jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
Aside from Djoko and Murray, who were Fedal's fearsome young challengers when they were mopping up everything?
2015 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Final - Novak Djokovic [1] vs. Tomas Berdych [6]
- Thread starter The Green Mile
- Start date
Aside from Djoko and Murray, who were Fedal's fearsome young challengers when they were mopping up everything?
Tennis wizard
Legend
That's very good of him, intelligent guy not easy finding the time to learn new languages
All-rounder
Legend
The next generation will never challenge them.
Most of the young guns who were meant to are already in their mid 20's and in their prime. This is as good as it gets, unfortunately.
mightyrick
Legend
And that's the entire point. They used to be extremely important when they were actually 5-set affairs. Federer and Nadal had to win the lion's share of their Masters titles over a course of five sets. And being five-set tournaments, they were also strong indicators of how players were going to do in the slams. But those days are gone.
We're now saying that "Masters" tournaments are exactly the same format as a small 250 -- but worth more points and a slightly larger draw.
sbengte
G.O.A.T.
He is really over exerting himself and will burn himself out by the time FO comes around.
He should skip Madrid if he is serious about having a go at RG.
Imagine if he meets Nadal in the RG semi and beats him but then loses the final.
sbengte
G.O.A.T.
He has also got the mandatory loss to Fed out of the way early in Dubai, which bodes well for the rest of the clay season ;-)
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Mmm, I may be wrong but I'm guessing from your recent posts on this thread that you're none too pleased Djokovic won today?
All-rounder
Legend
He still has his mandatory loss at RG to look forward to
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
He lost the Dubai Final...at this point in 2011 he had zero losses.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
But at this stage in 2011 he didn't have MC on his resume.
ark_28
Legend
Bertie B
Hall of Fame
^^the 5-set format is a different beast to the 3-setter. This is why Djokovic's prowess in these masters events are no indicator of what will happen at the French Open.
One thing I will take away from the Nadal match, though this isn't a Nadal thread, is I like the fight I saw from him. Still too upset to watch the highlights. However, I saw more fright from him now than I saw in Miami & Roma last year.
One thing I will take away from the Nadal match, though this isn't a Nadal thread, is I like the fight I saw from him. Still too upset to watch the highlights. However, I saw more fright from him now than I saw in Miami & Roma last year.
ark_28
Legend
Djokovic certainly gave Nadal more than a fright that's for sure.
Berdych hasn't beaten a Djokovic in a best of 5 set match in nearly 5 years so not too sure you are accurate in your assessment there.
mightyrick
Legend
I think Djokovic has had an incredible run so far. I am extremely impressed with his ability to play solid on important points. He's certainly played far better than anyone else in the field. He just got done beating the guy with the second-best record of the season. Major props to him for that.
What annoys me is when people elevate these wins to be more than what they actually are. I mean we are to a point where some Djokovic fans are now saying that Best-Of-Three Masters are just as difficult as Best-Of-Five slams.
That's where it gets ridiculous.
I am happy that Djokovic is requiring the rest of the tour to challenge him. That will only help others increase the level of their game. I am a fan of and a player of tennis. The last thing I want to see is bad tennis at the end of major tournaments.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
6 in a row: indoor, outdoor hard and clay, woohoo!! Djoko doesn't lose in tier 1 anymore 
4th title of the year already and they are the biggest: 1 slam + 3 masters wow wow wow. Isn't it awesome Djoko has already tied Fed in master titles (23) and he is 6 years younger!! If he manages himself well physically, he'll end up pulverizing the record!!
He's also tied Fed in # of master titles won on clay: 6 (3 Rome, 2 M-C and 1 Madrid) but so much better than Fed since he's won all 3 (and Fed only 3rd clay)
What a season already! Congrats to Novak. I hope he gets a well deserved rest now.
ETA: I see that the final ended up being the "real" final after all. Berd fought like a lion apparently. I was at work and haven't seen the match yet.
4th title of the year already and they are the biggest: 1 slam + 3 masters wow wow wow. Isn't it awesome Djoko has already tied Fed in master titles (23) and he is 6 years younger!! If he manages himself well physically, he'll end up pulverizing the record!!
He's also tied Fed in # of master titles won on clay: 6 (3 Rome, 2 M-C and 1 Madrid) but so much better than Fed since he's won all 3 (and Fed only 3rd clay)
What a season already! Congrats to Novak. I hope he gets a well deserved rest now.
