I think you're clutching at straws a bit @Raoul. Rafa will overtake Federer in RG alone over the next few years. Throw in a couple of other Slams and he'll have him easily beat.
Tennis 2015
- Thread starter Sean_RedDevil
- Start date
More wishful thinking than anything. He's a great player but I don't see him being remotely at his best at 28/29 as he was earlier in his career. He's one of those players whose explosive athleticism was one of his best attributes, which have now degraded significantly. We also have to consider that new superstar players could emerge any day and start winning slams the way Sampras, Fed, and Rafa all did when they were younger. So the straw clutch is more aligned with people who are sure he will win 4 more slams than those who think he won't.
The thing is, even a degraded Nadal is better than anyone else at RG, and will be for some time. Yes, a new superstar could emerge and start beating people left, right and centre, but until that actually happens it's not really worth talking about.
I think Nadal will struggle to beat the record. Even with RG, he might struggle to maintain his form well into his 30's. Hell, even if he is still the best player there, injuries could always potentially prevent him from competing.
But if he can find some of his best form again, he will take the record. Depends on whether he can have one last great year.
But if he can find some of his best form again, he will take the record. Depends on whether he can have one last great year.
You can't extrapolate his past success as something that will automatically continue, even at RG. He may well not win another one there, much less three. We're not talking about the same player of 5 years ago.
True enough, but I think he'll catch up via RG wins. It genuinely might come down to whether Federer can squeak out another Slam himself.
If Fed wins another, its definitely over.
I don't see a new Superstar or even players coming close to the domination the top three players have had. Says a lot that Federer at 33 is still world number 2. Which is quite amazing achievement really.
The players after the top three are mainly inconsistent. That's what makes the top three players so good because they were guaranteed to get to the semi finals or finals of every tournament.
Guys like Dimitrov or Nishikori are like 25, I don't see them dominating when Djokovic who is only 28 around. The less said about the servebot that is Raionic the better. The U.S open final made me appreciate these players more because it was one of the worst finals in years. I hope they get to every semi final and final possible because I want to see them play against each other as much as possible.
I agree with @Raoul . Can't see Nadal winning 3 more Slams. He was doing really well last year with the Aussie Open performance and then the French Open but then the injuries that followed, especially the wrist injury, makes him vulnerable. He loses to a lot of random big hitters now and that's something he might be able to deal with at RG but I'm not sure it'll work at other slams. I see him finishing at around a slam or two behind Federer but I still don't think Federer will be GOAT considering the embarrassingly one sided rivalry he has with Rafa.
Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot haven taken the Bryan brothers in a 5th set.....amazing performance!!!!! 
#backthebrits #ComeOnTeamGB
#backthebrits #ComeOnTeamGB
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This is incredible from the British pair.
A shame they've lost but they can be proud....it would have been an amzing win. Like Cambridge would beat Manchester United.
Come on Ward and Andy tomorrow!!!!
Come on Ward and Andy tomorrow!!!!
and Andy Murray has beaten Isner Another win over the US team!!!!
Another win over the US team!!!!France next for GB. Tough test if they play Tsonga and Benneteau but Murray plays then it can be nicked in the doubles where we're quite strong. Should be a good contest!
France will be feckin tough......they've Tsonga, Simon, Monfils & Gasquet for the singles and Mahut, Benneteau & Roger-Vasselin are all in the top 20 in doubles ranking.
But another home tie will be important for Ward and our doubles team.
But if it will be on grass then it will be interesting where
Forgot about Monfils Gasquet and Simon! Very very nice pool to select from there. Doubles will be absolutely crucial.
So Nadal just lost to Raonic for the first time ever after having 3 Match Points in the 2nd set, to deny us our first Top 4 Semi finals since the Aussie Open 2 years ago. It's a pity how poor Nadal has become on big points whereas it was his strength earlier.
Can't stand Raionic. Hope Federer destroys him.
Nadals season really starts in Monte Carlo.
Nadals season really starts in Monte Carlo.
Raonic really does have an exceptionally limited game. Big serve and the inside out forehand, even if it fails more often than not. Limited player who won't win too much imo.
Think Federer will get past Raonic. Not sure about the other semi. Would like to see Murray win but probably think Novak will beat him in 3 sets.
Andy Murray being Andy Murray
Murray is frustrating. What is it about him and the very best players? Is he a step down in terms of talent? Or is it a mentality thing? I think it must be mental. He looked like the best player in the world for a few months when he was under Lendl.
Murray and Lendl were the perfect duo........that was really a big mistake from Murray.
This is almost too easy for Nole. Hope he stays focused though.
Djokovic did his absolute best to bottle it (3 DF's in the 2nd set TB) but he wins it in the 3rd. He was absolutely incredible after his latest DF in the final set. Went for ever single shot.
He's been the best since 2011 now, won most slams and masters, I reckon he should be able to surpass Federer's count in the next 4 years.
Hope Djokovic gets a French open. Deserves to be up there with the greatest of all time. Best returner ever and yes even above Agassi.
Been amazing since 2011. After he won his first slam in 2008 he just seemed to be going nowhere and lost some big matches. I'm glad he's found his form because he has been in some of the greatest ever matches.
Hopefully another Djokovic vs Nadal epic at the French.
Been amazing since 2011. After he won his first slam in 2008 he just seemed to be going nowhere and lost some big matches. I'm glad he's found his form because he has been in some of the greatest ever matches.
Hopefully another Djokovic vs Nadal epic at the French.
I think he will win the French this year. Although how likely is it that he and Rafa will be in the same side of the draw?
Nadal is currently ranked 3rd and fair few points behind Roger. The rankings as on around 3rd week of May are considered. French open considers ATP ranking only I think, not past RG record. If that's the case, Nadal-Djoker can face off in semis as things stand.
It's incredible to think Djokovic hasn't won multiple slams in a single year since 2011. If he'd won a couple more since then (which he really should have) he'd have a shot at Federer's record, but I think he's too far behind now. He's got a decent shot at the CYGS this year though, considering how far ahead of the field he is right now.
Nadal's only 700 points ahead of Raonic in 6th too, and defending quite a lot of points up until May. Could even end up with the possibility of a Nadal-Djokovic quarter final if Nadal has a bad run at Miami, Madrid and Rome...
Ah ya. Nadal had won them all last season, right? Djokovic-Nadal not being final at RG will be very anti-climatic. More so if it is before semis. Will just feel wrong.
I don't think Djokovic is too far behind. Winning three out of four majors in the next 3 years, which I think is doable, will equal Federer's wins. That is obvioulsy if Federer doesn't win any more, but even if he goes for a couple of more I don't think Djokovic overtaking him is an impossible job.
Two finals and a win I think. I'm pretty sure Nadal will still be 3rd or at worst 4th by RG, since Raonic isn't great on clay and Nishikori's not been great lately, but the earlier they meet the better it is for Djokovic I think - Nadal usually seems more vulnerable earlier on in tournaments, and the pressure on Djokovic in the quarters or evens the semis wouldn't be quite so big as in the final.
It's doable I guess, but very very tricky... I think he's got a good chance of tying Sampras, but Federer is just out of reach. The good news for him is that Federer isn't really a threat in BO5 (apart from maybe Wimbledon), Murray's not the player he was two years ago and Nadal is only really a threat on clay these days, and no one else is really breaking through into that group yet. But not even prime Federer managed three slams in three consecutive years. And Djokovic will be 30 in three years time - he'll still be a contender then I imagine, but he won't be the same player he is now.