Did Nadal lose his chance at number 1 with his loss at wimbeldon?

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For purposes of this conversation assume that Nadal will be relatively healthy throughout the year. Although in fairness it has been some time that he has finished an indoor season. Still assuming that Nadal received nearly zero points in two of the 4 slams this season that unless he wins the USOpen he is probably mathematically out of it for the year end #1. With all that we have heard about Novak's loss Djokovic did cut Nadal's point lead by 60 percent and is just 700 points behind Nadal with no more clay court events remaining the rest of the season. Nadal historically has even when healthy underperformed in indoor events and outdoor hardcourt events in comparison to the damage he usually does earlier in the year. Now for the second half of the year the surfaces favor Djokovic.

This may be little consolation to Djokovic as Murray has now emerged as a real contender to the year end #1 being just 1200 points off Djokovic in the points race. Still Novak has a much better chance of holding off murray who is more proficient indoors and on hard as Nadal seemingly has of holding off Djokovic. I guess a bright spot to this wimbeldon for Djokovic is how basically Federer and Nadal may have eliminated themselves with their poor performances for the year end #1, while Djokovic strengthened his position with another deep run in a slam. The only realistic contender for surpassing a healthy djokovic is murray, and Murray will have a tough task a head of him. Even winning the USO won't put him completely clear if Djokovic reaches the finals and does well in the other events. If Novak wins the USO or the year end championships he has to be a strong favorite for year end #1 and probably has a relatively good inside track on it. His position via the year end#1 race is much better after wimbeldon than before it.

Oh I have no problem with people bringing Karlovic up.  I will even admit that even for my personal liking there may have been a bit too much Andy talk.  But I think taking a dig at people on a (British) tennis forum for having discussed Andy's win for about a week is odd.

And in all fairness it is not like there has been a rash of rabid crowing or gloating either about such a momentous win for British tennis.

It is alright to enjoy Murray's win if you are a fan of his, I just think people are getting ahead of themselves with claims of Murray being on top of the rivalry now etc., and having the edge over Novak. Prior to wimbeldon we knew that of the 3 major surfaces that grass was Novak's weakest, although he is still really good on it. We knew that Murray played better on grass and had developed in the last 12 months on that surface. So I don't see how other than murray winning how wimbeldon changes a rivalry that has lasted about 20 matches with Murray having lost most of the recent meeting and with years of matches to come. Wimbeldon is a big deal so its no biggie on me if Murray fans enjoy some of the triumph. God knows I have stomached years of Federer and Nadal fan victory parades online and been able to handle it so despite my favorite players loss it does not really annoy me.

CaledonianCraig wrote:And in all fairness it is not like there has been a rash of rabid crowing or gloating either about such a momentous win for British tennis.

Because he won it is British tennis if he lost it would have been Scottish tennis, just couldn't resist getting in on your quaint British medieval squabbles.

I don't see that it is too many Murray fans at all claiming Murray has the upper hand at the mo. I would say though, that Novak needs to rediscover that bullet-proof image he built up in 2011/2012 as somewhere he has lost that of late.

I don't think it is the majority of his fans but I have read a couple of his fans who have talked about this edge in the rivalry. I also do agree on Novak's recent form the last three months have been quite hit and miss, not all bad but not at the level he can play.

I've said a few times that anyone who thinks Murray has it sussed against Novak now is living in a dream world. I said the same the other way round in January after the AO final too. This rivalry will swing one way and the other for years.

But I think Murray fans have been fine generally. Enjoying the win and only really biting to the odd WUM comment. When I think of some of the reactions to slam wins over the last few years, this is pretty tame!

Since Murray won Wimbledon there has been one thread raised by one of his supporters (possibly two but I don't think IC is a primarily a Murray supporter). There have been as many if not more trying to downplay his achievements. So I don't think the praise has been over the top.
I don't think most Murray supporters are getting ahead of themselves. I, for one, have followed him for too long and been disappointed too often for that. I am just enjoying the moment and if another slam comes along in the future that would be great. However if it doesn't the memories of the last year will always be there.

Calder106 wrote:I don't think most Murray supporters are getting ahead of themselves. I,  for one, have followed him for too long and been disappointed too often for that. I am just enjoying the moment and if another slam comes along in the future that would be great. However if it doesn't the memories of the last year will always be there.

+1

 

Spot on Calder I will second that. He could hang up his racquet now or never win another slam and he's already at legendary status as far as a British tennis player goes.

Oh for sure. He could never win another match and he'd still go down as a legend. The affection that he was shown during Wimbledon shows that that would be true as far as the public is concerned too.

Good news is, he's getting better. More consistent, more powerful movement. Forehand now nearly as good as the backhand... I think us Murray fans will have a few more moments like last week yet.