Nole declining because of Lack of Desire?

[Jack Romeo]

Originally Posted by Apun94

Nole 2.0 obviously didnt return after January. I know there have been quite a few threads about this, but this issue hasnt been addressed enough, really. I dont know if it's just me, but Nole just doesnt seem to have the desire this year. His attitude has been very Federer-like. With that I mean that he keeps his emotions under control, doesnt shout after errors but neither does he gets pumped up anymore. After winning big points, many times no emotion AT All.
This has obviously resulted in him not fighting like he did last year. We just saw how he played against Fed at Wimbledon. When down and out, he usually starts going for shots. After the match he said about not having the motivation to fight. Even at RG, in the final, he just didnt give the fight.
Plus in interviews he keeps saying that he is satisfied with his results this year, which, diplomatically, are correct statements but he actually seems to believe them.
It seems as if he has proved to everyone (and himself) that he can go to a level above Fed and Nadal, has won 5 GS, became world no1, has got the money. Now after achieving so much, the desire isnt there. Maybe burnout?(Especially after physically and emotionally giving his all in 2011)
From my limited knowledge of tennis, this could be a big reason for him not playing the 2.0 level of 2011. He just doesnt want to want it that much to physically do it all over again.
Thoughts?

P.S He looks better in Toronto. I saw his match against Haas and saw hints of 2.0 emerging again. Getting pumped, feeding off the energy from the crowd, actually looks as if he wants to win this...

are you fearing he's gonna go wilander on us?

[nadalkingoftennis]

Originally Posted by ledwix

You forgot to mention that nadals 19-14 h2h with djokovic is one away from the sampras-agassi h2h which carries some magical significance.

Also, nadal will continue to "rack up" rg titles with no competitors? So you're admitting his whole clay career has been because of a weak era?

Your first statement is totally correct. Nadal is one win away from mirroring the legendary Sampras-Agassi H2H (Sampras led 20-14), and with Nadal and Djokovic at the young ages of 26 and 25, we are likely to see this rivalry turn into the greatest rivalry of all time, with dramatic matches like this year's Australian Open final.

Let me clarify: Nadal demolished his competition at Roland Garros early on, compiling an unreal 52-1 record at the slam. He also has the single-surface winning streak record at 81 straight wins on clay. His dominance on clay is so absolute that only Djokovic in 2011 could consistently keep up with him, producing some excellent slugfests. With his 2011 form dipping, Nadal's main competitor at RG is gone, allowing him to rack up the RG titles with ease up to his mid-thirties.

As 6-1 6-3 6-0 says, "I guess that's why we call him Rafael "The Impossible" Nadal."

[purge]

i have thought about that before. his mentality is very different than that of federer. djokos the kind of guy that seems prone to getting side tracked by all the opportunities that come with the fame. starring in movies or doing other celebrity stuff seems right up his sleeve.

from his perspective theres not much more to gain in tennis. hes already the biggest sports superstar in serbia and especially after last years season hes become an A-grade celebrity in lots of other countries as well.

he looked to be determined gunning for that novak slam since that is something that wouldve been huge obviously, but now that the chance is gone (and its unlikely he will get another) anything else he can win will just be something that nadal and especially federer will have won multiple times already. he may still want that french crown to complete his slam resumee but i dont think hes determined enough to put in all the work and sacrifice to stay on top like federer did just for the all-time records (which will be unlikely to reach anyway).

i wouldnt be surprised if he never gets back to 2.0 again

[abmk]

Originally Posted by nadalkingoftennis

Your first statement is totally correct. Nadal is one win away from mirroring the legendary Sampras-Agassi H2H (Sampras led 20-14), and with Nadal and Djokovic at the young ages of 26 and 25, we are likely to see this rivalry turn into the greatest rivalry of all time, with dramatic matches like this year's Australian Open final.

Let me clarify: Nadal demolished his competition at Roland Garros early on, compiling an unreal 52-1 record at the slam. He also has the single-surface winning streak record at 81 straight wins on clay. His dominance on clay is so absolute that only Djokovic in 2011 could consistently keep up with him, producing some excellent slugfests. With his 2011 form dipping, Nadal's main competitor at RG is gone, allowing him to rack up the RG titles with ease up to his mid-thirties.

As 6-1 6-3 6-0 says, "I guess that's why we call him Rafael "The Impossible" Nadal."

[DoubleDeuce]

Originally Posted by abmk

LOL

His fans are sleepwalking.

" at the age of 26 and 25 ...turn it into greatest rivalry..."

Maybe he will have some rivalry on clay, maybe.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by SStrikerR

Djokovic is having a great season. 1 slam, 1 final, 1 semi, and barely out of the #1 spot, with a good chance of regaining it in the coming weeks/months. I don't think people understand that his 2011 was phenomenal. Seasons like that don't happen often. There's no reason for a decline, simply the fact that a level like that is unsustainable. There's no hidden reason behind it. If a baseball player hits 60 homers one year, and only 50 the next, did he decline? No, he just had an incredible achievement and is still performing at a high level. But nobody in sports is going to have the same exact results every year, especially if they're that incredible.

I agree entirely with this.