CAMELOT FANTASIES

Rafa won't win any event going forward if he does not decide to go get on clay and practice 7-8 hours a day.


None of these players are better than him.


Rafa simply does not care enough to win.


He is suffering casualties on all fronts:


1. Dramatic drop in fitness and ohysicality

2. Horrible return of serve

3. Poor backhand that he has no confidence in at all

4. Weak forehand. There is very little depth and consistency in that forehand now. significantly reduced velocity as well. Not sufficient pace.


5. Weak serve


Other players are not doing this to him. he has done this to himself.


The reason I am upset is that he won't fix it.


I see no reason to go out there and get embarrassed like that time and again. Why keep dropping in rankings and why keep losing.


This damages his legacy. He is an all time great with the greatest ground game ever. He was also the greatest physical specimen ever in our sport.

He also brought the greatest fight to his matches.


I am worried because this can't go on indefinitely.


He will be out of the sport at this rate.


He could  have easily competed until he was about 35-36.


Now we will be lucky if he lasts another year.


Tennis won't be the same without him.

Fantastic post General.  I'm not sure he can damage his legacy though.  What he has done can't be taken from him.  9 Roland Garros wins don't grow on trees, as well as the other 5 majors he has plus all his master's triumphs.  I'm just not sure how much more he can do at this point.  It depends mostly on his motivation/ambition after all and he has a lot of miles in his body.  But one thing we all know is these days you have to stay very fit to stay near the top level, especially with a game like Rafa's.  I think he has a chance to win his 10th at RG and maybe one other, but he will have to work hard to do it.

Respectfully,
masterclass