Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could take the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things pretty close.
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed was he ran out of gas.
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could take> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things pretty> close.>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed was> he ran out of gas.>
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could take> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things pretty> close.>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed > was> he ran out of gas.
Now if he appears to run out of gas after just one best of five set matches then how he is going to fare in seven best of five set matches in a grand slam. I think stamina will be a problem for Nadal and also unlike Miami USO is played on a faster hard court which suits Federer's game more than Nadal's game, Federer does have the advantage on grass and hard court or any type of fast court over Nadal. No, I don't think Nadal will finish ahead of Federer this year.>
"Rustbelt" <yongster@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1113876756.251211.128550@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...> No. Federer won two masters already.>
Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so that's to Nadal's favor.
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly basis. He may not be able to beat Federer right now on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months later in USO?
"John" <jlang@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:XnY8e.19$f%3.704@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte>> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of>> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could take>> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things >> pretty>> close.>>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed >> was>> he ran out of gas.>
Now if he appears to run out of gas after just one best of five set > matches then how> he is going to fare in seven best of five set matches in a grand slam. I > think stamina> will be a problem for Nadal and also unlike Miami USO is played on a > faster hard> court which suits Federer's game more than Nadal's game, Federer does have > the> advantage on grass and hard court or any type of fast court over Nadal. > No, I don't> think Nadal will finish ahead of Federer this year.>>
That's assuming there are no rain delays. Wimbledon is famous for them.
"Luke Tang" <ginzton@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:d41tuu$ffm$1@news.Stanford.EDU...> Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of> five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so > that's to Nadal's favor.>
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly > basis. He> may not be able to beat Federer right now> on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months> later in USO?>
"John" <jlang@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message > news:XnY8e.19$f%3.704@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>>
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte>>> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of>>> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>>>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could >>> take>>> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things >>> pretty>>> close.>>>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed >>> was>>> he ran out of gas.>>
Now if he appears to run out of gas after just one best of five set >> matches then how>> he is going to fare in seven best of five set matches in a grand slam. I >> think stamina>> will be a problem for Nadal and also unlike Miami USO is played on a >> faster hard>> court which suits Federer's game more than Nadal's game, Federer does >> have the>> advantage on grass and hard court or any type of fast court over Nadal. >> No, I don't>> think Nadal will finish ahead of Federer this year.>>>
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?
Yes, he has a reasonable shot at it. It's either him or Fed this yr.....
"Luke Tang" <ginzton@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:d41tuu$ffm$1@news.Stanford.EDU...> Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of> five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so > that's to Nadal's favor.
But like Nadal if he is physically getting tired after tennis a little over 2 and half sets, that extra day of rest between each match does not necessarily mean that is in his favour.
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly > basis. He> may not be able to beat Federer right now> on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months> later in USO?
I will wait and see and I think the major challenge of Federer is more likely to come from Roddick or Safin rather than Nadal, for Federer Nadal will be another Hewitt on the faster hard court. Federer is going to stand still with his game.>
"John" <jlang@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message > news:XnY8e.19$f%3.704@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>>
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte>>> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of>>> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>>>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could >>> take>>> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things >>> pretty>>> close.>>>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed >>> was>>> he ran out of gas.>>
Now if he appears to run out of gas after just one best of five set >> matches then how>> he is going to fare in seven best of five set matches in a grand slam. I >> think stamina>> will be a problem for Nadal and also unlike Miami USO is played on a >> faster hard>> court which suits Federer's game more than Nadal's game, Federer does >> have the>> advantage on grass and hard court or any type of fast court over Nadal. >> No, I don't>> think Nadal will finish ahead of Federer this year.>>>
"Luke Tang" <ginzton@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:d41tmb$far$1@news.Stanford.EDU...> Nadal may sweep Roma,Hamburge and RG in a roll
If he sweep Rome and Hamburg, he will be out of RG very quickly by peaking too early before the GS.>
"Rustbelt" <yongster@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:1113876756.251211.128550@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...>> No. Federer won two masters already.>>
Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of> five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so that's > to Nadal's favor.>
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly basis. > He> may not be able to beat Federer right now> on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months> later in USO?>
Nadal can beat Fed on every surface now except grass, & in a yr or so can beat him there as well.
They've played twice on HC & Nadal won 1st time 6-3 6-3, & blew a 6-2 7-6 4-1 lead last week....
