ARTICLES:
The “What’s up with Nadal?” questions hit the double-digit mark this week, after his latest loss to a lesser-ranked player—on clay, no less. This time it was Pablo Cuevas, the kind of journeymen Nadal would dispatch 6–2, 6–2 not long ago.
We want easy solutions and explanations. Fire Toni! Take a year off! Quit now! But this doesn’t lend itself to hot takes. We are, undeniably, witnessing an athlete in decline. And tennis is both the cruelest of sports and the most accommodating…
Nadal is not yet 30. His body, improbably, is holding up. Nadal may never win a 15th major. But I don’t see how you flatly write off a player of his caliber. The first step is regaining that self-belief and translating that on the court. Taking more risks on the serve, in the rallies and on big points. Playing closer to the baseline. Finishing off third sets. Right now, he doesn’t need a new coach so much as needs Stuart Smalley reminding him of who he is.
- Rise and Fall | tennis.com
“Descent,” of course, is a relative term when it comes to Rafa on dirt. He reached the semis in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, and lost by razor-thin margins both times. For the most part, aside from his serve, I thought he played pretty well. Still, this is Nadal we’re talking about. No player has ever come as close to invincibility on a single surface. Making the semis at a clay-court event is never going to be a satisfying result for him.
Once upon a time, Nadal didn’t lose these types of rallies when he needed them. On match point, the opponent’s desperation forehand would sail long. When Rafa had the other player out of position, he would put the ball away and stride back to the baseline with his fist in the air.
AUDIO: The Tennis Podcast: Will Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal ever win another grand slam title? | The Telegraph
Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam singles titles (17), and spent more weeks as World No 1 than anyone in history. Rafael Nadal has won 14 major wins, including nine French Open crowns, and Olympic singles gold. But is that it? Will either win another major title in their careers?
PHOTOS:
- The Tommy Hilfiger Tailored TH Flex Rafael Nadal Edition Capsule Collection
- Rafael Nadal suffers Rio Open defeat to Pablo Cuevas
VIDEOS:
- Emirates ATP Rankings 23 February 2016 | ATP World Tour
- Behind The Scenes In Rio | ATP World Tour
I FEEL YOU ALL HAVE SAID IT ALL . BUT I WILL ADD RAFA SHOULD HIRE A NEW COACH .
ITS THAT SIMPLE. HE NEEDS TO CHANGE. NOW AS ALL THER PLAYERS KNOW HIM
INSIDE OUT CHANGE YOUR FORMAT RAFA, AND YOU WILL BE BACK AND HAPPYTO BE THERE I AM MOIRE WORRIED ABOUT HIS WRIST ONCE DAMAGED ITS DIFFICULT TO HEAL COMPLETLEY, I DO THINK AGASSI WOULD BE SPLENDID FOR RAFA TO LEARN SOME NEW TECHNIQUES ALSO MIGHT HELP TONY YO OPEN HIS EYES
Listen how could adding a new voice along with Uncle Toni hurt? Out of loyalty Rafa would never want to completely ax his uncle out and I don’t think anyone expects him to so…it’s a shame but I believe Rafa is done . I have enjoyed him from day one and its hard to see him decline but if you are not willing to even try something new then so be it. I will always be one of your most loyal fan and win or lose you will always be my Champion.
I think Rafa needs to move in ASAP, work on his first serve, and serve more into the body to reduce the effectiveness of the return of serve of the opponents. An assistant coach might help if he can work well with Toni.
RAFA NADAL NEEDS TO CHANGE HIS GAME AS HIS PRESENT STYLE OF PLAYING IS NOT TAKING HIM ANYWHERE. FOR THIS, HE MUST CHANGE HIS COACH ( HIS UNCLE) WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY IN CASE HE WANTS TO REVIVE HIS CAREER. SENTIMENTS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT. HIS UNCLE HAS OUTLIVED HIS UTILITY AS RAFA’S COACH. NOW, TIME TO MOVE ON. LOOK AT MURREY, HOW HIS GAME CHANGED WITH CHANGE IN COACH.
I don’t think he needs to FIRE Tony, but adding another coach to the team with some new ideas wouldn’t hurt. Seems there are things he could do to improve his first serve. For one thing, he could do more serves to the body that are difficult to return.
@ Linda Arnold – Why in the world would I want to take anything back? Everything I predicted and wrote about Rafa for the last two-plus years has proven to be correct, whereas you and your fellow cheerleaders and pom-pom wavers have nothing but egg on your face with your pie in the sky predictions and analysis. That’s neither inane, hateful, nor a rant. It’s just a simple, obvious, irrefutable fact.
