Djokovic for the calendar slam in 2013?

[NadalAgassi]

U.S Open is Murray's best slam. I wouldnt be so quick to hand Djokovic that. I think Murray is probably going to win 3 U.S Opens in his career.

[Cup8489]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

I doubt it. I dont think he will be that dominant. He has a good shot to win the French this year, but if Nadal returns like his old self he probably wins it. I dont see him winning Wimbledon, and would give any of Murray, Nadal, or Federer a better shot to win it at this point in time. He could win it again, just dont think he is the favorite. U.S Open he has a good shot but so does Murray.

We agree?

I wonder how much ice covers the gates of hell..

[FlashFlare11]

I think this year may be his best shot at a French title. Even if Nadal comes back, it's hard for me to think that he'll be playing at a level close to his best, even on clay. And even if he does come back, does he still have that aura of invincibility on clay? Or will players find the confidence to beat him knowing that he, possibly, may not be at his best?

He has a good shot at a Wimbledon title as well, though, I think Murray can beat him there and Federer will always have a great shot there as well. I can see players like del Potro and Tomic troubling him there, too. It's not like he's never struggled against them before and they are constantly improving.

I don't really think the U.S. Open needs much explanation. I think he can safely make the final there with little opposition, unless he meets an on-fire Federer or Murray.

His biggest obstacles are Federer and Murray, and possibly Nadal. I can't gauge how Nadal will come back and how much of a factor he'll be on grass and hard courts. A lot depends on how future draws pan out and, especially, where Federer and Murray land if their rankings exchange. I badly want to see Nadal come back to playing a high level of tennis because, if he does, we could be in for another awesome year of tennis!

[rkelley]

The top four are so close, I don't see how one guy wins all four slams. A healthy Nadal on the slower surfaces is a huge danger. On the faster surfaces Fed's game can be so dangerous. And they can all win on any of these surfaces. About the only case you can make for a lock is a healthy Rafa on clay, but even that's really close, and he might not be completely healthy.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by FlashFlare11

I think this year may be his best shot at a French title. Even if Nadal comes back, it's hard for me to think that he'll be playing at a level close to his best, even on clay. And even if he does come back, does he still have that aura of invincibility on clay? Or will players find the confidence to beat him knowing that he, possibly, may not be at his best?

He has a good shot at a Wimbledon title as well, though, I think Murray can beat him there and Federer will always have a great shot there as well. I can see players like del Potro and Tomic troubling him there, too. It's not like he's never struggled against them before and they are constantly improving.

I don't really think the U.S. Open needs much explanation. I think he can safely make the final there with little opposition, unless he meets an on-fire Federer or Murray.

His biggest obstacles are Federer and Murray, and possibly Nadal. I can't gauge how Nadal will come back and how much of a factor he'll be on grass and hard courts. A lot depends on how future draws pan out and, especially, where Federer and Murray land if their rankings exchange. I badly want to see Nadal come back to playing a high level of tennis because, if he does, we could be in for another awesome year of tennis!

Excellent post. You are probably my favorite Federer fan poster, along with zagor.

[librarysteg]

I think if not this year, never, I think. It seems pretty unlikely, but I'm rooting for it.

[BauerAlmeida]

He will win the USO. Probably RG unless Nadal comes back to his level soon enough. But I don't think he'll win Wimbledon. Maybe if he wins RG it will give him a lot of confidence to do it though.

[Mike Sams]

There's a possibility Djokovic and Nadal could meet in the QFs of the French.

[Mike Sams]

Originally Posted by BauerAlmeida

He will win the USO. Probably RG unless Nadal comes back to his level soon enough. But I don't think he'll win Wimbledon. Maybe if he wins RG it will give him a lot of confidence to do it though.

I think the draw will be crucial. If Djokovic is drawn with both Nadal and Murray on the same side at the USO, there's no telling what will happen. Heck for all we know, Djokovic could be taken out by Tsonga if they meet in the QFs of any Slam.

