The unstoppable beast : 10 of Djokovic's best matches.

Raining hopes

Raining hopes

Hall of Fame
Top 10 matches

1. 2011 AO SF : Federer was playing well enough and Djokovic straight setted him

2. 2013 AO SF : Novak did anything he wanted, whenever he wanted and it seemed nothing was beyond him this day.

3. 2016 AO SF : First two sets were something abnormal from him

4. 2016 Doha against Nadal: I gonna remember this beating till my last day,no?

5. 2011 Rome F : Unstoppabe.Even Nadal on clay looked helpless

6. 2011 USO F : Brutal hitting, absolutely out doing Nadal at his own game. And he was the one coming off a brutal 5 setter

7. 2015 WB F : What do you do against a man who returns every serve on your feet, doesn't give you much space from baseline, can serve well enough and basically make you work so hard to win a point?

8. 2011 Madrid F : Taming the great bull in his own arena.

9. 2008 AO SF : A very underrated performance.

10. 2012 WTF : A federer playing very well , a tight match testing everything, from mental strength, defence to shotmaking.
 
NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
Good list. I actually watched that AO SF again yesterday and looking back, Federer hit too many errors at key moments and wasn't at his top level, but my goodness Djokovic's level was high. I feel like that performance was a foreshadow of his future because he was in the zone on the return and ultra aggressive, and just running down everything and hitting offensive shots from defensive positions. AO 2008 and AO 2011 are very close in quality for Djokovic and definitely his best two overall AO runs.

2012 WTF was an entertaining match but he seemed more up and down that day to me. I probably would go with Wimb. 2011 F over that one. The rest are pretty spot on.
 
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Raining hopes

Raining hopes

Hall of Fame
NoleFam said:
Good list. I actually watched that AO SF again yesterday and looking back, Federer hit too many errors at key moments and wasn't at his top level, but my goodness Djokovic's level was high. I feel like that performance was a foreshadow of his future because he was in the zone on the return and ultra aggressive, and just running down everything and hitting offensive shots from defensive positions. AO 2008 and AO 2011 are very close in quality for Djokovic and definitely his best two overall AO runs.

2012 WTF was an entertaining match but he seemed more up and down that day to me. I probably would go with Wimb. 2011 F over that one. The rest are pretty spot on.
Click to expand...


Federer had to be better than what he was to stop that Djoker. He was sweating profusely in that match ,if I remember correctly. 10 times more than usual.

AO 2008 is one of the best tournaments from Djokovic no doubt.
 
Plamen1234

Plamen1234

Hall of Fame
Djokovic performance in AO 2016 was just amazing.The first 2 sets were such a destruction.But at least Federer managed to take a set in this match.
 
metsman

metsman

G.O.A.T.
I don't think there was much difference between 11 USO SF and F. Maybe better off the ground in the F, but a lot of that is due to Nadal feeding him short balls and Djoker served worse in the finals. I would put the 12 USO QF, 15 Wimby SF, 08 USO QF, one of the last 3 16 RG matches over the 2012 WTF final if we limit it to important matches, but considering Doha is on there, there's a ton of other candidates from masters. Also feel that 15 RG QF has to be on the list, as bad as Nadal was.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
metsman said:
I don't think there was much difference between 11 USO SF and F. Maybe better off the ground in the F, but a lot of that is due to Nadal feeding him short balls and Djoker served worse in the finals. I would put the 12 USO QF, 15 Wimby SF, 08 USO QF, one of the last 3 16 RG matches over the 2012 WTF final if we limit it to important matches, but considering Doha is on there, there's a ton of other candidates from masters. Also feel that 15 RG QF has to be on the list, as bad as Nadal was.
Click to expand...
This thread is about Djokovic's best matches. RG 2015 1/4 is not even in the top-50 of his best matches. He actually played better in some RG matches that he lost.
 
Raining hopes

Raining hopes

Hall of Fame
metsman said:
I don't think there was much difference between 11 USO SF and F. Maybe better off the ground in the F, but a lot of that is due to Nadal feeding him short balls and Djoker served worse in the finals. I would put the 12 USO QF, 15 Wimby SF, 08 USO QF, one of the last 3 16 RG matches over the 2012 WTF final if we limit it to important matches, but considering Doha is on there, there's a ton of other candidates from masters. Also feel that 15 RG QF has to be on the list, as bad as Nadal was.
Click to expand...


