Roland Garros 2012

[Jugs]

this final is f*cked

[5DOM]

And it's 7

[Jugs]

unreal

[REDDzone]

vamos

[GQStylin]

Man this was a kinda crappy finals.

It seemed pretty much inevitable that Novak would lose after Nadal broke back that first game. I'm glad that it was Joker that lost to Nadal this time though and not Federer. Would've been heartbreaking to see Roger lose to Rafa yet again at Roland Garros.

Now I'll have to wonder what could've been if the match had kept going yesterday instead of it being stopped if Novak couldn't have won. Oh well.

[cb4_89]

Well I just woke up and didn't see a single point. **** Roland Garos and their **** tournament.

Congrats to Rafa though.

[oberyn3]

I almost missed it today until I figured out that the final was on NBCSports, not regular NBC.

Congrats to Nadal. I feel bad for Djokovic, but am really looking forward to Wimbledon.

[va-mos]

V A M O S
F I R E

Rafael Nadal 19-14 Novak Djokovic
Clay: Nadal 12-2
Grass: Nadal 2-1
Hardcourt: Djokovic 11-5
In Slams: Nadal 6-3

Nadal joins Sampras as the only outright leader of a slam. Nadal now has an unprecedented 7 Roland Garros titles (Sampras has 7 Wimbledons).

[GQStylin]

Crappy outcome. Really don't want Nadal beating Federer in slams.

Novak seems to be the only guy capable of competing with Nadal consistently these days.

[Rich Rane]

There just wasn't any beating Nadal on clay. I'm kind of surprised Djokovic took a set.

On to Wimbledon!

[Turk Nowitzki]

Congrats to Rafa but as someone without a vested interest the whole thing just left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wish Djokovic could've held on to the 4th set, seemed like the suspension of play robbed him of any momentum he had. Of course if they had stopped it yesterday during the rain maybe he loses in straight sets. I want to see them play again here with Djokovic playing more efficiently in the earlier rounds and no inclement weather to interrupt play.

[raptor21_85]

Congrats to Nadal!! He's now clay goat, and could still win more...

[va-mos]

Congrats to Rafa but as someone without a vested interest the whole thing just left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wish Djokovic could've held on to the 4th set, seemed like the suspension of play robbed him of any momentum he had. Of course if they had stopped it yesterday during the rain maybe he loses in straight sets. I want to see them play again here with Djokovic playing more efficiently in the earlier rounds and no inclement weather to interrupt play.

When the court was soaked, and in particular the balls, Nadal's topspin was nullified/eliminated, and that meant Nadal's shots were not kicking up and therefore easily attacked by Djokovic. So if they played with no rain at all, I think Nadal would have won in straight sets. The first 2 sets are a preview of maybe next year's final, if we get no rain interruptions. But Djokovic is still a tough opponent, wet or dry, and on Monday (when it was raining by the way) Nadal was forced to turn to his 129mph serve (2010 US Open, when he tied Roddick's all-time record for fewest tournament breaks) in order to close.

Despite the rewards, Nadal has said he doesn't feel comfortable serving fast, because the return comes back too fast. If the return is to his backhand wing he may not have time to step around it and make it into a forehand. Last year was one of Nadal's most inefficient years on the backhand side, and that is why he wanted to hit as many forehands as possible at the 2011 US Open. Whereas in 2010 his backhand was in fine form, so he could afford to serve big and expose his backhand return more.

[Doctor MJ]

There just wasn't any beating Nadal on clay. I'm kind of surprised Djokovic took a set.

On to Wimbledon!

On the contrary. Had Novak played like he did in the 3rd set the whole time conditions were damp, he probably wins. Of course that's not necessarily a knock on Nadal's clay court dominance: All it takes is enough weather to make playing at RG feel like something other than clay, and a superstar playing well can beat him there.

[Doctor MJ]

Crappy outcome. Really don't want Nadal beating Federer in slams.

Novak seems to be the only guy capable of competing with Nadal consistently these days.

Hehe, well topping Federer won't be easy.

Just for some perspective here Rafa is 26 and still needs to win 6 more majors to surpass Federer. Here are the leaders in 26+ majors won:

Lendl 6
Agassi 5
Federer 5
Sampras 4
Connors 4

So basically, to do it Nadal will have tie the Open era record for "old man" wins after being one of the few teenage male champions. Hell of an accomplishment even before you think about Djokovic.

Of course, for all we know, Djokovic could get hurt tomorrow and Rafa could go on a quick run getting him most of the way there, which could then be supplemented with his unique pwnage of one surface. So it's still very possible.

Why do I get the feeling though that Rafa's going to end up just successful enough that a sizable contingent will side with him while I'm stuck arguing Federer . ftr, I'd really rather Rafa just pass him cleanly than be stuck knocking down flawed arguments forever.

[va-mos]

No point looking at Lendl, Agassi, Federer, Sampras, Connors to predict Nadal's path. They have nothing in common with Nadal. Not one of them, not one thing physically or mentally.

Nadal has now played in the final of 8 of the last 9 slams, and won 5 of those 8 finals:

2010 RG Won
2010 WIM Won
2010 USO Won
2011 AO Quarters
2011 RG Won
2011 WIM Final
2011 USO Final
2012 AO Final
2012 RG Won

[G R E Y]

Huge congratulations to Rafa on a monumental achievement. Novak was gracious in defeat, too. Great sportsmanship, and they looked very fine doing it.

[Doctor MJ]

No point looking at Lendl, Agassi, Federer, Sampras, Connors to predict Nadal's path. They have nothing in common with Nadal. Not one of them, not one thing physically or mentally.

Nadal has now played in the final of 8 of the last 9 slams, and won 5 of those 8 finals:

2010 RG Won
2010 WIM Won
2010 USO Won
2011 AO Quarters
2011 RG Won
2011 WIM Final
2011 USO Final
2012 AO Final
2012 RG Won

Well you've got a good point about the 8 of 9, and Rafa not being a clone of anyone...but when you say that basically all the mentally strongest players in all of history have nothing in common with Rafa mentally, you don't come across as objective at say the least.

[va-mos]

No point looking at Lendl, Agassi, Federer, Sampras, Connors to predict Nadal's path. They have nothing in common with Nadal. Not one of them, not one thing physically or mentally.

Nadal has now played in the final of 8 of the last 9 slams, and won 5 of those 8 finals:

2010 RG Won
2010 WIM Won
2010 USO Won
2011 AO Quarters
2011 RG Won
2011 WIM Final
2011 USO Final
2012 AO Final
2012 RG Won

Well you've got a good point about the 8 of 9, and Rafa not being a clone of anyone...but when you say that basically all the mentally strongest players in all of history have nothing in common with Rafa mentally, you don't come across as objective at say the least.

I never said Nadal was the strongest mentally. I said he has nothing in common mentally with those players. We won't know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, until Nadal has faced every challenge with his very unique mentality. He is only 26, so we will wait and see how his approach hold's up when he's 30+ and starts dropping sets in every round of Roland Garros etc. One thing is clear though - it would be pointless to use those players as a guide for Nadal's future. Like I said, he has nothing in common with them. His upbringing was absurdly different, and the philosophies outlined by Uncle Toni do not sound familiar in tennis circles.

[raptor21_85]

i dunno ou guys, but Rafa and Roger are players who are very patient and never complain or show their emotions ala Youzhny, Djoker,...

I saw Rafa, for the first time, going nuts and losing his mind when Djoker won 8 consecutive games..