All the attention is on Djokovic, whilst Nadal is ONE RG WIN away from 20 : 20 vision...

[Sport]

Wasn't a choke. Del Potro lost because he's supposed to lose. Can't blame everything to a choke. Djokovic is just the better player.
Also, if they meet in the RG final this year, Novak will need to play in god form because Nadal's B level is good enough to wipe the court with anyone. And nadal always raises his game for the RG finals.

I don't think Djokovic has any realistic chance to defeat Nadal in a RG final, just like Nadal has no realistic chance to defeat Djokovic in an AO final. If Nadal reaches the RG final, it will mean he is in good shape. And only Thiem can defeat Nadal there. Thiem is 7 years younger than Nadal, Djokovic is only 11 months younger than Nadal. Djokovic doesn't have Thiem's age advantage. At some point, Nadal will decline enough to allow Thiem start winning RG.

 

[Hitman]

And yet a year later Imhotep is guaranteed a calendar slam

Majority of people here are not saying anyone is winning the CYGS. At best what is realistically reasonable is a second slam for Novak.

 

[MeatTornado]

And yet a year later Imhotep is guaranteed a calendar slam

Yes but you're forgetting the golden rule

Novak doesn't care about Masters anymore™

 

[Belgrad13]

From the beginning of September to the end of May the Australian Open is the only Grand Slam to be held. It's about the time it takes a child to be born.
And this gap is filled by Novak Djokovic. RG, on the other hand, is overshadowed by Wimbledon and the US Open.
Nadal had to win this high number of tournaments there to get this extreme attention. Half would not have been enough.
Nevertheless, his victories were important to prevent the Swiss from walking through in the heyday.
The big breakthrough came only when Wimbledon 2008 happened..

 

[acintya]

Nadal is my loverboy

 

[Mike Sams]

I don't think Djokovic has any realistic chance to defeat Nadal in a RG final, just like Nadal has no realistic chance to defeat Djokovic in an AO final. If Nadal reaches the RG final, it will mean he is in good shape. And only Thiem can defeat Nadal there. Thiem is 7 years younger than Nadal, Djokovic is only 11 months younger than Nadal. Djokovic doesn't have Thiem's age advantage. At some point, Nadal will decline enough to allow Thiem start winning RG.

You realize Thiem's won only 1 set over the past 3 RG meetings with Nadal, right? And Nadal's served him bagels and breadsticks throughout.

 

[Mike Sams]

Are you kidding me? The ball was on Del Potro's racket, he could have hit the forehand anywhere in the court and he would have won, but he launches the ball into the air. As much as I was relieved that Novak pulled through, he wasn't the better player, he was at the mercy of a massive miss from Del Potro there.

Del Po's chokes against Djoker are the same as Federer's 40-15 chokes against Djoker. They both get scared and spray errors when Djokovic locks in waiting to receive in the biggest moments. Djokovic thrives off pressure. The other guys lose their sh*t.

 

[DeathStar]

So h2h matters but only when it matters, when it doesn't it doesn't. Right?

Is that what you are understanding?? By this logic Krajicek & Bruguera are both above Sampras the. Would you put those 2 above over Sampras?? Shouldn't the two players being compared have atleast somewhat of an equal resume before we take H2H into account?

 

[Midaso240]

Unless he's injured (of which there is a definite possibility) Nadal is winning RG this year. Thiem is the closest challenger,and mentally he will be fried after that AO final...

 

[pasta]

IMO - Djokovic has no chance of making it to 20GS !!!

It's been 3 GS margin last few years when he has had a chance ... and did not capitalize ... it is getting less and less likely to do it now when the younger generation is finally catching up.

Djokovic won 5 of 7 GS ... how likely that he is going to repeat this ?

I say 5%

Nadal has won 2 of 7 GS ... how likely is Nadal going to repeat this ?

50%

Federer is done winning GS

 

[Lew II]

..

 

[DonDiego]

Are you guys seriously suggesting Nadal is the favourite at the upcoming RG? Djoker will destroy him if they face each other, like he did in 2015.

 

[Hitman]

Are you guys seriously suggesting Nadal is the favourite at the upcoming RG? Djoker will destroy him if they face each other, like he did in 2015.

What? If Nadal plays anywhere close to his best at RG, he will carve up everyone that stands in front of him. Everyone.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

I fear DoMinique will be a little more terrified trying to get his 1st...

He already won a set off Rafa at FO, last year. Beat him at AO. Three tie-breaks.

Rafa isn't half the clutch player he used to be. He is basically vulturing slams when he doesn't have to play Novak.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Without the wasted time from October 2016 to July 2018, Djokovic himself would have been recognized as tennis king by Federer hardliners.
He would still have 17 slams.

And if we add all the Rafa injuries, especially 2009, RF would have 15 slams now, at most.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

except Rafa doesn't choke and least of all at RG

if Djoker wasn't so awful on clay these past few years I might give him a puncher's chance though

2017 was injury year, so we can't count that.
2018 he reached QF, wasn't quite there yet with his confidence. Won Wimby a month later, and started to dominate again.
2019 he lost 7-5 5th set to Thiem in semis, in very windy conditions. Who knows if Rafa would have beaten him in the finale.

