Djokovic wasn't surprised at how easy it was to beat Nadal.

[Tennease]

edit: see the full interview here:

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team have planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping inside the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him serenity & love, calmed him down and gave him a lot of positive energy on the court. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Djokovic was also shown the list of Most Grand Slam titles holders where he is currently sitting at number 3. Courier asked him if this will motivate him to chase the record and win more Slams. Djokovic answered yes absolutely. He is very motivated to break the record.

 

[Sudacafan]

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team has planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping into the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

So Pepe left his mark on Nole after all.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

In short: Nadal is not a family man, and it shows.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

In short: Nadal is not a family man, and it shows.

 

[wangs78]

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Great insight. Just shows you how important it is in these epic matchups for a player to be in the right state of mind. I think Nadal should start his family instead of continuing to wait until he retires (although who knows, that could be soon). For players like Roger, Rafa and Nole, where every final could have historic implications, getting too worked up about it is a terrible thing. Not saying it would have affected today's outcome but I think Rafa could have forced a much more competitive match had he not come out so tense and flat. Reminds me of so many of the slam finals for Roger when he had first Rafa and then Nole challenging him. As the incumbent and the much older player, he was always the one with more pressure and it showed in how he started big matches like Wimby '08, AO '09, Wimby and USO '15.

 

[maratha_warrior]

So Pepe left his mark on Nole after all.

"Blanketed him with love "

 

[DRII]

In short: Nadal is not a family man, and it shows.

riiiight, i mean he should quickly get married and then have a near public affair with a Bollywood actress that gets press attention and is embarrassing for her.

i mean thats what any real family man does...

 

[RF-18]

Rafas box looked devastated already in the 2nd set. Moya was shown on the screen hitting stuff around him, Nadals dad had that look like "f this ****", Xisca looked heartbroken. I mean even Nadal looked like he was beaten once Djokovic started goating from the first point. I've yet to see such scenes from Nadals box that early.

 

[joekapa]

The last couple of service points where he shook his head, were so telling. He wanted out.
This match will prove to be career changing for Nadal. Don't know if 8t will be for the better.

 

[Mustard]

The key now is how Nadal responds. It's about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

riiiight, i mean he should quickly get married and then have a near public affair with a Bollywood actress that gets press attention and is embarrassing for her.

i mean thats what any real family man does...

Djokovic has said that his family gave him the necessary calm, motivation, and focus to play Nadal, and that Nadal was missing that.

There is no doubt what Djokovic means with that comparison.

Apparently the rumours of the tabloids are a fuel for the people who are looking to console themselves in the light of these recent developments.

 

[Sudacafan]

Nadal needs to marry Xisca before Indian Wells.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

The calmovic tactic seems to work

 

[ibbi]

Novak sounds like one of those Conor McGregor envisioner types.

 

[True Fanerer]

In short: Nadal is not a family man, and it shows.

He should put a ring on it. She's a beautiful woman. What's wrong with him?

 

[reaper]

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team has planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping into the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Djokovic was also shown the list of Most Grand Slam titles holders where he is currently sitting at number 3. Courier asked him if this will motivate him to chase the record and win more Slams. Djokovic answered yes absolutely. He is very motivated to break the record.

John Mcenroe was interviewed before the match and said Nadal was at the venue 8 hours before the match started. If true, it seems like a match preparation where there's a lot of anxiety burning away that brought about a flat start.

 

[dunlop_fort_knox]

nadal got a call from pepe before the match and it put him a tizzy.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The key now is how Nadal responds. It's about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.

#Rocky

 

[True Fanerer]

#Rocky

Seriously he needs to knock up Xisca. Give him something else to live for and look forward to.

 

[veroniquem]

Of course he wasn't surprised. Djoko has pretty much owned Nadal since 2011.

Head to head before 2011:
Outdoor hard: 5-3 Djoko
Indoor hard: 2-2
Clay: 9-0 Nadal
Grass: 2-0 Nadal

Since 2011:
Outdoor hard: 10-2 Djoko
Indoor hard: 2-0 Djoko
Clay: 7-7
Grass: 2-0 Djoko

Nadal doesn't even lead him on clay anymore! Everything else is complete domination by Djoko. Talk about figuring a player out...

 

[MichaelNadal]

Seriously he needs to knock up Xisca. Give him something else to live for and look forward to.

We are focusing way too much on a score of one match. Nadal is the second best player on tour, all the panic is unnecessary.

 

[galain]

I still don't really understand exactly what it was Djokovic did that made Nadal look so ordinary today. Ok - was playing up a bit, but no more than other people have done. Fed usually at least starts playing Nadal from the same position. Nadal looked slow and constantly surprised - which is unusual considering how often these two have played.

