I think I stand corrected. http://forum.talkabouttennis.com/ima...es/redface.png

My, how the tennis world turns on a dime. I totally would not have expected him to be 600 points away from Federer at this point. He has WAY less points to defend, although he is usually burnt out at this point of the year. I figure he'll push himself and grab the top spot, then hurt himself somewhere along the way and lose it by February.

LOL. I don't think I would have thought, back then, that this would have happened as either.
This is great for tennis, IMO, though. A little shake up at the top would be awesome http://forum.talkabouttennis.com/ima...es/biggrin.png

ATP Tour - Rafa: I'm second to greatest ever
 

Article from Eurosport. (Some of what Rafa said actually surprised me)

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/11052008/...-greatest.html

Spanish clay-court king Rafael Nadal, the favourite for the Hamburg Masters Series which starts on Monday, admitted he takes some solace being second behind Swiss master Roger Federer.

"For me, Roger is the best player of all time and I am the best number two in the world," Nadal told Sunday's edition of Die Welt newspaper.
"I would be very pleased to be world number one, but that is not something which obsesses me. I am just glad to be able to play at 100 percent.

"If I one day become the best in the world, that would be extraordinary, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen," said the Spaniard who has won the last three titles at Roland Garros, which starts at the end of the month.

Nadal has been second to Federer in the ATP rankings since July 25, 2005 and the Swiss master has been world number one since February 2, 2004 - 223 consecutive weeks - which is a record.

"I have a lot of respect for Roger and I know he has the same for me," said the 21-year-old Nadal.

The Spaniard, who lost the 2007 final in Hamburg to Federer, also repeated his criticism of the ATP's calendar season.

"It is a big mistake that four of the five most important tournaments on clay - Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Hamburg - are all held in one four week period," said the Spaniard.

"I need to take part in all these tournaments, I will try to give it my best shot, but I know that will be difficult.

"This calendar damages the European tournaments and especially to us, the players," added Nadal hoping that "the ATP will do what it was created for, to look after the professional players."
AFP

Roger had to play extremely well to hold off Rafael for the number 1 position despite losing to Rafael at RG 3 years in a row. Now, Rafael has a serious challenge this week in trying to hold off Novak.

I don't see Rafa being No. 1. Novak, if anyone.

absolutely right

The essential question that has been asked of Roger for the best few years holds true for Rafa if he is to eventually become #1: Can (Roger/Rafa) maintain his unbelievably high level of play for the next x months/years? Realistically, I don't think he'll fall off too much, but I think it's just a matter of time before Novak is #2. And I see the latter as the person who eventually supplants Roger's reign in the top spot.

I have to agree with this. Nadal is a great player and mind you, I have great respect for him. If Nadal cannot perform on the hard courts this season and he has a couple more hiccups in the clay court season, I don't like his chances to end the year No. 2. Let alone ever reaching No. 1.

If he SHOULD reach No. 1 in his career, it will be very fleeting.

Roger claimed last summer at Montreal that whenever both he and Rafa compete in an event, usually one of them goes on to win the title. That was a crucial jinx. Both Rafa and Roger have been struggling since.

They're not losing to nobodies, though. And who's winning those tournaments where they both get knocked out? Djokovic and Nalbandian. There's not a laundry list of players ranked outside the top 20 that are hurting them. And "struggling" is a relative term. "Not dominating everything like in 2006" is more correct.

What does that mean?

I know you're new here, Poochy. So let me help you along a little bit. We discuss tennis here. If you think it's a boring thread, then don't respond to it. Find one that you're interested in.

I am sure you remember this character... http://forum.talkabouttennis.com/ima...s/rolleyes.png

You posted on TOB before?

Yeah, ca 2004-2006 (but not as much as here)

Ok, then I guess we are thinking of the same poster.

Have to agree with that. Although, I have to say I would rather see Rafa in that position, but Novak's ability to play well on all surfaces gives him much better chance.

I just feel bad that after being at #2 for so many years, it looks like when Rafa finally will get a new ranking, it will be lower. http://forum.talkabouttennis.com/ima...lies/frown.png

Gotta burn his toast.

And how sadly ironic that this might occur during the clay season...It would be equally ironic if Roger were to fall to Djoko during the grass season http://forum.talkabouttennis.com/ima...lies/frown.png