I don't even really watch tennis all that much, but I find it amazing that the best player in the world (federer) can't beat Nadal in the French open. And vice versa, you wonder how it is that one player can own one court like that, and yet on any other court, be a mere mortal. It's truly strange. 21-0 on that court. Never even playing a 5th set. That is just sick. But how? I mean it would seem to me that if you are the best player in the world, it wouldn't matter what surface you are on. While you may not win them all, you are still the best in the world, and ought to get a few in your lifetime.

5 reasons:

1) Weight of ball, the ball bounces higher on clay, Nadal puts huge topspin on his groundstrokes
2) Slower rallies, it takes beastly winners to win points on clay and that's what Nadal has
3) Comfort, Nadal played on clay as he grew up, its his surface
4) Federer committed too many errors today
5) Speed, whenever Federer tried getting into a rally, he couldn't finish Nadal off, Nadal's defence was way too good

Nadal=#1 tennis player..........he is better than Federer and he is only 21 years old. It's scary thinking about how many titles he will have by the time he hangs it up.

he isn't better than Federer.

Technically, he has won more titles by age 21 than Federer.

3 Nadal
0 Federer

That actually puts him on an incredible pace.

If you peek at Federer's career, did he ever really beat anybody good. Not really. While Nadal has already beaten Federer 3 times in a final. When Federer starts to slow, Nadal may be in good position to do some damage. As of today, Federer is the better player, but from a career standpoint, Nadal has a big jump on him.

Federer can only beat who is there, if Nadal isn't good enough to get there that isn't his problem.

What do you mean, he has played Nadal in 4 finals. That is a ton for Nadal at 21. Nadal won 3 of them. Nadal is there, the problem is that Federer can't beat him.

3 of them on what surface?

And you said yourself who has Federer beaten

Nadal has also won Federer in fastcourt twice and and lost in wimbledon getting to the final. Federer has also won once Nadal in clay. The thing is Nadal has never won Federer in grass


Lazyman you forget #6

Nadal is lefthanded, Federer has many more unforced errors when playing forehands, plus, if played long, he gets it tired, because his forehand is onehanded.

I think Nadal will be #1, if he masters Wimbledon. Federer is still a beast, his paris semifinal was a perfect tennis class. Didnt did too good against Nadal, but i think Nadal has undermined his security. You could see it in his serve. Not as risky and as secure (even with 200km second serves) as in the semifinal.


Nadal has made the final in Wimbledon last year and also in other fast surfaces. Is not that he is "average" on those surfaces either. You got to get there to lose it anyways.

He equaled Boris Becker record when he got in 3rd round in wimbledon(yeah, grass) at 17

Federer owns anyone but Nadal.
Nadal owns anyone and Federer. (8-4)

Miami 2004 Last 32 Hard court (Nadal)
Miami 2005 Final Hard court (Federer )
Paris 2005 Semi-final Clay (Nadal )
Dubai 2006 Final Hard court (Nadal)
Monte Carlo 2006 Final Clay (Nadal )
Rome 2006 Final Clay (Nadal )
Paris 2006 Final Clay(Nadal )
Wimbledon 2006 Final Grass (Federer).
Hamburg 2007 Final Clay (Federer).
Paris 2007 Final Clay (Nadal)


Out of the 4 grand slams 2 are grass, I think thats a big advantage if someone is a grass specialist. Not saying Federer is, Federer has won more titles in hard court, just saying, that out of the 3 surfaces grass is favoured.

Compare nadal vs federer:

http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/headtohead/?player1=nadal&player2=federer#

Hit the YTD Stats comparison.

Federer serves better, thats the only thing he does better than Nadal.
And when you serve fast you have advantage in hard court and grass.

It is as meritable to win points because you get to the ball as it is to win points because you serve fast on surfaces that make it harder to return the serve ball. Is just that the last is more profitable in the ATP.

BTW Nadal beats Federer in the ATP Race.

Out of the 4 grand slams 2 are grass, I think thats a big advantage if someone is a grass specialist. Not saying Federer is, Federer has won more titles in hard court, just saying, that out of the 3 surfaces grass is favoured.

Do you count the Aussie Open as grass?

Its more like a sticky, bouncy, fast hard court...

I might have dreamed it. But I thought it was grass... must by that deep green colour they use there. BTW I read they are going to change it to a surface close to the US Open kind... Plexicushion¿?

BTW I read they are going to change it to a surface close to the US Open kind... Plexicushion¿?

Yes they are changing it.

By the way, I find a surface complaint the stupidest excuse in any sport in the world. Both players play on it, you can't complain about it.

Both players play on it, you can't complain about it.
O.K then. One guy may be a baseliner, therefore his quality groundstrokes suit clay. The other may be a big server, therefore, grass suits him, his serves on clay won't be as effective as the 'clay' will take the speed off the ball...

When Federer starts to slow, Nadal may be in good position to do some damage.

That's debatable of course. I really like Nadal's game, however, you have to wonder if that style of play will take it's toll on his body as he gets older. That's the big difference between him and Federer... Nadal's points always seem to be very physical, while Federer looks like he barely makes an effort when he's playing out there. He just makes it look too easy.


I think Nadal will be #1, if he masters Wimbledon. Federer is still a beast, his paris semifinal was a perfect tennis class. Didnt did too good against Nadal, but i think Nadal has undermined his security. You could see it in his serve. Not as risky and as secure (even with 200km second serves) as in the semifinal.

Actually, Federer struggled throughout the entire semifinal match at the French Open, but was bailed out by Davydenko's inability to win the big points.

As for Nadal becoming #1, I'd have to say that he needs to change his mindset first, when he is playing in other surfaces. At some point you have to realize that short top spins are sitting winners for aggressive players with big forehands, when you're playing on hard court. That's why he gets pushed around so much when he's playing against guys like Blake and Gonzalez. He needs to be more aggressive and use more flat groundstrokes, IMO.