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Let's Talk About The Great Great Rafael Nadal
Posted on 6/12/19 at 11:32 pm
Posted on 6/12/19 at 11:32 pm
Rafa just won his 12th French Open, and it seems like it's barely even newsworthy. I feel like people are so used to him winning that tournament that it's basically "ho hum" when he does it yet again.
But let's take a step back. Dude has won the French Open 12 MF'ing times!
Is there any sports analog to this accomplishment? I'm struggling to come up with anything that is remotely comparable. Is there anything that is remotely comparable?
I mean, obviously we will never EVER see this done again in the sport of tennis. But across all sports...what compares?
If we go beyond RG, and look at all best of five set matches he has played on clay, his record is 118-2. Yes, you read that correctly. That's 98.3%.
I think the fact that his mastery on this surface is barely newsworthy is telling in and of itself. He's so good on it that his winning is an expectation. Something everybody knew was going to happen, so what is there to discuss?
I think Rafa will be more appreciated historically than he is in the present. But of course I'm a Rafa fan, so I suppose I would think this. Anyway, I just wanted to float this topic. I don't think it's gotten the attention it probably warrants.
ETA: I initially had his five set clay record listed as 106-2. I got that from tennis abstract, but it is clearly wrong as various other sources have it as 118-2. Not sure what tennis abstract is missing.
ETA2: It appears that they haven't updated the numbers to include this year's RG. That accounts for 7 of the missing wins. Not sure where the other 5 went.
But let's take a step back. Dude has won the French Open 12 MF'ing times!
Is there any sports analog to this accomplishment? I'm struggling to come up with anything that is remotely comparable. Is there anything that is remotely comparable?
I mean, obviously we will never EVER see this done again in the sport of tennis. But across all sports...what compares?
If we go beyond RG, and look at all best of five set matches he has played on clay, his record is 118-2. Yes, you read that correctly. That's 98.3%.
I think the fact that his mastery on this surface is barely newsworthy is telling in and of itself. He's so good on it that his winning is an expectation. Something everybody knew was going to happen, so what is there to discuss?
I think Rafa will be more appreciated historically than he is in the present. But of course I'm a Rafa fan, so I suppose I would think this. Anyway, I just wanted to float this topic. I don't think it's gotten the attention it probably warrants.
ETA: I initially had his five set clay record listed as 106-2. I got that from tennis abstract, but it is clearly wrong as various other sources have it as 118-2. Not sure what tennis abstract is missing.
ETA2: It appears that they haven't updated the numbers to include this year's RG. That accounts for 7 of the missing wins. Not sure where the other 5 went.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 4:39 am
13
Posted on 6/12/19 at 11:57 pm to MidnightVibe
quote:The Pats winning the AFC East 10000000x in a row
Is there any sports analog to this accomplishment?
Posted on 6/13/19 at 12:12 am to MidnightVibe
I wish more people watched and understood his dominance on clay.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 12:30 am to MidnightVibe
I remember when tennis was fun.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 12:31 am to MidnightVibe
Miguel Indurain say, Spanish doping system been berry berry good to us.
Not so much the Swiss.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 12:55 am to MidnightVibe
quote:
I think Rafa will be more appreciated historically than he is in the present.
So will Usain Bolt when in a 100 years, no one comes close to a triple double. Wouldn't surprise me if his 100m record still stood at that time.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 1:09 am to MidnightVibe
Good thread. Rafa on clay is, at least for me, the single most dominant thing I've ever seen in sports.
And I'm not even that big of a tennis fan.
And I'm not even that big of a tennis fan.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 1:11 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 3:51 am to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
quote:
Not so much the Swiss.
You don't know how doping works.
What do you think is a better indicator of potential PED use:
(a) bicep muscles in a sport where bicep muscles do very little?
(b) Or a second prime at the age of 37 after a period of 6 years without winning a major?
Take as much time as you need. I know you are busy arguing that Vince Young is better than Michael Vick or some other similar silliness.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 3:54 am to Amadeo
quote:
o will Usain Bolt when in a 100 years, no one comes close to a triple double. Wouldn't surprise me if his 100m record still stood at that time.
Agreed. And great example. Dude wasn't just winning races; he was like a 6th grader racing against 4th graders.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 3:55 am to VerlanderBEAST
quote:
The Pats winning the AFC East 10000000x in a row
Different team every year.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:07 am to MidnightVibe
The Braves winning 14 straight division titles is the only thing I can compare it to.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:10 am to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
quote:
Miguel Indurain say, Spanish doping system been berry berry good to us.
