of my favorite athletes from the past 10 or so years. It's just sad to see him like this. Yet another Wimbledon failure, something that is now going to be a part of his legacy. I really hope this guy can dig down deep once again and regain that inner-confidence.
of my favorite athletes from the past 10 or so years. It's just sad to see him like this. Yet another Wimbledon failure, something that is now going to be a part of his legacy. I really hope this guy can dig down deep once again and regain that inner-confidence.
Rooting for Federer now.
First Tiger, now Nadal. Its amazing to see some world class athletes fall from the top so quickly. Nadal still only has 5 majors outside the clay surface.
33 years old (a month shy of 34), still #2 in the world and a contender at every event. Never gets tired, never retires, never injured and just a joy to watch on the court. And did you see this today (link below)??? Fed Tweener Lob - ( New Window )
as a player but I can't argue with Federer-GOAT anymore.
I kind of look at Nadal like the Bad Boy Pistons and the Federer as the Showtime Lakers. Nadal is the methodical grinder whose defensive game would just suffocate opponents, especially on clay which is the slowest surface. Federer was like the Magic Johnson-led Lakers, just brilliant in an uptempo game yet capable of grinding it out. Except the Pistons and Lakers split the Finals 1-1, although it would've been 2-0 Pistons if James Worthy didn't live up to his Big Game James name in Game 7. If it was 2-0, this analogy would be perfect imo.
as a player but I can't argue with Federer-GOAT anymore.
I kind of look at Nadal like the Bad Boy Pistons and the Federer as the Showtime Lakers. Nadal is the methodical grinder whose defensive game would just suffocate opponents, especially on clay which is the slowest surface. Federer was like the Magic Johnson-led Lakers, just brilliant in an uptempo game yet capable of grinding it out. Except the Pistons and Lakers split the Finals 1-1, although it would've been 2-0 Pistons if James Worthy didn't live up to his Big Game James name in Game 7. If it was 2-0, this analogy would be perfect imo.
Federer is the greatest I've ever seen, but that's been clinched by his longevity rather than his peak for me (odd given how dominant he was). Federer's managed to be the second best player in the world for roughly as long as he was the best, which is incredibly impressive. The unfortunate thing for Federer is that Nadal basically OWNS Federer historically. It breaks my heart to say it, but Nadal has a 23-10 lifetime record against Federer and it remains large even if you just consider Fed's prime.
Fed has a 2-1 advantage on grass, 13-2 on clay, and 9-6 on harcourts. The last is particularly telling, because even on a surface that should skew slightly to Fed and is overall neutral, Nadal's beaten him.
It's just bizarre to have a GOAT who's been so thoroughly beaten by his greatest rival. I still think Fed's the GOAT, but it's a black mark for sure.
more of an indication of how styles make fights. Nadal is the perfect storm to beat Federer. He's a lefty with that severe top spin that eats up Federer's one-handed backhand, and he's a grinder than can stay in points.
I'm largely in agreement with you all. Fed's the GOAT and the single most talented shotmaker I've ever seen.
That all said, I do think it's clear that Nadal has owned Fed and I think it's somewhat damning that Fed has never been able to figure him out. It's also not purely physical. I've seen Fed just mentally wilt against Rafa on so many occasions.
Anderson is a heavy hitter but no way I thought Djokovic would lose this set. It gets dark in London in less than an hour, at first I thought that helped Djokovic but now I think it's going to help Anderson who can come in fresh tomorrow. This 4th set should be great.
Kind of sucks for Djoker, Anderson is a guy who is ridiculously dangerous in a 1-set take all type of format because of his serve and how fresh he figures to be (stamina being an edge to Novak over everyone).
are fucking unbearable. While the tennis they played has been great, the celebrating after every point is nauseating. My god, you served an ace to make it 15-0 and you act like you won the damn tournament.
While I agree that Serena is a superb athlete, when it comes to greatest female athlete of all time it's Babe Didrikson Zaharias and I don't believe that anyone else can even compare to her.
