Djokovic 2016 vs Nadal 2014 at RG, who wins?

[The Big Foe fan]

Both having a last prime run before the steep fall.
Both having lost a rome final and having won Madrid en route to the French open final.
Both having faced a tough loss in Monte Carlo
Both showing quite huge signs of holes in the armour after such a great previous season (nadal more so than nole)
But both upped their levels in the latter stages when it mattered.

So, who wins?? Nadal going for RG#9 or Nole, going for what it seemed to be his last shot at Career slam.??


Highlights for your reference

Nadal 2014

Djokovic 2016

 

[The Big Foe fan]

@skaj @TripleATeam

 

[SamprasisGOAT]

Novak in 4. Gos similar to the 2021 semi

 

[RS]

Nadal.

 

[skaj]

Boring baseline tennis wins.

 

[InsideOut900]

Either Nadal gets the job done in 4 or gets outlasted in 5 I think.

 

[Checkmate]

Novak in 5 imo.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Novak in 4. Gos similar to the 2021 semi

Why

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Nadal.

Care to elaborate why?
I'm struggling to figure out his chances if djo drags it to 5th.
Otoh I'm also struggling to figure out Djokovic's chances to make it to 5.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Either Nadal gets the job done in 4 or gets outlasted in 5 I think.

Conditions will play a major role as well.
If its the drench open of 2016, nole has the upper hand. In any other case, its rafa with the advantage.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Boring baseline tennis wins.

Bruh

 

[skaj]

Bruh

Sis?

 

[RS]

Care to elaborate why?
I'm struggling to figure out his chances if djo drags it to 5th.
Otoh I'm also struggling to figure out Djokovic's chances to make it to 5.

It’s a strong version of Nadal at RG and Djokovic was not as aggressive as in 2011 were his game was suited to take down Nadal.

Just my opinion though.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Sis?

Erm no

 

[The Big Foe fan]

It’s a strong version of Nadal at RG and Djokovic was not as aggressive as in 2011 were his game was suited to take down Nadal.

Just my opinion though.

That's true as well

 

[Nadal_King]

If Murray could take a set off that nole then Rafa surely could take 3 and add the pressure of career slam it's really uphill battle I feel. Also to add Djokovic of 2016 rg wasn't anything better than rg 2014 so don't think djokovic 2016 beating any pre 2015 nadal even 2017-2020 rafa will be a huge challenge

 

[TripleATeam]

Good question. Probably Nadal, he was fairly strong that year and Novak wasn't anything untouchable in the RG 2016 F.

 

[The Blond Blur]

No version of Joker has an answer to RG 2014dal’s Fearhand

 

[MeatTornado]

Can't say I've re-visited either of those tournaments in a long time but I don't remember anything in 2016 suggesting he was stronger than in previous years when he lost to Nadal.

 

[MichaelNadal]

No version of Joker has an answer to RG 2014dal’s Fearhand

The hook on both those forehands in the first gif is nasty af lol

 

[Noleberic123]

The hook on both those forehands in the first gif is nasty af lol

Ahh those were the bad old days

 

[K-H]

The hook on both those forehands in the first gif is nasty af lol

I can honestly watch that gif for ages. Something about it just makes me feel a way I cant explain lmao
The wide stance when he hits it, the hook, the crispness, the swagger in that shot...

 

[MichaelNadal]

I can honestly watch that gif for ages. Something about it just makes me feel a way I cant explain lmao
The wide stance when he hits it, the hook, the crispness, the swagger in that shot...

Yep, you can just see the intent and preparedness he had on a dime there. He got planted so early for that second FH and was ready af. Beautiful stuff

 

[skaj]

Bruh

Erm no.

 

[DjokoLand]

Erm no.

Yes because the likes of Fed’s attacking game at RG was exciting in a loss for handful of games

 

[NoleFam]

2016 Djokovic for me, probably in 5. His shot tolerance at that particular RG was an all time high, and really for that entire stretch in Slams from 2015 Wimbledon - 2016 RG, and he had great controlled aggression. 2014 Djokovic played to that level in that 1st set and a half but his intensity tailed off and he was missing way too much (part of it had to do with a stomach issue). I think 2016 Djokovic is the best version that ever played at RG and would beat that version of Nadal.

 

[RS]

That's true as well

I rate RG 2014 Nadal higher than most also.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I rate RG 2014 Nadal higher than most also.

