Has Nadal gained stature with his absence?
Posted by tennisplanet on July 14, 2009
If he has, it’s got to do largely with one word: Sympathy?
Not only has he been sidelined from doing what he so clearly is passionate about, he has been stripped of his No. 1 rank, has lost in his backyard (RG) and failed to defend his Wimbledon crown (something he cherishes as much if not more than Federer does).
It’s like it was with Sampras-Agassi rivalry. Fans invariably cheered for Agassi for obvious reasons. But when Sampras played his last match at that US Open final against Agassi, not many rooted for Agassi.
OK, that may not be exactly what’s happening here but that sympathy card has it’s own mind in finding ways to get a boost.
With Nadal being so much front and center for the past year or so, there’s no doubt fans are genuinely missing him even if they are not on his boat.
Standing ovation at Montreal?
Alex said
should!
MIKE__ said
Nadal gain stature at The Planet? Nahhh, it’ll never happen. Too many people who only know or care about Fed.
jennifur said
like furrrr surrrre.
banti said
If he wins the US open or even makes the final, than like furrr surrree. Otherwise sorry no.
MIKE__ said
^^ Like I said, too many people who only know or care about Fed.
YMD said
Since when does a jet skiing vacation increase one’s stature?
saras said
Its in Human Nature,we always tend to miss the person who is not around.Same goes with Rafa.Since he is not on tour for a while,its natural that the tennis fans remember him.Likewise,the fans miss D.Nalbandian.As for as my oinion goes,I didn’t miss Nadal since I used to find his play very boring.Specially when Nadal & Djoko used to play against each other.
YMD said
Isn’t it odd when you watch tennis for some time how people just fall off and on the radar?
Just last summer Simon was “The guy to watch.”
MARIE said
Are you seriously equating Nadal’s absence with Nalbandian’s?
Jill said
Well I certainly miss Nalbandian as much as Nadal.
MIKE__ said
Saras: “I didn’t miss Nadal since I used to find his play very boring. Specially when Nadal & Djoko used to play against each other.”
Yeah you’re right, Nadal is soo BORING to watch and esp. his matches with Djoko. The ‘08 Hamburg SF and ‘08 Queens Final almost put me to sleep. And the ‘09 Madrid SF?? … zzzzzz, I’d rather watch grass grow.
banti said
Sara agree 100%. And you have every right to feel the way you do. I find his game boring as well. He has his occasional “wow” shots but 99% of what he does bores me. Im sure countless other people feel the same way. And yes Nadal with Djoker is even more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I can watch Gasquet, Nalbandian, and even Murray and be entertained. Nadal doesn’t do it for me.
Oh and Of course Fed is on a different planet with the entertainment issue:)
Anton said
Choosing between effortless tennis or grind tennis is a no-brainer obviously…
Jenny said
I have missed Nadal, and it will be good when he returns. However, I prefer to watch an in the zone Nalbandian, especially when he plays Federer. Let’s hope his op has been successful.
pommesdesuisse said
i agree…
i was at the final of Basel last october, when Nalbandian played against Fed…
actually Nalby wasn’t the player being in the zone, but Fed was. Nalby was playing well too though…
i tell you, i’ve seen Fed play for a few times now, but that was the best i’ve ever ‘witnessed’. -LIVE, i mean…
i could understand why former greats and spectators in general are/were so amazed by him.
it’s hard to explain, but there’s really something special about him. it’s not an overstatement to say that he ‘floats’!
it was actually a class difference, which normally, of course, is not the case against other top players…
remember his first masterscup-final against Agassi in Houston? THAT was like that…
he can win by not playing his best (Wimby-final vs Roddick) and certainly lose,
but when he is in his zone he’s literally unbeatable.
after that match i realized that he is the GOAT.
sorry that i was wandering from the subject, but it just came over me!
evie said
Standing O… I hope so!
ScotsLady said
Standing O??? If Montrealers give one for Rafa they’ll be climbing over the rooftops for Federer after his Wimby win – assuming Fed will be in Montreal and not at home changing nappies!!
mircea said
I think Nadal is a very courageous athlete. I think everyone needs hims and wants him back. Federer is happy Nadal was out for the last 4 months. Any longer, it would cast a shadow on Federer’s accomplishments. Nadal’s stature has grown because he’s a larger than life character. I think he’s the Borg of his generation.
joao said
I guess, after the career Slam and the “15″, Nadal became the Moby Dick or the White Elefant for Federer…
So, in light of the size of the mentioned animals, yeah, he grew in stature…
Gracie said
Pretty funny Joao.
Nadal is missed, sure. He’s not my fave player to watch (and I wonder if Saras’ comment about Rafa & Djok’s matches being boring might refer to how long both of them take to get serving), but Rafa’s a key player in the game and it hurts tennis to have the top guys out of commission. IMO, if anything, Fed’s consistent presence at the Majors and in the SF and F rounds was only further hightlighted BY Nadal’s absence. I don’t know if this raised his stature, but it reminded us of how hard it is to stay competitive year after year.
pommesdesuisse said
that’s a good point…
21!!!
Screwdriver said
TP, how come no talk on the hawk eye. It was obvious for everyone with an eye that the halk eye at wimbledon was screwed up bigtime and it sure needs re-calibration. They were some decisions which were so obvious to the naked eye. There was some serious flaw. And how about this one thing I see Fed calling for hawkeye calls most of the time and missing them big time. Is his vision getting blurred? and ofcourse I did’nt miss Nadal a bit. I am bored to death when I watch him play (yes his pace between points makes it worse)
joao said
The GOAT never was that good with the Hawk eye…
Somebody Else said
“[Nadal's] pace between points makes it worse”
Agree. Rafa can hit great shots, but his method of playing makes it difficult for me to root for him. I’m always backing the other guys. Rafa’s service games are like watching golfers tee off. Get on with it already!
Schop said
It depends on how you look at it! During his absence at least he didn’t lose more matches!
So he gained stature!!! 
This might be one of the reason for his absence, not so much his knees!? 
On the other hand during his absence he lost FO, Wimby and his #1 rank! So his stature ends up in the gutter… The next 2 month will be very important! The most important or most difficult of his career! Can he come back or is he still struggling?
Prasad said
Nadal brings to the table what no other No 1 has ever did. Respect for opponents and for the game. I’ve never seen him belittle an opponent in any way. And on the court he sticks to being a tennis player unlike a certain ‘anointed one’ who acts like a diva and dresses like one. It is just incredible to see such maturity and even mindedness from Nadal at his age.
We miss you Nadal. Real tennis fans who like competition miss you. Waiting till you come back with full strength.
MIKE__ said
Amen.
Blake said
Praise be to God— Nadal.
Kathleen said
Well said. Nice to read a positive post about Nadal.
boxingary said
“Nadal brings to the table what no other No 1 has ever did. Respect for opponents and for the game. I’ve never seen him belittle an opponent in any way”
———————————
Edberg was No 1……..he didn’t have these qualities?
Wilander was No 1……he didn’t have these qualities?
Andy said
Nadal is a great tennis player and probably a good guy.
But he has flaws, just like the other probably good guy you and others love to put down.
Anyway, we’ll see what happens in the next year or two, but there can be no question whatsoever that in the last month the stature of that other probably good guy went up way more than the stature of Prince “I have never done anything wrong whatsoever in my life” Nadal.
Yes, that “Scum of the earth, Epitamy of Classlessness and World’s most Obnoxious Diva-like Dresser” Federer rolls on, completing the most dominating year of grand slam performances as a No. 2 of anyone in history.
Prasad said
Narcissist and his fans can keep his “dresses” and we will appreciate tennis players who who are humble and down to earth.