Rafael Nadal Should Only Participate in Grand Slam Tournaments in 2013

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The 2013 Australian Open will still be played, but it just won't be the same without Rafael Nadal
As one of the members of the Big Three, also including Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Nadal is always one of the best players in the field, and he is one of the most exciting to watch.
But we may not see much of him this year.
Nadal has been plagued by injuries for months, dating back to when he missed the US Open in August (per SportsonEarth.com) and was forced to pull out of the World Tour in October (per Huffinton Post).
We haven't seen the true Rafa in almost a year, and it's come to the point where he must sit out and rest until the next Grand Slam.
Nadal is an experienced player with a lot of talent, but it has been wasted during his injuries. He hasn't been playing like himself when he can manage to get out on the court because he still isn't 100 percent when he tries to come back.
This must end now.


Nadal has played long enough to know his limits. However, he still pushes them. Instead, Rafa should be resting until it's time for him to walk out onto the biggest stage once more.
Playing in events that aren't Grand Slams is pointless for him. He's already built his legacy, and we know that he can play incredibly well when at full strength.
By resting until the last minute, he will be ready for the biggest events of the year, where he will come out like the champion he is.
Everyone wants a healthy Nadal back. Even his opponents do, including fellow Spaniard David Ferrer (per TheAustralian.com).
"The good news is he doesn't have pain in the knees, so that's the most important," he said.

I spoke with him few days ago. He was sick with a virus, and he preferred to stop (practising). And he will come back in South America (Acapulco in February).
I have confidence that when he comes back he will play good.
Maybe not in his first tournaments because they are often tough, but I am sure he is coming back to number two or number one in the world.

Ferrer is not alone, as some of the game's brightest stars have also spoke out on the matter (h/t SportsonEarth.com).

"And so, said [Roger] Federer, 'That's why there's such a shock to it now that Rafa pulled out.'
'Well, it is strange because he hasn't missed a Slam for a long time,' [Novak] Djokovic said.
'The energy he brings to the match court is incredible, so tennis will definitely, definitely miss him while he's not playing,' Andy Murray said.

We all want a healthy Rafa.
We all want to see Nadal in Grand Slams.
So why not just limit him to the fabled events?

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1484684-rafael-nadal-should-only-participate-in-grand-slam-tournaments-in-2013

Rafael Nadal wins record seventh French Open

PARIS — Rafael Nadal clinched a record seventh French Open title on Monday, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb’s dream of Grand Slam history.
In a fractious final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday’s rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.
Victory, which was achieved on a Djokovic double fault, allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.
It was the 26-year-old’s 11th Grand Slam title, taking him one behind Roy Emerson, three off Pete Sampras and five away from the record of 16 held by Roger Federer.
For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once.
He was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.
“For me it’s a real honour, this tournament is the most special and for me to have this trophy is unforgettable - it’s probably one of the greatest moments in my career,” said Nadal, who needed just 49 minutes on Monday to complete victory.
Djokovic, who had won the pair’s epic Australian Open final this year, admitted that Nadal had been the better player.
“Rafa was better. He is a great player but I hope to come back next year and do better,” said the Serb, playing in his first Roland Garros final.
After Sunday’s suspension, the players, meeting in a fourth successive Grand Slam final, resumed with Nadal leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, but with Djokovic in the ascendancy and serving for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set.
But a forehand error from Djokovic, with the court at his mercy, gave Nadal a break point and the Spaniard seized it when the Serb had been left flat-footed by a net cord which allowed his opponent to push through a winner.
The set remained tight as would be expected with the pair meeting for a 33rd time.
Nadal moved to 5-4 as the umbrellas went up all around Philippe Chatrier Court and the players sat courtside to wait out a passing, heavy shower and complained to tournament referee Stefan Fransen about the slippery conditions.
Djokovic finally buckled when a monster forehand from Nadal set up championship point which he converted when the top seed tamely served up a fourth double fault.
The celebrations were ecstatic as Nadal fell to his knees and consoled Djokovic before the champion climbed into the player’s box to embrace his family.
On Sunday, Djokovic had looked down and out at one stage, even picking up a warning for destroying his courtside chair box with his racquet.
After slipping two sets down, he was also a break behind at 0-2 in the third before he reeled off eight games in succession to take the third set — the first lost by Nadal in this year’s event — and lead 2-0 in the fourth.
The first game of the fourth set had featured a gruelling 44-shot rally.

But Nadal had raged at tournament referee Stefan Fransen for having to keep playing as the court became increasingly treacherous.
As he stormed, Djokovic, who had been two sets to love down to Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, and saved four match points in his quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seized his chance to get back into the match.
The last time a French Open men’s final failed to be completed on the last Sunday was 1973 when it was played on the Tuesday with Ilie Nastase beating Niki Pilic.
Monday finishes have become common at the US Open in New York with the last four finals taking place on the extra day while the 2001 Wimbledon final was also completed on a Monday.
Roland Garros will eventually avoid late finishes as a main court with a retractable roof is to be built in 2017.

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Rafael+Nadal+wins+record+seventh+French+Open/6762684/story.html