Nadal can surpass Federer - Sampras
"It's a huge goal, it's a lot of majors, a lot of work.I don't think his goal is 16, or 17 or 18, he's just going to try to improve as a tennis player and if it happens, great.
"He could do it, it's a lot of work ahead and he works so hard in every match he plays. But he's a beast."
(((Ahem he means Rafaholics!..)))
Why can't Fedofiles and Rafaelites stop fighting over who's the best? Sit back and enjoy the fact that, combined, they're the greatest phenomenon in tennis history (21 of the past 23 and 25 of the past 30 Grant Slams)! They could potentially end their careers as the equal GOATs -- and we as fans should love them both for it! Look at the video of the two promoting their Credit Suisse exhibition -- they're clearly great mates and so we should stop creating a "hated rivalry" when it doesn't even exist!! I'm all RF, always have been, but RN has my 100% respect. Let's just enjoy the history, don't you think?
--Michael, Hamilton, New Zealand
• Thanks, Michael, for the Question of the Week, a new feature here at the Mailbag. Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly genuine dislike each other, and thus it stands to reason that their respective supporters argue and feud and cut each to shreds on blogs, Twitter and in comments sections. Tottenham hates Arsenal and vice versa. And thus, it's not surprising, their respective hooligans bloody each other and sing lewd cheers back and forth.
But one the truly special components of the Federer-Nadal rivalry is the genuine affection that passes between the two. The Credit Suisse video is just one example of many. When "Fedofiles" (KADs as Pete Bodo calls them) skewer Nadal and "Rafaelites" are pronouncing Federer dead, it's wildly at odds with spirit of the rivalry. I get rooting for over the other. But when the two principals are so fond of each other, isn't it hard to generate deep hatred for the other guy?
Do you get the impression that the grace and humility of Nadal and Federer are rubbing off on the up-and-coming generation? I worry my four-year-old son is missing his only opportunity to have an athlete-role model that's actually worthy of the title.
--Darrell, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• I'm not sure I get the last part of your question, but your point is a good one When the two dominant players are gracious and humble -- in a word, mensches -- it rubs off on the rest of the field. If fecal matter flows downstream, so does goodness. When the two kings are so agreeable you look doubly bad when you're ranked 17th and behave like a jerk. In terms of sportsmanship and gentlemanliness it's easy to argue this is a high-water mark for the men's game. I think it's no coincidence that the two guys at the top so seldom make a false move.
--Michael, Hamilton, New Zealand
• Thanks, Michael, for the Question of the Week, a new feature here at the Mailbag. Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly genuine dislike each other, and thus it stands to reason that their respective supporters argue and feud and cut each to shreds on blogs, Twitter and in comments sections. Tottenham hates Arsenal and vice versa. And thus, it's not surprising, their respective hooligans bloody each other and sing lewd cheers back and forth.
But one the truly special components of the Federer-Nadal rivalry is the genuine affection that passes between the two. The Credit Suisse video is just one example of many. When "Fedofiles" (KADs as Pete Bodo calls them) skewer Nadal and "Rafaelites" are pronouncing Federer dead, it's wildly at odds with spirit of the rivalry. I get rooting for over the other. But when the two principals are so fond of each other, isn't it hard to generate deep hatred for the other guy?
Do you get the impression that the grace and humility of Nadal and Federer are rubbing off on the up-and-coming generation? I worry my four-year-old son is missing his only opportunity to have an athlete-role model that's actually worthy of the title.
--Darrell, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• I'm not sure I get the last part of your question, but your point is a good one When the two dominant players are gracious and humble -- in a word, mensches -- it rubs off on the rest of the field. If fecal matter flows downstream, so does goodness. When the two kings are so agreeable you look doubly bad when you're ranked 17th and behave like a jerk. In terms of sportsmanship and gentlemanliness it's easy to argue this is a high-water mark for the men's game. I think it's no coincidence that the two guys at the top so seldom make a false move.
These days he may seem these days a spent force, the great exertions of his earlier years finally taking a toll on his tactical choices in tough moments; but we must never rule him out - his serve has meant much gold in the past, and should prove no different in his sharpest state of mind. At this highest level tennis matches are won by the serve, and by the mind - all glory and all loss but a matter of perception.
The Greatest Of All Time debate: Federer, Borg, Sampras or Nadal
You could sense the impatience among aspiring sports historians waiting to be the first to predict Rafael Nadal’s place in the history of tennis as his successful US Open campaign drew close to its gloried end earlier this month. Perhaps he noticed them salivating on the sidelines after grabbing the first set and he predictably slipped in second, wary to be the first man in thirty odd years to win the open without dropping a set.
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