it is never easy to contend with a feather.

Lol rfzr, but think blisters were a teeny weeny bit more of a factor...;)

who thinks we will have a murray-djokovic final also at Roland Garros?

If they are on opposite sides of the draw, and really hoping it's so, will be Rafa-Nole.
Andy gets to semis...possibly. again depends on draw.

Not looking forward to a Djokovic/Murray final at Roland Garros Murray doesnt play well on clay but I am not sure hoe match fit Nadal is if Nadal less than 100% then Djokovic has a chance to win French open

^^Murray played an amazing match in Rome at the height of the Novak White heat and should have won it, not really into clay court tennis anyway but would be interested in seeing something like that again.
Novak could well win the FO. Sorry Nadal fans but it remains to be seen how well Rafa will play with such a long time off, even the CCG needs time to sharpen up and knocking almagro senseless in Buenos Aires or wherever is not necessarily going to prepare him for beating Novak in europe.
We will see but I am going to call it 50/50 for now.

^^Only because of form issues however,
Nobody is better than Rafa on clay courts, or ever has been...

"Murray played an amazing match in Rome at the height of the Novak" Murray is not the same player on clay 1 match does not make you great on a surface, Murrays over all results have been weak on clay, he has no clay court title to his credit, lost to Raonic on clay , lost convincingly to David Ferrer in last years French open, losingin straight sets to Berdych in 2010 French open, he also lost to Berdych at a clay court master series event last year.

^^You are stating the obvious again, I am well aware of the examples you have produced.
My point is when two top players fight on any surface it can make for a great match.
ie the 2 matches against Rafa at MC and also the Rome match, didnt say Murray was great on clay (I assume he will get better however there is no reason why he shouldnt). I just said that I would be interested in seeing something like that again.
But yes as we all know its Murrays weakest surface, pity as i doubt you get too many blisters grinding on the red/brown stuff!

Djokovic will win RG

If Rafa doesn't come back to form in time for RG, Nole will win RG.
He has always been a fine player on clay. The draws were being fixed to ensure that while at other slams Nole was on Fed's side (except in 2009), he was on Rafa's side at RG thus effectively squelching his chances of even making the finals.
At 2009 Fed must have decided to have Nole on his side. With him keeping his ears close to the ground where fitness of top players is concerned, he must have known Nole was spent after the massive Madrid match (remember the infamous insider info scandal of 2007 when Fed is alleged to have given inside info to Forstmann about Rafa's fitness?)

Correction: That (except at 2009) should be read for RG , not other slams.

deuce: yep, blisters can be a nasty business, however andy had a really favorable draw until SF. not sure how he managed to get those.

nole not only attacked his 2nd serve but his skin as well ;)

Rafa hasn't played a match in seven months and is still the odds-on favourite to win the French Open...

http://tinyurl.com/aglel3m

What other player would ever get so much respect?

#NextGoat

djokovic showed last year he can compete with nadal at RG. I think Murray can beat djokovic on clay, but certainly not nadal, and prob not federer either. federer can beat djokovic and murray. what a nice mix up... let's hope Nadal will be fit for fight!
The outcome at RG this year may actually be open :)

"djokovic showed last year he can compete with nadal at RG"

No he didn't. Only the rain, heavy balls and extremely damp court, which should never have been alowed to be playing conditions allowed djokovic to compete with nadal. Played in dry conditions Nadal would ahve won that match in 3 easy sets.

I do think however that Djokovic will win the FO this year. I cant see nadal finding form fast enough. Just for the record, Djokovic cannot live with nadal at Roland Garros when Nadal is on top form.

^^^ What make you think so? Playing on clay for a good three months should be good enough to let Rafa regain his form, unless his knee is still not perfect yet.

Nole shown last year he could compete with Rafa at RG? For the record, Fed also shown he could compete with Rafa at RG from 2006-2007 and 2011, still Rafa beat him in four sets each time. Fed was even closer to beating Rafa on clay in a best of five sets match, at Rome in 2006 but he still failed. Fed was definitely more competitive at that Rome final than Nole was at RG final last year! Both of them failed.

