CAMELOT FANTASIES

At this stage in Rafa's career, it has to be about the majors.  Roland Garros and his 14th major is the prize, not these relatively insignificant slower hard court masters in the USA.  The late winter and early spring slower hard courts, including the AO, have caused most of his injuries and problems later on. And yet, and yet, he stubbornly keeps playing these even with his two masters exemptions. 

My recommendation: Rafa, forget Miami, go back to Manacor and get on the clay and practice 4-6 hours a day on returns and backhands when the back feels better.  Maybe even arrive in Monte-Carlo a week early, get some practice in, and enjoy the view.  I'm sure he could find some adequate players with whom he could practice.  Many players use Monte-Carlo as their base.








Respectfully,
masterclass

another perfect post. its a damn shame that you and I are not on his team. he would be injury free and even richer than he already is in more ways than one.


he keeps leaving slams on the table due to injuries. he could not even play the Australian Open in 2013.

we all know what happened in 2009. he was useless after Rotterdam which we saw coming from 10,000 miles away.

he had played and won more matches on the hard courts in 2008. so something had to give sooner and something did.

he had to finish his match with andy in rotteradam on just one leg.

so he left RG on the table in 2009 and he could not even compete at Wimbledon.


its the hard courts. he has to start backing off. so what does he do? he signs up for the premier league which is on the hard courts.


he said very specifically that he had to make some adjustments and those adjustments related to playing and practicing a little more on the softer/natural surfaces.

look 2013 happened. somehow he made it happen. it was once in a lifetime deal.  that kind of year is not available to more than 3-4 players in the entire history of the sport. now he is still saddled with the knee issues and he has a back issue that wont go away.


so thing to do now is back off the hard courts a little. or quite possibly face extinction. back issues have ended many careers in this sport.

I worried to death about it. he is going to throw away his career that still has 4 good years in it. he can do a lot of damage in those 4 years but he has to start playing and practicing more on clay on year around basis.