Boris Becker: Rafael Nadal Is The Favorite To Win The French Open

clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
"Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are still the top two men’s players in the world, respectively, and Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open last month. But none of those players, in Boris Becker’s mind, are the favorites to win the French Open. Rafael Nadal is the man to beat in Roland Garros."

I'm not a fan for picking favourites but how quickly has Boris moved on from the Djoker camp.
 
clayqueen said:
"Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are still the top two men’s players in the world, respectively, and Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open last month. But none of those players, in Boris Becker’s mind, are the favorites to win the French Open. Rafael Nadal is the man to beat in Roland Garros."

I'm not a fan for picking favourites but how quickly has Boris moved on from the Djoker camp.
Click to expand...

I also think Rafa is the favorite for FO. I think Boris is just being matter of fact
 
I remember one time Lendl said that Murray makes his own goal and that he's there for the support.

I wonder what's on Djokovic's mind and if he has set any goals for this year. Nadal is clearly on the right track.

Boris may have switched camp or sounding like it, but it still strikes as if he's trying to get the message over to Novak. I think he genuinely cares about Nole. How can he not? He's gone through so much with Nole. You can't turn genuine emotion/feelings overnight.
 
Zara said:
I remember one time Lendl said that Murray makes his own goal and that he's there for the support.

I wonder what's on Djokovic's mind and if he has set any goals for this year. Nadal is clearly on the right track.

Boris may have switched camp or sounding like it, but it still strikes as if he's trying to get the message over to Novak. I think he genuinely cares about Nole. How can he not? He's gone through so much with Nole. You can't turn genuine emotion/feelings overnight.
Click to expand...
Lol
 
Moby Dick said:
7-5 6-3 6-1. Not enough?
Click to expand...
Apparently not, because Nadal leads their head to head at RG - 6:1

2006 FO - RG QF Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 64 64 00 Ret
2007 FO - RG SF Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 75 64 62
2008 FO - RG SF Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 64 62 76 (3)
2012 FO - RG F Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 64 63 26 75
2013 FO - RG SF Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 64 36 61 67 97
2014 FO - RG F Clay Rafael Nadal def Novak Djokovic - 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4

2015 FO - RG QF Clay Novak Djokovic def Rafael Nadal - 75 63 61
 
Last edited:
Tennisanity said:
Of course Nadal is the favourite. But I don't see him beating Djoko if he's playing well and confident.
Click to expand...
So when was Djokovic not playing well and confident between 2012-2014? Nadal has won the FO 9 times and beat Djoko 6 of those 9 times. What part of that don't you understand?
 
clayqueen said:
So when was Djokovic not playing well and confident between 2012-2014? Nadal has won the FO 9 times and beat Djoko 6 of those 9 times. What part of that don't you understand?
Click to expand...

Hey if both guys are playing great, Nadal will win on clay okay? But on any other surface at peak play, Djokovic wins. Fair is fair.
 
Boy, you Nadal fans are just too much. Djokovic has dominated the head to head the last several years it can't even be called a rivalry anymore. 7 in a row and 11 of the last 12 and only Nadal fans could be confident this year. I'm not a fan of either, so more objective. Only way Rafa wins RG is if he avoids Djokovic and gets through a few other 50-50 matches. He isn't as fast as he once was, but his form is improving. Here are the last 7 matches:

2016 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy Outdoor Clay QF Novak Djokovic 75 764
2016 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. Outdoor Hard SF Novak Djokovic 76 62
2016 Doha Qatar Outdoor Hard F Novak Djokovic 61 62
2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Great Britain Indoor Hard SF Novak Djokovic 63 63
2015 Beijing China Outdoor Hard F Novak Djokovic 62 62
2015 Roland Garros France Outdoor Clay QF Novak Djokovic 75 63 61
2015 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco Outdoor Clay SF Novak Djokovic 63 63
 
Nadal needs some success against Djokovic in the warm ups. He hasn't won a set against him since 2014. There needs to be a sign that he can match and take Djokovic again, which can happen even in defeat sometimes (2012 Australian Open final).
 
netlets said:
Boy, you Nadal fans are just too much. Djokovic has dominated the head to head the last several years it can't even be called a rivalry anymore. 7 in a row and 11 of the last 12 and only Nadal fans could be confident this year. I'm not a fan of either, so more objective. Only way Rafa wins RG is if he avoids Djokovic and gets through a few other 50-50 matches. He isn't as fast as he once was, but his form is improving. Here are the last 7 matches:

2016 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy Outdoor Clay QF Novak Djokovic 75 764
2016 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. Outdoor Hard SF Novak Djokovic 76 62
2016 Doha Qatar Outdoor Hard F Novak Djokovic 61 62
2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Great Britain Indoor Hard SF Novak Djokovic 63 63
2015 Beijing China Outdoor Hard F Novak Djokovic 62 62
2015 Roland Garros France Outdoor Clay QF Novak Djokovic 75 63 61
2015 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco Outdoor Clay SF Novak Djokovic 63 63
Click to expand...
It has never been a rivalry. Nadal dominated the first part and Djoker was just catching up in the last few years when Rafa was going through a rough patch.
 
