Nadal - King of Clay!

[nokids]

Nadal wins the French open without losing a set!

http://www.cbssports.com/tennis/stor..._photo_content

[jeffc]

Nadal is great, but Borg is still the King of Clay. Too bad he retired so young.

[nokids]

ok Nadal is the prince of clay, but i think it's a safe bet that Nadal will win at least one more French open to tie Bjorg's record. Nadal is only what, 24 years old?

[jonf]

If Nadal wins next year, he will have equalled Borg, by the same age. And Nadal is doing it in an era where his main rival is the best to have every played the sport. Sure, Federer's not a clay master, but to consistently beat the best of all time is no small feat.

[jeffc]

Borgs competition was much tougher than nadal's. Nadal has only had one competitor who is better on other surfaces.

[fundonny]

We are lucky to have the greatest tennis player to have ever played at the same time is the 2nd best if not the best clay surface player of all time.

[nokids]

Borgs competition was much tougher than nadal's.

i'd disagree with that. Nadal would still win the French if Borg's rivals: Boris Becker, Jimmy Connors, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, and Mats Wilander were playing against him.

An opinion piece about how competitive tennis is today.

http://www.sports-central.org/sports..._than_ever.php

before i found the article, i was going to make the same point the author makes about Andy Roddick. Roddick would be the Michael Jordan of tennis if he played in Borg's era. The fact that he has to play in the same era as Nadal and Federer is the reason he's only going to be remembered for his 140 mph serve. i think men's tennis is extremely competitive, but Federer and Nadal are hall of fame legends. And imo, on clay, Nadal is the best ever.

[fundonny]

And his wife, Brooklyn. Yowza!

[nokids]

And his wife, Brooklyn. Yowza!

i love google.

[nokids]

2nd wimbledon title, not bad for a clay court specialist.

[fundonny]

With his style though, no way he'll have longevity passed 26/27.

[fundonny]

But there doesn't seem to be a young buck out there ready to be the next great one. So who knows.

[davevandyk]

With his style though, no way he'll have longevity passed 26/27.

you never know, tennis players don't really have long life spans anyway. Sampras had a long career and his last Grand Slam was at 31. They are already talking about Federer on his way down and he just turned 29.

[nokids]

Spaniard,

Win the crowd. You will win your freedom.

[fundonny]

Go Djok!

[nokids]

Too much Rafa for Djoko to handle. 9 grand slams and so young.

[mpare]

That man can play tennis. His physical and psychological superiority are phenomenal.

Too much Rafa for Djoko to handle. 9 grand slams and so young.

[jeffc]

right now he is just the king. he's young but the toll his play is taking on his body will be interesting to see if he can last and stay injury free. There is such a small window in tennis to be good, though the good news is that Federer is in the twilight of his career and there doesn't seem to be anyone able to challenge him right now.

[fundonny]

Fed is the best ever. Period. Nadal has five years (which I doubt he'll last) to make his case.

[Chieflongtee]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/373604...sports-tennis/

Period. Now all he has to is win the Australian in January to complete a grand slam ( 4 majors in a row) Granted not in the same year but quite a feat in modern tennis.

[mpare]

Is this whom you're talking about?

And his wife, Brooklyn. Yowza!

[fundonny]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/373604...sports-tennis/

Period. Now all he has to is win the Australian in January to complete a grand slam ( 4 majors in a row) Granted not in the same year but quite a feat in modern tennis.

Doesn't hold water. What about all those times that Nadal didn't make it to a final to face Fed? Fed's record of semi finals, finals and quarter finals is simply one of the best records in all of sports.

[Chieflongtee]

Doesn't hold water. What about all those times that Nadal didn't make it to a final to face Fed? Fed's record of semi finals, finals and quarter finals is simply one of the best records in all of sports.

Fed started winning big around age 24. It is a matter of timing. Now the youngsters are catching up to him. At 24 Nadal has won more majors than Fed at the same age. And Nadal has won on all surfaces including Wimbeldon twice while Fed only won the French open once and that was when Nadal was injury proned. Nadal's record against Federer happened when both players were in their prime but one was a little older and more experienced than the other but that was not sufficient.
Also keep in mind that the road to semis and finals is always a little easier when you're seeded number 1.
Don't get me wrong Fed was a great champion but Nadal will surpass him. Like I said it is a matter of timing. Connors came in at a good time because one of his opponents in two major finals was Ken Rosewall who was 40 at the time. Then came young Borg and Connors lost his number one spot. Then came young McEnroe and that was it for Borg a couple years later.

[nokids]

i dont know if Nadal will get there to pass Fed's record, but i do know that Nadal beat Federer in Federer's prime on GRASS! Let's see Federer beat Nadal on clay. It will never happen.

[fundonny]

Clay and grass are as about as different as you imagine. Fed made it to the finals there many times but lost to a 'specialist' at that time. Back in the 70's and 80's many players skipped the french entirely because of their view of clay.

[nokids]

Clay and grass are as about as different as you imagine. Fed made it to the finals there many times but lost to a 'specialist' at that time. Back in the 70's and 80's many players skipped the french entirely because of their view of clay.

Clay is funnnn to play on! Sure your shoes and socks turn red, but i love sliding left and right. I never could do an all out dive like Boris 'Boom Boom' Becker at the net though. That guy was insane.

[Chieflongtee]

Clay and grass are as about as different as you imagine. Fed made it to the finals there many times but lost to a 'specialist' at that time. Back in the 70's and 80's many players skipped the french entirely because of their view of clay.

You have to be a complete player and be in tip top shape to win on clay. The ones who avoided clay were the ones with less all around talent and who only relied on big serves and winners à la Roscoe Tanner.
Other than that clay is a lot easier on the body.

[nokids]

Nadal is great, but Borg is still the King of Clay. Too bad he retired so young.

It's official, Nadal is the King of Clay! 7 titles, only 1 loss ever at Roland Garros.

[jeffc]

It's official, Nadal is the King of Clay! 7 titles, only 1 loss ever at Roland Garros.

I was waiting for that post....

[nokids]

hahahaha