Rublev has game and mentality to beat Novak in Australia

[McEnborg]

This kid is fearless and has started figuring out out to better construct points so he can dominate on his forehand. And his serve is becoming huge. He’s also showing greater improvement at net than the other young guys.

Rublev is one of the very few that could beat Novak in Australia. Maybe Tsitsipas if he becomes more clutch. Thiem maybe. Don’t think Rafa can beat Novak there.

 

[pj80]

Whatever keeps your hopes up.

 

[McEnborg]

Whatever keeps your hopes up.

Wow, brilliant response. Thanks. Joker fans seem to epitomize the arrogance of Joker’s coaching team and father. Hint: not a good character quality.

 

[Beckerserve]

Wow, brilliant response. Thanks. Joker fans seem to epitomize the arrogance of Joker’s coaching team and father. Hint: not a good character quality.

Indoor season has never had any relevance to Australia. Yes he is playing well now but how will he play in hot sunny conditions over 5 sets?
He is a volatile character so he needs to prove he can keep it together in pressure situations.

 

[flex]

Anyone in the top 20 can beat anyone on any given day. So you're not wrong but its obvious and the opposite can happen as well.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

This kid is fearless and has started figuring out out to better construct points so he can dominate on his forehand. And his serve is becoming huge. He’s also showing greater improvement at net than the other young guys.

Rublev is one of the very few that could beat Novak in Australia. Maybe Tsitsipas if he becomes more clutch. Thiem maybe. Don’t think Rafa can beat Novak there.

I havw doubts, because nole will move the ball using the pace provided by rublev and make him bleed errors in FH-FH and BH-BH cross court exchanges.

 

[pj80]

Wow, brilliant response. Thanks. Joker fans seem to epitomize the arrogance of Joker’s coaching team and father. Hint: not a good character quality.

It not a good quality to be a hater either

 

[Beckerserve]

I havw doubts, because nole will move the ball using the pace provided by rublev and make him bleed errors in FH-FH and BH-BH cross court exchanges.

Spot on.

 

[daggerman]

I'd expect Rublev's second serve to be especially troublesome for Novak.

 

[USO]

Post-DQ Djokovic has zero chance to beat Rublev. Maybe they will play in the WTF and you will get to see for yourselves.

 

[King No1e]

This kid is fearless and has started figuring out out to better construct points so he can dominate on his forehand. And his serve is becoming huge. He’s also showing greater improvement at net than the other young guys.

Rublev is one of the very few that could beat Novak in Australia. Maybe Tsitsipas if he becomes more clutch. Thiem maybe. Don’t think Rafa can beat Novak there.

Nah. Rublev hits with pace, consistency, and little variety. He's the type of player who lets Djokovic execute his game and hammer away from the baseline. Give him pace and let him get into a rhythm, and watch the fireworks. Exhibit A:

Now it's totally possible that Rublev still pulls it out despite the matchup, just because Djokovic is 33 and not the player he once was. But I wouldn't co----

Wow, brilliant response. Thanks. Joker fans seem to epitomize the arrogance of Joker’s coaching team and father. Hint: not a good character quality.

Oh right. Why do I bother with these people anyway?

 

[Mivic]

You can’t beat Djokovic from the back of the court with pace exclusively. Rublev doesn’t generate the angles requires to beat a well playing Djokovic at this stage, especially not over 5 sets.

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

I’m sure there’s at least one thread from around this time last year claiming Medvedev could beat Novak at this year’s AO.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

I’m sure there’s at least one thread from around this time last year claiming Medvedev could beat Novak at this year’s AO.

Or that Zverev would do it after his WTF 2018 win

 

[tsurismo5]

2018 was zverev. 2019 was Medvedev. 2020 is rublev. Hell, 2012 was Ferrer, who won a tour leading 7 titles during the big 4’s pomp. Let’s see one of them actually beat a big 3 member at a slam.

 

[Deleted member 775898]

He can win as many 500s as he wants, but he's yet to prove himself in big tournaments against big players.

 

[socallefty]

The problem is that he will likely have to get through Thiem or Nadal and possibly Federer or Zverev before he meets up with Djokovic at the AO. The problem for these young players is always having to go though 2-3 quality opponents in a row and having enough left in the tank in the semifinal or final of the Slams. I think the Big 3 need to drop off a bit before many of the younger players can win Slams - right now, I would bet only on Thiem having the game to win a Slam in 2021.

 

[Mark-Touch]

The problem is that he will likely have to get through Thiem or Nadal and possibly Federer or Zverev before he meets up with Djokovic at the AO. The problem for these young players is always having to go though 2-3 quality opponents in a row and having enough left in the tank in the semifinal or final of the Slams.

And then there was Nalbandian...

I think the Big 3 need to drop off a bit before many of the younger players can win Slams...

But we've been saying this for the past 5 years!

 

[GreedyAlgorithm]

Yeah Dennis Novak will be beaten by Rublev in AO 2021

 

[Federev]

This kid is fearless and has started figuring out out to better construct points so he can dominate on his forehand. And his serve is becoming huge. He’s also showing greater improvement at net than the other young guys.

