Just how hurt is Rafael Nadal, anyway? He's not defending his Wimbledon title because his knees weren't at 100 percent. Now Nadal has been left off of Spain's Davis Cup team for next month's matches.Spanish coach Albert Costa says Nadal "is not well." This was obvious to anyone who watched his exhibition match with Stanislas Wawrinka, a match which Nadal lost. There is no real shame in losing to Warwrinka, who just gave Andy Murray all he could handle in one of Wimbledon's best matches this year. Nadal, however, is (as of now) the world's No. 1 ranked player and thus isn't supposed to lose to anybody.
Nadal is suffering from tendinitis of the knees. As anyone with tendinitis knows, it's slow to get better, and that's assuming it ever does, said the writer, three seconds before he shook out his aching hand. Will Nadal ever get better? And what if he doesn't?
Obviously, if he doesn't improve, it would be a shame, because Rafa is a singular talent. Nadal's rivalry with Roger Federer has reinvigorated men's tennis as well, which was in danger of falling into a chasm of flat personalities and foregone conclusions before Rafa came along.
Nadal's continued absence from competition will almost certainly return Federer to the top spot in the rankings. Cue the asterisks, I suppose, but let's not forget that Federer has been playing extremely well in recent weeks. Federer may have reclaimed the top ranking anyway.
Still, just like Batman was nothing without the Joker, and vice versa, Federer and Nadal need each other, and tennis needs them both. If it takes a few more weeks for Nadal to feel like he's back in competition shape, so be it. It's better than him coming back too soon and risking an injury which might keep him out even longer.
When Nadal does get back, tennis will have a compelling story line again as we watch him lob and volley his way back to the inevitable first match with Federer. It'll be just like pro wrestling, except, of course, that this is real.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-30-2009 @ 2:36PM
medinensis said...
All of the Fed fan boys will continue to fool themselves that he is the greatest of all time. Cue the asterisks is right. Fed has not had the level of competition the other greats in past eras have had until Nadal came along. After Nadal, all Fed could do is throw temper tantrums (Wimbleton #5 - even though he won when Nadal tweaked the knee) or bawl like a baby after he lost three straight Slams (see Australian Open). Frankly, I'm tired of this great, but over rated player. Go Murray!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 3:09PM
karl said...
MG, You were wrong with your prediction of Roddick losing and you are wrong about Nadal too. Soderling whipped the young boy bad and his confidence is sore not his knees. On top of that Rafa's parents have filed for divorce and both situations have left him unfocused. The difference between Roger and Rafa is that Federer manages his body, mind and spirit better than anyone in the game. That is why his ridiculous record of 20 Slam semi-finals is his and not Rafa's. When Fed beat Soderling twice in the passed two weeks, he did not try to overpower him like the smaller nadal. Fed reached in his bag of tools and served himself to victory. Say what you will, FED is G.O.A.T. and though I love Rafa too, he may never win all four Slams in his career, so when he retires, he will perhaps be considered best clay court player of all time but no more than that. Get used to hearing and saying that!!! Go FED X
7-05-2009 @ 3:07PM
JRedmond said...
Your comment is a bunch of BS karl.
"Soderling whipped the young boy bad and his confidence is sore not his knees."
Nadal bounces back from any type of loss. If you think the reason for Nadal not playing tennis is anything BUT his knees then you're a moron. I've seen Nadal play where his knees were bothering him before and you can tell he's just not the same player. He just overdoes it and hopefully once he comes back he'll pace himself better and not play so many tournaments.
"The difference between Roger and Rafa is that Federer manages his body, mind and spirit better than anyone in the game."
I agree with the physicality part but you're sorely mistaken about the mind/spirit. I guess that's why Nadal has beaten Fed the majority of the times they've met(6-2 in GS). I guess Federer's stronger spirit also means sobbing like a baby after being put in his place at the Australian Open.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 8:42PM
karl said...
Think what you want pal. Rafa's knees were a convenient excuse for getting thoroughly thumped; Rafa whipped Hewitt the match before in straight sets and w/o knee wraps!! More the reason IMO is because he is devastated by his parent's splitting up. My point fool, was that there are so many distractions and pressure to keep #1 status, which by the way is Roger's again....moron!
7-06-2009 @ 1:26AM
leilamh said...
No one in tennis has accused Rafa of poor sportsmanship. He has total respect for the game, and for Roger. Just because Roger's respect for the game is practically his signature doesn't mean Rafa doesn't have it, too.
This debate reminds me of when they ask the girls' Olympics gymnastics team if they have cat fights. The girls are always like, "Uh... what? No...." Athletes at this level, in 2009, don't think that way and that's what's so fantastic. Rafa and Roger, Andy and Andy - phenomenal sportsmen - we shouldn't be gossiping about Rafa like he's some bratty child. He is an awesome, humble athlete. We can only hope for his recovery.
Reply