2024 ATP General News

Moxie

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Not to nitpick details, but according to a web search, Rafa's net worth is $220 million. No small potatoes, but even if we pad it a bit, that's a quarter or third of a billion.

And I totally agree that he won't play for money - that's an absurd idea, quite frankly. I'm sure one of the Nadalites can speak more accurately to his motives, but my guess is a combination of love of the game/competition, records/legacy, and perhaps out of some sense of duty to his fans.

Given the setbacks he's undergone these last two years, I would guess it is more the 1st and 3rd...love of the game and for his fans. I'm not sure what else he can do to pad his record, and he must know he's got very little chance of catching Novak in the Slam count. I think he just loves tennis, loves competing, and loves his fans. After the last two decades (three, really), and being one of the best who ever played, it is a hard thing to give up. Roger didn't fully give up until he started slipping out of elite level. He was still playing at a very high level in 2019 and the beginning of 2020, but when he came back in 2021 he was a shadow of his former self. The writing was plain on the wall.
It's been way beyond the money for a long time. It's almost odd you'd start there. Your question seems to be: why try to come back, and not just retire?

If I might start with Roger, he was out for a long time, but didn't retire. Until he realized he had to. As Annacone liked to tell us, Roger was an optimist, he loved the game, and he even loved the travel. And he loved his fans. Rafa is not dissimilar. He loves the game, and certainly his fans, but, also significantly, he loves the competition. His competitiveness is one of his defining features. Which is why I think he'll play golf competitively when he retires. When he comes back, he will expect to be competitive. If he feels he can't be, we might get the surprise retirement. I also suspect he wants to give a last run at RG, and maybe the Olympics, to be played on clay in Paris. I honestly don't think chasing Novak in the slam count is part of it, nor records, anymore. He seems pretty contented as to where he landed, as he should be, on that front. You asked for a fan's opinion, and that's mine.
 

El Dude

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It's been way beyond the money for a long time. It's almost odd you'd start there. Your question seems to be: why try to come back, and not just retire?
I didn't start there - I was riffing off someone else who did. Bejesus, Moxie. And that's not really my question - or rather, you seem to imply that I think he should retire. Not going that way at all. But just speculating on what motivates him, given how hard he's had it the last year and more.
If I might start with Roger, he was out for a long time, but didn't retire. Until he realized he had to. As Annacone liked to tell us, Roger was an optimist, he loved the game, and he even loved the travel. And he loved his fans. Rafa is not dissimilar. He loves the game, and certainly his fans, but, also significantly, he loves the competition. His competitiveness is one of his defining features. Which is why I think he'll play golf competitively when he retires. When he comes back, he will expect to be competitive. If he feels he can't be, we might get the surprise retirement. I also suspect he wants to give a last run at RG, and maybe the Olympics, to be played on clay in Paris. I honestly don't think chasing Novak in the slam count is part of it, nor records, anymore. He seems pretty contented as to where he landed, as he should be, on that front. You asked for a fan's opinion, and that's mine.
Cool - pretty much (exactly) what I was thinking, too, as I said above.
 
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El Dude

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When playing a sport this physically tough, IMO it's not a setback as much as "it's time!" They can't stay out there forever! Roger thought he could and Nadal's testing the limits! It's ridiculous for anyone to feel any kind of way about players who are 35+! It's all gravy and when it starts getting hard to stay near the top, GO! Right now, we're not sure of Djokovic! In a normal season, he'd have 3 titles by now! If it's his time, I'll support it! I think he still has a little left in the tank; maybe 1 more FO to complete his 4th CGS! I'm hoping he can rise to the occasion to take MC so he'll have 4 Golden Masters! I think even the hardcore Fedal fans will have to come around when he stretches out the recordbook in his favor! :fearful-face: :face-with-hand-over-mouth: :astonished-face: :face-with-tears-of-joy:
Maybe he figures that he can angle it just right and win one more RG, and then go out on top of his Clay Empire. I mean, why not? It isn't easy, especially having not really played competitively for 15 months now, but given his unparalleled dominance on clay, if anyone could accomplish such a feat, its Rafa.
 
