CAMELOT FANTASIES

Rafael Nadal - The War Horse
by Jim Cole for Tennis World USA

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/rafael-nadal-the-war-horse-articolo19348.html

Rafael Nadal reminds me of the Edgar Degas bronze "Horse with Head Low," I saw while on vacation in Paris. The connection seems appropriate considering Nadal's success in Paris. This piece by Degas conveys immense determination, unbridled power, and collected grace. All are characteristics in Nadal's possession. Just like Degas' horse, these characteristics in Nadal reveal great muscular tensions rippling within the body. This tension creates the feeling that something explosive is about to happen and Nadal fans are rarely disappointed.

Nadal's Technique

Nadal's service is considered by many to be an on-again/off-again part of his game and a point of weakness. Nadal can seem to struggle with himself and his serve. Often, he has to fight to hold it, all true. It is also true that Nadal's YTD percentage of service games held is 85%.

Nadal's return game is superior by any standard, with a service break percentage of 36%. Nadal is an excellent defender with a great set of scrambling skills that make him a serious contender on all three court surfaces: amazingly quick footwork when change in direction is necessary (clay); dangerous shot-making selections manufactured on the run (grass); a survivor instinct for preserving a point when all seems lost (hard court).

Nadal's ground stroke game is where he separates himself from the pack, where he sets a pace the field cannot match. Playing aggressively from behind the baseline, Nadal relies on heavy topspin off a western forehand and a two-handed backhand to pound an opponent's ramparts into rubble. Nadal is an excellent counter-puncher with a killer slice backhand and nerves of steel. He is absolutely fearless. "Losing is not my enemy," Nadal has said, "fear of losing is my enemy."
By tour standards, Nadal's volley and forecourt skills are only adequate. He can handle easy to moderately difficult volley situations at the net well. Difficult volley situations are a career-long problem for Nadal. The root of Nadal's problems with difficult volleys and his problems with the serve share a common source: Nadal is simply not comfortable with a Continental grip. Not with the serve. Not with the volley. Not ever.

The Intangible. Nadal is like a wild stallion, pawing the dirt, challenging opponents. He is untamed and ruled by a great passion for the heat of battle. Among the best players in the world, he is the one who truly loves the battle more than spoils. "As a player,"Nadal has said, "you can win and you can lose and you must be ready for both”.

Nadal's Record and Results
Rafael Nadal Parera (AKA: Rafa) was introduced to tennis at age 3 by his uncle, Toni Nadal. Fast forward at 12 years, Rafael wins his first ATP match at the age of 15 years. Fast forward another nine years and Nadal is the youngest player (24 years old) to complete a career Grand Slam. Altogether, Rafael Nadal has been a top 5 player since 2003. His career singles record is 702 - 137.

His career prize money winnings total $70,704,129. He currently shares a two-way tie with Pete Sampras for 2nd most Grand Slam titles won (14) and for good measure won an Olympic Gold medal in Bejing. Many experts forecast Nadal is on pace to break Roger Federer's record of 17 Grand Slam titles sometime in 2017. Regardless, Nadal's 9 wins in Paris are alone an amazing accomplishment and define him as the finest clay court player in history. Andre Agassi was quoted in the Singapore Straits Times saying "Nadal is the greatest of all time, not Federer." Agassi may have a point, particularly if Nadal - now 28 years of age - ties or surpasses Federer's career Grand Slam record. 

Nadal beloved as International Sports Celebrity
Nadal's Blue Collar approach to setting goals and achieving those goals with brawn has tremendous appeal to his fan base and goes a long way toward understanding his crowning as International Sports Celebrity. Nadal has so completely perfected the working man image, there is a part of me that would not be surprised to see him bring a lunch pail on court. In his work on the tennis court Nadal unfailingly shows respect for the game, his opponents, and by extension, himself. He asks for no quarter and he gives none. Of course, Nadal's game does not enjoy the approval of everyone. Referring to charges that Nadal is often guilty of slow play Federer has said "that's not cool."
Nadal's scorch-the-earth style of play is an endless fascination for fanatical and casual tennis fans alike. Nadal's build and style of play will always summon the question of career ending injury. Perhaps Rafael's slow evolution into more of an all court player in recent years is part of Team Nadal's (led by Uncle Toni) strategy to prevent nagging injuries from developing and shortening his career. Andy Murray has seen firsthand the slow evolution of Nadal into more of an all court player. "He is movingly better on the hard courts," says Murray,"I think he is changing the pace of the ball a little more and he is not playing back behind the baseline as much as he did in the past." 
Nadal's Rivalry with Djokovic
Rafael Nadal has a long history with Serbian Novak Djokovic. Nadal and Djokovic have played 42 times, with Nadal holding a 23-19 advantage. There is a lot of history here. Nadal and Djokovic hold the Open Era record for most meetings.
In most recent times, it was Nadal who defeated Djokovic in the finals in New York in 2013. It was Nadal who crushed Djokovic's dream of a career Grand Slam eight months later (May, 2014) with a record ninth win on the clay in Paris. And it will be Djokovic's turn this upcoming September to settle the score with Nadal at this year's US Open in New York City. When asked if he enjoyed playing Djokovic, after losing to Djokovic in straight sets last April at The Key Biscayne Masters, Nadal replied "No. I like challenges but I am not stupid." 
The Run Up to the 2014 US Open in New York
Nadal and Djokovic are likely to be the odds on favorites to reach the finals of the men's championship this September in New York. Most likely Djokovic will be seeded 1 and Nadal 2, despite the fact that Nadal is the US Open reigning Champion. As much as I respect Nadal, I expect Djokovic to live up to his seeding and win the US Open by narrow margins in 5 sets, if he remains healthy. Even the slightest weakness in Djokovic will open the gate to a noisy charge (I prefer the Spanish estampida) by Nadal.
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