Djokovic's ''Aura'' of Dominance

[TMF]

^ Djokoivic beat Nadal at 2014 Rome (and 2013 Monte Carlo), and that didn't help.
2011 pre-RG-domination probably wouldn't have helped either.

But 2011 was Nole's best year ever.

 

[spinovic]

Yep 22 winners in the 5th set.
When you back Nadal into a corner at Roland Garros he comes out swinging.
2014 semi-final vs Ferrer was another example, after Ferrer dominated the 1st set, Nadal went into beast mode (and Ferrer appeared lost).

That's the only time, I believe, that I have ever seen Ferrer truly just give up on a match and quit. He looked like Tomic in the last two sets.

I remember that match because they would not have finished it that day had Ferrer been more competitive. The thought by the commentators was that he should just go for broke the whole time knowing that he wouldn't run out of energy before darkness. But, he just rolled over and quit basically.

But, you knew it was coming. No sane tennis fan actually thought Ferrer was going to win 3 sets off Nadal at Roland Garros.

 

[tennis_commentator]

But 2011 was Nole's best year ever.

Results-wise yeah, but not sure if it was his best tennis-wise.
He was useless after the US Open.......
And I think he only dominated because Nadal appeared to lose enthusiasm.....
Because even at 2011 RG, Nadal was not as good as 2010/2012 RG.

 

[SpinToWin]

What I don't get are the Fed fans that flock to every Nole thread to tear him down. Relax, he's just another ATG that you should enjoy watching. Right now he's dominating. No need to worry about Fed comparisons cause he's not gonna get near 17 slams.

Besides, you guys should LOVE Nole, without Djoker, Rafa would be sitting on 17 Slams RIGHT NOW lol.

What? Djokovic has cost Federer a few (potential) slams too you know… :neutral: I should be happy about Novak's achievements just because he has stopped Nadal along the way?? That would be quite petty.

 

[spinovic]

^ Djokoivic beat Nadal at 2014 Rome (and 2013 Monte Carlo), and that didn't help.
2011 pre-RG-domination probably wouldn't have helped either.

Yes. In light of 2012-14, there is no reason to believe Djokovic would have beat Nadal in 2011 had he not been clipped by Federer. Rafa would have found a way.

I used to believe Djokovic would have done it in 2011, but three straight years of him having varying degrees of success against Nadal during the lead up to Roland Garros, only to fall short each time has changed my opinion.

 

[spinovic]

What? Djokovic has cost Federer a few (potential) slams too you know… :neutral: I should be happy about Novak's achievements just because he has stopped Nadal along the way?? That would be quite petty.

For real...Federer could easily be sitting on 19-20 majors without Djokovic.

 

[SpinToWin]

Djokovic should just beat him at his own game. Nobody defends better than he does, not even Nadal.

Really? Djokovic is right up there, but Nadal is even higher up, imo....

I agree that he still has the best defense on clay. He has gotten slower, but his defense still is very good. The only thing that he is lacking at the moment is controlled aggression (too many UEs) and being clutch in key moments. He is losing untypically many big points as of now, which has led to his surprising losses.

 

[tennis_commentator]

Yes. In light of 2012-14, there is no reason to believe Djokovic would have beat Nadal in 2011 had he not been clipped by Federer. Rafa would have found a way.

I used to believe Djokovic would have done it in 2011, but three straight years of him having varying degrees of success against Nadal during the lead up to Roland Garros, only to fall short each time has changed my opinion.

Yeah Djokovic winning 2011 RG is one of those thing that is possible to argue but hard to argue that it is more likely than Nadal winning.

 

[Cortana]

His best chance at winning RG was 2013.

 

[newpball]

Might just be even better than Federer's ''aura'' of being the favourite back in the day.

Federer, back in his prime/peak, was a favourite at every HC/grass event. However, he was never the favourite on clay when Nadal came.

Yet we can say that Djokovic, at this point in time, is the favourite on ALL THREE SURFACES (four if you want to count indoors as separate).

This year he is definitely revisiting Goating:

:grin:

 

[FedererDropShot]

Bump bump bump

 

[Cortana]

6 Tier 1 tournaments in a row. Nothing that Federer didn't do in his best years...

 

[AngieB]

Might just be even better than Federer's ''aura'' of being the favourite back in the day.

Federer, back in his prime/peak, was a favourite at every HC/grass event. However, he was never the favourite on clay when Nadal came.

Yet we can say that Djokovic, at this point in time, is the favourite on ALL THREE SURFACES (four if you want to count indoors as separate).

