re: Official Wimbledon 2011 Thread

That's basically how I feel, but it pisses some of his fans on here off. Nadal has still never defended a title off of clay

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He only beat Fed twice in 5 set matches outside of clay. They're 2-2 off of clay.

5 years is a big age difference in tennis and worked well for both of them.

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Eh, can't take anything away from him. He beat Federer in the slam finals. He'll be remembered for that.

He beat Fed on Federer's surface when they were both pretty much in their primes (Federer could never beat him on clay). Then he followed it up 6 or 7 months later and beat him on hard court.

If you want to swing it another way: Federer never beat Nadal in a slam final off of grass. Nadal beat Federer on all 3 surfaces, when both players were pretty much in their primes.

ETA: And obviously, Nadal was the one who wasn't making the finals a lot of the time. Now, it's Federer who isn't making those finals. So it is sort of evening out, although not completely.

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As far as the GOAT argument.

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I never really got caught up in that argument, I always just thought it was bonus as a fan. Its so hard to judge people with equipment changes, who some people have to play and all the different courts. I'm perfectly happy, as a fan, with Nadal being one of the greatest 5 players of all time. Also Nadal JUST turned 25, he has a lot of career ahead of him.

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I don't know if you can call 27 somebody's prime

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I can, and I will.

He was right there, if not still in his prime. And if you want to look at it that way, Nadal wasn't really in his prime in 2006 and 2007 when he lost to Federer at Wimbledon at the ages of 20 and 21. The point is, both were close. Federer was probably closer.

But just to clarify, Federer is the better historical player, as of now. No doubt in my mind. I don't like to take anything away from a player though. Nadal has earned everything he's won, and he's beaten Federer head-to-head in the slam finals. It is what it is.

Hopefully Nadal can still win a few more on clay and maybe take another Wimbledon title at some point down the line. I also think he could compete at the Australian Open on the slower hard court and make another final or two there. But it'll be hard for him to win as long as Djokovic and Del Potro are around.

Del Potro is about to join the group of top players, along with Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray, IMO.

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I hope Murray never wins one.

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Would be ideal.

Federer's fault was that he was good enough to make the finals on his worst surface and play against a player that was the best on that surface of all time. If Nadal was good enough to make the finals against Federer on hard court and grass consistently, then the head to head would look a lot different.

The same 4 are basically making the semis of every tournament. Is the competition really that much tougher? Marty fish will be no. 8 in the rankings tomorrow. Is he really that much stronger than the no 8 was in fed'svprime?

Is it just me or is Nadal one of the slowest players ever? The constant wiping down with the towel after every single ball is annoying

Can't believe what I witnessed this morning. Rafa just got owned. Nole deserves every ounce of that trophy.

Had you told me on Friday that Maria and Rafa would both lose I would've laughed in your face. Watching my babe Maria and that Kvitova was like watching Beauty and the Beast. Ugh.

Nole has always been a favorite of mine, just never thought he would win. Good for him and good for the #1 ranking.

Wow. I guess anything can happen at Wimbledon.

THAT'S MY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DJOKOVIC CHAMPION! #1 in the world