4 ms·

A bit off topic, but having followed tennis for the last 3 decades, i think the most striking thing on nadal and federer compared to previous generation is how

by bsaul 7y ago

A bit off topic, but having followed tennis for the last 3 decades, i think the most striking thing on nadal and federer compared to previous generation is how much they improved technically throughout their career, even after their 30s ( after they both had won numerous grand slams). Nadal has improved on serve and volley, federer has improved on backend and serve. Watching young federer or young nadal vs today’s is extremely impressive. i think that it’s something we should all take lessons from, and is actually very encouraging for everyone in every field: Age limits are being pushed in every dimensions, and no matter where you are in your career, there’s always new things to learn and new limits to overcome.

brookside 7y ago
There is also quite a bit of incredulity that both Nadal and Federer are performing as they do without performance enhancing drugs. Nadal’s one-time doctor was nabbed, but his blood bags were ordered destroyed by Spanish court: http://en.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/205055.html http://en.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/205055.html
- thinkpad20 7y ago
  I’m curious to what extent this is just innuendo and FUD, and how much there’s legitimate speculation (if there could be such a thing) as to Nadal and/or Federer doping. I’ve never heard even a whisper of doping suspicion with Roger, and this is the first I’ve heard of Rafa, but I don’t follow the sport super closely so maybe there are storylines I’ve missed. I know there have been other high profile tennis players to get caught doping, but my impression was that it was uncommon among today’s athletes. The way your comment is worded suggests that many in the know suspect either or both of doping — is this accurate?
  - brookside 7y ago
    I will fully admit to having no inside knowledge, or any concrete beliefs about the subject, really! I only have read a few blog posts which seemed reasonable enough. Such as: http://tennispurist.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer.html http://tennispurist.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-curious-case-of...
  - bsaul 7y ago
    Some famous french tennisman (yannick noah, father of joachim, playing in NBA) accused rafa, as well as pretty much all pro spanish sportsmen in general, of doping, a very long time ago, at the time when nadal started to look overly dominant on the french open. Most people at the timr thought it was just pure jealousy or just a way to appear in the news. I now wonder if he didn’t have insider information, though.

by bsaul 7y ago

brookside 7y ago

There is also quite a bit of incredulity that both Nadal and Federer are performing as they do without performance enhancing drugs. Nadal’s one-time doctor was nabbed, but his blood bags were ordered destroyed by Spanish court: http://en.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/205055.html http://en.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/205055.html

thinkpad20 7y ago
I’m curious to what extent this is just innuendo and FUD, and how much there’s legitimate speculation (if there could be such a thing) as to Nadal and/or Federer doping. I’ve never heard even a whisper of doping suspicion with Roger, and this is the first I’ve heard of Rafa, but I don’t follow the sport super closely so maybe there are storylines I’ve missed. I know there have been other high profile tennis players to get caught doping, but my impression was that it was uncommon among today’s athletes. The way your comment is worded suggests that many in the know suspect either or both of doping — is this accurate?
- brookside 7y ago
  I will fully admit to having no inside knowledge, or any concrete beliefs about the subject, really! I only have read a few blog posts which seemed reasonable enough. Such as: http://tennispurist.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer.html http://tennispurist.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-curious-case-of...
- bsaul 7y ago
  Some famous french tennisman (yannick noah, father of joachim, playing in NBA) accused rafa, as well as pretty much all pro spanish sportsmen in general, of doping, a very long time ago, at the time when nadal started to look overly dominant on the french open. Most people at the timr thought it was just pure jealousy or just a way to appear in the news. I now wonder if he didn’t have insider information, though.