I'm sorry, I can't leave this brilliance hanging without a reply.
So, a Spanish guy who, in the early 90s, reaches the pinnacle of a sport where LITERALLY EVERY TOP PROFESSIONAL IS DOPING is your evidence of a "Spanish doping system". Seriously? That's the best you got?
I don't have adequate skill with the English to properly articulate how little I value any of your terrible terrible opinions. All of your takes are actively retarded and should be summarily dismissed, and openly mocked, by all who read them.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:29 am to MidnightVibe
Overall match winning percentages on clay:
Rafael Nadal: 436-39 (92%)
Bjorn Borg: 251-41 (86%)
Ivan Lendl: 329-75 (81%)
Thomas Muster: 426–127 (77%)
Gustava Kuerten: 255-123 (67%)
Most Wins At A Single Major:
Rafael Nadal, RG: 12
Roger Federer, Wimby: 8
Novak Djokovic: Aussie: 7
Pete Sampras, Wimby: 7
On the female side:
Margaret Court, Aussie: 11*
Martina Navratilova, Wimby: 9**
____________
*this really shouldn't be on the list as this was an amateur championship and, during her time, was essentially little more than an australian national championship.
**and she had nobody to play against who was worth their weight in dogshit on grass until Steffi Graf came around, and as soon as that happened, Graf started beating her.
Rafael Nadal: 436-39 (92%)
Bjorn Borg: 251-41 (86%)
Ivan Lendl: 329-75 (81%)
Thomas Muster: 426–127 (77%)
Gustava Kuerten: 255-123 (67%)
Most Wins At A Single Major:
Rafael Nadal, RG: 12
Roger Federer, Wimby: 8
Novak Djokovic: Aussie: 7
Pete Sampras, Wimby: 7
On the female side:
Margaret Court, Aussie: 11*
Martina Navratilova, Wimby: 9**
____________
*this really shouldn't be on the list as this was an amateur championship and, during her time, was essentially little more than an australian national championship.
**and she had nobody to play against who was worth their weight in dogshit on grass until Steffi Graf came around, and as soon as that happened, Graf started beating her.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 4:50 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:48 am to MidnightVibe
quote:
a second prime at the age of 37 after a period of 6 years without winning a major?
well to be fair, it's not like he was done. he was routinely making finals during that 6 year run
also, your thread indirectly celebrates Fed's amazing career as the GOAT b/c but-for the freakshow of Nadal on clay, he'd have even more majors (b/c Fed was the undisputed #2 on clay for large parts of Nadal's career)
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:55 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
also, your thread indirectly celebrates Fed's amazing career as the GOAT b/c but-for the freakshow of Nadal on clay, he'd have even more majors (b/c Fed was the undisputed #2 on clay for large parts of Nadal's career)
I don't think I'm following your logic. Every player would win every tournament but for those players that happen to be better than them.
Are you giving Nadal credit for the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon titles as well? Can we toss in 2011 Wimbledon as well? Because nobody was beating Djoker that year.
Should I stop there? Or does the silliness of your point require further illustration?
Posted on 6/13/19 at 4:58 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
well to be fair, it's not like he was done. he was routinely making finals during that 6 year run
And by "routinely making finals" you mean "made 3 finals".
It may be that I don't know what routinely means, to be fair.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 5:40 am to MidnightVibe
quote:
Every player would win every tournament but for those players that happen to be better than them.
but Nadal wasn't better than Fed overall (look at the hardware). however, he had this incredible idiosyncrasy on clay that shut out an entire generation and a half of elite players on the surface. that includes Fed, who was the undisputed #2 on clay for much of Nadal's career
basically Fed's legacy was tarnished a bit by a freak show with outlier results on one surface. like running into an autistic specialist of some game/skill who can't do anything else in life well but can't be beaten at that one skill
Posted on 6/13/19 at 5:41 am to MidnightVibe
quote:
And by "routinely making finals" you mean "made 3 finals".
It may be that I don't know what routinely means, to be fair.
sorry. semis. the horror
Posted on 6/13/19 at 6:50 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
basically Fed's legacy was tarnished a bit by a freak show with outlier results on one surface
:hesrightyouknow:
Posted on 6/13/19 at 6:56 am to MidnightVibe
The King of Clay
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