Whose *peak* ground game is better, Ralph's or Nole's???

[Zoid]

Its almost as if people forgot Rafa's ground game from mid 08-early 09 and 2010.

Rafa's peak ground game was without peer

Novak 2011 is very much on par with Peak Rafa.

 

[eldanger25]

Probably Novak overall, particularly because most of the tour plays a style that plays right into his hands when zoning. He'll just stand on the baseline, run everything down octopus-style, and redirect pace mockingly all day long, and at his peak it's an awe-inspiring display.

On the other hand, Nadal's kill shot FH and accompanying greater capacity to manufacture pace, as well as the margin for error his ground game has, works a little better than Novak against players who like to change the tempo on him (i.e., Fed, Murray, Haas (who's never even won a set against Nadal)), but those are fewer and farther between these days, and it's not like Novak's some slouch against those guys either.

Very close overall, but if given a blind choice, I'd probably take peak Novak's ground game. I go back and forth though.

 

[Chico]

Djokovic of course. How is this even a question? Peak Novak beats peak Nadal 100% of the time.

Nadal needs Novak to play really bad or Pascal Maria at full strength in order to win a match.

 

[FanOfLu]

Djokovic of course. How is this even a question? Peak Novak beats peak Nadal 100% of the time.

Nadal needs Novak to play really bad or Pascal Maria at full strength in order to win a match.

You need to open your eyes.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Nadal without a doubt.

 

[President]

Nadal for me, his forehand is just too big of a weapon when he is really firing. Djokovic's groundstrokes are outstanding and perhaps more solid overall when you combine both strokes, but when we are talking about absolute peak level, I think weapons really make a difference. Djokovic obviously has great weapons, but not at that "inhuman' level that Nadal can reach on his forehand side.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal for me, his forehand is just too big of a weapon when he is really firing. Djokovic's groundstrokes are outstanding and perhaps more solid overall when you combine both strokes, but when we are talking about absolute peak level, I think weapons really make a difference. Djokovic obviously has great weapons, but not at that "inhuman' level that Nadal can reach on his forehand side.

Djokovic has said Nadal's fh is the toughest shot for him.

 

[Cup8489]

It's a tough call. I voted Djokovic before, Because the overall combination is very tough to break down.. but the Nadal forehand is on par with peak Federer's for just TAKING OVER a rally. It really is fun to watch. I wish I had that forehand. Or even some lesser version of it that I could use as effectively. It would be tremendously fun.

 

[Cosmic_Colin]

About the same.

 

[adil1972]

the one with the most majors ie fed, sampras, nadal and borg