2016 Roland Garros: Paris Sidewalk Cafe Discussions

[Moxie]

You're better than this. Are you seriously questioning if he has the chops to beat Rafa at RG? :scratch: He just beat Rafa in straights in what was a weak tournament for him in Rome.

I'm just saying that Rafa has the chops to possibly beat Djokovic at RG, too. Don't read in.

 

[Moxie]

Yes, certain classless Rafa fans are just praying he pulls out. I for one hope he plays even if he is slightly injured. He needs match play. Arriving healthy to Wimbledon doesn't matter if he's only played 5 matches since Australia

I'm just being honest about the facts on the ground. I did say that it would make sense for Roger, if he's feeling it, to stay in. Don't start pretending that you're the most generous and non-partizan, just because I admitted that I hoped he'd pull out before the draw, if he's not going to play. I, for one, am not "praying" for it. I expressed that it was self-interested, as a Nadal fan, and I think you can see that. No ill-will, just honesty.

 

[Moxie]

They can't make up their mind....I thought that Rafa was washed up and done and the wins over him are automatic.:lulz2:

That's a childish comment, irrespective of the emoticon, and not worthy of you. Which "they" do you mean? Clay Death is one voice, Carol is another. Then there's Broken, Tennisfan, Margaret and me. It's not like we're a monolithic opinion as Rafa fans.

 

[DarthFed]

I'm just being honest about the facts on the ground. I did say that it would make sense for Roger, if he's feeling it, to stay in. Don't start pretending that you're the most generous and non-partizan, just because I admitted that I hoped he'd pull out before the draw, if he's not going to play. I, for one, am not "praying" for it. I expressed that it was self-interested, as a Nadal fan, and I think you can see that. No ill-will, just honesty.

Yes, I wasn't referring to you. But our good friend Carol seems to have a huge interest in seeing Roger pull out as quickly as possible. I'm sure she's really concerned about his health

 

[Billie]

That's a childish comment, irrespective of the emoticon, and not worthy of you. Which "they" do you mean?

You are so touchy. "they" being the ones saying that it is a weak era and everybody is either bad or past their prime and that is the reason why Nole has been winning. If you don't think so, why did you feel obligated to comment? I guess your hopes are a bit high this year and a little bravado is showing up. That's fine, really. Makes it for more exciting tournament, I think.

 

[DarthFed]

I'm just saying that Rafa has the chops to possibly beat Djokovic at RG, too. Don't read in.

Well on that I agree. Rafa can win but it won't be due to Nole not having the chops to beat him. If they both play near their best level Nole wins at this point.

 

[DarthFed]

Rafa and his fans don't have anything to do with Roger decision but certain classless Roger's fans don't want to see more ahead of their nose. It's not his fault that Rafa is #5 and it's ok if he feels well but I DOUBT he is able to play a GS in that conditions he is (according to him with spasms and pain) If his goal is to do well on grass and later the Olympics he should to be focus from now training on grass (no clay) playing the tournament before Wimbledon instead to play one or two matches and make worse his problem. But like I said before it's just his decision which I think he is taking too long because who knows what he has in his mind or what is going on around him.....

Roger has played with a bad back on many occasions before including at grand slams. Even in the last Wimbledon Roger won he was having issues with his back early in the tournament. Needless to say it was good that he didn't pull out!

Match play is a big deal for Roger at this point, so if he can go out there without a huge risk of making it worse then he should play even with the realization that he has no chance to win the tournament and may have some discomfort. Showing up at Wimbledon with 5 matches played since Australia...forget about it, he won't win even if he feels like a million bucks.

 

[britbox]

Roger's going to look after what's best for Roger. He may as well wait until the draw is out and then make a decision. Rafa's seeding is not his concern - currently Rafa is seeded where he deserves to be.

 

[Carol]

Since when Novak has been better than Rafa on clay if both play their best?

 

[Billie]

I don't think anybody can blame a player for doing what is best for himself. It is Roger's right to play or not play, withdraw or not. I think he will give it a go and if it is really bad, pull the plug on his campaign. Or he might loosen up after a couple of matches and play himself into form. It's known to happen before with other players as well.

 

[Moxie]

I don't think anybody can blame a player for doing what is best for himself. It is Roger's right to play or not play, withdraw or not. I think he will give it a go and if it is really bad, pull the plug on his campaign. Or he might loosen up after a couple of matches and play himself into form. It's known to happen before with other players as well.

Understood. He'll do what's best for him, why wouldn't he? And he's got a run at Majors streak going. All I said was that it would be better for Rafa, and Rafa's fans if he dropped out before the draw, which is patently obvious. That was merely an observation. We're all gaming the draws at this point. I thought that was dispassionate. Any yokel could see why that would be to Nadal's benefit. It doesn't take a partizan. And let's be honest: beyond Roger, who would like to be fit to play, the rest of the top players would probably prefer that Nadal be seeded #4, as well. Nobody wants him in their quarters.

