Djokovic is a Grinder

[sportsfan1]

Originally Posted by zagor

....
However, Novak hardly played only defensive tennis, he ran Fed around as well and took control of the point many time with his FH (especially his inside out FH to Fed's BH was brutal), was aggressive on the ROS (not easy to do on Fed's serve)etc.
......

Fed's BH, especially DTL has been erratic since the USO. Many times during the match, Fed hit his BH crosscourt, very measured, back to Djok when he should have gone DTL but he hasn't been able to trust it. While Fed did up his play during the SF/F, he's generally been patchy this fall in many areas - BH, ROS and even the FH and serve at times.

[Murrayfan31]

Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

[OddJack]

Originally Posted by zagor

Nope he seemed fine by the end of the match to me, sorry .

However, Novak hardly played only defensive tennis, he ran Fed around as well and took control of the point many time with his FH (especially his inside out FH to Fed's BH was brutal), was aggressive on the ROS (not easy to do on Fed's serve)etc.

Not to mention that aside from his breathing issues (which have nothing to do with style of play) his career has been largely injury free (despite playing so much on that perilous surface that is HC), I kinda wish he'd stop sliding on HC but it didn't hurt him so far.

I didnt mean he was defensive. I meant what I said, he goes for shots that puts too much pressure oh his body, and in awkward positions.
He hasnt have a major injury yet but he has a history of retirements from matches for different reasons.
And, dont be sorry, you talk like I took my case to the judge of the forum and was denied

[RF20Lennon]

Djokovic has been a grinder for a while! But he's winning so no reason to change

[BHud]

Originally Posted by Murrayfan31

Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

Sampras was the ultimate grinder. If he couldn't ace you, he would wait at least 2 strokes before trying to end the point with a volley or a forehand...

[namelessone]

Originally Posted by OddJack

I didnt mean he was defensive. I meant what I said, he goes for shots that puts too much pressure oh his body, and in awkward positions.
He hasnt have a major injury yet but he has a history of retirements from matches for different reasons.
And, dont be sorry, you talk like I took my case to the judge of the forum and was denied

Djokovic will be OK, he is one of the most flexible players I've ever seen, the guy has the perfect tennis body and I can't recall him being injured in the lower body because of his slides(even though he slides on basically every surface). He knows what he is doing.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Murrayfan31

Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by namelessone

Djokovic will be OK, he is one of the most flexible players I've ever seen, the guy has the perfect tennis body and I can't recall him being injured in the lower body because of his slides(even though he slides on basically every surface). He knows what he is doing.

Gumby is my favorite nickname for him because it's actually true. Bends in every direction

[tacou]

Novak is definitely a grinder, he said his strategy vs. Fed in the Finals was to grind. I don't understand why grinding is looked down upon. Keep the point alive at all costs until your opponent loses it or gives you an opportunity to hit an easy winner.

Brilliant if executed the Novak can

[TMF]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

Even if that's true, it's only one match.

ESPN compare both players for the entire 2012 year(except the WTF final) and Nole had more milage than Federer.

[kaku]

I'm not as worried about Djoker injuring himself sliding as I am the long term effects of it. Eventually, all the strain on his joints is going to catch up with him. Combined with age, his insane defense is going to get harder to pull off, which could lead to injury

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by TMF

Even if that's true, it's only one match.

ESPN compare both players for the entire 2012 year(except the WTF final) and Nole had more milage than Federer.

Because of red clay, which I explained in my post. And sure it also depends on the match. But the fact that Fed did more running than Djoko in an indoor hard court final says a lot about the validity of this thread.

[Ripster]

Djokovic is not a grinder - he's an aggressive baseliner. He steps into the ball and goes for his shots when he can. Just because he has an amazing defense doesn't make him a grinder.

[TennisLovaLova]

Originally Posted by tacou

Novak is definitely a grinder, he said his strategy vs. Fed in the Finals was to grind. I don't understand why grinding is looked down upon. Keep the point alive at all costs until your opponent loses it or gives you an opportunity to hit an easy winner.

Brilliant if executed the Novak can

Yep brilliant indeed
but it has also A LOT to do with slow court conditions
most of the finals shots Roger made would be impossible to return properly on a real fast HC.

[TheFifthSet]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Because of red clay, which I explained in my post. And sure it also depends on the match. But the fact that Fed did more running than Djoko in an indoor hard court final says a lot about the validity of this thread.

Well, he ran 35more kilometers over the whole year. Can't be attributed only to clay. That's a big difference.

That said, the current Novak isn't really a grinder. He's an offensive counterpuncher and his balance between offence and defense is superb. In 2007-2008 he was far ore offensive in nature but not half as good defensively, esp. passing on the run.

[Russeljones]

Originally Posted by sportsfan1

The odd thing is how many points Federer had the upper hand and came into the net behind an aggressive shot, but Djok can track it down and hit a passing shot. The risk/reward quotient for an attacking player is simply too low where the aggressor has to go for high risk shots and the defensive player simply has to put them back in play with placement.

As for your point on physical style of play, Djok doesn't visibly seem any worse off for it even after years of sliding on hard courts.

It's good for Djok and he deserves it, but unfortunately it's not good for tennis. Most fans (I am guessing) like to watch because they are entertained and want to see spectacular shotmaking and variety. The grinding style of play will just lose spectators for the sport.

Odd? Really? Good def + slow court = normal.

[Feather]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

Did you see the match? And you couldn't make out that Roger was attacking more than Djokovic?

[5555]

Originally Posted by Ripster

he's an aggressive baseliner.

You got it.

[tlm]

Nothing more pathetic than a bunch of fed lovers crying and making excuses for feds loss. Joker is the best player, that is all there is to it.

[djokovic2008]

Originally Posted by tlm

Nothing more pathetic than a bunch of fed lovers crying and making excuses for feds loss. Joker is the best player, that is all there is to it.

This........