Will Nadal do the Grand Slam?

TheAlmightyZeus

In my opinion this may be Rafa's best chance to do the Grand Slam. With Murray getting better and better but still not at the level to be winning a major, and Federer in a real slump. The Australian Open is already done and dusted, you'd have to be insane to back anyone other than him to win at Roland Garros. Federers poor form coupled with Nadals continuing improvements on grass makes him favourite to retain Wimbledon.

The big one will be the US Open. Federer is still the king when it comes to the US Open and Murray plays best on hard courts. Will it turn out to be similar to Rafa preventing Roger from completing the GS by being a thorn in his side at Roland Garros year after year? Fed would love to be the one to stop Nadal from completing the slam too. I would love to see the final between them at the US Open. Nadal going for the grand slam against Federer.

What are your thoughts?

juvenal

I'd agree that this is a huge chance for Nadal. Personally I think he'll certainly achieve it in his career, but in a single season, that's a different story.

If it boils down to a Flushing Meadows final between Nadal and Federer, than even as a Fed man, I couldn't bet against Nadal. He's so dominant over Federer that it's almost inexplicable. At 1-1 in Melbourne, and Federer having a slew of hige break points towards the end of the third, for me Federer was going to win 3-1, instead he lost the third, fought back to win the fourth, and then just collapsed in the fifth. There's no doubt Nadal deserved the victory for his fighting spirit and competitiveness, but in a way I feel that Federer was as responsible for Nadal winning as Nadal was (if that makes sense!).

Obviously you cannot bet against him in Paris, although at some point (probably not anytime soon!), he will lose in RG, and I don't think it will be in the final. Wimbledon will be a huge test for him, as to win both the French and Wimbledon in one year is a fantastic achievement, to do it in successive years would be outstanding. I think (and hope) Federer will be back to somewhere near his best by this point, and will show a more fighting spirit than we've seen of late.

Regarding the US, at this stage of the season it's a lot more open. The legs are getting tired, and for a player like Nadal who seems to compete to the death in every tournament, it may take its toll more than others. Despite that, Nadal has developed his game, to the point where it is almost as equally effective on the faster hard courts, so he's certainly a threat anywhere nowadays.

In my head, I think it is quite possible for Nadal to do all four this year, although it will take a monumental effort. I still think Federer can snatch one, and certainly I wouldn't be surprised to see a GS final this year where one or the other is not present. That's why I voted for three in the poll, although if Nadal and Federer meet in the US Open final, I'd have to back Nadal based on history, as much as I'd be cheering for RF. Personally as a supporter, I favour Federer over Nadal, so I'd hope that Fed can regain Wimbledon and the US, and at least have a semi-final run in Paris to continue that amazing record.

Mats Wilander made a great point in Melbourne this year; a lot of the commentators and retired champions feel that Federer is the better tennis player, but that Nadal is the better competitor. And that's what has been the difference between the two over the past couple of seasons.

I'm certainly looking forward to the next few months anyway!

juvenal

Here's the odds from Paddy Power for the GS tournaments;

|French|Wimbledon|US Open
R Nadal|2/7|11/8|2/1
R Federer|6/1|2/1|11/4
N Djokovic|12/1|8/1|6/1
A Murray|16/1|9/2|7/2

Nadal to win all four - 6/1 :eek:
Federer to win 2/4 - 5/1
Federer to win 0/4 - evens
Nadal v Federer is all four GS finals - 18/1

BlackMamba

juvenal wrote: »

Here's the odds from Paddy Power for the GS tournaments;

|French|Wimbledon|US Open
R Nadal|2/7|11/8|2/1
R Federer|6/1|2/1|11/4
N Djokovic|12/1|8/1|6/1
A Murray|16/1|9/2|7/2

Nadal to win all four - 6/1 :eek:
Federer to win 2/4 - 5/1
Federer to win 0/4 - evens
Nadal v Federer is all four GS finals - 18/1

The Nadal vs Federer to meet in all four finals would be a really good bet! 18/1...not bad at all!:)

In my opinion I think Nadal will win French Open. Clay is his surface. Everyone will expect him to win it. If he doesn't people would be gobsmacked.

But I think Federer will win Wimbledon. He'll see it as a challenge for him to complete and I'd say he'll give it all he's got and loads more.

Not sure about the US Open. Apparently, Roger's girlfriend Mirka is pregnant and she's due in August. Whether that'll hinder his chances remains to be seen. But Nadal won't win. I think Murray will be able to beat him here. He (Murray) seems to peak around the American hard court season.

Should be an interesting season!!:D

juvenal

BlackMamba wrote: »

The Nadal vs Federer to meet in all four finals would be a really good bet! 18/1...not bad at all!:)

In my opinion I think Nadal will win French Open. Clay is his surface. Everyone will expect him to win it. If he doesn't people would be gobsmacked.

But I think Federer will win Wimbledon. He'll see it as a challenge for him to complete and I'd say he'll give it all he's got and loads more.

Not sure about the US Open. Apparently, Roger's girlfriend Mirka is pregnant and she's due in August. Whether that'll hinder his chances remains to be seen. But Nadal won't win. I think Murray will be able to beat him here. He (Murray) seems to peak around the American hard court season.

Should be an interesting season!!:D

The only way Nadal will not win the FO is due to irony, as there's no-one who thinks he won't win it!

Tbh, at this stage I'd definitely take a Federer Wimbledon, along with Nadal having taken Australia and Paris, followed by a newcomer in the US (e.g. Murray - it needs to be spiced up a bit, as Djokovic hasn't delivered on his promise and he's been acting the muppet ever since). If Fed wins any of the three remaining, I'd be very happy. If he win's two of the three, I'd be delighted, and if he were to somehow win all three remaining, I'd be ecstatic!

token56

I'd have to go for Nadal two, Federer two. As big a fan of Nadal that i am I dont think he will win Wimbledon and Flushing Medows. He has already won Australia and well the French is pretty much a given bar injury i think. However i cant see Nadal staying injury free this season and i can see Federer really raising his game for Wimbledon. I also think Nadal will be too burnt out when it comes to flushing medows, such is the effort he puts into effort tournament. I know he had the olympics too last year which could have contributed to him not being 100% last year at FM but i still dont think he will win it this year, i think it will be the most difficult title for him to win since it is towards the end of the season.

BlackMamba

juvenal wrote: »

If Fed wins any of the three remaining, I'd be very happy. If he win's two of the three, I'd be delighted, and if he were to somehow win all three remaining, I'd be ecstatic!

Ecstatic?!?!?! If Federer wins the three remaining GS titles I would be drunk with happiness (and drink) for the rest of the year!!:p:pac: