posted Nov 27, 2007

duggietoo, why is Nadal being written off after a couple of heavy losses to Nalbandian and Federer (I do think his injury had something to do with that though- but no excuses)? I do think he needs to be careful with his injury because it's an obvious weak point. But I think you are underestimating Nadal as a person. I mean, at the age of about eighteen (about 2004) he was told his career might be over, but rebounded to win a GS in 2005 and win lots of MS and titles. Then at the end of 2005 the injury came back and he missed the AO but came back and won Dubai (beating Federer in the final), made the Wimby final etc. The point I'm trying to make is that he is a multiple GS champion and is not all of a sudden going to disappear into the shadows. He's had to deal with a lot of blows in his career and this isn't really any different. Regarding the injury on clay, from what I gather from interviews etc. he had the injury all throught the clay-court season and still won everything, so providing it doesn't get any worse- I actually think it'll get better- he should be okay. However, the gap between Federer and Nadal is closing, so I don't see him being as dominant on clay as the previous years. But that could turn out to be a good thing for him in the long run. He'd have more energy for the HC.

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posted Nov 27, 2007

you realize every year since 2004 we have been saying this. It is getting really annoying. He's 26 he is getting old. One more year and his era is over. Mark my word.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

comment by JimboKew7

posted 18 Hours Ago

I seem to be the only person who shocked about Sampras beating Federer. Federer often hailed as the best player ever lost to someone who is 10 years his senior and has been retired for half a decade. I think that Federer will dominate for roughly another year before Nadal and Djokovic take centre stage.
At this year's Wimbledon Federer hinted that he felt the gap between himself and Nadal in particular was closing. After being congratulated by Sue Barker for winning his 5th successive title he said 'I've got to try to win them while I still can' (or words to that effect.
I think that tennis is due a new great. We had the same syndrome with Sampras. After a while people start to resent you winning slams because you win them year in year out.
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In case you haven't noticed,Federer is the most intelligent guy on the tennis circuit and that goes for both on and off court.

What did u expecetd him to say after the wimbledon victory over nadal,do a roddick? or perhaps a Gasquet. Its called etiquette or diplomacy.

And against Sampras what did u expect him to do,beat him on all 3 matches?
Come-on! Imagine what people would have said had he done that to a former champion for a exhibition tournament. Go and tell the likes of Nadal and Roddick and Ferrer that even a retired veteran can beat the man they all are trying so hard to compete against then hear what they have to say.

If Pete really felt that he did beat Federer,then he will make a come back,because certainly,if he can beat federer then there are more Grand slams for him out there,and dont tell me he wouldnt welcome another GS,because that would be a fat lie.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

So basically the namelessone is saying if Rafael Nadal is burnt out by 25 then its his own fault and he deserves to fail??
Grow up and get a life

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Diego is God - don't be daft. Why would Sampras want to come back at the age of 36 when he has achieved what he has in tennis with a legacy appreciated by tennis fans the world over except for a few biased individuals. At the age of 36 of course he is not going to beat Roger on a consistent basis. In tennis terms Roger is in his dotage. The point is that in one set games he made a fist of it with Federer and I believe strongly that Federer would not have won the number of Grand Slams he has if the two players had faced each other when both were in their prime. Federer stated that Pete still had an awesome serve and don't tell me that Federer deliberately threw the match. That would be insulting to Pete and Roger is not that sort of person. Once again, I urge pundits on this forum to try and maintain an impartial view of things and not try to point score by badmouthing past champions and ridiculing all tennis eras except the present.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Sorry, it should read Pete is in his dotage.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Jollyoldtennis,It is very easy for everyone of us to come on here and say one thing or the other.

One man in Agassi has witness the art of these 2(Pete and Rog) first hand and when he compared them,he said Against Pete he was always in with a shot,meanwhile agaist Rog you always know it was only a matter of time before u crumble.

Against Pete ,he said,it was a question whethere you will break him,but against Rog it is whether you can hold your own serve.

I hope you do understand what that piece of literature translates in to tennis terms

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posted Nov 28, 2007

I am a bit upset here as my comment was derided by some fellows. This kind of behavior should not be done at any time in the East. In my country people said,"just kill him,but don't laught at him or look down upon him." Which means whatever the guy over there says or does anything sincerely,even his deed is so awkward or so stupid you cannot jeer or laught at him. If you don't like you cut his head. You are justified.
The world is small now. Sport is something global. It transcends politic,economic and religion. It would be great if man understand and respect the people in other cultures.
I am not a troll. Though the comment is out of sort,stupid or I cannot express myself properly. I am sincere in my expression and I come here to understand tennis from you all. Please be kind and just brush aside the thing that you don't like.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Uncle T

I appreciate all you sayand I certainly wouldnt write him off because of a few losses.

It is the injury question and only that which I think could affect his game and future results.

Burnout at year end seems to be the pattern and he is not a natural hard courter.

His superb clay game is incredibly physical and he relies on speed and mobility.

I have never seen him as a long termer and indeed he matured and developed young.

I just feel that if he continues to be dogged by the foot/knee injuries it could shorten his career and affect his confidence if he cannot play his natural game.

Hope I,m wrong but there are worrying signs.

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posted Nov 29, 2007

Well said, Diego_is_God.

"And against Sampras what did u expect him to do,beat him on all 3 matches?
Come-on! Imagine what people would have said had he done that to a former champion for a exhibition tournament. Go and tell the likes of Nadal and Roddick and Ferrer that even a retired veteran can beat the man they all are trying so hard to compete against then hear what they have to say."

It is incredible how anyone can think these were serious matches.

Not only were they pure exhibition matches, but we were also given a preview to the results. After the first match, Roger promised that the second match would be close. Sure it was.

Prior to the third match Pete urged Roger to throw him a set, and Roger even assured Pete that the latter "had a chance" in this match.
Sure enough, Pete got the victory he wanted.

In any case, the topic of the post is "Congratulations Roger - 200 and Counting".
Isn't this to celebrate Roger's successes?

May I please request Sampras fans to please stay away from injecting Sampras into every Roger discussion. The invariable march seems to lead to trashing Roger and his opposition and dragging any celebration of Roger's fans into the mud.

When Pete was in his hey days for some fifteen years you didn't have people raining in in his parties like this at every step.

You can start your own articles of Sampras and reminisce the good times with his fans. Wouldn't that be more healthy than feeling bitter? If Roger plays as long as Pete did, then we have five more years of him either for us to enjoy or continue the status quo.

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