Djokovic will play 4 clay tournaments before the French, surely thats too much?
- Thread starter TenTan
- Start date
CourtlyLove
Rookie
That's what I'd heard last month, but...
http://www.serbiaopen.rs/news_more.php?akcija=vise&id=765&jezik=2
Evan77
Banned
I don't think he'll be playing the SO. That's what I read in one of his interviews, can't remember where tho. as far as I know he'll be playing MC, Madrid and Rome before RG. If he indeed decides to play Belgrade too, that's just plain stupid. As fit as he is Djokovic is not a superman.
I understand that he wants to promote this new little 250 MM tournaments in his own country, but he should really focus on RG.
what the hell can he gain by playing Belgrade.
I understand that he wants to promote this new little 250 MM tournaments in his own country, but he should really focus on RG.
what the hell can he gain by playing Belgrade.
Evan77
Banned
3 is OK. I think he has decided to play MC this year because courts are almost the same as RG, plus he can win tons of points there because he didn't play there last year.
flyinghippos101
Legend
Yeesh, talk about kicking a man while he's down, guess he really wants to deprive Rafa of momentum :/
CocaCola
Professional
Troicki and Tipsy are skipping Serbia Open but are playing DC. Nole skips DC but he'll have to show up for SO because of the home crowd. Tournament would be a complete failure without him.
Anyway, if he collects a solid amount of points in MC (haven't played there last year), I think he'll maybe skip Madrid in order to stay fresh for RG (he won't skip Rome because of his sponsors ST).
Hypothetically, if he would've won/reached finals of all 4 pre-RG events that would definitely cause him some physical issues. That's just too much tennis going into a GS.
Another safe way trough it would be if he underperformed badly on some of the tournaments.
Anyway, if he collects a solid amount of points in MC (haven't played there last year), I think he'll maybe skip Madrid in order to stay fresh for RG (he won't skip Rome because of his sponsors ST).
Hypothetically, if he would've won/reached finals of all 4 pre-RG events that would definitely cause him some physical issues. That's just too much tennis going into a GS.
Another safe way trough it would be if he underperformed badly on some of the tournaments.
Achilles82
Professional
Serbian Open is too much to be honest, even though I'm from serbia.
Playing all three clay masters tournaments is fine, because there is 2 weeks off after miami, and after monte carlo 2 weeks until madrid. But Serbia open? I don't know, that might be a bit too much.
Playing all three clay masters tournaments is fine, because there is 2 weeks off after miami, and after monte carlo 2 weeks until madrid. But Serbia open? I don't know, that might be a bit too much.
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
I'm glad Djokovic is playing in Monte-Carlo. Thus taking away the title that means most to Nadal. In some ways I feel bad for Nadal but he is no longer the king of clay.
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Even at Nadal's prime on clay he almost to Djokovic in Monte-Carlo.
CocaCola
Professional
I wouldn't go that far. He really is.
Mike Sams
G.O.A.T.
what do you mean? Nadal has not been dethroned yet at Roland Garros. Djokovic has to beat him there or beat him a few more times, starting in Monte Carlo, if he wants to take Nadal's crown away as the king of clay.
C
celoft
Guest
Nah. He has the best stamina and endurance right now.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Exactly. The ******* 1000 never gets tired.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I think 3 is perfect. He should definitely bump Belgrade.
Semi-Pro
Hall of Fame
Nadal should take notes and bump Barcelona. I have no clue why he is play 4 tournaments before RG, especially with the current condition of his knees.
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Everyone can see it coming. Djokovic has badly outplayed Nadal as of late. Nadal couldn't even beat him when Djokovic was exhausted and Nadal was fresh at the Australian Open.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I agree but Rafa considers Barcelona his "home" tournament. I think the reasons are mostly sentimental ones. IMO his best clay season was in 2010: 3 masters + the slam: 5000 points + some time off between each event. Perfect schedule. I really wish he would do it again.
