I told ya this would happen. Golden Swing didn't I say it? I know I'm brilliant! Like I said clay season is coming lol.

First, Rafa has not played the Rotterdam/Dubai tournaments for quite a while now, since 2009. So, this replacing the hard court tournaments post AO with the SA clay swing is just nonsense. Playing the SA clay court swing without skipping IW/Miami defeats the purpose, meaning he's playing more events instead of cutting down his schedule. IMO, a wiser way of doing it is to play a clay 500 event in SA, then skip one of IW/Miami, so that he has more time to rest before the European clay court swing. Next, alternate between Madrid and Barcelona, so that he plays a maximum of only four instead of five clay events this period.

He may also consider skipping one of Canada/Cincy, or one of Shanghai/Paris. He may even consider playing at Hamburg for a 500 event during the year when he skips the Asian swing. That way, he may play three 500 events and gets one zero pointer. All these can be planned so that he skips one Masters, and from 2014, skips two Masters, balancing his clay/grass and hard courts events to 45/55 or even 50/50 during the season.

Second, he may do the full SA clay court swing like Ferrer or Almagro are doing now, but only when he's getting older, say 28/29, and skips even more hard court events, but for now, he may just skip some hard court Masters and cuts down his playing schedule from 17 to 16 or even 15 events without taking in more clay court events. After all, he still wants to concentrate on winning slams, and on all surfaces. Also, there're markets he can't simply ignore, like the big Asian market, so he may still have to play the hard courts events there but in alternate years.

You know what kills me? This rabid Fed fan who is once again obsessed with Rafa to the exclusion of all else! Did this article say that Rafa will only play on clay? No! Yet this character is patting himself on the back for being supposedly clairvoyant!

A reasonable and rational person, meaning someone other than chr18, would realize that Rafa will have to make some decisions about tournaments moving forward. The hard courts are very hard on his knees. So he may decide to include a few clay court tournaments, but the idea that he will forgo the slams or some hard court tournaments is quite absurd.

I wouldn't get too excited if I was the one who wrote that embarrassingly bad poetry about Sod beating Rafa in the 2010 RG final. Then we were blessed to have chr18 disappear rather than have to face being called out for his nonsensical prediction. The only reason he's back is because of Fed's resurgence and Rafa being out hurt again.

This is what motivates someone like chr18. It's obsessive hatred for a player he will never meet, who doesn't know him and never will. Now that's a waste of life!

Who said he "will forgo the slams"? Where did you read that?

Now now, NNY, you're not actually paying attention to crap18's drivel, are you? Seriously, there are matches going on at the moment, now go use your time more wisely!

I'm just hanging out for more bad soderling poetry!

Um it's raining so there are no matches going on live. As suspected you don't actually watch tennis do you?

Haha, as suspected, doc18, you don't actually spend that much time with family, do you.

Geez, doc, I thought that you would be able to read more critically. Where does the article say that Rafa is considering a move to more clay events.

The opening statement from lindtall is pure speculation. Note the use of the word "may" and lack of any source.

His only sources are some clay event organizers who say, when prompted, that they'd love to have him.

Brilliant.

#Shocker
#NothingNew
#Shhh...TheDoctorIsOut(of TouchWithReality)
#Humble

Conspirator, leave the talentless illiterate alone, it has enough problems already as you can see.

why the heck would Nadal play the Golden Swing?

He is not going to play Rotterdam and Dubai because those are worthless right after the Aussie Open and before IW and Miami. He doesn't need to REPLACE those with anything. He just needs to NOT play those nor anything else.

Hahahahaha!

They can't stop talking about Rafa, the life and soul of the ATP!

Yes much like jean can't stop talking about Roger, the Greatest Of All Time...
I think jean is a closet Federer fan! After all, I think I've seen more articles, clips, and information about Roger from jean than any other poster here. Lots of obscure sources (read: takes lots of time researching Federer to find them) too..
I'm still not quite believing he/she/it actually watches tennis...
And I'm with scoretracker. "Andy Roddick has more personality in his little finger than your precious Rafa will ever have in his whole life." Deal with it, loser.

^^^ahem, touched a nerve, did I? Lot's of anger there. YOU need to deal with that, love. You sound bitter, a quality most associated with losers.

Hahahahaha!

SMH yes rafaisthebest I was clearly addressing you and your comments

ritb,

This person is going on all the topic threads and urging on the trolls and their hatespeak. Just doing a little instigating. Probably out of boredom.

Take a chill pill ts38 and go figure out what is really upsetting you in your life.....and deal with it.

Good luck with that.

nny, I know. Doubt it's boredom though. Sounds more like Vamos syndrome!

who's more foolish the fool or the fool(s) that follow it? Cute how you're reading my amusement as some kind of obsession for Nadal...

The bottom line is Rafa is box office on any surface. I have a feeling they knew he would be out for the rest of the season from the off, but sponsors and organizers wanted to keep the illusion going for as long as possible to sell tickets for events like Toronto, Cincy and the USO. They couldn't keep the suspense going for much longer so they had to come clean.

