Rafeal Nadal

Nadal losing in the finals was disappointing and I truly felt terrible for him.
The crowd actually booed RAFEAL NADAL!  (When he calls a medical time-out, I think this man has earned the right not to be questioned.)

Watching the tears and disappointment from him afterwards re-established my respect for his status as a great of all-time.His post match reactions and lack of quickness during the match made it obvious that something was different than the other losses that we have seen him endure.  I believe he was having back issues again, these issues have cost him the status as the greatest we have ever seen. To his credit, he did not walk off the court like we have seen out of so many tennis players in the last 20 years.

A reminder of how good Nadal has been:

1. Age Nadal 27 Roger 32
2. Grand Slams: 88.06% winning record. Roger 86%.
3. Nadal has 13  slams Pete has 14   Federer has 17.  
4. Head to Head with Roger- 23 wins 10 Losses and has not lost to Federer in a Grand Slam since 2007 at Wimbledon the age of 21. 
5. Career Record in Top Flight Matches 83.71%  Roger Federer 81.10% Sampras 77%, Borg  82% retired at 26. 

 I am not trying to downplay Federer who is just GREAT, maybe he is the greatest ever, I will not argue.
Federer has never missed a Grand Slam, which proves not only is he great on all surfaces, but he is one tough man.

It makes you wonder what if with Nadal missing 2009 and 2012 with knee injuries. With some better health, Nadal would likely be the lead dog in the argument for the greatest since Laver.

How great is this rivalry?
They have combined for 30 grand slams!
The best rivalries we ever saw were the Borg, McEnroe, Connors.  The three of them combined for 26.

As a side note:  What is the ideal size to be the greatest Tennis Player?
These three- Nadal, Federer and Sampras are listed at 6'1".

J.