I wanted to include at least one Indoor performance and the Federer match is one of my favourites. But yes I think 2015 WB SF, 2011 WB F, 2015 RG QF and 2012 USO QF should go over it.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
Raining hopes said:
I seem to remember him playing well enough to be honest . I admit I haven't rewatched it but I can't see why you are downplaying it. Any player who wins 6-3 6-1 sets against any Nadal at RG is no djoke.
Click to expand...
Nadal was playing the worst tennis of his career that year. The match was NID. I didn't see anything special from Djokovic, he was simply destroying a terrible opponent.
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Raining hopes said:
I seem to remember him playing well enough to be honest . I admit I haven't rewatched it but I can't see why you are downplaying it. Any player who wins 6-3 6-1 sets against any Nadal at RG is no djoke.
Click to expand...
It wasn't THAT good. He was up a double break in the first set... and then gave up a double break! Definitely not top 10 of a career worthy. Nadal pretty much just caved half way through the second set. How can you take this over something like the Wimbledon semi final just now? Or the 2013 AO match with Stan? 2011 USO SF? What about when he messed up Berdych in Beijing that one year?

You have the 2015 Wimby final here, but what about the USO that year? That has to be one of the best mental performances of his life where he finally stopped letting antagonistic crowds upset him so much.
 
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Raining hopes

Raining hopes

Hall of Fame
ibbi said:
You have the 2015 Wimby final here, but what about the USO that year? That has to be one of the best mental performances of his life where he finally stopped letting antagonistic crowds upset him so much.
Click to expand...

The USO was too inconsistent for me he was brilliant when it came to important points not so much on those which led to them.


However, I completely didn't think of Stan 2013 and WB 2011 that belongs on list and towards the top.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Raining hopes said:
Top 10 matches

1. 2011 AO SF : Federer was playing well enough and Djokovic straight setted him

2. 2013 AO SF : Novak did anything he wanted, whenever he wanted and it seemed nothing was beyond him this day.

3. 2016 AO SF : First two sets were something abnormal from him

4. 2016 Doha against Nadal: I gonna remember this beating till my last day,no?

5. 2011 Rome F : Unstoppabe.Even Nadal on clay looked helpless

6. 2011 USO F : Brutal hitting, absolutely out doing Nadal at his own game. And he was the one coming off a brutal 5 setter

7. 2015 WB F : What do you do against a man who returns every serve on your feet, doesn't give you much space from baseline, can serve well enough and basically make you work so hard to win a point?

8. 2011 Madrid F : Taming the great bull in his own arena.

9. 2008 AO SF : A very underrated performance.

10. 2012 WTF : A federer playing very well , a tight match testing everything, from mental strength, defence to shotmaking.
Click to expand...

List is a good one. Only I'd take out 2011 Madrid final and 2012 WTF.

Replace 2012 WTF with 2015 WTF.

2015 RG QF vs Nadal, last 3 matches of RG 2016 (well, apart from the 1st set vs Murray) are up there.

AO 2011 QF vs Berdych, AO 2011 F vs Murray are up there.

Rome 2015 final vs Fed.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
abmk said:
List is a good one. Only I'd take out 2011 Madrid final and 2012 WTF.

Replace 2012 WTF with 2015 WTF.

2015 RG QF vs Nadal, last 3 matches of RG 2016 (well, apart from the 1st set vs Murray) are up there.

AO 2011 QF vs Berdych, AO 2011 F vs Murray are up there.

Rome 2015 final vs Fed.
Click to expand...
Do you realize how bad his opponent was in that match? Guess what, if Djokovic played against me he would look even better.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
abmk said:
yes, I do realize Nadal was clearly below par.
I also recognize that Djoko was great in that match. (like most other people and unlike you)
Click to expand...
If he was great in that match he wouldn't get into trouble from a double break in the first set. And it's not like Nadal did anything to break back, it was 100% gifts from Djokovic.
Using your logic I might say RG 2008 final was a great match from Nadal. But of course you will disagree with that opinion, right?
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
NoleFam said:
Good list. I actually watched that AO SF again yesterday and looking back, Federer hit too many errors at key moments and wasn't at his top level, but my goodness Djokovic's level was high. I feel like that performance was a foreshadow of his future because he was in the zone on the return and ultra aggressive, and just running down everything and hitting offensive shots from defensive positions. AO 2008 and AO 2011 are very close in quality for Djokovic and definitely his best two overall AO runs.
Click to expand...

Like I told you before re: Fed in that AO 2008 match - nowhere close to his best, as well as Djokovic was playing.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...n-out-of-any-player-in-history.617450/page-31


----

AO 2008 was djokovic's 2nd best AO after AO 11.
Would take AO 16 SF/F combo over AO 08 SF/F combo though.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Ferss111 said:
If he was great in that match he wouldn't get into trouble from a double break in the first set. And it's not like Nadal did anything to break back, it was 100% gifts from Djokovic.
Using your logic I might say RG 2008 final was a great match from Nadal. But of course you will disagree with that opinion, right?
Click to expand...

nope. RG 2008 final was an absolutely great match from Nadal. IMO, his best match on clay.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
abmk said:
Like I told you before re: Fed in that AO 2008 match - nowhere close to his best, as well as Djokovic was playing.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...n-out-of-any-player-in-history.617450/page-31


----

AO 2008 was djokovic's 2nd best AO after AO 11.
Would take AO 16 SF/F combo over AO 08 SF/F combo though.
Click to expand...
Lol, what? So you are ignoring the fact Nadal was playing the worst tennis of his life in 2015 but point on that Federer didn't play his best in AO 2008? Federer wasn't at his best but he wasn't in terrible form, you know. He had chances in sets 1 and 3.
 
