Nadal and Gulbis

[Uchiha Muss]

All those guys are quite a bit taller than Nadal.

Also if Nadal isn't a big hitter I don't know who is???????????????

Are we watching the same Nadal??? The guy whose forehand is like a goddamn avalanche crashing down on you???

Almost everybody can hit big. I don't know what is, but there's just something more to an actual "big hitters". I know how Nadal can hit insane accelerated shots but if I'm correct his shots go faster after the bounce because of top spin. Other players simply hit flat with pre-bounce acceleration and then slow down.

[Moralspain]

Are we talking about the same guy here? 27 years old? , 59 titles in his career? , 12 Grand Slams (hard court, clay and grass), 26 Masters 1000?, 1 Gold Medal?

Berdych, Isner, Del Potro, Janowitz, Gulbis???, are you for real?, they hit flat shots and serve many aces (because they're tall btw), nothing else. Federer serve better than all those guys but not because he's a tall guy but because he's talented, big difference.

I admit Nadal hates hard hitters,..... thank God!!he has a weakness otherwise he would be SUPERMAN and the rest of ATP players should retire. I bet all those guys mention above would kill to play like Rafa, i bet my 3 legs...

Much respect for a guy who time ago only seemed capable of winning on clay but has proved that he's able to adapt his game and win matches and tournaments anywhere. Haven't you noticed that he serves like crap when he plays on clay??, he doesn't give a shit, he just don't need it, but when he plays on had courts he serves muuuuch better because he knows it's important and knowing himself he's not talented to serve well like Federer he gives his best and gets more aces and better 1st serves.

I really can't understand why he has so many "hatters" on the internet forums (TTW is another example), Federer on the other hand is like GOD, let me explain myself:

Every time he beat Federer in all those matches, i had to read that Rafa only played to Fed's BH and that was a poor tactic, bla bla bla, so boring...
Nadal was the bad guy because he focused all his game on Fed's weakness, yeah a pro player that wants to win, yep veeery odd. I couldn't read a single post or article saying that the problem is that Fed's BH was rubbish and he should have improved that shot during all these years or at least, he should have changed his tactic and use more his slice in order to not make so many unforced errors.

[djarvik]

Gulbis is 6'3 - Rafa is 6'1 - not that much taller Xavi

I don't think anyone in this thread was disputing Rafa's greatness, I know I was not. I was only pointing out that the fact Gulbis was able to push him, almost bagel him on clay - is impressive. If anything, this is pro-Rafa comment.

[Moralspain]

probably i overreacted , as always when i post about Rafa

[djarvik]

I know what you mean though....there is a lot of hate for Rafa. But you cannot make people like someone, of course there needs to be no hate...but....the internet is a dark place. TTW has a herds of haters for pretty much any player. Its amazing really! I read that board for entertainment a lot. It can be TONS of fun to see people post there.

[Uchiha Muss]

Gulbis is 6'3 - Rafa is 6'1 - not that much taller Xavi

I don't think anyone in this thread was disputing Rafa's greatness, I know I was not. I was only pointing out that the fact Gulbis was able to push him, almost bagel him on clay - is impressive. If anything, this is pro-Rafa comment.

LOL xavi is 5.7. foot feet? whatever. I measure in cm. Why would you even bring up a footballer here FYI messi iniesta alves pedro have the same height.

Me too. I wasn't trying to be anti-nadal. I just made a jest and said how I like when he struggles against big hitters. Of course against other players that big Forehand would have already been a winner so clearly nadal is on another level. It's just fun to mock him because he's like a big steel wall. Nothing you throw affects him because he's already done so much.
For example djokovic or murray hasn't done much as to ridicule at them. What's the point?

[djarvik]

Morailspain = Xavi

Uchiha Muss = Fail

[Uchiha Muss]

Morailspain = Xavi

Uchiha Muss = Fail

Oh come on, how am I supposed to guess spain=xavi? sure xavi is from spain but so is ferrer. and nadal. and robredo.

Just found out that Nadal takes COLD shower before the matches. Quote: "Forty-five minutes before facing Federer I began the last phase of my pre-game ritual. I took a cold shower. Freezing cold water. I do this before every match. It’s the point before the point of no return. Under the cold shower I enter a new space in which I feel my power and resilience grow".

He has pre-game rituals, pre-serve rituals. What is he?

[Moralspain]

I'm from Mallorca (Spain) like Rafa, this is a small island and well.. you can watch him anytime training in Manacor when he's in the island or going fishing in Portocristo, he's like our famous "neighbor", so when i read some things about him that are not true just because the media distort the story and i read bullshits on TTW forum (for example) i react, but i'm a nice guy Uchiha, just ignore me when i'm on "Rafa's mode".
I guess many guys from USA know Mallorca because they know Rafael Nadal is from the Balearic Islands....in short he's our best ambassador.

btw my advice is not to take a cold shower before XXXX , i guarantee you you won't "enter a new space in which i feel power and resilience grow" cold water and our shark are not a good combo

AL, i see Gulbis' potential, i do, he can be one of the best tennis players because he has the fundamentals and technically he's really good, big serve, great FH and BH, he moves ...well but he needs to improve his mentality and confidence. That said i believe champions are born not made, and i don't think Gulbis has that gene, but like i said he can be a top 5 and maybe win a GS in his career but i don't see him like Federer, Nadal, Sampras and all those GOAT players.

[djarvik]

Oh for sure....I don't disagree. Gulbis will always be the "scalp collector" and a top 10 spot for a bout 1 years would be a dream!

Rafa is the only scalp he is missing from the top 4/big 4 so I want him to get it

[Corbon]

Morailspain = Xavi

Uchiha Muss = Fail

You're not fooling anyone. We all know who Moralspain really is.

[Corbon]

Gulbis did the highest jump into the Top 50 within a year

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... art-3.aspx