Brad Gilbert: Djokovic‘s Game better at 34 than 24

[Nadalgaenger]

Do you agree?
What do the stats say?

My take: He’s much stronger mentally now. Serve significantly better. Net game significantly better.
RoS and movement not as good but still as good as anyone in Open Era tennis.
Overall: Too close to call.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Better than 2011? LOL definitely not

 

[Mustard]

No, I don't agree. This Djokovic today was beatable.

 

[Jonesy]

So Fed was right all along.

“I think I'm a better player now than when I was at 24 because I've practised for another 10 years and I've got 10 years more experience,” Federer said. “Maybe I don't have the confidence level that I had at 24 when I was winning 40 matches in a row, but I feel like I hit a bigger serve, my backhand is better, my forehand is still as good as it's ever been, I volley better than I have in the past. I think I've had to adapt to a new generation of players again.”

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Do you agree?
What do the stats say?

My take: He’s much stronger mentally now. Serve significantly better. Net game significantly better.
RoS and movement not as good but still as good as anyone in Open Era tennis.

2011 nole would DESTROY this 2021 nole

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Djoker has been beatable all year it’s just no one can stay focused to take 3 sets from him. They have a big set then lose all the focus the next set they had in the previous one. Get broke off the bat and destroyed mentally

 

[SonicNirvana]

No but he still plays well and can up his level depending on situation

 

[OldBalls]

His bhdtl is not as consistant as it was. His overheads are still as bad. But his drop shots have become a weapon, in addition to his serve and net game. So overall, in addition to his added experience and knowing how to maintain his levels over 5 sets, i would say he is better than 10 years ago.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Nole 2011 was better

 

[junior74]

Weak poll, because both alternatives are correct.

Novak was way better in 2011 and 2015. As was the competition.

 

[ForehandCross]

Personally, I think early 2016 and 2015 Djokovic would maul this Djokovic.

 

[Rago]

LOL

 

[Third Serve]

Djokovic looked very beatable in all three of the Slams he’s won this year. There’ve been noticeable chinks in his armor in the form of strange (but not completely unexpected given his age) lapses in play. As of yet, no one has demonstrated the ability to really punish him for those.

In 2011 and 2015, he looked way more impressive and with fewer lapses to boot. Would actually argue 2012-2014 as well.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

James Blake also feels Nole is better now. I guess Brad Gilbert and James Blake don’t know things that TTW faithful do…

 

[Jonesy]

Well, i've been saying this for a while now. I guess reality speak for itself.

 

[Checkmate]

LMAO @2011.

2011 Djokovic would eat this Djokovic for starters and then feast on the main course.

 

[Rago]

Given that Brad Hilbert associates with winning ugly, it makes sense that he'd come out with this hilarious statement.

Djokovic was a monster in 2011.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

No, I don't agree. This Djokovic today was beatable.

He was beatable in 2011 too. Fed was one serve away from a 2-1 record against him at slams.

 

[Forehanderer]

He is full of it. 2011 version is way better than 2021. Wasn't he the one who said this as an analyst

 

[Noleberic123]

He's not better but he's solid af.

 

[SonnyT]

In 2011, he hit harder and ran faster. But in 2021, he's much better at the net, manages the game and the opponent better, and is much more clutch; he knows how to raise his game, just at the right moment. I'd pick the latter version.

 

[MeatTornado]

I don't think this is the moment where I finally agree with Gilbert for once.

 

[ForehandCross]

James Blake also feels Nole is better now. I guess Brad Gilbert and James Blake don’t know things that TTW faithful do…

You may disagree, but it's my favorite pass time to keep watching highlights of past matches.


Put on Wimbledon 2018 SF and watch point to point consistency and intensity of both players. It was 10 times than what Djokovic offered today.

 

[Kralingen]

Do yourself a favor and watch 2011 Wimbledon final if you voted yes. Djokovic’s FH then is easily better than Berrettini’s today - way more accurate and consistent, and he had venom on that. And his BHDTL was, in my opinion, the GOAT, at least most consistently great.

His movement and groundstrokes are better. Serve is about equal.

However - Djokovic has improved his net play and volleys a lot. That part of his game was not as strong in 2011. Also tactically I feel he has improved at least from 2012-14 until now.

But overall no way. 2011 Djokovic is one of the best peaks in tennis history.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

James Blake also feels Nole is better now. I guess Brad Gilbert and James Blake don’t know things that TTW faithful do…

Oh god, here we go... Think for yourself. Do you REALLY think he was better just because Blake and Brad remarked as such? That this comparison is even being made is hilarious to me. I mean 2021 Djoker > 2011 Djoker? WTF even is that?