FudgeControl said:
That's called a rivalry, silly. Djokovic > Rafa always
Click to expand...
You seem to get a kick out of chanting Djokovic > Rafa. If it gives you a good feeling, why not? Djoker's rival is Murray.

Djokovic has the dubious honour of being the first player Rafa beat 20 times. Even Boris Becker doesn't see things the way you do and he is closer to Djokovic than you are.
 
Last edited:
clayqueen said:
You seem to get a kick out of chanting Djokovic > Rafa. If it gives you a good feeling, why not? Djoker's rival is Murray.

Djokovic has the dubious honour of being the first player Rafa beat 20 times. Even Boris Becker doesn't see things the way you do and he is closer to Djokovic than you are.
Click to expand...
I only said that once. I don't get a kick out of it; it's simply true :/ Heck, I'd be triggered if I were a Rafa fan.

Djokovic has a good number of rivals, although his main rival is Murray. Rafa may have 14 slams, but he is not worthy AT ALL WHATSOEVER of being brought up in GOAT discussions. He was maybe back then, but now not so much.

You are right to say that Becker has a different view from me, but everybody sees things differently. His views and mine are two different things, and whatever you believe in, it may be different from what somebody else may believe.
 
FudgeControl said:
I only said that once. I don't get a kick out of it; it's simply true :/ Heck, I'd be triggered if I were a Rafa fan.

Djokovic has a good number of rivals, although his main rival is Murray. Rafa may have 14 slams, but he is not worthy AT ALL WHATSOEVER of being brought up in GOAT discussions. He was maybe back then, but now not so much.

You are right to say that Becker has a different view from me, but everybody sees things differently. His views and mine are two different things, and whatever you believe in, it may be different from what somebody else may believe.
Click to expand...
I couldn't have put it better.
 
Inform Nadal has earned his right to be always "the Favorite" at RG. Given his perfomance in Australia he should have enough confidence to be his best version during the clay. That being said I think that Djokovic would be the man to beat in Paris.
 
FudgeControl said:
Weren't you just talking about nadal vs Djokovic?
Click to expand...
I am not hung up about who is who's rival or who the GOAT is or is not since I don't believe there is such a thing. Federer appreciates who Rafa is, and he said this about Rafa:

"I just think he [Rafa] is an incredible tennis player," Federer said. "He's got shots that no other one has. When you have that, you are unique and special. Plus he's got the grit. He's got the mental and physical ability to sustain a super high level of play for years and for hours and for weeks. He's proven that time and time again.

"He's come back from many injuries, time and time again. He made it seem easy, and it's not. I think he's been tremendous for the game. I have a lot of respect for him on many levels."

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/...-shaped-lopsided-rivalry-20170126-gtzkuv.html

There is no doubt that Djokovic has dominated their matches in the last couple of years, but there are mitigating circumstances and no one knows whether Rafa can turn it around or not; it's all in the lap of the gods. But when you talk about Rafa in those disrespectful terms, you are at odds with Rafa's well documented status in the game and sport in general. Seems like denigrating Rafa makes Djokovic look greater and if that gives comfort to his fans, good for them. One thing you cannot do, is erase what Rafa has achieved in tennis. Even if Rafa doesn't win another match, his place in the Tennis history is assured.

Rafa was a tennis great by the time he was 22 as he was successful as a teenager. No one can take that away from him.
 
Last edited:
Hard to say it's not a rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal, especially since they met in 4 slams finals in a row in 2011/2012. Also, they're close in age, played the most matches between 2 players in the open era and split victories pretty evenly and battled for the number 1 spot for years. They've had their fare share of epic matches.

Only in Clayqueen's alternative reality this is not a rivalry.
 
chut said:
Hard to say it's not a rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal, especially since they met in 4 slams finals in a row in 2011/2012. Also, they're close in age, played the most matches between 2 players in the open era and split victories pretty evenly and battled for the number 1 spot for years. They've had their fare share of epic matches.

Only in Clayqueen's alternative reality this is not a rivalry.
Click to expand...
OK, it's a rivalry, I agree, if that gives some kudos to Djokovic. The rivalry of the 80s will always be McEnroe/Borg, no one even cares about the detail of their matches in spite of the fact that a few other players were in contention with them at the time. The rivalry for this era in Federer/Nadal, that is a fact whichever way you look at it.
 
Rafa is looking as lean as I've seen him and there is no doubt that lean is the new mean in tennis.

Djoko pushed the boundaries on this one and Roger and then Rafa followed suit.

Rafa is going to have his chances but I would be surprised if he is the bookies favourite yet. Anybody know for sure?
 
YetAnotherFedFan said:
Rafa is looking as lean as I've seen him and there is no doubt that lean is the new mean in tennis.

Djoko pushed the boundaries on this one and Roger and then Rafa followed suit.

