In again, out again, on again, off again…that has been the story with Rafael Nadal and the Western & Southern Open so far this summer.
The Spanish news outlet Marta reported earlier this month that the world No. 4 would skip Cincinnati, which is by his worst Masters event. Nadal owns a mere 13-8 lifetime record, which includes three opening-match losses, just two trips past the quarterfinals, and no appearances in the final.
Nadal has not fared well in Cincinnati since 2009. He lost to Marcos Baghdatis in a 2010 quarterfinal and in 2011 he played an infamous three-set match against Fernando Verdasco before getting crushed by Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals. He obviously skipped the 2012 installment during his seven-month layoff from tennis.
Knee troubles perhaps contributed to Nadal’s first-round Wimbledon upset loss to Steve Darcis and Marca speculated that the former world No. 1 would bypass one of his worst events in order to rest for next month’s U.S. Open. On Monday, however, Nadal told reporters at an Inter Manacor football match that he would indeed be participating in both Canada and Cincinnati.
[polldaddy poll=7258297]
right now I’m saying semis of Toronto, still think he will skip Cincinnati when it’s all said and done, and then either quarters or semis of the US Open depending on where Federer and Del Potro land in the draw
Frankly, Rafa has never been in, out, in, out. Speculation by a newspaper doesn’t count for a row of beans. Nadal never said he was undecided about playing either Montreal or Cincy.
It’s Montreal, not Toronto.
Marta couldn’t even specify a source so just pure speculation is about right.
Rafa would trounce Fed at the USO, BTW.
#VamosRafa
#Humb1e
So Ricky, how far do you think Federer will go in Montreal and Cincy?
too early to tell. depends on what racket he plays with.
Novak is going to win one of the two.
ricky thinks fed wud beat rafa at the open…no way !thats happening..delpo is very dangerous for rafa though
no I didn’t say that. I said Federer has a better chance of winning the whole tournament.
……and I have a better chance of growing antlers……..on me bum! Fed winning a Slam, now? Puleeze………………..
btw who thinks rafa is going to win all three? LOL
Roger Federer
Rafa will win Montreal and USOpen, take that to the bank……
hahahahahahaha GOOD ONE ..lol
and come on Ricky ! .. federer has a better chance to win the whole thing? I know fed’s record is MUCH superior at USO etc but heading into USO, i dont know how do u see fed having a better chance of winning the whole thing than rafa.. IMO fed cant even play back to back 5 sets against muzz/nole/rafa …
anyway, you have your own opinion on this…lets wait and see 😉
—In again, out again, on again, off again…that has been the story with Rafael Nadal and the Western & Southern Open so far this summer.—
Ricky! “Rafa out” has been your prediction, not Rafa’s announcement!
—SI.com
Roundtable: ATP Tour hot topics
July 11, 2013
Nguyen: How many tournaments do you think Nadal will play the rest of the season?
Dimon: Five — Montreal, U.S. Open, the two fall Masters events (Shanghai and Paris) and the World Tour Finals. Nadal will lose in the Montreal semifinals and withdraw from Cincinnati. Take it to the nearest bank.—
http://tennis.si.com/2013/07/11/atp-roundtable-roger-federer-andy-murray-novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal/
got me!
and I’m sticking to it
Really glad to see Rafa at Cinncy. It’s such a great tourney even if Rafa has not done well there in the past…and don’t count out FED!!!!
Ricky, I tested the system and was able to vote on the poll twice!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Ricky’s prediction. If Rafa goes deep at Montreal he will most likely skip Cincy. But generally speaking in recent years form at both these warm up tournaments has not necessarily been a precursor of form at the USO.
Ricky: The time of posting for my comments is showing up as two hours in arrears of time in Europe. Why is this?
Delpotro v Kei.
Heart Kei
Head JMDP
Wonder if this’ll work?
Rafa is on his way to Montreal.
Frankly I don’t care how deep Rafa goes in Montreal or Cincy. I want him to bring his best to USO and if he does, I am confident we will see him biting the trophy at the end! Vamos Rafa!
Tsonga withdrawals from Rogers Cup
July 31, 2013
Montreal, July 31, 2013 – Rogers Cup presented by National Bank Tournament Director Eugène Lapierre announced Wednesday the withdrawal of world no. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
“I am sorry that I won’t be able to play in Montreal, a tournament and a city with friendly fans that I really appreciate,” said Tsonga. “I need to continue to rehab my knee that I injured at Wimbledon. I hope to be ready for the U.S. Open at the end of August. I wish everyone a great Rogers Cup and Canada, I will see you soon.”
is that a real headline?!?!?!?!
I’m afraid so. lol Check it out.
http://tennisconnected.com/home/2013/07/31/tsonga-withdrawals-from-rogers-cup/
This story has been on the internet/blogs for a while now, just wanted to hear tenngrand posters’ views on the matter:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/10213175/Roger-Federer-and-Rafael-Nadal-are-jealous-of-Novak-Djokovics-success-claims-Serbians-father.html
Personally, I find it stunning beyond words. Why would Fed and Rafa be jealous of Novak? Individually they are more successful than he is. They are more popular than he is (twitter, facebook etc), they have broader fan bases than he has. It just does not add up. Then there is the quote that Novak and Murray cannot be best friends (and this is okay) because they are fighting for the most important titles and lots of money. Like, Rafa and Fed are not? And when were Novak and Rafa ever friends? I have never seen a picture out there where Rafa and Novak went fishing together, played playstation together, went on vacation together, before or after 2011, so how does Rafa stop being besties with Novak when they never were besties in the first place? And how should Rafa have reacted to Novak’s crude behaviour each time he (Novak) beat Rafa in 2011? Shirt-ripping, car humping, gun-totting with Tipsy. Rafa should have just smiled and thanked Novak for mocking him?
It seems to me there is just too much drama with the Djokovic clan, just too much, Why can’t they keep in their own lane? They just cannot enjoy Novak’s success without dragging Rafa into their orbit. I sense a serious inferiority complex issue going on there………………….
Sad.
I think Nole’s dad wants Fedal to look up to him.
Novak’s father probably doesn’t know what his son has said. Novak has said he can’t be best friends with his rivals – ‘with a guy who you know you are going to be doing battle with’.
—Djokovic says he can’t be friends with, Murray, Nadal or Federer
September 08, 2012
World number two tennis player Novak Djokovic has said his professional rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal cannot be his friends till the time they are competing against each other, but added that after retirement all four could become great pals.
“I can’t be friends with Andy, though. I really like the guy — but how can you go and be best friends with a guy who you know you are going to be doing battle with? It is true for myself, Roger, Rafa and now Andy. We like each other and there is mutual respect but common sense tells you we can’t be best friends and hang out,” he said.—
http://zeenews.india.com/sports/tennis/us-open-2012/djokovic-says-he-cant-be-friends-with-murray-nadal-or-federer_748572.html
judging by the date of this article he already felt the 7 icy handshakes from Rafa and let Rafa off the hook.
I can’t wait for the Djoker to come back down to earth. I agree that it’s a case of an inferiority complex. When asked about it, Rafa says he should speak with his son about their relationship because there is no problem between them. He says they happily call each other up to discuss any issues.