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Moxie

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I didn't start there - I was riffing off someone else who did. Bejesus, Moxie. And that's not really my question - or rather, you seem to imply that I think he should retire. Not going that way at all. But just speculating on what motivates him, given how hard he's had it the last year and more.

Cool - pretty much (exactly) what I was thinking, too, as I said above.
Sorry, honey...I didn't mean for you to take it as if I were irritated...I was just responding in order to your points. As you implied, the money is surely the last of it, anymore. And I honestly have become quite sanguine about talking about the end of Rafa's career. As I said, if he doesn't think he can be in any way competitive, he might just very well quit, rather unceremoniously.

And I'm not saying you think he should retire. Just wondering why not? As you say, and as I tried to respond to, what motivates him? I'm glad if my answer was (ultimately) helpful.

Which bring us to what continues to motivate Novak? @don fabio and I were discussing this, up-thread. He hasn't won a title all year. He's done what he wanted to do: win the most Majors. He's surpassed most records. There might be a couple of things he still wants, like that Olympic gold medal. But his main rivals are gone, or all-but. Maybe it motivates him to still get a few over on Sinner and Alcaraz, but he won't stay in long enough for them to be great rivals. (Seriously. Even if he really does stay a few years more.) But he said, as he bailed on Miami, that he had to weigh personal and professional issues, or something like that. I do wonder what still motivates Novak.
 
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El Dude

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Sorry, honey...I didn't mean for you to take it as if I were irritated...I was just responding in order to your points. As you implied, the money is surely the last of it, anymore. And I honestly have become quite sanguine about talking about the end of Rafa's career. As I said, if he doesn't think he can be in any way competitive, he might just very well quit, rather unceremoniously.

And I'm not saying you think he should retire. Just wondering why not? As you say, and as I tried to respond to, what motivates him? I'm glad if my answer was (ultimately) helpful.
OK, fair enough, sugar ;). I will tell you that if he plays RG, I'll be rooting for him - I'd like to see him "story-book it" like Pete.
Which bring us to what continues to motivate Novak? @don fabio and I were discussing this, up-thread. He hasn't won a title all year. He's done what he wanted to do: win the most Majors. He's surpassed most records. There might be a couple of things he still wants, like that Olympic gold medal. But his main rivals are gone, or all-but. Maybe it motivates him to still get a few over on Sinner and Alcaraz, but he won't stay in long enough for them to be great rivals. (Seriously. Even if he really does stay a few years more.) But he said, as he bailed on Miami, that he had to weigh personal and professional issues, or something like that. I do wonder what still motivates Novak.
Well, first I think he's in a bit of a different situation than Rafa - he's still healthy, and thus still able to be very competitive. I mean, we're just four months removed from the end of his amazing 2023 season in which he won three Slams, and from RG on he was utterly dominant: two Slam wins, one Slam final, two Masters wins, WTF win -- a 34-2 match record during that span. A crazy run. He's had a sub-par start, but it is only three tournaments. Last year between AO and RG he had a similar sub-par period: four tournaments in a row without going beyond a SF (Dubai) - R16 loss at Monte-Carlo, QF loss at Banja Luka (250), and QF loss at Rome to Rune. An 8-4 period, not unlike his 8-3 start to this year (including the United Cup).

Now one thing that I think differentiates Novak from Roger and Rafa, is that Novak came up as the perennial #3...remember that four-year period (2007-10) when he finished #3 every year? He developed a chip on his shoulder, and even when he surged to #1 in 2011 and was the best player in most years since, it is almost like he hasn't given up the ghost.

Rafa had to deal with that as the #2 behind Roger for a few years, but I've always had the sense that Rafa primarily wants to win for himself, to play up to what he perceives he's capable of, whereas Novak wants to be on top of others. Perhaps this is why most find his personality less attractive than Rafa or Roger, both of whom seem to have always primarily been competing against themselves and not as worried about how they compare to others.

Perhaps that still drives Novak. I kind of see him wanting to not only hold most of the significant records, but all of them...and by margins large enough to make his GOAT status unquestionable. Or to put it another way, I think the idea of "GOAT" looms larger in his mind than Roger or Rafa.

