Rafael “RAFA” Nadal is on the Top of The Slow List

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 23rd November 2013

RAFAEL NADAL AND DAVID NALBANDIAN PRESS CONFERENCE IN CORDOBA

Rafael "RAFA" Nadal is on the Top of The Slow List

epa03959910 Spanish tennis player, number one in the ranking, Rafael Nadal, talks during a press conference with Argentinean colleague David Nalbandian (not in picture) in Cordoba city, Argentina, on 21 November 2013. Both players will participate in this city in a exhibition match as a farewell to Nalbandian. EPA/Nicolas Aguilera |

Rafael Nadal tops the ATP lists in more ways that one, with the notoriously tetchy top player in the world also the worst offender when it comes to warnings for slow play. Nadal was cautioned a table-topping 30 times during the season as his increasing string of rituals and tics lengthens the time between the end of a point and the start of his serve.

The Spaniard, whose hands fly to predetermined spots on his tennis shorts, shoulders, face, ears and head, prior to every serve and again on every return, almost never manages to get the timing right and is noted for consistelby slow play. Second on the list of bad boys is American John Isner, who drew 14 warnings. Following on are Argentine Juan Del Potro and Italian Fabio Fognini (11).

Other elite players don’t seem to have all of Nadal’s problems, with Novak Djokovic warned 10 times; punctual Swiss Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka are the only players from the Top 10 never to have been warned in 2013.

Time warning offenders for 2013. Rafael Nadal, 30; John Isner, 14; Juan Del Potro-Fabio Fognini, 11; Novak Djokovic, 10; Tomas Berdych-Ernests Gulbis, 9; Richard Gasquet, 8; Kevin Anderson-Feliciano Lopez-Andy Murray, 6.

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, Ernests Gulbis, Fabio Fognini, John Isner, Juan Martin Del Potro, Kevin Anderson, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Roger Federer, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych