Rafael Nadal criticized Roger Federer for being mum about the tough tour schedule of the ATP and letting other players like him to speak out and burn themselves.

From ESPN website

Come on Rafa. Really now?!

I believe that in the past, Federer spoke of being amenable to a reduced tour calendar. And if I remember correctly, he even agreed to re-scheduling the Australian Open to give way to longer off season.

Calling out someone to join your cause is not the smartest way to go about it.

Nadal can not be faulted for asking the greatest of all time to be more vocal about the schedule. Tour officials will surely take notice if Federer does. But to point out how the older Federer manages the physical demands of the tour better than other players speaks of jealousy.

I researched Rafa's and Fed's results for 2011. Rafa had a 69 - 15 record while Federer had 64 - 12 last year. A difference of 8 games. 6 of those are because Rafa represented Spain in the Davis Cup. Not counting the Davis Cup & Grand Slams, Rafa entered (13) just two more tournaments than Federer (11).

Tennis is an extremely strenous sport. Nadal's style of play is punishing to the body. Novak Djokovic had his share of injuries in the latter part of 2011, too. Nadal's body also broke down early in 2009 because of a hectic 2008 that includes the Olympics. But I can not remember him going this route (calling out Federer). Why? because he's winning then?

A message to Rafa. It is a matter of taking care of your body and better schedule management to be consistent on tour and prolonging one's career. Also, if you want Federer to side with any of your advocacy or initiatives, calling him out in public is also "ungentlemanly". Rather it paints a picture of a sourgrape or worse a cry baby.

I sure hope that Federer will be motivated by this criticism for the Australian Open. Given that Fed and Rafa are on the same bracket, it would be good to at least deny Rafa of advancing to the finals.

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Rafael Nadal said this about Novak Djokovic moments after Djokovic beat him at the 2011 Madrid Open final.

"I came up against a great player obviously -- he's having a monster year,".

When you've just beaten the top ranked tennis player in the men's tour, the greatest clay court tennis player in history, in straight sets and in his home soil, that clinches it. Djokovic is looking like a monster on the tennis court.

[Thanks, Rafa. I'm running out of apt adjectives for blog titles about Djokovic.]

Novak Djokovic's season remained perfect but beating Rafael Nadal for a title on the clay surface is the better headline. Djokovic won the Madrid Open title by dealing a rare loss to Nadal on clay, 7-5, 6-4.

Image from AP, Yahoo Sports/Tennis Gallery

The way he's playing and the confidence of beating Nadal on their last 3 finals clash, augurs well for Djokovic' chances at this year's French Open. The way I see it, Djokovic has better chance of toppling Nadal on his favorite grand slam tourmanent than Federer had on his prime.

Djokovic remains unbeaten in 2011 (30-0). He defeated Nadal for the third straight time in a finals. The Madrid Open is his 6th title of the year including the Australian Open, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, BNP Paribas Open, Sony Ericsson Open and the Serbia Open. It includes three straight wins against Nadal and Federer.

Tennis fans should look forward to Djokovic matching or breaking John McEnroe's record of 42 straight wins at the start of the 1980 tennis tour.

To match the record, Djokovic should capture his next tournament, Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, and reach the semifinals of the French Open. Coincidentally, Djokovic can break it by winning the French Open.

By then, I need to come up with another adjective.



* Somewhere out there, I know that Ate Gigie is smiling pretty because she's a big Novak Djokovic fan.

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Rafael Nadal announced he is back to form on his best tennis surface by winning his sixth consecutive title at the 2010 Monte Carlo Masters. He last won a tournament in May 2009.

Rafa was in his old overpowering form as he demolished compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the finals 6-0, 6-1. He is the only player to win a tournament 6 years straight since 1968, when tennis became a professional sport.

Nadal is acknowledge as the best clay court tennis player of his generation, winning the ultimate clay tournament & grand slam French Open four successive times, 2005 - 2008. Last year he was beaten by Roder Soderling in the quarterfinals. Roger Federer became the eventual champion and completed a career grand slam.

He had been saddled with injuries for almost a year, no thanks to his brutal style of play. Now, he appears back in form. With this recent victory, Nadal looks to reclaim his King of Clay throne. Roger and company, look out. There would be no better final in Paris than defending champ Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal fighting it out in clay.

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