Tennis Analyst
Rookie
Fred's draw is a damn joke. How can someone be this lucky?!!!
Big 3 Draws Discussion
- Thread starter TripleATeam
- Start date
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Lol. Exactly. In this world cooked and overplayed Thiem with next to zero hardcourt preparation and Verdasco are much more huge threats.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
How exactly? Med will probably not even make it that far. Other than that I don't see any threats. Thiem would be much more dangerous for him as a semifinal opponent than Federer.
D
Deleted member 766172
Guest
The thing is Nadal actually has a hard draw. It's just that we already know he usually wipes the floor with anyone other than Fed and Djoker when healthy.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Thiem and Khachanov are the reason he didn't win last year, so no Rafa fan should be "very happy" lol. Depends which Rafa shows up, all that grinding and defending isn't going to cut it.
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
is millman really a thing for rafa though?
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
The USO are not even being subtle with these draws anymore.
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
No real challenge for Big 3 until SF, then the Nadal "only" has Thiem.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Thiem and Verdasco are players who can play on hardcourt. Last year Nadal-Thiem was the match of the tournament. Djokovic used to struggle against them as well from time to time. Federer is not a threat for him for years now. When was the last time Federer actually beat him? Oh right, in 2015, and that was a match which Djokovic probably tanked.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
I actually agree here. Still, at his age, nothing is a given anymore.another cuppycake draw for federer
MajesticMoose
Hall of Fame
Can we please see another Stan vs Novak matchup?? I want to see the Stanimal released.
ductrung3993
Hall of Fame
Is this the 20th something time that Federer and Djokovic meet in Slam SF while Nadal get some other randos? I remember there was a thread on this.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
I think all three of them got tricky draws. Federer has Pouille and Goffin pretty early. Both are in pretty good form.
Nadals draw seems tough to me. He escaped Federer but he got Verdasco early, Isner/Cilic 4th round, Khachanov QFs and Thiem in SFs. Not easy. Kokk 2nd round, a Good player on his Day and has the game.
Federer though IMO got off the easiest. Pretty good draw till SFs compared to djok and ned
Nadals draw seems tough to me. He escaped Federer but he got Verdasco early, Isner/Cilic 4th round, Khachanov QFs and Thiem in SFs. Not easy. Kokk 2nd round, a Good player on his Day and has the game.
Federer though IMO got off the easiest. Pretty good draw till SFs compared to djok and ned
D
Deleted member 766172
Guest
Fed and Nadal haven't been on opposite halves since last year's US Open
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
It is, but Djoker and rafa get easy draws all the time too. Then again, can a draw really be that hard these days.
Even Rafa's supposed "hardest" draw ever at WC turned out to be much easier. All depends if it plays out this way.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
It's funny but it's true.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Not sure all Nadal's potential opponents will reach him. But if they do (like it happened last year) then that might become a very tough draw.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Thiem has won like one set against Djokovic on hardcourt. The only times he has threatened Djokovic is on clay. I can't even remember the last time Verdasco beat Djokovic so no. Also, Thiem is in terrible form. He has overplayed a bunch of clay tournaments after Wimbledon and he has nothing left. He'll be lucky to even make the second week. It's bananas saying they are tougher for him than Federer.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
No you troll. Thiem has sucked so far. Medvedev has a much higher chance to go further than thiem does. Forgot to mention that or you just looking at it from one angle?
ADuck
Legend
Federer is a worse threat than Thiem. And I said "given the circumstances." So I challenge you to make a more difficult draw under these circumstances. Maybe you can be it's not gonna be much worse than this.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Last time they met on hardcourt was in 2016 though. Back then Thiem couldn't even push Djokovic on clay. And about "terrible form"-well, last year Thiem dramatically improved for USO and pushed Nadal to the limits. If he can do that again then he might become a threat.
My point is that Thiem at least potentially has the game which can trouble Djokovic. If he plays his best that can be a match. Federer on the other hand is completely out of ideas in this matchup and Djokovic is in his head. After Wimbledon it probably got even worse.
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
okay w/e works for you.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Thiem lost R1 at Wimbledon. He's a big threat but also far less likely to reach the SF.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Lol I don't have to convince you, you already know which is why your tone is sour. He's epic, it's ok!
ADuck
Legend
So we agree yeah? By 'worse' I meant Federer is the more dangerous threat to Djoker than Thiem, and that is before taking into account that Thiem probably won't make it that far anyway.
WarriorRafa
Hall of Fame
Fed has the easiest draw till the semis. If Djokovic loses to Med, expect Fed to win the tournament.
Djokovic's only threat is Med, but I dont expect Med to even reach the QF let alone beat Djovak.
Rafa's draw is tricky with Cilic/Isner having the game to blast him off the court, Khachanov in the QFs and Thiem in the SF. He could be knackered/injured if these matches go long.
Only way for Rafa to win this tourney is to avoid playing long matches, hope for Fedovic to exit early or play a long 5hr+ 5 setter in the semis.
Djokovic's only threat is Med, but I dont expect Med to even reach the QF let alone beat Djovak.
Rafa's draw is tricky with Cilic/Isner having the game to blast him off the court, Khachanov in the QFs and Thiem in the SF. He could be knackered/injured if these matches go long.
Only way for Rafa to win this tourney is to avoid playing long matches, hope for Fedovic to exit early or play a long 5hr+ 5 setter in the semis.
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Saying Thiem is more of a threat than Federer on a faster hardcourt is fantasy, especially given that he is fatigued right now. He might trouble Nadal on a slower hardcourt but he has yet to push Djokovic on any hardcourt. Until that happens, he is not the kind of threat that Federer is for Djokovic.
