[cbilly]

Originally Posted by WetDesert

Why do we need a legend for such a statement if simple tennis fans like you and me can arrive at that conclusion ?

Well I guess it just confirms what we suspect :P

[WetDesert]

Originally Posted by cbilly

Well I guess it just confirms what we suspect :P

[renegade87]

Originally Posted by WetDesert

call it the greatest irony of tennis or whatever - his greatest chance of winning a major is now at Roland Garros (of course alongside Wimbledon), a tournament he has never won, if NADAL IS INJURED OR HAS A BAD DAY AGAINST SOMEONE (BIG BIG IF). I don't see either Djokovic or Murray performing too well on clay.

Ironic isn't it, for a man who has everywhere but at the French Open!

US and Australian open look the toughest for him now, with the way Potro, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic and even Roddic at times are performing.

I don't think anybody can beat him on grass except Nadal and arguably the same is true of the French Open.

im assuming all these top 5 know, once they get on clay courts they have a huge task on their hands beating nadal so they are more desperate to get their hands on some big tourny trophies while they can so as to carry that confidence ahead,the clay court season starts soon.Unless of course as u said unfortunate incidents such as injuries etc occur i still dont see anyone catching nadal and looking at how nadal thumped fed when he was still on top of his game in the french open,im thinking this time it might be worse.Federer really did rule wimbledon till nadal came along and i feel the same about nadal,that he will rule the french open for a couple of years more before one of the european kids i.e porto,tsonga,verdasco figure how to play him on clay.

[WetDesert]

Originally Posted by renegade87

before one of the european kids i.e porto,tsonga,verdasco figure how to play him on clay.

tsonga's power game is not at all suited to clay, neither is del Potro's. Verdasco can improve vastly on clay, but is he of the same class as nadal ? Perhaps not.

If a fully fit and in-form Nadal has to be beaten at the French Open, the challenge will come from someone outside the top10, a newbie may be !

But with the amount of tennis these guys are playing, there is every possibility of Nadal getting injured (already missed a few tournaments due to injury), and that would be a blessing in disguise for Federer in particular, who needs to win the French Open this year, else may never!

[renegade87]

Originally Posted by WetDesert

tsonga's power game is not at all suited to clay, neither is del Potro's. Verdasco can improve vastly on clay, but is he of the same class as nadal ? Perhaps not.

If a fully fit and in-form Nadal has to be beaten at the French Open, the challenge will come from someone outside the top10, a newbie may be !

But with the amount of tennis these guys are playing, there is every possibility of Nadal getting injured (already missed a few tournaments due to injury), and that would be a blessing in disguise for Federer in particular, who needs to win the French Open this year, else may never!

well it was said that nadal's game is only suited for the slow clay courts, but look now he has won all except the US open,im thinking del potro might adapt and learn,same goes for tsonga,as for verdasco all i can say is id be glad if we get to see the aussie open semifinal match in the french open as well enough of the fed-rafa rivalry,rafa has outclassed him enough times to prove he is the best,time for a new fight i say.

[WetDesert]

Originally Posted by renegade87

rafa has outclassed him enough times to prove he is the best,time for a new fight i say.

rafa certainly holds the better record in head to head ties with Federer and is undoubtedly the better player on clay. But things are not quite settled on grass - the pinnacle of grand slams - at Wimbledon.

Federer's record is second only to that of Sampras and certainly better than that of Nadal's. This year's showing at the All England Lawn Tennis Club will decide quite a few things with regard to tennis greatness.

[WetDesert]

2 successive clay court titles to Nadal in the space of 2 weeks.
federer has a real chance of dropping to the fourth position, if he doesn't win a single clay-court title.

[WetDesert]

so is this federer's greatest chance of winning gold at Roland Garros?

i predicted several weeks back that Fed's best shot at a Grand Slam is in Paris, and looks like that's where we are heading given the shock exit of Nadal today.

[WetDesert]

djokovic is already knocked out........
murray hasn't looked too convincing, Federer hasnt either.

interesting times ahead at the F Open.

[WetDesert]

Originally Posted by cbilly

According to John McEnroe, the legend himself, it will cost Federer a lot of effort to become number 1 again.

Full story...

and the legend was wrong.
if federer wins wimbledon, he will regain the number one spot.