[Johnny Groove]

Seems less and less likely after this year, to be honest. Sampras' 14 is more realistic for Rafa.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Warrior

So if Nadal can successfully recover from his injury, he has a decent chance to overtake Roger. There is no one to challenge him at FO. All he needs if a few other slams. What do you think?

Rafa will only improve physically from now on, his knees getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination on clay, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win on clay will be in straight sets with Rafa never being broken. You can expect another 4 RG-Wimbledon doubles. He will also start his domination on HC and indoors, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the indoor GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 5 to 7 years, featuring 3 more titles at both the AO and USO and a 6 year being undefeated at the WTF. The third phase of his career will last for another 10 years after that, years during which Rafa will only win 2 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Masters titles. Not counting his 3 additional Gold medals.

[Topspindoctor]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Rafa will only improve physically from now on, his knees getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination indoors, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win indoors will be in straight sets with Rafa never being broken. You can expect another 4 RG-Wimbledon doubles. He will also start his domination on HC and indoors, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the indoor GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 5 to 7 years, featuring 3 more titles at both the AO and USO and a 6 year being undefeated at the WTF. The third phase of his career will last for another 10 years after that, years during which Rafa will only win 2 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Masters titles. Not counting his 3 additional Gold medals.

Fed will only improve physically from now on, his back getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination clay, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win on clay will be in straight sets for Olderer, never being broken. You can expect another 4 Basel titles. He will also start his domination on clay, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the new clay GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 50 to 70 years, featuring 30 more titles at both the Luxembourg and Basel and a 6 year being undefeated at Rotterdam. The third phase of his career will last for another 100 years after that, years during which Olderer will only win 6 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Dubai titles. Not counting his 3 additional silver medals.

Fixed IMO

[Warrior]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Rafa will only improve physically from now on, his knees getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination on clay, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win on clay will be in straight sets with Rafa never being broken. You can expect another 4 RG-Wimbledon doubles. He will also start his domination on HC and indoors, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the indoor GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 5 to 7 years, featuring 3 more titles at both the AO and USO and a 6 year being undefeated at the WTF. The third phase of his career will last for another 10 years after that, years during which Rafa will only win 2 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Masters titles. Not counting his 3 additional Gold medals.

Nadal is past the midpoint of his career.

[Ash86]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Fed will only improve physically from now on, his back getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination clay, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win on clay will be in straight sets for Olderer, never being broken. You can expect another 4 Basel titles. He will also start his domination on clay, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the new clay GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 50 to 70 years, featuring 30 more titles at both the Luxembourg and Basel and a 6 year being undefeated at Rotterdam. The third phase of his career will last for another 100 years after that, years during which Olderer will only win 6 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Dubai titles. Not counting his 3 additional silver medals.

Fixed IMO

Don't get the point of this thread. Fed fans don't have much to fear - Nadal's knees have basically killed any chance of passing Federer - needed to win at least 2 slams this year. Trying for 14 is definitely more realistic - couple more RG and maybe a Wimbledon seem do-able if he's playing 2+ more years. All that said Nadal also isn't playing in an era where he has no great rivals - he has only won 1 slam without beating at least 1 of Federer/Murray/Djokovic (French Open 2010 - would have won if he'd faced those guys anyway) - Fed on the other hand had many times where the final itself really wasn't a mental battle - imagine facing Baghdatis or Philppousis in a best of 5 match. Novak, Rafa and even Andy would cruise too.

So yes, Nadal will stay behind on the slams metric and the age metric from now on, but ultimately his slam record will be looked at very favourably when considering his era and opponents. Fed's greater than Nadal but the need for Fed fans to pick reasons why, or try and console themselves that the record will remain, is all a bit much.

For me if Nadal gets to 15 - i.e., second overall - with Fed still at 17 - it'll be close enough to ignite debate. Hope he gets there.

[paseo]

Yeah. Unlike Fed who had good competition from his own generation and his younger generation, Nadal's own generation only has 2 good players. And his younger generation is full of clowns. With no faster and stronger young upcoming players, Nadal will bulldoze his way to more slams than Fed, unchallenged. For sure, man.

[SheepleBuster]

Originally Posted by Warrior

almost even at 26


Nadal

19 1
20 2
21 3
22 6
23
24 9
25 10
26 11
??