I know Djokovic doesn't miss - but I don't see how that makes Nadal look as bad as he did today.

(caveat - I wasn't home for the match. Just watched a 20 min highlight..)

 

[True Fanerer]

We are focusing way too much on a score of one match. Nadal is the second best player on tour, all the panic is unnecessary.

I'm not saying he's done. He needs something besides tennis like the rest of them have. It could help him.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I'm not saying he's done. He needs something besides tennis like the rest of them have. It could help him.

That I agree with, its not like he's the one that has to get pregnant lol

 

[Mustard]

Are people seriously suggesting that Nadal lost today because he's still unmarried with no kids while his biggest rivals are all married with kids?

 

[Nostradamus]

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team have planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping inside the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Djokovic was also shown the list of Most Grand Slam titles holders where he is currently sitting at number 3. Courier asked him if this will motivate him to chase the record and win more Slams. Djokovic answered yes absolutely. He is very motivated to break the record.

But he won't break the record because he isn't good enough. and young guns will start to own him soon. plus he is injury prone

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Of course he wasn't surprised. Djoko has pretty much owned Nadal since 2011.

Head to head before 2011:
Outdoor hard: 5-3 Djoko
Indoor hard: 2-2
Clay: 9-0 Nadal
Grass: 2-0 Nadal

Since 2011:
Outdoor hard: 10-2 Djoko
Indoor hard: 2-0 Djoko
Clay: 7-7
Grass: 2-0 Djoko

Nadal doesn't even lead him on clay anymore! Everything else is complete domination by Djoko. Talk about figuring a player out...

Since the start of 2011 season, only in 2013 did Nadal beat Djokovic anywhere outside of clay.

 

[Nole_King]

We are focusing way too much on a score of one match. Nadal is the second best player on tour, all the panic is unnecessary.

You saw what happened to Nadal after defeat to Fed in AO17. Fed crushed him in rest of the matches. Nadal was already getting crushed by Novak before Novak deep dived post WIM 2015. Nothing suggests that Nadal will be able to get better of Novak more often than not going forward

 

[Mustard]

I still don't really understand exactly what it was Djokovic did that made Nadal look so ordinary today. Ok - was playing up a bit, but no more than other people have done. Fed usually at least starts playing Nadal from the same position. Nadal looked slow and constantly surprised - which is unusual considering how often these two have played.

I know Djokovic doesn't miss - but I don't see how that makes Nadal look as bad as he did today.

(caveat - I wasn't home for the match. Just watched a 20 min highlight..)

I think it was a combination of old mental demons at the Australian Open, and getting caught in two minds regarding tactics. I think a lot of people, myself included, expected Nadal's more aggressive approach to give him an extra dimension against Djokovic. Instead, it completely backfired on Nadal. The result of being caught in two minds regarding tactics was confusion and flatness when Djokovic started playing well straight off. When Nadal beats Djokovic, he's either dictating the rallies or it's very close in the rallies and he just manages to edge it. Today, Djokovic was dictating to Nadal, and easily.

 

[The Fedfather]

I still don't really understand exactly what it was Djokovic did that made Nadal look so ordinary today. Ok - was playing up a bit, but no more than other people have done. Fed usually at least starts playing Nadal from the same position. Nadal looked slow and constantly surprised - which is unusual considering how often these two have played.

I know Djokovic doesn't miss - but I don't see how that makes Nadal look as bad as he did today.

(caveat - I wasn't home for the match. Just watched a 20 min highlight..)

That's the gist of it. Nadal wasn't moving well and Djokovic, standing inside the baseline, rushed him big time. His accuracy was outstanding too. Rafa tried to end points quicker so as not to get in longer rallies in which he couldn't keep up, but again it was rushed, he was nervous and going for winners prematurely, made a lot of UEs as a result. And that was on serve. Djokovic was in absolute control of like 85% of his own service games and Rafa's attempts to do any damage looked hopeless.

 

[Nole_King]

Since the start of 2011 season, only in 2013 did Nadal beat Djokovic anywhere outside of clay.

And to think of it that in between Nadal had a 6-1 run against Novak. If not for that the number would look very sick for Nadal

 

[reaper]

Since the start of 2011 season, only in 2013 did Nadal beat Djokovic anywhere outside of clay.

Nadal's record off clay since the start of 2011 isn't great. He's won 2 of the 25 slams played.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Rafas box looked devastated already in the 2nd set. Moya was shown on the screen hitting stuff around him, Nadals dad had that look like "f this ****", Xisca looked heartbroken. I mean even Nadal looked like he was beaten once Djokovic started goating from the first point. I've yet to see such scenes from Nadals box that early.

