Djokovic´s record in 5 sets matches

[Zaragoza]

I´ve read some people say that Djokovic´s bad stamina and fitness would probably make him lose some matches if they had gone to 5 sets.
I think there´s a bit of a myth on that because he looks somewhat injured or showing pain after some rallies, breathing deep, asking for medical timeouts...
Even if I agree that he needs to work on his stamina and fitness the truth is that his record in matches that went to 5 sets is actually good.
It´s overall 7-3 and it was 3-0 last year, he has won the last 4 matches that went to 5 sets.
It´s usual on young unexperienced players to lose 5 sets matches but in his first year as a top player he won all of the 3 matches that went to 5 sets. So I think people need to stop assuming that he is going to lose some match if it goes to 5 sets. The truth is he is mentally strong and gaining experience so he is tough to beat in 5 sets too, that´s also what the stats say.
These are all the 5 sets matches of his career (starting with the most recent ones):

2007

US Open-2nd round: Djokovic d. Stepanek 6-7 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6
Wimbledon-QF: Djokovic d. Baghdatis 7-6 7-6 6-7 4-6 7-5
French Open-3rd round: Djokovic d. Patience 7-6 2-6 3-6 7-6 6-3

2006

Davis Cup (hardcourt): Djokovic d. Wawrinka 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6 6-4
Wimbledon-4th round: Ancic d. Djokovic 6-4 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3
French Open-2nd round: Djokovic d. Gonzalez 6-4 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1

2005

US Open-1st round: Djokovic d. Monfils 7-5 4-6 7-6 0-6 7-5
US Open-3rd round: Verdasco d. Djokovic 6-1 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-4
Wimbledon-2nd round: Djokovic d. Garcia-Lopez 3-6 3-6 7-6 7-6 6-4
Davis Cup(clay): O.Rochus d. Djokovic 1-6 7-5 6-7 6-1 6-3

 

[daddy]

^^^ He has stamina or breathing issues no doubt. But hes a fighter no doubt in that also. I think the loss to Ancic was more mental then anything since they are best buddies and Ancic really was a favourite then, I think he simply choke at the crucial moment and Ancic is great grass courter - very sorrry not to see him more until now. I hope I will. Verdasco - he was very young there.

NoJoke has a lionheart.

 

[Moose Malloy]

You realize the king of 'looking injured,' Sampras, had a fantastic 5 set record?

And I recall one of the fittest players ever, Courier, having a so-so record in 5setters.

What was it Boris Becker said? that the 5th set isn't about tennis, but the heart & the mind?

I think nerves are more of a factor in most 5 setters than fitness(let's be honest, everyone is pretty fit, if a guy's slightly fitter than another guy, is that a reason to pick him to win or lose?)

The reason I thought Tsonga would win if it went 5 was nerves, I think Djokovic would have had a harder time dealing with that, while Tsonga had nothing to lose.

 

[Vision84]

I don't necessarily think nerves is greater for a more experienced player because of the basis of expectations. Djokovic clearly choked in his first grand slam final against Federer, Ivanovic played nervous in the French Open final, and I recall Nalbandian not perorming well when he lost to Hewitt in the Wimbledon final. I know these examples aren't neccesarily the closest examples as I don't think any went to 5 sets but it shows that the underdog can get more nervous than the opponent.

 

[daddy]

You realize the king of 'looking injured,' Sampras, had a fantastic 5 set record?

And I recall one of the fittest players ever, Courier, having a so-so record in 5setters.

What was it Boris Becker said? that the 5th set isn't about tennis, but the heart & the mind?

I think nerves are more of a factor in most 5 setters than fitness(let's be honest, everyone is pretty fit, if a guy's slightly fitter than another guy, is that a reason to pick him to win or lose?)

The reason I thought Tsonga would win if it went 5 was nerves, I think Djokovic would have had a harder time dealing with that, while Tsonga had nothing to lose.