 

[Carol]

Roger has played with a bad back on many occasions before including at grand slams. Even in the last Wimbledon Roger won he was having issues with his back early in the tournament. Needless to say it was good that he didn't pull out!

Match play is a big deal for Roger at this point, so if he can go out there without a huge risk of making it worse then he should play even with the realization that he has no chance to win the tournament and may have some discomfort. Showing up at Wimbledon with 5 matches played since Australia...forget about it, he won't win even if he feels like a million bucks.

Yeah but every injury or discomfort has a limit. Rafa played GS many times with his knee in very bad conditions until the doctor told him he had to stop to play for awhile and going through a serious and intensive treatment or his career would be finished and he still was 26 years old. Roger had a knee surgery not too long ego and later his back has started to bother him worse and worse and he is almost 35. But yes, I agree that he can do whatever he wants to do with his body but my point is that he looks to be very undecided since IW where he thought he could play, I really don't get it

 

[DarthFed]

Since when Novak has been better than Rafa on clay if both play their best?

Since a couple years ago at least, possibly even longer...22 year old Rafa who never missed a shot and ran everything in the planet down for 5 hours a day, 365 days a year is not walking through that door honey.

 

[Moxie]

You are so touchy. "they" being the ones saying that it is a weak era and everybody is either bad or past their prime and that is the reason why Nole has been winning. If you don't think so, why did you feel obligated to comment? I guess your hopes are a bit high this year and a little bravado is showing up. That's fine, really. Makes it for more exciting tournament, I think.

That's not what you said. You said: "They can't make up their mind....I thought that Rafa was washed up and done and the wins over him are automatic." This has nothing to do with "weak era" or anyone being past their prime. You were, as I interpreted it, lumping some Nadal fans together and making fun of those that called him "washed up," and sneering that some of them might say that wins against Novak were "automatic." I don't think that describes anyone expect possibly Clay Death. For myself, I think I've been clear about my loyalties, and my hopes, with at least some gimlet eye. The one being "touchy" was you, who just went to all kinds of other issues. My question was very specific.

 

[Carol]

Since a couple years ago at least, possibly even longer...22 year old Rafa who never missed a shot and ran everything in the planet down for 5 hours a day, 365 days a year is not walking through that door honey.

Yeah..... we all know that Rafa has played pretty bad for two years losing against anyone and even that he won RG 2014 not playing his best. And for your information and very bad news for you he is playing now much better, maybe not his best but close and closer....

 

[Billie]

That's not what you said. You said: "They can't make up their mind....I thought that Rafa was washed up and done and the wins over him are automatic." This has nothing to do with "weak era" or anyone being past their prime. You were, as I interpreted it, lumping some Nadal fans together and making fun of those that called him "washed up," and sneering that some of them might say that wins against Novak were "automatic." I don't think that describes anyone expect possibly Clay Death. For myself, I think I've been clear about my loyalties, and my hopes, with at least some gimlet eye. The one being "touchy" was you, who just went to all kinds of other issues. My question was very specific.

You should go into politics, really. I think you would do good there.

 

[DarthFed]

Yeah..... we all know that Rafa has played pretty bad for two years losing against anyone and even that he won RG 2014 not playing his best. And for your information and very bad news for you he is playing now much better, maybe not his best but close and closer....

Rafa's existence on tour is bad news for me. Hopefully he gets pummeled into retirement as quickly as possible. Nads will never be what he once was but he is a threat to win this tournament. If he doesn't it might be curtains, assuming he doesn't win one of the last two.

 

[Billie]

And before you go on another rant, Moxie, I was joking. You, yourself, keep talking about this H2H being possible for Nole to overturn because of what? Rafa is not good and Nole is taking advantage. So what would be different this time?

Seriously though, I think a lot of players can beat Nole, just need the right circumstances to do it. If Vesely can beat him, then anything can happen. But in slams, he's been really good and obviously I hope he continues that way. But one can never know.

 

[Carol]

Rafa's existence on tour is bad news for me. Hopefully he gets pummeled into retirement as quickly as possible. Nads will never be what he once was but he is a threat to win this tournament. If he doesn't it might be curtains, assuming he doesn't win one of the last two.

To be vengeful has to be a very bad feeling, I wouldn't be in your shoes, it has to be horrible
But fortunately I don't see Rafa out of the tour yet so I suppose that you will keep the sour grapes for long time :lulz2:

 

[britbox]

Road To Roland Garros

featuring Guga and Nole