I don't think either of these guys is going to surpass Sampras. Both Pete & Andre have gone on record saying that they think Roger is going to win between 17 to 18 Grand Slams but that was last year. It's hard to imagine Roger winning 5 to 6 slams with Nadal beating him at Wimby & the French and Djokovic beating him in Melbourne. This is the 1st time in 5 years that Roger has failed to hold the trophy in 3 consecutive Slams.
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jj i think you should become a professional dancer and let us big timers deal with the sports business
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Nadal is a lefty which gives him and edge, this guy will win us opens and aussies
he is too good not tooComment -
Nadal problems will be his knees.
that problem almost cost him his carrer some year ago at the Masters Cup. Gladly he recovered but his knees continue to be the danger on his game.
As for Federer he's having an off year.
I read that Mirka might be pregnant because she's getting bigger and bigger.
with so many beauties in the circuit, i'm sure he might think in change it
Plus, he continues to play without coach.
Lundgreen was the big coach that put him in the place he belong.
After that he never settled too long with a coach.
But still managed to get 3 slams in a year without a coach!!!!
As for Nadal habilites in hardcourts, well, surely he's more clay courter but still he managed to win several of others tournaments in hard courts.
Miami, indian wells, dubai, madrid masters.
The though part on that are the draws.
With several of good players in his part of the draw like berdshit, djoker, muzza, he's always behind of federer in big tournaments.
that could change if he finally surpass fed for number 1 rankings but probably need to go further in the US open to catch it.
Think also OZ open have changed their courts this year to a slower hardcourt, that could explain also the reason why nadal went to the semis.
got murdered by tsonga but he already played a though match againt murray.
But one thing is sure, at the age Nadal has now, Federer only managed to win 1 slam, Nadal has already 5, but i don't think he would also achieve the sampras record.Comment -
Nadal is resting after Wimbledon, due to knee problems. He has played way too many matches recently and I think he needs the rest.
I can't wait until hard courts now, I love Rafa but the heavy hitters are fun to watch.Comment -
Hopefully the knee thing doesn't hinder him in the future, he's great to watch.Originally posted by apk2k6Comment -
Should be interesting to see if Nadal can last 5 years.Comment -
Well he'll last 5 years but can he stay at such a high level like Fed is the question...Originally posted by jjgoldComment -
Originally posted by WileOut
I'd like to see a Hawkeye bounce comparison of Hamburg clay vs Wimbledon - Henman has suggested they're pretty similar now, and Federer's repeated success at Hamburg would tend to suggest it's not far off.Comment -
federer has excelled at clay courts his whole life, he has played on them since his days as a youngster in switzerland. he is the 2nd best clay court player in the world, going 23-4 at the french open the past 4 yrs vs. everyone NOT named nadalOriginally posted by HeeeHAWWWWComment -
2nd best clay court player?
Hummm, this season might take Almagro in that spotComment -
federer has made 3 straight french open finals, not to mention success in the smaller clay tourneys like rome, hamburg, etc,Originally posted by fingas
yes Sir, federer is CLEARLY the 2nd best clay court player in the world at the moment
23-0 against everyone in the world at the french open the past 4 yrs except nadal, who he is 0-4 against during that time,
you wanna argue with that? you'd be nuts to argue with thatComment -
Not disagreeing. However, he has 4 Hamburg masters titles and one other final appearance, yet no other clay masters titles - in particular, in Rome he's gone out in the quarters and the 3rd round the last couple of years, and 1st/2nd round in 02/04. He also broke Nadal's 34523523452345 match claycourt winning streak at Hamburg.Originally posted by hoopster42
Since Hamburg is well known as the fastest of the clay court surfaces, that Federer should do best there isn't really surprising.Comment -
okay, i'll buy that about hamburg, but what explains his success at roland garros french open the past 4 yrs?Originally posted by HeeeHAWWWW
05 - semis loses to nadal
06 - finals loses to nadal
07 - finals loses to nadal
08 - finals loses to nadal
are people gonna start saying that the clay-court at RG is really fast and that's why federer does well there?
root for him, root against him, love him, disparage him, whatever,
but the guys is FUKKIN MONEY and imo is the greatest tennis player ever, regardless of being 2 slams short of pete,
12 slams + 3 french finals is enough for me
federer is a tennis immortal, and absolute GOD with a racket, his game is the most pleasing to the eye that i have ever seen, and i have seen most of the greatsComment -
Originally posted by pimike
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Originally posted by hoopster42
Hehe, definitely not. Roland Garros is middle of the road as far as clay courts go. Federer's problem is simply that Nadal is unbeatable on anything slower than Hamburg, barring injury.
Looking back, I think Federer will regret his tame exit in 2004. With no Nadal in the tournament, he underestimated a past-it Kuerten and fell out of the tournament. After that it would have been Lopez (easy), Nalbandian (bad match up for Federer admittedly), Gaudio and Coria. Also 2005, when Nadal was still inexperienced and possible beatable, and only an easy final match against Puerta to claim the title.Comment -
He is on his way
Lets see how this plays outComment -
unreal, gold is tennis sharp???!!Comment -
look at all my points touting federer two years ago, I SIR am the tennis sharp,Originally posted by Holtgetsback
fed has 16 slams, rafa has 8
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Don't forget Fed got a few when Nadal was banged up but I know part of game
When Both healthy and say Fed in hos prime from a few years ago I think Raffy slightly better playerComment -
Well played nadalComment -
I completely agree with the 1st post by jjgold. Nadal is a complete beast and is unstoppable when he is healthyComment -
i agree with this statementOriginally posted by jjgoldComment -
Bottom line... can Nadal win 8 more? On those knees, no.Comment -
no you are notOriginally posted by hoopster42look at all my points touting federer two years ago, I SIR am the tennis sharp,
fed has 16 slams, rafa has 8
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There is open room for debate on the"barring injuries"part too.Comment -
jealousy is a terrible characteristicOriginally posted by tonyhomo
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Federer may have won his last major but Nadal won't get eight more; he'll blow a knee or get nailed juicing.Comment -
^ Ultimate pessimist or hater. Choose one.Comment -
its a tough record to break sampras had lesser competition better players nowComment -
c) realist. i love watching nadal but his style of game does not lend itself to longevity. in 09 at the ripe age of 22 going on 23, he lost in the 4th round due to the knees, skipped wimbledon, lost in the us open quarters or semis, and then had to retire in australia while getting pounded by andy murray, due to the knees. now, you can be an idiot and go bet that he'll tie or beat federer's 16 slams but i am a realist and i am going to go all motherfukking in that he ends up with 15 or fewer slams. its common fukking tennis sense, guyOriginally posted by kisado
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nadal prob needs cortisone shots in his knees now after winning bak-to-bakComment -
lol nadal may never win a us open and can't beat fed at the us open, del petro could though if healthy and some other big hitter but not nadalComment -
he did last year buddy!Originally posted by ttwarrior1Comment -
he's actually never played federer at the us open but i get your point, nadal did beat federer in the aussie final 09 so that was pretty coolOriginally posted by ttwarrior1Comment