What would that mean, specifically? Well, he's already got Slams, Tour Finals, Masters, big titles, weeks at #1, year-end #1, 3+ titles at each Slam, at least one title at every big tournament, only player with four 3 Slam seasons, and probably some other minor stuff.

What's left? Overall titles, and I think he probably hopes to at least equal Roger's 8 Wimbledon titles. He won't catch Rafa's 14 trophies at a Single Slam, obviously. And of course the Olympics.

So in terms of accomplishments, Novak is probably prioritizing, in no particular order:
  • WImbledon #8
  • Olympics Gold
  • More Slams in general (to get to 25+)
  • 6+ more titles to pass Roger (this is probably less of a priority than the above three)
The rest is just gravy.
 

Moxie

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OK, fair enough, sugar ;). I will tell you that if he plays RG, I'll be rooting for him - I'd like to see him "story-book it" like Pete.
Yeah, that would be the ideal. He'll have to come back really healthy, and, probably get help in the draw. I've lost track of where his ranking is. But, sure...if he won RG one more time, I rather wouldn't mind if he walked away.
Well, first I think he's in a bit of a different situation than Rafa - he's still healthy, and thus still able to be very competitive. I mean, we're just four months removed from the end of his amazing 2023 season in which he won three Slams, and from RG on he was utterly dominant: two Slam wins, one Slam final, two Masters wins, WTF win -- a 34-2 match record during that span. A crazy run. He's had a sub-par start, but it is only three tournaments. Last year between AO and RG he had a similar sub-par period: four tournaments in a row without going beyond a SF (Dubai) - R16 loss at Monte-Carlo, QF loss at Banja Luka (250), and QF loss at Rome to Rune. An 8-4 period, not unlike his 8-3 start to this year (including the United Cup).

Now one thing that I think differentiates Novak from Roger and Rafa, is that Novak came up as the perennial #3...remember that four-year period (2007-10) when he finished #3 every year? He developed a chip on his shoulder, and even when he surged to #1 in 2011 and was the best player in most years since, it is almost like he hasn't given up the ghost.

Rafa had to deal with that as the #2 behind Roger for a few years, but I've always had the sense that Rafa primarily wants to win for himself, to play up to what he perceives he's capable of, whereas Novak wants to be on top of others. Perhaps this is why most find his personality less attractive than Rafa or Roger, both of whom seem to have always primarily been competing against themselves and not as worried about how they compare to others.

Perhaps that still drives Novak. I kind of see him wanting to not only hold most of the significant records, but all of them...and by margins large enough to make his GOAT status unquestionable. Or to put it another way, I think the idea of "GOAT" looms larger in his mind than Roger or Rafa.

What would that mean, specifically? Well, he's already got Slams, Tour Finals, Masters, big titles, weeks at #1, year-end #1, 3+ titles at each Slam, at least one title at every big tournament, only player with four 3 Slam seasons, and probably some other minor stuff.

What's left? Overall titles, and I think he probably hopes to at least equal Roger's 8 Wimbledon titles. He won't catch Rafa's 14 trophies at a Single Slam, obviously. And of course the Olympics.

So in terms of accomplishments, Novak is probably prioritizing, in no particular order:
  • WImbledon #8
  • Olympics Gold
  • More Slams in general (to get to 25+)
  • 6+ more titles to pass Roger (this is probably less of a priority than the above three)
The rest is just gravy.
Also agreed on this. Novak is hyper-ambitious, for all the reasons you say, and more. I also agree as to his "reasonable" goals, though gaudy by the standards of mere mortals. And he seems to be very fit for it, physically. I mentioned the motivation, because I don't know if he can control if that flags. Obviously, he won 3 Majors last year, so it certainly doesn't seem like he's about to give up...why should he? I do still think that firing Goran was odd. Anyway, the clay season should be especially interesting this year!
 

MargaretMcAleer

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Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from Monte Carlo
Rafa said in a long statement 'My body wont allow me"
There had been rumors for the last few days he would withdraw, his back is still a problem, one of the reasons he had to withdraw from IW.
I have posted the full statement from Rafa on the Rafa Nadal Fan post.
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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In his 2nd match at Estoril Tournament Thiem was defeated by Gasquet LL 64 76(6)
Theim says he still has to find rhythm in his game, I'm not the player of 2020 anymore.
I have to deal with the current situation, with the fact that my wrist dosent give me the strength it used to.
 
