Nice blog but I dont think being injured should be counted as a slump(especially if the guy beat nalbandian few days ago) I think Gaudio would need a great atmosphere to win(like how coria took a set from robredo at RG) but I dont think he is ready to get atp level wins yet; I would love to be proven wrong though

well the (Players looking to resurrect their games) makes it applicable. That's why I have it in there. It's not necessarily players who are slumping.

Dare to take me on in making Barcelona picks, fill out the whole bracket:

http://rdatp.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/barcelona-fill-out-t he-bracket/

gotta hand it to orion, making another gutsy pick

last week Berdych, this time SEPPI in the semifinals

Thats nothing, I picked Söderling over Ferrer :D

your welcome for not mentioning that. That is a TERRIBLE pick. :-)

Ricky's pick: Gabashvili over Soderling in 2

Lets keep that here when soderling wins comfortably on tuesday. Go Robin make me proud! :D

Round 1 picks:

Gil over Lu in 3
Rochus over Devilder in 2
Hernych over Gasquet in 3
Almagro over Hanescu in 2
Bellucci over Chela in 3
Ferrero over Kunitsyn in 3
Canas over Clement in 2
Granollers over Ventura in 2
Nieminen over F. Lopez in 2
Stepanek over Garcia-Lopez in 3
Montanes over Tipsarevic in 3
Youzhny over Troicki in 3
Gaudio over Junqueira in 3
Gicquel over A. Martin in 2
Andreev over Seppi in 3
Gabashvili over Soderling in 2
Starace over Gulbis in 2
Kukushkin over Riba-Madrid in 2
Acasuso over Sela in 2
Fognini over Gimeno-Traver in 2
Monaco over Safin in 3
Vassallo Arguello over Berdych in 3
Hernandez over Schwank in 2
Mathieu over N. Lapentti in 3

I posted my predictions.Somehow,I'm predicting Monaco to go to finals but I don't know why,it's just my feeling...

He should at least beat Safin, but Monaco has a tough draw the whole way.

picks of the round 2 matchups that are already set:

Round 2 picks:
Nadal over Gil in 2
Almagro over Chela in 3
Kunitsyn over Nalbandian in 3
Andreev over Martin in 2
Ferrer over Kukushkin in 2
Gonzalez over Acasuso in 3

Rafa's playing Madrid and Barcelona both! That's nuts! It seems like he thinks that Rolland Garros #5 is too easy, so he wants to make life as tough for himself as he can. I really hope he does not get injured or tired and then loose to Murray or Djokovic while on the cusp of making history.

For some reason, Borg's records have a tendency not to be broken. Can the spaniard do it?

Are you sure Nadal's playing Madrid? I didn't think he would. In his interviews,he always talks about Barcelona and Rome but not Madrid...

sister - he is officially still in it. He has mentioned Madrid at least briefly in interviews - and has not said that he isn't playing.

But he also said "you never know,no?" So,I assumed that he's not that committed to that event.
Anyway Ricky,I trust you and if this is true,that would be a terrible preparation for Roland Garros.I hope he and Uncle Toni will give the right decision.

sisterofnight12( nice nick) and RickyDimon,

There was an interview on Spanish website in which Rafa said that there's no reason NOT to play Madrid unless he's injured. He said it's a mandatory event for the ranking points and he would love to play as long as he is healthy.

Also keep in mind that he's not been playing his best since Australian Open 09. It's pretty clear that the sharp angles, flat pacy ground strokes, and consistent clever serving that befuddled Federer in the Australian Open 09 are missing from Nadal's arsena at this time. He also has much higher than normal unforced errors in almost all his matches in Indian Wells, Miami and in Monte Carlo.

I personally think it is very important for Rafa to rest and regain his form before Rolland Garros. If he doesn't do that, then maybe this year is the best opportunity for other players to beat him. It's up to Murray and Djokovic to raise their game. They will never get a better chance to do the impossible.

whatever happens, his preparation was even WORSE last year, and he was more dominant than ever at Roland Garros. The end result will be the same this time around. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks Ricky. I like the confidence you have in Rafa. Hope things work out as you say.

The clay season is way too convoluted with events and Nadal only makes it worse by playing five events in six weeks..

The ATP also makes it difficult because you have to play four mandatory 500 level events.. (Barcelona is a 500), although I don't know if this would change Rafa's desire to play the event or not.

Albeit, Nadal will sweep through Barcelona without dropping a set..

