I’m already disinclined to see him as GOAT, so that’s another story. Refusing to play Rafa on clay is cowardly. You can’t be a coward and be GOAT.
How do you know it’s cowardice? He loses little by losing to Rafa at the French; Rafa’s going to win the French regardless of whether Fed plays it. It just alters their head to head, which is less important in the final analysis than the titles each has won. He spent a decade going after Rafa every chance he got. Considering his age, I buy the idea that he’s skipping the clay season for career longevity reasons. He’s playing by the rules and taking whatever rankings hit it might give him. It’s his prerogative.
How do I know it’s cowardice? Because I can think. Strange that he doesn’t opt to save his body during the hard court season, or the grass court season. He’s refusing to play Rafa on clay. No one is else.
So if he simply had retired at age 35, rather than try to win every tournament he has a chance of winning until such time as his body gives out, that would be less ‘cowardly’ by your estimation?
Sure. If he can’t play, he can’t play. What’s wrong with that? He’d have a better claim on GOAT than he gets by gaming the points system, that’s for sure.
I don’t think it’s mandated anywhere that a player must play every tournament. Clay court specialists used to skip Wimbledon all the time. Heck, even Agassi did at the beginning. The price you pay for skipping a tournament is that you don’t have a chance to win that tournament. Seems fair to me.
Players in the top 30 rankings are required to play the ATP Masters 1000 events unless injured. Players can claim exemptions to reduce the commitment based on age and longevity (total number of lifetime tournaments played).
Hmm, I didn’t know that. So does Federer get fined for skipping the Italian Open? Or does he get the age/longevity exemption?
He gets the exemption. He’s old enough, and he’s played enough tournaments. Who else is routinely claiming the exemption? Not Ferrer. Not Lopez. Not Verdasco.
He can play, though. He won the Aussie this year and another tournament. It’s only been the last three years he hasn’t played the French, and I think one of those years he was injured. I can forgive a 33 year old for skipping the clay court season. Those are long, strenuous matches. Nadal just skipped the grass court warmups. These players pick their spots.
I also don’t think that state of mind factors into GOAT. Fed’s record speaks for itself.
He obviously can’t (or won’t) play Nadal on clay. What he’s doing now is padding his stats, trying to defend that claim. As for state of mind, I still recall him forfeiting the year-end final against Djokovic. That tells me everything I need to know about his state of mind.
Again, he’s a month shy of 37. He’s not going to play a full schedule. Nadal hardly does anymore either. Clay is his worst surface. I don’t think it’s ducking Nadal as much as it’s just the timing, too. Players have very little time to get ready for Wimbledon if they are playing on clay. It’s three weeks after the French.
Most players consider Wimbledon the most prestigious tournament. Fed is great on grass. In the twilight of his career, why not optimize his chances?
I just don’t see how winning Wimbledon constitutes padding a stat. If Nadal wants to contest him there, he is free to do so.
I guess he is making the W/L to Nadal on clay look better than it would if he kept playing against him there. I just don’t think that’s some horrible nefarious thing. It’s not like it’s some kind of secret that Nadal is the most dominant clay player in the history of creation.
Nadal has been injured, that’s why he misses tournaments. Federer says he never felt better - he says that all the time - yet he deliberately avoids playing Nadal on clay. I get that I won’t change your mind, but there’s a reason for that, and I don’t think it’s confidence or competitive spirit or courage.
He’s beaten Nadal on clay before, though never at the French. I don’t think Fed is worried about the head-to-head. He has said he knows he will never catch up there. He is looking to win majors and he knows his chances to win Wimbledon are better if skips the clay court season.
He wants to play tournaments he thinks he can win, and no others. It’s that simple.
That doesn’t seem like some kind of great indictment of his record, to me.
I don’t think its cowardice. I think that’s a ridiculous way of looking at it. I think he’s being shrewd and also resting up.
Don’t forget that they guy also has four kids and family is important to him. The one injury he had that kept him out for six months came when he was bathing his kids. He’s at a time in his career when he’s not going to play a full schedule.
Many players on the tour have said the schedule is too busy and players get worn out. They have advocated for a shorter season. Fed’s just making it happen for himself.
It’s an indictment of his character.
He played the French until three years ago!