Djokovic's biggest threat at the USO?
- Thread starter aman92
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Rafa4LifeEver
G.O.A.T.
Rafael Nadal the greatest warrior of tennis world.
Thiem is unfortunately finished now.
Thiem is unfortunately finished now.
game..set..match
Semi-Pro
Medvegoat. Nadal can no longer beat Novak on non clay surfaces.
Jaitock1991
Hall of Fame
With this level of competition it's probably the line judges.
Mediterranean Might
Professional
Medvedev has the best chance and consistency to do it. Zverev and Tsitsipas if they're zoning can do it too. Rafa is always a threat, but I think the younger guys are bigger threats to Novak at this stage.
Djokovic is definitely favored for the USO, but it's his most vulnerable slam so we'll see
Djokovic is definitely favored for the USO, but it's his most vulnerable slam so we'll see
SardinesForDinner
Professional
Himself and the throat lady
TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
Medvedev then Zverev, probably.
SecondToNone
Semi-Pro
Thiem and it's not even close
d-quik
Hall of Fame
BorisRogerFan
Semi-Pro
Djokovic's biggest threat at USO is Djokovic.
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
Double digit poasts in and no one mentioned Karen yet 
I'm disappointed in you TTW.
Disgust.
I'm disappointed in you TTW.
Disgust.
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Thiem
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
Nadal. I am sure ND hitting 20 will motivate the heck out of him.
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
Thiem is the last prayer that fans who don't want CYGS have.
Watch their YEC and AO and RG matches. The only guy on tour that can overpower Novak consistently point after point.
Medvedev and Zverev will win the baseline battle, but Djokovic has the variety and net game to pick them apart.
Nadal is about to find out that there are way too many contenders on HC and you can't clay season the HC swing. He is old and won't be able to manage 2-3 tough matches in a row.
Thiem however is at times so much of a consistent heavy hitter that Djokovic won't be able to apply himself without taking risks.
HOWEVER, Thiem is injured and wearing a wrist brace that isn't coming off till July 31.
Then he will go into rehab. Don't think he can make USO in time or in form.
Watch their YEC and AO and RG matches. The only guy on tour that can overpower Novak consistently point after point.
Medvedev and Zverev will win the baseline battle, but Djokovic has the variety and net game to pick them apart.
Nadal is about to find out that there are way too many contenders on HC and you can't clay season the HC swing. He is old and won't be able to manage 2-3 tough matches in a row.
Thiem however is at times so much of a consistent heavy hitter that Djokovic won't be able to apply himself without taking risks.
HOWEVER, Thiem is injured and wearing a wrist brace that isn't coming off till July 31.
Then he will go into rehab. Don't think he can make USO in time or in form.
Rafa4LifeEver
G.O.A.T.
Injured his wrist in early grass season.
Also looked out of shape, weak & slow so far this season.
Rafa4LifeEver
G.O.A.T.
Thiem is unfortunately finished. That much big hitting out of such a small frame has taken its toll over his body.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
He has moved to ICS.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Where is the choice for none at all?
killerboss
Professional
Meet your next gen challenger to this current/next gen champion - Rafael Nadal. Lmao. Nobody else even comes remotely close. Could be some in form mug catching fire and going on a tear but don't count on it.
Nadal_King
Hall of Fame
I think Rafa nadal surely is biggest threat, thing is you need a guy who needs it equally badly like djokovic to have a chance against djokovic. All thee next gen are short of experience and it seems there desire currently is not that high so only Rafa can give it his all and try to take advantage of lapses in concentration djokovic will have. Remember djokovic gets fully tuned in against federer/nadal but when going for Historic achievement like Calender grand slam there are bound to be nerves which can only be exploited by someone like Rafa who has experience and will have nothing to lose( apart from no 21) like djokovic who will be chasing unimaginable Historic achievement!!!
Tennis_Freak99
Legend
If Rafa doesn't get the #2 ranking, Med can only meet Novak in the final
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Rafa has virtually no chance of retaking #2 by USO
D
Deleted member 629564
Guest
I will put Zverev in there, maybe.
