The post Roland Garros rankings are up.
Rafael Nadal, despite withdrawing before the Round of 32 with a wrist injury, rises into an all-important top four spot after Stan Wawrinka failed to defend his title, losing to Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
Rafa is now in the box seat to be seeded No. 4 at Wimbledon – if he recovers from injury in time.
Race to London: Rafa is #3 in the year to date rankings.
Source: ATP World Tour, Live Tennis
Have you ever heard an interview with uncle Toni ? He blows off all of Rafa’s Achievements like it’s no big deal…sure he was there for all those achievements but he spoke as though he would never guess he would be that successful…stated the Roger his a much better player and that Rafa wins while playing not the best tennis. Rafa became Rogers Nemesis and as far as I can see it was by playing better tennis then Roger. I read where Rafa ordered lobster after he won his first slam and Toni told him he should have order a hambuger that he didn’t have enough money to eat lobster… Why wouldn’t your uncle/coach be happy for him and not Criticize him choosing lobster over hamburger… Just don’t get it… Perhaps he just wanted to keep him grounded after all he just beat the most famous tennis player ever! I have watched all of Rafa’s matches and have seen his Uncle Toni overjoyed with pride…yelling vamos vamos… and it his Uncle who Rafa runs to when he wins… Just wonder if the is a kind of Ambivalent relationship they have… Rafa has all these tics and fears… Wonder if uncle Toni was a bit to tough on his newphew/prodigy. Rafa was born to be a champion, yes his Uncle helped him to achieve his success but without this born talent there would not be a Rafael Nadal… The undisputed king of clay!
Plain and simple …Rafa needs to add a new coach to his team … His uncle Tony should insist upon it … Rafa will never initiate it because he will feel that he is being disloyal to his uncle. All the players switch and add new coaches to their team, It is nothing new. When you have an elite player like Rafa and he goes into slumps like he does, it’s best to seek professional outside advice. If you read his book then you would know that he was and still is terrified of his uncle. Like John McEnroe said “Get a new damn coach” i agree 100%!
To be honest, in my opinion, this is not going to happen anymore. The patterns of the Rafa/Toni collaboration/ relationship are already so deeply established in the history of the two guys that I guess it’s somehow just late for him to add a new coach. Probably it might confuse Rafa even more to get new inputs for his play to gain a “safer” way for his body than it might help him in his play… . He might play “safer” then, but would it help him to win matches? Would this be still effective? I might be wrong, of course. Not that I’m feeling good about what I’m writing and thinking… on the contrary, I feel very upset by my negative thoughts, and upset about this injury more than about any injury before, as this time it is the left wrist.
When I was workng at the Basel- tournament last year, my dream became true: to see a final between Rafa and Roger in person. I hope and pray that it was not the last time that my all-time-tennis- heroes met in a final, but I’m so damn worried now, more for Rafa’s than for Roger’s career… I might be too pessimistic. I’m just worried a lot. It was so wonderful when he came back at such a high level in Monte Carlo, and now this happened to him.
Anyway, I will be sooooo lucky to watch every single match again from the point when he comes back and I hope he does not force anything that might ruin his career.
A little late to get John McEnroe’s help…. He is already signed up with Milos Raonic…. Andre Agassi would be very good for Rafa as well ,however don’t think it will ever happen. Milos hired Carlos Moya too (which Rafa should have done he would have been perfect ). Rafa is blaming himself … Claiming it’s his fault for his lack of confidents…Not his teams. I believe his uncle Toni should insist on adding a new voice as I don’t think Rafa ever will … Think he would feel that he is being disloyal. Maybe we have seen the best of Rafa …he is no longer unbeatable or feared in the locker room …he needs to add a new coach to help him revamp his game … He can do it but keeping everything the same will not work. That is my opinion and many Commentators an Analyst as well. Please don’t take this wrong, I will always be an ardent Rafa fan and wish him all the best,,,Just wish he wouldn’t be so stubborn ! Vamos Rafa … Get well soon! ( and hire a new coach ! )
Agree.
I admire Rafa but he needs to change soon. Time flies! He would hurt himself more if he keeps his old time style. Further more, the game has changed nowaday which Toni admitted. Rafa is nowhere challenging Djokovic with a poor service game and return of serve. Agassi would be the right answer as he could help Rafa with his amazing return of serve. I know it’s difficult but Agassi is willing to help Rafa. It’s just about Toni who has the biggest voice. If Rafa finds it too difficult to ditch Toni like Djokovic with Marian Vajda then Rafa can always choose to ADD another professional to his team.
Rafa played Djoker close in Rome this year, so I don’t agree he’s “nowhere near” challenging him.
Like I said, before his injury Rafa wasn’t playing badly, so I don’t see the need for all this panic over the state of his game.
That was the worst Djoker since Monte Carlo who was bageled by Belluci, taken one set by Nishikori, and easily murderer by Andy Murray. And still Rafa wasn’t able to beat him just once set.
You watched the matched? Rafa was raising the momentum very well. He got the early break but eventually failed to play consistently in the last moment and got broken back.
Rafa’s game is really catched. Now he has to play 50-50 with Djoker, change the direction by his down the line shot to make Novak run for a weak reply. Whenever Rafa feels good with his down the line shot, he can still cause damage to Djoker. But you see, when you’re 30 it’s difficult to keep that level throughout a set!
That’s the reason why Rafa should consider hire Andrei Agassi. Rafa is a right handed guy but his backhand is not really a “weapon”. He should upgrade his backhand to actually “attack” Djokovic’s forehand which is his only weakness. Rafa actually did that in the final set of the epic semi final in RG 2013. That would also save his knee from running so much for the forehand.
Rafa’s confidence isn’t the issue – he’s being playing at a high level for months now. He didn’t get injured due to lack of confidence.
I agree with everything you’ve said..I’m a Rafa fan to the core..but I’m so disappointed with his stubbornness to hire anyone or try anything new..perhaps he’s happy to see the rest of his career go down the tubes..working hard is not enough its not changing anything..and why the hell wasn’t he advised to give Madrid and Rome a miss instead he sacrificed The French Open..madness..the way things are I can’t see him winning another GS which makes me mad and sad because in the right hands he still has it in him..put your ego away Tony Nadal and DO something
RAFA, and his team will make decisions taking every factor into account,
what is best for Rafa, and I pray that his wrist heals strongly, and that he gets great advice and professional help from his medical team.The main thing is that he waits util the wrist is strongly healed.
Praying for you Rafa,
love,
AlaineXXAustralia