Rocky89
Professional
Well, is it safe to assume then you're a Game of Thrones fan because of your avatar?
What is Game of Thrones?
J/KYep you can safely assume that I'm a fan, just getting through the books now.
Why is nadal so much more popular than Djokovic?
- Thread starter dominikk1985
- Start date
What is Game of Thrones?
J/KYep you can safely assume that I'm a fan, just getting through the books now.
Djokodal Fan
Hall of Fame
Yeah only to know the final result even before the match starts!
xan
Hall of Fame
yup, not biased at all you're not.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Well it's kind of true. The biggest highlight reel is and probably always will be produced by (out of all the rivalries in the top 4) Fed/Nadal. Djokovic is a great all around player, and he has huge strengths, but I would stop short of calling him boring on a tennis court. Other than that, I agree with TheCheese. His/Her second statement is spot on IMO. In fact, Fed vs anyone in the top 4 is probably better than all the other matchups for the offensive-defensive contrast of styles honestly.
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dudeski
Hall of Fame
Nadal is massively popular because he proves you CAN get away with it
Yeah people always like the underdog. It's Nadal vs all the drug testers, it's Nadal vs all the empires trying to enforce time rules. You would never expect Nadal to get his way in spite of such overwhelming odds but he does.
Start da Game
Hall of Fame
when shakira likes somebody, the world just follows.......
Crisstti
Legend
Lol, I guess it must have been.
Will try to give the first one a chance. But I do hate boxing.
xan
Hall of Fame
that i don't agree off. even more so when said with such a definitive tone.
but then again I've seen some people here saying they would rather watch their favorite player sleeping rather than watching a tennis excluding their favorite. so I guess it shouldn't come off as a surprise.
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
an important factor:
large Spanish-speaking world vs. small country (Serbia)
large Spanish-speaking world vs. small country (Serbia)
babyhagrid
Rookie
To me Nadal will always be the swashbuckling pirate fit for a role in Pirates of the Carribbean and Djokovic is Action Man/GI Joe (even his hair is the same fuzzy type as the action figures)
sportsfan1
Legend
It's the player rather than the place or language.
Population of serbia is approximately equal to that of switzerland (7m) and both are small countries. Number of swiss-german speakers is perhaps even smaller. Both Djok and Fed speak English well, better than Nadal certainly. But both Fed and Nadal are very popular.
Jerzy Janowicz - polish, probably spoken by fewer than spanish, but he's quite popular, atleast on these boards. Going back further, I am guessing Edberg was also a swedish speaker, but certainly a popular/respected athlete.
I haven't looked up each of these to confirm, but broader point is that it's the player that determines the popularity.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
:shock::???::-o
I was taking your post seriously until I got to this part. Then I understood it was a farce. Good one.
xan
Hall of Fame
imo djokovic/federer. but i do appreciate each and every one of top 4 matchups for what they are, with Murray/djokovic to a lesser extent.
but people got suck up into fedal rivalry and it's a done deal for them when discussing various topics.
nevermind that djokovic/federer can provide equal if not better shotmaking (again imo), nevermind that rafa and novak already played the most matches between them, nevermind that fedal matches have been terribly one sided for the most part.
fedal rivalry was sold to them and people bought it, and its been peek of what tennis can do/offer ever since. even tho that isn't the truth.
so heaven forbid that something breaks that barrier or, even worse, god forbid that federer retires. I bet that 50% of casual fans will stop watching tennis all together because they invest their time watching their favorite and not the sport itself. those are ones that preech how tennis gonna die once federer retires, those are ones who boycott finals because x player is not in them.
anyhow sorry for going a bit off topic but the whole point was that the people already formed their opinion before even thinking of the subject and that most are terribly biased. its not a crime afterall, to each his own.
steenkash
Hall of Fame
I believe its his rivalry with Federer that made him so popular over the years, their rivalry is supposed to be a 'legendary' one. Despite the fact Nadal has Rodgers number on speed dial. Djocovic has always been popular among fans due to his easy going nature, but never considered a 'champion' up till now. Hopefully over the years he does grow a bigger fan base.
TheCanadian
Semi-Pro
Many think Novak is a phony and dislikable and his parents a********. Nadal is simple like a child and primitive. It's easier to like Nadal.
