Could early loss vs Djokovic hurt Nadal 2020?

[lud]

This is not GS Final.
I have feeling if Nadal losses tomorrow,that might affect his whole season.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Irrelevant. There is always a chance that Nadal will face Berrettini in one of the future Slam finals.

LOL jk. I don't see it having a big impact either way.

 

[Rafa24]

I don't think it will matter. He lost AO 2019 final in an absolute beatdown and finished the year end number one and won 2 slams.

 

[lud]

I don't think it will matter. He lost AO 2019 final in an absolute beatdown and finished the year end number one and won 2 slams.

Like I said, this is not AO Final. It's even earlier. Like Doha 2016.

 

[Lleytonstation]

I don't think it will matter. He lost AO 2019 final in an absolute beatdown and finished the year end number one and won 2 slams.

Do you think Rafa beating Djoker would be huge? I think Rafa has more to gain and Djoker has more to lose in this match.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

No, Rafa isn’t the favourite anyway for neither ATP cup final vs Novak or AO. Rafa is the underdog. So it doesn’t hurt him. Would hurt Novak if Novak loses tomorrow. It’s Novak that is supposed to win.

 

[GabeT]

No, Rafa isn’t the favourite anyway for neither ATP cup final vs Novak or AO. Rafa is the underdog. So it doesn’t hurt him. Would hurt Novak if Novak loses tomorrow.

I think losing to Medvedev would have been a bigger deal for Nole. Nole-Rafa is the greatest rivalry ever, they know each other very well and both have come back from difficult losses to each other.

 

[Rafa24]

Do you think Rafa beating Djoker would be huge? I think Rafa has more to gain and Djoker has more to lose in this match.

I think it would be a confidence booster for him if he won I just don't think it will matter much if he loses. If that makes any sense.

 

[Breakpointerer]

No. He rebounded from a GS final loss so tomorrow shouldn't have any impact.

 

[StrongRule]

I think losing to Medvedev would have been a bigger deal for Nole. Nole-Rafa is the greatest rivalry ever, they know each other very well and both have come back from difficult losses to each other.

Starting from 2014 it's an absolutely terrible rivalry. Can't even call it a rivalry anymore. (well, unless you are a Djokovic fan/Nadal hater)

 

[Hitman]

He will be fine, they both would be. The big three are able to accept losses to each other a lot more easily than other players due to the incredible history and respect they have for each other. They see themselves as equals.

 

[Jonesy]

Even if hurt, Nadal always has clay to heal his wounds.

 

[Standaa]

have to say, the odds on Nadal are tasty af.

2.91

 

[GuyForget]

I don't think it will matter. He lost AO 2019 final in an absolute beatdown and finished the year end number one and won 2 slams.

wow someone actually remembers this, finally

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal already said he won't be able to play his best ever since they arrived from Perth because he wasn't able to acclimate in time, and the heat and humidity has sucked him dry. He's accepted that he's not winning the final unless he plays his very best. And his best form isn't there. But then again, Djokovic isn't playing that great either. He's pushing a lot and trying to keep the ball in play. He doesn't really have a kill-shot the past couple of matches. Just trying to win a war of attrition. And Med was injured anyway and had to take some pills to ease the pain. That's why the first set was a blowout. The medicine didn't kick in until the second set. And he was hitting a ton of errors. Definitely not his best performance.

 

[GuyForget]

Starting from 2014 it's an absolutely terrible rivalry. Can't even call it a rivalry anymore. (well, unless you are a Djokovic fan/Nadal hater)

agree, they've both dominated two different sports since then (Nadal clay, and Djoks hard, grass+indoors), it just looks like a rivalry on paper, Djoks hasnt dropped a set to Nadal off clay since 2013. Similarly Fedal wasnt actually a rivalry from 08-16, it just seemed like one

 

[NoleFam]

Nadal already said he won't be able to play his best ever since they arrived from Perth because he wasn't able to acclimate in time, and the heat and humidity has sucked him dry. He's accepted that he's not winning the final unless he plays his very best. And his best form isn't there. But then again, Djokovic isn't playing that great either. He's pushing a lot and trying to keep the ball in play. He doesn't really have a kill-shot the past couple of matches. Just trying to win a war of attrition. And Med was injured anyway and had to take some pills to ease the pain. That's why the first set was a blowout. The medicine didn't kick in until the second set. And he was hitting a ton of errors. Definitely not his best performance.

You could not have possibly watched that match yesterday.

