“I am not sure if it is 100 percent fair that we qualify for the World Tour Finals playing on grass, hard, clay and indoors, and since 2005, when I qualified [for the first time], it is already 11 years that every single time [it has been played] on indoor hard courts,†Rafael Nadal told the Daily Mail.
Nadal has won 67 career titles, but he has never won the ATP World Tour Finals. Currently ranked No. 5, Nadal reached the final of the World Tour Finals twice – in 2010 and 2013. The hard court in London’s O2 Arena is considered to be a slightly faster surface, conditions that don’t exactly favor Nadal’s game which excels on slower surfaces like clay and grittier hard courts.
“I believe that it’s not fair that a player like me really never played on a surface that was a little bit more favorable,†said Nadal echoing similar sentiments made by marcelo Rios over a decade ago. “I always played on the worst surface possible for me. If it’s indoor at London, then great, but you can build a different type of surface there. It is a fantastic place to organize a World Tour Finals. The atmosphere is just amazing and I am very happy it is there. I enjoy it every time I have had the chance to be there, but we can play on clay there too.†(Artwork by Andres Bella)
Nadal joins Rios in calling for surface change
Scoop Malinowski · November 13, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Here’s an idea: How about alternate surfaces each year – hard – clay – synthetic grass – har tru – carpet – or have a draw out of a hat at the US Open to decide the surface – that would be fun —
CS3 · November 13, 2015 at 2:45 pm
I think it would really add something to the year-end event to alternate surfaces annually… The World Tour Finals is a Very High-Profile and talent-filled tournament so why not give it a distinctive feature that sets it apart from every other event on tour? I like the idea Scoop; hopefully tournament organizers & the ATP will consider such a concept!
Scoop Malinowski · November 13, 2015 at 2:50 pm
CS3 I can’t think of any reason why the ATP would be against alternating surfaces – it would add another dimension of excitement and intrigue to an already very special historic event —
Andrew Miller · November 13, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Whining disguised as a proposal. Nadal’s one of the greatest champions of all time, easily the greatest fighter in tennis history. But with this he proves yet again he’s human: Nadal whines a lot.
Blaming a lack of a WTF trophy on the surface is a joke. Guess Nadal is broadcasting this: “I’m not planning on doing well here because, frankly, I hate the surface.”
For someone with one of the best attitudes in tennis, this is whining at its finest.
Andrew Miller · November 13, 2015 at 2:53 pm
If Nadal came out in favor of, say, increasing prize money for challengers (or, creating higher-point-level challengers on clay) or something like that, then we could say: what a sport. Making the sport more equitable for everyone.
But if it has to do with Nadal’s surface preference, I think it’s a joke.
Scoop Malinowski · November 13, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Andrew – the players all appear to be unified with the WTF surface – the only player I can ever recall voicing for the surface to be changed was Rios way back when – Rios thought the indoor surface favored certain players –
CS3 · November 13, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Rafa’s suggestion has a self-serving motive behind it, I can acknowledge that… I still think switching up the surfaces annually at the WTF would be an innovative concept & a positive change!
Martin G · November 13, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Nadal is wrong here and it is whining ….
It’s like Fed saying playing forehand with left hand should be banned because it doesn’t goes well with my one handed backhand. :)))
Jokes aside …
Switching surfaces is short sighted and seriously wrong idea.
These top players are tired and they’ve been playing indoor for last 2 months.
To ask Top 8 to play now on clay or grass would be asking for injuries.
So no please don’t do it ….
Scoop Malinowski · November 13, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Martin G – I don’t recall any player ever getting hurt at a Davis Cup final played on clay — like Fed said about the blue clay – players need to just adapt – variety of surface would be good for tennis as variety is the spice of life and tennis )
Robert Crawford · November 13, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Nadal makes a good point…we should vary the surface occasionally…just like the slams are on different surfaces.
Matt · November 14, 2015 at 1:09 am
It’s weak. Surprised he showed his hand like that. Says a lot, if you ask me.
Scoop Malinowski · November 14, 2015 at 7:22 am
Good point Robert – different surfaces for majors why not different surfaces for the microcosm of the season?
Scoop Malinowski · November 14, 2015 at 7:23 am
matt – i wonder what surface the majority of fans prefer to watch their tennis on? ATP should do that poll –
Dan Markowitz · November 14, 2015 at 9:43 am
I guess I like watching tennis most on grass or hard courts. I enjoy watching clay matches now more that players don’t just lob the ball back and forth from baseline, but it’s still my least favorite surface to watch tennis on.
Playing-wise, I prefer hard courts, too, especially now during the indoor season where the Har-Tru in bubbles gets very muddy, hard and frankly ruins the balls after playing for a while.
Andrew Miller · November 14, 2015 at 10:34 am
Slam surfaces don’t vary – one surface per season. Winter, rebound ace. Spring, clay. Summer, grass. Fall, deco turf II or whatever it is now. Indoors, indoors.
It’s always been indoors. Nadal says in his career its always been indoors. How about in most players careers its always been indoors and how this is on purpose.
Just like wimbledons not played on clay. Nadals idea isn’t a good one. Djokovic isn’t asking for the French to be played on grass anytime soon so that it favors his game.
