Nadal never could win a second AO because every time he either had an injury or had to play against strong opponents. He never had such a weak AO draw like Djokovic's 2016 RG draw. (and RG 2019 will probably be even worse)A double career slam would be the final wooden spoon in the VB's coffin.
It's just seems as time goes by Novak is wrestling more and more records away from from Fedal. He won all four majors in a row, completed the golden masters, and now weeks at #1 and most masters are under threat. What's next, the double career slam?
Why would he tank it? Playing 4 three setters in Cincinnati didn't harm him at the US Open last summer. He's 32, there are no guaruntees anymore, he should keep playing to win when he is in form.I think Djokovic should tank Rome and preserve himself for RG
I'm expecting Nadal to go all out to secure a clay title for his confidence... If he has to go through Thiem, Fed/Tsitsipas, and Zverev to do it, it may take something out of him for the French
It's just seems as time goes by Novak is wrestling more and more records away from from Fedal. He won all four majors in a row, completed the golden masters, and now weeks at #1 and most masters are under threat.
Oh please shut up. Agut, Thiem and Murray are really lucky draw for Nole. He got toughest draw he could get in that moment.Nadal never could win a second AO because every time he either had an injury or had to play against strong opponents. He never had such a weak AO draw like Djokovic's 2016 RG draw. (and RG 2019 will probably be even worse)
Agut on clay?Oh please shut up. Agut, Thiem and Murray are really lucky draw for Nole. He got toughest draw he could get in that moment.
Have you seen some of Nadal's Slam draws recently though?Nadal never could win a second AO because every time he either had an injury or had to play against strong opponents. He never had such a weak AO draw like Djokovic's 2016 RG draw. (and RG 2019 will probably be even worse)
Yeah, I did. In Wimbledon and USO 2018 he clearly had the toughest draws. In AO 2019 he had Djokovic in the final. What next?Have you seen some of Nadal's Slam draws recently though?
Might not need to win any more major titles to do so, if you get my drift.Good....good.... Now I want him to tie blloody rafi in slams and to freeze there.
He's 32 and should learn to pick his battlesWhy would he tank it? Playing 4 three setters in Cincinnati didn't harm him at the US Open last summer. He's 32, there are no guaruntees anymore, he should keep playing to win when he is in form.
You better take of your hate glasses, Thiem played really good, Murray took a set from Novak. It's not their fault they couldn't beat him. Wawrinka is a myth, nothing more.Agut on clay?
Thiem and Murray played real bad against him. Thiem was not a threat in 2016 yet, Murray simply collapsed after 40 minutes of the final. Djokovic's draw was a joke. Nadal was at the worst point of his career, also avoided Wawrinka. I wish Nadal ever had such luck in AO.
Thiem played really good in a match which he lost 6-2 6-1 6-4?You better take of your hate glasses, Thiem played really good, Murray took a set from Novak. It's not their fault they couldn't beat him. Wawrinka is a myth, nothing more.
For a player who has been clueless on grass for years before, no surprise everything looks tough.Yeah, I did. In Wimbledon and USO 2018 he clearly had the toughest draws. In AO 2019 he had Djokovic in the final. What next?
Agut on clay?
Thiem and Murray played real bad against him. Thiem was not a threat in 2016 yet, Murray simply collapsed after 40 minutes of the final. Djokovic's draw was a joke. Nadal was at the worst point of his career, also avoided Wawrinka. I wish Nadal ever had such luck in AO.
You better take of your hate glasses, Thiem played really good, Murray took a set from Novak. It's not their fault they couldn't beat him. Wawrinka is a myth, nothing more.
Yeah, Nishikori is definitely a tougher 1/4 final opponent than Del Potro.For a player who has been clueless on grass for years before, no surprise everything looks tough.
Had Djokovic in the final. What about all the cupcakes before then, those weren't enough? What about all those times when he won the US Open?
He's actually done damn well at the Majors considering he hasn't been anywhere near as consistent as Federer and Djokovic over the years. Don't blame luck.
He had a great Djokovic in the final, that alone makes it hard to win the title. My point is that Djokovic didn't have even one decent (leave alone good) opponent in RG 2016.Are you really talking about how hard Nadal's draws have been? Lol. Did you sleepwalk through this years AO when Nadal had a cakewalk to the final? When has Nadal won a Slam draw playing 4 days in a row like Novak did in 2016 RG?
He had a great Djokovic in the final, that alone makes it hard to win the title. My point is that Djokovic didn't have even one decent (leave alone good) opponent in RG 2016.
Did you actually watch Thiem Djokovic ? I remember well that game so you can preach all you want, Thiem was good, he played really aggressive but bit too aggressive to stay in court all the time. As for Murray, the same way Novak lost year earlier, he lost almost in same manner against Djokovic so there is no injustice.Thiem played really good in a match which he lost 6-2 6-1 6-4?
As I said Murray collapsed after 40 minutes. After the first set he was just trash. You are the one who should take off your glasses and stop acting like Djokovic never had a weak draw in his career. RG 2016 was weak, it's a fact.
