Nadal vs Thiem

[bksballer89]

Just was flicking through the channels and see that Nadal is in Argentina on Clay in a struggle with Theim.

Tied at 4-4 in the deciding 3rd set

 

[bksballer89]

why is nadal playing 250 events?

 

[bksballer89]

Thiem wins in a 3rd set tiebreak. Wow

Rafa is done

 

[cezero]

Thiem is headed straight for the top 10, and has the game to stay there for a long time.

Nadal is almost 30, and has finally lost enough of a step to be highly vulnerable to losing to anybody in the top 20 at any time on any surface. I still wouldn't count him out for a deep run at the French, but the odds are becoming increasingly slim for him to win another major. It's been 2 years now since he made a deep run at a major.

 

[cezero]

why is nadal playing 250 events?

Every top player typically plays several 250s every year.

Nadal has always played a ton of tournaments on clay. Helps keep his ranking up since the clay season is so long and there are so many events.

 

[Old Lion]

why is nadal playing 250 events?

Soon this is all you will see him in. He is deteriorating fast. I expect to only see him in clay events and only a handful outside of that (3 majors, 3 warm ups).

 

[bksballer89]

Thiem is headed straight for the top 10, and has the game to stay there for a long time.

Nadal is almost 30, and has finally lost enough of a step to be highly vulnerable to losing to anybody in the top 20 at any time on any surface. I still wouldn't count him out for a deep run at the French, but the odds are becoming increasingly slim for him to win another major. It's been 2 years now since he made a deep run at a major.

Its pretty sad to see him this way while Fed is still almost a lock to make the QF or SF of every major

 

[cezero]

Its pretty sad to see him this way while Fed is still almost a lock to make the QF or SF of every major

Fed is a freak of nature. His movement is the most efficient and fluid we've ever seen in the game, and probably ever will see. It's why he's only had 2 major injuries I can think of...the back, and the knee, and even the knee required only a relatively minor meniscus surgery.

Nadal is the complete opposite. He lumbers and stomps around the court, and his groundtrokes are all about muscling the ball as much as possible. It's a wonder his body held up as long as it did.