Do you think Rafa will be able to win a grandslam title on hardcourt surfaces?

Question

I must say im sick of people`s lack of confidence in him. Sure its not his best surface like clay or grass but he`s improving constantly. Bjon Borg believes Rafa can win at the US Open and i have every confidence that he`ll prove all his doubters wrong. As long as he can keep pretty fit during the hardcourt season (he always seems to be injured) he will have a great chance to take any title on hardcourts. When Rafa first came on the scene as a teenager clay was what he best at. Grass and Hardcourts didnt have a look in. Now look how much he`s improved ? He`s won a few hardcourt titles, he Made 2 wimbledon finals he was pretty close last year to taking the title at wimby a 5setter :) No other guy has ever really challenged Roger on grass part from Nadal. So he`s not a one hit wonder just a clay court specialist. If you ask me Rafa has more chance winning at wimbledon than Roger at the French. I mean Fed has never even taken Rafa to a 5setter here at RG we shall see.

Vamos RAfa xx

Answer 1

I am with you 100% on this one.  Rafa most definatly has a better chance at beating Roger at Wimbledon, than Roger does at Roland Garros.  Rafa has come very far I am thinking that this is going to be his year to win the US Open.  I know Rafa can take the trophy home at Wimbledon and at the US Open, and if most people cant see that, then they are in for a big surprise!

Vamos Rafa!!!

Answer 2

When Federer retires then yes he can.

Answer 3

yes  a lot

Answer 4

I think so.  A few years ago, maybe not, but it wasn't fair to say that because he was still growing as a player despite winning on tour already.  You can see with results and his match play that his game is becoming dangerous and reliable on hard courts and on faster surfaces.  He's slowly becoming all-court and moving away from the clay-court expertise label.  A real top 3 player.  But just like Nadal being in the way of Federer to win a French Open title situation, it might be Federer in the way of Nadal to win US Open or Australian, etc.

Answer 5

ur absolutely correct. i do believe rafa can win other grandslams other than the french.

i think its coz he grew up playin on clay, tats y his soo good on it, but didn't play much on hardcourts, like the other spanish players.

it would be awsum for rafa to win a us open or wimbledon or australian open(my hometown melbourne).

Answer 6

I guess we shall see then. Lets put like this, who would be the favorite for the french open if Nadal wasnt playing? I think Federer would be the champion for sure. And how about wimbledon, putting Federer out, would you say Nadal is the big favorite to win the tournament? I would include at least some other players on the list that playing their best on grass could beat Nadal. Nadal is not just a clay specialist, he is a great player in all surfaces but his game fits better on clay, its not a matter of adapt, his way of playing fits with clay. Roger's game fits in any surface, he didnt win a French yet cause Nadal is absolutely better than him on clay. If Djokovic beats Nadal tomorrow, I think Federer will win this tournament.

Answer 7

I hate to tell you this, but I think Nadal already has a girlfriend.  Besides, nothing against Cavemen, but the guy looks like one  :-)  Just kidding, of course.  Nadal has a great chance at winning  a Grandslam other than the French.  He just needs to stay injury free, and focus a little less on the Clay Court Season.

http://www.watcherswatch.com/pics/geicoc...

Answer 8

You are absolutely right. Don't worry he will win Wimbledon this year, and then maybe next year either of the two hardcourt Slams, first the AO because the court there is slower.

Answer 9

Interesting question!!!

I belive nadal has it in him to win tournaments on hard courts even Grand slams. People fail to give him enough credit. Nadal has improved his game greatly. He was not one to make it through the first few rounds of Wimbledon 3 years ago but the next 2 years he made it to the final! I belive he can do it as long as he wants it and isn't injured. I don't know if he will win the u.s open this year but I think he will have a better chance the more he plays on the surface.

Rafa for French and Wimbledon this year!!

Answer 10

You really have a point.

I think Rfa's problem with hard court is not so much the surface itself(as you point out,look at how he improved on grass,a notoriously bad surface for Spanish players!) as with the tennis season. if you follow his interviews you will see that he is very outspoken about his disagreement with the way the season is set up.

As you also noticed,rafa always seems to be pretty injured when he plays on hard courts. That is true because he always gets to that part of the year with the accumulated stress of the way he plays.

If the season could be shorter and the players given more time to rest then perhaps rafa would have a shot at winning mor esignificantly on a  hard court.

The season is the same length for everybody,of course,but this does not favour rafa's very physical,all out effort way of playing. It wears out players like rafa and injures them more than it does  the more technical players with big serves.