And by the way, I was replying to a Nadal-hating comment.
I never said Nishikori was tougher than Del Potro, but combined with Khachanov and Edmund, it was a decent test for a guy who wasn't in great form at the time. Nadal's 1st week path wasn't challenging. Anyway, it's his fault only for taking that long with Delpo, he could have won way sooner.Yeah, Nishikori is definitely a tougher 1/4 final opponent than Del Potro.
Not sure why do you mention USO when he had to beat pretty good versions of Djokovic in 2010 and 2013. You really believe Murray in RG 2016 was a tougher opponent? This is a joke. Yes, USO 2017 was weak, but Djokovic also had a weak draw in USO 2018.
Djokovic fans like to think that he never had an easy draw in his career, but it's not true by any means. Anyway, I was replying to a Nadal-hating comment.
Tell me which Slam final Stan won playing against non injured or not exhausted player ?
Not with one free week before RG and one more week at RG before it really matters. But Nadal’s game doesn’t look good now, so he seems to be beatable, be it in Rome or RG.I think Djokovic should tank Rome and preserve himself for RG
I'm expecting Nadal to go all out to secure a clay title for his confidence... If he has to go through Thiem, Fed/Tsitsipas, and Zverev to do it, it may take something out of him for the French
Lol, Murray should have lost in the first round. He needed five sets to beat Stepanek and Bagnis, lost a set to Gasquet from 5-2 up. In the final he completely collapsed after the first set. Come on now.Djokovic played Murray in 2016, who had won more clay points than anyone that season on clay that year: Rome win, Madrid final, MC SF. He beat the in form clay player that year and he had to battle through tough scheduling, so to say he didn't play a decent opponent is fiction. Who was going to stop Novak with the way he played?
As I said earlier Djokovic looks like a lock for RG this year.
He already did that before, in 2016.And with the fact he also has won them all, IMO he now ranks above Nadal in Masters Series. I do think he will pull away soon and set the record.
Lol, Murray should have lost in the first round. He needed five sets to beat Stepanek and Bagnis, lost a set to Gasquet from 5-2 up. In the final he completely collapsed after the first set. Come on now.
As for the bolded part-I think it is safe to say any version of Nadal from 2005-2013 and 2017-2018 would beat him. Wawrinka could do that if he reached the final. Djokovic was at his usual RG level, just this time the draw was weak.
By the way, I started this discussion because some people started to troll Nadal in this thread. It's nothing against you.
You better take of your hate glasses, Thiem played really good, Murray took a set from Novak. It's not their fault they couldn't beat him. Wawrinka is a myth, nothing more.
He already did that before, in 2016.
Dude, we will not prove anything to each other. As long as we talk about 2011 I never said Nadal was in great form in RG 2011 even though he won it. That being said he improved in the end of the tournament, while Murray was horrible in RG 2016 final after the first set. Murray was never a great player on clay anyway.This was not 2005-2013 though. It was 2016 and Nadal was not beating him and Wawrinka wasn't either. With those heavy conditions like that, Wawrinka stood no chance because he wouldn't be able to blast on a hot fast court like he did 2015. Djokovic would have beaten him just like Murray did. Whether Murray needed 5 sets or not is irrelevant. I could say Nadal should have lost in the 1st round in 2011 and not won the title but that wouldn't mean much. Murray was the in form clay player and made the final, and if you think this Djokovic wasn't better than other years then there is nothing left to discuss.
How was the match today?I am talking about this being first time he is at this position with the golden masters.
How was the match today?
Lol, what's the point in bringing up those versions of Nadal when we're talking only about 2016? You might as well say Djokovic wouldn't have won if the '78 version of Borg had magically appeared on Phillipe Chatrier. Tennis, indeed all sports, just doesn't work like that.Lol, Murray should have lost in the first round. He needed five sets to beat Stepanek and Bagnis, lost a set to Gasquet from 5-2 up. In the final he completely collapsed after the first set. Come on now.
As for the bolded part-I think it is safe to say any version of Nadal from 2005-2013 and 2017-2018 would beat him. Wawrinka could do that if he reached the final. Djokovic was at his usual RG level, just this time the draw was weak.
By the way, I started this discussion because some people started to troll Nadal in this thread. It's nothing against you.
Just like I expected to be honest. I decided not to watch the match this time.Clinical from Djokovic, but Tsitsipas looked at times to be running on fumes.
In 2016 only Wawrinka could have a chance, yes. But he lost in the semifinals.Lol, what's the point in bringing up those versions of Nadal when we're talking only about 2016? You might as well say Djokovic wouldn't have won if the '78 version of Borg had magically appeared on Phillipe Chatrier. Tennis, indeed all sports, just doesn't work like that.
Just like I expected to be honest. I decided not to watch the match this time.
It was expected. Tsitsipas didn't impress me yesterday by any means. Djokovic-Thiem was the real final IMO.Both semis and the Federer v Thiem match were much more high octane. Djokovic's fast start made the match NID from the very early stages. Tsitsipas looked gased at stages, but Novak certainly brought his game face today.