Djokovic is a Grinder

OddJack · Nov 13, 2012

Novak is good, better than Federer and Murray now and deserves to be where he is, no question.

He is consistent in maybe all aspects of the game, you name it: Serve, volley, returns, retrives, defends and attacks.

But he does so almost the same way Nadal did, only with a different game style. They both go for shots that puts too much pressure on their bodies and are too risky. He won the match yesterday but he bled doing so.

This is the perfect recipe for early exit from the top. You can call it a Fedfan rancor if you want but his game style is there and it's obvious.

Novak will be overtaken by Murray in 2013 for the number one ranking, and the former's injury problems will only help that happen.

BHud · Nov 13, 2012

OddJack said:
He won the match yesterday but he bled doing so.

A bit dramatic aren't we? He fell and had a small cut on his arm... This thread should probably be deleted before any athletes in contact sports read this and begin mocking tennis...

sportsfan1 · Nov 13, 2012

The odd thing is how many points Federer had the upper hand and came into the net behind an aggressive shot, but Djok can track it down and hit a passing shot. The risk/reward quotient for an attacking player is simply too low where the aggressor has to go for high risk shots and the defensive player simply has to put them back in play with placement.

As for your point on physical style of play, Djok doesn't visibly seem any worse off for it even after years of sliding on hard courts.

It's good for Djok and he deserves it, but unfortunately it's not good for tennis. Most fans (I am guessing) like to watch because they are entertained and want to see spectacular shotmaking and variety. The grinding style of play will just lose spectators for the sport.

TMF · Nov 13, 2012

BHud said:
A bit dramatic aren't we? He fell and had a small cut on his arm... This thread should probably be deleted before any athletes in contact sports read this and begin mocking tennis...

He didn't fell by accident. He dive after the ball on purpose which wasn't necessary because even if he managed to get the ball back, Fed would put it away for a winner. Sometime you just have to let go and not put yourself in harms way. Nole's game is already physical enough, and he should be more careful. Notice Nadal is cutting down chasing ball when he was youngwhen he knows it's almost impossible to win a point.

Jeepers · Nov 13, 2012

Djokovic is a Grinder and also a Grindr

jorel · Nov 13, 2012

BHud said:
This thread should probably be deleted before any athletes in contact sports read this and begin mocking tennis...

too late.......

beast of mallorca · Nov 13, 2012

Many Fedfans here in TW are such a bunch of sour losers. Pathetic.

Ms Nadal · Nov 13, 2012

Roger is too posh to chase down balls, haha!

. Djokovic is the ultimate retriever these days, he beats Rafa! Djokovic is built as a flexi gymnast. Hence , his incredible retrieval skills.

Huanita99 · Nov 13, 2012

you have no clue what grinding is. stupid thread, and yeah, Murray will be number 1 next year. whatever. I'll become a prostitute

learn few things ... offense/defense , left/right , that's how Novak wins, it's not too complicated. it's not grinding, tired of ignorant Fed worshipers who do not understand the game and just worship their 'god'.

I'm Huanita and I know what I'm talking about

(smarter than Clarky, that's for sure):twisted:

Prisoner of Birth · Nov 13, 2012

beast of mallorca said:
Many Fedfans here in TW are such a bunch of sour losers. Pathetic.

Sore.

10sics

Deleted member 307496 · Nov 13, 2012

Djokoivc... the grinder. Suits Nadal more because Nadal actually GRINDS.

kragster · Nov 13, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
Sore.

10sics

Maybe he has eaten them and they taste like sour patch kids?

BauerAlmeida · Nov 13, 2012

Djokovic is one of the best players from the ground currently. He can easily play an attacking tennis from the baseline if his speed and movement decline (by the way, nothing indicates that will happen). Few players have such depth, power and capacity to generate angles of both wings.

So I think he can be at the top for another 3/4 years

axel89 · Nov 13, 2012

espn showed a stat that during the match federer had ran farther than djokovic get real please

OddJack · Nov 13, 2012

BauerAlmeida said:
Djokovic is one of the best players from the ground currently. He can easily play an attacking tennis from the baseline if his speed and movement decline (by the way, nothing indicates that will happen). Few players have such depth, power and capacity to generate angles of both wings.

So I think he can be at the top for another 3/4 years

axel89 said:
espn showed a stat that during the match federer had ran farther than djokovic get real please

3-4 years? we shall see.

Djoker go for shots in very awkward positions, he dives and stretches dangerously. If what we have seen in the past is any indication for future chances are he will not last long on the top.