"Whisper" <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:Ar39e.549$f%3.3116@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...> Luke Tang wrote:>
Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of>> five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so >> that's to Nadal's favor.>>
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly >> basis. He>> may not be able to beat Federer right now>> on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months>> later in USO?>>
Nadal can beat Fed on every surface now except grass, & in a yr or so can > beat him there as well.>
They've played twice on HC & Nadal won 1st time 6-3 6-3, & blew a 6-2 7-6 > 4-1 lead last week....
Miami has slow hard court, the court is slower than most of hard court surface the players compete during the USO series. Nadal can beat Fed on slow hard court and clay but Fed will win most of their match up on hard court, grass court and indoor.>
Javier Gonzalez 19 April 2005 17:28:26 [ permanent link ]
aasmuna_@online.no <asadnoy@gmail.com> wrote:> No way. I can't see him doing much on hard courts after FO, he will be> spent by then. His style is so exhausting, and he gets no free points> off the serve.
I agree with this. To finish #1 he'll have to make more points in the clay season than what Federer will amass during the HC season (including wimbledon, wich, seeing Roddick's current form, looks like a walk in the park for Fed) wich means he must romp through the claycourt season, and if he needs to tank a set to Coria in order to 'conserve energy', imagine how good that will go in FO.
-- Javier Gonzalez Nicolini Ingeniero Civil en Computacion - Universidad de Chile
John wrote:> "Whisper" <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message > news:Ar39e.549$f%3.3116@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>
Luke Tang wrote:>>
Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of>>>five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so >>>that's to Nadal's favor.>>>
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly >>>basis. He>>>may not be able to beat Federer right now>>>on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months>>>later in USO?>>>
Nadal can beat Fed on every surface now except grass, & in a yr or so can >>beat him there as well.>>
They've played twice on HC & Nadal won 1st time 6-3 6-3, & blew a 6-2 7-6 >>4-1 lead last week....>
Miami has slow hard court, the court is slower than most of hard court > surface the> players compete during the USO series. Nadal can beat Fed on slow hard > court and> clay but Fed will win most of their match up on hard court, grass court and > indoor.>
Javier Gonzalez wrote:> aasmuna_@online.no <asadnoy@gmail.com> wrote:>
No way. I can't see him doing much on hard courts after FO, he will be>>spent by then. His style is so exhausting, and he gets no free points>>off the serve.>
I agree with this. To finish #1 he'll have to make more points in the > clay season than what Federer will amass during the HC season (including> wimbledon, wich, seeing Roddick's current form, looks like a walk in the> park for Fed) wich means he must romp through the claycourt season, and> if he needs to tank a set to Coria in order to 'conserve energy',> imagine how good that will go in FO.>
People made the mistake of assuming Federer would win the AO, and we all know what happened there.
"Javier Gonzalez" <jagonzal@dcc.uchile.cl> wrote in message news:d4311q$cql$1@helcaraxe.dcc.uchile.cl...> aasmuna_@online.no <asadnoy@gmail.com> wrote:>> No way. I can't see him doing much on hard courts after FO, he will be>> spent by then. His style is so exhausting, and he gets no free points>> off the serve.>
I agree with this. To finish #1 he'll have to make more points in the> clay season than what Federer will amass during the HC season (including> wimbledon, wich, seeing Roddick's current form,
Roddick's current form? Geez he's 19-4 for the year with 2 of those losses he had to retire. CLEARLY he's in trouble.
Javier Gonzalez 20 April 2005 17:38:09 [ permanent link ]
Trellek <yeah@no.com> wrote:> Roddick's current form? Geez he's 19-4 for the year with 2 of those losses > he had to retire. CLEARLY he's in trouble.
Oh, he won San Jose... against Lee, Enqvist, Haas and Saulnier! WoW!!! But he's losing the important matches. Lleyton still owns him. Ljubicic on US hardcourt, with home advantage. WTF? Sounds like Andy isn't as hot as he was on 2003... his mental meltdowns don't bode well for his future.
His best-ranked wins are agains Davydenko on AO and Gonzalez on IW. And Davydenko retired! Who's next? Moya? Melzer?
I wouldn't bet a dime on Andy Roddick right now.
