Any Nole fans praying he gets knocked out before meeting Rafa?

O

octogon

Hall of Fame
Just wondering. Because the way both of them are playing right now, I fully expect a straight sets destruction of Nole by Rafa in the final.

The mental hold Nole had after Rafa is gone after the wins in Monte Carlo and Rome. And Nadal is in destructive clay court form.

I feel Nadal is on the verge of doing to Nole, what Nole did to him last year. Which is establishing a mental hold over Nole that he will be unable to break for awhile.

Is it in Nole's best interests to avoid Nadal on his best surface right now, and try and regroup for Wimbledon? Because a drubbing by Nadal in the French Open final will give him some serious mental scars. Nadal's belief will grow, and Nole's will wane. And that will affect the rest of his season (we all saw what consecutive finals losses to the same guy did to Nadal last year).

Anyway you look at it, it's a fascinating see-sawing rivalry. When one is slightly more confident, they tend to have the advantadge.
 
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OverratedIvanovic

OverratedIvanovic

Semi-Pro
Lets not get too confident. Nole is bidding for 4 in a row, a feat thats not been achieved even by the GOAT. For sure he will be hungry no? Moreover Djokovic is no Monaco. Although he looked off color vs Seppi but everyday is not an off day no? I think it will be a 5 setter if they meet with Nadal prevailing (fingers crossed :neutral:)
 
TennisLovaLova

TennisLovaLova

Hall of Fame
With such high bounce, such slow conditions, it's a miracle if someone else wins rg this year...
Nadal wins only because he's lefty and also cause he's using something drug tests dont detect
 
nadal_slam_king

nadal_slam_king

Banned
TennisLovaLova said:
Call it what you like
He's playing in a weak clay era with slow court conditions and slow balls
Click to expand...

Not as slow as the 1990s. I often feel cheated when I see how slow the conditions were back then. Nadal would not have lost to Soderling on 1990s RG. The era you are witnessing now is the fastest conditions Roland Garros has ever seen.
 
O

octogon

Hall of Fame
Clarky21 said:
I think it's the other way around.
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Not really. 2011 is over. Nadal has figured out Djoker (it took Djoker damn near 6 hours to beat Nadal on his best surface in Australia) and everything looks to be going Nadal's way. If Nadal beats Djoker in the next slam final, it'll open the floodgates. Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open. He'll be hard to stop.

Djoker isn't even a certainty to make the FO final. Nadal is.

To be honest, I think all Nadal fans should be grateful to Djoker. Djoker is just adding to Nadal's legend. Nadal needed another true "great" to overcome (to show he wasn't able to take down Federer just because of match-up issues), and Djoker provided him that challenge. In the end, Nadal being able to resist Djoker's challenge will strengthen his GOAT credentials.
 
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Evan77

Evan77

Banned
another silly thread, but hey ... Djoko is a champ. why would he want to avoid Rafa? Djoko wants to win RG. your logic doesn't make any sense. I'm sure Novak will raise his game if he gets to play him. however, neither Novak or Rafa are in the final (not yet) ... some of you guys just love assuming **** ... boring ...

and of course, I have to read all of this nonsense that NSK is posting.
 
Evan77

Evan77

Banned
octogon said:
Not really. 2011 is over. Nadal has figured out Djoker (it took Djoker damn near 6 hours to beat Nadal on his best surface in Australia) and everything looks to be going Nadal's way. If Nadal beats Djoker in the next slam final, it'll open the floodgates. Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open. He'll be hard to stop.

Djoker isn't even a certainty to make the FO final. Nadal is.
Click to expand...
is this NSK's brother? how exactly has Nadal figured out Novak? Could you please share your 'extensive tennis knowledge with us'. gee

honest to God, most of you Rafa fans (respect to true Rafa fans) are the biggest morons ever. you know nothing about tennis, yet you throw your stupid comments at us that don't make any sense ...
 