Once again,Djokovic is insanly confident, overconfident. Mentally a steeal guy. I am sure he will build up on this and become very hard to beat anyways not only in 5 setters. I am not sure what would happen at this aO, there you may have the edge about tsonga and his momentum, with djoko hamstring and strugling thru the 4th.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Well, it was just a vibe I got. Tsonga felt like a nerveless player to me, like Becker in '85 or Kuerten in '97.

Plus your example were players that came out nervous from the beginning for the final. Tsonga didn't show any nerves to me, from the beginning.

And I think 5th set pressure in a major final is different than the nerves that happen at any other time in the final. Federer mentioned this at Wimbledon.

Its not just about experience, I think Agassi & Navratilova were pretty nervous players despite their records, while some lesser players didn't have that problem.

Who knows, maybe this will plague Djokovic, or he will just grow in confidence after having dealt with it. When Sampras won his 1st W, he looked just like Djokovic, the moment was overwhelming him & he was having trouble breathing. After that he never really struggled with nerves.

I also think W nerves are a little different than nerves at other majors. I'm curious how Djokovic would react to a 5th set in a W final, even having already won a major.

 

[daddy]

^^ Remains to be seen, this would be hard to predict. If he is a true champ he will comeout high from this win. If not he will drop and have a huge chokes in the future. I dont se him as that kind of player but anything is possible, the ball is round.

 

[fastdunn]

But having too many 5 set matches is not good, obviously. Idealy you want to have it at early rounds if you're going to have it, shaking off some rustiness, conserving energy for final.

I think it also depends on the type of game you have. I think Sampras was one of the most feared in 5th set. His serves are always there and he plays 5th set exactly same way as he played 1st 4 sets. He looks lethargic from the 1st set anyway !

But in today's game. So much running and long rallys. It's much more physically demanding. You do not want to play too many 5 set matches. You'd better be a front runner !

 

[daddy]

But having too many 5 set matches is not good, obviously. Idealy you want to have it at early rounds if you're going to have it, shaking off some rustiness, conserving energy for final.

I think it also depends on the type of game you have. I think Sampras was one of the most feared in 5th set. His serves are always there and he plays 5th set exactly same way as he played 1st 4 sets. He looks lethargic from the 1st set anyway !

But in today's game. So much running and long rallys. It's much more physically demanding. You do not want to play too many 5 set matches. You'd better be a front runner !

Good one. I am still convinced that if Djokovic did not wipe out all of his pre finals opponents, he would have a hard time staminawise in the finals against tsonga. He needs to improve, he will win slams this yer only and only if he has an easy drow and handles it well meaning going thru mathces in 3 sets. If he had one or two 5 setters in the tournament this year, he woudl be worn out for the finals and Tsonga would have taken him out.

 

[OzNQc]

Watch his matches more closely rather than sprouting stats!!!!

I´ve read some people say that Djokovic´s bad stamina and fitness would probably make him lose some matches if they had gone to 5 sets.
I think there´s a bit of a myth on that because he looks somewhat injured or showing pain after some rallies, breathing deep, asking for medical timeouts...
Even if I agree that he needs to work on his stamina and fitness the truth is that his record in matches that went to 5 sets is actually good.
It´s overall 7-2 and it was 3-0 last year, he has won the last 4 matches that went to 5 sets.
It´s usual on young unexperienced players to lose 5 sets matches but in his first year as a top player he won all of the 3 matches that went to 5 sets. So I think people need to stop assuming that he is going to lose some match if it goes to 5 sets. The truth is he is mentally strong and gaining experience so he is tough to beat in 5 sets too, that´s also what the stats say.
These are all the 5 sets matches of his career (starting with the most recent ones):

2007

US Open-2nd round: Djokovic d. Stepanek 6-7 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6
Wimbledon-QF: Djokovic d. Baghdatis 7-6 7-6 6-7 4-6 7-5
French Open-3rd round: Djokovic d. Patience 7-6 2-6 3-6 7-6 6-3

2006

Davis Cup: Djokovic d. Wawrinka 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6 6-4
Wimbledon-4th round: Ancic d. Djokovic 6-4 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3
French Open-2nd round: Djokovic d. Gonzalez 6-4 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1

