Nadal_Freak
Banned
Djokovic is just a very hard matchup for Nadal. Not as much of a bad matchup as Nadal is to Federer but his 2-handed backhand is brutal in the matchup. Murray is starting to play like that as well.
Anyone else think Djoker can be a threat to Nadal at the FO?
- Thread starter kraggy
- Start date
edberg505
Legend
LOL, but he's already done it there. He needs to do it in the US Open to complete the Grand Slam.
rubberduckies
Professional
I completely agree with this post. For quite some time, I have been touting Verdasco and his killer forehand, which I think is the best the in the game. Now all the bandwagoners are jumping on board. His success at the Australian Open does not mean that he will become the next Djokovic or Murray. Those players have a solid body of results and victories over Nadal and Federer. Verdasco has yet to prove that he can consistently turn in those types of performances. In the past few years we have seen Baghdatis, Gonzalez, Tsonga, and now Verdasco make deep runs in the Aussie Open. Bahdatis and Tsonga were both very young. Tsonga has proven himself by winning a Masters Series. Baghdatis has reached the semis of Wimbledon but has otherwise failed to produce comparable results. Gonzalez was unable to sustain his performance. To me, Verdasco is much more like Gonzo in that his Aussie Open run came at a relatively late time in his career. I do not believe he will make significant noise at many other slams.
kashgotmoney
Professional
as long as his throat dont hurt and its perfect temperature. jk but i thnk it will be a close match
Ripster
Hall of Fame
Djokovic will probably be Nadal's biggest threat yes. Much more than Federer that's for sure. Djokovic's game matches up much better against Nadal than Fed's. Nadal's high kicking topspin ball doesn't affect Djokovic as much because Novak doesn't mind hitting high backhands.
capriatifanatic
Banned
If Djokovic is really Nadal's biggest "threat" then it means Nadal has absolutely no threat from anyone at this years French Open. Then again we all pretty much knew that anyway.
Ripster
Hall of Fame
Please enlighten us.
What he really meant to say is there is nobody to consider. Nobody has any chance vs Nadal at the French, nada, zippo. The only way for there to be any threat to Nadal at the French Open for the next 2 years atleast is:
-reincarnate 20-24 year old Borg somehow
-Nadal gets injured very badly and either has to withdraw or tries to play with that very serious injury ala the 2007 U.S Open (although he still might win the French right now even that injured)
edmondsm
Legend
Earthquakes happen all the time, 1000's every day. You're going to have to be more specific and provide some Richter numbers if we are going to truly know what your opinion on the matter is.
carlos djackal
Professional
I believe that Djoker can give Nadal some problems, actually his clay game is probably the only one that has a chance against the rampaging Nadal, but his stamina and mental toughness must improve remarkably if he would try challenge the King of Clay....
Earthquakes happen all the time, 1000's every day. You're going to have to be more specific and provide some Richter numbers if we are going to truly know what your opinion on the matter is.
It would take an act of God for Djokovic to beat Nadal at the FO.
380pistol
Banned
Nadal hasn't lost a 3/5 set match on cay in his life!!! Djokovic hasn't beaten anyone of consequence on clay (and at RG). So is he realistic threat to Nadal at the French Open??? Of course....
.....as much as a fly is to my livelihood!!!!
edmondsm
Legend
Well I'm going to play devil's advocate here, let's say I'm an atheist. That means I'm going to need some specifics and not just this religious hyperbole. So what classification of hurricane are we talking? Do we need a Hugo or a full blown Katrina to give Djokovic the win over Nadal at the FO.
It would take another theoretical big bang for Djokovic to beat Nadal on clay. A.k.a. it's not going to happen. At least not for another couple million years.
Based on your analogy though, something even bigger than Katrina.
edmondsm
Legend
I hear they're working on another big bang in Germany right now....stay posted.:twisted:
This is the best answer yet.
better chances than djoker, verdasco but not much, federer more than anyone, monfils is a darkhorse but has the heart like djoker, ferrer, safin in my opinion may be the real threat if he stays motivated, tsonga, just to name a few that i consider bigger threats at this time than djoker.
LurkingGod
Rookie
I remember last year when Del Potro won 4 consecutive tournaments, 2 of them were on clay, people started talking about how he could be a threat to Nadal at FO..:neutral: Anyone still think he has a chance?
What about G. Simon? He seems to be a bad match up for Nadal.
What about G. Simon? He seems to be a bad match up for Nadal.
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abmk
Bionic Poster
He could beat nadal on clay if he is playing extremely well and nadal is playing badly ......
in a 3 set match.
RG, no ways ....
I too want djokovic to play Fed first to prove that Fed/Nadal are the BIG 2 for a reason. Djokovic has potential to do so one day, but I don't think he's there yet, at least not mentally.
I remember last year when Del Potro won 4 consecutive tournaments, 2 of them were on clay, people started talking about how he could be a threat to Nadal at FO..:neutral: Anyone still think he has a chance?
What about G. Simon? He seems to be a bad match up for Nadal.
