Australian Open 2023 [Men] - Grand Slam

[El Dude]

As a tennis fan and no clear favorite in the race, would love to see Rafa and Novak battle it out for #23 in a Slam final.

 

[Moxie]

Well, that's it for Rafa. Big let off for Novak. Anyway, I can stop debating whether or not to give ESPN the money, and I don't have to stay up all night for the next 2 weeks.

 

[Fiero425]

That was a lot about Wawrinka, which is why I think a healthy Nadal had a good chance to win that match.

That's what people muse about when Nadal drops a match! He's never beaten, just pulling up a lit'l lame in so many ways IMO! "Just go Rafa!"

 

[Fiero425]

Well, that's that. Hopefully Rafa can get healthy for a strong clay run.

Anything would be an improvement over last season, not picking up one event on clay; 250, 500, or Masters 1000! It was all Carlos then!

 

[kskate2]

So Father Time is calling Nads home early in Aus. Unfortunate he couldn't make a good run at his title defense. Credit to his ability to play fairly, he didn't want to retire from the match and rob Mackie of a legit win.

 

[Moxie]

Anything would be over an improvement of last season, not picking up one event on clay; 250, 500, or Masters 1000! It was all Carlos then!

Oops, except for that little title in Roland Garros that he picked up. How conveniently they forget.

 

[the AntiPusher]

It's time for Rafa to become Rai Al Ghul. Rafa skip the first swing of the American hardcourts and go directly to the clay. It's most likely a strain of the hip adductor like Margaret said. Rest, anti-inflammatory meds and no more hardcourts until July ..

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Sad to see the tournament favorite out because of injury. It's now anybody's tournament to win!

 

[kskate2]

Anything would be over an improvement of last season, not picking up one event on clay; 250, 500, or Masters 1000! It was all Carlos then!

I'm sure Carlito would have traded all of those warm-up events for a title at the big dance in Paris.

 

[tented]

It's time for Rafa to become Rai Al Ghul. Rafa skip the first swing of the American hardcourts and go directly to the clay. It's most likely a strain of the hip adductor like Margaret said. Rest, anti-inflammatory meds and no more hardcourts until July ..

That would require sensible scheduling, which has never been one of Rafa’s fortes.

 

[tented]

This makes it even more of a shame that Alcaraz isn’t here.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If Rafa goes to Dubai I will personally get on a plane and drag him back to my place for a good Italian talking

 

[Fiero425]

So Father Time is calling Nads home early in Aus. Unfortunate he couldn't make a good run at his title defense. Credit to his ability to play fairly, he didn't want to retire from the match and rob Mackie of a legit win.

But the talk will still be bandied about! McDonald will never get full credit for this win even though he was beating Rafa long B4 the "injury!"

 

[tented]

If Rafa goes to Dubai I will personally get on a plane and drag him back to my place for a good Italian talking

We could start a GoFundMe to get you there.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

We could start a GoFundMe to get you there.

Okay your on lol!

 

[the AntiPusher]

So Father Time is calling Nads home early in Aus. Unfortunate he couldn't make a good run at his title defense. Credit to his ability to play fairly, he didn't want to retire from the match and rob Mackie of a legit win.

Rafa has a few more ticks on his father time clock. Layoff the hardcourts until he gets into tournament match conditioning.(late July) Go to the Lazarus pits (aka the clay courts) and he can extend his career. Kskate Rafa's soul was mortgaged last year to get his 2nd AO championship. The good thing is he knows now that he can serve like a ATP top 200 player instead of serving like a Lower tier player on the challenger tour. Rafa will be Aight but he needs to manage his schedule very cautiously. Nuff said I'm gone to bed. Chao ..Go FAA

 

[Moxie]

But the talk will still be bandied about! McDonald will never get full credit for this win even though he was beating Rafa long B4 the "injury!"

The win is on the books, and that will always matter.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I can hear the press questions now to Rafa,

Is this your last AO appearence
Also are you going to retire now Eye Roll

 

[kskate2]

But the talk will still be bandied about! McDonald will never get full credit for this win even though he was beating Rafa long B4 the "injury!"

I don't agree w/ that. As you said he was getting handled well before the injury. So even before the MTO he was staring at 2 sets to love.

 

[tented]

Years ago, I remember @brokenshoelace saying this tournament is cursed for Rafa. With the exception of last year, that has held up.