ETA: I see that the final ended up being the "real" final after all. Berd fought like a lion apparently. I was at work and haven't seen the match yet.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Maybe not but look at it this way: he could have won 0 clay master and 0 RG like 2012. So, 1 clay title is better than 0 no matter what
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Maybe not but look at it this way: he could have won 0 clay master and 0 RG like 2012. So, 1 clay title is better than 0 no matter what
I'll never understand what part of this so many people on here find so difficult to understand.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
For me, I prefer having AO-IW-Miami-MC combo than AO-Dubai-IW-Miami plus streak. Just my opinion, but it isn't by much.
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, there is less motivation to beat him now (you would join Federer and... Karlovic) than in 2011.
The streak gave him a huge target on his back
I think any logical tennis player would rather have the AO, IW, Miami, MC combo. Even saying that is crazy. I cant believe he just won all of those. Actually its the freaking Paris, WTF, AO, IW, Miami, MC combo. Holy jesus.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
His 2015>His 2011 imo so far.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Does anyone know if another player has ever won six consecutive tier 1 tournaments in the Open era?
Cortana
Legend
In terms of titles, in terms of level? No way.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
No, not that I know of.
I mean just look at this:
Bercy
WTFs
Australian Open
Indian Wells
Miami
Monte Carlo
6 consecutive. I mean, I don't think people realize what he has done.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Well sure, I'm talking about results. He doesn't need his 2011 level to beat up these guys.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Imagine if Novak were playing at his 2011 level. He wouldn't have lost a match so far this year! :shock:
I know what he has done but in another way I cant believe it. Thats just crazy. Indoor, Outdoor, Hard, Clay, Hell throw in wimby last year and you have just a complete masterclass.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
That streak was a blessing and a curse. The more he won, the more it weighed on his mind. Him losing early in the season meant all that hype wouldn't be there and he can just go out and play each tournament as it comes.
Yeah. Since the man became a father, he has won every big tennis event that has been played. That combination is just crazy, considering it includes indoors masters, outdoor hard masters and clay masters, plus a slam and WTF thrown in there. Crazy stuff!
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
I do not buy all this talk about this and that. Let us just say the more things change the more they stay the same. I love the sport of tennis and I will not trash it. Every single tournament from the pee wee leagues to the Major is a great achievement. This weak era this and that. The play of the game has exploded in the last 10 years. These men at the top are extreme athletes.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Of course. The level overall of the whole tour including himself is lower than 2011. Federer, Nadal and Murray are not what they were back then, and to be honest, neither is Djokovic day in day out. But ultimately, it is all about titles, and so far 2015 trumps 2011.
okdude1992
Hall of Fame
That is probably true. He is dominating with out even redlining his game. Very good news for you Novak fans. Multislam season looking like a lock
okdude1992
Hall of Fame
Also I have to give Berdych some credit for not getting blown out. He played pretty well.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
As for Djokovic...
but didnt' he get defeated by an arrow to his ankle ?? lol
AngieB
Banned
Don't get me wrong, #DJOKOVIC2011,
I think #Novak is having an amazing start of the season, as he typically begins each of his past five seasons. However, the #knee-jerk reaction that somehow because #Novak won #MonteCarlo, suddenly translates to a #FO and #CYGS win. We've seen #Novak consistently play this well early in the year. Historically, after the #AO, #Novak's next best chance at a #major is #Wimbledon. Then he finds a way to lose in #NY, then plays a great fall at the #minors.
All of the excess #emotional fan #baggage released after a #minor is won often baffles me. It makes me realize that probably 95% of #participants here have never attended a #grandslam event. If they had, their perception of tournaments like #MonteCarlo would be much different.
Yes, #congratulations are in order for #Novak as we go along #minor #highway. Time to shift gears soon because it's a long hill upward for a #FO win.
#PTL #JC4Ever
#AngieB
#AngieB
Angie the guy is currently holding two majors. He has won two out of the last three majors. So you are not making any sense.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
The answer is no! Novak is a beast
Nadal got the closest when he did 5 in a row in 2010: M-C, Rome, Madrid, RG, W
6 is the new record! (special kudos to Rafa though because his included 2 slams but Djoko did it on 3 surfaces/environments, Nadal on 2)
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
The answer is no! Novak is a beast
Nadal got the closest when he did 5 in a row in 2010: M-C, Rome, Madrid, RG, W
6 is the new record! (special kudos to Rafa though because his included 2 slams but Djoko did it on 3 surfaces/environments, Nadal on 2)
Yep. This is true. 6 is now indeed the new record, and it will be very hard to topple it. Interesting to see if Djokovic targets Madrid to go for 7.