Harold · November 14, 2015 at 10:58 am
The Slams have nothing to do with this tourn. as far as surface. I think Nadal is on to something. Why not change up the surface for the year end. The one constant is ” indoors”. Why cant the surface be changed? O2 can dictate rhe speed of the court to favor their own Murray. I have no problem with them changing the surface every year, think it would make it more interesting.
Djoko probably doesnt care, Ferrer would probably not mind as well. Wawa can go either way. Fed, Byrd and Nishi might be pissed.
I wonder if Borg or Wilanders careers lasted past 26, they might have come up with the same suggestion at some point
Dan Markowitz · November 14, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Come on, people, clay court tennis is not for the winter. It’s slow ponderous play, good for the summer and lazy long afternoons. It’s winter and winter needs fast, impact decisive tennis. Indoor clay tennis is no good anyway. It’d be absurd to play an indoor event on clay for a year-ending Masters event. You want to see sizzling tennis, not looping attrition baseline rallies. It’s November, make the surface ice before it’s clay.
Harold · November 14, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Sampras won one of his biggest matches outside the slams on indoor clay. They can speed up the clay and its 2 out of 3. If it was still 3 out of 5, no way they ever switch the year end to clay.
Changing things up, is the part that works for me. Some kind of surface rotation
Reece · November 14, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Just leave it as hard court. It is basically a homogenised surface to give most players a chance to win, basically it’s trying to have a relatively level playing field. I consider hard to be the middle surface between clay and grass.
sharoten · November 14, 2015 at 7:17 pm
First of all, it’s not whining. It’s expressing an opinion and I believe that’s what all of you are doing but no one is insulting you and calling you names because you have the temerity to do so.
It’s not the first time Rafa has stated that opinion – it’s one he’s had for many years so he’s not all of a sudden coming up with an excuse for not having won the particular tournament. He’s also not alone. Either Djoke or Murray said in their presser that they thought the tournament should be moved around to different parts of the world and changed up a bit. It’s been held in various locations and even on grass and different indoor surfaces through the years so it’s not exactly a revolutionary idea to change it up but because it was Rafa throwing out the idea, it somehow becomes headline worthy and the anti-Rafa brigade charges in with their vitriol again.
Andrew Miller · November 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm
As I’m no member of the anti-Rafa brigade (whatever that is) – I’ve been a fan since ’04 Davis Cup, and when he came up short versus Federer in the ’05 Miami championship I thought he was going to be a champion – I don’t think it’s a big deal to say that Nadal – very seldom may I add – says stuff like this.
Vitriol. Ha. You’re preaching to the choir.
I do think he’s whining, much as I know that Uncle Toni had some venom for Rosol. No one’s perfect and I think Nadal has every right to complain. He’s the one on tour anyways.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. And there’s no way the WTF will be held on clay in the near future.
As for the indoor season changing it up to embrace more surfaces, who knows. I guess that could happen if they’re trying to compete for players. Right now how the season is structured, I don’t see it. I don’t see a fifth grand slam tournament taking place either – I think the sport’s too far along to make a change like that. I do think that there’s some room to move the Masters around and experiment there, maybe add a grass court Masters. Or one around Australia while they are down there.
Harold · November 15, 2015 at 10:04 am
Is there going to be a movie about Nadal and Rosol. Tjat seems to be the most important maych of the decade on this site.
Rosol had the set of his life, Nadal not so much. Rosol is an A hole or something like that, as most players agree.
Dont think Nadal’s life is pre-Rosol, collowed by post Rosol. Dont think Uncle Toni loses any sleep over Rosol
Scoop Malinowski · November 16, 2015 at 7:47 pm
At this rate Rafa will change his stance and want it on hard – he just crushed Stan today in straight sets – who needs clay? is the large statement Rafa made today with huge win vs Stanley – nice doubles on now Hugues Herbert served for the match vs melo dodig and was up 30-love and then double faulted three times to blow game and then they ended up losing tiebreaker – now in third set – melo is the best doubles player in the world and he’s showing it right now —
Moskova Moskova · November 17, 2015 at 10:33 am
that could’ve been a nice ploy by rafa…..”oh I hate this surface; cant play on it !” – then turns around and gives wawa the “corporate elbow !” wowzers !! LOL
Moskova Moskova · November 17, 2015 at 11:30 am
and tiafo almost wins knoxville LOL
Scoop Malinowski · November 17, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Fed with a big win today in straight sets vs Djokovic 75 62 – Fed as sharp as ever in first set – Djok seemed to subconscious tank the second – his body language looked like why should I bust a nut trying to win a RR match? Just gonna beat Berd and try to get Fed in the Finals – this match was the same old pattern – Fed amped up to beat the big cheese – Djok a little less inspired – Fed wins first set and cruises in second – this pattern has happened so many times since Djok became number one – but when the stakes are high and the match really counts – like at a major – Djok always seems to prevail –
Moskova Moskova · November 18, 2015 at 10:26 am
definitely a round-robin tank….who cares right ?….i’ll get you in the final when it counts. and FED played great nonetheless..