Nole wasn't able to compete with Rafa at RG. If not for the rainy conditions, during which play should have been stopped, Rafa would have won easily in straight sets. He came back the next day and took care of business.

I think it's way too early to decide who will win RG. Clay is such a natural surface for Rafa and it's not out of the question for him to be able to get into good enough form in three months. As long as his knee is okay and he doesn't have any other injuries, there's no reason to think that Rafa can't be ready to play.

Fed has given Rafa some real matches at RG, as lucky mentioned. Only when Rafa was suffering from knee tendinitis in 2009, was Nole able to battle Rafa in that semifinal match in Madrid.

I just think it's way too soon to start predicting a Nole win at RG.

@rfzr
Quite a few players, I believe.....hastily looking round for boffins.... have retired from big matches cos of blistergate...;)
Think, if this hadn't been a slam he might've too. His feet were raw, eek! Wonder if the heat of the courts had anything to do with it? Plus he had a hamstring problem. Not making excuses, you have to manage your body in slams, all part of it, but does explain why his movement got worse and worse during the match.

The one time that Rafa has lost in Rome it was due to blisters on his feet against Ferrero. His feet were covered in blisters, I don't even know why he even bothered to turn up.

Andy won't say in public that it affected his performance, because it would sound like excuses, but he will know himself that he was hampered so he will take heart from that. He was certainly the better player in the first half of the match but sort of folded after he lost the second set tiebreak............because he was knocked over by a feather. I don't think the feather is to blame, because they still played 2 sets after that.

Murray reverted to his old way of playing defensive tennis. his forehand is the poorest amongst the elite. Nole was not in top form in the final but rose high mentally and tactically and started taking the ball early and murray had no chance. Shows that Nole is a great champion, winning a slam even on your off day. I relish Rafas return to the winners circle to challenge Nole. Muzza still is the mental midget amongst the top 4. Roger is a step slower due to age but still uses experience to trouble these young guns and i believe he has a slam left in him if the draw favours him or upsets occur. Rafas return will put Murray where he belongs, a perenial semi finalist. Now he has reached 6 slam finals and won only 1, poor Scot...

I have always been a stonch Fed fan but never have i been hurt by Rafas absence like now. Rafa is a legend and losing a him through injury is so painful for any objective tennis fan. I hope he comes with a vengeance to win 2 slams this year. People say Rafa is a clay courter but i have always said Rafa has a complete game on all surfaces as evidenced by him completing a career golden slam. Nole is a hard courter! Rafa can reclaim number 1 this year im telling u guys, he has nothing to defend after Roland garros.

^^^ Thank you. I certainly hope so (that Rafa can reclaim no.1 and wins two slams). It'll be another long season and anything can happen. I just hope that Rafa comes back fit, healthy and strong; no more injury fear or worry, and just plays freely with confidence, not the fidgeting nervous guy out there.

"Rafas return will put Murray where he belongs, a perenial semi finalist. Now he has reached 6 slam finals and won only 1, poor Scot.."
"I have always been a stonch Fed fan but never have i been hurt by Rafas absence like now"

What is this I hear!
Maybe a little bit bitter after your TMF was outclassed at the AO?
Oh well there's always next time isnt there (although not too many I hope!)?
Even resorting to pandering to the Nadal fans for solace.
How unseemly & vulgar of you.
How....Fedfan like even ;)

Nole did beat rafa at Rome and Madrid on red clay.
No saying he cannot compete again with rafa on clay.
rafa will have to play as well as in 2012 to beat Nole. Anything less and he will lose.

agree with atul1985. that's why i wrote above that djokovic can compete with nadal on clay. before, nadal was a class better than anyone else.

In 2011 yes.

In 2012, after Rafa tweaked his game vs Nole, Nole was 0-3 vs Rafa on clay and just 1-7 in sets. The one set he did take was slog ball in the pouring rain.

Hardly "competing".

Prior to his injury, Rafa was ahead in the Race to London leading all others in accumulated points in 2012.

