FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Bigalke said 06/10, 01:31 AM
Slow down there...

Rafael Nadal's methodical and thorough beatdown of Roger Federer to win his fourth French Open was indeed splendid and placed him on the path to be in discussion with Borg as the greatest clay player in tennis history. Each won four consecutive titles @ Roland Garros... and each was the preeminent clay player of his generation...

Statistically, Nadal has shown a dominance on clay which on paper comes out greater than any other. However, statistics do not tell the entire story here. Back in Borg's time, fewer tennis players' games were predicated on power. There was a stronger clay field -- guys like Guillermo Vilas, Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl all afforded Borg a threat on the clay. Who besides Federer, perhaps the most sublime all-around talent ever, has challenged Nadal en route to those gaudy statistics?

Further, Nadal has only proven himself over a five-year period. While his dominance has been great over this time period, he still does not have the body of work that Borg built between his breakthrough in 1974 and his final French Open title in 1981. Six championships at Roland Garros in eight years and a slew of ATP victories on clay make Borg the best.

Bigalke said 06/11, 12:10 AM
Nadal has only shown his brilliance for a short career. He has a long road ahead of him. Merely equalling Borg's feats at Roland Garros does not elevate him yet.

And what of Nadal's legacy if he goes down with an injury? Borg completed his career already and proved his greatness fully... don't anoint Nadal until his career plays out fully. All the statistics in the world mean nothing without context...

Just look at those players who won the two French Opens between Borg's 6...

Adriano Panatta -- '76 French Open champion
Guillermo Vilas -- '77 French Open champion (Borg did not play due to contract w/WTT)

Both were clay specialists -- Panatta grew up in Rome, his father the caretaker of Tennis Club Parioli; Vilas also won the '77 U.S. Open on the clay @ Forest Hills and held the previous clay consecutive-win streak @ 53.

He faced other greats on the clay -- Ilie Nastase, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander...

Where are the clay-court specialists on Nadal's resume? Federer is otherworldly, but he is at his worst on clay... and then there's a dropoff. The current men's game is built on power, not the finesse needed on clay. Nadal is a big fish in a small pond of true competitors on clay.

Bigalke said 06/11, 10:34 AM
As I continue to state here, dominance is about more than mere stats. Did you know that Vilas, and not Nadal, holds the record for the fewest games lost in a French Open final? He only did that in a year where Borg was not allowed @ Roland Garros because of his WTT contract. Yet Borg defeated Vilas in other finals... TWICE. Borg faced stiff competition who were clay specialists... and STILL has the record for most French Open titles AND is TIED for the most consecutive...

And is it really that Nadal is drowning out all the other great clay players out there? Because you haven't been able to name a single one. That isn't due to Nadal's preeminence... it is because his clay stats & records have been compiled against a subpar field which is better suited for the hard courts of Melbourne or Flushing Meadows than the clay of Roland Garros. You refuse to address the change in players and the game from Borg's time... why, scared?

Understandable... because when one stacks up who Borg faced en route to 6 French Opens and who Nadal has faced on his path to 4 straight, it becomes clear that Borg faced better opponents, has more WINS and is the greatest ever to play tennis on clay...