UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
He means after he gets no 1 record he will play less smaller events.
That's all it means. He may not have expressed himself peRFectly.
Djokovic: “Whether or not Rafael Nadal plays in Paris doesn’t change anything because everything is in my hands,”
- Thread starter clayqueen
- Start date
That's all it means. He may not have expressed himself peRFectly.
Beckerserve
Legend
Makes no sense lol. Just play the big events. If he wins them ranking takes care of itself.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
If that was the case then Nadal wouldn't be tied for the most Slams in history yet minus 82 weeks at #1 in comparison to Djokovic.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
I think we all are confused on what clayqueen's mindset is. Lol.
USO
Banned
Everyone knows it’s because he had a lot of injuries in his career which affected his ranking many times... It has nothing to do with Nadal focussing on slams or other tournaments because he missed both many times...
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
And those injuries are a large part because of his play style which brought him 20 Slams. His whole career is focused mainly on clay, which he rarely misses, while he has missed 17 big fall tournaments and this doesn't even include the other big hardcourt tournaments he missed throughout the year. Can't have it both ways.
Nadal's Universe
Rookie
Novak can have the RANKINGS record as long as NAdal the Slam record. Fair trade.
JadeC
Hall of Fame
Today I learned:
1) You can't have professional goals.
2) You can't state your professional goals out loud.
3) You can't change your professional goals four years later.
What else today? TTW is full of wisdom.
Beckerserve
Legend
Nadal was smarter it appears.
Nadal's Universe
Rookie
Do you think Nadal will push his body to the limit at 34 just to have that record like what Murray did? that least of his problem. His been Number 1 albeit not longer than Novak. His eyes are fixed on the BIG ONE which matters the most, Slam record
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Nadal will have the FO record
Fed will have the Wimby record
Novak will have the AO record
wonder if the USO record is still up for grabs
I love how triggered people get when someone is actually honest about their intentions. Why does everyone have to be so god damn "correct" especially when it is not what they mean. Federer and Nadal feel exactly the same way, but they hide their intentions through PR bull crap. I prefer Djokovic's way much more.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Personally, I would choose the position Djokovic is in now overall than where Nadal is, even if he has tied the Slam record. Apples, Oranges.
Beckerserve
Legend
Dude get the popcorn out and enjoy Djokovic ans his fans get more frustrated by the day. The realisation of 20-17 is biting hard now
Nadal's Universe
Rookie
Nadal has the best chance. Next 2 USO then he will have 6.
Beckerserve
Legend
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
If all goes according to the trajectory we are on, and no major shock happens this fall, Djokovic wil have passed the 300 week mark at #1 by the time AO rolls around. That will be two years more at #1 than Nadal which is a huge difference. Couple that with all he has achieved, 17 Slams, Masters record (winning them all at least twice), NCYGS, plus the fact that he is a better player on hard and grass, is younger and has more time to pad his count, absolutely. The difference between Nadal and Djokovic is not as big as the difference between Borg and Connors so moot point.
JadeC
Hall of Fame
People forget that Federer went 5 years without a slam before adding 3 more. Djokovic has time to add, even if the next gen start winning slams.
Nadal's Universe
Rookie
Novak may have STAND ALONE records, but Rafa and Fed too. That is why the ULTIMATE METRIC, for the NTH TIME, is Slam wins. Throw every metric available. It is always about Slams. It always is and will always will be.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Exactly. Federer showed that you can wait out the storm and strike when the time arrives even if you get shut out for years. Nadal winning RG has a lot of people not seeing the big picture here.
Nadal's Universe
Rookie
Nadal can add more Slams too.
USO
Banned
Djokovic is nowhere near Fedal at this point in terms of GOAT debates with 3 slams behind (full Murray career). The recent “Djokovic Open” final was huge for Djokovic but instead of 20-19-18 it became 20-20-17. I don’t know what will happen in the future as all 3 can still win more but right now it’s not close.
With 20 slams each Federer could definitely use things like weeks at no.1 or WTF against Nadal while Nadal coud use things like Olympics, h2h and more M1000 against Federer. Fedal both can have a case. But right now Djokovic is clearly far behind in slams to start using other stats, he will need to win a few more slams or otherwise it’s all pointless.
With 20 slams each Federer could definitely use things like weeks at no.1 or WTF against Nadal while Nadal coud use things like Olympics, h2h and more M1000 against Federer. Fedal both can have a case. But right now Djokovic is clearly far behind in slams to start using other stats, he will need to win a few more slams or otherwise it’s all pointless.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Slams are not all that matters! I cannot stress this enough. Dominance matters too as well as versatility, and both of those things Djokovic has more than Nadal. If Nadal ends his career with one more Slam, what difference will it make when he spent 2+ years less at #1? You can dominant one Slam forever but that doesn't automatically vault you over everyone else just because you dominated one Slam. There are 3 others at the end of the day and other big tournaments, the WTF in particular.