I don’t get what your talking about what pie in the sky predictions and analysis…or Pom Pom waving..yes Rafa does need a new coach one that praises his achievements Tony put him done from a young age..I’m not fan love I can see the truth but it is still his decision ..as well as when he retires or not..a light will go out in tennis when he does ..lets hope he listens
I wish you had egg in your mouth to stop the constant tirades, You are boring.
Excellent response by Deep Thinker below – March 7, 2016 1:25 PM – to Linda Arnold’s unhinged, delusional, hate-filled rant. The so-called “arrogant idiots” now look PROPHETIC in our predictions and recommendations for our favorite player. The rest of you, not so much.
Haha your laughable ..I’m not unhinged …why am I in your soooo modest opinion delusional ?..and I certainly don’t hate anyone..let me get this right it’s ok for you to call people “Pom Pom wavers” sycophants ..and inane groupies ..in your inane rants shame you can’t take it back…
Ps update I forgot there are 3 idiots on here..all think Nadal is going to listen to their prophesy and predictions ..if he wants a new coach he will get one..Nadal has not been the same since that appalling display of the crowd at the Australian Open final 2014..it destroyed his confidence …and what gives your buddy the right to call people he doesn’t know brain dead..total arrogance
Pss true Nadal fans don’t disrespect each other ..they usually unite ..I’ve had “debates “for want of a better word with others regarding Rafa they are usually Roger Federer fans and some of them are vile…real haters..makes me wonder about some of the “so called fans on here”
Rafa’s uncle has recently spoken out and said the the problem is that tennis has become faster and it takes time to adapt to this new form of tennis. He failed to take account that Rafa’s footworks have become slower. He is not really offering a new perspective or solution to the problem except the waiting game
Rafa has poor footwork because he does not have a clear game plan, which causes indecision, hesitation and delay. What he and his uncle don’t seem to understand is that if he’s going to play offensive tennis, he has to 100% commit to it from both a tactical and technical standpoint. Half measures will not work. They will just make things worse for him. As top ATP coach Larry Stefanki emphasized and explained last summer, our champ can play offensive tennis with the best of them, but only if he replaces his defensive mindset with an offensive one. He’s done it in the past. He can do it again. With the RIGHT coaching and direction.
Thank you J Beer and Deep Thinker for your compliments below. I enjoy reading your comments as well. They’re informative, insightful and a breath of fresh air from the inane cheer-leading and pom-pom waving of Fan Love and the other groupies, sycophants and apologists for our favorite player.
You are welcome son. We are stearing the crowd in the right direction. All great leaders stand alone for a while and are called crazy…until they are finally taken seriously.
Leaders!!! What have you guys led? A constant tirade of negativity. You have a false sense of your own importance.
“Your favourite player” that’s a laugh..when you and the Beer man have stopped patting each other on the back consider this ..Rafa will do whatever he wants to do you really think he gives a dam what you two idiots think..he’s a multi millionaire with a room full of trophies..yes he does need a new coach fresh ideas…he alone will decide when he retires..if you really don’t want to watch him anymore “DONT”..such arrogance to think that your some kind of banner waver for the good of Nadal…No one wants to see lose least of all me…I’m not a pom-pom waver or a sycophant but a true fan ..you two waffling on just massaging each other’s egos helps mothing…
Very classy Linda, to call people names, just because you don’t like their opinions. Do you realize that you make yourself look like a kind of fascist?
Thanks so much Linda for your ‘great’ comments! I’d advise you make that 3 idiots. That is, the legendary J. Beer, the unbeatable MIROMO and my humble self, the Deep Thinker.
The 3 of us have been severally been called all sorts of names on this site, simply because we say the truth all the time. About 2 yrs ago, when the 3 of us (I mean the 3 ”idiots”) first raised alarm on Rafa’s game and the possibility of an irreversible downward slide unless a new coach is engaged, all hell was let loose and virtually everyone here wanted to crucify us!
But 2 years after, everyone here is crying and begging Nadal to hire a new coach! The 3 idiots have been proved right and vindicated for the upteenth time!
So i wonder, who really is/are the idiot(s)? If we are idiots, then how come we are always RIGHT and the rest of you guys are (for want of a better word) simply brain-dead?? Have you ever introspected and asked yourself that question, dear Linda Arnold? Why are the 3 ”idiots” always right all the time?
So, as far as this site is concerned Linda, we are truly happy to be ”idiots” since it took all of you brain-deads almost 2 yrs to catch up with the pace of wisdom of the 3 idiots.
If you wish to be vindictive and nasty please make sure you quote the right person who said the quote.I never said anything about Uncle Toni and Rafa pretending and then beating Novak at the French open.
Please keep it accurate.An apology wouldn’t go astray please?
True words spoken very sincerely,
Alaine/Sydney