[Chanwan]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

LOL none of those players are stopping Djokovic at RG, get real. Del Potro is his slave, outside of grass, even on Del Potros best surface of hard courts, and matches up horribly with Djokovic. Murray might and hopefully will be improved again on clay this year, atleast his 2011 level, but he wont beat Djokovic in a best of 5 on clay when he rarely does it even on hards. Federer isnt beating Djokovic in any slam again, except maybe if they play at Wimbledon in the semis. Nadal is the only real possible danger.

And Stan W. would have absolutely no chance against Djoko at the Aus right? Stranger things have happened. Notice - I did not say any of them are favourites against Djoko at the French. But all of them have a decent enough chance to deserve mentioning.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by Chanwan

And Stan W. would have absolutely no chance against Djoko at the Aus right? Stranger things have happened. Notice - I did not say any of them are favourites against Djoko at the French. But all of them have a decent enough chance to deserve mentioning.

Did Wawrinka actually beat Djokovic. When is the last time Djokovic lost in a slam in a big upset. Federer beating Djokovic at the 2011 French wasnt even a big upset like it would be today, as Djokovic was still only a 2 slammer at that point, and had not yet convinced of his dominance in a best of 5 format, and Federer wasnt even 30 yet.

Djokovic is also more likely if he loses to either lose to another top player who is thought to have a viable chance against him on a given surface (aka only Nadal on clay), or to lose in an earlier round when he is still possibly not totally in the groove yet. Wawrinka would have no chance vs Djokovic in a semifinal, and those others while better players would have close to nothing in a RG semifinal at this point too.

[ark_28]

The key is going to be where John Isner falls in the draw he was badly missed at the Australian Open this year!

His serve can run riot on the top players as he showed serving Novak and Federer off the court during his wins against them last year!

He is also the only man ever to take Nadal to 5 sets at the French Open so where Isner falls in the draw could play a big part in deciding whether Novak can achieve this feat!

[NatF]

Wimbledon is his biggest question mark IMO. There are potentially 3 players better than him there, at Roland Garros now only Nadal is better.

[Prisoner of Birth]

Wow, Djokovic wins his best Slam and we're now talking about him winning the next 3 as well. Look what happened last year. It's not happening.

[Achilles82]

He actually has the best chance to win calendar slam this year.

Nadal is returning after long absence. So he won't be favorite on clay court season. Novak will.

Federer is getting old. At June 2013, he'll be almost 32 years old. So Novak will still have the best chance.

And US open, Novak is always favorite on north american hard court season.

[Marshredder]

Dont count Nadal out... It may have been a while but he's going to be a threat, especially at RG.

Remember the last time he took a few months off with injuries? He won 3/4 of the next slams.

[ruerooo]

Originally Posted by dr325i

I predict he will take all but Wimby in 2013.

*snort* No.

And Rafa will be back Feb 1 so you haters enjoy your haterade while it lasts.

[ultradr]

Djokovic-Murray tennis defeated Nadal-Federer brand of tennis by

• More aggressive return of serves

Particularly, Djokovic differentiates himself in this era of defensive baseliners with

• Aggressive tennis on break points.

Question, currently, is whether Federer-Nadal can respond to this raised level of tennis.
IMHO, Nadal clearly changed his tactics but still not enough outside clay.
Supposedly, Federer has been working on these last few years with coaches like
Cahill and Annacone, but he still plays way too conservative/defensive on break chances, IMHO.

[Netspirit]

A CYGS for Djokovic is possible, but is less important than the overall slam count, since it is only about hotness during a single season.

As far as the total slam count goes, Mirka has a better chance to surpass Graf than Djokovic to surpass Federer. )

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

There's a possibility Djokovic and Nadal could meet in the QFs of the French.

Wouldn't that be sweet! But we know Federer will get Nadal in his half at the French, and Murray. Djoker will get Ferrer and some other guy who has never beaten him.