[Clay Death]

ok lets cut through the chase. it is readily apparent now that these 2 warriors are going south in terms of their games for various reasons.

Nadal has not won a title since last july and by the time he pulls up in Monte Carlo, he still will not have won a title. Equally incredible is the fact that Fed has yet to win a single title this year. he could leave Monte Carlo and still be titleless.

now the 2 key questions for thought: who is headed south faster and why? and secondly, can they reverse the slide. if so, how?

the new imperatives suggest that Djokovic is racing full steam ahead in his pursuit of the top gun status. some believe that he is already the best player in the world and that rankings will catch up soon enough. Can Nadal and Fed stop him this year and reverse their own slides in the process?

 

[Albop]

 

[sawan66278]

Its a LONG season. Last year, Rafa, for the first six months, was the best player in the world. However, by the end of the year, there was no question: Roger was the best...having won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Masters Cup. This year, with the addition of the Olympics, there's a LOT of tennis to be played.

If one looks at the season as made up like a basketball game, after Miami the first quarter is over. Even a 20 point lead in the NBA is not safe after the first quarter...anything can happen. Rafa could still end the year #1...as could Roger...as could Novak...even Tsonga...if things went his way.


TO EARLY TO TELL.

 

[Clay Death]

can you elaborate? thanks in advance.

 

[Clay Death]

Its a LONG season. Last year, Rafa, for the first six months, was the best player in the world. However, by the end of the year, there was no question: Roger was the best...having won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Masters Cup. This year, with the addition of the Olympics, there's a LOT of tennis to be played.

If one looks at the season as made up like a basketball game, after Miami the first quarter is over. Even a 20 point lead in the NBA is not safe after the first quarter...anything can happen. Rafa could still end the year #1...as could Roger...as could Novak...even Tsonga...if things went his way.


TO EARLY TO TELL.

so you are saying that by Wimbledon, the order might be restored? in other words, are you saying that if Rafa runs the tables on clay and Fed bags Wimby, we are right back to normal?

do you see that happening?

 

[sawan66278]

I think the men's game is so deep...the top spot will be up for grabs from this point forward. Rafa, Novak, Fed, Tsonga...even Murray will all have a shot...

The 80's/90's of tennis at the top are a returnin'

 

[gnaz]

Federer is headed south faster obviously because the mono can stay with lingering effects in your body for 1 year or more..... look at Ancic.... I expect Fed to not win any slams this year at all... probably no MS as well. He will be lucky to win MM tournaments....

 

[Clay Death]

I think the men's game is so deep...the top spot will be up for grabs from this point forward. Rafa, Novak, Fed, Tsonga...even Murray will all have a shot...

The 80's/90's of tennis at the top are a returnin'

how does the landscape change so rapidly. both Nadal and Fed have been very dominant top 2 for the last 3-4 years. no one has come close until Djokovic started making great strides last year.

so now we have 3 at the top isolated significantly from the rest of the field. Mardy`s run is an abberation here.

we know Nadal cannot play on hard courts and you can only win on gut and heart for so long and so many times. he beat Tsonga and Blake but both had him on a string like a hapless rat. he said today he is worn out from those 2 matches. and that is after a day off. he makes his points on the clay circuit but he has been able to get enough wins to stay at the top.

Fish did beat Hewitt which was a good win but clearly something is wrong with Fed. the guy has lost close to 15 pounds. This is not the kind of a match that Fed usually loses. so on the basis of just one deep run by a player ranked #98, you are saying that it is getting crowded at the top.

both Fed and Nadal are headed south. how much and how fast is not clear. they could turn things around and restore the order. what is also clear is that there is still great deal of distance between these 3 and the rest of the field. they are still far more consistent than their rivals.

i think Nadal`s fall is going to be more steep by the way. looks like he is losing on all fronts. he said he is worn out from his matches against Blake and Tsonga. this shows how much fitness he has lost. he had all kinds of problems on the court today but the most visible one to me was the movement. he is not moving as well as he was a year ago. usually his speed and movement allows him to compensate for other defficiencies to some extent.

 

[Motoflou]

are you saying that if Rafa runs the tables on clay and Fed bags Wimby, we are right back to normal?

do you see that happening?

YES.

 

[Clay Death]

Federer is headed south faster obviously because the mono can stay with lingering effects in your body for 1 year or more..... look at Ancic.... I expect Fed to not win any slams this year at all... probably no MS as well. He will be lucky to win MM tournaments....

but Fed still has major arsenal in his bag. Nadal has not improved his game in 2 years. and now the damn fitness problem. i dont understand how he could have let his fitness drop knowing that it is the single most important element of his game.

if you saw the match today, you saw that there is a significant drop in his fitness and his movement. in fact, after the match, he said that he was tired from his 2 matches against Blake and Tsonga. he even had a day off and he was still worn out and stale today.

lets forget the points. his game is headed south faster than Fed`s game.

 

[NinaNina19]

can you elaborate? thanks in advance.

You made it.

 

[~*BGT*~]

This year: Roddick>>>>>> Federer and Nadal and that's saying a lot. :tape: :help:

 

[Clay Death]

You made it.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaz up NinaNina? i am just remimded of Gulbis looking at your sig. are you keeping up with him? is he playing in Miami?

 

[JediFed]

So Claydeath will suck off Fish if he beats Djokovic?

That I wouldn't mind seeing honestly.

 

[Clay Death]

So Claydeath will suck off Fish if he beats Djokovic?

That I wouldn't mind seeing honestly.

what are you talking about? try making some sense at least? what does Fish beating Djokovic have to do with price of tea in China?

its not happening anyway. Fish is no match for Djokovic.

 

[Rogiman]

Federer's loss was worse by far, plus Nadal has many positives to take from this week, so...

But neither has said the last word...

 

[JediFed]

Yes, indeed the Federer loss was far worse then Nadal's loss.

And yes, Fish has been hotter then blazes. Djokovic was very lucky to beat Wawa. He's been inconsistant.

We shall see.

If Nadal can beat Blake, and Fish beat Federer, then why is Fish taking the whole kit and kaboodle impossible?

 

[Clay Death]

Federer's loss was worse by far, plus Nadal has many positives to take from this week, so...

But neither has said the last word...

i am not sure i agree. Fed had a reason. remember that the last time he played Fish, he allowed Fish just 3 games. it was on grass. clearly something was wrong. i think Fed was not well today.

Nadal on the other hand flat stunk up the court. he won just 40 points to djoker`s 61. that is called demolition or total destruction. part of is was self-imposed.

Nadal has not only failed to improve, he has lost ground even in his fitness. this is taking away from his once great movement. he said after the match that he was tired from having to play Blake and Tsonga. he did have a day off yesterday.

i gotta disagree guys. Fed still has the most complete game around. Nadal has a limited game. he is nothing without his fitness and his movement.

it is going to take a major effort to turn things around. he has to decide how bad he wants it. he has to find a way to get fitter and better so he never has to tell reporters again that Djokovic was on the court for fewer hours than he was during the course of this tournament. or that he was tired. he has to will himself a better, more improved game and he has to take his fitness higher than ever. hopefull it will happen in a year or 2.

for now, his decline is more dramatic than Fed. Fed is damn hard to beat on grass while i dont see Nadal in the finals there again.

 

[leng jai]

This year: Roddick>>>>>> Federer and Nadal and that's saying a lot. :tape: :help:

Winning 2 MM tournaments is better than getting to a GS semi/ TMS semi? :haha:

 

[Okonsky]

I have to agree with albop! This is end of the world. What a stupid thread....