So many players are more comfortable on HC than grass, so it's hard to say. But it's not Nadal, who's likelier to be upset by the youngsters than Djokovic. Nadal hasn't beat Djokovic since '13, and he's not starting now.
It could be one or two unexpected youngsters, like Berrett and Shapo at this Wimbledon.
It could be one or two unexpected youngsters, like Berrett and Shapo at this Wimbledon.
tennisjedi
Hall of Fame
Only Pepe Imaz can stop Novak.
duaneeo
Legend
I predicted Berrettini to win Wimbledon because I just felt change in the air, but did I really think Berrettini would win? Wistful thinking at most.
But, I really believe that Djokovic is not winning the USO, and for several reasons: There are many more threats at the USO, he's always struggled at the USO, and the pressure of winning both the CYGS and #21 will add to his struggles at the USO.
And, I think the tennis gods wanted 20-20-20 all along. They won't allow Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer to win #21.
But, I really believe that Djokovic is not winning the USO, and for several reasons: There are many more threats at the USO, he's always struggled at the USO, and the pressure of winning both the CYGS and #21 will add to his struggles at the USO.
And, I think the tennis gods wanted 20-20-20 all along. They won't allow Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer to win #21.
Jokervich
Hall of Fame
Wawrinka if he can make a comeback by then (I know he's been injured and had surgery).
alexio
G.O.A.T.
interesting thought, maybe this could be true, but anyway with all at 20 still djo has a slight adv. over other two
Tennisgods
Hall of Fame
Medvedev. I think Djokovic will be tested more there. Well, he should be. He might actually have to play well to win it.
SonicNirvana
Hall of Fame
in form Rafa and Stan the man
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Himself. Every match he plays is on his racket.
As we see with matches like the RG final, it doesn't really matter how well an opponent plays, he still has the ability to raise his level high enough to beat today's top players. The days are lone gone now where there's a Federer/Nadal/Murray/Stan who can beat him straight up if both players are playing their best. Rafa at RG was the only one left and now even that's gone.
For someone to beat him at a hard court major, even his "worse" one in New York, it's going to require him dropping his level either from mental for physical fatigue. Thiem was the only one with the small chance of taking the racket out of Novak's hands like Stan used to, but even at his best he couldn't do that for 3 sets in Australia, and he's certainly not going to do it now at the USO with how his season's going. We know Zverev with his powder puff groundstrokes can't take over a match, best he can do is serve well enough to keep himself in the match. Tsitsipas sure isn't going to do it on hard courts if he couldn't pull it off on his best and Novak's worst surface. Medvedev obviously can't take the racket out of anyone's hands with his style, and he's shown he doesn't have the consistency in big Bo5 matches when the pressure mounts.
If Novak doesn't win the USO it'll have to be a completely random and unexpected loss before the final by some dude just having the day of his life without any pressure on him.
As we see with matches like the RG final, it doesn't really matter how well an opponent plays, he still has the ability to raise his level high enough to beat today's top players. The days are lone gone now where there's a Federer/Nadal/Murray/Stan who can beat him straight up if both players are playing their best. Rafa at RG was the only one left and now even that's gone.
For someone to beat him at a hard court major, even his "worse" one in New York, it's going to require him dropping his level either from mental for physical fatigue. Thiem was the only one with the small chance of taking the racket out of Novak's hands like Stan used to, but even at his best he couldn't do that for 3 sets in Australia, and he's certainly not going to do it now at the USO with how his season's going. We know Zverev with his powder puff groundstrokes can't take over a match, best he can do is serve well enough to keep himself in the match. Tsitsipas sure isn't going to do it on hard courts if he couldn't pull it off on his best and Novak's worst surface. Medvedev obviously can't take the racket out of anyone's hands with his style, and he's shown he doesn't have the consistency in big Bo5 matches when the pressure mounts.
If Novak doesn't win the USO it'll have to be a completely random and unexpected loss before the final by some dude just having the day of his life without any pressure on him.
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