CAMELOT FANTASIES

Agreed general hercules.  I think he has maybe one or two big pushes left in him, if he wants it enough.  But these days everyone is stressing the fitness + mental game. If you don't have it, it's very difficult to be near the top for long. 

I don't remember which forum in which we talked about it, but remember our chat a long time ago about Nadal hiring Muster's trainer/fitness coach Gebhard Phil-Gritsch and how it would have done Rafa a lot of good? Well, instead Novak Djokovic hired him. 

I firmly believe this is the main reason how Novak Djokovic rose from where he was in 2009/2010 and has been the top player overall since 2011 with 3 Year end #1's and 6 majors.  Before this, Novak was one of the physical jokes of the tour among the better players with many retirements.  Now he's recognized as one of the fittest if not the fittest and elastic player in the game.  His fitness improved drastically, which allowed his game to flourish. 

In comparison, Rafa has gone the other way.  Now perhaps that's also due to the many injuries, but it's a catch-22.  Injuries can keep a player from getting fit, and lack of fitness often leads to injury.  But I can't help feeling that if Rafa had had Gebhard Phil-Gritsch in his corner how his career could have been different and perhaps could have maintained and even improved his fitness levels since 2008 and what an even more dominant player he might have been. 

Oh well, could have, should have, we don't know of course, but to see Rafa like this now after what we saw a few years ago is sad.  He still did well in 2010 and 2013 despite having fitness issues that were masked by his youthful extreme fire and energy and competitiveness in a match, but required lengthy breaks prior to those efforts.  But as he ages, that is no longer enough.  The fire inside him can't breath well enough without the proper oxygen levels, it takes longer to get back into form after lengthy time away, and so on .  His strength as you mentioned, was pitiful, in those first two sets, compared to what he was before.  The good news is he is still #3 for a little while, but that could soon change with players like Nishikori, Raonic, Berdych pressing behind him.  Does he have it in him to do what it takes to get back his fitness?  He's risen from the ashes before.  Only time will tell us...

Respectfully,
masterclass