Watching Nadal pre 2009, it is clear he has adapted and changed his game. He used to be much more quicker than he is now, probably due to age etc. His back hand has improved significantly and is more flatter than before. Nadal is an adaptable player! In order to win the US open he needed to improve his serve and out of nowhere he was hitting serves at speeds of 130-135 mph's! For Nadal that is big! Nadal after the US open looked like he was going to dominate.
However, then came Novak hitting unbelievable form and winning 7 games in a row against Nadal. But Nadal was still the 2nd best player. Reaching 5 grand slam finals in a row! However, Nadal needed to adjust his game against Novak because he was simply battering Nadal on all surfaces. In the Ausie 2012 final, Nadal came close to beating Novak! That was the turning point against Novak for me. Novak and Nadal will probably contest most of the next grand slams. And I predict Novak to end his career on 12-13 slams and Nadal on 15. Nadal and Novak will play many close finals! Both are great players and have been unlucky that they have played in a difficult era. Roger will be considered the best. However, he has never been the best whilst Nadal has been around. Nadal unlike Roger leads every top player in head to heads. Say what you like about Nadal, but he is a great player.
How many Slams will Nadal get?
posted on 10/6/13
He certainly is. I think you are pretty much on the money with your Slam prediction for Novak and Rafa.
I wouldn't say they have been unlucky though. On the contrary they, along with Roger, have made this era one of the best (and certainly difficult for the others playing now) that I can remember in all my time watching tennis.
We are truly lucky to have these 4 fantastic players at the top of the game (with apologies to David who I think is a wonderful competitor but most definitely no. 5 in the world, despite the current rankings) and I hope we do not lose any of them any time soon either to retirement or injury.
posted on 11/6/13
How can Nole win 13 slams when he only has 6 at 26? Players start declining at 26 and win the majority of their slams *before* turning 26.
Let's see how the 11+ slams winner did after turning 26:
Federer won 11 of his 17 before turning 26.
Sampras won 10 of his 14 slams before turning 26
Nadal won 10 of his 12 slams before turning 26.
Borg won all his 11 slams before turning 26.
Looking at how the players who won slams in the double digits won the majority of their slams before turning 26, then so will Nole.
Nadal 14 slams
Nole 10 slams
posted on 11/6/13
Federer won 11 slams before turning 26.
Sampras won 10 slams before turning 26
Nadal won 10 slams before turning 26.
Borg won 11 slams before turning 26.
Actually, all of these players that ended up in double digits at the slams had won 10 or 11 slams before turning 26. Nole won 6 slams before turning 26 so he is not even following the career trajectory of the 11+ slam winners like Borg, Nadal, Sampras and Federer.
10 slams for Nole and I'm being nice. It could be less like 9 slams. But 10 is a prettier number.
posted on 11/6/13
Sampras and Nadal won 10 slams before turning 26.
I expect Nadal to end up with 14 slams like Sampras did.
Federer and Borg won 11 slams before turning 26.
Had Borg continued, he could have ended with 17 slams like Federer did. Too bad the Swede retired at 25.
posted on 11/6/13
Nadull - 15 slams.
Nole - 10 slams.
posted on 12/6/13
The_Red_Cognoscente (U9741)
Nadal is not dull! One of the most exciting players to watch!
posted on 25/6/13
Nadal - 18
Djoko - 12
Murray - 3