[Tennis] Once again...Federer vs. Nadal at Roland Garros

I don't see it ever happening at Roland Garros. Rafa's just too good on this surface, and Roger's not getting any younger. It wouldn't surprise me if Roger lost his number 1 ranking by the end of next year. Nadal's been improving steadily on other surfaces.

 

The French need to have a charity event so they can get that dirt court paved over.

 

You know how much it costs to get a French clay court done here in the US? Its 2 million dollars.

 

You Are joking right?

The reason Nadal has a winning record against Federer is that when Nadal is not playing good he doesn't get into the final. So Federer wins the tournament without beating Nadal. But is Federer isn't playing good he gets to the finals, were a good playing Nadal is able to beat him.

Nadal is better on clay, but on every other surface Federer is the best. and he will stay that way until he doesn't care anymore. Federer is not even close to 30 so he probably haven't reached his physical prime yet.

 

Alright then...let's take a look at a few contemporary all-time greats in tennis. I've added the age at which each of them permanently dropped out of World No. 1 contention:

Mats Wilander 24
John McEnroe 26
Stefan Edberg 26
Boris Becker 29
Pete Sampras 29
Ivan Lendl 30
Jimmy Connors 31
Agassi 33

Average age: 28.5

Roger Federer turns 26 years old in a month and a half. Rafael Nadal just turned 21 less than two weeks ago. If we do a little bit of extrapolation to the end of next year...

Nadal proved last year that he's capable of advancing far into other tournaments. He made the finals at Wimbledon, the quarterfinals of the US Open, and the quarterfinals of this year's Australian Open. He also romped through the field at Indian Wells this year and won (hard court). It's easy to see that he's improving steadily on other surfaces.

By the end of next year, Federer will be 27. By pro tennis standards, he's nearing the end of his physical prime. It's a young man's game. Professionals start playing at the age of 18, and most retire or become tournament non-factors by 30.

Couple Nadal's young age and rapidly improving game with Federer's age and like I said...it's not a stretch by any means to say that it's possible Roger Federer loses his Number 1 ranking by the end of next year.

 

I understand your opinion. However I do not share it. It might be possible, but I seriously doubt it. I think Federer is way to good. And i also think Nadal is not good enough. Federer is so dominant, the only surface anyone has a change is on clay, and the only person able to beat Federer there is Nadal.

One of the reasons i believe Federer will stil be nr 1 is because he is much more consistant.

Care to make a sig bet about this subject?

 

Make it a tip jar bet, and I'm game. Say $20?

I have to agree that Federer is a lot more consistent than Nadal, but I'll go out on a limb. I say sometime before December 2008, Federer's streak of consecutive weeks at #1 will have been broken.

He may regain the number 1 ranking at some point later in the year after being knocked off the pedestal, but his overall status as untouchable at #1 will be in question. In other words...he'll have spent a significant amount of time (X number of weeks...you come up with a number) at #2 or lower. Agreed?

Of course, if either Federer or Nadal experiences a significant injury (knock on wood)...the bet's canceled.

Honestly, I'm a huge Federer fan, so I hope I'm wrong. Common sense says it's difficult to stay at #1 every week for so many years though.

 

Those guys dropped out due to a decline in their game but not only that there were others that were great as well that could step in. It was more balanced in the top 10 back then where as now it's 1 and 2 and the rest is waaaay behind. Nadal is tough on other surfaces but it'll be difficult for him to advance all the way. On hardcourts there are quite a few players that can beat nadal whereas federer he's basically unbeatable.

It'll get tougher for Federer but his skills are far beyond the rest of the tour other than Nadal that he won't lose his number 1 spot.

Players like Blake, Berdych, along with other power hitters give nadal fits on hardcourts because Nadal's topspin no longer poses a great threat as it does on clay. It lands into these power hitters strike zones exactly where they like it.

 

is nadal the most ripped tennis player ever? i can't believe how skinny federer is compared to him. maybe a little more upper body strength will get him over the hump?

 

Tennis is not really about strength.

 

Nadal will become number one eventually. Grass was his worst surface and then he made the final at Wimbledon and he is 2-2 against Federer on hard courts. Federer can be beat at the US and Australian, I think he will remain unbeatable at Wimbledon for the next two years in addition to this year and then I don't think he will win another major afterwards. I think he finishes with 14 Slams. 3 more Wimbledons and a US open.

 

Ok you got a deal.

Lets say if he leaves the number one position (for 1 week) before 31 december 2008 you win the bet.

I'm curious to see who will win. I also think Nadal will eventually become nr one but only after Federer has lost interest(or when he decides he wil only focus on Roland Garros).

 

Granted he got to the wimbledon final and that is a great achievement but he had a very weak draw. That wasn't his fault but the likelihood of it happening again is slim. He was able to change his game to suit the grass somewhat but it really messed him up for the rest of the year where he slumped and had some early exits where Federer was able to clean up. Federer's game doesn't have to change much. He is the rock to everyone's scissors, but unfortunately Nadal is the paper to Federer's rock. Nadal is going to have to have more of an impact in the hardcourt season in order to catch the number 1. Federer has over a 2000 point lead on the number 2 spot and Nadal actually lost some points this clay court season for losing to Federer @ Hamburg while Federer actually gained a few points for defending his points at the FO but gaining some by beating nadal at Hamburg. Nadal will lose some points if he can't make it to the final of wimbledon that's for sure.

Fed is consistent all year round. Nadal is King of the clay but he is more vulnerable the rest of year moreso than Fed.

 

Nadal has 6 wins and 1 loss against Federer on clay. This loss isn't a mark of Federer's decline.

 

I'm not expecting this decline because of this loss, although I do think it messed with his confidence. In that 4th set, Federer just looked like he had already lost despite having every chance to win it. I'm basing my thought of his decline on his age and the fact that I believe that Nadal is getting better.

 

I'm curious if either of you even remember making this bet last year. With Federer only winning one title so far, this could be a very close bet.

 

Thought I would bump this thread because the title is appropriate.

Nadal absolutely destroyed, obliterated, whooped, whatever you wanna call it Federer today. The match wasn't even close at any point during the final.

I don't think Roger will ever win a French Open title as long as Nadal is in the game.

EDIT: I apologize. Didn't see the other thread when I searched Nadal's name.

 

Arno_ed has officially lost this bet. Nadal will become the number one player later this month, regardless of what happens.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3515564

 

Wow impressive, I didn't think anyone but me and Kyrodis would remember this bet.

I remembered the bet and when Federer got destroyed in Roland Garros I was getting woried.

I will hold my end of the bargain and make the donation this week.