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this is going to bother Nadal fans to no end but fear nothing. i am about the biggest Clay Monster fan around and my objective, as always, is to be constructive and NOT destructive. i am obviously concerned and, to some extent, infuriated with him. the talk out of his camp used to be all about Roger. now the talk is all about the competition. both uncle Tony and his manager keep saying that they are more concerned about the competition catching up. well do something about it.
for his part, nadal runs around saying that he is "happy to be #2 for the next 50 years" or how he is just happy that the only person in front of him is the one who is the "best in history".
here is the way i see the dynamics at play. injuries have set him back and kept him from sustained match play and practice. that can keep one from building on something and to keep improving. that said, great champions have to compensate. they have to find a way to overcome their weaknesses.
here is my complete list of his limitations which may very well end up hurting his chances of ever being #1:
1. insufficient fitness given his style of play
2. serve
3. volley
4. slice
5. return game
6. some complacency
even 10%-15% improvement in each of these areas will make his life easier on all surfaces. the tragic part is that i have seen no signs of any improvement in any of these areas in 2 years. that is what is bothering me the most.
thoughts?
for his part, nadal runs around saying that he is "happy to be #2 for the next 50 years" or how he is just happy that the only person in front of him is the one who is the "best in history".
here is the way i see the dynamics at play. injuries have set him back and kept him from sustained match play and practice. that can keep one from building on something and to keep improving. that said, great champions have to compensate. they have to find a way to overcome their weaknesses.
here is my complete list of his limitations which may very well end up hurting his chances of ever being #1:
1. insufficient fitness given his style of play
2. serve
3. volley
4. slice
5. return game
6. some complacency
even 10%-15% improvement in each of these areas will make his life easier on all surfaces. the tragic part is that i have seen no signs of any improvement in any of these areas in 2 years. that is what is bothering me the most.
thoughts?