CAMELOT FANTASIES

I think we all agree for the most part.  It is Rafa's level that is not allowing him to compete near his best and allowing players that he had formerly dominated to turn the tables on him.  To get his level back, he must do two things, practice very hard, and win matches against better players to raise his match level.  If he can't do this, then he won't be able to compete and win consistently at the top level, simple as that.

So there are two questions I have that only Rafa, and maybe his uncle and team could answer.

1. Is Rafa healthy enough to work hard, or is there some condition holding him back from training as hard as he would like?

2. If he is healthy enough, does he still have the motivation to work very hard, or has he done so much already, that he doesn't want to devote his whole life to this anymore, and prefers a more normal life? In other words, leaving an hour or two a day to tennis, and then he enjoys his family, friends, and other things.

If he doesn't have either one of those 2 things then he is going to have inconsistent results and we shouldn't expect much more.  Toni said it right, the only way to turn this around is through hard work in practice. There is no other way.  And to do that, you need to be healthy and very motivated.  If he isn't, c'est la vie. 

Here is another thing.  Players even at this level can have off years. He can always come back stronger next year if he puts in the effort.  He is still under 30.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Great post, masterclass.

I'll take #2 for the win. I think he's ready to move on, at least for this year. It's doubtful at this point how long he wants to play. Rafa has always said he'll play as long as he enjoys the sport. He has been adamant that he would not place for history, titles, and achievements. When it's no longer enjoyable he'll hang the rackets up.

Right now I think he's in a period of indecision. He seems to trying out why he's doing this, and if he wants to continue doing this. Personally, I think he's ready to get married, start a family, and work on his foundation. And, if he gets married he's not going to play on the tour. He's always said that; it's either one or the other. Strangely, I understand that. I guess that's why it doesn't bother me that much, because I feel the same way.

When I wrote my book, about a month later I received an email from a purchasing agent from the #2 bookstore in the country. It was a huge honor, but my son was only four years old. At that age he's not going to be self-sufficient and the thought of dragging him all over the country was not appealing to me. I also didn't want to be dropping him off every weekend with friends and family members. So, I chose to let the opportunity go.

When you're doing anything like sports it requires a single-mindedness of purpose. You cannot serve two masters, the other one will be lacking. I'm not ultra competitive but if I do choose to do something I tend to go all out. However, when the disadvantages outweigh the advantages I can easily walk away after a period of indecision.

I don't think Rafa started out with illusions of greatness. He loved the sport and loved to compete, but that doesn't he's going to ignore how he feels inside. In retrospect, this is actually a great year for him, because it's where the rubber is meeting the road and he has to decide which life he wants more. Does he want to come back and add to this legacy, or is what he has accomplished enough for him?

It he wants the former more, he'll come back. If he doesn't he'll ride off into the sunset, similar to Borg. Could Borg have continued to play, yes. Did he want to play, no. It is the same with Rafa. I think he's tired of climbing the mountain.

Anyway, we have the Rome final today.

#1 Novak Djokovic vs. #2 Roger Federer, again. 

We've had the story line before, Novak on a 20+ match winning streak, can anyone stop him, and Federer steps up to the plate.
He stopped his 41 match streak in 2011 at Roland Garros.  He stopped his streak in China at Shanghai last year.
Will he do it again and win Rome for the first time?  Or will Novak win his 4th Rome title and go into Roland Garros as undefeated on clay and the favorite to win?

This edition of the Roman Gladiators of Tennis is set to start soon.  Good luck and health to both players!

Respectfully,
masterclass

Well folks, the first set was like waiting to see which one would blink first. On Roger's chance at break point, 4 all, he was too tentative with a rather short ball early in the rally and just hit it straight back down the center to No1e. It was the kind of match where he had to be aggressive with every opportunity, and on that key point he wasn't and No1e held serve for 5-4 in what turned out to be a very important game. Then No1e had that brilliant return and ended up breaking Federer for the set. Djokovic returned much much better today than all tournament, which he needed to do. Federer played some brilliant shots at times, but at other times he was very ordinary, netting too many shots where it looked like he wanted to just get over the net to bring Djokovic in. His return was inconsistent, some very good, but not good enough to mount enough break chances, considering No1e was going to usually take the long rallies.

The opening break in the second set seemed a hangover for Federer from the first set, and that was all it took. No1e was just too strong in defense and serve in the second set, no lulls this time. I believe that Ferrer match helped him with his ground game where he hit so many balls against and past the Wall.

Congratulations to No1e and well done for raising his game to play his best in the final! Condolences to Roger for reaching the final and playing a good tournament that he wasn't sure of playing.

On to Roland Garros!

Respectfully,
masterclass

Well folks, the first set was like waiting to see which one would blink first. On Roger's chance at break point, 4 all, he was too tentative with a rather short ball early in the rally and just hit it straight back down the center to No1e. It was the kind of match where he had to be aggressive with every opportunity, and on that key point he wasn't and No1e held serve for 5-4 in what turned out to be a very important game. Then No1e had that brilliant return and ended up breaking Federer for the set. Djokovic returned much much better today than all tournament, which he needed to do. Federer played some brilliant shots at times, but at other times he was very ordinary, netting too many shots where it looked like he wanted to just get over the net to bring Djokovic in. His return was inconsistent, some very good, but not good enough to mount enough break chances, considering No1e was going to usually take the long rallies.

The opening break in the second set seemed a hangover for Federer from the first set, and that was all it took. No1e was just too strong in defense and serve in the second set, no lulls this time. I believe that Ferrer match helped him with his ground game where he hit so many balls against and past the Wall.

Congratulations to No1e and well done for raising his game to play his best in the final! Condolences to Roger for reaching the final and playing a good tournament that he wasn't sure of playing.

