Could 2015/2016 Djokovic beat 2017 Nadal at FO?

Clearly if Djokovic had ran into Nadal this year it would have been a beatdown. 2015 Djokovic rolled through Nadal in straight sets at 2015 FO. 2016 Djokovic also easily won the FO without much resistance. Could either of these have handled Nadal at 2017 FO? Or would it have just been like 2014 and 2012 where Djokovic puts up some resistance but loses in 4 sets.
 

Antonio Puente

Hall of Fame
In the rate Nadal's FO finals thread, people rated this final much lower than I would. I thought he played about as well as he ever has. He gave Stan no chance to get into a rhythm. He dictated from start to finish, and looked supremely confident in doing so. I doubt 2016 Djoker or anyone gets a set.
 

Rafa24

Hall of Fame
In the rate Nadal's FO finals thread, people rated this final much lower than I would. I thought he played about as well as he ever has. He gave Stan no chance to get into a rhythm. He dictated from start to finish, and looked supremely confident in doing so. I doubt 2016 Djoker or anyone gets a set.
Agree. Djoker lost a set to muzzard last year and a set to RBA.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic would have been competitive but 2011-2014 Djokovic played far better.

Those iterations may have had their chances but 2015 and 2016 not so much.
 

metsman

Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic would have been competitive but 2011-2014 Djokovic played far better.

Those iterations may have had their chances but 2015 and 2016 not so much.
08, 11, 15, 16 were the best versions of Djoker at RG imo.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
08, 11, 15, 16 were the best versions of Djoker at RG imo.
I wasn't looking at overall performances, but rather specific matches.
  • 2011 was strong overall.
  • 2012 Djokovic had a puncher's chance in the F but his performance overall was just okay. Granted that mini comeback would have not existed had the weather been good, but he still reeled off eight straight games.
  • 2013 SF Djokovic was probably the best he played against Nadal
  • 2014 F Djokovic played well and pushed Nadal into hitting winners just to maintain a modest lead.
I don't rate 2015 Djokovic as being up there because Nadal was AWOL so Djokovic didn't have to do that much, and even then was pretty close to losing the first set. He then collapsed in the F against Wawrinka, so there's that too.
 

metsman

Talk Tennis Guru
I wasn't looking at overall performances, but rather specific matches.

2011 was strong overall.
2012 Djokovic had a puncher's chance in the F but his performance overall was just okay.
2013 SF Djokovic was probably the best he played against Nadal
2014 F Djokovic played well and pushed Nadal into hitting winners just to maintain a modest lead.

I don't rate 2015 Djokovic as being up there because Nadal was AWOL so Djokovic didn't have to do that much, and even then was pretty close to losing the first set. He then collapsed in the F against Wawrinka, so there's that too.
2012 the only reason he had a chance was because conditions dampened. Besides that, he got torched in that match for 2.8 sets. 2013 he was garbage for 2.5 sets and was the beneficiary of Nadal tightening up at the end of the 4th. 2014 he played ok but had some physical problems IIRC and was pretty lackluster after the 2nd set no doubt.

In general, Novak has never really been able to reach his best level in the late stages of RG against quality opponents. It's weird.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
2012 the only reason he had a chance was because conditions dampened. Besides that, he got torched in that match for 2.8 sets. 2013 he was garbage for 2.5 sets and was the beneficiary of Nadal tightening up at the end of the 4th. 2014 he played ok but had some physical problems IIRC and was pretty lackluster after the 2nd set no doubt.

In general, Novak has never really been able to reach his best level in the late stages of RG against quality opponents. It's weird.
Yup, edited my post just before you replied to include the rain thing in 2012.

Still, in 2013, his level may have been patchy, but the highs were very high, and they came at the right times. He really had his chances in the fifth. Can't say he played poorly when you push Nadal 9-7 into the fifth set IMO.

No way of knowing how he'd have fared against Rafa this year, but it's about up there as some of the best he's played--certainly pushed Rafa the hardest, even though he lost.
 

Noelan

Legend
Nadal met two one handers in SF and F, that's why he looked even better this year at RG than he actually is. In QF Busta retired. He was not at his 2013 level.
Any of Novak 11-16 version would have chance
 

Checkmate

Legend
People are underestimating 2016 Djokovic on clay especially.

I think we would get an epic 5 set thriller if it was 2016 Djo vs 2017 Nad.

In the RG 16 Final, an epic Andy Murray after the opening set was drubbed 1, 2 and 3 res.


Remember the Madrid Open 17 SF, as soon as Novak displayed some glimpses of his 2016 self in the second set, Nadal got tight and especially the end was pretty unconvincing from Nadal's point of view.

People shouldn't understimate the confidence Novak had at that time after almost 350 days of Complete domination from start to finish on the tennis court.
 
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