2005

US Open-1st round: Djokovic d. Monfils 7-5 4-6 7-6 0-6 7-5
US Open-3rd round: Verdasco d. Djokovic 6-1 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-4
Wimbledon-2nd round: Djokovic d. Garcia-Lopez 3-6 3-6 7-6 7-6 6-4

Yes! he is a smart player and well motivated! He wins in 5 sets with an injury time or out or two to help him rest or break up the momentum of his opponent! A real abuse of the rule! Maybe you should have watched the AO final and saw what he was trying to do to not go 5 against Tsonga! Also, that US open match u list up there with Monfils was a classic example of his abuse of the rule and his obvious lack of fitness to come into a grandslam to go through 5 sets without calling a trainer for cramp! Many players abuse the rule so he is not the only one!

Anyway, i like Djoko for his incredible shotmaking when stretched! Great to see!

 

[PCXL-Fan]

I think his numerous ball bounces are actually a clever way to regain his stamina between points.

Much like Sharapova's grunting is partially to distract her opponents.

 

[OzNQc]

i agree with PXCL!

yeah just like nadal and probably to calm himself down too!

And sharapova... i never noticed this before,,, during the rally her shriek got louder on the groundies but when she went for a volley, there was no audible sound out of her mouth lmao

That just cracked me up!!!

 

[Zaragoza]

Yes! he is a smart player and well motivated! He wins in 5 sets with an injury time or out or two to help him rest or break up the momentum of his opponent! A real abuse of the rule! Maybe you should have watched the AO final and saw what he was trying to do to not go 5 against Tsonga!

Thanks but I´ve watched him play live and many times on tv, close enough.
I said that he needs to improve his fitness and stamina but the truth is that he is good in 5 sets matches which was the main point of this thread.
He is mentally strong and he knows how to play the big points, that´s why he usually wins in tight matches.

 

[noeledmonds]

This record does not show the whole story though. For example Djokovic won his Wimbledon 2007 QF but had to retire in the SF against Nadal. Djokovic also had to retire later in the tournament after his 2nd round 5-setter at the French Open in 2006. Clearly physical conidition was an issue in these cases.

However as Moose says mentality is often more important than physical conition over 5 sets. I think that ultimately one requires a combination of a strong mentailty and good physical condition. The greatest 5-set player of them all was Borg and he had both these atributes. Borg's 5-set grand slam record was 20 won and 3 lost (including Davis Cup I think it is something like 26-4). He once won 14 consecutive 5-set matches. Wilander, another of the great 5-set players, had similar strengths as he had a good physical condition and a strong mentality.

 

[Zaragoza]

This record does not show the whole story though. For example Djokovic won his Wimbledon 2007 QF but had to retire in the SF against Nadal. Djokovic also had to retire later in the tournament after his 2nd round 5-setter at the French Open in 2006. Clearly physical conidition was an issue in these cases

The point of this thread is that he´s good in 5 setters. So if the match goes to 5 sets he has a good chance to win. The general consensus on this board seemed to be the opposite, that´s why I thought this would be an interesting record. It´s obvious he needs to improve his fitness and stamina, we saw what happened in the last month of the season.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

The point of this thread is that he´s good in 5 setters. So if the match goes to 5 sets he has a good chance to win. The general consensus on this board seemed to be the opposite, that´s why I thought this would be an interesting record. It´s obvious he needs to improve his fitness and stamina, we saw what happened in the last month of the season.

I totally agree.

But on the other hand, it's obvious that you shouldn't pay attention to general consensus on this board always. Especially when it comes to Djokovic. Or when it comes about Federer.

Remember the Federer vs. Tsonga poll less then a week ago? When it proved wrong, then something like 66% of the votes went for Tsonga's victory in the finals ... And they still haven't learn anything.

 

[viduka0101]

never mind,I made a mistake
I wanted to quote a post from this thread so I accidentally bumped it,sorry

 

[drive]

Does anyone know why was Zaragoza banned? He was a really good poster..

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Does anyone know why was Zaragoza banned? He was a really good poster..

good riddance....