Cortana
Legend
It would be crazy if Djokovic wins Madrid and Rome. 6 Masters in a row, 5 of them in one season. And 8 Tier 1 tournaments in a row xD
And imagine how confident he would be after that. Might win also RG and win 9 Tier 1 tournaments in a row including WTF and 2 GS.
But that's just a dream. Such a domination isn't possible.
And imagine how confident he would be after that. Might win also RG and win 9 Tier 1 tournaments in a row including WTF and 2 GS.
But that's just a dream. Such a domination isn't possible.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
Thank you for giving us the stats. Tennis Channel has been crap lately about this.
Needless to say, it wasn't pretty
If Novak had played this way yesterday against Nadal, he would have lost. I did not enjoy this match.
4 net points won out of 6. That's barely more than one a set. That is not the kind of tennis I could ever enjoy. This was back to a war of attrition, and it reminded me of why I have never been a fan of Novak, as a player. And there is no way he will eventually catch Fed and Nadal in slams with this grinding style of play because of the age factor.
He continues to go back to depending on his ground strokes to win matches. As dominant as his record is at the moment, I still think he has to come forward more to win more slams, and I predict with pretty good confidence that he will not even come close to getting a gram slam this year staying back all the time like that. Someone will get to him over 7 matches in slams on faster surfaces.
You may very well be right-but not for the reason that you think(or hope for): he may well lose before he even gets a chance to play them. He got more warnings for cheating in the Novak match, and got straight setted all the same. He's done, and once he makes his last stand at the Alamo-I mean, the French Open-your reaction(though i suspect you'll just disappear)will be something to see. You remember how things ended up at the Alamo, don't you?
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The answer is no! Novak is a beast
Nadal got the closest when he did 5 in a row in 2010: M-C, Rome, Madrid, RG, W
6 is the new record! (special kudos to Rafa though because his included 2 slams but Djoko did it on 3 surfaces/environments, Nadal on 2)
I'd actually prefer that he lose somewhere between now and the FO, for the same reason I hoped, in the recently concluded college basketball season, that Kentucky would stay undefeated into the NCAA championship: the pressure of such a streak just keeps building and building, and, sooner or later...BOOM! I despise Kentucky, and they got to 38-0, the first team in college basketball history on the men's side to do so, and suddenly...
A loss prior to the FO(preferably not to *******)will be a "thanks, I NEEDED that!" deal for Novak, keep him from getting too complacent-which I suspect happened today once he got up 4-0 in the final set.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
Well, let me explain it to you, because it makes perfect sense to me.
At almost age 28 he is trailing in majors by a large amount to Pete, Nadal and Fed. So he has to have a multiple slam year to catch up, which means 2011 level playing this year.
I also have doubts. As I said, he won today winning only 4 points at the net. He did not play a clean match. If he plays this way in a slam final, he'll lose.
So some of us are taking a "let's see" approach. I'm not quite as severe as AngieB about slams being everything, but she has a point, and her thinking is in line with the way the world tends to look at these guys. If Novak wins 3 slams this year, he gets into double digits in slams, and then he becomes a serious threat to Nadal's and Sampras's slam records. But if he only wins 2, next year will get even tougher, and if only 1 then he continues on his 1 slam a year pace, not good enough to challenge the slam count of the others.
First off he won today regardless. Second off he has one the last 6 big tournaments, third he has won two of the last three majors. Fourth he isnt in nadal or sampras league yet but if he keeps winning two majors a year he will be. You can have your doubts thats fine. He is the best player in the world right now by far. Its not close, and if he loses in Paris and wins in wimbledon that will still be the case.
Cortana
Legend
I would rather prefer Djokovic winning RG and nothing else than winning USO and Wimbledon.
9 Slams and Career Slam > 10 Slams and no Career Slam.
I would actually prefer that he have 13 slams like sampras than a career slam like Agassi and less slams total. But Hey to each his own.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Not sure I agree with you on that. I think I'd prefer him to win a 3rd Wimbledon title as this would put him alongside legends of the game like McEnroe and Becker who also won it three times. And needless to say for such a great HC player, a 2nd USO title would make his resume look that much more balanced imo.
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