[Nole fan]

Rafa: More hard courts 100 percent wrong
Matt CroninTuesday, September 25, 2012

Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since Wimbledon due to a knee injury, tells the Daily Mail that the ATP tour has too many hard-court events, and that he might add more clay-court tournaments to his schedule, such as those in Latin America in February.

"I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake "with our game," Nadal said. “You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements. It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 percent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren’t that many options."

[Slasher1985]

One of the 2 main surfaces (Clay or Hard) will always have an advantage over the others. If US Open switches to clay, clay tournaments are gonna be more numerous than hard tournaments because this shift would imply an extended summer clay season. If US Open would switch to grass, a better balance would be created, but grass is the most expensive surface.

Obviously any player would want his favorite surface be more wide spread than other surfaces.

[TigerTim]

We need more grass, Aussie Open should return to grass

[Litotes]

Originally Posted by Slasher1985

One of the 2 main surfaces (Clay or Hard) will always have an advantage over the others. If US Open switches to clay, clay tournaments are gonna be more numerous than hard tournaments because this shift would imply an extended summer clay season. If US Open would switch to grass, a better balance would be created, but grass is the most expensive surface.

Obviously any player would want his favorite surface be more wide spread than other surfaces.

Slasher, do you have any idea what the extra cost of grass is? How much more cost accrues to Wimbledon than to French Open and Australian Open?

[Dextertje]

Originally Posted by Nole fan

Rafa: More hard courts 100 percent wrong
Matt CroninTuesday, September 25, 2012

Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since Wimbledon due to a knee injury, tells the Daily Mail that the ATP tour has too many hard-court events, and that he might add more clay-court tournaments to his schedule, such as those in Latin America in February.

"I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake "with our game," Nadal said. “You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements. It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 percent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren’t that many options."

Yes Rafito, tennis should be played on clay exclusively. Bamos.

[Serverer]

Originally Posted by Nole fan

Rafa: More hard courts 100 percent wrong
Matt CroninTuesday, September 25, 2012

Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since Wimbledon due to a knee injury, tells the Daily Mail that the ATP tour has too many hard-court events, and that he might add more clay-court tournaments to his schedule, such as those in Latin America in February.

"I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake "with our game," Nadal said. “You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements. It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 percent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren’t that many options."

Nadal must be the biggest crybaby on the tour. What does the guy expect to happen when hes running a marathon behind the baseline every match? They even slowed all the hard courts down to blue clay and hes still not happy?

[duong]

Originally Posted by Nole fan

Rafa: More hard courts 100 percent wrong
Matt CroninTuesday, September 25, 2012

Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since Wimbledon due to a knee injury, tells the Daily Mail that the ATP tour has too many hard-court events, and that he might add more clay-court tournaments to his schedule, such as those in Latin America in February.

"I can’t pretend not to play on hard courts when two of the Slams are on hard courts, but there is a mistake "with our game," Nadal said. “You don’t watch footballers playing on a hard surface, or basketball players, those sports with rapid movements. It’s not going to change for me and my generation. Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 percent sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren’t that many options."

this is from the Daily Mail, l'Equipe, Gazzetta dello Sport and Marca interview we had already talked about, everything here was in the interview, in several parts. Nothing new.

[Looner]

Originally Posted by durrrr

Yes Rafito, tennis should be played on clay exclusively. Bamos.

I am surprised this was omitted from the interview. It was the most significant part of it .

[MatchFederer]

I've barely noticed his absence, but I know that when he does come back that his presence will be like a shot to the arm.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Fujee

Nadal said he may miss AO. That would be awful, cmon get better, tennis needs you.

I understand some fans might be concerned, but tennis is doing just fine since the second round at Wimbledon...

[grahampros]

Originally Posted by Serverer

Nadal must be the biggest crybaby on the tour. What does the guy expect to happen when hes running a marathon behind the baseline every match? They even slowed all the hard courts down to blue clay and hes still not happy?

The comment does indeed seem rather self serving. I dont really agree the "biggest cry baby", but it's he's just gonna have to get over that one. I dont think it's so much an issue of clay vs hard. He was predisposed to his physical problems and no doubt clay would lesson them. Now what i do think is a legit gripe by the players is that the season is just too long. Few pay much attention to the sport post US, so they should just wrap it up in say October with the WTF and see you next year.

[Corey Feldman]

He's always been like that

change the ranking system for me
change the Madrid surface for me
less hard courts FOR ME

[decrepitude]

The courts had the same distribution of surface when he became a professional player. It's not as if they have changed to his disadvantage since he started, is it? It's been that way for years. So I'm afraid it's tough luck, Rafa. Being at the top involves being able to play on all surfaces.

[TigerTim]

Shame Grass is 2 torneys a year (I guess 3 this year )

[DJ Soup]

Originally Posted by Corey Feldman

He's always been like that

change the ranking system for me
change the Madrid surface for me
less hard courts FOR ME

Complete opposite to Federer.


I think it is getting obvious now that Nadal doesn't feel like he will be able to surpass Federer in greatness, and has been trying to change things in tennis lately for his own benefit.

Meanwhile, Roger plays the game and listens to lower ranked players like the great ambassador he is. He was great in 2004 and legendary in 2012, no matter how much tennis changed in between.