CAMELOT FANTASIES

You're right General.  Look at Ferru.  As you said, 32, well really 33 in a month.  These guys are fit, taking care of themselves, as much or more than the 20 somethings. Sometimes they need a bit of break, but then they are back right away.  3 titles already for the smallish Spaniard with the big heart.   Who ever thought someone 5'9" (in heels I think), would be competitive, much less beating the giants around these days.  And some people were calling him finished after barely making the top 10 last year.  Yeah right, I predict he'll get back in the top 5 in not too much time, if not higher.  He handled now 4th ranked Nishikori in style.

Rafa looks like he might be getting his act together, but I'm still not so sure.  Who has he faced, really?  He was very lucky to take that 1st set from Berlocq of all people.  Berlocq out and out choked, 6-1 up in the tiebreak, he just got nervous that he could win a set from Rafa.  Now Rafa plays his good friend Monaco.  Rafa needs lots of matches.  He needs work on the clay, Muster style if he is going to get that fitness back.  The older you get, the more you have to work on fitness.  And it applies to clay even more where the ground strokes are honed the most.  Too much time on hard court has left him with almost nothing. If I were Toni, I would lock that gate in Manacor to that hard court.  I would skip at least Miami or Indian Wells or both and practice hard on the clay and hire Moya and Ferrero or any one of the many Spaniards to hit with him 4-6 hours every day until Monte Carlo.  He's got the money if they have the time.  He needs this Roland Garros and a couple of other Clay Masters.  If he loses early at RG as he has been to some relative no-name, it will be disaster.   Usually, we say Rafa needs 20 matches on clay to be ready for RG.  This year, I think he needs 30 or more.  That's how far behind he is, due to the last 1/2 of 2014 being up in smoke.   

Not to beat the drum, but look at Federer.  Edberg told him he needs to play regularly if he expects to stay near the top, with just a break here or there, but once he starts playing he needs to keep playing or practicing hard.   Look at what Federer's plan this year is on clay General:

4/11-4/19 Monte Carlo
4/27-5/03 Instanbul Open
5/4-5/10 Madrid
5/11-5/17 Rome
5/25-6/7  Roland Garros

Almost 34 and playing 5 clay tournaments.  Why?

1. This year there is more time between Roland Garros and Wimbledon.  He can take a week off after Roland Garros and play Halle, then a week off and play Wimbledon.

2. Last year on clay he basically only played Monte-Carlo reaching the final - Their second set of twins came, Rome was one match, and then 4 matches at Roland Garros losing to Gulbis of all people. 

3. Yes, he won Halle, but I think was undercooked for Wimbledon. Not enough endurance built up from clay for 5 set matches at Wimbledon.  His ground game was not that good.  He hung in mostly due to his serve and aggressive tactics in the 4th set.  In the 5th set vs. Nole in the final at Wimbledon he had nothing left. 

4. Maybe he senses that he needs his ground game in better shape, and be good for Roland Garros to be in position to snatch it if  Rafa is not somewhere near his best.  Why should Djokovic get the reward by default if Rafa goes out early?  Federer has a win and 4 finals there.

5. Of course he doesn't have to make finals in all the clay events, but if he can get 20 matches in, it will serve him well at RG and Wimbledon.

So Rafa needs to get that work and matches on clay in.  There is no other way around it, or the others will pass him by.  He has a chance to win 10. Yes, I know that 9 is unbelievable, but he will turn 29 at Roland Garros.  The opportunity is there.

Respectfully,
masterclass