[JanKowalski]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

Thanks. Always glad to lend my services as an observant and unbiased analyst of the game and its players

How cute. 2 clowns licking their asses.

[BauerAlmeida]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

Federer is the more talented tennis player, Nadal is the more talented athlete.

Basically, Federer was born to play tennis, he understands the game like no other and thus can play at maybe the highest level the sport has ever seen (during his prime) without putting much strain on his body, which is why he could conceivably remain a top 10 player until his late 30s, 40yo. Nadal, on the other hand, could probably succeed in a lot of different sports with his freakish athletic ability/talent; he's probably the most natural player ever on a claycourt, but outside of clay he has definitely benefitted from playing in an era where surfaces are slow enough to let his main attributes (speed, stamina, athleticism) shine. He most definitely can't play at a top level as 'effortlessly' as Federer, he's really putting his body on the line out there with outrageous physical feats. Tennis doesn't come as natural to him as it does to Federer.

With that said, Federer is an amazing athlete too, and Nadal has a lot of talent for tennis of course, don't let his unortodox technique fool you. The reason why both have such an amazing resumé is because they're beyong gifted in one of these aspects (Federer tennis talent, Nadal athletic ability) but also extraordinary in the other aspect, and both extremely strong mentally.

This sums it up pretty well.

[BauerAlmeida]

Originally Posted by JanKowalski

How cute. 2 clowns licking their asses.

At least he wrote a good post explaining his point of view (only 2 o 3 did that). What did you do?? Besides from calling the OP a clown or a troll or something like that.

[Fujee]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

Federer is the more talented tennis player, Nadal is the more talented athlete.

Basically, Federer was born to play tennis, he understands the game like no other and thus can play at maybe the highest level the sport has ever seen (during his prime) without putting much strain on his body, which is why he could conceivably remain a top 10 player until his late 30s, 40yo. Nadal, on the other hand, could probably succeed in a lot of different sports with his freakish athletic ability/talent; he's probably the most natural player ever on a claycourt, but outside of clay he has definitely benefitted from playing in an era where surfaces are slow enough to let his main attributes (speed, stamina, athleticism) shine. He most definitely can't play at a top level as 'effortlessly' as Federer, he's really putting his body on the line out there with outrageous physical feats. Tennis doesn't come as natural to him as it does to Federer.

With that said, Federer is an amazing athlete too, and Nadal has a lot of talent for tennis of course, don't let his unortodox technique fool you. The reason why both have such an amazing resumé is because they're beyong gifted in one of these aspects (Federer tennis talent, Nadal athletic ability) but also extraordinary in the other aspect, and both extremely strong mentally.

Best post you've made.

[Black Adam]

Without Nadal and Djokovic, Federer would have made a joke of tennis.Tennis would have been murdered by Federer being too good without adequate challenge.

[BauerAlmeida]

Originally Posted by Black Adam

Without Nadal and Djokovic, Federer would have made a joke of tennis.Tennis would have been murdered by Federer being too good without adequate challenge.

Djokovic appeared a bit "late" in Federer's career. But if it wasn't for Nadal Federer would have been the most dominant athlete at any sport and the undisputed goat. We would be talking about a guy having 20+ slams, 2 calendar grand slams, like 4 career grand slams, 10 slams in a row and 500 weeks in a row at number 1 maybe.

Good thing that Nadal appeared. As you said, Federer would have kill tennis if not.

Any of those 3 would have dominated easily tennis without the other 2, but because of his consistency and longevity Federer would have it even easier.

[GOATsol]

Originally Posted by BauerAlmeida

Djokovic appeared a bit "late" in Federer's career. But if it wasn't for Nadal Federer would have been the most dominant athlete at any sport and the undisputed goat. We would be talking about a guy having 20+ slams, 2 calendar grand slams, like 4 career grand slams, 10 slams in a row and 500 weeks in a row at number 1 maybe.

Good thing that Nadal appeared. As you said, Federer would have kill tennis if not.

Any of those 3 would have dominated easily tennis without the other 2, but because of his consistency and longevity Federer would have it even easier.

I don't think he would have killed tennis--and I think Roger once said that you can't just take Nadal away and say that he would have dominated everything, because there would have been someone else.

[Litotes]

Originally Posted by BauerAlmeida

Djokovic appeared a bit "late" in Federer's career. But if it wasn't for Nadal Federer would have been the most dominant athlete at any sport and the undisputed goat. We would be talking about a guy having 20+ slams, 2 calendar grand slams, like 4 career grand slams, 10 slams in a row and 500 weeks in a row at number 1 maybe.

Good thing that Nadal appeared. As you said, Federer would have kill tennis if not.
Any of those 3 would have dominated easily tennis without the other 2, but because of his consistency and longevity Federer would have it even easier.

500 weeks is a bit much. We're not even at the point where it's 500 weeks since Federer's first week as #1 yet, and it's not Nadal holding him back now.

As for dominance killing, it doesn't seem to hurt in other sports. Interest in greco-roman wrestling heavyweight class was far, far, higher when Alexander Karelin was active and he won every match for 13 years straight.

[finishingmove]

Nadal is an incredibly inspiring athlete and character, while it's a real shame that a person like Federer got so much exposure anywhere.

At least he used to play some good tennis, but now it's time for him to leave -- and it wouldn't have come a moment too soon.

There are just two bad things: Nadal's injuries and Djokovic's inexplicable slump after AO 2008. Hopefully, in good health, they will beat the old man into the ground and be done with it.

[Johnbert]

Originally Posted by Noserer

Of course he is, most players are more talented than Federer. In fact, Nadal is so talented that he's been able to win 11 slams with his weaker hand. That's something Federer can only dream of.

yeah, nadal would've won at least 25 slams if he would be a righty

[Johnbert]

Originally Posted by finishingmove

Nadal is an incredibly inspiring athlete and character, while it's a real shame that a person like Federer got so much exposure anywhere.

At least he used to play some good tennis, but now it's time for him to leave -- and it wouldn't have come a moment too soon.

There are just two bad things: Nadal's injuries and Djokovic's inexplicable slump after AO 2008. Hopefully, in good health, they will beat the old man into the ground and be done with it.

so much bitterness

[Johnbert]

Originally Posted by GSMnadal

I don't care if he's more talented or not, he's the better player and that's what counts.

tennis isn't only played on clay

[Sophocles]

Some of the answers here - including from posters I have a lot of time for - are out of Alice Through the Looking Glass. What is this distinction between technique & athleticism anyway? Er yeah Nadal runs a bit faster than Fed. And he's better at moonballing, sorry, topspin. And er, that's it. In every other respect - hand-eye co-ordination, touch, imagination & vision, technique, reflexes, suppleness, variety - Federer is superior to Nadal.

[duong]

Originally Posted by Sophocles

What is this distinction between technique & athleticism anyway?

and what is this distinction between "tennis abilities" and "athlectic abilities" which I've so much read ?

Athleticism is a big big part of tennis nowadays, tennis is not in Nastase's time anymore (I'm also sorry about that like you ), it's a very physical sport

Besides, Nadal has other abilities than the ones you mentioned.

[JurajCrane]

^ Sophocles summed it nicely, maybe even Nadulltards will understand ... But we never know about them