On to Roland Garros!

Respectfully,
masterclass

It's sad that Federer didn't win Rome for the first time. Congratulations to Nole for the win, and Federer for reaching the final.

This is why the fans haven't and won't ever warm up to Djokovic. His arrogance is unreal. I tried to like him before, but ever since he started to win he has been unbearable. Being nice at the net means little when your words and actions say otherwise.

Novak Djokovic Routs Roger Federer at the Italian Open

By BEN ROTHENBERG MAY 17, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/sports/tennis/novak-djokovic-routs-roger-federer-at-the-italian-open.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

ROME — Increasingly, it seems that the only thing standing in the way of Novak Djokovic’s winning his first French Open title next month is time.

Djokovic, the top-ranked player on the men’s tour, gave a thunderous reminder of his current dominance on Sunday in the Italian Open final, routing second-ranked Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-3, in 75 minutes for his second consecutive title here.

Djokovic controlled the match on the slow clay court from the baseline, bullying Federer in nearly every rally in which Federer was unable to make his way to the net or finish the point within the first several shots.

When the match finished on a Federer forehand that flapped wide, Djokovic calmly held his arms in the air and then clenched his fist toward his box. It was not until after shaking Federer’s hand that he let loose with a leap of joy. Then, after handing his racket to a boy in the stands, he signed a camera lens with “Grazie ancora Roma,” which means “Thanks again, Rome” in Italian.

The toughest blow that Djokovic took came after the trophy ceremony, when the cork of a celebratory bottle of Champagne hit him in the face, bloodying the bridge of his nose and narrowly missing his left eye. The bottle was provided by Moët & Chandon, a sponsor of Federer.
“I’m very fortunate to have the eye,” Djokovic said. “We had an argument, Mr. Champagne and I, and he threw a punch.”

Djokovic’s fourth title here was hardly unexpected. He has won the only two tournaments on clay that he has entered this year, the other being in Monte Carlo. On hard courts, his preferred surface, he won the Australian Open, as well as Masters-level Indian Wells and Miami events. For weeks, oddsmakers have had Djokovic as a favorite to win in Paris.

“I don’t think that I need to go a gear up; I don’t think that I have to do anything special in order to be successful in Roland Garros,” Djokovic said. “I have been very close to that title before, played several finals. I just need to continue preparing myself for that event as well as I’m preparing for any other, and try to keep the routine going. Hopefully that can bring me to where I want to be.”

The usual favorite in Paris during recent years, Rafael Nadal, has sputtered through the European clay swing this year, losing at all four tournaments he entered. He lost his only match against Djokovic, in the semifinals at Monte Carlo, and he fell to Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals here Friday. Despite being a nine-time champion in Paris in 10 appearances, Nadal will be seeded seventh at the tournament, matching his current ranking.

Nadal is still the favorite in the eyes of Federer, however. Even after experiencing Djokovic’s dominance firsthand, Federer maintained his position that Nadal was his pick for Roland Garros.

“No, because you cannot take away the last 10 years,” Federer said. “It’s going to be best of five sets. We know how tough Rafa is, physically and mentally. He is the favorite, still, to me.”

Federer then alluded to the 2011 season, in which Djokovic was undefeated before losing to Federer in the semifinals of the French Open.
“It’s all talk,” he said. “At the end, it’s the rackets that are going to do the talking. Novak could do very, very well. Rafa as well.”

Sad about rafa

CD, can you get rid of The Truth's health and wellness board and replace it with a board called Reality TV? That's one of my guilty pleasures, LOL.

Quote from: Clay Death on May 18, 2015, 10:42:27 am

that is what he said. he sees a wounded warrior and decides to announce to the world that he does not have to do anything special to win the French open.



hopefully others players will use this to motivate them. surely they are getting tired of being run over time and again by novak.

novak has now won 22 matches in a row. he says he can win on any surface against anybody.

in order to beat novak you have to outwork him on the practice courts and on the fitness front.


Rafa should be relishing these challenges. enough is enough. why surrender the whole kingdom? why let somebody walk all over you and also insult you in the process.

I still cant figure out what the hell is keeping him from practicing 2 times a day for a total of 7-8 hours a day to fix the ground game.


all other heavy topspin players had to do it to keep their ground game sharp. vilas, borg, muster, and lendl worked that hard if not harder.

It will be interesting his response, on court of course. But, right now he doesn't seem to be in any position to counter Nole's words or game. Stranger things have happened, but I'm not seeing it right now.

Rafa will get 2 hapless qualifiers in the first 2 rounds and then perhaps 2 tougher matches in the next 2 rounds.


it is do-able but it would be easier obviously if somebody can knock novak out.


4-5 hour quarterfinal against novak will depete Rafa completely this time around.

fitness and physicality wise Rafa is in about 1/2 the shape he was last year and he really was not in great shape last year.

he barely escaped in that match against Novak.



consider this: andy played over 5 hours later or after than Rafa did in Madrid in his semifinal. so Rafa had time to rest and even take in 2 practice sessions.


he had no energy against Andy. none. it was like his body hit the wall. he lost 6-2 in that 2nd set. this was a match he had to have.


Rafa cant win the long rally anymore. I just don't know where he is going to find the fitness and physicality in 5 days to be able to win the long rallies against the top players at RG.

he just wont put in the hard work required even on the practice courts. that is what is making him inconsistent.

so he has made life very hard for himself on the courts. he is not sharp match in and match out because he wont put in the long hours on the practice courts.

and he cant dig in and stay in the rally for as long as it takes because he gets tired.

I would at least practice like hell so I can show up sharp and try to take these matches in straights. that is his only option in the short run.