 

[Red Rick]

Gilbert likes his job, so ofcourse he's gonna run with the recency bias and hype tennis up.

2015 Djokovic would absolutely delete 2021 Djokovic

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Guys that took sets off of 2011 Djokovic:
AO: Ivan Dodig
Dubai: F. Lopez, Berdych
IW: Fed, Nadal
Miami: Nadal (the final went to a decisive tiebreak; Nadal wins that breaker, there's no "streak")
Madrid: Ferrer, Bellucci
Rome: Clayray (had him in serious trouble in SF, decisive tiebreak)
FO: Delpo, Federer (3)
Wimbledon: Baghdatis! Tomic! Tsonga, Nadal (I say 2021 Djokovic definitely better on grass)
Montreal: Mardy Fish!
Cincy: Monfils, Murray (2)
USO: Tipsarevic, Federer (2 and was down match point on Fed's serve), Nadal

After the USO, we typically give him a break or a free pass, but he was not the same player after USO.

To his credit, Djokovic was competing against a stacked field in 2011 and winning virtually everything, but let's not forget that Murray almost took him out in Rome and that Fed was a net cord away from knocking him out of the USO and going 2-1 against him at slams.

Again, I'm not saying that 2021 clearly better, but we tend to romanticize 2011 Djokovic the way we do with earlier versions of "prime" Fed (who lost to Murray and Rafa on HCs numerous times).

 

[ForehandCross]

Guys that took sets off of 2011 Djokovic:
AO: Ivan Dodig
Dubai: F. Lopez, Berdych
IW: Fed, Nadal
Miami: Nadal
Madrid: Ferrer, Bellucci
Rome: Clayray (had him in serious trouble in SF)
FO: Delpo, Federer (3)
Wimbledon: Baghdatis! Tomic! Tsonga, Nadal (I say 2021 Djokovic definitely better on grass)
Montreal: Mardy Fish!
Cincy: Monfils, Murray (2)
USO: Tipsarevic, Federer (2 and was down match point on Fed's serve), Nadal

After the USO, we typically give him a break or a free pass, but he was not the same player after USO.

To his credit, Djokovic was competing against a stacked field in 2011 and winning virtually everything, but let's not forget that Murray almost took him out in Rome and that Fed was a net cord away from knocking him out of the USO and going 2-1 against him at slams.

Again, I'm not saying that 2021 clearly better, but we tend to romanticize 2011 Djokovic the way we do with earlier versions of "prime" Fed (who lost to Murray and Rafa on HCs numerous times).

Well you are not really thinking clearly.

The guy won 40+ matches straight, mauled Federer on HCs and Nadal on Clay.


And if it's not 2011, please go ahead and compare him with 2015-16 Djokovic.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Well you are not really thinking clearly.

The guy won 40+ matches straight, mauled Federer on HCs and Nadal on Clay.


And if it's not 2011, please go ahead and compare him with 2015-16 Djokovic.

So James Blake and Brad Gilbert are clueless?

 

[game..set..match]

yes. djokovic's strengths outside of his service return is mostly mental. and his mental game has never been better. that's why his 2015 form is also better than 2011.

 

[daggerman]

He's absolutely better now on grass than he was in 2011. Other surfaces, not so much.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Weak poll, because both alternatives are correct.

Novak was way better in 2011 and 2015. As was the competition.

How is it a weak poll? The question is "Is he better than ever?" It's a yes or no question.

 

[RF-18]

Do you agree?
What do the stats say?

My take: He’s much stronger mentally now. Serve significantly better. Net game significantly better.
RoS and movement not as good but still as good as anyone in Open Era tennis.
Overall: Too close to call.

What did he say exactly? Any quotes?

 

[Mustard]

So James Blake and Brad Gilbert are clueless?

They are hyping up present day tennis. That's what so many pundits do.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

This definitely isn’t true. 2011 and 2015 djoko would beat this Djokovic in 4 sets.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Given that Brad Hilbert associates with winning ugly, it makes sense that he'd come out with this hilarious statement.

Djokovic was a monster in 2011.

James Blake also asserted this.
He's NOT. a BS artist.
Those guys are two of the smartest tennis commentators I know.

 

[Djoker458]

He is mentally better than he was 10 years ago and that’s really all that matters.

 

[Mustard]

So Fed was right all along.

“I think I'm a better player now than when I was at 24 because I've practised for another 10 years and I've got 10 years more experience,” Federer said. “Maybe I don't have the confidence level that I had at 24 when I was winning 40 matches in a row, but I feel like I hit a bigger serve, my backhand is better, my forehand is still as good as it's ever been, I volley better than I have in the past. I think I've had to adapt to a new generation of players again.”