O

octogon

Hall of Fame
Evan77 said:
another silly thread, but hey ... Djoko is a champ. why would he want to avoid Rafa? Djoko wants to win RG. your logic doesn't make any sense. I'm sure Novak will raise his game if he gets to play him. however, neither Novak or Rafa are in the final (not yet) ... some of you guys just love assuming **** ... boring ...

and of course, I have to read all of this nonsense that NSK is posting.
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I think Novak is a realist. He'll look at his form and Nadal's form and know that he'll probably have only a 10% chance to win (if Nadal plays nervous). Realisticaly, the "Nole slam" isn't happening. So he should concentrate on trying to win the other slams and the Olympics this year, instead of letting Nadal get more confidence by beating him in a slam final.

Novak will have other chances to get the career grand slam (Nadal may get upset or play worse in future French Opens). But I've never seen Nadal this confident and this good over the first 4 rounds of the French. And that's scary, because he's already won the tournament 6 times.
 
Sentinel

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
I don't see how you can avoid mental scars by avoiding someone. That itself means you have mental scars. If Nole is to get mental scars by being beaten in one slam, avoiding him isn't going to reduce the scars.

Running away from the battlefield doesn't renew or retain your confidence.

Whatever. you get the point.
 
Djokodal Fan

Djokodal Fan

Hall of Fame
octogon said:
I think Novak is a realist. He'll look at his form and Nadal's form and know that he'll probably have only a 10% chance to win (if Nadal plays nervous). Realisticaly, the "Nole slam" isn't happening. So he should concentrate on trying to win the other slams and the Olympics this year, instead of letting Nadal get more confidence by beating him in a slam final.

Novak will have other chances to get the career grand slam (Nadal may get upset or play worse in future French Opens). But I've never seen Nadal this confident and this good over the first 4 rounds of the French. And that's scary, because he's already won the tournament 6 times.
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you think he'll tank one of his two matches and avoid Nadal so he can have an edge when plays wimbledon

fake-laugh-eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3-632.gif
[/URL]
 
Evan77

Evan77

Banned
octogon said:
I think Novak is a realist. He'll look at his form and Nadal's form and know that he'll probably have only a 10% chance to win (if Nadal plays nervous). Realisticaly, the "Nole slam" isn't happening. So he should concentrate on trying to win the other slams and the Olympics this year, instead of letting Nadal get more confidence by beating him in a slam final.

Novak will have other chances to get the career grand slam (Nadal may get upset or play worse in future French Opens). But I've never seen Nadal this confident and this good over the first 4 rounds of the French. And that's scary, because he's already won the tournament 6 times.
Click to expand...
blah, blah and more blah ... you are assuming too many things. nothing is given ... you've never seen Nadal being so confident 'over first 4 rounds as you put it', whatever man, you don't know what you are talking about.
 
PetSounds

PetSounds

Rookie
I would like to see somebody at least give Naboo a challenge. Right now he's just opening up a boulangerie on peoples asses.
 
Mike Sams

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
You're going to see the difference between a useless Slam clown like Monaco who has only been past the 3rd round of a Slam 2 times in his entire life compared to the world #1 and 5 time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.:)
Djokovic is going for the career Slam and the Rafa Slam at the same time. If you think Nadal will have anywhere near the confidence against Djokovic as he showed against the little lightweight Monaco who is a useless clown with no weapons, you're in for a shock.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. Still more matches to be played before either can meet.
 
nadal_slam_king

nadal_slam_king

Banned
Mike Sams said:
You're going to see the difference between a useless Slam clown like Monaco who has only been past the 3rd round of a Slam 2 times in his entire life compared to the world #1 and 5 time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.:)
Djokovic is going for the career Slam and the Rafa Slam at the same time. If you think Nadal will have anywhere near the confidence against Djokovic as he showed against the little lightweight Monaco who is a useless clown with no weapons, you're in for a shock.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. Still more matches to be played before either can meet.
Click to expand...

Well, Nadal has played 4 sets vs Djokovic since the Australian Open. 6-3, 6-1 and then 7-5, 6-3. And I think Nadal is playing better now than he was in those 2 events. Djokovic meanwhile, doesn't look any better of late.
 
