Novak Djokovic to win French Open 2008!

[GasquetGOAT]

What are his chances to win the French Open this year? He is undoubtedly the best player in the world up until now. He has reached the semis at FO last year which proves that he can play on clay. He also beat Nadal easily on a "slow" hard court in Indian Wells last week. What do you think?

 

[futuretoptenner]

Nadal is a much better player on Clay, and seeing he has improved since last year. I don't see anyone challenging him this year. We'll see but I'm pretty sure Nadal is scared of no one on Clay.

 

[ksbh]

With Rafael Nadal in the draw, I don't see how anyone else can take the title. Rafa is just too far ahead of the rest on clay.

Nole might get to the semis but if he meets Nadal there, it's over.

What are his chances to win the French Open this year? He is undoubtedly the best player in the world up until now. He has reached the semis at FO last year which proves that he can play on clay. He also beat Nadal easily on a "slow" hard court in Indian Wells last week. What do you think?

 

[kungfusmkim]

Nadal slept on clay he ate brakfast clay do you think Djokovic can win the FO that easy? Impossible!

 

[gj011]

Nadal will probably win it, but Novak is not without chance.

Only Borg won 4 consecutive FO titles so far. Not an easy task to repeat, even for someone so dominant on clay as Nadal.

 

[Moose Malloy]

It wouldn't surprise me if he wins it, there isn't much depth in the claycourt game in recent years. It used to be that there were literally about 20 guys that could win it, now there are only 4-5 imo.

Djokovic doesn't really have to change his game much there, & doesn't have to worry about dangerous claycourt specialists lurking. He thrashed Verdasco & Andreev at last year's FO, they are about as good as it gets for unseeded claycourters these days.

And Nadal's dominance has to end sometime. I would bet that his dominance ends on clay before Fed's ends on grass(historically great claycourters burn out before the best grasscourters do)

I think Novak is a very good bet, anyone know his odds? I'm guessing he's at 5-1 right now.

 

[ezdude1970]

i would like to see him playing some claycourters in the 3 upcoming atp master series clay events. he made semis last year, so he came close, and he is 100 times better player this year, so i will not say impossible, but Nadal is the man to beat. also it is time for almagro to step up for this year FO. so i would say he (almagro) would be the guy to watch for!

i am affraid that federer's time to win FO has pass though.

 

[iamke55]

Of course he'll win, he was in control of the match against Nadal a couple of years ago before he had to retire.

 

[tricky]

Clay's by far his worst surface. Don't believe he has the conditioning to beat Nadal or Nalby on clay.

And Nadal's dominance has to end sometime. I would bet that his dominance ends on clay before Fed's ends on grass(historically great claycourters burn out before the best grasscourters do)

Thing is, nobody has remotely challenged Nadal on clay over the past 3 years. Provided he's healthy, I think the distance between him and the rest of the field has actually widened this year. Federer was taken to 5 sets last year at Wimbledon.

Joker can employ similar grass strategies that Nadal can, and unlike Nadal, he can control on his serves. I'm not sure if Federer can win a BH rally with Joker on grass or hard court anymore.

 

[spiritdragon]

no way. either federer or nadal is gonna win it.

 

[stoneagle]

i see either nadal or djokovic win fo. i see djokovic is catching
more of nadal and federer's game.

 

[diegaa]

chances are there but TODAY he aint the favorite. no way.
he still has to prove himself in the red dirt.

 

[jlan]

Of course he'll win, he was in control of the match against Nadal a couple of years ago before he had to retire.

FTW! What was Nole thinking when he commented about that match!? XD

But that was two years ago and his game has improved significantly since then. We all know Rafa is just a BEAST on clay and if these two meet in the semis at the FO, Nadal's gonna take it. I think it would give Nadal great pleasure to beat up on Djokovic on clay

 

[tricky]

I haven't been convinced that a healthy, fresh Nadal can be defeated on clay. At all. By anybody. That is the level of dominance he exerts on the surface.

 

[EasternRocks]

Nadal is way too ahead of everyone in the world on clay. However, I think Nole will either get to the semis of finals. But if Nole meets Rafa, I think Rafa will indeed win due to his amazing clay court game and fighting spirit.

 

[RoddickAce]

We'll see what happens... I thought Federer was gonna win in the AO, being the most dominant hard court player these days. But you never know whats gonna happen. If Nadal has a slump....

 

[Turning Pro]

I think if Djokovic meets Fed in the French, he'll have his number in 08. But i still don't think he'll beat Nadal. He might even go 4 sets but that's just about it imo (against a fit Nadal).

 

[Magix]

Hey, that was a pretty good joke!

Djokovic winning the French Open... lol

 

[PCXL-Fan]

I'm going to reserve my judgement on whether he is better at the moment than Federer on clay once I see him perform at this years first Master Series event on clay.

I doubt he is better than Nadal on clay...

 

[ChuDat]

I dont think he'll win FO but I'm sure he'll go to semis or probably even the finals.

 

[Fedace]

Rafa's topspin shots will pose more problems for Novak on clay and rafa moves better than Novak on clay, so i can't see rafa losing to him.

 

[Andres]

I haven't been convinced that a healthy, fresh Nadal can be defeated on clay. At all. By anybody. That is the level of dominance he exerts on the surface.

A healthy, fresh Nadal can be defeated by a healthy, fresh and focused/confident Coria.

Coria is the guy I've seen pushing Nadal the most in the past 3 or 4 years. Gaudio has the game, but not the head. Kuerten is past his prime.

In fact, I think even Puerta in 2004 did a better job than Federer against Nadal.

But, at this moment, I think his only enemy is himself. Himself and/or his knees / general health.

