We all know Roger Federer has won 20 majors and Rafa Nadal is at 16 and apparently on the verge of 17, if he can sustain his prolific red clay form which seems to be getting better each year.
But in the shadows of the obvious are some intriguing truths. Federer has played 21 more majors than Rafa and won only four more (72-51; 20-16).
Rafa has won 31% of the majors he’s played while Fed has won 24%.
Distinct edge for Nadal there, if you can get by the overall total which, don’t forget, is aided by Federer being four years older than Nadal.
Nadal’s overall Grand Slam won-loss record is 230–34 … 87%. While Federer’s is 332–52 … 86.5%.
Again, edge to Nadal.
The question is whether Nadal will be able to play for as long as Federer has. If he can play catch up and sustain at least another four years at the elite level, Nadal has a good chance to surpass all of Federer’s Grand Slam records.
Dan Markowitz · April 29, 2018 at 5:03 am
You’re assuming of course that Fed won’t win anymore slams which once seemed quite correct, but now I’d wager he’d win at least one more. Nadal would have to win the French for the next few years maybe more to catch Fed as his chances of winning Wimbledon seem very slim now and though he bagged the US Open last year, his chances of winning a hard court slam with his injuries is also dicey.
How about Noah Rubin, going from winning a Futures last week to winning a Challenger this week. Noah might be on the rise.
Scoop malinowski · April 29, 2018 at 6:33 am
Rubin is on the rise and his career is back on track when a lot of people had their forks out. In a span of weeks Ubin has darted past a load of young Americans. Just goes to show as Sandgren showed us: can’t write off anybody.
catherine · April 29, 2018 at 9:44 am
Pliskova bts CoCo in Stuttgart, SS. Not a fascinating match but I was interested to note CoCo’s nervous tic when she sits down at the changeover – constant jiggling of her right leg, never stops. Suppressed nervous tension ? Energy rerouting ? Means something.
Hartt · April 29, 2018 at 11:16 am
Catherine, I only saw the last few games of that match but was glad to see Pliskova win it in SS. I never expected to feel sympapthy for CoCo, but it was kind of sad to see her in tears after the match.
catherine · April 29, 2018 at 11:50 am
Hartt – I know what you mean. I’m beginning to see CoCo in a different way – she’s been presented as this privileged spoilt kid etc but I suspect things are a bit more complicated.
She also strikes me as the kind of person who isn’t always aware of how their behaviour is seen by others.
So sometimes stress and upsets all around ensue.
Pat Cash is probably a good coach for her at the moment – straightforward Aussie bloke.
Duke Carnoustie · April 29, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Well I was wrong on both matches. Thought Coco would pull it off and she didn’t.
Then I said Tsitsipas would win five games today and he only managed three against the great Nadal.
Rafa loses 24 games in his five matches in Barcelona so he is getting worse after losing 21 in his five in Monte Carlo. Time to hit the practice courts, you bum!
catherine · April 29, 2018 at 1:30 pm
Serena W practising in Nice, not sure if she’ll play Madrid, and has already crossed swords with Ion Tiriac. Tiriac wishes there were more women headliners, and, as he owns Madrid, you can get his point.
Serena’s dropped more weight but I’m sceptical – there are several women who are faster around the court and will keep her running. However – she’s entered Rome and RG.
Hartt · April 29, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Rafainow has 77 titles, and is tied with John McEnroe for the 4th most, behind Lendl. Federer and Connors. Presumably he will break the tie, but it will be tough for him to catch Lendl, who has 94 titles.
jg · April 29, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Off topic, saw the Borg McEnroe movie last night, really well done, it’s more about Borg, and that in the end he and McEnroe were more similar than different. One thing I forgot was that Vitas Gerelaitus was really the link between the 2 and what a really good player he was, I went back and looked and Vitas was at the top of the game. You have to wonder what he would be doing now, I assume Vitas would be a top coach, maybe Dimitrov? Borg’s son plays the younger Borg, if you follow it up ( Dan you should) there’s an interview with Borg about being a tennis parent and his sons rivalry with Bjorakman’s son, and how they handle it.
dan markowitz · April 30, 2018 at 7:33 am
Borg’s son has a rivalry with Bjorkman’s son? Is Borg’s son an active pro player? I want to see this movie. Is it playing anywhere in the theaters, Jon, or did you see it on ITunes at home? Gerulaitis was a top player; finals of US Open in 1978 I believe, won the Aussie Open, great guy, I hit with him once for a story at the Westchester Country Club on the grass courts. Great to hear there’s a good tennis movie out there.
