Indian wells - woo hoo !!

[dodge]

All good.  Used to love Lendl, Edberg and the great cat Miloslav Mecir in the good old days of the 80s

[flyboy77]

The Cat, what a mover for a big guy!

[PaulP]

The Cat, what a mover for a big guy!

All good.  Used to love Lendl, Edberg and the great cat Miloslav Mecir in the good old days of the 80s

Yes, used to love the Big Cat, wooden racquets and all.

[Thryleon]

Someone said Rafa is finished.

Hes 32 this June.

Now, his play style does rely on him belting opponents off the court.

However, there is nothing to say that he can't or won't reinvent himself a little and go up a level.

Imagine we had written off Fed at the same age! the cliff is coming for Federer.  When it arrives (as in too old to compete anymore), the others will get their chance to do what he has done recently.

Djokovic has struggled for the first time in his career over the last 12-18 months.  That won't continue, and he too is another who has plenty of time on his side.

[flyboy77]

Someone said Rafa is finished.

Hes 32 this June.

Now, his play style does rely on him belting opponents off the court.

However, there is nothing to say that he can't or won't reinvent himself a little and go up a level.

Imagine we had written off Fed at the same age! the cliff is coming for Federer.  When it arrives (as in too old to compete anymore), the others will get their chance to do what he has done recently.

Djokovic has struggled for the first time in his career over the last 12-18 months.  That won't continue, and he too is another who has plenty of time on his side.

I think Nadal is close to finished. The injuries keep coming, his game sylte has and is aking a heavy toll - as all, Rafa included, no doubt well knew. Rafa also needs to play lots to get into his groove....Federer, by contrast can come back from a modest break hitting better than ever.

I think Federer will play the French now. If Rafa's half baked, ditto Nole, another GS is there for the taking....

Nole, he's had to modify his service action big time, that's got to play with his mind. No guarantees he will ever play at the level he once did (but yeah, more time on his side than Rafa agreed).

Then there's sooky Andy - who cares about him really!

[Thryleon]

Nole modifying his service action is due to his elbow injury, which may or may not hinder him forever.

He came back too soon to play the Aus open, and still made the semi's.

The guy is a gun, and will prove it, but his comeback is taking time.  Thats ok, but thats something Federer hasnt had to contend with.

[madbluboy]

There are a couple of young guns who will make life difficult for Novak in the next few years even if he does get back to his best.

Djockovic unfortunately for him played in strong era with Federer and Nadal in their prime and also Murray to contend with.

Federer emerged in a weak era when the likes of Hewitt and Roddick were on top.

[PaulP]

There are a couple of young guns who will make life difficult for Novak in the next few years even if he does get back to his best.

Djockovic unfortunately for him played in strong era with Federer and Nadal in their prime and also Murray to contend with.

Federer emerged in a weak era when the likes of Hewitt and Roddick were on top.

mbb, what are your thoughts on Nadal's future ?

[mateinone]

There are a couple of young guns who will make life difficult for Novak in the next few years even if he does get back to his best.

Djockovic unfortunately for him played in strong era with Federer and Nadal in their prime and also Murray to contend with.

Federer emerged in a weak era when the likes of Hewitt and Roddick were on top.

The top players in an era determine who good their opposition look.
The opposition looked weaker in the era of Fed and Nadal's dominance because those 2 were so great they didn't give others a look in.
The same way Djokovic made everyone look completely substandard for a period of time there.

Djokovic is of course only a year younger than Nadal, so who knows how many he ends up with, but at this time, the GOAT is Federer and he would have been if starting his career at the same time as Djokovic or if he was playing against Pistol Pete or anyone else.

He has dominated for so long it is ridiculous

[mateinone]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/del-...4z51k.html

I don't understand celebrating Federer losing.
I mean if you are  Del Potro fan, sure.. but celebrating because someone lost.

We are in the era of a Rod Laver, a Jordan, a Woods, a Nicklaus... of tennis.
I am constantly amazed by what this guy does and his refusal to just fade into the obscurity that age creates. Refused to submit to the norm where older players just cannot match the power of younger fitter players.

It will be a sad day for tennis when this guy retires because he has been a game changer for sport.
Since 1972 no player over the age of 32 had won a slam (Agassi Australian Open 2003) and even over the age of 30 that list is restricted to just a small handful of greats.

Each to their own, but I am pretty sure we are privileged to be watching such an amazing career.