Mike Sams

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
nadal_slam_king said:
Well, Nadal has played 4 sets vs Djokovic since the Australian Open. 6-3, 6-1 and then 7-5, 6-3. And I think Nadal is playing better now than he was in those 2 events. Djokovic meanwhile, doesn't look any better of late.
Click to expand...

True, Djokovic hasn't looked phenomenal overall although he has looked formidable in parts but not consistently whereas Nadal has looked consistently solid throughout whole tournaments besides Madrid which wasn't red clay so we can give Nadal a pass.
But I do believe that when the final comes around and Djokovic is on the other side of the net, naturally the motivation levels and desire to win will increase to new levels for both competitors. Now that's providing IF they both meet in the final which is no guarantee whatsoever.
But there is no way that, no matter how spirited a warrior Rafa is, that he is not thinking about the last 3 Grand Slam finals which he lost against Djokovic. Nadal is going for history with 7 RG titles, surpassing Borg. But Nadal is ALSO going to find himself being a part of history which he DOES NOT want to be a part of.
Rafa CAN NOT afford to be the first man ever in the history of tennis to lose 4 consecutive Slams across 3 surfaces to the same player!:shock:
Nadal needs to beat Djokovic and with all the pressure of this match, I believe Nadal is going to be just as nervous as Djokovic. There's going to be a lot of grinding in this one if they meet.
And we know both will fight. :)
 
Mike Sams

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
By the way, who wins the first set of Roland Garros in the Final between Nadal and Djokovic will be crucial. A part of me believes it will be more important for Nadal to win the first set than Djokovic. Djokovic is a great frontrunner and when he smells blood, he begins to hit with such conviction and confidence that not even Rafa can find a way to nullify him. Rafa has to make sure Novak doesn't smell blood early otherwise Novak could very seriously go into his 2.0 mode. Confidence is key.
 
The-Champ

The-Champ

Legend
octogon said:
Anyway you look at it, it's a fascinating see-sawing rivalry. When one is slightly more confident, they tend to have the advantadge.
Click to expand...

For the top 3, it's all in the head. They have all the tools to beat each other, it's all about establishing that mental edge.


The only thing i don't want to see is Marian Vajda humping a Mercedes....
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
TheF1Bob said:
This thread is just nonsesne. Nole will defeat Nadal for the Championship. Deal with it.
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Nope, I don't think so. I am not even sure Djokovic will make the final. Tsonga may get him and if not, Federer likely will.
 
Clarky21

Clarky21

Banned
cc0509 said:
Nope, I don't think so. I am not even sure Djokovic will make the final. Tsonga may get him and if not, Federer likely will.
Click to expand...



Nope. Not a chance in h*ll either one of them beats him. He already in the final,and the trophy is his.
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Clarky21 said:
Nope. Not a chance in h*ll either one of them beats him. He already in the final,and the trophy is his.
Click to expand...

Nope, sorry Clarky you are wrong here. Not sure Djokovic will make the final and if he does, Nadal will take it. You'll see!!!!!
 
A

ashitaka2010

Semi-Pro
octogon said:
Just wondering. Because the way both of them are playing right now, I fully expect a straight sets destruction of Nole by Rafa in the final.

The mental hold Nole had after Rafa is gone after the wins in Monte Carlo and Rome. And Nadal is in destructive clay court form.

I feel Nadal is on the verge of doing to Nole, what Nole did to him last year. Which is establishing a mental hold over Nole that he will be unable to break for awhile.

Is it in Nole's best interests to avoid Nadal on his best surface right now, and try and regroup for Wimbledon? Because a drubbing by Nadal in the French Open final will give him some serious mental scars. Nadal's belief will grow, and Nole's will wane. And that will affect the rest of his season (we all saw what consecutive finals losses to the same guy did to Nadal last year).

Anyway you look at it, it's a fascinating see-sawing rivalry. When one is slightly more confident, they tend to have the advantadge.
Click to expand...