-- Javier Gonzalez Nicolini Ingeniero Civil en Computacion - Universidad de Chile
"Javier Gonzalez" <jagonzal@dcc.uchile.cl> wrote in message news:d45m01$ji5$2@helcaraxe.dcc.uchile.cl...> Trellek <yeah@no.com> wrote:>> Roddick's current form? Geez he's 19-4 for the year with 2 of those >> losses>> he had to retire. CLEARLY he's in trouble.>
Oh, he won San Jose... against Lee, Enqvist, Haas and Saulnier! WoW!!!> But he's losing the important matches. Lleyton still owns him. Ljubicic> on US hardcourt, with home advantage. WTF? Sounds like Andy isn't as> hot as he was on 2003... his mental meltdowns don't bode well for his> future.>
His best-ranked wins are agains Davydenko on AO and Gonzalez on IW.> And Davydenko retired! Who's next? Moya? Melzer?>
I wouldn't bet a dime on Andy Roddick right now.>
How can you possibly say he's in trouble though or bad form? You're comparing 2003 to a year that hasn't finished yet. Wait until grass onwards, and I think you'll see an improvement on clay this year. Regardless of what you Roddick haters must think he's not THAT bad on clay.
Rafael Nadal is currently #2 in the INDESIT rankings. He just won Monte>> Carlo on clay. He almost beat Federer last week on the hard courts of>> Miami. Does anyone here think Nadal just might finish #1 this year?>>
Nadal is a favorite to win the FO. Also, it seems possible he could take>> the USO. Leaving Wimby for Fed that might be enough to make things >> pretty>> close.>>
Nadal needs to work on his conditioning. The only reason he lost to Fed >> was>> he ran out of gas.>
Now if he appears to run out of gas after just one best of five set > matches then how> he is going to fare in seven best of five set matches in a grand slam. I > think stamina> will be a problem for Nadal [...snip...]
I think you have it. After Nadal lost to Federer in Miami, he said he wasn't built for five sets.
That doesn't bode well for a slam, unless he's in such great form that he wins most matches in straights.
I get a sense that this is a special time in men's tennis. Nadal's near-win and Gasquet's win over Federer may lead to the king being usurped faster than most expected.
I think you have it. After Nadal lost to Federer in Miami, he said he wasn't > built for five sets.>
That doesn't bode well for a slam, unless he's in such great form that he > wins most matches in straights.>
I get a sense that this is a special time in men's tennis. Nadal's near-win > and Gasquet's win over Federer may lead to the king being usurped faster > than most expected.>
Dave >
Still no real evidence of that. When he's lost he's had Mp's. If he fails to win FO and Wim we could see a big drop off in dominance....
"Whisper" <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:JRIae.571$bc7.18829@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...> David Henry wrote:>>
I think you have it. After Nadal lost to Federer in Miami, he said he >> wasn't built for five sets.>>
That doesn't bode well for a slam, unless he's in such great form that he >> wins most matches in straights.>>
I get a sense that this is a special time in men's tennis. Nadal's >> near-win and Gasquet's win over Federer may lead to the king being >> usurped faster than most expected.>>
Dave>
Still no real evidence of that. When he's lost he's had Mp's. If he > fails to win FO and Wim we could see a big drop off in dominance....
I think having match points and losing stings Federer more than simply losing a match, as it does for most players.
He's known as being a great closer. Losing the MP to Safin at the AO cost him a slam. And losing three MP's to Gasquet, who basically has no history, must sting, too. Again, it's weird that Fed didn't close the door
I see Federer in Graf terms. Both are high risk players that rely upon confidence. When they're on, their domination is impressive. When they lose that confidence, it can be a train wreck of sorts.
Two losses on the year is awesome. But you're right in the few loses he has come at the wrong time (slams), then he likely will get deflated.
"David Henry" <telemachus7@msn.com> wrote in message news:2bGdncosj-KyRPbfRVn-qg@comcast.com...> ....> He's known as being a great closer. Losing the MP to Safin at the AO cost> him a slam. And losing three MP's to Gasquet, who basically has no history,> must sting, too. Again, it's weird that Fed didn't close the door
He's known as a great closer? I haven't really felt that. I think he has a tendency to coast, then raise his game at crunch time. If the opponent folds (and most do), the he coasts home. If they don't, it's nip and tuck. It's just that the level to which he raises his game, in most cases, is well out of the reach of most players, on most days.
I see Federer in Graf terms. Both are high risk players that rely upon> confidence. When they're on, their domination is impressive. When they
lose> that confidence, it can be a train wreck of sorts.
Federer has plans B through Z, if his plan A isn't working. He has a million tools and the wits to use them. Graf's plan B was basically to raise the volume on plan A. On the other hand, it was a Hell of a plan A.
Two losses on the year is awesome. But you're right in the few loses he
come at the wrong time (slams), then he likely will get deflated.
Over time, yes. Nowhere near as fast as people here have suggested.
