Did Nadal Use Fake Injury To Psyche Out Fritz?

Brian, I’m going to stick with my article regardless of the consequences or criticism. Not one single professional player has ever confessed, “Yes I faked an injury to win a match.” But we know a great many players have faked injuries when losing to win matches. I have studied and watched and followed all of Rafa’s career and my conclusion is he’s the second best player of all time and the greatest injury faker in tennis history.

Cyndy, I actually believe Nadal completely faked it, as sort of a deja vu mind game on poor Fritz, a psychological reenactment of the Djokovic fake ab injury vs Fritz in AO. It worked for Djokovic then and Rafa cleverly used it again. Rafa knows the media and fans will all play along with his injury scams, excessively cheer for him like a big underdog and then Fritz gets lost mentally in the haze of the big deception. Rafa is a very smart, cunning, win at any cost competitor, he will do anything to win. The unnecessary trek to the locker room only adds to the drama and intrigue. Then when he returns to the court and plays, the crowd is whipped into a frenzy. It always works except that one AO final 2014 when Rafa lost the first set to Stan then faked an injury in the second set, left the court for ten minutes but Laver Arena booed him when he came back to the court! Rafa was devastated to be booed like that and completely unraveled. He could not play after that. Wawrinka won but Rafa ruined the match with the fake injury. That’s the only time I saw Rafa booed.

Bill I think some tennis fans are unduly naive about how many times superstars who are losing in grand slams will suddenly fake an injury when losing and then turn the tables and win the match. It’s not just Nadal who does it, many others have too. Becker got Mayotte, Newcombe got Stan Smith at Wimbledon too, so many examples.

Nadal sure looked very good beating Fritz in the fifth set yesterday. Given Nadal’s history of dodging Novak on grass and hard court, I am going with the Nadal decision was based on not having the belief he could beat both Nick and Novak two matches in a row in the SF and F. This combined with the heavy criticism and outrage from the tennis world of his faking the ab injury yesterday and the two GS title cushion lead on Novak and Federer, all factored into the decision to withdraw. If the other semi was Sinner vs Norrie, I believe Rafa would have tried to play Nick. But with Novak looming ahead on grass, Rafa decided to pull the plug. That’s my honest interpretation of what happened today.

I watched Rafa press conference today. He said he felt his level vs Fritz was very good but today he feels he can’t win two more matches and the supposed injury got worse from the match (though no sign of any pain in fifth set). It contradicts what Rafa earlier said and did in Paris, put his foot at risk to win a tournament. No he won’t put the ab at risk to win the tournament which he said could put him out of action for months. Yet he took that risk in Paris with the foot and rib. Inconsistent behavior from Rafa. Inconsistent behavior is always suspicious. How does Rafa know the ab won’t have a miracle cure where his doctor can control and heal it like the foot? I still think he ducked Nick and Novak and used the ab as the escape hatch.

Mark, Fognini knows the truth and is not afraid to say it. Nadal is the greatest injury faker in the history of sports.

Harold don’t be an imbecile. Yes I was at Novak’s fake injury time out vs Monfils at US Open 2005 but your forgot, Novak did two fake injury timeouts in the fifth set, not just one, he looked on the verge of death and then won the match. But Djokovic only rarely fakes injuries now, Nadal absolutely overdoes it, everybody knows it. I don’t hate Nadal or Federer, in fact I adored them both earlier in their careers but now I still adore them and what they have done in tennis and how they did it but I gotta be like Howard Cosell and tell it like it is. You seem to forget I said Novak’s hit ball at the lineswoman was I believe an act of rage for having blown triple set point vs Busta and then the break lead. He smashed the ball into the photo pit so he was in a rage. And he knew the lineswoman and ballkid were in the general area where he hit that ball. I believe he snapped in that split second of rage but he didn’t mean to hit her in the throat, just cause a commotion to try to distract Busta who was in control of that match. I don’t hate Novak to say this, just telling it like I see it. He snapped in that moment, as I have and many other good great and bad tennis players have. That’s tennis. Now if you want to continue to be an imbecile I’m going to have to ask security to throw you out to the sidewalk.

Sam, Yes Rafa said once “If you really really have an injury it’s impossible to win a tournament.” Too much double talk from Rafa. Agree, the fictional foot fraud in Paris fooled a lot of fools and so too did this ab scheme. Rafa is 36 now and slowing, you can see it. He knew Nick would have beaten him and if by miracle he stole that one, Novak would have slaughtered him in the final. If the two semis were Rafa vs Nick and Sinner vs Norrie, I can guarantee you Rafa’s ab would have been fit to play!

Catherine, Nadal was six sets away from slam 3 of the CYGS. He beat Fritz and has a winning record vs Nick, why not just try to play? See how the first set goes and if it’s too bad then quit. Nadal had 24 more hours for his doctors to get the ab back under “control.” But instead he runs home and screws the tournament, fans, sponsors, TV, ticket buyers. Nadal owes it to the sport to try to play the match, these players are paid handsomely to play tennis. Millions of players would do anything to be able to play in a GS semifinal and Nadal just quits. I think it’s fear of Novak in the final and I’m not backing off that. Nadal and Federer both have a history of ducking Novak. Federer as recently as French Open when he quit to focus on preparing on grass. But you know if Novak lost first week, Fed would not have withdrew. It’s amazing cowardice and ducking happens in tennis and Novak’s greatness is the one causing it.

John McEnroe:“The way that all played out (in AUS) was just horrible, so I respect Novak even more that he has overcome these things. He has to be the most mentally tough player I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.

Cyndy, McEnroe and the character of Novak are awakening the brainwashed masses to realize, Hey this guy is a good guy, the media is lying. In all sports there is a code that the players stick together like a fraternity, everyone else are outsiders. Federer and Nadal have obviously decided to backstab Novak, or turn their back on him, however you want to put it they and the establishment betrayed Novak. It’s an unprecedented situation. If Federer and Nadal possessed true sportsman qualities they would be publicly supporting Djokovic’s right to play US Open instead of staying silent. I believe Novak is trying to bury the hatchet with Federer by considering to play Laver Cup.