wasn’t great vs Fed at the slams losing all but one encounter.
Big Al, isn’t that true where tennis is concerned, ie attacking the BH and/or the FH and/or attacking at the net? The thing is knowing when to do what and having alternatives.
Fed unlike most of his fans, knows what formidable rival Rafa is; I doubt he questions Rafa’s intelligence the way his fervent fans here question it!
“Big” Al still hasn’t given a single example of when his tennis god made any “drastic” mismatch adjustments.
Lucky is right, all he does is play aggressive. When that fails, he plays even more aggressive with smaller margins and ends up losing.
A lot of variation in his game anyway,he can play any shot.
Not any shot. Could never play Rafa’s forehand **DEEP** to Fed’s BH on ANY outdoor surface after 2007.
Hawks, I think Big Al meant that Roger can hit any shot like what he can produce on his own, not what shots from others that he can handle. But yeah u are right about Rafa’s deep forehand to Fed’s backhand. Roger has hit a lot of backhand winners on Rafa this year though. But they’re mostly when he uses his forehand to set a shorter ball up to clock with his backhand.
Perhaps Benny. A bit of a chicken and egg.
Difficult to say without Nadal at his very best which was a rare site, despite him finishing number 1,
He didn’t need to be consistently at/near his best to finish No. 1 this year with so many players injured for much of the year. But he was still fun to watch especially after his mental demons from 2014-16.
Fed can play any shot? So do Rafa or Djoko or Murray! It’s not unique to Fed btw. Rafa even has his impossible gets, Djoko his almost impossible flexibility and Murray his ability to play junk ball tennis, varying his pace at will. Those are the unique quality each of those three possesses.
Fed could only play attacking tennis, couldn’t vary much his game, maybe S&V a bit combined with baseline play. It’s unlike say Rafa or Djoko, who could play offense and/or defence at will, could also come forward to the net when attacking or stayed behind for great defending. Or, Murray who has the most varieties in his style in that he could S&V in a set, followed by junk balling and then aggressive tennis. Murray has the most varied style of play, but it’s a pity he no longer plays that way after getting in Lendl as his coach.
Lucky I know it’s not unique to Fed lol. All the greats can play almost any shot that’s what makes them so unstoppable. And to say Fed can’t vary his game much is foolish. He’s got one of the most effective backhand slices in the game and he can use it to defend too not just chip and charge. Fed’s style of play is an attacking one but he is still faster than most guys on the tour and can defend better than most realize. Just take a look at his match against Kyrgios in Miami. He had to do a LOT of defending in that one.
Well,for me, to have a high tennis intelligence means that besides you have the weapons in your game,when you get troubled in a match,you’re able to figure out a way to go and change the dynamics of the match efficiently.
So if you don’t think Rafa’s tennis IQ not that high,I’m curious about your options;maybe Fognini and Monfils,no?
Certainly higher than those two,but it wouldn’t be hard.
Those difficult situations that players find them selves in,though,a player with the highest IQ would be far less likely to be in them in the first place.
Just as it happened in WTF 2017, everyone rushing to give Fed the AO title already. It did not happen at WTF 2017 and it may not happen here either. The rest of the field will not turn up only to mark attendance 🙂
Fed may win but do not be so sure he will . Did he not say himself ‘ even if he does 50% of what he did in 2017, he will be super happy’
BTW what is news on Rafas injury? Has he recovered? Hope he rested well..not heard any news from him since 1 month now..googled n found nothing..
You have players like Soderling who have told the players to win AO are Fed, NOvak, Andy murray . Rafa nowhere in conversation :-). How much does he still hate Rafa 🙂 I agree about Fed & Novak but Andy murray over Rafa?
He probably factor in Rafa’s knee injury. Until Rafa starts playing and shows that his knee is fine, no one will predict now that he’ll win the AO.
Rafa’s a huge question mark at the moment,he cancelled the practice week scheduled with my fellow countryman Joao Sousa,so the recovery process is not completed and Rafa isn’t fully recovered. The spannish media found out that the knee still bothers him,so that’s not good news,despite the fact he has been practicing with Marc Lopez and Moya.
I won’t put Murray as a contender for AO,the hip injury is just too serious to just comeback and win a Slam.Tbh,he could be made at Slams with that kind of injury.
Oh thats very bad news. What about the off season training with Grigor?
Yeah, really terrible news. This year he hasn’t planned anything with Grigor,at least that I know. However,some people saw Rafa training indoors and said his movement was fine,so I don’t really know what to expect.He hadn’t pulled out of Dubai’s exhibition,so we gotta wait and hope for the best.
Oh really Gaviria?Oh shoot!!
Very sad news for us,we can only hope that Rafa won’t suffer another major blow on his career. If he’s not fully recovered,I prefer that he doesn’t risk himself at the AO.