Ricky,you make me more relaxed about Rafa :) Thanks...

it would be much easier if Nadal just skipped Barca instead of Madrid. But now that he is playing Barca, he should skip Madrid.

Ricky: Nadal would never skip Barca. He said as much: That it is his homeclub and he would never miss it for the world. A victory over in Barca would be very important to him.

If he missed madrid , he has 3 weeks off before the french Open. Which is not good. Particularly, because he's a rhythm player. The best scheduling would have been to miss Barca. Unfortunately, Rafa would never do that.

He could have skipped rome then

Orion- It's mandatory... He cant skip either unless he's injured.

Fiberlight - yes he can. A small fine won't affect him at all. He is not struggling financially.

Ricky..

I mean, of course he can.. but do you really think Nadal would do that? Nadal wouldn't skip an event if he had a broken leg.

To win the French Open? Sure he would. He's strongly considering, in fact!

Ricky- I hope! As I said in another post.. the clay season is way too convoluted with events... even though it isn't as bad as last year!

He could skip Rome simply because he does not "need" the points and he's only defending a 2R there anyway.

If he skips one it will be Madrid. Heart says he will. Head says he won't.

Round 2 picks:
Nadal over Gil in 2
Gasquet over Rochus in 3
Almagro over Chela in 3
Kunitsyn over Nalbandian in 3
Davydenko over Clement in 2
Lopez over Ventura in 3
Stepanek over Tipsarevic in 3
Wawrinka over Youzhny in 3
Robredo over Gaudio in 2
Andreev over Martin in 2
Soderling over Starace in 2
Ferrer over Kukushkin in 2
Gonzalez over Acasuso in 3
Monaco over Gimeno-Traver in 2
Berdych over Hernandez in 2
Verdasco over Lapentti in 3

There's also the issue of Madrid being at a very high altitude, having slightly different court speed and not at all being the ideal preparation to RG. So it makes sense to skip Madrid. Rome and Hamburg are both considered better. That said, Rafa is only defending R2 in Rome, so he could skip that from the ranking consideration. But I know he won't coz everyone is playing there. The fine to skip Madrid is close to a million bucks as far as I've heard.

I have a feeling that he will attend all the events. I just hope he does not end up with blisters or tendinitis in RG.The only one who can beat him on clay is himself. He's on the cusp of a historic record. He MUST win #5. It will be a pity if he won't. I don't think we'll see anyone else who's capable of doing so anytime soon.

Defending points won't have any bearing on his decision. He is in no danger of losing the No. 1 ranking anytime soon. At the end of this year, last year's results will be irrelevant, and all he needs to worry about in terms of ranking is the end of this year.

Nadal's scheduling is just ridiculous.He should have skipped Barcelona,I know he wouldn't but still...Or he should skip Madrid!
It just would be pity if he goes to Roland Garros too tired mentally or physically.It would be pity if something happens and he cannot break the record,he deserves it more than anyone.

Borg's records have a tendency not to be broken! Federer could not do it too. I have a bad feeling again this time. Rafa's making things as hard for himself as he can!

I agree that the only player that can defeat Rafa on clay this year, again, is the schedule he chooses to play.

Since the start of his 81 streak back, what is it now, 4 years ago?, he has only been defeated once in 2007 (in Hamburg when he was clearly out of steam) and once in 2008 (in Rome with that huge blister). I don't believe what Rafa said about Andy's chances at RG this year. And this is clay we're talking about, the surface that if I'm not mistaken is the toughest to consistently win on.

Maybe next year or maybe in 2011 someone will come forward or will have improved enough to seriously threaten an in-form Nadal, but I don't see it happen this year.

So here's hoping it won't be the schedule that will make him loose on clay this year.

I, personally, don't think Rafa would put his RG chances at risk for a smaller tournament. He's playing Barca for more reasons than ranking points and money and I feel he thinks the same way about RG. Madrid has always been the one tour that he has been back and forth as far as committment. I'm tending to think that he might skip Madrid if he decides to skip one. Whatever he and his team decide, I will support him and wish him the best of luck!

Why are you guys so worried about Nadal's schedule?!! He knows better than ANYONE what he is physically and mentally capable of!!

Might it not occur to you guys that perhaps Nadal really loves this game and it may not matter to him like to us whether he wins or loses RG?!!

We so wnat Rafa to win.....if I didnt know better I would think that this win is more OUR dream than his!!

Take it easy guys....he will be fine!! This is his sixth year on this circuit.....give him SOME credit!!