Rooting for Federer now.
Nadal has failed to reach the quarter for the 4th consecutive year at Wimbledon.
Rooting for Federer now.
First Tiger, now Nadal. Its amazing to see some world class athletes fall from the top so quickly. Nadal still only has 5 majors outside the clay surface.
Hint: he wasn't done.
Oddly though, I'd have to give Stan enough credit for predicting Tiger's fall that the two may actually balance out.
Fed Tweener Lob - ( New Window )
Hint: he wasn't done.
Oddly though, I'd have to give Stan enough credit for predicting Tiger's fall that the two may actually balance out.
Stan didn't predict Tiger's decline, as much as he's been wishing for it since Tiger first hit the Tour.
And given the HUNDREDS of other things he incorrectly predicts/states, getting one possibly right doesn't even begin to even things out....
I almost miss Stan's stupidity on these boards. Almost....
I kind of look at Nadal like the Bad Boy Pistons and the Federer as the Showtime Lakers. Nadal is the methodical grinder whose defensive game would just suffocate opponents, especially on clay which is the slowest surface. Federer was like the Magic Johnson-led Lakers, just brilliant in an uptempo game yet capable of grinding it out. Except the Pistons and Lakers split the Finals 1-1, although it would've been 2-0 Pistons if James Worthy didn't live up to his Big Game James name in Game 7. If it was 2-0, this analogy would be perfect imo.
I kind of look at Nadal like the Bad Boy Pistons and the Federer as the Showtime Lakers. Nadal is the methodical grinder whose defensive game would just suffocate opponents, especially on clay which is the slowest surface. Federer was like the Magic Johnson-led Lakers, just brilliant in an uptempo game yet capable of grinding it out. Except the Pistons and Lakers split the Finals 1-1, although it would've been 2-0 Pistons if James Worthy didn't live up to his Big Game James name in Game 7. If it was 2-0, this analogy would be perfect imo.
Federer is the greatest I've ever seen, but that's been clinched by his longevity rather than his peak for me (odd given how dominant he was). Federer's managed to be the second best player in the world for roughly as long as he was the best, which is incredibly impressive. The unfortunate thing for Federer is that Nadal basically OWNS Federer historically. It breaks my heart to say it, but Nadal has a 23-10 lifetime record against Federer and it remains large even if you just consider Fed's prime.
Fed has a 2-1 advantage on grass, 13-2 on clay, and 9-6 on harcourts. The last is particularly telling, because even on a surface that should skew slightly to Fed and is overall neutral, Nadal's beaten him.
It's just bizarre to have a GOAT who's been so thoroughly beaten by his greatest rival. I still think Fed's the GOAT, but it's a black mark for sure.
Since 2004, Fed in majors since he won his first major.
Won - 16
Lost Finals - 8
Semi Lost - 11
Quarters Lost - 6
4th - 2
3rd - 2
2nd - 1
1st - 0
So since he had won his first major, he has made 41 out of 46 quaters, 35 semis, and been in the finals 24 times.
Nadal since he won his first french...
Won - 13
Lost Finals - 6
Semis - 3
Quarters - 6
4th - 3
3rd - 1
2nd - 3
1st - 1
Missed tourny - 5
So if you included the missed tournies, he has made 28/39 quarters, 22 Semis, and 19 finals.
Federer's consistency of not only winning on all surfaces (he made 5 french finals by the way) compared to Nadal's just doesnt compare.
That all said, I do think it's clear that Nadal has owned Fed and I think it's somewhat damning that Fed has never been able to figure him out. It's also not purely physical. I've seen Fed just mentally wilt against Rafa on so many occasions.
Anderson just has to serve his way to a tie break. Seems like his best chance. But Joker is getting more and more serves back.
Anderson needs to pray for darkness.
Kind of sucks for Djoker, Anderson is a guy who is ridiculously dangerous in a 1-set take all type of format because of his serve and how fresh he figures to be (stamina being an edge to Novak over everyone).