Deleted member 307496 · Nov 13, 2012

Djokovic will be in the top ten until he is about 29-30.

Huanita99 · Nov 13, 2012

Sabratha said:
Djokovic will be in the top ten until he is about 29-30.

more like in top 1. who is going to challenge him? clueless youngsters? Murray, not?

swordtennis · Nov 13, 2012

All the court surfaces are becoming conducive to grinding.
Djokovic is a machine on these courts.
This 2013 AO just might produce record feats of endurance and brutality.

ATP100 · Nov 13, 2012

It's a shame most posters on this forum don't realize how hard these guys
hit the ball, they are not grinders, they appear to be grinders only against people there own level.

jones101 · Nov 13, 2012

ATP100 said:
It's a shame most posters on this forum don't realize how hard these guys
hit the ball, they are not grinders, they appear to be grinders only against people there own level.

Federer agrees:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=84934

''And then there is many other guys moving very well on the tour, as well. It's not just him. But what he does well, you know, even in defense, he stays somewhat offensive. That's what I mentioned before the match, that, I think, is what separates him from the rest a little bit.''

djokovic2008 · Nov 14, 2012

jones101 said:
Federer agrees:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=84934

''And then there is many other guys moving very well on the tour, as well. It's not just him. But what he does well, you know, even in defense, he stays somewhat offensive. That's what I mentioned before the match, that, I think, is what separates him from the rest a little bit.''

This sums it up he is great at both defense and offence.

zagor · Nov 14, 2012

Nope he seemed fine by the end of the match to me, sorry

.

However, Novak hardly played only defensive tennis, he ran Fed around as well and took control of the point many time with his FH (especially his inside out FH to Fed's BH was brutal), was aggressive on the ROS (not easy to do on Fed's serve)etc.

Not to mention that aside from his breathing issues (which have nothing to do with style of play) his career has been largely injury free (despite playing so much on that perilous surface that is HC), I kinda wish he'd stop sliding on HC but it didn't hurt him so far.

sportsfan1 · Nov 14, 2012

zagor said:
....
However, Novak hardly played only defensive tennis, he ran Fed around as well and took control of the point many time with his FH (especially his inside out FH to Fed's BH was brutal), was aggressive on the ROS (not easy to do on Fed's serve)etc.
......

Fed's BH, especially DTL has been erratic since the USO. Many times during the match, Fed hit his BH crosscourt, very measured, back to Djok when he should have gone DTL but he hasn't been able to trust it. While Fed did up his play during the SF/F, he's generally been patchy this fall in many areas - BH, ROS and even the FH and serve at times.

Murrayfan31 · Nov 14, 2012

Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

OddJack · Nov 14, 2012

zagor said:
Nope he seemed fine by the end of the match to me, sorry .

However, Novak hardly played only defensive tennis, he ran Fed around as well and took control of the point many time with his FH (especially his inside out FH to Fed's BH was brutal), was aggressive on the ROS (not easy to do on Fed's serve)etc.

Not to mention that aside from his breathing issues (which have nothing to do with style of play) his career has been largely injury free (despite playing so much on that perilous surface that is HC), I kinda wish he'd stop sliding on HC but it didn't hurt him so far.

I didnt mean he was defensive. I meant what I said, he goes for shots that puts too much pressure oh his body, and in awkward positions.
He hasnt have a major injury yet but he has a history of retirements from matches for different reasons.
And, dont be sorry, you talk like I took my case to the judge of the forum and was denied

RF20Lennon · Nov 14, 2012

Djokovic has been a grinder for a while! But he's winning so no reason to change

BHud · Nov 14, 2012

Murrayfan31 said:
Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

Sampras was the ultimate grinder. If he couldn't ace you, he would wait at least 2 strokes before trying to end the point with a volley or a forehand...

namelessone · Nov 14, 2012

OddJack said:
I didnt mean he was defensive. I meant what I said, he goes for shots that puts too much pressure oh his body, and in awkward positions.
He hasnt have a major injury yet but he has a history of retirements from matches for different reasons.
And, dont be sorry, you talk like I took my case to the judge of the forum and was denied

Djokovic will be OK, he is one of the most flexible players I've ever seen, the guy has the perfect tennis body and I can't recall him being injured in the lower body because of his slides(even though he slides on basically every surface). He knows what he is doing.

veroniquem · Nov 14, 2012

Murrayfan31 said:
Federer is a grinder actually. Can't end points against Djokovic and ends up running too much. lol

Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

veroniquem · Nov 14, 2012

namelessone said:
Djokovic will be OK, he is one of the most flexible players I've ever seen, the guy has the perfect tennis body and I can't recall him being injured in the lower body because of his slides(even though he slides on basically every surface). He knows what he is doing.