Round 3 picks were:
Nadal over Rochus in 2
Nalbandian over Almagro in 3
Davydenko over Lopez in 2
Wawrinka over Stepanek in 3
Robredo over Andreev in 2
Ferrer over Starace in 2
Gonzalez over Monaco in 3
Verdasco over Berdych in 2

Quarterfinal picks are:
Davydenko of Stepanek in 2
Ferrer over Robredo in 3
Verdasco over Gonzalez in 3

Mona,
I don't question Nadal and his team's ability to decide on the schedule.

It remains that some years it catches up with him. In 2007 he played Hamburg in good part to help preserve its status on the masters circuit. In 2008 the compressed hard court and claycourt season could be faulted for that blister without which everyone was expecting him to get a fourth consecutive Rome title. These may sound like excuses but they were just physical facts of playing 5 matches most weeks out of several months. And this is Madrid's maden year for a spring time clay match, which is why his participation would rank high for that tournament. Otherwise he might have more easily not even have enrolled.

Nadal was the player who at a young age declared he wanted to achieve a lot more than being number one. From everything I've seen of him I suspects he wants to set nearly impossible historic records at Rolland Garros more or less as much as achieving a golden career slam, i.e. winning the US Open once. Getting a fifth straight RG is huge.

At 22 he has already achieved so much more than merely the coveted No.1 crown. He has raised the bar for how to conduct yourself in the cut-throat competive world of tennis: he is by far the most dedicated, sporting, fair-minded, well adjusted, humourous, generous-minded champion we have seen for many a decade. To boot he has never lost sight of the fact that tennis is a spectator sport and gives of his utmost every time he sets foot on the court.

chlorostoma: I disagree he is out to break records. He is gratified when he does but I dont believe it is foremost in his mind. He focuses on one match at a time with the intention of winning if he can. It is as simple as that.

My Rome bracket:

Round 1 picks:
Seppi over Querrey in 3
Soderling over Granollers in 3
Blake over Crivoi in 3
Tsonga over Gasquet in 2
Almagro over Gulbis in 2
Andreev over Fish in 2
Monaco over Kiefer in 2
Rochus over Chela in 3
Cilic over Cipolla in 2
Gonzalez over Chardy in 2
Acasuso over Tipsarevic in 3
Benneteau over Melzer in 2
Troicki over Hanescu in 3
Youzhny over Gimeno-Traver in 3
Wawrinka over Kunitsyn in 2
Robredo over Safin in 3
Kohlschreiber over Bolelli in 3
Montanes over Starace in 3
Fognini over Volandri in 2
Zverev over Berdych in 3
Ferrer over Mathieu in 2
Stepanek over Serra in 3
Bellucci over Lopez in 3
Hernych over Karlovic in 3

Round 2 picks:
Nadal over Seppi 2
Soderling over Blake in 3
Almagro over Tsonga in 3
Verdasco over Andreev in 2
Murray over Monaco in 3
Cilic over Rochus in 2
Gonzalez over Acasuso in 2
Davydenko over Benneteau in 2
Del Potro over Troicki in 2
Wawrinka over Youzhny in 2
Robredo over Kohlschreiber in 2
Djokovic over Montanes in 2
Simon over Fognini in 3
Ferrer over Zverev in 2
Stepanek over Bellucci in 2
Federer over Hernych in 2

Round 3 picks:
Nadal over Soderling in 2
Verdasco over Almagro in 2
Murray over Cilic in 2
Gonzalez over Davydenko in 3
Del Potro over Wawrinka in 3
Djokovic over Robredo in 2
Ferrer over Simon in 2
Federer over Stepanek in 2

Quarterfinals:
Nadal over Verdasco in 2
Murray over Gonzalez in 3
Djokovic over Del Potro in 2
Federer over Ferrer in 3

Semifinals:
Nadal over Murray in 2
Federer over Djokovic in 3

Final:
Nadal over Federer in 2

nice predictions ricky...............

ed:
"He is gratified when he does but I dont believe it is foremost in his mind. He focuses on one match at a time with the intention of winning if he can. It is as simple as that."

I completly agree with you ... he plays every match and every point one point and one match at a time. He does his utmost, his very best for most points in a every match (even with a terrible blister that one day :-), and does not take any match, let alone tournament, for granted.

He is indeed one of the best example in modern times within sports or other disciplines of a person who works the hardest and smartest, consistently (and in his case as much during practice as in matches) to reach for and come as near as possible to his potential.