The SKY commies commented on the lack of enthusiasm at practice courts in NY because Rafa is not there. They say when he is around the buzz is palpable because sooooooooo many people throng there and that's not happening this year.

Well you don't have to go far to note the lack of enthusiasm, nadline. Just check the traffic (or lack thereof) on this very site, during a Slam! What traffic of note there is, is conversation about Rafa!

rafaisthebest, 9/5/12 8:44 AM,

Thanks! I like that term! Vamos syndrome! Yep, sure looks like it to me! Thanks, doctor for your diagnosis! :)


ts38, 9/5/12 8:47 AM,

No I think it's just a desire to stir the pot and make trouble! Nothing out of the ordinary!

I agree with lucky and Ricky on this...Rafa anyway a while ago chose not to play stupid Rotterdam and those Dubai fast courts so this article indeed makes no sense...I wonder how Rafa is doing on golf courts? Maybe those obsessed Fed fans could do some research on this just to keep them going since they can't seem to be able to get Rafa out of their system...

Bullseye, natashao @9:49am!

I see NNY did not answer my question. Clearly she made it up. I also see that jean does not deny not watching tennis. No surprise there.

Conspirator,
If Nadal wants to stay in the top 4 he'll be in South America. Watch and see.

Thiese are Johan Lindhal's ruminations about Rafa, nothing new there. Why anyone would want to make an argument out of them is beyond me........

You guys could find a way to argue about anything. Sheesh.

^^^you said, cheryl............

Should read, you said it, Cheryl

I don't know why so many people on this site who do not like Rafa in any shape or form would go to such lengths to post continuously about him. It actually borders on stalker mentality IMO.

I am a Rafa fan first and foremost and to be honest I do not care for Fed but I very rarely interact with Fed fans about him.

If I hated someone as much as some of you seem to hate Rafa then you would do well for your health and well being to give it up as I am sure it causes you undue stress to constantly think about something that annoys you so much. Let it go and move elsewhere please as we Rafans do really not like or appreciate your continuous and unrelenting Rafa bashing which, by the way seems to have increased since Fed has had success and Rafa has been off injured.

The nicer Fed fans, and it is nice that there are some who post on here, never behave like this.

I don't like getting into these discussions but I have just about had enough of your constant diatrade against someone who has done nothing to warrant your level of hatred. But then perhaps this will fall on deaf ears as you are most probably like that in your real life otherwise you would not be able to come out with the stuff that you do, and this is a waste of time. You can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink I guess.

I am done & dusted. No doubt I will be lambasted but I felt the need to speak up for a person I respect and admire. Vamos Rafa & get well soon, we miss you.

doc18, 9/5/12 12:45 PM

I guess the doctorate isn't in math. Rafa won't keep his ranking by playing a series of 250 and one 500 tournaments.

#PureSpeculation

cherylmurray, 9/5/12 1:18 PM

Well, cheryl, if Lindt-all can write about nothing, then we'll find a way to debate about nothing, haha.

#TabloidPiece

Nadal, being a top 30 player, must play in all the slams, all 9 masters and at least 4 ATP-500 tournaments and one or 2 ATP-250 tournament, from which one ATP-500 tournament must take place after the USO. Monte Carlo counts as a ATP 500-tournament. Unless a player is injured, he can skip that. Otherwise Nadal will get penalties and fines.

So he can skip Doha and play the Golden Swing. Adding a 250 and a 500 tournament to his tournament count. Add Halle, Monte carlo, Tokyo and Basel and he's there. Basel is much more smarter scheduling, than playing Barcelona.

I think that the smartest thing to do.

Monte Carlo counts as ATP 1000 not 500.

Playing on clay before IW is just waste of time and energy and means nothing to Rafa...he can do it only for fun or to please South American egos, otherwise he should ignore those...

Basel? Rafa to play Basel and skip Barcelona?!! Ridiculous...This can only be recommended by someone who knows nothing about Rafa...

Actually, I don't believe there is a specific rule in place about playing the majors. The ITF runs the Slams and DC, not the ATP. I think ATP rules about tournament play apply only to ATP tournaments.

Bonker there is so much wrong with that post and for the record Rafa does not have to play all 9 masters. Please check your facts before posting rubbish on here.

Crap18, do you seriously think you mean anything that I feel the need to explain, deny or confirm anything to you? You really need to get a life instead of just checking NY weather and equatign that with watching tennis - but no surprise how you "think". Free tip: There's more to life than that, which is why NNY isn't answering you either. But as you can't read, based on evidence here, maybe you might want to sing your rotten Sod poetry to make you happy. I'm not sure what else you're capable off otehr than obsessing over Rafa every moment but no surprise there either because he's more exciting than Smugalot King Cry Baby.

Yes, there're so much wrong in Bonkers post.