That FH really was crispy af. I usually rate it low bc of the terrible kit and bad haircut Level of play was good tho lol

 

[RS]

That FH really was crispy af. I usually rate it low bc of the terrible kit and bad haircut Level of play was good tho lol

Mixed the aggression with still very strong movement not to forget the Ferrer and Murray matches as well

 

[mr tonyz]

In 2012 French Open Final Set 3 conditions ...

Djoker in straights LOL

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Erm no.

Okay you're a girl, I get it.

 

[mr tonyz]

Okay you're a girl, I get it.

They called you a girl lol

 

[mr tonyz]

Yep, you can just see the intent and preparedness he had on a dime there. He got planted so early for that second FH and was ready af. Beautiful stuff

Djoker made it to 5-5 in the second set whilst being up a set already? Must have been sweating there for a couple of games!

 

[The Big Foe fan]

They called you a girl lol

I wish I'd be one, lol.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

I rate RG 2014 Nadal higher than most also.

Erm what??
That was one of the lowest levels he has ever produced at RG bruh.

 

[mr tonyz]

I wish I'd be one, lol.

With a male brain. You'd have unfettered access to the merchandise.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Yes because the likes of Fed’s attacking game at RG was exciting in a loss for handful of games

I have always believed that Agassi was muchas mejor at producing offence off the ground than fed, but didn't have the movement of the swiss.

 

[skaj]

Yes because the likes of Fed’s attacking game at RG was exciting in a loss for handful of games

Ha?

 

[Clay lover]

I think while Nadal's form for the first part of the 2014 clay season was questionable he played himself into a decent level at the RG. By the time he met Ferrer he was unstoppable after dropping the first set. His FH in particular was firing the whole tournament.

 

[The Guru]

Well Novak was a lot better in 2016 and he played Nadal super close despite being sick and throwing up in the middle of the match so I'm inclined to lean 2016 Djokovic here. Pretty much 50/50 though.

 

[maratha_warrior]

2016 RG especially Semis & Finals was the best version of Novak while 2014 RG was not the best version of Nadal .

 

[King No1e]

Are you guys kidding? Nadal literally beat Djokovic at RG14. The difference between Djokovic's 2014 and 16 clay seasons was not that much. Djokovic in good form, Nadal in very subpar form. Djokovic gets a win in Rome both times.

Nadal wins this matchup at least 9 times out of 10.

 

[RS]

Erm what??
That was one of the lowest levels he has ever produced at RG bruh.

To me it is middle pile. But that’s still a high standard and it’s just relative to other Nadal RG forms.

 

[beard]

Hard to bet against Nadal at FO...
But in last 7 years, Novak leads 2:1 vs Nadal at that slam...
So, I'm going with Novak in 5 sets...

 

[beard]

Are you guys kidding? Nadal literally beat Djokovic at RG14. The difference between Djokovic's 2014 and 16 clay seasons was not that much. Djokovic in good form, Nadal in very subpar form. Djokovic gets a win in Rome both times.

Nadal wins this matchup at least 9 times out of 10.

Novak never dominated the clay season, plus it's too short to have some big conclusion on his overall form...
At 2016 FO he finished circle of 4 slams wins, first time anyone did in 50 years, so yeah, 2016 Novak was much better than mediocre 2014 Novak...

Bold, in real life Nadal won 7 of 9, which is great, but 2.22 times worse than your imaginary matchup...

 

[RS]

Novak never dominated the clay season, plus it's too short to have some big conclusion on his overall form...
At 2016 FO he finished circle of 4 slams wins, first time anyone did in 50 years, so yeah, 2016 Novak was much better than mediocre 2014 Novak...

Bold, in real life Nadal won 7 of 9, which is great, but 2.22 times worse than your imaginary matchup...

Don't think 2014 Djokovic was medicore at RG.

 

[beard]

Don't think makes 2014 Djokovic was medicore at RG.

Compared to 2016 version

 

[RS]

Compared to 2016 version

Don't think the difference is that huge to call one great and one medicore but 2016 was probably better to be fair.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Novak never dominated the clay season, plus it's too short to have some big conclusion on his overall form...
At 2016 FO he finished circle of 4 slams wins, first time anyone did in 50 years, so yeah, 2016 Novak was much better than mediocre 2014 Novak...

Bold, in real life Nadal won 7 of 9, which is great, but 2.22 times worse than your imaginary matchup...

Novak beat Rafa's 2 worst versions, Nadal actually played well in 2014

 

[beard]

Novak beat Rafa's 2 worst versions, Nadal actually played well in 2014

Yeah, worst, sure, he lost right...
2:1 in 7 years, bud