Rafa Nadal

[PaulP]

I've read in a few places that the rule introduced a few years ago to allow players to miss part of the tennis calendar was done at Federer's request. No idea if it's true. Prior to that, players were not permitted to sit out the clay court season, grass season etc.

[flyboy77]

And let's not overlook that in most sports, at the elite level, there's more than likely one or more Lance Armstrongs lurking....?

Fed, Novak and Muzza all should be in that conversation too.....

[Thryleon]

I've read in a few places that the rule introduced a few years ago to allow players to miss part of the tennis calendar was done at Federer's request. No idea if it's true. Prior to that, players were not permitted to sit out the clay court season, grass season etc.

I seem to recall he started dodging a few tournaments and focussed only on the grand slams a while back.

And let's not overlook that in most sports, at the elite level, there's more than likely one or more Lance Armstrongs lurking....?

Fed, Novak and Muzza all should be in that conversation too.....

Hard to say.

I'd like to think not, but they seem to improve really quickly every generation.

I would have thought they'd taper off at some point, but it just doesn't seem to happen.

If anyone's on it, it's Federer,  he's defied biology, broken down a little and seems better than ever these days.

Rafa and Novak have been battling for the last two years with various injuries.

Perhaps it's the difference in game style too, but you can't simply throw mud at them for being the best in their code.

[flyboy77]

Not throwing mud just saying what history has taught us....

[PaulP]

And let's not overlook that in most sports, at the elite level, there's more than likely one or more Lance Armstrongs lurking....?

Fed, Novak and Muzza all should be in that conversation too.....

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/16/tenni...index.html

Nadal stated he was more than happy to make his drug test results public.

[dodge]

Apparently tennis' testing regime isn't that expected of a sport that has such a high profile and level of money. There are also lots of rumors of silent bans eg a player being injured for a longer period of time.  I Googled drug use in tennis - makes for interesting reading.  This was after being told by the entourage of a player who spent a couple of years on the circuit trying to make it the same thing. 

[flyboy77]

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/16/tenni...index.html

Nadal stated he was more than happy to make his drug test results public.

AND THAT PROVES EXACTLY ZIP.

[PaulP]

AND THAT PROVES EXACTLY ZIP.

It proves he has nothing to hide. What should he do ? Make a video of every single drug test ?

[flyboy77]

Pull your head out of the sand Paul....negative test results mean jack.

[PaulP]

Pull your head out of the sand Paul....negative test results mean jack.

The tests are what they are. Nadal has broken down more times than I care to remember, and has missed / pulled out of plenty of tournaments over the journey. His peds must be Home Brand.