Flash O'Groove
Hall of Fame
Yeah maybe you are right and Fed-Nole can provide equally good shotmaking. I like how they match-up. But I disagree with you when you downgrade Fed-Nadal rivalry. Their match provided great opposition of style, like Fed-Nole, BUT they took place in a better context. At the beginning, it was the story of Fed trying to complete the Grand Slam and trying to dominate every surfaces, only to be prevented by Nadal. After RG 2008 and the humiliation Nadal inflicted to Fed, it was to put Nadal back in his place at Wimbledon. It didn't happened (after the best match scenario). Nadal replaced Fed at the top of the ranking. He defeated once again Fed in Australia, on hard court, where the old king was still a favorite.
In comparison, what is the story of the rivalry between Fed and Nole? During the first part of it, 2007-2009, the history of tennis was written by Fed and Nadal. In 2010, by Nadal alone: this year didn't had any interesting rivalry. in 2011, it was Nadal and Nole who mattered. In 2012 it was two evenly divided between the top guy for a real rivalry to exist.
The best year of tennis from a story point of view were 2005-2009, and Djokovic was a supporting character in it.
sunof tennis
Professional
Well said. Certainly you have to admire Nadal for his "all out" approach to every point.
xan
Hall of Fame
agreed, djokovic was 2nd fiddle for the most part and not until recently he started to turn the tables. and no, i didnt try to downgrade rafa/fed rivalry. maybe it sounded like that but i trully appreciate what they've done for the sport. i might be a novak fan, but im a tennis fan first and foremost. what i've been trying to say is that people overhyped it a bit (deservedly so) and they continue to do so ever since. then you have those same people wishing upon fedal finals every time, even tho they dont match up against eachother very well anymore. (something simliar to boston/lakers finals, huge story behind it and some people wouldnt mind seeing it for the rest of their lives). which trully is a shame because there is a lot of good tennis going outside of fedal finals, and some people cant seem to appreciate it. truly a shame.
What is Game of Thrones?
Yep you can safely assume that I'm a fan, just getting through the books now.
David ferrer is great in game of thrones.
Homeboy Hotel
Hall of Fame
NSK 6-1 account was blocked lololol
Smasher08
Legend
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Fair enough. I was actually going to say my 2nd favourite matchup was Djokovic-Federer.
But I disagree with Fedal being one sided. Tbh, I don't see how anyone could say that. If you look at the H2H it's 18-10 Nadal, and he has a 12-2 lead on clay. It is really only one sided on one surface. Even then, most of their matches have been incredibly tight, and on the biggest stages to boot. By comparison, even though Djokovic-Nadal has been played out more, they've only gone 5 sets once in a slam. Compared to Federer and Nadal who've done this 3 times.
Also, I've just looked it up and my assumption was correct. Fedal matches have "gone the distance" (meaning a 3 set match has gone 3 sets or a 5 set match has gone 5 sets) more than Djokodal matches. Nadal and Federer have gone the distance in 10 of their 28 encounters. Comparitively, Rafa-Djoker has only gone the distance 7 of their 33 encounters. Epic matches create epic rivalries. People bought into Fedal because they produced incredible tennis. Djokovic-Murray as an example, can be promoted to the moon, but if they don't start to produce great shotmaking and matches against each other, nobody will care, and we're starting to see that.
xan
Hall of Fame
you raise a good point, but certainly the stats can be misleading as well.
for example from what i recall 2011 semi between nole and Roger that went to 4 sets was much more intense and close than for example 2012 semi between Murray and nole that did in fact go to 5 sets.
maybe i was a tad rash when i said matches have been one sided, but lately they sure came across to me as such. maybe I'm wrong tho and it's just clay that clouds my judgement, yet i don't believe I'm totally wrong either.
RAFA2005RG
Banned
Basically because of Nadal, there is no such thing as a happy federer fan. He's damaged them for life, and I thank him for that.
Nole will get very popular if he keeps on winning. He has a lot of personality and can appeal to western countries better than Rafa as he can speak intelligent English. Rafa has been a champ for years and it took time for him to gain popularity. It will happen for Nole too.
Clarky21
Banned
Not true. Nadal became popular quickly. It didn't take him years and years to gain a fanbase at all once he got some exposure.