Raining hopes

Raining hopes

Hall of Fame
abmk said:
nope. RG 2008 final was an absolutely great match from Nadal. IMO, his best match on clay.
Click to expand...

All seven matches were otherworldly from Nadal. Watched the Almagro match, some months back. Almagro is a competent clay courter, Nadal made him look so helpless.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Ferss111 said:
Lol, what? So you are ignoring the fact Nadal was playing the worst tennis of his life in 2015 but point on that Federer didn't play his best in AO 2008? Federer wasn't at his best but he wasn't in terrible form, you know. He had chances in sets 1 and 3.
Click to expand...

I'm not ignoring that Nadal played his worst RG in 2015 at all.

Yes, Federer didn't play his best in AO 2008. Didn't say he was in terrible form either.
He was in ok form - looking at in general.
but clearly below prime level form.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Raining hopes said:
All seven matches were otherworldly from Nadal. Watched the Almagro match, some months back. Almagro is a competent clay courter, Nadal made him look so helpless.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe not so much the 1st set vs Bellucci. But yeah, he was too good in that entire RG apart from that.
 
F

Ferss111

Rookie
abmk said:
I'm not ignoring that Nadal played his worst RG in 2015 at all.

Yes, Federer didn't play his best in AO 2008. Didn't say he was in terrible form either.
He was in ok form - looking at in general.
but clearly below prime level form.
Click to expand...
Same thing can be said about AO 2011 semifinal.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
#1. AO08 SF. Special match for me personally and for Djoker as he won his first Slam. Nobody expected it
#2. 2010 US Open SF. Not #1 because he had some lapses during the 1st set, but in the 4th and 5th he went to a level previously inconceivable on a tennis court. Winner after winner, every shot on the line, I have never been more thrilled watching someone else play tennis. The tennis gods trembled in fear of the beast they had created.
#3. Wimbledon 2011 F. GOAT performance to snap Rafa streak
#4. Doha 16 F. Absolute masterclass performance vs Nadal, dominant start to finish
#5. 2011 Australian Open SF. Beat Federer in his own game of shotmaking and creative strategy. 3 sublime sets
#6. 2015 RG QF. No words needed.
 
NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
abmk said:
Like I told you before re: Fed in that AO 2008 match - nowhere close to his best, as well as Djokovic was playing.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...n-out-of-any-player-in-history.617450/page-31


----

AO 2008 was djokovic's 2nd best AO after AO 11.
Would take AO 16 SF/F combo over AO 08 SF/F combo though.
Click to expand...

I said Federer wasn't physically at his best but I think you're exaggerating his level because he didn't play badly in the 1st and 3rd sets and actually served for the 1st set. That's when errors really crept into his game and he let Djokovic back in it. Then the tide began to really turn. Federer didn't play his best but credit to Djokovic who was lethal on both the serve and return (he outserved Federer in that one) and off the ground.

I would actually take AO 16 SF/F 1st then AO 11 SF/F then AO 08 SF/F.
 
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MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
This would be a great form of torture for criminals being interrogated. Ok okkkkk what do you wanna know?!? Just turn it off please!!
 
Nadal_Django

Nadal_Django

Legend
abmk said:
2015 YEC final vs fed

2015 shanghai semi vs Murray
Click to expand...
2015 final was pretty routine win for the Djoker. That match was "never in doubt" from the first point. The 2013 YEC final was much better match from Djokovic. Stop with your trolling please.;)
 
Djokovic2011

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
MichaelNadal said:
I have to admit, I missed the youth and blind exuberance of the Ultronian spirit :) it had been wayyyy too long since I facepalmed :D
Click to expand...
Tbh I don't see what's so farfetched about my comment MN. Djokovic really was outrageously good in that match, I'm pretty sure the highlights are on YouTube if you didn't see it.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

G.O.A.T.
I might miss a few but I would put these 3 in top five for sure.

Doha 2016 final.
US Open 2011 final.
Rome 2011 final.

Absolutely hitting Nadal off the court. The USOpen final was my favorite choice for his performance until the Doha 2016 happened.
 
C

Charlie

Guest
For denadalizations, you can't limit it to top 10. :)

Good choices in the OP, and many more to choose.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
You speak about when Djokovic enters this form...

M7My_Y.gif
 
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