Im sad Nadal expects to lose number two to Djokovic, are you?

Question

Can anyone tell us the tell-tale signs of the situation?

Answer 1

Maybe because Rafa stated this, people are assuming that he is giving up.. and that he is facing that Novak is better. But do not feel mislead by what he said. He probably isn´t feeling that great and knows that there is a big chance to loose his 2nd spot. Even if he said these things, it doesn´t mean that he won´t fight for remaining nr2 and stay there:P

Answer 2

Sayang naman if that's going to happen. Still hoping it won't happen... not in this season... his season... CLAY season. i was expecting the opposite to happen this month. but thats ok at least nole is improving, more great tennis to watch.

Answer 3

It will never take away from the fact the Nadal is still an awesome player - esp on clay.  I think he will remain in the top 5 for a few years yet.  He may even get a chance at No1 but so will Novak.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter who is #2 or who is #3, two years from now people are not going to remember that, but they are going to remember who won the French Open and Rafael Nadal is still the King of clay. I wouldn't bet against him at Roland Garros.

Answer 5

no i'm not. its expected long before.it's just that it will come so soon. though i don't want nole to get it. a braggart

Answer 6

im not sad Nadal is losing his rank. Nole worked for it and hes got talent. So does Nadal, but it all comes down to who wins and who losses.

Answer 7

First of all I think, he will fight tooth and nail to save his position and even if he loses it, will be for a short while. Rafa is one of the fiercest competitors on the scene, and once his feet is o.k, he will jump back to the scene. He is not going to take things lying down, and I am sure Roger and Djoko are aware of this fact. They have to work equally hard to save their position, but I would like to say something about Rafa. He needs to cut down on his schedule, because it is starting to affect him more than he thought. If he can do that, he will be doing much better because he is just 22. Hamburg is becoming more of a prestige issue now for Rafa, so he will definitely give in his best.

Answer 8

It would be a shame because it would seem like Nadal was going down hill when he isn't. He needs to have a really good season and get some more points otherwise Novak will snatch the number 2 spot.

Answer 9

GO DJOKOVIC! :D

hes so young and soo good! he will be #1!

Ana, Jelena, and Novak are amazing serbian tennis players!

Love from canada and croatia!

IDEMO

Answer 10

Nadal is now just 300 points ahead of Djokovic and if Novak hadn't lost in the first round in Miami, he would already be number 2.  Still there is a chance that Nadal can hold him off if he performs well in Hamburg.  Don't forget, Djokovic has a ton of points to defend in the coming months at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Toronto, and the US Open.  So long as Nadal makes it to the later rounds in Hamburg and plays his usual incredible tennis in Paris, he could keep his lead.

Answer 11

Right now, Nadal's biggest problem is the compressed summer schedule. He played, and won, just about all of the clay tournaments last year. This means he has a huge number of points to defend, and no rest in between because of the Olympics.  This does not bode well for him to remain #2 because his grass court game is not improving the way it needs to for a strong showing or a win at Wimbeldon and his hard court game,although better than grass, doesn't show well at the end of the season (I would guess it's just from playing too many tournaments through the summer) for him to take the US Open.  

Djokovic doesn't have points to defend, only to start racking-up.  This gives him a huge advantage for becomming #2 in 2008, possibly #1 if Federer continues to struggle (this compressed clay schedule and the Olympics will be difficult for him as well) as he has a couple thousand points to defend this year as well.

I am not sad to see Nadal expecting to lose the number 2.  I know he hasn't given up, but he needs to make some changes to his training schedule, his playing schedule, and his all court game.  Djokovic has shown he can contend on all surfaces.  What he has not shown is that he can defend on them all.  He has been criticized for not showing the mental toughness to handle the pressue of being a top player.  2009 will show what he is really made of.  

In addition, leaving early in some clay tournaments may be the best thing that ever happened to Nadal, his game, and his longevity with the ATP because he will not have the requirement to play every week from May through July.  Maybe then he can begin to focus on improving his play on grass and hardcourts (particularly Wimbledon and US Open).  

I think having 3 or 4 players who could win in any given tournament regardless of surface would be great for the game.

Answer 12

I'm so happy for NOLE!!!! He is proving that he is the next number one. He has determination and he wants it. GO NOVAK I LOVE YOU! :)

Answer 13

i am happy

Answer 14

I was devastated when i found out, he has had the number two ranking for ages, i really hope he doesn't lose it to Djokovic.