C
celoft
Guest
Can Djokovic beat Federer at RG? That is the question.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Sorry but Nadal still IS the king of clay. 1 master + 1 slam is better than 2 masters. Djoko was the 2nd best clay court player last year and he still has everything to prove at RG, an event where he has never reached the final yet and where he's lost to lesser players like Kohl and Melzer.
JeMar
Legend
Do you guys think that Rafa will treat defending MC as importantly as if he was defending RG? That tourney and RG are pretty much the last two things that Nadal has that Djokovic hasn't taken from him.
We all know how much he loves MC and how he's never lost there. I think losing MC to Djokovic would deal Nadal a TERRIBLE blow. Not as bad as perhaps losing RG, but I would speculate that it would be like losing the US Open (not as big a deal as on grass/clay), but pretty huge nonetheless.
We all know how much he loves MC and how he's never lost there. I think losing MC to Djokovic would deal Nadal a TERRIBLE blow. Not as bad as perhaps losing RG, but I would speculate that it would be like losing the US Open (not as big a deal as on grass/clay), but pretty huge nonetheless.
Hood_Man
G.O.A.T.
It wouldn't surprise if he did end up winning the SO, 3 Masters, and the French. Every time I underestimate him these days he ends up winning.
I just hope the "first half of 2011" Djokovic is back, I thought he was exciting. After that he seemed kinda dull to me (except for Wimbledon and the USO).
I just hope the "first half of 2011" Djokovic is back, I thought he was exciting. After that he seemed kinda dull to me (except for Wimbledon and the USO).
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I like the fact that there is no TB in the 5th at RG. My money is still on Rafa if they happen to play there. M-C is a best of 3 and I'm not sure about Rafa's knee, so we'll have to see.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I think that is just right. Unless he wins All 4 tournaments. but then with incredible shape Novak is in right now, it may just make him the favorite to win the french at that point. We will have to see if Novak can beat Rafa on red clay like he did last year. but we will have to see. Rafa on clay is always dangerous.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Oh please not this Rafa's knee business. If Nadal is playing in the tournament and takes to the court then one assumes he is fine. Stop with the pre-made excuses. If Nadal loses at MC or the FO it is because a better player on that day defeated him. End of story. Plus Rafa just reported himself today that his knee is doing well didn't he? Don't you believe him?
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Funny you mention longevity and Nadal's knees in the same sentence. Nadal would be hoping for a shorter match tbh.
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Well Djokovic better hope Fed ends up in Nadal's half of the draw at RG.
Talker
Hall of Fame
Nadal may end up in Djokovic's half.
nadal_slam_king
Banned
Yeah, only the king of Roland Garros, that's all lol.
nadal_slam_king
Banned
Oh yeah, it's not like Nadal can play 6 hours on hard court against Dj or anything lol.
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Who won btw?
nadal_slam_king
Banned
Me, because you were wrong to question Nadal's ability to play long matches. The Aust Open final is physically Nadal's most convincing 5-set performance along with the Verdasco match. Dj is the better hard court player so of course he won. But Nadal looked the fresher of the two in the end.
namelessone
Legend
Almost doesn't count in sports. Nadal almost won AO a couple a months ago but at the end of the day he still got the runner up plate.
On-topic: I think Djoko will only play Serbia Open if his results in MC are disappointing.
vernonbc
Legend
Djokovic has badly outplayed Nadal as of late? As of late, they've met once, at the Australian open. Even though you're trying to rewrite history, it doesn't work. There are facts. Djokovic had no more reason to be exhausted than Rafa - his qtr against Ferrer was straight sets, his semi against Murray was 5 but one of those was a fast easy breadstick. Rafa had two extremely tough matches - his 4 set qtr against Berdych had two tiebreakers as did his 4 set semi against Federer. He was no more fresh than Djokovic.