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JadeC
Hall of Fame
Of course, and he will. But their careers are not over yet, so we can't know who will end up with the most slams. And even if Nadal ends up with 1 or 2 more than Djokovic, Djokovic's accomplishments will still put him in the GOAT debate. There isn't a clear GOAT and probably won't be. FYI, I don't really care for the title myself, I just like seeing my guy win.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
You are completely short sighted. You say this like Federer and Djokovic are at the same point in their careers. Federer has 6 years on him and is nearing the end. Djokovic looks to have a lot of miles left. Federer will be blessed to add another Slam while it will be a huge shock if Djokovic doesn't add more.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
yeah, not true. Slam count is a recent invention in tennis. Did not really exist before Sampras
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
We need to stop saying “Murray’s career” when talking of the Big 3. No dig on Murray but his slam career is almost nothing for a player like Novak. Three times in his life Novak won a Murray’s career equivalent of slams in just a few months (ie 3 slams in a row), and the last time that happened was last year. If Novak is on 3 is simply not that much.
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USO
Banned
Even if that’s true (which it isn’t since slams have always been the most important) it would still mean it is at least the metric when comparing Fedal and Djokovic. All of them played this era knowing that slams is the #1 thing.
Of course if I would compare Djokovic with other players from the past like Borg I would maybe look at different things because many were skipping the AO or others were playing doubles too, but when it comes to comparing the Big 3 the slams is the number one thing they have been playing for and 20-20-17 is a clear stat.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Jmac himself said he would played differently if he had known how the relative importance of slams has changed.
and if you want to focus on just slams when comparing the Big 3 that’s fine. But I don’t agree. Never have. The Big 3 have gone after so much more than just 8 weeks of play in every season
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Those two had such style and personality in the courtHow come people remember these two?
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Novak…do something useful then with your hands that is better than hitting a linesperson and hitting 50 unforced errors in 3 sets.
Federev
Legend
This is just weird to me.
Just my thing maybe, but I like how Rafa and Fed - while saying they obviously like the records - don't get so explicit and intense about it so much.
I am sure they would like to have/keep the records - they say it. But they say it w more perspective to my hearing. It seems like they are more careful to either not say it so much or explain there are much, much more important things in life. This is the truth: faith, family, - and as Rafa says esp - the health of people in this season of the pandemic.
It just all strikes me as petty to go on and on about it so much like I keep hearing, seeing from Novak. It sounds empty and so self-focused.
In the end - who gives a crap about a tiny yellow ball w sticks? How were you as a husband, as a dad, as a faithful person of character?
"From the heart, the mouth speaks". I hope Novaks talks w more perspective. I would like to like him as a fan, but - for me - it is hard.
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UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
You mean like 2019?
Rafa and Novak won 2 slams each. What gave Novak the edge were the other events.
Coz Novak can't win EVERY slam, no?
JadeC
Hall of Fame
Sorry, I don't get what you're saying here. Surely, a person can have more than one goal in life. Just because he is talking about his goals in tennis does not mean that he doesn't have personal goals. Just because he doesn't talk about it doesn't mean that he isn't trying to be a good husband and father. He doesn't need to share that with the world. Having issues with what he is saying here sounds a bit nit-picky to me. If what he is saying here makes it hard for you to like him, then I don't think you will ever like him. And that's fine, you don't have to like every player.
Federev
Legend
I think I get you and for sure agree w you on different goals and pursuing things that are not mutually exclusive.
I have no doubt Novak tries to be a great dad, deeply valued family, and from all we can see his bad marriage troubles are behind him. I hope the best for him in all that.
I didn’t mean to say he was a bad family man - though I can see how that might have come across.
I don’t know his heart- but from what I see and hear from him - and that’s really what I’m referring to - I get a sense that maybe he’s too fixated on these records for my taste.
I repeat - for my taste.
I can only point to other like-accomplished players to consider the relative attitudes that are possible.
For my taste - the way Rafa and Roger talk about records appeals to me more and intimates the possibility of a more healthy attitude about it all.
Novak will be around for many more years winning everything probably. With that in mind I want to like him better cause he’ll likely be the headline for a while.
So that’s why I wrote it.
Beckerserve
Legend
Nadal ended YE1.
JadeC
Hall of Fame
I get where you’re coming from. I think all three care about the records, just Fedal doesn’t tend to talk about it as much as Djokovic. Who knows, maybe they obsess about it more, but just hide it better. Either way, I don’t think there’s a correct way or incorrect way to talk about breaking records. I have no problem with how they go about it. To each their own.
UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
Oh, right. I am so used to Novak's domination, forgot about it.
Well, then, Novak learned from 2019 and realized he has to play more events.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Novak sounding a wee bit salty even if I get what he's saying.
Focus on what you are typing. To maintain No.1 one has to win SLAMS too. If anyone has amassed slams fast in the last decade it is Djovak, then after him Nadal.
demrle
Professional
Prize money
USO
Banned
Borg only has 109 weeks at no.1 while Connors has 268 and Lendl has 270. I have never heard anyone rank them higher despite this huge difference simply because they have 8 slams which is 3 behind Borg's 11. Djokovic's weeks at no.1 are nice but if he wants to be in the GOAT debate he will have to do better than 20-20-17.
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