Thread Tools

rogeragassi · 01-31-2013, 01:33 AM

Tennis wasn't the same without him.

It was better!

MaxPower · 01-31-2013, 01:37 AM

good times. The mouth-watering question: Who will prepare the first piggy roast?

Feels like being forced vegetarian after Roastsol prepared the final meal. The wait is finally over.

Whiznot · 01-31-2013, 03:18 AM

Roland Garros officials are sick of Nadal and the French fans can't stand him either. I expect faster condition in Paris in an all out attempt to derail the comeback. As a result, Nadal loses to Djokovic in Paris then he withdraws from Wimbledon and the US Open.

EliSter · 01-31-2013, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimi

not that i don't want to jinx him, but i think this is hardly possible, he is no longer 24 but 27 soon

VamosRafaNadal · 01-31-2013, 10:27 AM

Very difficult to be honest. Roland Garros is the most important challenge for him, and he'll be favourite if he recovers his level during the european clay court season and, firstly, the South American clay court tour plus Indian Wells and Miami.

If he is on fire Wimbledon can be a realistic objective (at least reach the semifinals, that probably will involve beating a top four player as I hardly see Nadal being a top 4 at this stage of the season). However, the USO seems to be very difficult for him.

We'll see, now it is time to be patient and cautelous.

philosophicalarf · 01-31-2013, 11:04 AM

I wonder if he'll strategically get injured for IW/Miami/Madrid. Even without playing Aus, his comeback is way too packed for someone with knee problems: VdM > SP > week off > Acapulco > IW > Miami > week off > MC > Barca > week off > Madrid > Rome > week off > RG > Halle > week off > Wimbledon.

Radalek · 01-31-2013, 11:12 AM

Again, betfair odds are changing daily in favor of Djokovic. Week ago it was 2.05 Rafa - 2.7 Djokovic. Yesterday it was 2.52 vs 2.64. Today it's 2.48 vs 2.5...Maybe he is just downplaying his chances by cyting knee pain but it surely affects his odds if it's true. Next few weeks will say a lot.

Abel · 01-31-2013, 11:34 AM

No way does he play both IW and Miami imo. Wouldn't be surprised if he missed both of them.

Just like heaven · 01-31-2013, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philosophicalarf

I wonder if he'll strategically get injured for IW/Miami/Madrid. Even without playing Aus, his comeback is way too packed for someone with knee problems: VdM > SP > week off > Acapulco > IW > Miami > week off > MC > Barca > week off > Madrid > Rome > week off > RG > Halle > week off > Wimbledon.

The schedule is packed only if he goes deep in all those tournaments. We know how many tournaments he's playing but we don't know how many matches.

Alex999 · 01-31-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just like heaven

The schedule is packed only if he goes deep in all those tournaments. We know how many tournaments he's playing but we don't know how many matches.

the problem with Nadal is that his scheduling has been always horrible. He used to over play. Now, finally, he realized that he can't go on like that any more. Thank God, smart move. I really wish him well and hope that he'll show up at IW and Miami, but don't know any more.

If he goes down in rankings, we'll see him playing Nole/Fed/Murray in what R4, QF ... that would be sad.

Fed has been always intelligent about his scheduling, that's why he is still so strong at his age (plus his skills of course). Djokovic played only majors and masters last year plus 2 500 events.

philosophicalarf · 01-31-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just like heaven

The schedule is packed only if he goes deep in all those tournaments. We know how many tournaments he's playing but we don't know how many matches.

Indeed - but how often does Nadal lose early in these events? List of 2008+ losses in Bo3 events:

R2: Dodig Montreal 2011, JCF Rome 2008, Seppi Rott 2008.
R3: Verdasco Madrid 2012, Mayer Shanghai 2011, Melzer Shanghai 2010
QF: 10. None on clay, only two on slow hard (to Delpot Miami 2009, to Monfils Doha 09).

If he's fit, you'd expect semifinals pretty much everywhere.

tyruk14 · 01-31-2013, 01:37 PM

Must admit that I'm starting to miss Nadal on the tour, but his fans shouldn't buoy their hopes to the tangent of delusion: he's been out for a long time, and it might take him a while to regain his early 2012 form.

Aloevera · 01-31-2013, 02:02 PM

Either he would come back fairly quickly or go slamless this year.

DJ Soup · 01-31-2013, 02:15 PM

didn't nadal admit he still have knee pains?

honestly, I think he's fucked

ogbg · 01-31-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyruk14

Must admit that I'm starting to miss Nadal on the tour, but his fans shouldn't buoy their hopes to the tangent of delusion: he's been out for a long time, and it might take him a while to regain his early 2012 form.

Come again?