Rafa Nadal

[flyboy77]

Do you think he used a smaller frame to handicap himself? Sampras used an 85 pro staff, as did madbluboy in his younger days. Nothing beats when you hit the sweet spot off of those raquets but they are unforgiving.

Not deliberately, but in an era where everyone is (like AFL) fitter, stronger, faster and in a lot of cases bigger, a small gain in power surely helps.

I think Federer thought he could get away with doing what he did - and in 99.8% of cases - he could.

Look at the change now that he has shelved that silly nothing backhand slice floater, especially off return of serve.

Nadal couldn't touch Fed this year.....