Apart from Nadal in Paris, is Federer on fast courts the toughest challenge for Nole?

[Deleted member 77403]

To me, Djokovic seems to be doing well against his competition overall, but I think the whole Nadal on clay is the toughest challenge to Djokovic isn't strictly true anymore.

Nadal at RG is THE toughest challenge for Djokovic, no doubt, but I think outside of that he has a tougher time with Federer on fast low bouncing HC than he does against Rafa on clay outside of Roland Garros.

Federer constantly causing him problems in Dubai, Cincinnati, Shanghai - it seems to be the toughest challenge that Nole has outside of that one match with Nadal at FO.

 

[Inanimate_object]

Probably. But "toughest challenge for Nole" doesn't mean a whole lot. Even in Dubai, that was a very very close match. Federer would not have been able to save all those break-points most days.

 

[6-3 6-0]

At Wimbledon too.

I hope Federer drops to 3/4 in ranking before Wimbledon so that he can face Djokovic in the SF rather than in the final.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Federer is by far best fast hard courter of the era while Djokovic struggles on that surface.

 

[Steve0904]

Yes. The problem is that there are not many truly fast courts anymore. Plus Federer is old obviously.

Wimbledon, Cincy, Shanghai, Dubai, Basel, maybe the WTF (not including Halle which Djokovic doesn't play), are probably the only courts where Federer has a real chance, and even they are not as fast as they used to be. Wimbledon in particular.

 

[Steve0904]

To me, Djokovic seems to be doing well against his competition overall, but I think the whole Nadal on clay is the toughest challenge to Djokovic isn't strictly true anymore.

Nadal at RG is THE toughest challenge for Djokovic, no doubt, but I think outside of that he has a tougher time with Federer on fast low bouncing HC than he does against Rafa on clay outside of Roland Garros.

Federer constantly causing him problems in Dubai, Cincinnati, Shanghai - it seems to be the toughest challenge that Nole has outside of that one match with Nadal at FO.

I agree. Mostly because he's proven that he can beat Nadal on clay in a best of 3. Meanwhile he still loses to Federer in Dubai for the past 2 years and again in Shanghai.

I would like to see more HC encounters between the 2 on the aforementioned faster surfaces in Cincy and Basel as well. That would be interesting.

 

[jg153040]

To me, Djokovic seems to be doing well against his competition overall, but I think the whole Nadal on clay is the toughest challenge to Djokovic isn't strictly true anymore.

Nadal at RG is THE toughest challenge for Djokovic, no doubt, but I think outside of that he has a tougher time with Federer on fast low bouncing HC than he does against Rafa on clay outside of Roland Garros.

Federer constantly causing him problems in Dubai, Cincinnati, Shanghai - it seems to be the toughest challenge that Nole has outside of that one match with Nadal at FO.

Sure, but peak Federer on fast courts is pretty much the toughest challenge for anyone, not just Djokovic.

Nadal is the same age as Djokovic that plays a huge part. Peak Federer vs peak Djokovic, Federer would be as tough at USO/W/WTF/CINCY as Nadal on clay, maybe even more.