The only two guys who have Nadal's number on other surfaces, but play good enough on clay are Federer and Nalbandian... but I wouldn't bet on any on them against Rafa.

 

[Rhino]

The title will go to Nalbandian, Davydenko, or Federer.

 

[GOD_BLESS_RAFA]

My wish is to have Djokovic in Federer's draws He has beaten him on fast courts will he beat him on clay...

 

[daddy]

A healthy, fresh Nadal can be defeated by a healthy, fresh and focused/confident Coria.

Coria is the guy I've seen pushing Nadal the most in the past 3 or 4 years. Gaudio has the game, but not the head. Kuerten is past his prime.

In fact, I think even Puerta in 2004 did a better job than Federer against Nadal.

But, at this moment, I think his only enemy is himself. Himself and/or his knees / general health.

The only two guys who have Nadal's number on other surfaces, but play good enough on clay are Federer and Nalbandian... but I wouldn't bet on any on them against Rafa.

You mean Puerta on clenbuterol/spiropent ? He was a dopeman and thus he was able to keep up ..

 

[daddy]

As for the OP and the question, Djokovic is a contender for French open but he is a long shot at this point. He has problems with clay court specialists on clay courts and thats what bothers him. He is phisicaly not in good enough shape to shrug off a couple of long matches on most demanding surface of all - and then get to the semis and produce against the best of them like Nadal and Federer or any other guy playing an excelent clay court season, maybe Ferrer or whoever. I hope he will be in Federers part of draw cause I still think Nadal is by far the hardest obsticle on clay courts and I just wonder how would Djoko and Federer match each other on clay, thats one question I can not answer although Fed won an easy 3-0 on clay in Davis cup = that was long ago.

 

[ericsson]

Only one name on clay and that's Nadal, if Djoko beats Nadal (fair) i would be stunned, like someone said here before, his only enemy is himself or injuries. We play on clay year in year out, those massive spin balls are so heavy to deal with and takes so much energy, damn i hate these balls

 

[Federafa]

Nadal I think is still very very hard to beat on clay, I don't know if he'll win all the MS on clay but he'll be there for the FO, you can count on that. The 3 winning sets rule on slams give him a great advantage.

 

[deme08]

Nadal I think is still very very hard to beat on clay, I don't know if he'll win all the MS on clay but he'll be there for the FO, you can count on that. The 3 winning sets rule on slams give him a great advantage.

You heard it here first, Djokovic will beat Nadal on clay this season! and hopefully in the semis of FO!:twisted:

 

[veroniquem]

Wow, with all the posts you wrote about this in the last 10 minutes or so, I'm sure you've jinxed him for good. Great job!

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I would like very much for him to win the French, but I still think Rafa win it, as usual.

 

[daddy]

You heard it here first, Djokovic will beat Nadal on clay this season! and hopefully in the semis of FO!:twisted:

It is about time that you stop finding and digging out these old threads which were good and destroying them. If you have anything smart to say or point out create a thread and see where you stand with the retorics, do not use other people's writtings as a shield from being crucified for creating troll threads.

 

[maneater]

nadal eat sleeps breathes clay! I want him to win it till the year he retires!

 

[veroniquem]

I concur!
10 chars

 

[NamRanger]

I predict Kevin Anderson to win the French Open.

 

[GasquetGOAT]

i would like to see him playing some claycourters in the 3 upcoming atp master series clay events. he made semis last year, so he came close, and he is 100 times better player this year, so i will not say impossible, but Nadal is the man to beat. also it is time for almagro to step up for this year FO. so i would say he (almagro) would be the guy to watch for!

i am affraid that federer's time to win FO has pass though.

Do you fancy his chances more now that he has won Rome, not to mention semi-finalist at monte carlo and quarters at Hamburg?

 

[daddy]

Do you fancy his chances more now that he has won Rome, not to mention semi-finalist at monte carlo and quarters at Hamburg?

Ill be honest with you. If somehow he can end up being 2nd seed for the French and Rafa and Roger kill each other out in semis ( providing they end up in the same half of the draw ) Djokovic would stand a chance in final give that he has a favourable draw until then.

There are too many if and but in the scenario, don't you agree ? His chance is 5%, existant but not likely.

 

[NamRanger]

Do you fancy his chances more now that he has won Rome, not to mention semi-finalist at monte carlo and quarters at Hamburg?

Look at his joke draws. How many good clay court players did he beat again? Two. Andreev and Wawrinka, both who he struggled against greatly. He had two days of rest pretty much in between Andreev and Wawrinka.


His MC draw was Ljubicic, Murray, and Querry. Honestly.

 

[daddy]

Look at his joke draws. How many good clay court players did he beat again? Two. Andreev and Wawrinka, both who he struggled against greatly. He had two days of rest pretty much in between Andreev and Wawrinka.


His MC draw was Ljubicic, Murray, and Querry. Honestly.

Hm. Face it - he is a good claycourt player. He'd probably take out anyone apart from the guys who are above him in rankings, that leaves little room for a bad draw does it ? Who'd say Stepanek is a bad draw yet he knocked out Federer..

Anyways, who in particular do you feel would be a tough draw for him on clay ? Ferrer maybe , I think he's the one Id say ..

 

[Nadal_Monfils]

^^^ I agree I think Ferrer would be tough for Djokovic but he hasn't been playing too well.

 

[tennis_hand]

both nadal and federer can beat him on clay for best of 5.

 

[WillAlwaysLoveYouTennis]

I think he may do a "hiccup" and win. My first impulse was to say no, but if anyone could win it from Nadal, who I think is the heaviest favorite ever, it would be Djokovic. I think it will continue to elude Federer this year, and that would be the other main contender. Yet it so many who could given luck in the draw, a hot playing streak and the nagging injuries some will be carrying into the FO.