Funniest was early on Rafa forced deuce and his box cheered but the one guy didn’t react or get excited at all. That’s me watching Federer’s return games

 

[Deleted member 77403]

And to think of it that in between Nadal had a 6-1 run against Novak. If not for that the number would look very sick for Nadal

Nadal's record off clay since the start of 2011 isn't great. He's won 2 of the 25 slams played.

The extent of damage that Djokovic has done to Nadal starting from 2011 to now, going 21-9 H2H, 6-4 in slam H2H, taking away numerous weeks at number one and year ending number ones, along with WTF title cannot be taken lightly.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Are people seriously suggesting that Nadal lost today because he's still unmarried with no kids while his biggest rivals are all married with kids?

Funny cuz my dad always told me family is the beginning of the end for athletes when feds decline started

 

[True Fanerer]

Funny cuz my dad always told me family is the beginning of the end for athletes when feds decline started

It's true when they are babies imo. Fed and Djokovic have had resurgences since their kids got big enough to watch them if you think about it.

 

[True Fanerer]

At this rate it’s up to Leo and Lenny Federer to stop nadalovic

No better genes in the world to do it. Mirka got game too.

 

[thomasferrett]

Who cares. Nadal is guaranteed to win one Slam per year - no other player has that luxury. Just by NOT retiring in the next 3 years he is guaranteed to equal Federer's Slam total.

 

[tennisaddict]

What arrogance to say he is not surprised to beat Nadal easily .

Nadal is wounded and just recovering .

 

[Deleted member 763024]

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team have planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping inside the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Djokovic was also shown the list of Most Grand Slam titles holders where he is currently sitting at number 3. Courier asked him if this will motivate him to chase the record and win more Slams. Djokovic answered yes absolutely. He is very motivated to break the record.

Is this perhaps the new secret sauce for slam champions to extend their dominance into their 30s?

Just a decade ago it was sporting dogma that athletes were spent goods once in their 30s and after marriage/kids.

Look at how things are going for dads now.

Nadal may do well to think of marrying Xisca instead of thinking of merely forehands and backhands. Some food for thought there...

 

[MugOpponent]

John Mcenroe was interviewed before the match and said Nadal was at the venue 8 hours before the match started. If true, it seems like a match preparation where there's a lot of anxiety burning away that brought about a flat start.

It was a combination of wanting to win something too much, a bad start and the wrong opponent. He did look anxious before the match, more than I can remember.

 

[Mustard]

Here is the head-to-head:

Rafael Nadal 25-28 Novak Djokovic
2006 French Open QF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 6-4 ret.)
2007 Indian Wells F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-2, 7-5)
2007 Miami QF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-4)
2007 Rome QF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-2, 6-3)
2007 French Open SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-5, 6-4, 6-2)
2007 Wimbledon SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (3-6, 6-1, 4-1 ret.)
2007 Montreal SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-5, 6-3)
2007 Masters Cup RR: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 6-4)
2008 Indian Wells SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-2)
2008 Hamburg SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-5, 2-6, 6-2)
2008 French Open SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 6-2, 7-6)
2008 Queen's Club F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-6, 7-5)
2008 Cincinnati SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-1, 7-5)
2008 Beijing Olympics SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 1-6, 6-4)
2009 Davis Cup 1R: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 6-4, 6-1)
2009 Monte Carlo F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-3, 2-6, 6-1)
2009 Rome F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-6, 6-2)
2009 Madrid SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (3-6, 7-6, 7-6)
2009 Cincinnati SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-1, 6-4)
2009 Paris Indoor SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-2, 6-3)
2009 World Tour Finals RR: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-6, 6-3)
2010 US Open F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2)
2010 World Tour Finals RR: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-5, 6-2)
2011 Indian Wells F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (4-6, 6-3, 6-2)
2011 Miami F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (4-6, 6-3, 7-6)
2011 Madrid F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-5, 6-4)
2011 Rome F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-4, 6-4)
2011 Wimbledon F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3)
2011 US Open F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1)
2012 Australian Open F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5)
2012 Monte Carlo F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-3, 6-1)
2012 Rome F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-5, 6-3)
2012 French Open F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5)
2013 Monte Carlo F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-2, 7-6)
2013 French Open SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7)
2013 Montreal SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-4, 3-6, 7-6)
2013 US Open F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1)
2013 Beijing F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-4)
2013 World Tour Finals F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-4)
2014 Miami F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-3)
2014 Rome F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (4-6, 6-3, 6-3)
2014 French Open F: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4)
2015 Monte Carlo SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-3)
2015 French Open QF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-5, 6-3, 6-1)
2015 Beijing F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-2, 6-2)
2015 World Tour Finals SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-3)
2016 Doha F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-1, 6-2)
2016 Indian Wells SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-6, 6-2)
2016 Rome QF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (7-5, 7-6)
2017 Madrid SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (6-2, 6-4)
2018 Rome SF: Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic (7-6, 6-3)
2018 Wimbledon SF: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8)
2019 Australian Open F: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal (6-3, 6-2, 6-3)

Hardcourt: 19-7 to Djokovic
Clay: 16-7 to Nadal
Grass: 2-2
Carpet: 0-0
In Majors: 9-6 to Nadal

 

[Mustard]

What happened to you my friend? Since when you´re Fakeovic´s bitc*???