Rublev is one of the very few that could beat Novak in Australia. Maybe Tsitsipas if he becomes more clutch. Thiem maybe. Don’t think Rafa can beat Novak there.

Would be happy for it to be true but I’ll believe it when I see it.

And welcome aboard rookie!

 

[MeatTornado]

You're really underestimating the level of mental strength required to beat Novak Djokovic at a best of 5 major tournament if you think Rublev has already shown the mentality required for such a feat.

Remember how hyped he was getting during the USO because he was demolishing everybody with his big game? And then he went down in straights to notorious mental titan...checks notes...Daniel Medvedev?

 

[Jonesy]

Let him win a masters first.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

 

[Silverbullet96]

Anyone in the top 20 can beat anyone on any given day. So you're not wrong but its obvious and the opposite can happen as well.

Looking forward to the day Tommy Paul beats Nadal in RG Final.

 

[Jonesy]

Let him win a masters first.

 

[pj80]

Post-DQ Djokovic has zero chance to beat Rublev. Maybe they will play in the WTF and you will get to see for yourselves.

We saw it twice at WTF

 

[pj80]

Looking forward to the day Tommy Paul beats Nadal in RG Final.

He did beat him in Paris....so it's close

 

[DSH]

BWEH!

 

[Enceladus]

Many people seem to have failed to understand that beating Nole in winning form at AO is a huge challenge, coming close to defeating Nadal at RG. This is thanks to the conditions at AO, which are very suitable for Nole.

 

[junior74]

Many people seem to have failed to understand that beating Nole in winning form at AO is a huge challenge, coming close to defeating Nadal at RG. This is thanks to the conditions at AO, which are very suitable for Nole.

I think the big thing is beating Novak in BO5.

The point is you have to beat him, because he never beats himself.

 

[mike danny]

Many people seem to have failed to understand that beating Nole in winning form at AO is a huge challenge, coming close to defeating Nadal at RG. This is thanks to the conditions at AO, which are very suitable for Nole.

It's closer to beating Fed at Wimb than Nadal at RG. Let's not overrate Nole.

 

[LaVie en Rose]

It's closer to beating Fed at Wimb than Nadal at RG. Let's not overrate Nole.

 

[Enceladus]

It's closer to beating Fed at Wimb than Nadal at RG. Let's not overrate Nole.

Definitely not. At Wimbledon, Fed lost to both of its main rivals or lost 2 times from leading 2:0 in sets. Nole, on the other hand, has never lost in the semi-final and final stages of AO, at the same time, he repeatedly faced Fed, Bull or Murray.

 

[abmk]

Definitely not. At Wimbledon, Fed lost to both of its main rivals or lost 2 times from leading 2:0 in sets. Nole, on the other hand, has never lost in the semi-final and final stages of AO, at the same time, he repeatedly faced Fed, Bull or Murray.

Djokovic faced prime level Fedal exactly once at the AO - in AO 12 final
Federer OTOH faced prime level Nadalovic 6 times combined - Wim 06 to Wim 08 and Wim 12/14/15.

Djoko also lost to Stan in AO 14 and nearly so in 13. (14 was like de facto semi anyways)
Fed won 6/7 Wims barely losing sets. Djoko won 5/6 from 11-16 losing clearly more sets.
Federer at his prime at Wim > Djoko at his prime at AO

Just that past prime, Djoko has been getting absolute dummies at the AO (19-23, LOLworthy competition) unlike fed at Wim in 11-15.

Also Rublev faced djoko in the QF and djoko has got beaten by Roddick, Tsonga, Istomin, Chung at the AO pre semi/final (not just Wawa)

 

[abmk]

It's closer to beating Fed at Wimb than Nadal at RG. Let's not overrate Nole.

Djoko at AO is nowhere close to Nadal at RG.
The last real good opponent djoko faced at the AO was wawa in 14.

beating fed at Wim is tougher than beating djoko at AO - equalizing for competition.
But then djoko has got meh or pathetic competition at AO from 15 onwards.
i.e djoko's competition at AO so clearly worse than fed's at Wim - its not even remotely close.

 

[mike danny]

Definitely not. At Wimbledon, Fed lost to both of its main rivals or lost 2 times from leading 2:0 in sets. Nole, on the other hand, has never lost in the semi-final and final stages of AO, at the same time, he repeatedly faced Fed, Bull or Murray.

He did lose to Wawrinka when he was in slam winning form in 2014. Stan is a main AO rival.

And the less said about Djoko's 30's competition, the better, as that's what actually separates him from Fed

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Djokovic faced prime level Fedal exactly once at the AO - in AO 12 final
Federer OTOH faced prime level Nadalovic 6 times combined - Wim 06 to Wim 08 and Wim 12/14/15.

Would throw in Fed 2007 as another prime level Fedal at the AO which Djoko faced and would maybe question Nadal 2006 as really prime level at Wimbledon, not that 5-2 vs 6-1 makes much of a difference.