Not gonna happen. Come on, this is clay.
Nadal never had a mental hold on Djoko outside of the surface.
 
O

octogon

Hall of Fame
ashitaka2010 said:
Not gonna happen. Come on, this is clay.
Nadal never had a mental hold on Djoko outside of the surface.
Click to expand...

A confident Nadal is a Nadal that can beat Djokovic on any surface. The exact same holds true in reverse.

Djokovic was at the height of his confidence last year, and comfortably beat down Rafa in two Clay Court Masters events. Had Djoker made the final of Roland Garros last year, I'm 80% certain he'd have beaten Rafa in the final, because Rafa's confidence had been so badly shaken by all those finals losses (on both hard and clay).

The reverse is now true. Rafa is riding a huge wave of confidence, and Djoker is feeling less confident. It's not about the surface with those two guys at this level, as they basically play the same game. It's all in the head. And it will translate to the Grass, and probably the US hardcourt season. At slams, Nadal had a mental edge against Djoker on every surface, till last year. He may be about to regain it, at least for the remainder of the season.
 
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Clarky21

Clarky21

Banned
cc0509 said:
Nope, sorry Clarky you are wrong here. Not sure Djokovic will make the final and if he does, Nadal will take it. You'll see!!!!!
Click to expand...



Nadal still has to make it through his draw,and I don't think he will. He has the toughest draw of anyone to get to the final. I just don't see that happening. Even if he did make the final he would lose. Rolaids owns him in a big way.
 
Clarky21

Clarky21

Banned
octogon said:
A confident Nadal is a Nadal that can beat Djokovic on any surface. The exact same holds true in reverse.

Djokovic was at the height of his confidence last year, and comfortably beat down Rafa in two Clay Court Masters events. Had Djoker made the final of Roland Garros last year, I'm 80% certain he'd have beaten Rafa in the final, because Rafa's confidence had been so badly shaken by all those finals losses (on both hard and clay).

The reverse is now true. Rafa is riding a huge wave of confidence, and Djoker is feeling less confident. It's not about the surface with those two guys at this level, as they basically play the same game. It's all in the head. And it will translate to the Grass, and probably the US hardcourt season. At slams, Nadal had a mental edge against Djoker on every surface, till last year. He may be about to regain it, at least for the remainder of the season.
Click to expand...


Where are you getting that he's got all this confidence? I don't see it.
 
O

octogon

Hall of Fame
Clarky21 said:
Where are you getting that he's got all this confidence? I don't see it.
Click to expand...

The difference between how Nadal was playing the 1st week last year, and this year is stark. Nadal was nervous last year, and playing like a frightened rabbit. The guy was taken to 5 sets in the first round by John Isner. People genuinely thought Nadal wouldn't even reach the final (Nadal was saying the same thing). Nadal gutted out a win in the end, but he did not play well last year. And that's because his confidence had taken a beating with all the Djoker losses (especially on clay).

This year is a different story. He's crushing everyone in his path. He looks and sounds happy and relaxed. He's not acting like a scared little boy with no chance of winning the tournament, like was last year. That's how you can tell this Nadal is super-confident. He's playing like a bulldozer, and knows he can beat his biggest current rival again.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
I am a Nole fan, and there is no way I want him to take the coward's way out. Face Nadal head on, like he has in the past. He has the heart, the will power and the passion to beat Nadal.

Stay strong Novak, and go get him! :)
 
Towser83

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
Clarky21 said:
Nadal still has to make it through his draw,and I don't think he will. He has the toughest draw of anyone to get to the final. I just don't see that happening. Even if he did make the final he would lose. Rolaids owns him in a big way.
Click to expand...

Is this some sort of game where you see how ridiculous you can become before people start to realise you are not at all serious?

You claim Monaco will take at least a set and he wins a whopping 2 games :lol:

Nadal has conceded the fewest games at this stage of any of his RG appearances and can't even lose to the ferret in barca.