Not on a faster hardcourt he doesn't. Djokovic is not Nadal on hardcourt, something you don't seem to realize.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
dropshotlikeitshot
Professional
Stanimal to be unleashed again. Will defeat Nole-Meddy-Fedr-Bull for GS #4
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, like Djokovic never struggled against big hitters on hardcourt? Good that Wawrinka doesn't read your BS. Against last year's Thiem Djokovic would at least have problems.
Sad that Djokovic fans believe that he is a god who loses only when he is injured/tanks/mentally broken/doesn't care/in terrible form. According to you these are the only reasons why he ever lost a match in his career. And I didn't even write that Thiem would definitely beat him.
Terenigma
G.O.A.T.
None of the draws are overly hard or too easy. This is the most balanced draw we could expect if the seeds hold and yeah i would agree that Djokovic has the hardest draw because of Querrey/Wawrinka and ofcourse Federer but it's not like the other draws are cake either. Nadal has Verdasco/Cilic=Isner/KK and Thiem in his draw and Federer has an in-form Goffin then Nishikori and Djokovic.
I would say Djokovic > Nadal > Federer but i think in terms of balanced draw. This is arguably one of the fairest draws i've seen in a long time.
I would say Djokovic > Nadal > Federer but i think in terms of balanced draw. This is arguably one of the fairest draws i've seen in a long time.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Clarks in full Djokobash mode and the tournament hasn't even started yet. Shocking.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Federer who didn't beat Djokovic for more than 4 years (I don't count that WTF match which Djokovic tanked. In the final we saw who is the better player) and who was just destroyed by Rublev. Sure.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
You must not realize Thiem is good on slow hardcourt but not fast. They said the conditioms are faster this year. That is not good for Thiem's game, and he certainly isn't Wawrinka on hardcourt and I don't know what you are trying to prove with that comparison. Djokovic would not have needed 5 sets to defeat last year's Thiem. I am 95% sure of that.
No one is saying any of this make believe you are talking but it sure ain't Thiem that Djokovic would be shaking in his boots over, especially compared to Federer who is a beast in faster hardcourt conditions. Sorry if I am not going along with this just so you can make Nadal's draw seem harder.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
A beast on faster hardcourt who was just destroyed by Rublev in arguably the fastest conditions in the current tour? Djokovic lost in Cincinnati as well, but at least he lost to a good player, and in a close match.
By the way, I didn't even mention Nadal's draw. I am talking about who is tougher for Djokovic. Right now I don't see how mentally broken Federer might be a threat to him.
Slightly D1
Professional
In Nadal’s path, R3 Verdasco has always had upset potential. If it’s Isner that ends up in round 4 then you’re right until the SF, but if it’s Cilic then that’s a tough 4th round match. People seem to forget that Cilic is usually a deep competitor in all majors, very consistent. Thiem is also a threat to Nadal even though Rafa has had his number, but I don’t think Thiem is going that deep to begin with. Great draw for him, hopefully he stays healthy because he *should* be in the final based off of his form in recent USO’s.
Federer has a pretty easy path although Goffin and Nishikori could at least push him even though they will lose. That might be bad for Fed’s energy going into the Djokovic match.
Djokovic might get a little pressured by Querrey but after that he will cruise. Wawrinka isn’t that great and I don’t think he stands a chance against Novak. I don’t think Fed stands a chance against Novak if he’s his usual self especially on slightly slower hard courts.
Federer has a pretty easy path although Goffin and Nishikori could at least push him even though they will lose. That might be bad for Fed’s energy going into the Djokovic match.
Djokovic might get a little pressured by Querrey but after that he will cruise. Wawrinka isn’t that great and I don’t think he stands a chance against Novak. I don’t think Fed stands a chance against Novak if he’s his usual self especially on slightly slower hard courts.
ADuck
Legend
I don't recall Thiem beating Djokovic on hardcourt in his entire lifespan? Let alone in a HC GS SF.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Cilic is in terrible form this year. If Nadal can't beat current Cilic then he doesn't deserve to even reach the 1/4 finals.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Destroyed is what Medvedev did to Thiem in Cincy. Federer got routined. There is a distinct difference.
Well Thiem ain't tougher on hardcourt for Djokovic than Federer is. Not ever in his career has this been true, and that includes now.
Federer will be out in 3rd round..pouille or evans will take him out.
Djokovic has a brutal draw and wawrinka could be a very tricky match..stan loves the big stage.
I want to say Nadal has a tough draw but if truth be told he could not have hand picked a better draw for him. Not one player has a great return or can grind which is perfect for him now. Goffin, nishikori would have been more dangerous for him i feel.
Thiem im sceptical makes the SF.
Gotta say this is Nadals to lose really.
Djokovic has a brutal draw and wawrinka could be a very tricky match..stan loves the big stage.
I want to say Nadal has a tough draw but if truth be told he could not have hand picked a better draw for him. Not one player has a great return or can grind which is perfect for him now. Goffin, nishikori would have been more dangerous for him i feel.
Thiem im sceptical makes the SF.
Gotta say this is Nadals to lose really.
Slightly D1
Professional
I agree, Nadal should be in the finals barring a physical breakdown. But, Cilic is still decent at the USO and if he doesn’t get upset he might get some confidence with a “nothing to lose” mentality against Nadal.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
Ask Rafa, he's the expert.
Yugram
Legend
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Give me a break lol. Bull has a far tougher R4-QF and maybe even SF. This isn't 2014-16 Stan.