Djokovic hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire in the last six months or so. He got a bit lucky in Miami, he lost IW, he lost Dubai, barely squeaked by at the AO, lost at the WTF, pulled out halfway through Paris, lost at Basel, didn't bother to show up for Shanghai or Beijing/Tokyo, lost at Davis Cup. Why are all his losses and pullouts and withdrawals and injuries glossed over and everybody still talks about him as some super marvel of tennis. Don't get it.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
Dethroned without being beaten ... that ought to rile up the Raffans a bit.
vernonbc
Legend
Tennis didn't begin in 2011. You're not seriously implying that Djokovic could ever take away Rafa's title as King of Clay!?!?!?!?Murrayfan31 said:
Keep dreaming and get back to me when Novak has won six FO's, seven MC's, five Rome's, six Barcelona's, 81 consecutive clay court match victories, a 92.77% (231–18 ) clay court winning percentage. Those are just a few of his major all time records on clay courts. If Novak should by some fluke win MC, it will do absolutely nothing to dent Rafa's magnificent achievements.
nadal_slam_king
Banned
Lord Djokovic KING OF AUSTRALIA! Oh wait, that's Agassi....
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
Nole is playing 4 tournaments, maybe more, to prove how light and untaxing the schedule is.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
Djokovic beat Nadal the last 2 times on clay. I don't see things changing. Nadal fans better hope Federer catches on fire again against Djokovic. Otherwise, the terrible matchup will continue. And Djokovic's last 3 matches shows he's in incredible form coming into the clay season.
D
Deleted member 54563
Guest
LOLZ
Clay season is not even started and I can already see all the Rafito fans, ****s and missing trolls already out of their groves.
It's a great time to be a tennis fans. Spring hunting season will officially start in two weeks from now on these boards.
Can't wait to see Rafa, official king of ROLAND GARROS (can't be the king of CLAY when there's a guy consistently beating him on the surface), playing again on his beloved surface.
On topic: That might hurt his serbian fans, but I think skipping the Serbian Open might do him favors in the summer when fatigue starts to accumulate. Unless he is somehow upset before the MC final, then playing on his soil for match practice might become a good option again.
Clay season is not even started and I can already see all the Rafito fans, ****s and missing trolls already out of their groves.
It's a great time to be a tennis fans. Spring hunting season will officially start in two weeks from now on these boards.
Can't wait to see Rafa, official king of ROLAND GARROS (can't be the king of CLAY when there's a guy consistently beating him on the surface), playing again on his beloved surface.
On topic: That might hurt his serbian fans, but I think skipping the Serbian Open might do him favors in the summer when fatigue starts to accumulate. Unless he is somehow upset before the MC final, then playing on his soil for match practice might become a good option again.
M
monfed
Guest
Djokovic can kiss RG goodbye if he plays Serbian Open.
Warmaster
Hall of Fame
At least Barcelona is a 500 instead of a 250. I'm pretty sure his knee will be healed by the time MC comes along. If it isn't, he can still decide to drop Barcelona, but it would surprise me.
namelessone
Legend
Dafuq?
Nadal has a 90% winning percentage on this surface, won 30 titles on it(including MC 7 times, Rome 5 times, Barcelona 6 times, Hamburg, Madrid etc.) to Djoko's 7(4 of these being 250 events) and has dominated this surface in the 2005-2011 period. Even in the years when he stumbled more(2009 losing to Sod, 2011 losing twice to Djoko in clay masters), he still posted some amazing results(won 3 clay events before RG in 2009, won MC, Barcelona and RG in 2011).
And what does "consistently beating" mean, we factor in just one season? Sure, Nadal may never beat Djokovic again on any surface but so far the h2h is 9-2 versus Djokovic on clay.
Even when Djoko got the better of Nadal on clay(as elsewhere) last year, Nadal still amassed more points on the surface despite both of them winning 3 clay events last year.
Also, I don't see any hidden trolls coming out(now that clay season is coming). They're pretty much the same guys as in january-march, on all sides.
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M
monfed
Guest
Djokovic 2.0 owns Ralph on clay. I mean it was so lopsided that a completely exhausted Djokovic spanked fresh Ralph in Rome. Ralph couldn't win one set against Djokovic. NOT ONE!
Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
It looked like the slower surface helped Djokovic in that match. Djokovic the clay court monster.