#KingOfClay
#GoatInWaiting

#Thank you Conspirator
#getting carried away is all the rage
#Rafa puts fear in all of them
#2011 - freak year

oh, i forgot to mention söderling, who beats nadal on roland garros!

Croc, are you sure "beats" should be plural?

croc, 'beats' means that it's a regular occurence. You meant 'beat' which is past tense.

...and croc of shite means just that.

There is just no evidence that a healthy Rafa can be beaten at the FO over five sets. Professional oddsmakers have Rafa as the FO favourite this year for good reason.

#HI8TORY

It's absurd to bring up Sod at this point in time. Rafa proved in the 2010 RG final that when he is fit and healthy, he can take out Sod easily. So that's a non-starter.

Rafa did right the ship with Nole in 2012 on clay. He beat him at MC, Rome and RG. In 2011, Rafa seemed to be struggling with some kind of burnout. He clearly had lost the passion. He did say that he felt that his ten year as a pro were like 100. He was not himself. Whatever was bothering Rafa, he seemed to have it all sorted out in 2012.

As Conspirator pointed out, Rafa was ahead in the Race to London leading in accumulated points in 2012. Who knows what he might have done if not for the knee injury.

I am not expecting Rafa to win a specific number of slams or to regain the #1 ranking. I want to be realistic. I just hope his return goes smoothly and he is fit and healthy.

Rafa also accumulated most of his points on clay, and when he left the tour, the clay season was over. There is no guarantees that he would've carried the same level on hard courts.

Of course nobody knows how Rafa would fare had he not have his knee injury. I would think he won't lose in the second round at Wimbledon and would've gain some important points at Wimbledon and the Olympics. Well he definitely would've ended the year with more ranking points and not lose his no.4 ranking.

This is off topic, but Tomic has been caught speeding again and lost his driving license. Pretty funny :)

danica, 1/30/13 2:06 AM,

Rafa is not just a clay court player. He has proved that by winning both the AO and the USO completing the career slam. Why assume that he would have not faired well? He has proved himself on grass as well, appearing in five finals and winning two titles.

There is never a guarantee of anything in this world, but as lucky said if Rafa wasn't suffering from a knee injury, he certainly would not have been knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon. He made the finals of Wimbledon and the USO in 2011.

Whether he would have still been leading in the Race to London had he not withdrawn due to injury, can never be known. But it's reasonable to assume that he would have been competitive and right up there.

danica, you are poking the hornet's nest.

^^^^

Quit instigating! It's becoming obvious and boring!

Just a claycourt player doesn't make MOST of the h/c and grass finals!

#prejudice
#bias
#blinkers
#wishful thinking

Exactly. Who's the one who reached the USO2010/2011 and AO 2011 finals playing against Nole? Rafa even had a better record at the hard court slams than Fed, even Murray, before he was injured and went for his injury break.

i wonder if the other top players will come to compete with nadal at monte carlo this year, or if they will leave him the title for old lang syne. nadal will be very nervous there...

^^^^You wish!

yeah, i really hope nadal will be well and healthy and fit to defend his title and record.

croc, hope your wishes come true.

remember the infamous insider info scandal of 2007 when Fed is alleged to have given inside info to Forstmann about Rafa's fitness?)

holdserve plz enlighten us on this

Who are the 'other top players'? Both Murray and Nole were already there last year and would not miss it this year. Fed skipped MC in 2010 and 2012 and he's not planning to play there. Delpo used to skip MC, preferring to play in Estoril (he's the defending champion there). I don't think any other top players purpose goes there this year just because Rafa is more vulnerable now. Nole is still there and it's fat hope that any other top player, except maybe Ferrer, would win the title there should Rafa fail to defend his title.

i wonder if the other top players will come to compete with federer at rotterdam, basel, and dubai this year, or if they will leave him the title for old lang syne. federer will be very lonely there...

