Will Djokovicc go as a favourite against Nadal in 2022 clay masters & french open if they happen to play against each other?
- Thread starter Amen786
- Start date
Nadal_Django
Legend
Yes if he is healthy he'll be a favourite against Nadal even on clay.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Why and how?
Nadal_Django
Legend
That's correct.
Nadal_Django
Legend
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Lol Nadal will smoke him when they next meet on clay. That's why RG'21 win was very important for Novak. He's not getting another win over Nadal at RG.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
I expected a bit more technical answer, but okay. that's pretty much the maximum someone can expect from you.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
I'll ask the same question to you.
Why and how?
And to be fair, this time the win didn't look to be a fluke one the way that 2015 win did.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
No, this was a great win for Novak. Still, Nadal was below his usual self on clay. He barely won Barcelona and Rome, saving match points in both tournaments.
And he was physically compromised by the 4th set, either due to his foot injury or running out of gas. And assuming he's fit again, he knows he's beaten Djokovic many times before and knows exactly how to do it on clay. He'll be a lot more aggressive when they next play on clay and will want to make Djokovic pay for the RG'21 loss.
Nadal_Django
Legend
Djokovic is just better at playing tennis. That's the only right answer regarding this question, there isn't a need to get in some technicalities over this tbh.
About the second part you left me thinking which previously banned poster you might be. Hmm..
ForehandRF
Legend
If Nadal will look like an old man on court, then game, set and match Djokovic.The Serb should enjoy some mental edge and he is fitter
Sunny014
Legend
Answer - YES
Reason : Rafa won his 1st & 2nd slams around 2 years after Roger won his 1st & 2nd, now Roger won his last in 2018 and Rafa won his last 2020.
Roger missed 2019 wimbledon which could have been his last and Rafa missed the 2021 french open which could have been his last.
Reason : Rafa won his 1st & 2nd slams around 2 years after Roger won his 1st & 2nd, now Roger won his last in 2018 and Rafa won his last 2020.
Roger missed 2019 wimbledon which could have been his last and Rafa missed the 2021 french open which could have been his last.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Federer has been an idiot anyways
Amen786
Semi-Pro
What is the detail of race to London??
Sunny014
Legend
Rafa is finished either ways
I think Nadal main problem is decline in stamina and he dont have strenght anymore to fight if the match goes 4 hours. So best of three I go with Nadal and at RG is Djokovic now. I feel in the future it will be very simillar with Zverev and others, he will lose to them much more often at masters events than at GS. Djokovic is genious in conserving the energy and not playing each match and point with full intensity helps him in later stages of matches, unlike Nadal who plays each point like his life depends on it. Thanks to wear and tear he cant sustain this level anymore ffor the whole match. Thats why he is trying to be much more agressive and finish points quickly, but thats not his bread and butter.
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Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
There is no race to London. And please stop hating on Federer. He's one of the best ever and far from an idiot. I don't know if you're a Djokovic fan but Federer deserves the respect of every decent tennis fan.
The Fedfather
Legend
Factor #1: Rafa's injury. Does he come back with the foot being relatively healthy or it still bothers him?
Factor #2: Djokovic's form could drop. He never had stretches of dominance lasting over several years in a row. And this season seems to already have taken a lot from him. On the other hand, he could get invirogated with the confidence of breaking records but IMO a drop is more likely.
Factor #3: Djokovic is in Rafa's head 100% and if Novak keeps winning big time that intimidation is going to be a problem. If he lets up though, Nadal can bulldoze through the mental block. So NextGen could play a role here.
Right now it's just guessing because we don't know anything about Rafa's comeback and Djokovic's form is a question as well.
Factor #2: Djokovic's form could drop. He never had stretches of dominance lasting over several years in a row. And this season seems to already have taken a lot from him. On the other hand, he could get invirogated with the confidence of breaking records but IMO a drop is more likely.
Factor #3: Djokovic is in Rafa's head 100% and if Novak keeps winning big time that intimidation is going to be a problem. If he lets up though, Nadal can bulldoze through the mental block. So NextGen could play a role here.
Right now it's just guessing because we don't know anything about Rafa's comeback and Djokovic's form is a question as well.
itrium84
Hall of Fame
I agree
Amen786
Semi-Pro
I'm not a Federer hater, rather a fan.
But he's always been idiotic about conserving his body
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
Too early to call.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Yes but he's always been very intelligent about taking care of his body given the physicality of his game
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Your profile picture on the other hand
Sunny014
Legend
All of the big 3 are good at taking care of their bodies.
Rafa on clay can run because knees dont get a lot of pressure.
HCs would be a real pain
Cortana
Legend
Ready to be quoted in the near future?
topher
Hall of Fame
It’s not clear to me what aspect Novak has “solved”, his tactics were much the same as always.
I think Novak was very motivated this year for the DCGS with nothing to lose, not playing injured like he was in RG 2020, and simultaneously Rafa was injured this year unlike RG 2020. It was a bit of a perfect storm, and it was still a fairly tight 4 sets.
It’s likely Novak will lose motivation after winning 5 slams in a row, so he’ll lose that edge. Rafa may also not be injured, one can hope, so he’ll lose that edge. The only thing he’ll have then is perhaps form and the mental edge.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Its not really about clay or hard court.
See recent decisions of federer. He's an idiot to make those.
Played after a clear injury in 2013 indian wells match with Dodig, shouldn't have continued further but he grinded out a win versus Wawrinka & then played against nadal to, flaring up the injury and dooming the entire 2013 season -& a potential chance at Wimbledon.
Played in Canada 2017, rushed, got injured, ruined his chances for a 3 slam season.
Didn't play clay season in 2018, the rust ultimately caught up to him when he tried rushing and overplaying grass season, jeopardized rest of the season.
Continued playing at Australia open 2020 even after the clear injury & the long match with millman. That was the final nail in the coffin.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Do it.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Do you have faith in Rafa?
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, he's the same guy who destroyed Djokovic in RG 2020 final. If he's playing well, he'll beat Novak on clay again when they next meet.
Federer and Del Potro
Talk Tennis Guru
You forgot winning 3 sets. 2 if it's Clay Masters. Vamos and Bamos.
Federer and Del Potro
Talk Tennis Guru
That is not very nice, gentleman.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
I am not lol.
Amen786
Semi-Pro
Possible, totally possible.
Adv. Edberg
Legend
Djoko will be the favourite to win whatever he enters for the next 5 years. Yes, that's at least 20 slams he'll be the overwhelming favourite to win.
TheAssassin
Legend
If Nadal recovers well he should be back to being the favorite. But not an overwhelming one.
No more London.
This is my opinion. Also Nadal bullies 1HBH on Clay with top spin and while Tsitsipas was in better form than him Nadal would of still won that F. So I always find it weird when people say he’s done winning slams as if it wasn’t for Djokovic and only Djokovic he would have a slam this seasonIf Nadal recovers well he should be back to being the favorite. But not an overwhelming one.
No more London.
TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
No, we should expect a return to the norm, with Nadal beating Novak at RG.
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