Roger Federer
21 1
22 3
23 5
24 8
25 11
26 12
27 15
28 16
29 16
30 17

So if Nadal can successfully recover from his injury, he has a decent chance to overtake Roger. There is no one to challenge him at FO. All he needs if a few other slams. What do you think?

All he needs is 6 more slams. Unfortunately, Rafa is retired. So Sampras has as good of a chance of catching Roger

[Topspindoctor]

Originally Posted by paseo

Yeah. Unlike Fed who had good competition from his own generation and his younger generation, Nadal's own generation only has 2 good players. And his younger generation is full of clowns. With no faster and stronger young upcoming players, Nadal will bulldoze his way to more slams than Fed, unchallenged. For sure, man.

Who would that competition be? Useless serve bot Roddick or a weaponless pusher Hewitt? Safin who cared about more about bitches than tennis? No fitness mug Fatbandian and slam clown Baldenko? Flukes like Gonzalez in slam final? Tough era indeed. The only competition the Geezer had was on on clay against baby Nadal and we all know how that turned out for him. Flukerer needed a serious injury to squeak out an RG title.

[selyoink]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Who would that competition be? Useless serve bot Roddick or a weaponless pusher Hewitt? Safin who cared about more about bitches than tennis? No fitness mug Fatbandian and slam clown Baldenko? Flukes like Gonzalez in slam final? Tough era indeed. The only competition the Geezer had was on on clay against baby Nadal and we all know how that turned out for him. Flukerer needed a serious injury to squeak out an RG title.

Meanwhile Nadal beat titans of the game like Puerta, Soderling and Berdych.

[Aloevera]

Originally Posted by Warrior

So if Nadal can successfully recover from his injury, he has a decent chance to overtake Roger. There is no one to challenge him at FO. All he needs if a few other slams. What do you think?

Depends on his body... and his mind. He needs his knees 100% healed and avoid injury on other parts of his body, which I don't think possible. The damage has been done and he's getting older.

I think either he would get 2-3 slams until 2014 before his body breaks down again for worse or he would be slamless next year, with nothing much to expect from there onward.

[Mechlan]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Who would that competition be? Useless serve bot Roddick or a weaponless pusher Hewitt? Safin who cared about more about bitches than tennis? No fitness mug Fatbandian and slam clown Baldenko? Flukes like Gonzalez in slam final? Tough era indeed. The only competition the Geezer had was on on clay against baby Nadal and we all know how that turned out for him. Flukerer needed a serious injury to squeak out an RG title.

Nadal is lucky to be playing in such a mug clay era. 7 RG titles with no competition. Lucky Djokovic didn't start his diet earlier or Nadal wouldn't have the HC slams he does either.

[hipolymer]

Rafa was screwed from the beginning. The reason? Because there are 2 hard court slams per year and only 1 clay court slam.

[Roy Emerson]

Originally Posted by Warrior

almost even at 26


Nadal

19 1
20 2
21 3
22 6
23
24 9
25 10
26 11
??

Roger Federer
21 1
22 3
23 5
24 8
25 11
26 12
27 15
28 16
29 16
30 17

So if Nadal can successfully recover from his injury, he has a decent chance to overtake Roger. There is no one to challenge him at FO. All he needs if a few other slams. What do you think?

Nadal won't catch Federer.

Federer 18 slams
Nadal 13 slams

[Freak3yman84]

Nadal could still do it, but if Fed wins 1 more it would be difficult to beat. It ultimately depends on Rafa's health though...

Sent from my SGH-T989 using VerticalSports.Com App

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Fed will only improve physically from now on, his back getting stronger with each match. He is just in his first phase of domination clay, he's about to enter the second phase of his career where every win on clay will be in straight sets for Olderer, never being broken. You can expect another 4 Basel titles. He will also start his domination on clay, and by the end of this second phase he will be known as the new clay GOAT. This second phase should start next season and will likely last 50 to 70 years, featuring 30 more titles at both the Luxembourg and Basel and a 6 year being undefeated at Rotterdam. The third phase of his career will last for another 100 years after that, years during which Olderer will only win 6 slam titles a year, but he'll still remain #1 in the rankings based on his record setting 10 straight seasons with 8 Dubai titles. Not counting his 3 additional silver medals.

Fixed IMO

Well, imitation is a form of flattery, even when very poorly done and missing the point of the original that one is trying to imitate, I guess.