And you act as if Djesus just hit the scene and is new to tennis. He's been around for years, and turned pro in 2003. His fanbase it set by now, and he ain't getting any more popular.
RAFA2005RG
Banned
What a joke.
Flash O'Groove
Hall of Fame
Rafaboy
Semi-Pro
Nadal has Charisma. This is the ability or characteristic that pulls the viewer in and makes the viewer feel that he is becoming the performer. all great actors posess this quality.
Like when you watch a really good movie, and come out of the theater believing that you are tom Hanks, or will smith or Marlon brando, or James dean, whoever the hero was.
Its an unknown factor, what actually makes somelone like that. but i does exist. Do YOU have CHARISMA?
Like when you watch a really good movie, and come out of the theater believing that you are tom Hanks, or will smith or Marlon brando, or James dean, whoever the hero was.
Its an unknown factor, what actually makes somelone like that. but i does exist. Do YOU have CHARISMA?
The-Champ
Legend
mbm0912
Hall of Fame
sorta like what Djokovic is doing to people like you, no?
cknobman
Legend
Nadal gets more popularity because people feel sorry for him.
There is so much going against Nadal all the time he is really a fighter for being able to overcome:
Playing with constant injuries: knee, foot, butt, etc... (remember he never loses unless hes injured)
Unfair rules: 20-25 seconds between points, no coaching from the stands
Unfair schedule of too many hardcourts
Unfair court speeds: not every surface is slow yet
Unfair drug test procedures: too many tests, has to be available at anytime
ATP and ITF not caring about the players health and basically indirectly causing all of Rafa's injuries.
Rafa is a real warrior and underdog. With all those things going against him every time he steps on court its a wonder he can win a match period. He truly is a great champion.
There is so much going against Nadal all the time he is really a fighter for being able to overcome:
Playing with constant injuries: knee, foot, butt, etc... (remember he never loses unless hes injured)
Unfair rules: 20-25 seconds between points, no coaching from the stands
Unfair schedule of too many hardcourts
Unfair court speeds: not every surface is slow yet
Unfair drug test procedures: too many tests, has to be available at anytime
ATP and ITF not caring about the players health and basically indirectly causing all of Rafa's injuries.
Rafa is a real warrior and underdog. With all those things going against him every time he steps on court its a wonder he can win a match period. He truly is a great champion.
I think it's all marketing, and yes some things they can't change like the way they look and where they are from. But nadal just has a better marketing team around him, most people who love him don't know as much like people on these boards or much about tennis. People ranting here consists of less than 1% of 1% of the tennis public's opinion probably.
Smasher08
Legend
Not alone. There's someone so obsessed with Nadal that he creates multiple accounts and new threads every day just to profess his love.
And when they're that obsessed, it's invariably sexual. :lol:
Rafaboy
Semi-Pro
Really? wow I better change my name. was not aware of this.
DreddyTennis45
Hall of Fame
Interesting thread. Wonder what people think now.
Its impossible to not like Rafa, thats not
Djokers fault.
Djoker has also suffered because he turned into the biggest threat to the two players with the largest fan-bases in the world. Thats a recipe for not being liked.
Djokers popularity might rise when/if Fedal retires, and he (hopefully
) isnt considered a threat to the slam record anymore.
DreddyTennis45
Hall of Fame
Its impossible to not like Rafa, thats not
Djokers fault.
Djoker has also suffered because he turned into the biggest threat to the two players with the largest fan-bases in the world. Thats a recipe for not being liked.
Djokers popularity might rise when/if Fedal retires, and he (hopefully
Exactly. I'm willing to be that he will become way more popular when Fedal retire. Its all about timing
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
How long is he going to be around after Fedal retire? He will be 30 next year. I don't think it's to do with Fedal being around at all. Federer has been marketed to gullible fans who have bought into his 'elegant' game. This is sport, what has elegance got to do with anything? Nadal is just likeable; he doesn't even try and he is not pushed down the throats of fans like Federer is and yet he draws crowds wherever he plays not only in Spanish speaking countries or the USA. See how he is being mobbed in Beijing.
Tennisanity
Legend
The only reason Nadal is more popular than Djokovic is because Nadal has a more fabled history with Federer. Federer is the core for all popularity.
4-string
Professional
Not really, it's all about being unlikable.
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