Those are the explanations you were searching for.

Nadal will be playing to EQUAL the all-time slam record. If you actually believe this won't add tremendous pressure on Nadal, then you might want to examine pro tennis more closely.

 

[Tony48]

Well the attention is focused on the long term slam race. To emphasize my point: Federer right now is the all-time slam leader, but none of the attention is on him. Why? Because the focus is long term, not right now. Nadal winning RG this year wouldn't change that (unless he also won either Wimbledon and/or the U.S. Open).

 

[kevaninho]

Add US Open and AO and then it's 11> 5 Djokovic. Djokovic is ahead of Nadal on 2/3 surfaces. Hard and grass.

H2H is 3-2 Hard and 2-1 Grass at Slams.

Rafa is and will be forever the King of Clay. And a little more, because he has two Wimbledons.

But the H2H numbers only matter if the slam count is close, or even..... That was the posters point, whom you are replying to.

Once Djokovic gets the same number as Nadal, everyone will agree Djokovic has had the better career.
It would be even more so, if he won RG a 2nd time, then hes undoubtedly numero uno.

But right now, its still Fedal only in the convo for the best ever.

 

[kevaninho]

What Rome 2019 event were you watching? He only won the quarter finals against Del Potro because Del Potro choked massively on MP. Novak should have lost there and then, the following day the other Argentine player takes Djokovic to three sets also. That is hardly a near God form from Novak. The guy should have been sent packing in the quarters.

Are you expecting Djokovic to be better this clay season?
I see so many people here say he has regressed on the dirt.

How do genuine fans view it?

 

[junior74]

He already won a set off Rafa at FO, last year. Beat him at AO. Three tie-breaks.

Rafa isn't half the clutch player he used to be. He is basically vulturing slams when he doesn't have to play Novak.

I am talking about finals. Thiem showed the world he wasn't ready, and kinda handed it to Novak.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

I am talking about finals. Thiem showed the world he wasn't ready, and kinda handed it to Novak.

Who says only Thiem can beat Rafa at FO?

I'd say Novak is a bigger threat.

 

[junior74]

Who says only Thiem can beat Rafa at FO?

I'd say Novak is a bigger threat.

I think this year, the one who doesn't get Thiem in the SF is favourite for the title.

 

[powerangle]

OK and since RG 2005, Nadal has won 19 Slams and Djokovic 17. And since RG 2017, Nadal has won 5 Slams. Anda sincero RG 2019, Nadal has won 2 of the last 4 Slams, the same than Djokovic. There is no reason to consider that a run alleatory starts at WB 2018, rather than at RG 2005, RG 2017 or RG 2019.

The other poster made a true statement. The fact that you had to reply with a "but but but...Nadal also won this and this and this too!" shows that your panties were in a twist. No reason to get that sensitive and defensive over a true statement. And while your statements on Nadal are also true, the fact that you had to retort with your statement...sensitive much?

 

[Hitman]

Are you expecting Djokovic to be better this clay season?
I see so many people here say he has regressed on the dirt.

How do genuine fans view it?

I honestly don't know what to expect of Djokovic this clay season to be honest, this is the surface where his level has dropped the most. He looked vulnerable several times last year on the clay. I think the first thing for him to do is play a good IW- Miami sequence, because that will give him form heading into the clay. I think one of the things that hurt him on the clay last year was the poor performances he put in after winning the AO he essentially killed his whole momentum and then struggled to build up steam heading into RG. I would probably be in a better position to answer this as the clay season begins.

 

[Belgrad13]

But the H2H numbers only matter if the slam count is close, or even..... That was the posters point, whom you are replying to.

Once Djokovic gets the same number as Nadal, everyone will agree Djokovic has had the better career.
It would be even more so, if he won RG a 2nd time, then hes undoubtedly numero uno.

But right now, its still Fedal only in the convo for the best ever.

For me Federer is at number 3. And always will be. Who said that H2H only count IF the slam count is close? CNN?

For the Big 3 the H2H is very important. But only between the 3. Other H2H are not so much important.

P.S. The timing of Federer is great after Sampras and before the Big 2, but this is the reason why he is at 3 and always will be.

He is clearly at 3 of course. And very talented by the way, but he is not "King Roger" and he knows it since 2008, 2009, 2010 and after that.

 

[Sport]

He already won a set off Rafa at FO, last year. Beat him at AO. Three tie-breaks.

Rafa isn't half the clutch player he used to be. He is basically vulturing slams when he doesn't have to play Novak.

? Not at RG for sure, Nadal has 12 RG titles, and Djokovic only 1. Plus, Djokovic has never defeated Nadal in a RG final or semifinal. Nadal winning RG is the natural process and to be expected, not a "vulturing" process. It would be completely fanatic to assert that Nadal is "vulturing" RG titles for not facing a much worse clay player like Djokovic, but I assume you were refering to the recent USO titles. But that is so ridiculous as saying that Djokovic "vultured" the USO 2015 or the USO 2018 for not facing Nadal. Nadal has won more USO titles than Novak and leads the H2H over him at the USO. . Based on their current careers, Djokovic is not a better USO player than Nadal so far. So Nadal is not "vulturing" the USO for not facing a player with less USO titles than him and a losing H2H against him at the event.