 

[abmk]

Would throw in Fed 2007 as another prime level Fedal at the AO which Djoko faced and would maybe question Nadal 2006 as really prime level at Wimbledon, not that 5-2 vs 6-1 makes much of a difference.

well, yeah 2007 AO fed was prime Fed obviously, but djoko was not a contender for that slam. So not considering that.
nadal's 6 best years on grass - 06-08,10,11,18.
so yeah, one would have to count 06 as a prime year as well on grass for Nadal, though lower prime level - not higher prime level like 07/08/10.

 

[RF-18]

This was a massacre. Poor Rublev stood no chance. The form Djokovic showed this year in AO was something else. I said in R4 already he looked unbeatable if he is playing like this. And It was a matter of getting games off him this AO let alone beating him, that's how good he was. FH was firing like I've never seen it.

 

[mike danny]

Would throw in Fed 2007 as another prime level Fedal at the AO which Djoko faced and would maybe question Nadal 2006 as really prime level at Wimbledon, not that 5-2 vs 6-1 makes much of a difference.

2006 Nadal wasn't peak, but I'd argue it was a prime level at Wimb. Played a stronger final than in 2011 for example.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

nadal's 6 best years on grass - 06-08,10,11,18.
so yeah, one would have to count 06 as a prime year as well on grass for Nadal, though lower prime level - not higher prime level like 07/08/10.

2006 Nadal wasn't peak, but I'd argue it was a prime level at Wimb. Played a stronger final than in 2011 for example.

Lol 2 vs 1, well I won’t die on that hill. But as you guys said lower prime level at least, I mean it was like what? His 6th ever tournament on grass.

 

[mike danny]

Lol 2 vs 1, well I won’t die on that hill. But as you guys said lower prime level at least, I mean it was like what? His 6th ever tournament on grass.

Sure, but how many tournaments did Becker play on grass by 1985?

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Sure, but how many tournaments did Becker play on grass by 1985?

Good point. That’s the thing about early bloomers.

 

[mike danny]

Good point. That’s the thing about early bloomers.

Or heck, even Borg by 1976.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Or heck, even Borg by 1976.

Well it was his fourth Wimbledon already, he had played the AO and the YEC on grass in 1974 and won tournaments in Auckland and Adelaide that year so off the top of my head at the very least his 8th grass tourney, I am sure there are more though (even if we can quibble about Wimbledon grass vs other grass). I wouldn’t put him in the same category as Rafa and Becker here.

 

[NoleFam]

Djokovic is on a 17-0 run against the top 5 at the AO and he's 17-2 against those players there in his career. Nadal is 20-2 against the top 5 at RG for his career. Federer is 10-5 against the top 5 at Wimbledon. It's not that far of a stretch to say Djokovic is beyond Federer and approaching Nadal for dominance at his pet Slam, especially considering he's still undefeated in SF and finals there.

 

[mike danny]

Djokovic is on a 17-0 run against the top 5 at the AO and he's 17-2 against those players there in his career. Nadal is 20-2 against the top 5 at RG for his career. Federer is 10-5 against the top 5 at Wimbledon. It's not that far of a stretch to say Djokovic is beyond Federer and approaching Nadal for dominance at his pet Slam, especially considering he's still undefeated in SF and finals there.

The only thing separating them is Djokovic's 30's competition as they were tied at 7 titles when both were 31.

He lost 3 times to Djokovic in his 30's at Wimb, so of course his top 5 numbers are gonna be impacted.

 

[NoleFam]

The only thing separating them is Djokovic's 30's competition as they were tied at 7 titles when both were 31.

He lost 3 times to Djokovic in his 30's at Wimb, so of course his top 5 numbers are gonna be impacted.

30s competition or 30s form?

Ok I will definitely agree he had a tougher rival at his pet Slam in his 30s than Djokovic did at his. He still had some losses in 2013 and 2016 in years where Djokovic won and would have been a heavy favorite in the other if it weren't for deport saga.

 

[vokazu]

Not in Grand Slam.

 

[SonnyT]

Djokovic faced prime level Fedal exactly once at the AO - in AO 12 final
Federer OTOH faced prime level Nadalovic 6 times combined - Wim 06 to Wim 08 and Wim 12/14/15.

Djoko also lost to Stan in AO 14 and nearly so in 13. (14 was like de facto semi anyways)
Fed won 6/7 Wims barely losing sets. Djoko won 5/6 from 11-16 losing clearly more sets.
Federer at his prime at Wim > Djoko at his prime at AO

Just that past prime, Djoko has been getting absolute dummies at the AO (19-23, LOLworthy competition) unlike fed at Wim in 11-15.

Also Rublev faced djoko in the QF and djoko has got beaten by Roddick, Tsonga, Istomin, Chung at the AO pre semi/final (not just Wawa)

Bull, Djokovic defeated peak Federer repeatedly.

Did Federer have to reach peak form to defeat players like Roddick and Hewitt? No, because those players were far from his level, so he didn't need to reach peak form!

Did Federer have to reach peak form to defeat Djokovic and Nadal? Absolutely, he tried hard, but could not do it! Even pre-peak Djokovic ('08-10) beat Federer!