zagor
Bionic Poster
Bookmark it.
However, bookmarking will not change the following:
Myth1: is actually true. Compare the numer of his retirements to the record of the others of the top 4.
I already conceded that the 1st myth is true to an extent
Myth2: Constructing a myth doesn't exactly make anyone credible. The superhuman myth was created after his unbelievable first half of 2011, where he was devastating everything at sight, including Nadal on clay. It was actually the WAY he did it, that made some people lump him together with Nadal in the doper's department. The similarity between their wins at AO(2009and2012) didn't help either.
I didn't bring up 2012, I was talking about his 2011, Novak outplaying everyone in sight doesn't automatically mean he just started doping, he always had the game to go toe to toe with Fedal and I actually always considered him to be a tough match-up for Nadal gamewise but Nadal was tougher mentally in big matches.
With Fed declining in 2010-2011, Murray still having some problems between the ears and little to no depth outside top 4 Nadal was the main obstacle for Novak, he didn't play all that much better than at say beginning of 2008 but was just bringing that level more often.
Myth3:Was created after his complete dominance over Nadal, who is a beast in that department. And I do not mean one match (they had competitive matches before) Of course, the two wins on clay stand out. In those matches Djokovic outgrinded and outrun Nadal.
IMO Nadal was doing most of the running in their matches in 2011, not to the same degree as before but he was still the one expanding more energy.
Regarding clay wins, Nadal had an off year on clay and was struggling more than usual, Murray took a 6-2 set from him at MC, Isner pushed him to five at FO etc. zoning Novak taking him out was not beyond the realm of possibility, Fed did the same in 2009 Madrid.
Also, you seem to be presuming that Nadal's endurance in 2011 was the same as it was in say 2008 early 2009, while Nadal was playing overall great tennis on HC and grass in 2011 I wouldn't say he was a physical beast he was a before, I would say he was more of a complete player but he was already beaten up a little from the grind of the tour (remember, this is the guy who won 1st slam back in 2005).
I couldn't care less about Djokovic (as I don't like grinding), but to pretend, that such a change in the performance is normal, is unacceptable.
My point is that his change in fitness/endurance was not nearly as drastic as people make it up to be.
The change in level of play was somewhat drastic but Novak was no pushover before, he didn't come out of nowhere, he was a top 3 player in the world for 4 straight years before 2011 and was already a slam winner and multiple slam finalist.
BTW. I'm not dismissing possibility that he's doping, my personal opinion is that the majority of players are doping, especially stars of the game but I don't think he started doping right before 2011.