 

[kevaninho]

I think Nadal will see it as a bonus if he beats Djokovic. He knows hes not favourite.
Also , even if he wins , I still see Djokovic as favourite if they meet again at the AO.
It doesn't hold much either way.

 

[ChaelAZ]

This is not GS Final.
I have feeling if Nadal losses tomorrow,that might affect his whole season.

Hope is not reality. Nadal did decent against Djo last year and always for various events. Even when either loses handily, the next meeting is never a given. That said, what a perfect opportunity for Nadal to test some new textile against Djo before the season starts. Djo has been too tough on HC so Nadal needs to take time away and NOT play In the bleachers, and step in and crush a few.


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[Newballsplease872]

Nadal has a meltdown only when he loses his precious dirt titles

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Nah

 

[Searah]

if anything it would effect djoker if he loses.
nadal knows and everyone knows how much fatigue he has, of course he goes in with the "mind set of winning" but nadal will know he isn't in top form.

if djoker loses to a tired nadal, it'll effect djoker confidence.

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

He will be fine, they both would be. The big three are able to accept losses to each other a lot more easily than other players due to the incredible history and respect they have for each other. They see themselves as equals.

Hard to know really what affect today will have....I get the feeling they may not clash that much this year - Med, Tsitsipas, Thiem are going to get in the way a bit more than usual I think....

 

[Nadal_King]

The beatdown he took in a grand slam final last year early on in the year still won 2 of the next 3 slams, so no way this loss affects him in anyway infact facing djokovic before a potential final again could be better thing for his game despite a loss.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

I think losing to Medvedev would have been a bigger deal for Nole. Nole-Rafa is the greatest rivalry ever, they know each other very well and both have come back from difficult losses to each other.

I don’t agree it’s the greatest rivalry ever. Maybe equal to Fedal rivalry.

 

[Tenacity]

I don’t agree it’s the greatest rivalry ever. Maybe equal to Fedal rivalry.

Why is not that in your opinion, I'm curious?

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Why is not that in your opinion, I'm curious?

What I just wrote, maybe equal to Fedal rivalry.

 

[Tenacity]

What I just wrote, maybe equal to Fedal rivalry.

Just wanted your opinion. I see it as superior and greatest rivalry ever. 55 meetings , just that number..

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Just wanted your opinion. I see it as superior and greatest rivalry ever. 55 meetings , just that number..

Fedal rivalry is more historical from the beginning and changed Federer reign. Also their matches often considered the best matches and draws more attention. Novak was a bit late to the party. A rivalry is so much more than numbers and statistics. I think Rafa said he thinks the rivalry is equal Fed and Novak.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

No Rafa will be fine. He’s bounced back well from bigger defeats than this. A defeat to Djokovic on clay or at the french open would affect him much more. As long as Rafa has clay he will be happy and knows he’s close to matching and passing fed in slams.

Novak will probably end up rafas biggest threat in most majors as I think they will both pass fed so it depends how both end up at the end of their careers.

 

[acintya]

I still think Djokovic could pull of a calendar GS if he would be healthy through all year.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Just wanted your opinion. I see it as superior and greatest rivalry ever. 55 meetings , just that number..

Number of matches doesn’t mean it’s the greatest rivalry ever. Some think Borg-McEnroe is the greatest rivalry and they played only 14 total matches against each other.

 

[roger presley]

This was expected. Rafa knows that with this kind of Djokovic,his chances are slim.

 

[MeatTornado]

I think mentality at this point is overrated for the Big 3. Actual form is much more important.

He'll still believe he can beat Novak if/when they meet again.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I still think Djokovic could pull of a calendar GS if he would be healthy through all year.

Imagine the scenes if he did that and levelled fed with 20 slams and passes Rafa!

I would be delighted with 2 but with djoko you never know.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I think mentality at this point is overrated for the Big 3. Actual form is much more important.

He'll still believe he can beat Novak if/when they meet again.

On clay Rafa will always be favourite. I’d love to see another french open match between them though, as it’s been so long since they last met there. Hopefully Novak can reach the final this year and be interesting to see if he could give Rafa a run for his money.

 

[ForehandRF]

On clay Rafa will always be favourite. I’d love to see another french open match between them though, as it’s been so long since they last met there. Hopefully Novak can reach the final this year and be interesting to see if he could give Rafa a run for his money.

If Djokovic somehow beats a decent/good version of Rafa at RG, that will be very important in the 'lovely' GOAT conversation.