First the players need only play eight, not nine Masters. Also Rafa can skip one mandatory Masters now, as he has already played more than 600 matches. By 2014, he can skip two Masters, as by then he would be in the tours for more than twelve years. Monte Carlo is not a mandatory Masters hence players can skip it if they want. Also winner gets 1000 ranking points but it's counted towards a 500 event fulfillment.

Second, players need to play four 500 events, one of which must be after the USO. However, players not fulfilling four events requirement will get a zero pointer for each missed. So even if Rafa is not playing any 500 event after the USO, he'll only get a zero pointer. Both Fed and Rafa have been falling short of the 500 events requirement when they made only two or three 500 events each year in the recent past.

Third, players are required to play at least two 250 events. The DC points can be countable towards ranking requirement in place of the 500 and 250 events if players fulfilled all their obligations, and their DC points happened to be higher than the countable 500 or 250 events.

So, Rafa and his team can plan his schedule nicely to skip certain hard court events and maximize his chances on clay and grass. As I said before, the mix can be 45/55 or even 50/50 on clay/grass vs hard.

This is the microsoft translation of what Dr Cotorro had to say:

The doctor of the tennis player Rafa Nadal and the Spanish team, Angel Ruiz Cotorro, confidence has assured Wednesday of Manacor "did everything" in order to be in the Olympic Games in London, where he was to be championed and defend the gold from Beijing at the US Open, although his patella tendon of the left knee injury prevented him due to intense pain that will be about two months of Baja.

"Physically he could not play, the pain is high." Rafa supports it very well but is not intended to play with this pain, is strong. "It has tried everything to play games and US Open, has done everything to be there," said Ruiz Cotorro, which announced that it could return to tracks in a month to train at press conference.

However, despite the fact that the number one Spanish always wants to play, its unique feeling is now the forgotten and soon overcome this injury and regain his usual strength prior to injury at Wimbledon, although he was an injury other than the others suffered in the same knee. "Has been the first situation of not being able to play games or US Open and more someone like that is a candidate to win, but now must recover," he said.

Nadal, who has a small break in the patellar tendon, will prevent the operating room because Ruiz Cotorro prefers to make a conservative treatment that will be about two months of low, and a minimum month away from tracks to train.

In addition to the small break, he suffered a patellar enthesopathy, a lesion posterior fibers. At the same time, he suffered a tendinopathy and was then infected fat hoffa surrounding the tendon, causing a hoffitis.

"We try to play the games and US Open, could not be based on a medical treatment, and we have established after the last two tests two weeks ago followed with conservative treatment, the tendon is evolving well but slowly." We completely rule out surgery, during the next month we will make training much physical therapy, combined with Aqua-therapy, laser, and see how evolves. "We consider that in two months, the tendon will be within what we consider normal," he said.

Anyway, they don't want precipitation but that Nadal returns, where it is, to the maximum of their conditions. "You want to play when you can in perfect condition, and not to play a tournament but to have continuity." You have to make a relative, not absolute rest. Swimming is doing. bicycles, physiotherapy, there are things you need to do. "In a period of a month, if tests and developments are positive, you can return to work on track, but it is not the primary objective, as the tendon to recover with its strength always", noted thereon.

In addition, he said that the player would not have to continue to drag this lesion in case recover all. "Is not why most drag this lesion, there have been cases of tendinitis that have been cured in a completely normal way." Rafa wanted to know what had, it is now in a positive line. "When say you you can't play such important competitions never are you happy, but is now eager to recover and return as quickly as possible", concluded.

I keep my fingers crossed that treatment and recovery will all go according to plan so that Rafa will return to work soon.


Vamos

I started replying to Bonker's post but then thought, who cares if he doesn't know what he is talking about, it won't count for a row of beans as far as Rafa's schedule is concerned.

Thanks a lot nadline . Though I don't post much here because of my English, I make sure to read all the posts. I really appreciate the way you support, defend our Rafa. Keep going. Tennis is not what it is, without our dear Rafa. I hope he returns back stronger. Vamosssss Rafa

Calm down. Bonker's one of the good guys!!!

Save the attacks for the bots!


:)

#Respect
#Humble
#Secure

"It has tried everything to play games and US Open, has done everything to be there," said Ruiz Cotorro, which announced that it could return to tracks in a month to train at press conference.

Are you sure jean didn't translate this and not Microsoft translation?

schatz, 9/5/12 1:48 PM,

Bravo! This is the best post I read here! I so agree with your sentiments, but as you can see if you have been reading, the troublemakers aren't going anywhere. There objective is to instigate and inflame. We have even had to read jokes about Rafa in a wheelchair!

I feel the same way that you do, but it's what people like this do.

Thank you, @gr8nadal, for the shout-out to @nadline. She is a veritable treasure on TT! Keep up the good work indeed, @nadline! Wear every brick-brat thrown at you as a badge of honour.

^^^I sure will.

chr18,

I know you obviously needs lots of attention, but unlike you I actually have a life. I can't stay on here 24/7 responding to your gibberish. If you think I made something up, that would really reassure me because I think you live in your own imaginary world and have no clue about reality and nothing better to do with your time.

Such a shame!