Is the ATP calendar really that tough? And Did Rafael Nadal fall prey to it?
Today an injured Rafael Nadal falls prey to someone he has never lost to on clay, Juan Carlos Ferrero (J. Ferrero (ESP) d. [2] R. Nadal (ESP) 75 61).
Pretty convincing result and by Carlos Ferrero antics, dropping to his knees, it looked like a great win. But was it really? Or is it just a case of you take whatever you can get? To me it looked mostly like the second scenario and Rafael Nadal confirmed it at the press conference with the following:
“Q. Were you close to not play? Were you hesitating not to play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, today in the morning when I wake up I say it's impossible to play, no? Later, I come here, prepare in the practice. I was in the doctor's, like yesterday and before yesterday, and they put special protection, very big protection. They put some cream, anesthetic cream, something like this, for didn't feel the same pain. Anyway, it's tough, because when the foot was inside of the well, I can't put the foot like this. I always went like this because I scared, no? So, you know, the calendar is impossible. Last week and in Barcelona everybody is talking about how you feel about the calendar and everything. I said for me going to be impossible four weeks in a row playing well, no? They told me, Yes, but you have already two playing very well. I said, Yes, but in a few days you going to see why it's impossible, and disappointing they going to see. Finally they see it's impossible, no? Just congratulate Juan Carlos, because this is an important win for him, I think. He's trying to go to Olympics, too, so important points for him. Just happy for him because he's a nice guy and a very good player. That's it, no? I just try to at home have some rest, and after try to go with my best feelings to Hamburg.”
Nadal claims, “So, you know, the calendar is impossible.” I have no sympathy for that! Players have the choice to balance their playing calendar, around the US Open in the previous year and Nadal had that chance in September 2007 for the present tennis year.
Nadal bases his ranking on a strong first half of the year mostly on clay until Wimbledon on grass and cruises through the rest of the year until practically February of the next year, when we hear from him again. He has been doing this since 2005, all you got to do is look at his ATP record (schedule):
“2005--Costa Do Sauipe, Acapulco, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ATP Masters Series Hamburg (a blister on his palm forced him to pull out of Hamburg), ATP Masters Series Rome, Roland Garros, Bastad, Stuttgart, ATP Masters Series Canada, Beijing, ATP Masters Series Madrid;
2006--Dubai, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ATP Masters Series Rome, ATP Masters Series Hamburg (pulled out of the Hamburg due to fatigue), Roland Garros;
2007--ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ATP Masters Series Rome, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Roland Garros, Stuttgart;”
2008-- ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ATP Masters Series Rome, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Roland Garros, and ???
The pattern is evident, I think that wining any of the clay court tournaments that Rafael Nadal has won in the past in a row (ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ATP Masters Series Rome, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Roland Garros), especially Roland Garros the toughest Grand Slam of them all, is an extraordinary feet, but a player that prides to be N.2 in the world and is threatening to be N.1, should do a lot more about his game in order to have much better results all year around, rather then just limit himself to clay success and then the “calendar would not be so impossible”.
What is to learn from the tennis instruction point of view?
Playing well on clay is important, but you should develop all around skills and be able to play well on all surfaces all year around.
Sergio Cruz
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