Mana Games

[iopzzza]

As we all know... one of the 3 greatest players ever career.. has finished. And as i did with Sir Andy Murray a few months ago, i am doing a full simulation of his career from the start 2004 till the very end 2024 (with a twist!). Perhaps the last two years 2023 and 2024 he might be more competitive than in real life, but i havent decided that, yet.
So we start with his first year ...
2004 - The year he did that Davis Cup win at the end (sadly he wasnt chosen for Davis on game, too low of a rank)

Played a lots of tournaments.. Most notably being Bostad - Semifinal and Indian Wells QF. Lost at 2nd or 3rd rounds in all other events he played (not worth of a screenshot , really). Finished the year 41!

2005 - The year was marked with the Nadal - Federer rivalry! He started great by Winning Brisbane - beating Safin and Davydenko on the route in straights!
That wasnt enough for a seed number at Australian Open though and he started unseeded. Karlsen, Gaudio, De Voest , Andreev , Robredo - Only Gaudio managed to get a set from him.
After which he gave Berdych a total of 2 games in the semifinal . Can u guess who was waiting in the final?
Yeah! This guy.

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After those results he was chosen to represent Spain at Davis Cup QF , but despite two wins againinst Roddick and Agassi, Spain 2-3.
In the meantime he won his first Masters title at Indian Wells and reached a Final in Miami!
Really on a stroll.

Clay season started with R3 in Monte Carlo (l to. Gasquet)
Title in Barcelona! , Semifinal in Madrid (l. to YOUKNOWWHO) and R2 at Rome

I was a bit discouraged , about his chances at RG, because of the results before and lastly those were his RG results!

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. Notice the final opponent of his tournament and check RG 2005.

Grass season i would consider a succes with a Semifinal at Queens and Final at Wimbledon, where he was dismantled by -

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. Yeah, tough.

Reached another final at Montreal (losing to yet again Federer) QF at Cincinati and...
Then this -

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Yeah i know how it feels.

After that, though i've noticed Federer wasnt doing so good and thought, in a paralel universe if that happened in real life, would a young healthy Nadal push for the World Number 1 if he had the chance?
My answer was yes so i played one additinoal atp 500 (total of 5 , isntead of 4) where he won - Beijing.
Routine titles at Shangai and Vienna almsot equalled him in the Race to Turin with Federer.
Early Federer loss at Paris Bercy + Nadal winning the title (not that easily) meant he went infront of Roger by only a 45 points (before ATP FINALS).

Then at those finals, both had to work hard, winning some matches in 3 sets -

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After which they won easily they're semifinals (as expected) and we were on for a Final Decider of the World NUmber 1 for that year.
With game overpowering Federer to an absurd levels ( i dont know why) i didnt have much courage that Nadal will win. I would only say we had an EPIC ONE!

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You can see! This means he finished 2005 vs perhaps the most overpowered Federer on the game as Number 1.... Though he reached all 4 slam finals and won only once.

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(its the end of season Race, defacto equal to world rankings)

That's it for now, On to 2006 season!

[rafaelnadal]

Thanks for everything Rafa, you are eternal

[iopzzza]

Here we go again ! 2006 season

Season started with routine title at Brisbane and a good form heading into Australian Open.
Straight sets wins all the way to the final and then -

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No words.
4 -1 vs USA in Davis cup followed by titles at Indian Wells , Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.
Fatigue said its way in Rome where he lost at R4.
All was good and i expected a good showing at Roland Garros.. BAM 0-3 To Volandri in R3.

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- Queens and Wimby Finals - both lost sadly. Title in Montreal followed by another 2 finals losess
In Cincinat and Us Open - al of those to Federer !

A great raid till the end of the season -

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But still , that early loss at Roland Garros screwed Rafa's chances to finish number 1 in 2006


2007 -
Not that great start of the season - winning nothing in Australias as he lost yet another final at AO to Federer.
Followed by title in Rio , Final at Indian Wells and Title in Miami ( def. Djokovic 4/6 6/4 6/4)

Clay season started great as u can see, straight set titles, but then it all went wrong for some reason - early losses in rest of the clay tournaments.. I am really shocked.

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A little relief with a title at Queens, followed by yet another loss to Federer at Slam Final...

America journey wasnt that better at all -

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But with a strong showing in Asia and Indoor tournaments, Rafa managed to finish first in the YE ranking.

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I gotta admit. Game is underating Nadal , by a bit and overating Federer , by A LOT. He is like a god. Also Nadal for some reason is way better at Wimby and AO , compared to Roland Garros for example
Strange world we live in