And his movement is a lot worse.

 

[BigServer1]

I absolutely despise this trope. It’s recency bias and revisionist history all at the same time. In 2011 Novak was in god mode basically the entire year, and he was beating 25 year old prime Rafa and 30 year old prime Fed along the way. He also had Murray to contend with. 2011 Novak would absolutely destroy 2021 Novak, just like 2007 Fed would destroy 2017 Fed.

What are these players going to say? “No I’m trash now. It’s a miracle I win any matches”. They’ve got to say “I feel better than ever” to keep the aura alive.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

They are hyping up present day tennis. That's what so many pundits do.

Fair enough. But I respect these guys a lot.

 

[ForehandCross]

So James Blake and Brad Gilbert are clueless?

They are. You have eyes and a brain. Please do use it. You must have been watching for like 10 years?

Go watch Doha 2016 or AO 2016 SF or 2018 WB SF.

Then if you have it recorded watch today's first two sets or Shapo Match's first two sets.


If you can't seem to see the difference I can't help you.

Novak is doing incredible. But he was incredible before too.

 

[Mustard]

Djokovic's aura today is largely because of what he's done in the past rather than how he is playing right at this moment. In 2011, Djokovic's aura could only really come from what he was doing at the time.

 

[upchuck]

I don't think he plays as consistently well as he used to, but he makes up for that by being much stronger mentally that he ever has been and by managing matches better than ever. It helps that despite being 34, he hasn't lost anything in terms of movement and speed. He can still do the things he used to but it happens now only at opportune times mostly.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

I absolutely despise this trope. It’s recency bias and revisionist history all at the same time. In 2011 Novak was in god mode basically the entire year, and he was beating 25 year old prime Rafa and 30 year old prime Fed along the way. He also had Murray to contend with. 2011 Novak would absolutely destroy 2021 Novak, just like 2007 Fed would destroy 2017 Fed.

What are these players going to say? “No I’m trash now. It’s a miracle I win any matches”. They’ve got to say “I feel better than ever” to keep the aura alive.

So was he in God mode after USO too?
He was mentally MUCH weaker than today. He didn't have GOAT mental edge yet.
Physically, I totally accept the argument that his movement and energy were better. But he was one serve away from losing 2/3 slam SF to the same guy.

 

[Red Rick]

He's absolutely better now on grass than he was in 2011. Other surfaces, not so much.

His serve and volleys are better.

If his 2011 self played him this would never save him.

 

[Djokodal Fan]

Djokovic 2011 would take 2021 Djokovic to cleaners with his athleticism and BH DTL. 2021 Djok simply can't hang with 2011 version for more than 2 sets

 

[junior74]

How is it a weak poll? The question is "Is he better than ever?" It's a yes or no question.

Because you can improve certain aspects of your game while declining overall

I have no doubt Djokovic of 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018 would beat Djokovic 2021 in Wimbledon today.

 

[BigServer1]

So was he in God mode after USO too?
He was mentally MUCH weaker than today. He didn't have GOAT mental edge yet.
Physically, I totally accept the argument that his movement and energy were better. But he was one serve away from losing 2/3 slam SF to the same guy.

There would be no contest between 2011 Novak and today’s version. He HAS to be mentally stronger today because his game can go completely off the rails today. In 2011 he was incredibly consistent, explosive, powerful, and didn’t get tired.

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

Novak was at 80% best in the last 3 slams and the young generation didn't exploited that.

 

[mwym]

It does not matter if he plays better tennis or not. It is irrelevant.
He is better at winning what he aims to win. He does exactly what is needed to win. It is called wisdom.

Better at winning.

Therefore, it is not that hard at all to get why would anyone would say 'he is better now'. A higher level of tennis means sheet if it does not get you titles you want. Try and leave your personal preference for your own thought out of your mind for a while - and read bold letters until you stop reacting with 'BS' and start really evaluating and grasping what it says.

'Better at winning' proves he has grown out of childish 'better at tennis'. Which is a proof of his personal growth - as claimed to be his goal AND motivation in life by himself countless times. Winning titles is not his main goal. Winning titles is also a mean to achieve his absolute top priority goal - his personal growth.

If there is a 'secret' how he does it, this is it. Call it a mind game his mind plays with itself, call it the highest skill of mind to use it on itself- call it whatever. But learn it - for your own personal growth. That is what we have our mind for. And now we have the most public demonstration of how a human mind gets it done.