2024 Paris Olympics Tennis 2R - Rafael Nadal (SPN) v/s Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Win prediction poll

  • Total voters
    97
  • Poll closed .
Obnavox said:
This version of Nadal could still beat DiMinaur with one hand tied behind his back.
Click to expand...
Don't think so,
NOGUIERA_MINOTAURO_R.png
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1 said:
You called it from the beginning.
Click to expand...
i love Rafa, always will, but to me its very evident that he has people around him who see him as a their career and are not looking at his best interests, but their own. I have seen it many times with great athletes, and how they can be pushed beyond what their bodies can do. Ronaldo R9 world cup final was a classic example of this, coincidentally at the time Nike sponsored Brazil.
There was no reason to play today. Thigh issue...less than 20 hrs rest compared to 2 days for Novak, fellow GOAT Djokovic the opponent who is still top 3 in the world in big matches, everything pointed to a total humiliation, which is what this was.
However, there were TV ratings to think about, sponsors etc, hangers on who will benefit from rafa benefitting financially (yes its the Olympics, but lets be honest all the tennis players earn good money through their sponsors by playing) so i think Rafa was being told he was in better form than he is.
The knock on effect will potentially be him now way off in the doubles as well.
 
messiahrobins said:
i love Rafa, always will, but to me its very evident that he has people around him who see him as a their career and are not looking at his best interests, but their own. I have seen it many times with great athletes, and how they can be pushed beyond what their bodies can do. Ronaldo R9 world cup final was a classic example of this, coincidentally at the time Nike sponsored Brazil.
There was no reason to play today. Thigh issue...less than 20 hrs rest compared to 2 days for Novak, fellow GOAT Djokovic the opponent who is still top 3 in the world in big matches, everything pointed to a total humiliation, which is what this was.
However, there were TV ratings to think about, sponsors etc, hangers on who will benefit from rafa benefitting financially (yes its the Olympics, but lets be honest all the tennis players earn good money through their sponsors by playing) so i think Rafa was being told he was in better form than he is.
The knock on effect will potentially be him now way off in the doubles as well.
Click to expand...
You make great points.

Sometimes decisions get made out the players control or they find it hard to go against what the team are sponsors want.

As you say his best shot is doubles this event and he doesn’t want to jeopardise that. I think he will be fine as it’s a quick exit but yeah it feels maybe he should have just played doubles. It is what it is though.
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1 said:
You make great points.

Sometimes decisions get made out the players control or they find it hard to go against what the team are sponsors want.

As you say his best shot is doubles this event and he doesn’t want to jeopardise that. I think he will be fine as it’s a quick exit but yeah it feels maybe he should have just played doubles. It is what it is though.
Click to expand...
Like i said yesterday had it been a slam i could understand him playing singles obviously. But in this event where he has singles gold already and realistically was not a contender in singles, i just didnt see the point in playing when in the doubles. Hence why i feel he was given no choice.,
 
You guys are weird acting as if professional tennis players shouldn’t play any matches where they think they are going to lose. There would be no tour if everyone did that.
 
socallefty said:
You guys are weird acting as if professional tennis players shouldn’t play any matches where they think they are going to lose. There would be no tour if everyone did that.
Click to expand...
This is a different scenario. Its a team event, like for every athlete, albeit with individual glory attached. The issue here is why risk doubles by playing singles where he was never going to medal?
 
Nadal put up a brave fight, came back and leveled it 4-4 in the second set, but it was so obvious he is just a shell of his old self. Still good enough to beat players below top 40 on clay, but he would have it tough against top 40 players at this stage even on clay. He's had a great career. He can call it quits and just enjoy the fruit of all his hard working now. Djokovic is declining fast, but he still has more left in his tank and can achieve more before hanging his racket, I think.
 
chjtennis said:
Nadal put up a brave fight, came back and leveled it 4-4 in the second set, but it was so obvious he is just a shell of his old self. Still good enough to beat players below top 40 on clay, but he would have it tough against top 40 players at this stage even on clay. He's had a great career. He can call it quits and just enjoy the fruit of all his hard working now. Djokovic is declining fast, but he still has more left in his tank and can achieve more before hanging his racket, I think.
Click to expand...
At least Rafa lost before facing The Wyatt Six! Or even Unkle Howdie!
 
so is rafa going to say goodbye at lavar cup kinda like roger did? i like rafa but i don't want to see him losing to second tier players. I guess there is only 1 of big3 left now. i do like sinner and alcarez so hopefully they can continue to get better.
 
StrongRule said:
Sad that Djokovic gets a chance to inflate the head to head even more, as if all the matches in 2014-2016 weren't enough. And I have no doubt that many Djokovic fans will claim this is peak Nadal. As usual.
Click to expand...

You sound riciulous here. How much did Nadal inflate the H2H with those 9 clay matches in 2006-2009 against the shadow of Djokovic? And how many more clay matches does Nadal need to have a chance to even the H2H at this point? Clay is only supposed to be 25% of the whole season, so why weren't 75% of the 60 matches on other surfaces?
 
Mainad said:
Wonder if that was Rafa's last singles match on Philippe-Chatrier? Seems poignant to go down in straight sets after so many victories there but at least he went down fighting.
Click to expand...
He'll play with Carlos on Phillipe Chatrier if they go deep won't he?
 
Last edited:
Lauren_Girl' said:
You sound riciulous here. How much did Nadal inflate the H2H with those 9 clay matches in 2006-2009 against the shadow of Djokovic? And how many more clay matches does Nadal need to have a chance to even the H2H at this point? Clay is only supposed to be 25% of the whole season, so why weren't 75% of the 60 matches on other surfaces?
Click to expand...
ROFLMAO at 2008-2009 being shadow of Djokovic on clay. Shows that there is no point to have any discussions with you.
 
Lauren_Girl' said:
You sound riciulous here. How much did Nadal inflate the H2H with those 9 clay matches in 2006-2009 against the shadow of Djokovic? And how many more clay matches does Nadal need to have a chance to even the H2H at this point? Clay is only supposed to be 25% of the whole season, so why weren't 75% of the 60 matches on other surfaces?
Click to expand...
Don't you think Djokovic from RG 2006 could beat this awful version of Nadal from Paris 2024?
 
Tano said:
Tomorrow Nadal is going to play the doubles with Alcaraz.
The golden boy can afford to play both modalities on the same day, "grandfather" Nadal does not.
Click to expand...
The way they are playing Nad-Alcaraz, it is only a matter of time before they lose. They were both stuck in the doubles alley towards the baseline with the whole court open in their last match. They are playing like singles instead of complementing each other which doubles requires.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rafa4LifeEver
  • Poll Poll
Australian Open 2025 QF - [7] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v/s [3] Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (SPN)
34 35 36
Replies
2K
Views
58K
Rafa.the.Magnificent
Rafa.the.Magnificent
Rafa4LifeEver
  • Poll Poll
2024 Swedish Open ATP 250 R32 matchup - Rafael Nadal (SPN) v/s Leo Borg (SWE)
2 3
Replies
133
Views
5K
speedysteve
speedysteve
Back
Top