Talent is a great thing to have and without it you have no chance to get into the, say, top 50 male / female tennis players of the world. But talent is probably only 10% of what you need. Hard work, intelligently done, with love (yes: love) for your discipline does not make up the 90% of the rest but does make up some of the most important part of the rest. (Federer also has also put in an astonishing amount of work on his tennis over the years, taking years to wittle down nearly every weakness he had. Nole and Andy have also been working very hard for years, as all the other top players.)

Rafa not only loves to play tennis deeply, and takes to the work and play as a fish in water, but he also really loves to compete, loves to compete in everything he does, as he's mentioned in casual interviews. (And when he has to really reach deep and fight with everything he has in some matches there does not seem anything in him resisting this necessity, here too he seems to be like a fish in the water.)

I wrote about him wanting to break records not to take away from any of the above statements. Both aspects are true for Nadal. He demonstrates in his words and actions that you can't bank on breaking certain records on a given year, that you have to just do your utmost in each match and let those records come that will. But make no mistake: at the same time he is as keen on them as Federer and other players who have such potential.

In that post I was referring to something Carlos Moya said in an interview about 2 years ago. That in his early days of mentoring Nadal they had a conversation about Moya having reached number one in the world. Carlos asked boy Rafael whether he aspired to do the same one day. With full sincerity and the innocence of youth Rafa answered no, he wanted a lot more than that.

I don't believe that this dream has changed. What has changed is that years ago he did not know he could achieve, only that he was going to work his heart out trying. And until a year or two ago neither he nor anyone else knew whether he would ever be quite good enough on grass and hardcourt to be a very serious threat to the best players. Now he and we know that he will yet improve on those surfaces and possibly by a lot.

chlorostoma: Thanks for the elegant and civilised response. It makes a welcome change after the low level of debate on the some of the other threads! We clearly share the same view of this remarkable young man.

yeah.......elegant,civilized nd really really long response....lolz......really nice to have some people here who really appreciate his achievements......its just hard to find any more superlatives for rafa.....too gr8 a person

thank you,
I wish I'd written it with fewer words, but that takes a lot more work yet :-)

You stated it perfectly chlorostoma! And ed too! Rafa talks confidently, BUT he never underestimates his opponents regardless of their rank. He has said many times, anything can happen on a given day. One person on that court will win and one will lose. Plus, I know that he will fight for the win and never give up til that last ball is played.

yeah fan4tennis,rafa's mentality is of a warrior nd not of a prince's,he always plays each point like its now or never,thats y its so tough to beat him,coz he never gives away cheap points

Vrael let me go one further Nadals mentality it like a warrior prince. And i agree with all the earlier post Nadal as brought a lot to tennis not on as a tennis player bu as an individual. And i believe thats what attracted so many fans. Nadals fans are not loyal to him based solely on the way he playes his game. With so much emotion and passion for it, but because of his great personality. After his done with tennis he will always have that and thats why we will always love and respect the guy.

wow......topdog,u stole my words.....lolzzz

An avid Nadal fan just like all you guys out there. And we all understand each other. LOL
So do not mind me if i steal your words, thoughts and feeling once in a while. lol

Was just looking around the internet and found an interview that Bjorn Borg gave back in 2001. Some would say that it's too old to have any significance but this was done "before Rafa" and "before Fed." He talks of the same issues that are present today. Even back then he said the players were quicker, taller and stronger so that didn't start with just Rafa. If Borg saw it, why didn't anyone else see it and adjust accordingly? He complained that he found tennis boring now because it was mostly big serves, a return and the point was over. He suggested that the courts could be slowed down(which they have been) to help the game BUT that in the end, you can stop a sport from evolving. It has evolved and people have to learn to adjust. He skipped the AO many times as a personal choice because of the schedule and he needed time to himself. (Schedule still is bad now).

He felt you could not be a complete player unless you could handle all surfaces. Rafa has definitely proved that. He also said that his advice to Sampras (who was chasing RG) was that clay is the toughest surface to win on. It is the most draining and the toughest slam. Unless you have lots of mental and physical strength, you won't do good on clay.

Many consider Borg as one of the GOAT. I just felt that his words can't be as easily dismissed as some since he is one of the GOAT. This was all before Rafa and Roger entered the equation so it shows that these issues are nothing new to tennis. So it's not like he is a Fed or Rafa fan and said these things because of that!

Sorry for the long post but I found it very interesting, especially when you consider how the game is today.

Here is the link to the article:

www.rediff.com/sports/2001/may/12borg.htm