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nehmeth

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Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from Monte Carlo
Rafa said in a long statement 'My body wont allow me"
There had been rumors for the last few days he would withdraw, his back is still a problem, one of the reasons he had to withdraw from IW.
I have posted the full statement from Rafa on the Rafa Nadal Fan post.
Having watched his exhibition match with Alcaraz, I held little belief that he was ready to contend for titles. I am wondering if he shouldn’t just shoot for next year and hit the clay court season only.
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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Having watched his exhibition match with Alcaraz, I held little belief that he was ready to contend for titles. I am wondering if he shouldn’t just shoot for next year and hit the clay court season only.
Personally speaking I cannot see Rafa playing in 2025, to me his body has had enough, that is just my opinion.Lets see if he can play in some of the clay tournaments before RG this year.
 

MargaretMcAleer

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Estoril Tournament
Sunday 7th April,
Mens singles final,

H.Hurkacz (2) vs P.Martinez

Grand Prix Hassan 11 Morocco
Sunday 7th April,
Mens Singles final,

R.Corballes Baena vs (PR) M.Berrettini ( first final for Matteo since 2022)
 

Moxie

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Personally speaking I cannot see Rafa playing in 2025, to me his body has had enough, that is just my opinion.Lets see if he can play in some of the clay tournaments before RG this year.
I agree. The end is nigh. He even said that 2024 might be his last year. No point in putting it off. Either he'll make something of this clay season, and whatever else, or not, but it's likely the swan song. I'm sure he knows it.
 

Moxie

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Estoril Tournament
Sunday 7th April,
Mens singles final,

H.Hurkacz (2) vs P.Martinez

Grand Prix Hassan 11 Morocco
Sunday 7th April,
Mens Singles final,

R.Corballes Baena vs (PR) M.Berrettini ( first final for Matteo since 2022)
I saw Matteo's match today. Tight first set, but he looked really good throughout, and Navone couldn't really keep up his level. Berrettini leads the h2h 2-1, I think. This would be a great confidence booster for Babycakes. And you mentioned above he gets a WC into MC. Forza, Matteo!

Final for Houston is Shelton v. Tiafoe.
 

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I want to see Tiafoe and Karen Shelton because the latter has been trashing the former at every turn ,like he literally dislike Tiafoe.I hope it's a contest that will give us a clue on why a karen is so desperate to be the IT guy in American tennis..he has the I but is missing the T.
 
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Fiero425

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HELLO! Where's the Thread for the Monte Carlo Masters? It begins Monday w/ Novak as #1 Seed & #3 Alcaraz in his Half! The draw is impressive w/ 8 seeds able to win the title; esp. the defending champion #6 Rublev in ND's quarter! #2 Sinner has #7 Rune in his quarter & #4 Medvedev in the Half! Wiki notes Nole needs his 3rd title to complete his Triple Golden Masters! :face-with-head-bandage: :astonished-face: :fearful-face: :face-with-hand-over-mouth:
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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Monte Carlo Update:,
OUT: Lehecka, Ruusuvuori
IN: 2 Lucky Losers.
Final round of the qualifies for Monte Carlo Masters 1000
Start Sunday 7th April at 11.00am local time
 
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MargaretMcAleer

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I want to see Tiafoe and Karen Shelton because the latter has been trashing the former at every turn ,like he literally dislike Tiafoe.I hope it's a contest that will give us a clue on why a karen is so desperate to be the IT guy in American tennis..he has the I but is missing the T.
Seeing the final isnt being played on true red clay, more like a HC, sorry to disappoint you I feel Ben has a advantage, his serve alone giving him free points.
Actually Frances needs this win and title more than Ben, his form of late has been sub par.
 
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the AntiPusher

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Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from Monte Carlo
Rafa said in a long statement 'My body wont allow me"
There had been rumors for the last few days he would withdraw, his back is still a problem, one of the reasons he had to withdraw from IW.
I have posted the full statement from Rafa on the Rafa Nadal Fan post.
Too sad. His career is most likely over..Very sad for Rafa and for all of Us...
 
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