Its possible but i think nadal can find a way around it.He isnt very big so he is definitly back to be quite and agile around the court.He stays back deep behind the baseline so that also suits the clay.BUt i think nadal can be more patient with him and find a way.He did not hit one flat backhand to simon in AO because that is just feeding simon what he wants,pure pace and power, and then return it back with more.But its too early to say so lets see how well simon does in the upcoming clay tournies.
P_Agony
Banned
Federer beat Djokovic on clay last year, and was closer to beat Nadal in the MS events they played. End of story.
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roddickfan90
Banned
he can,but i think delpotro will be the one to beat nadal at FO
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Nadal had to play an extremely high level to beat Djokovic at Hamburg. That was a really long match and the same thoughts after the Verdasco match were after the Hamburg match. I thought Nadal had nothing left but he proves me wrong twice. Maybe not his A game but he got it done. Nadal brought his A game against Djokovic though.
P_Agony
Banned
Djokovic is a tougher matchup to Nadal on clay than Federer is, that much I agree. However, Federer beat Djokovic on clay twice or three times, and don't give me that crap about Djokovic retiring because he was sick. He retired the same way he retired to Roddick - he couldn't take the beatdown thrown at him. Federer had more consistent results on clay, even last year when Fed was at his absolute worst. Federer has a 6-2 winning record against Joker, and that includes their 2 latest matches, do I need to go on?
P_Agony
Banned
The same guy who lost 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 to Federer not long ago is going to beat Nadal on his favorite surface? No, not and no again. And no.
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
Since there is no actual spell over the French Open, decreeing that it go to Nadal, it all depends on Nadal and on the resolve of his competition. Djokovic definitely has some odds to beat Rafa, because he is the only one to have beaten him recently at a major clay tournament (Rome 2008 ). Federer is really the second ranked clay court player, so he always has a shot too, at least logically.
In the end, it depends on both sides of the net. Some need to be reminded that Nadal is a mere mortal. It is quite unlikely that he will always win the French. His number 2 and 3 opponents happen to be the next best and are good competition for him. To refer to Nadal as unbeatable is silly, but I can appreciate that one might not want to bet a lot of money on someone beating him (on clay) on a given day.
In the end, it depends on both sides of the net. Some need to be reminded that Nadal is a mere mortal. It is quite unlikely that he will always win the French. His number 2 and 3 opponents happen to be the next best and are good competition for him. To refer to Nadal as unbeatable is silly, but I can appreciate that one might not want to bet a lot of money on someone beating him (on clay) on a given day.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Djokovic will beat Federer the next time they play.
Nothing like the present.FYI, Djokovic has never beaten Rafa on clay
LurkingGod
Rookie
Djokovic didn't beat Nadal on clay last year, JCF did. In fact he almost didn't have to beat anyone to win the Rome title:|.
Actually , I think that is only true on hard courts.On grass and clay, he knows he is up against it
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
Good catch. However, it is true that Djokovic won a major clay tournament in which Nadal was playing. Rome 2008 draw
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Anyone that has EVER won a GS or the Masters Tournament definitely has a lot of heart...
So, your argument is flawed...
Shaolin
Talk Tennis Guru
uH.....no, its not flawed. Winning a grand slam on clay, esp the French where you would have to beat Nadal, the guy with probably the most heart in tennis, would be considerably more taxing mentally and physically than others. You are the one with the flawed argument, sorry.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Djoker is more of a threat to Nadal on clay than Fed (worst match up). Djoker was the 2nd best clay courter last year winning Rome and gave Nadal his toughest match at the french.
P_Agony
Banned
Djokovic will beat Federer the next time they play.
Sorry, but Federer seems to handle Djokovic farily easily. I don't think he'll lose to him most of their future meetings. You are a Federer hater who will say anything but the truth.
vtmike
Banned
Errr........ NO!!!
A. Both Federer and Nadal were eliminated in that tournament
B. Rome is never a good measure of how successful one will be at the FO, totally different clay
C. Djokovic had multiple walkovers to the final
D. He got lucky that Wawrinka choked in the final, who was outplaying him badly in the 1st set.
Bretto
New User
You say that, but would you bet on him actually beating Rafa on clay?
gj011
Banned
Djokovic beat Federer twice in their last 5 meetings, so this is just a biased blanket statement. Last two times Djokovic was either sick or was never into the match emotionally due to ordeal he had to go through before and during the Roddick match in the USO.
grafrules
Banned
The biggest whiner about others making supposed excuses, is making up a bunch of the most pathetic excuses. What a surprise.
Would you like some tea from your black kettle.
gj011
Banned
You guys are unbelievable hypocrites.
Sure, every time Djokovic wins he got "lucky". AO, Rome, TMC, ... :roll:
Also when somebody else retires against Djokovic, those are "legitimate retirements" and Djokovic was just lucky, but when Djokovic has problem and retires that it is a disgrace. Djokovic was beating convincingly both Almagro (6-1, 1-0) and Stepanek who beat Federer a day earlier (6-0), when they both retired, yet no one ever said they gave up since they were badly beaten, but just that "Djokovic was lucky". If it was the other way around hell would broke loose, like it did in MC or in this AO.
Wawrinka didn't choke. He was simply beaten by the much better player in the last two sets.
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