Jon, why do you think McEnroe did not have a favorable view of the movie?
catherine · April 30, 2018 at 8:00 am
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/30/garbine-muguruza-athlete-feminine-tennis-wimbledon-interview
Now, Garbine, what about some performances on the court ?
Seriously – what is it with her ? She hasn’t won a decent match since I can’t recall and now this.
Maybe she wants to be a movie star 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 30, 2018 at 8:17 am
Starting to believe Nadal is going to surpass Fed’s records. Nadal looks better than ever at 31 and will continue these results for years, maybe past 35. I see no sign of let up in Nadal or lack of desire or interest. He wants it more than ever. Reemember all the experts and even Agassi said Nadal’s physical style will cause his prime to be prematurely ended and that his career would be over before 30? That has to be the worst prediction in tennis history. Rafa still going strong at 31 and maybe he’s better than ever. Can’t wait to see Fed vs Nadal at Wimbledon.
Chazz · April 30, 2018 at 8:49 am
Story about Borg’s son from about 10 years ago:
http://www.collegetennisonline.com/Tennis/NewsDetail.aspx?nwId=28231
catherine · April 30, 2018 at 9:35 am
Scoop – going back to your question on a previous thread, I would think that in Muguruza’s case (see above) her ‘people’ definitely approached papers here about an interview to see who took the bait. I’m surprised at the Guardian, which is normally so right on it’s off the planet.
I’m always amused when players say they want to be fashion designers – they don’t think any training is required, apart from winning tennis matches 🙂
All those who try and fail to get into the top art and design schools must feel like gnashing their teeth to the jawbone.
Scoop Malinowski · April 30, 2018 at 10:06 am
Catherine, I think most of these players actually look prettier on the court, some of them go crazy with the make up and wacky hairstyles off court, they look so pretty just being simple om the court. Saw a photo recently of Safin with Vesnina and I think it was Makarova at some awards show and Vesnina and Makarova look just about unrecognizable under so much make up and a wig or some crazy hairstyles. Again, I think it was Makarova but could be wrong. Bring back the simple look please! I don’t understand why tennis players practically beg to be a p art of the fashion world. Let the fashion world come to you. It’s like the way boxing used to be. The boxers were so great, all the celebrities were drawn to the boxers and wanted to be close to the boxers. Now most of the so called top boxers are like celebrity chasers. A lot of tennis players are pretty enough to be models and even supermodels but being a top tenins pro is a lot more impressive than being a top model, though it’s not as “glamorous.” Well, we all know there is a dark underside to the fashion and modeling world. Drugs, sexploitation, politics, etc.
Scoop Malinowski · April 30, 2018 at 10:07 am
Another amazing Rafa record breaking stat – he’s the first man to win over 400 ATP matches on two surfaces.
jg · April 30, 2018 at 11:58 am
It’s playing in limited theatres, it’s Borgs younger son who plays Borg as a junior, and he is actually playing juniors now, Borg as a grown up is played by an actor who looks just like Borg, the movie also got a good review in the New Yorker, the theatre I saw it in which was large was packed.
jg · April 30, 2018 at 12:02 pm
I can understand why McEnroe didn’t like it, first it was more about Borg, second there is a scene where he is playing Fleming his doubles partner in singles ( in the 80 Wimbledon whichnis what the movie is about) and Fleming has a bad ankle, and the movie makes it appear that McEnroe took the ankle support from Fleming’s bag to throw him off, then Fleming tells McEnroe he is a horrible person and he will never forget the incident, although he says he will continue playing doubles with him ( if I remember the scene correctly)
jg · April 30, 2018 at 12:19 pm
The sons name is Leo Borg, there are yountubes of him playing, looks pretty good
Dan Markowitz · April 30, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Fascinating. To go into that detail about Mac and Fleming is pretty cool for a movie. I’d like to see this in a theater as i prefer seeing movies in a place where I don’t have to look at a small screen or answer a phone, but only place I see this movie playing is at one theater in NYC.
That’s pretty cool that Borg’s youngest is a rising tennis star. Mac never had one of his two sons amount to any tennis greatness.
Scoop Malinowski · April 30, 2018 at 12:53 pm
I hear there is another movie just out now about McEnroe.
Scoop Malinowski · April 30, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Bollettieri told me Kevin McEnroe attended IMG Academy. Didn’t say what kind of player he was. Might have been a better party animal than player.