"Whisper" <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message >>
Still no real evidence of that. When he's lost he's had Mp's. If he >>fails to win FO and Wim we could see a big drop off in dominance....>
I think having match points and losing stings Federer more than simply > losing a match, as it does for most players.>
He's known as being a great closer. Losing the MP to Safin at the AO cost > him a slam. And losing three MP's to Gasquet, who basically has no history, > must sting, too. Again, it's weird that Fed didn't close the door
I don't see Fed as a 'great closer' at all - on the contrary I think he's highly suspect in close matches. Still waiting for him to prove otherwise - I thought he had a great chance at AO when he came back from 2-5 in 5th v Safin.
I see Federer in Graf terms. Both are high risk players that rely upon > confidence. When they're on, their domination is impressive. When they lose > that confidence, it can be a train wreck of sorts.
Graf is a bit better than that - her record & absolute form is the best we've seen. Fed's made a good start, but he's not young in tennis terms & hasn't won enough to be compared to that level....
Two losses on the year is awesome. But you're right in the few loses he has > come at the wrong time (slams), then he likely will get deflated.>
Dave
...and they're not random losses - the pressure is far greater in slams, & his opponents are going to give 100%.
Still no real evidence of that. When he's lost he's had Mp's. If he>
fails to win FO and Wim we could see a big drop off in dominance....>
A failure to win a slam this year would constitute a big drop off in> dominance. If he wins W then he has won 3 in a row, if he wins the FO> he has a career slam, and a USO would be another blue-chip, so to win> just one of those three would still not be bad.>
It would be excellent to win either one, but 3 straight Wimbledons would bracket his name with Sampras/Borg/Perry.
Well, he already seems to have bounced back pretty well from his AO> defeat, but a failure at both the FO and W would be a real test of his> resillience.>
Yes, & at this point I'm thinking it's more likely he'll go slamless this yr...
Javier Gonzalez 25 April 2005 18:07:59 [ permanent link ]
cinicke <cinicke@gmail.com> wrote:> Maybe Roddick needs to lost the pop on his serve for a year to realize> that the rest of his game needs serious work.
Good point!
Maybe a freak shoulder condition will force him to focus on the fact that, without his serve, he's nothing but a fh-spraying machine... and if the fh is off, god help him.
-- Javier Gonzalez Nicolini Ingeniero Civil en Computacion - Universidad de Chile
Well I guess both of you answered my question then.
"Javier Gonzalez" <jagonzal@dcc.uchile.cl> wrote in message news:d4itjv$pd9$2@helcaraxe.dcc.uchile.cl...> cinicke <cinicke@gmail.com> wrote:>> Maybe Roddick needs to lost the pop on his serve for a year to realize>> that the rest of his game needs serious work.>
Good point!>
Maybe a freak shoulder condition will force him to focus on the fact> that, without his serve, he's nothing but a fh-spraying machine... and> if the fh is off, god help him.>
-- > Javier Gonzalez Nicolini> Ingeniero Civil en Computacion - Universidad de Chile>
On 2005-04-24, Pedro Dias <pedrodias@snip.net> wrote:>
"David Henry" <telemachus7@msn.com> wrote in message> news:2bGdncosj-KyRPbfRVn-qg@comcast.com...>>
....>> He's known as being a great closer. Losing the MP to Safin at the AO cost>> him a slam. And losing three MP's to Gasquet, who basically has no> history,>> must sting, too. Again, it's weird that Fed didn't close the door>
He's known as a great closer? I haven't really felt that. I think he has a> tendency to coast, then raise his game at crunch time. If the opponent folds> (and most do), the he coasts home. If they don't, it's nip and tuck. It's> just that the level to which he raises his game, in most cases, is well out> of the reach of most players, on most days.