But #Novak's only won the #USOpen ONCE and the #FO ZERO times. He's the second best #AusOpen Champion of All-Time. When #Federer's aura was present, he was WINNING almost all the grand slam events. #Novak is NOT.

#Novak has an "aura of dominance" outside the GS events. At the latest stages of the GS events, he's more like #Lendl than he is #Federer.

#PTL #JC4Ever

#AngieB​

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Might just be even better than Federer's ''aura'' of being the favourite back in the day.

Federer, back in his prime/peak, was a favourite at every HC/grass event. However, he was never the favourite on clay when Nadal came.

Yet we can say that Djokovic, at this point in time, is the favourite on ALL THREE SURFACES (four if you want to count indoors as separate).

Do you mean aura or era? I think you mean the latter. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Roddick85]

Not sure I agree with that statement. As great as Novak is currently playing, he's still beatable. Who would of thought Berdych would win a set today? In 2011, perhaps but even then, old Fed popped his balloon at the FO and came very close at the USO.

 

[FedererDropShot]

Not sure I agree with that statement. As great as Novak is currently playing, he's still beatable. Who would of thought Berdych would win a set today? In 2011, perhaps but even then, old Fed popped his balloon at the FO and came very close at the USO.

Having an ''unbeatable aura'' doesn't mean you're unbeatable.

It just means you'll be the favourite at every event and every match

People are confused between ''aura'' and ''actual play''.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

The only guy that can beat him in paris is the guy that has won it 9 times. I would say roger as well but he seems to lack motivation these days.

 

[Crionics]

Impressive result, but in this final against Berdych he looked very beatable. Is this the beginning of the end of his "zoning" period?

 

[Earnest One]

Might just be even better than Federer's ''aura'' of being the favourite back in the day.

Federer, back in his prime/peak, was a favourite at every HC/grass event. However, he was never the favourite on clay when Nadal came.

Yet we can say that Djokovic, at this point in time, is the favourite on ALL THREE SURFACES (four if you want to count indoors as separate).

Djokovic is NOT the favorite at the FO. Until he wins, or Nadal is injured, nothing changes. He has not yet beaten Nadal.

Federer had more "aura" off of clay. He dismantled people with wizardry. Crowds went wild. Djokovic is great--no question--but he does not have the "aura" of being a tennis genius, like Federer or McEnroe (in 1984).

 

[NatF]

It takes everything his opponents have to break even with him by the time the deciding sets come around he just rolls them. Very impressive.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

This here is what you call domination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgsuM1Vv_qk

 

[Deleted member 369227]

Impressive result, but in this final against Berdych he looked very beatable. Is this the beginning of the end of his "zoning" period?

He was emotionally exhausted after "finals before finals" with Nadal. The good thing about him is that he can play crap and still win the match.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

It takes everything his opponents have to break even with him by the time the deciding sets come around he just rolls them. Very impressive.

The same would have also happened to Nadal had he fluked the 2nd set in the semi-final.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

What is the record of consecutive match winning streak?

 

[Earnest One]

I'm not sure that's still the case. On HC, Djokovic is probably now the best defender. On clay? It could still be Nadal, but he needs to actually show us something. After all, tennis is played in the present and not the past.

Nadal has shown enough to make him the upcoming FO favorite. Nothing changes unless he is injured. Djokovic has yet to win there and beating Nadal in 3 out of 5 is a brutal task.

 

[Crionics]

He was emotionally exhausted after "finals before finals" with Nadal. The good thing about him is that he can play crap and still win the match.

Maybe ... we'll see in the upcoming months. But I will only half surprised by some unexpected upsets in the coming months.

 

[Krish872007]

Do you mean aura or era? I think you mean the latter. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Definitely aura in this context. This mystique that he is somewhat unbeatable at the moment. I want to see more though, preferably at least 1 more Slam this year.

 

[NatF]

The same would have also happened to Nadal had he fluked the 2nd set in the semi-final.

He creates so much mental pressure with the way he defends and returns, together with his improved serve (and resulting easier service games) he's so difficult to play against. You get so few free points off him that it's a battle even when he's not able to rip winners past you consistently.

Would be very interesting to see winner machine Federer in his pomp versus Djokovic now.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Nadal has shown enough to make him the upcoming FO favorite. Nothing changes unless he is injured. Djokovic has yet to win there and beating Nadal in 3 out of 5 is a brutal task.

No he hasn't. I'll wait for his play up to and including Rome before declaring my opinion on that.