Monday, April 16, 2012

Who's got the strongest mind in today's game, Rafa or Nole?

Yesterday I read this wonderful (IMO) article - How Novak Djokovic Has Forced Us to Reevaluate Rafael Nadal's Mental Toughness and it made me think, who's got the strongest mind in today's game, Rafa or Nole? Well, this question have actually been occupying my mind for quite some time, but this article convinced me it's a major issue that should be discussed properly everywhere. Now, I for one think we need to start by separating the discussion to two parts: Nole and Rafa VS the rest and Nole VS Rafa and then connect the dots.

Nole and Rafa VS the rest:

Nole: In 2011 and so far in 2012 I believe Nole was just as tough mentally as Rafa and probably even tougher. Yes, he outplayed his opponents in most his matches during the streak but he had his fair share of sticky matches where he won through sheer will and strong mind like the 3R against Baghdatis in Wimbledon for example. Oh, and even during that amazing streak he won some matches thanks to his mental toughness - Rome's semis anyone? Nole should have lost that one but he refused to cave in and Murray was the one who broke down first or choked, whatever you prefer...Nole still proved how strong he is mentally.

Rafa: I haven't watched a lot of Rafa, I must admit, but it seems to me he's a bit weaker than he used to be...The level of game is not as good as it used to be in 2010 so maybe that's the problem and it only gives one the (wrong) impression that Rafa isn't the mental fortitude we considered him to be all the years. Or maybe all the losses to Nole did affect him and made him lose confidence.
I'm fully aware of the fact that the statistics shows he's just as good on the important points and he saves his fair share of the breakpoints, and I also agree that he's still as intense as ever and fights for every points like before...but something is missing IMO, lately it feels at times like I'm seeing a new Rafa, one who's much less "scary" than the old version (but still scary enough ;) ).

Nole VS Rafa:

In the article, the writer comments about the 7-0:
"It's quite possible that he's almost as mentally clutch as before, but Djokovic is just his equal or better. Or perhaps Djokovic is just the better tennis player at the moment, which Nadal—mental clutchness or not—can do little about."
The writer seems to think it's a case of "either, or" but I disagree, I think both statements are accurate and I don't see any contradiction here what so ever; Nole was the better player and the tougher mentally for the most parts during their last matches.
 I don't believe you can shrug your shoulders and say "Nole just outplayed him and that's that" cause in some of their matches, Nole didn't really outplay Rafa all the way through and Rafa just lost it in the crucial moments - The end of the first set in Wimbledon where he lead 30-0 and then delivered 4 second serves and lost the game and the set, or the end of the AO final where we all know what happened - or Nole was stronger mentally, whatever you prefer :)
I also don't think you can say that Rafa was out of it mentally and suffered from a mental block in the last encounters between them cause that takes credit from Nole who played superbly during all these matches. Yes, maybe Rafa did have a mental problem that made him play worse but that's not the major reason for his losses (I give it only 10%), Nole was just too good for him and that's why he lost each and every time :)

Conecting the dots:

So now, after we saw that against the rest Nole is equal to Rafa or even tougher and when they faces each other Nole is the one with the stronger mind, we have our answer to the original question - Who's got the strongest mind in today's game, Rafa or Nole? NOLE!
Now, another question that comes to mind is "how does the 7 straight losses to Nole affected Rafa if at all, when he comes to face other rivals? I think it made him a bit more vulnerable but it's hard to notice cause he still beats everyone else on a pretty regular basis, and in the slams he still looks very strong...but I still see it.

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