Rafa’s knee will always bother him – there’s tendon damage there. The question is whether he can play at 100% without further damage. He hasn’t yet pulled out of Abu Dhabi so there’s hope.
Yeah,I remember he had his knee taped during Acapulco,10 months ago. If the pain is bearable,he’s probably gonna give it a try at AO. Let’s hope Rafa and his team can figure out the best solution.
I don’t think Soderling hates Rafa as he stated that he considers Nadal the GOAT quite recently.
I don’t think he said that but he recently said that if both players are at their respective peak levels, then Rafa would beat Federer more often than not.
But that’s hardly rocket science. Wnen Fed was at his peak according to conventional thinking during the Weak Era when hardly anyone could beat him, A teenage Rafa Ran up a 6-1 h2h against fed including 2-1 on faster hard courts in Miami and Dubai.
Those type of actual facts tend to disrupt the revisionism constructs required by the federazzi to believe that Rafa had to be in Fed’s head or that Rafa can’t beat Fed on a fast court or that Rafa relies on clay.
#FederazziIgnoranceIsBliss
Miami wasn’t a fast court.Strange how Nadal never won ,conditions suited him.
Nah, the humid conditions doesn’t suit him, IW does with dry conditions.
Why doesn’t it suit him? Surely would help his counterpunching game.Maybe the humidity affects his tennis thought processes.
Eh, he’s always tired in Miami from all the golf and doubles he plays in Indian Wells.
I hope Rafa is at his best this year.While he’s not my favourite,the game needs him.
Just like it did from 2004-07.
Hawkeye,👍
Childish.
Self projection.
Except, of course, that Rafa was there from 2004-07. Ranked #2 in the world for most of it.
Or did you forget?
But that was in the days before he developed his extraordinary tennis brain.He was just a speed machine then.
LOL
Benny, we are talking about 2004-2007, why are you bringing in 2017??
2017 was a different problem, like I said, Fed chose his battles. Also, Rafa was better at the slams than at BO3, just look at his W/L rates for BO5 vs BO3. Not forgetting too Fed had his six months to work on his game when Rafa only had two over months in 2016 and Rafa mainly trying to recover from his wrist issue. Actually, I was predicting that they would meet at USO and Rafa beating Fed there, because Rafa was playing better and the court there favored him more than the AO court this year.
Again, it not just physicality but the whole package. To say that Rafa relies more or mostly on his physicality is simply not true; if not Fed would have beaten him more often.
Benny, I doubt the bigger racket is the be all and end all in the Fedal rivalry. Rafa will find a way, just like he did vs Djoko in 2012/2013. It’s more to do with Rafa’s mental preparation, to change the pattern of play when it’s obvious that Fed now camps at his BH more often and coming forward to take it early, but at the expense of being late covering his FH.
Lucky my point is basically that using just two specific matches with the second happening to be closer as an example of a player improving seems a bit of a small sample size to me. I’ll give a less recent example. Murray battled Djokovic at 2012 Aussie Open in a five setter then lost to Novak in four at the Aussie a year later. Murray obviously didn’t get significantly worse (or Djokovic significantly better) though it’s just the two matches happened to be different in terms of number of sets. I’m not saying Rafa didn’t improve from 06 to 07 but using just two matches seems like a faulty example of evidence.
Benny, don’t you think youre using a wrong example in Murray? Rafa’s game was still developing when he’s only 20 year old, are you implying that he’s better as a 20 year old than at 21? And, can’t you see how close he pushed Fed in 2007 Wimbledon final, compare to 2006 when he lost a set 6-0 and lost easily in four set? Rafa was clearly playing better in 2007 when he had won more titles (3 Masters vs 2), more ranking points in 2007.
Nah Big Al, it’s the other way round, don’t get it wrong, sarcasm or not. Rafa’s good tennis brain was already in place, if not he won’t beat Fed the very first time they met, when Rafa was only 17.
Rafa was physically still developing, that’s why he ran out of steam in that Miami 2005 final. He fought hard to win the five sets final vs Ljuby at Madrid indoors the same year, resulting in bad knees for Rafa that he had to skip AO2006.
It’s obvious his game was still developing during that period, as he improved from going four sets to five vs Fed at Wimbledon, from 2006-2007, and Fed knew of Rafa’s threat even at Wimbledon! Fed took Rafa seriously, unlike some of his fans here, who are mocking Rafa about his good tennis brain. Fed knows all along that Rafa doesn’t beat him because of his physical power, when Fed has all the weapons to deal with physically powerful players all along.
You make good points lucky but I feel your being a bit nitpicky with some of your reasoning. Like how u say Rafa was obviously improving as he went from four sets to five sets vs Federer in the span of the year. It’s two matches lol. That’s like saying that Rafa has gotten worse because he went from taking Fed to five at the AO to losing in straights the rest of the year.