Gumby is my favorite nickname for him because it's actually true. Bends in every direction

tacou · Nov 14, 2012

Novak is definitely a grinder, he said his strategy vs. Fed in the Finals was to grind. I don't understand why grinding is looked down upon. Keep the point alive at all costs until your opponent loses it or gives you an opportunity to hit an easy winner.

Brilliant if executed the Novak can

TMF · Nov 14, 2012

veroniquem said:
Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

Even if that's true, it's only one match.

ESPN compare both players for the entire 2012 year(except the WTF final) and Nole had more milage than Federer.

kaku · Nov 14, 2012

I'm not as worried about Djoker injuring himself sliding as I am the long term effects of it. Eventually, all the strain on his joints is going to catch up with him. Combined with age, his insane defense is going to get harder to pull off, which could lead to injury

veroniquem · Nov 14, 2012

TMF said:
Even if that's true, it's only one match.

ESPN compare both players for the entire 2012 year(except the WTF final) and Nole had more milage than Federer.

Because of red clay, which I explained in my post. And sure it also depends on the match. But the fact that Fed did more running than Djoko in an indoor hard court final says a lot about the validity of this thread.

Ripster · Nov 14, 2012

Djokovic is not a grinder - he's an aggressive baseliner. He steps into the ball and goes for his shots when he can. Just because he has an amazing defense doesn't make him a grinder.

TennisLovaLova · Nov 15, 2012

tacou said:
Novak is definitely a grinder, he said his strategy vs. Fed in the Finals was to grind. I don't understand why grinding is looked down upon. Keep the point alive at all costs until your opponent loses it or gives you an opportunity to hit an easy winner.

Brilliant if executed the Novak can

Yep brilliant indeed
but it has also A LOT to do with slow court conditions
most of the finals shots Roger made would be impossible to return properly on a real fast HC.

TheFifthSet · Nov 15, 2012

veroniquem said:
Because of red clay, which I explained in my post. And sure it also depends on the match. But the fact that Fed did more running than Djoko in an indoor hard court final says a lot about the validity of this thread.

Well, he ran 35more kilometers over the whole year. Can't be attributed only to clay. That's a big difference.

That said, the current Novak isn't really a grinder. He's an offensive counterpuncher and his balance between offence and defense is superb. In 2007-2008 he was far ore offensive in nature but not half as good defensively, esp. passing on the run.

Russeljones · Nov 15, 2012

sportsfan1 said:
The odd thing is how many points Federer had the upper hand and came into the net behind an aggressive shot, but Djok can track it down and hit a passing shot. The risk/reward quotient for an attacking player is simply too low where the aggressor has to go for high risk shots and the defensive player simply has to put them back in play with placement.

As for your point on physical style of play, Djok doesn't visibly seem any worse off for it even after years of sliding on hard courts.

It's good for Djok and he deserves it, but unfortunately it's not good for tennis. Most fans (I am guessing) like to watch because they are entertained and want to see spectacular shotmaking and variety. The grinding style of play will just lose spectators for the sport.

Odd? Really? Good def + slow court = normal.

Feather · Nov 15, 2012

veroniquem said:
Has anyone seen the stat on TV last Monday? Fed actually ran slightly more than Djoko during the final. So, all that nonsense about "ultimate attacker" vs "ultimate grinder" is obviously just that: bull.
Of course, Djoko ran much more during the clay season but that's because he made 3 finals on red clay and Fed didn't do that well.

Did you see the match? And you couldn't make out that Roger was attacking more than Djokovic?

5555 · Nov 15, 2012

Ripster said:
he's an aggressive baseliner.

You got it.

tlm · Nov 15, 2012

Nothing more pathetic than a bunch of fed lovers crying and making excuses for feds loss. Joker is the best player, that is all there is to it.

djokovic2008 · Nov 15, 2012

tlm said:
Nothing more pathetic than a bunch of fed lovers crying and making excuses for feds loss. Joker is the best player, that is all there is to it.

This........

Djokovic is a Grinder

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Legend

Talk Tennis Guru

Professional

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

Rookie

Banned

Deleted member 307496

Guest

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Banned

G.O.A.T.

Deleted member 307496

Guest

Rookie

G.O.A.T.

Professional

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Bionic Poster

Legend

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Legend

Hall of Fame

Legend

Bionic Poster

Bionic Poster

G.O.A.T.

Talk Tennis Guru

Professional

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Legend

Talk Tennis Guru

Legend

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Similar threads