#CrocOf...

i am hoping djokovic will be hungry for revenge after the slaughter last year at monte carlo. also interesting how the new ferrer can deal with nadal on clay. and murray is there too. federer is chickening out again at monte carlo it seems. he rather plays indoors but basel is not on his schedule this year.

federer has always been very wise with his schedule. i think rafa will play less tournaments now if he makes comeback. so interesting how he will manage spring with both latin america and europe. and of course the hard court tournaments he will probably play even less.

croc, what gives you the idea that Ferrer can now deal with Nadal on clay. Look at the results of their last two encounters.


2012 Roland Garros
France Clay S Nadal, Rafael
6-2, 6-2, 6-1

2012 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome
Italy Clay S Nadal, Rafael
7-6(6), 6-0

nadline. i don't say he can. but i think ferrer has gone up a class since the last clay court season. so it will be interesting to see if he can give nadal a better match... and of course everyone want to see how nadal fares if he comes back...

So croc, what does it prove, when the likes of Ferrer or Nole, can only beat a Rafa who's still finding his way back to his previous level on clay?? Or do you mean this is their best chance to beat Rafa on clay, knowing that once Rafa is back to his normal level, they won't have their chances?

how nadal fares if he comes back...
croc, 1/30/13 3:04 PM

"if"... really?

hahahahahahaha

#SoObvious
#CrocOf...

luckystar, Nadal's opponents have risen their level and Nadal has been wounded, so i expect it would be harder than ever for nadal to defend his titles this year. still nadal's health is more important than defending his titles.

Constipator, you will not laugh if nadal will take up his injuries again. touch wood.

croc, how do you know that Ferrer's level has gone up since the last claycourt season when he hasn't played on clay since? Similarly, players may look good playing against each other, but they may not look so good against Nadal.

A croc is a reptile so cannot expect reason from a reptile.

crocoshite, was laughing at your transparent use of the word "if", lol.

Who WOULD continue to laugh if nadal is injured again?

Only trolls and fedbots. Which one are you?

And perhaps fed himself might giggle for 10 minutes.

#Musings

holdserv, no we don't expect any reason from croc, but sure is fun to poke him back with his own tired schtick.

#TrollingTrolls

How do you/we know that the players' level on clay have gone up when none of them have played on it yet this year? At least Rafa had risen his level last year before his injury, if not he won't go on a tear on red clay last year and he absolutely destroyed Ferrer at the FO last year, doing something to Ferrer like what Nole had done at the AO this year. Rafa also destroyed Monaco at the FO, giving him one or two bagels.

We have to wait and see how these players, including Rafa, play on clay to have a better idea who has/have raised his/their level and who hasn't/haven't.

if nadal is even 50 % fit he can easily defend RG..that's just my opinion.

all the other factors like top form joker is nil and void.

Conspirator, 1/30/13 1:45 PM,

You have made many great comments on this thread, but this one is my favorite! Thanks for turning the silly argument around and putting it on Fed! Well done!

Also, this idea that Ferrer will somehow be more competitive against Rafa on clay than he has in the past, is not supported by their history. People keep assuming way too much here. As has been said, the other top players have not played on clay yet this year so we don't know how good they might be.

For what it's worth, Ferrer did not look good at the AO. He was really off his game against a guy like Almagro who gave the match to him. Then he was blown off the court by Nole in the semifinals. Who's to say that he will be able to continue to play well? He's not getting any younger.

We will just have to wait and see when the clay court season comes around.

No he didn't. Only the rain, heavy balls and extremely damp court, which should never have been alowed to be playing conditions allowed djokovic to compete with nadal. Played in dry conditions Nadal would ahve won that match in 3 easy sets.

-- willmw101, 1/28/13 8:04 PM

Very true. The play in the heavy rain, for one, was absolutely ridiculous. I was really mad at the decision makers at the FO for not interrupting play earlier ... it seemed at the time deliberate on behalf of the decision makers ... can't know that for sure but I was angry over it.

Let us also remember what we learned weeks later. That Nadal was already playing under a lot of pain at the FO 2012, that he gave it enough fight to defend his many times over title.

Anytime a player has been off this long people will naturally raise questions re match readiness in the coming months. But after the South American swing and the brief hardcourt swing I expect Nadal to be, say, at 80% of his claycourt match abilities come Monte Carlo. You know what that means!