[SetSampras]

This may be Nadal's last year in terms of high enough play to be a top contender anymore. Hes clearly on the way down at this point and this could be his last shot at getting any slams this year. . Roger may have lingering back problems and its only time now he begins losing earlier then normal due to decline and age. Both have too much mileage on them at this point.

This could be the last year they are reasonably top guys and contenders to the slam crowns. More mileage then anyone else on tour and its clearly showing. By the end of the season a new era may have begun..

If neither get a slam by the end of the year, they may never see another one again.. Unless Nadal can miracle a French Open at the very end

[jcempire]

of course not

Nadal still very young and I believe four or five more years on him at least

[Looner]

^^^
Yeah, right. Even 15-20. Why not 30. Fed at 29 could barely win a slam. Nadal is 26 this year and will have been playing 2 years less than Fed on tour. So in terms of 'Fed age' he'll be 28. So, I'd say next year would be his last, maybe 2014 if the new guns keep underperforming.

[Jimnik]

I hope so. The endless Federer-Nadal debates.

Kind of doubt it though.

[Poirot123]

Well I don't think you can base that on just one ATP250 event, when one player is on a 20 match unbeaten streak (note not winning streak) and the other made 3 slam finals last year, winning one.

However, Federer has looked vulnerable against guys in the top 10 now for 18 months, and that is probably extended to the top 16 now as he's been troubled by Simon and Monfils recently. However, still on his day, when he's 100% focussed and committed, he is as good as the world number 1 Djokovic. His injured back, at a cruicial time just before the AO doesn't bode well for his chances though as he'll need to be 100% to beat any guy in the top 10.

Nadal has looked to be in decline after the way Djokovic dismantled him last year and I think other players are learning how to beat him. Nadal continually cites injuries (bad knee and shoulder) which prevent him training effectively and the need for him to alter his game (Nadal said he wants to step into the court more and take the ball earlier and flatter) may mean he struggles against the top guys until the clay season starts.

I think with their problems (injuries for Fed, injuries and form (and confidence?) for Nadal) consign them down the list of favourites for the AO. Djokovic is the stand out favourite and looks all but unstoppable in my opinion, and I'm 75% confident Djokovic will win his 5 GS title in a few weeks time. It's come to the point where I consider Tsonga the second favourite, with Muzzer third, and then Fedal. Berdych, Del Potro, Monfils, and Ferrer are wildcards who could cause ONE upset, but cannot win the tournament unless it completely opens up for them.

[GSMnadal]

At least wait until after the AO... I though Nadal looked pretty decent in Doha, and a lot of forehands were missing by just a few inches. And we all know that those usually land in when it's a slam, so don't write him off just yet. And at Roland Garros and Wimbledon he'll still be the favourite.

As for Federer, AO looks like his best chance to me (very slim chance though), but he's been off for quite some time now, not having won a slam for 2 years.

[syc23]

I would think Fed will still be a contender until end of 2013. For Nadal, it really depends if he can defend FO as winning at least 1 slam a year gives him the confidence and the belief that he can still compete with the best.

If Clay Warrior fails to win any slams in 2012 then his confidence will plummet and we might see the beginning of the end. We are potentially entering a Djokovic/Murray era but that would only happen if the Scot can bag a slam within the next 12-18 months. Djokovic can have a big say in how things go. If he picks up the French Open then Nadal's clay domination will be over aswell.

[LuCC]

Originally Posted by jcempire

of course not

Nadal still very young and I believe four or five more years on him at least

He is young, but his play style will get him down sooner than later ( same djoker) so I don't believe they will be able to compete with such high level of intensity. Ofcourse they may use some aids or COSMIC EGGS, but you won't cheat your own body. The best example of that is nadal's 2009.
Just imagine more finals like uso 2011, they will ruin themselves. I think in 2-3 years time their organisms will be so exhausted that they're not gonna fight for the biggest scalps.

[MuzzahLovah]

I'm readying my grave dancing boots as we speak.

[viruzzz]

It's a setsampras thread, men... What would you expect?
Let's talk that at the end of the year. Because, what I know is Fed is in a 20 match winning streak (MS Paris and WTF included) and Rafa won a masters and a slam last year, also reaching 2 other slam finals.

So, better shut the fuck up and wait.

[Ash86]

It's not over yet - though now it's more Fedalovic/Big 4 rather than just Fedal as it was in the past - but clearly this season & possibly next might be the last. I wouldn't be totally surprised if Fed hangs up his racquets this year if he gets his fairytale ending - slam and/or Olympics... Can't see him going beyond 2013. As for Nadal I also think 2013/2014 might be the end if he thinks he won't win slams anymore. So either way we're certainly getting towards the end.

What I don't understand is why people are so keen for it to end or act as if it was the worst thing that ever happened to tennis. I think once those 2 guys are gone people will realise how important they were to tennis and just what they brought to the game. When we have Raonic vs Tomic finals (or more likely some other transitional players who ala Baghdatis or Gonzo have one good run...) we'll look back at WTF 10; Wimby 08; Wimby 07; Rome 06; Miami 05 etc. as a golden era when you had 2 of the best of all time slugging it out & showing some outrageous tennis. The same is true for Djokovic/Nadal too - sure it was one sided last year but overall they've had great matches - the level of tennis in both Madrid 09 & US Open 10 & 11 was insane at times. Enjoy it while it lasts. Tennis needs big personalities - people here seem to want it to be like the WTA is now - a new no.1 all the time, top players losing early in slams all the time, no big names bringing the game to the masses.

Even the most anti-Fedal posters will be all nostalgic at Wimby 2018 when they have Fedal in the Royal Box watching the final a decade on from their classic.

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by Ash86

It's not over yet - though now it's more Fedalovic/Big 4 rather than just Fedal as it was in the past - but clearly this season & possibly next might be the last. I wouldn't be totally surprised if Fed hangs up his racquets this year if he gets his fairytale ending - slam and/or Olympics... Can't see him going beyond 2013. As for Nadal I also think 2013/2014 might be the end if he thinks he won't win slams anymore. So either way we're certainly getting towards the end.

What I don't understand is why people are so keen for it to end or act as if it was the worst thing that ever happened to tennis. I think once those 2 guys are gone people will realise how important they were to tennis and just what they brought to the game. When we have Raonic vs Tomic finals (or more likely some other transitional players who ala Baghdatis or Gonzo have one good run...) we'll look back at WTF 10; Wimby 08; Wimby 07; Rome 06; Miami 05 etc. as a golden era when you had 2 of the best of all time slugging it out & showing some outrageous tennis. The same is true for Djokovic/Nadal too - sure it was one sided last year but overall they've had great matches - the level of tennis in both Madrid 09 & US Open 10 & 11 was insane at times. Enjoy it while it lasts. Tennis needs big personalities - people here seem to want it to be like the WTA is now - a new no.1 all the time, top players losing early in slams all the time, no big names bringing the game to the masses.

Even the most anti-Fedal posters will be all nostalgic at Wimby 2018 when they have Fedal in the Royal Box watching the final a decade on from their classic.

[Naudio Spanlatine]

Its all Nole's fault

[HKz]

What a visionary this SetSampras. Where is his extra account GameSampras?

[bouncer7]

11-1 and someone is still talking about Fedalovic