And that’s wrong about physicality not being the factor that helped Rafa early in the matchup. It’s not necessarily brute strength but it’s his nasty lefty forehand to the backhand of Fed that Fed couldn’t handle early in his career, particularly on clay where the ball bounces much higher. Roger seems to handle Rafa’s nasty topspin forehand better now that his racket head is larger.
Depends who you mean by these other physical players.He struggles /has struggled against eg Berdych,Delpo and Kyrgios.
“Roger seems to handle Rafa’s nasty topspin forehand better now that his racket head is larger.”
Better yes and agreed partially because of the racquet but primarily because Rafa was too often lacking shot depth to Fed’s BH in 2017, which Fed could always handle regardless of his stick.
That’s the key difference.
Big Al, he owned Berdych and also Delpo, it’s only lately when he’s 35/36 that he has problems with big hitters, don’t twist facts to suit you.
I checked the H2H of both players against Federer, and he has struggled against them but mostly before 2014.Seems to coincides with Feds new racquet and tactics.
When they were really on their game , they could trouble him with sheer power. I would never say any top player was a brainless hitter with no game plan, come on all these guys are professionals, but its all relative.
That’s nonsense , he’s had problems with big hitters long before that . 2009, Del Potro?
Big Al wrong again! I wonder since when Big Al started watching Fed; Fed had owned the big hitters all along. In 2009, Delpo was hammered by Fed at AO, lost in straight winning only 3 games and swallowed 2 bagels! They were 3-2 that year, and Fed owned Delpo since, beating him everywhere in 2012 except Basel and WTF. It’s no wonder Fed has a 18-6 H2H vs Delpo (6-2 up till end 2009, followed by 7-2 from 2010 to end 2012; in Fed’s poor season of 2013, he still had a 2-1 lead over Delpo, and then now in 2017 he’s 3-1 vs Delpo!).
Not exactly, Big Al; Djoko beat Fed at the slams in 2015-2016 when Fed was already using his big racket. Djoko beat Fed in four sets at Wimbledon 2015, four sets at USO2015 and four sets at AO2016. Djoko also beat Fed at WTF in 2015, he had beaten Fed in all the important big events when Fed was using his bigger racket. I doubt that if Djoko was playing well without injury in 2017, Fed would have his way.
Rafa was already having issues during 2015-2016 and was just back from wrist injury in early 2017; he going five sets against a well rested Fed on quicker AO HC was already an achievement (compare that to his AO results in 2015-2016!).
Some stats:
Djoko vs Fed: –
Prior to 2011 – Djoko 2, Fed 4 (all on HCs)
2011 to 2013 – Djoko 3, Fed 2 ( 1:1 at FO; 0:1 at Wimbledon)
2014-2016 – Djoko 4, Fed 0 (Djoko won all encounters, two at Wimbledon)
Rafa vs Fed:-
Prior to 2008 – Rafa 3, Fed 2 (Rafa all at FO, Fed at Wimbledon)
2008-2012 – Rafa 5, Fed 0 ( Rafa won all encounters – 2 at FO, 2 at AO, 1 at Wimbledon)
2014-2017 ( didn’t meet in 2013) – Rafa 1, Fed 1 ( didn’t get to play each other in 2015 and 2016; 1:1 at AO).
Also Big Al, nobody says all the players don’t use their brain, it’s a matter of who has the better tennis brain, and needless to say, those who counterpunches need to use more strategies hence more of their tennis brain. Rafa among the counterpunchers has one of the best if not the best tennis brain, if not he won’t be able to handle Fed, Djoko, Murray and the big hitters like Delpo, Stan, Cilic, Berdych for examples.
But I was talking about other players like Berdych,Delpo .
Rafa so young and still relatively a raw talent to be further developed was consistently No 2.
Supports the Weak Era argument.
Absolutely!
I think Lucky is correct in her observation about the importance of rest last year to Fed’s AO success. His back injury/flare-up recurred throughout the year, and there is no reason to think that will stop in 2018; it’s more likely that it will increase in frequency and/or severity.
As I suspected, Rafa’s knee injury is more serious than his fans had hoped at the end of 2017. He pushed himself very hard to secure world #1, and may pay the price in 2018.
The upshot is that I would be surprised if either Fed or (especially) Rafa lift the trophy at the AO next month. Fed’s chances are better, but it’s more likely that we’ll see a new champion, in my opinion. I don’t think either Murray or Novak will be strong enough that early in the season.
Not what his fans thought.
Another straw man.
I said “hoped,” not “thought”.
Didn’t you hope it wasn’t serious?
It’s called a straw man Joe Smith.
#SeeWhatIDidJustThere
#OneBadStrawmanDeservesAnother
#GarbageInGarbageOut
#TwoCanPlayAtThatGame
#ShoeIsOnTheOtherFoot
Delpo? Most likely Delpo, if not then Dimi. I like their chances in the absence of TOP FORM big four.
I have that feeling too.Someone like Dimitrov,Goffin or Zverev.