Are those rhetorical questions?

 

[Mike Sams]

Rafas box looked devastated already in the 2nd set. Moya was shown on the screen hitting stuff around him, Nadals dad had that look like "f this ****", Xisca looked heartbroken. I mean even Nadal looked like he was beaten once Djokovic started goating from the first point. I've yet to see such scenes from Nadals box that early.

Nadal and his team will be happy again once clay comes around. Although if Nadal has to go through Federer and Djokovic both at FO, it could be really interesting.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I still don't really understand exactly what it was Djokovic did that made Nadal look so ordinary today. Ok - was playing up a bit, but no more than other people have done. Fed usually at least starts playing Nadal from the same position. Nadal looked slow and constantly surprised - which is unusual considering how often these two have played.

I know Djokovic doesn't miss - but I don't see how that makes Nadal look as bad as he did today.

(caveat - I wasn't home for the match. Just watched a 20 min highlight..)

Several things:

Nadal was slow, and it showed on his shots on both sides. Because he was constantly rushed by Djokovic, he was forcing his BH, which resulted in more risky aggressive shots that ended in the net. On his FH, he was spinning it short in the court for the same reason.

The other major thing was that Djokovic was hitting really deep.

You could see that very well, I think it was at 2-2 in the second when Nadal literally was pushed back by Djokovic's shots, and immediately Djokovic aquired the control over the rally, and finished it off.

I think that Djokovic's tactic was to push Nadal back, which would have allowed for several things.

1) by hitting near the baseline he forced Nadal to either take the ball on the rise (riskier), or run more to get to the angled shots (which happened)

2) Nadal had to generate his own pace, which is increasingly difficult for an aging player with spinny shots

3) force him into a defensive mindset

It only helped, that Novak was serving very well, putting pressure on Nadal's service games, and also that he was reading Nadal's serve well (returning deep).

 

[ghostofMecir]

After AO final, Djokovic was interviewed by Jim Courier and Lleyton Hewitt in the People's Court.

Jim Courier asked Djokovic whether he was surprised at how he got off to an easy start to get the upper hand of Nadal from the get go.

Djokovic said no, he wasn't surprised at all. He said he expected how the match was going to be. He knew that Nadal will give his 100 percent all the time so He was ready for that and he did what he and his team have planned and the plan went as how it was expected to be. Djokovic was stepping inside the court and being aggressive from the get go.

He also said that chatting to his wife and kids back home before the match gave him a sense of serenity, calmed him down and blanketed him with love. He said he was feeling very calm before the match in contrast to Nadal who was super intense before the match.

Djokovic was also shown the list of Most Grand Slam titles holders where he is currently sitting at number 3. Courier asked him if this will motivate him to chase the record and win more Slams. Djokovic answered yes absolutely. He is very motivated to break the record.

Both Djokovic and Nadal knew how the match would turn out. Nadal’s face from the first point told us he expected to be beaten badly for the first time in a slam final. Djokovic did with a two-hander and better movement and lesser serve what old Federer did with a one-hander and lesser movement at IW, Miami, Shanghai, in 2017.

Nadal couldn’t push back Federer’s one-handed off the baseline so Djokovic knew he wouldn’t be able to move back his two-hander.

 

[Mustard]

You´re changing fan bases?

LOL. No . I cannot stand Djokovic winning.

 

[Mike Sams]

The extent of damage that Djokovic has done to Nadal starting from 2011 to now, going 21-9 H2H, 6-4 in slam H2H, taking away numerous weeks at number one and year ending number ones, along with WTF title cannot be taken lightly.

What's unsettling is that every time Nadal comes up with a new weapon or a new level of aggression which makes headlines across the tennis world and has people excited and calling him the new Rafa....it all comes back to the same old pattern of play when he meets Djokovic. He can't do anything different. He goes back to the same thing he always does. Defensive clay court tennis from 10 feet behind the baseline and chasing down balls.

 

[Mike Sams]

LOL. No

Well you certainly were dead wrong, weren't you? LOL
Obviously fell for the hype.

 

[MeatTornado]

Well that's uh.........terrifying.