Rafa is going to have his chances but I would be surprised if he is the bookies favourite yet. Anybody know for sure?
Click to expand...
Do you really believe in bookies' favourites? Predictions are like whistling in the wind. Don't forget that according to the bookies, Djokovic was the favourite at the FO from 2011 through to 2016 when he finally won it.
 
clayqueen said:
Do you really believe in bookies' favourites? Predictions are like whistling in the wind. Don't forget that according to the bookies, Djokovic was the favourite at the FO from 2011 through to 2016 when he finally won it.
Click to expand...

The bookies favourite reflects the collective wisdom of the crowd.

The crowd is certainly not infallible but the crowd has a better predictive capability than the lone wolf.
 
YetAnotherFedFan said:
The bookies favourite reflects the collective wisdom of the crowd.

The crowd is certainly not infallible but the crowd has a better predictive capability than the lone wolf.
Click to expand...
They might as well just let the crowd pick the winner by ballot and do away with actually playing the matches. It will be far cheaper and save everyone a lot of time. I always believe that these matches still have to be played and decided on court.
 
FudgeControl said:
Djokovic has a good number of rivals, although his main rival is Murray. Rafa may have 14 slams, but he is not worthy AT ALL WHATSOEVER of being brought up in GOAT discussions. He was maybe back then, but now not so much.
Click to expand...

Swiss GOAT
rDNqiDg.jpg


Clay GOAT
uSeMk90.jpg


Occasionally mistaken for GOAT
5qeZeZy.jpg


Andy Murray
lUXfV7T.jpg

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-describes-something-in-tennis.511204/page-42
 
Bukmeikara said:
Inform Nadal has earned his right to be always "the Favorite" at RG. Given his perfomance in Australia he should have enough confidence to be his best version during the clay. That being said I think that Djokovic would be the man to beat in Paris.
Click to expand...

Exactly how I feel. Unless The Mummy keeps crashing out of tournaments early.
 
Bukmeikara said:
Inform Nadal has earned his right to be always "the Favorite" at RG. Given his perfomance in Australia he should have enough confidence to be his best version during the clay. That being said I think that Djokovic would be the man to beat in Paris.
Click to expand...
I hope Djokovic will live up to your prediction and gets beaten. ;) ;) ;) ;)
 
friends004.gif


Nadal can win 0 matches up to RG and he would still be a favourite/man-to-beat at the French. You can't un-favourite a 9 time champion. Similar to Fed at Wimbledon, Djokovic at AO etc.
 
FudgeControl said:
Rafa may have 14 slams, but he is not worthy AT ALL WHATSOEVER of being brought up in GOAT discussions. He was maybe back then, but now not so much
Click to expand...
This statement proves that you are not in touch with reality. This picture shows who EVERYONE knows are the tennis legends of all time and I don't see Djokovic there. He is not even mentioned in the conversation of legends atm, he might be one day, but right now he is not seen as one.

i
Tennis Legends
 
clayqueen said:
This statement proves that you are not in touch with reality. This picture shows who EVERYONE knows are the tennis legends of all time and I don't see Djokovic there. He is not even mentioned in the conversation of legends atm, he might be one day, but right now he is not seen as one.

i
Tennis Legends
Click to expand...

This is stupid beyond belief.

If Djokovic retires today he will still be viewed as one of the ATGs/legends of the sport.

:cool:
 
Tennisanity said:
No, no, H2H is the holy grail of Nadal fans. Djoko fans are only emulating you guys.
Click to expand...

Can't you see that Federer has always trailed his head-to-head against Nadal, apart from a few months in 2005 when it was 1-1? In contrast, Nadal once had head-to-head leads of 14-4, 16-7 and 22-15 over Djokovic, and won 4 consecutive matches in majors against Djokovic from 2012-2014. Nadal is by far the best big match player of the big 4 against other members of the big 4. Nadal is 25-9 in majors against the big 4, isn't he? And since 2015, 0-2, so it was once 25-7. Nadal delivered so often when it mattered most.

From a Djokovic point of view, how to explain Nadal's 4 consecutive wins over him in majors from 2012-2014? How about Nadal returning to world number 1 in 2013, considering that Djokovic had such an edge over Nadal in 2011?
 
Tennis_Hands said:
This is stupid beyond belief.

If Djokovic retires today he will still be viewed as one of the ATGs/legends of the sport.

:cool:
Click to expand...
Djokovic will be on the same level as Sampras, Agassi, Becker, Llendl etc. not on the same level as McEnroe/Borg, Federer/Nadal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Razer
Djokovic brings in Boris as his coach for the french open....
Replies
4
Views
381
stapletonj
S
JohnnyMac Fan!
  • Poll Poll
BORIS BECKER: RAFAEL NADAL IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE FRENCH OPEN
2
Replies
57
Views
3K
underground
underground
Genie Of the Bank
Boris Becker "Rafa is the favorite"
Replies
6
Views
892
mbm0912
mbm0912
E
Becker tips Djokovic to take Nadal's crown
Replies
12
Views
3K
Rozroz
Rozroz
B
Dream Team: I want Gustavo Kuerten to coach Rafael Nadal
Replies
9
Views
2K
citybert
C
Back
Top