Basically he's a bit lazy and overconfident...I've gotten the same feeling that he hasn't really played great tennis this year. Perhaps aloof arrogance isn't such a unfair characterization by GroundAxe... I'm fan of Fed but I have to wonder a bit on his recent form
<MathDude@NOSPAM.com> wrote in message news:slrnd6tgrt.166.MathDude@cscf.cs.uwaterloo.ca...> On 2005-04-24, Pedro Dias <pedrodias@snip.net> wrote:>>
"David Henry" <telemachus7@msn.com> wrote in message>> news:2bGdncosj-KyRPbfRVn-qg@comcast.com...>>>
....>>> He's known as being a great closer. Losing the MP to Safin at the AO >>> cost>>> him a slam. And losing three MP's to Gasquet, who basically has no>> history,>>> must sting, too. Again, it's weird that Fed didn't close the door>>
He's known as a great closer? I haven't really felt that. I think he has >> a>> tendency to coast, then raise his game at crunch time. If the opponent >> folds>> (and most do), the he coasts home. If they don't, it's nip and tuck. It's>> just that the level to which he raises his game, in most cases, is well >> out>> of the reach of most players, on most days.>
Basically he's a bit lazy and overconfident...I've gotten the same feeling> that he hasn't really played great tennis this year.> Perhaps aloof arrogance isn't such a unfair characterization by > GroundAxe...> I'm fan of Fed but I have to wonder a bit on his recent form
It's not. I've always considered Federer to be a bit smug, in a similar vain that Sampras was. But I think Fed is worse. I still can't get over the fact that he likes to watch himself play. That speaks to being vainglorious to me.
I just about Deuce yesterday. I'll take a read of it and maybe I'll see how my opinion changes. But again, when he's called The One and is being made out to be a "global ambassador," it's probably all going to his head. Give it a little time and he'll look like Stewie from the Family Guy.
"John" <jlang@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:1349e.599$f%3.3445@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>
"Whisper" <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message > news:Ar39e.549$f%3.3116@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...>> Luke Tang wrote:>>
Well, in Grand Slams, though it's best of>>> five match, you do have an additional day's rest after each match, so >>> that's to Nadal's favor.>>>
One more thing is Nadal is still making good improvement in a weekly >>> basis. He>>> may not be able to beat Federer right now>>> on fast HC surface, but how about 4 months>>> later in USO?>>>
Nadal can beat Fed on every surface now except grass, & in a yr or so can >> beat him there as well.>>
They've played twice on HC & Nadal won 1st time 6-3 6-3, & blew a 6-2 7-6 >> 4-1 lead last week....>
Miami has slow hard court, the court is slower than most of hard court > surface the> players compete during the USO series. Nadal can beat Fed on slow hard > court and> clay but Fed will win most of their match up on hard court, grass court > and indoor.
As great a player is Fed is, it's still about the matchup. Federer doesn't like playing lefties -- he almost lost to Ivo Minar this year -- especially one as potent as Nadal.
I think Fed has found his waterloo in Nadal. If Rafa can stay healthy and get a few cracks at Fed during the year, I'd say he'll come up with two wins.
"David Henry" <telemachus7@msn.com> wrote in message news:AOCdnRqAk5U8pezfRVn-iQ@comcast.com...> <snip>> that Sampras was. But I think Fed is worse. I still can't get over the > fact that he likes to watch himself play. That speaks to being > vainglorious to
Yeah, but would he PAY to watch himself play, as Pat MacEnroe says he will (to watch Fed play)?!
I did figure that Gonzo would beat Fed because it was Fed's first tournament > on clay and Gonzo is pretty accomplished on the dirt. It went three, so I > wasn't terribly far off.
Fed was serving for the match in the 2nd set - it could have been an easy straight setter.
My picks over Fed are calculated. He's had a few third set tiebreak escapes > this year already, so I figure a few accomplished players on their favorite > surfaces can get to him.>
Federer is losing focus and failing to step on the pedal after getting a lead this year. That's why he failed to close out matches where he won the first set / was serving for match in the second set etc. (e.g. Zabaleta, Ancic, Safin, Gasquet, Gonzalez matches). The biggest indicator is his tiebreak record: last year it was an astounding 21-5, this year it's 8-6. The two matches he lost were in situations where he had good leads/matchpoints in TB's and lost them. Probably because he is a little complacent after his success last year. Furthermore, all his opponents treat every match like a GS final and play with a cornered cat mentality as they have nothing to lose.
As for Nadal, I really do get a sense of fear for him from Federer. The > amount of praise Fed heaps on Nadal as a current top player seems like > adulation. Sampras gave kudos to Hewitt and Safin, but only after 2000 when > he sensed he was in his twilight and winding down. It's unusual for a > current top player in his prime to gush over a young up and comer the way > Fed does Nadal. I get the feel he's already setting the stage in case he > loses. Plus, Fed doesn't like to play lefties, and Nadal is the best left > there is now -- and he doesn't fear Federer.
I think the challenge from Nadal will help Fed regain his focus and hunger of last year. He will probably be much more aggressive and intent now. He showed signs of that in the Miami final where he was hitting bigger and approaching the net much more than usual. Nadal will bring out the best in Fed from now on.