Who says only Thiem can beat Rafa at FO?

I'd say Novak is a bigger threat.

I say so. I think only Thiem can beat Nadal in a RG final, because only Thiem has the age advantage over Rafa. Just like Nadal has little to no chance to defeat Novak in an AO final, Novak has little to no chance to beat Nadal in a RG final.

 

[Sport]

I think this year, the one who doesn't get Thiem in the SF is favourite for the title.

No offense, but that is wishful thinking at its finest because you don't want Nadal to win the title. Nadal, a 12 times RG champion and winner of the last 3 RG in a row, will be the absolute favorite for the RG title with or without Thiem in the SF. Djokovic, with only 1 RG title, who has never defeated Nadal in a RG final or semifinal, is not going to suddenly become the favorite just because Nadal has Thiem in the SF.

Nadal won't get tired just for playing one 5 sets match against Thiem (assuming the semifinal goes to 5 sets rather than 4 or 3). I guarantee you that Thiem being in Nadal's half means nothing for the final. Djokovic has no realistic chance to defeat Nadal in a RG final, just like Rafa has no realistic chance to defeat Djokovic in an AO final. If Djokovic had to beat in 5 sets Thiem in the AO SF, he would still defeat a fresh Nadal in the AO final. Analogously, even if Nadal plays a 5 sets SF with Thiem, he will still defeat Djokovic in the RG final.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

? Not at RG for sure, Nadal has 12 RG titles, and Djokovic only 1. Plus, Djokovic has never defeated Nadal in a RG final or semifinal. Nadal winning RG is the natural process and to be expected, not a "vulturing" process. It would be completely fanatic to assert that Nadal is "vulturing" RG titles for not facing a much worse clay player like Djokovic, but I assume you were refering to the recent USO titles. But that is so ridiculous as saying that Djokovic "vultured" the USO 2015 or the USO 2018 for not facing Nadal. Nadal has won more USO titles than Novak and leads the H2H over him at the USO. . Based on their current careers, Djokovic is not a better USO player than Nadal so far. So Nadal is not "vulturing" the USO for not facing a player with less USO titles than him and a losing H2H against him at the event.

To me there are two distinct Rafas: the pre 2015 Rafa who was clutch and mostly fearless, and the post 2015 Rafa who is non-clutch vs his biggest rivals.

I wasn't referring to this first era as vulturing, that would be absurd.

 

[junior74]

No offense, but that is wishful thinking at its finest because you don't want Nadal to win the title. Nadal, a 12 times RG champion and winner of the last 3 RG in a row, will be the absolute favorite for the RG title with or without Thiem in the SF. Djokovic, with only 1 RG title, who has never defeated Nadal in a RG final or semifinal, is not going to suddenly become the favorite just because Nadal has Thiem in the SF.

Nadal won't get tired just for playing one 5 sets match against Thiem (assuming the semifinal goes to 5 sets rather than 4 or 3). I guarantee you that Thiem being in Nadal's half means nothing for the final. Djokovic has no realistic chance to defeat Nadal in a RG final, just like Rafa has no realistic chance to defeat Djokovic in an AO final. If Djokovic had to beat in 5 sets Thiem in the AO SF, he would still defeat a fresh Nadal in the AO final. Analogously, even if Nadal plays a 5 sets SF with Thiem, he will still defeat Djokovic in the RG final.

Ok. Great.

 

[kevaninho]

To me there are two distinct Rafas: the pre 2015 Rafa who was clutch and mostly fearless, and the post 2015 Rafa who is non-clutch vs his biggest rivals.

I wasn't referring to this first era as vulturing, that would be absurd.

Non-clutch on surfaces not named clay.

Since his revival in 2017, he has fared just fine against his biggest rivals on clay.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Non-clutch on surfaces not named clay.

Since his revival in 2017, he has fared just fine against his biggest rivals on clay.

Didn't have to play Novak at FO since 2015, which of course isn't his fault.

 

[kevaninho]

Didn't have to play Novak at FO since 2015, which of course isn't his fault.

But hes played him in Masters . Every match matters, since Feds HC victories over Nadal outwith slams have all counted.

 

[Pheasant]

How many Fed fans want to see a Federer/Nadal final at RG? Believe it or not, I'd love to see that. Color me crazy. One last RG final for the old man would be awesome to see. When Nadal bags #20, I think that it'd be great to see Federer on the other side of the net. I think that'd be epic for tennis. I also think that Roger's congratulations to Nadal would be quite memorable.

Let's face it. The slam race is basically over for Fed. Fed will be matched, then passed. I've accepted that. That doesn't make me any less of a fan of Fed. And I won't make any excuses. When it happens, it might as well be on Nadal's best surface against Fed in the final.