He's killing people for fun.
 
zagor

zagor

Bionic Poster
Not really, even though I think he'd lose (don't see him beating Nadal the way things are right now) I prefer him to finally reach the final at FO, which in itself would be a step forward for him and maybe in the next few years he could go even further and win the title.
 
winstonplum

winstonplum

Hall of Fame
Clarky21 said:
Nadal still has to make it through his draw,and I don't think he will. He has the toughest draw of anyone to get to the final. I just don't see that happening. Even if he did make the final he would lose. Rolaids owns him in a big way.
Click to expand...

You did notice that Nadal won the last two times they played, didn't you?
 
G

Gizo

Hall of Fame
I agree that regardless of the outcome, reaching the final at RG for the first time in his career would be beneficial for Djokovic.

Losing in the semi-finals yet again (it would be the 4th time in 6 years) would hurt him a lot more than potentially getting drubbed by Nadal.
 
D

Day Tripper

Semi-Pro
I still think that Djokovic has a BIG mental advantage over Nadal.

You gotta remember that it has been a long time now since Nadal has beaten Djokovic over 5 sets.

It has been a long time since anyone has beaten him over 5 sets for that matter!

The longer the match goes the less chance I give Nadal.

He has shown more mental frailty against Djokovic than any other player.

Some people think that the Aust open final gave Nadal renewed belief that he can beat him.

I believe the opposite - Nadal played a great match at the Aust open but still couldnt defeat a sub standard Djokovic who had endured a 6 hour marathon match with Murray in the semi.

Just like Federer/Nadal 5 set matches are a lot different then 3 set matches i think the same is occuring with Djokovic/Nadal matches.

Over 3 sets Nadal has an even chance - over 5 that goes down considerably.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Nole has the best chance of dethroning Nadal.

Of course, I'm sure he wishes he had made it to the final last year; I'm pretty sure Nole would have won.

Now i give him about a 35% chance if everyone holds to present form and both make it to the final.
 
G

Gizo

Hall of Fame
I agree that last year given how pedestrian Nadal was looking, Djokovic would have had an excellent chance of beating him in the final had he got past Federer. This time last year Djokovic was in Nadal's head and had an answer for everything that Nadal could throw at him on the court.

This year the momentum is well and truly with Nadal now.

Of course losing to Kohlscreiber in the 3rd round in 2009, and then watching Nadal lose to Soderling the next day, must have been the most frustrating experience for Djokovic at the French Open so far in his career.
 
MaiDee

MaiDee

Professional
If he reach the final, I will pray that Nadal is on other side.
RG title is not the same without him.
 
Towser83

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
DRII said:
Nole has the best chance of dethroning Nadal.

Of course, I'm sure he wishes he had made it to the final last year; I'm pretty sure Nole would have won.

Now i give him about a 35% chance if everyone holds to present form and both make it to the final.
Click to expand...

I actually agree with this.
 
Clarky21

Clarky21

Banned
winstonplum said:
You did notice that Nadal won the last two times they played, didn't you?
Click to expand...


Yeah,but Rolaids played like crap in both of those matches. That was Zombievak,or else the result would have been very,very different. I'm still not convinced Nadal can beat him in a slam. Rolaids is unbeatable in best of 5.
 
DeShaun

DeShaun

Banned
Novak still is playing with enough confidence to elevate his game at will above that level anyone but Rafa or an inspired Roger can sustain. So, I think Novak will reach the finals. Rafa has been mowing down the field for this entire clay season and should have no shortage of confidence against anybody including Novak on this surface. If they play in the finals, it likely would be an interesting contest that could well turn out to be pivotal in their respective careers.
 
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Towser83

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
Clarky21 said:
Yeah,but Rolaids played like crap in both of those matches. That was Zombievak,or else the result would have been very,very different. I'm still not convinced Nadal can beat him in a slam. Rolaids is unbeatable in best of 5.
Click to expand...

He was also unbeatable vs Nadal until he got beaten by him. djokovic won't win every best of 5 match in his career. as you know.
 
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