Fed or Djoko vs Rafa - Who Played Better?

[Aabye]

"Still, I think that the victory hangs on my racket, because I play aggressively"

To believe that against a player that holds an 8:1 record on clay against him is...

I agree that sounds pretty darn arrogant, but he's gotten better on that front, so that is probably just a little momentary bitterness on Fed's part. How many other players can consistently come back from 5-1, or 5-2, etc. against Fed? You have to figure he is befuddled at the fact that he can't, after all those breaks, find a way to win the necessary 4 or 5 points in one game to take the set. I chalk that up to the mental strength of Nadal, and less to any mental weakness of Federer.

 

[fastdunn]

Running forehand? No,Federer is actually very good at that shot.Also Federer is a better volleyer then Djokovic but neither had much success against Nadal at the net because he has the best passing shots in the game,Djokovic did try more dropshots but wasn't exactly very succesfull when he was doing them either.The main difference is that Novak's two-handed backhand won't breakdown under Nadal's pressure from his heavy lefty forehand so Djokovic doesn't have to run around his backhand as much as Federer does and leave an open court.Nadal has a sound plan to defeat Federer on clay which almost always works an that is to abuse his backhand as much as possible and he'll win(atleast on clay) while against Djokovic he doesn't have a bulletproof plan like he does against Fed and has to outgrind Djokovic with his amazing defense,mental strength and stamina.So in the end,IMO Djokovic played better against Nadal and also had to contend with a very fresh Nadal unlike Federer.

Running forehand: We have seen this exploited by Nadal for last 4 years. Nadal has same problem too. It's a characteristic of modern forehand which tend to have weak replies when hit running. It's not really federer's problem.(I have to clarify it since you tend to be very sensitive about any hint of negative thing on Federer). it's just that Nadal's running a bit better.

Net plays: 50% of net game is all about the aggressive attitude. Djokovic kept challeging with drop shots and volleys until the end not getting discouraged by passing shots. But Federer did not had right attitude for net game. He often drop his head whenever gets passed and very reluctantly went in the net. continuously insisting that his topspin backhand can defend Nadal's forehand. true all courters aggressively take it to the opponents with net games. Federer plays tentative baseliner's game against Nadal.

 

[cucio]

Running forehand: We have seen this exploited by Nadal for last 4 years. Nadal has same problem too. It's a characteristic of modern forehand which tend to have weak replies when hit running.

Uh? What's exactly the problem with Nadal's running forehand? :shock: I'd say it is the best one in the circuit nowadays by a fair margin, but I may be missing something here.

 

[Telepatic]

I like both Novak and Federer,but Novak definitly played better in this tournament,no doubt really.

 

[tlm]

Joker played tougher than fed, because joker is a better player than fed is this year.

 

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Djokovic match was better to watch but fed has the better chance to beat nadal imo.. He was dominating 5-2, and the second set he was dominating. The longer the match goes though nadal is just to consistent in the long run. A true workhorse.

 

[(FEDERER)vs(NADAL)]

i think that if nadal and djokovic are both in the same half of draw at roland garros (this would be great for federer) djoker could do it, i'm rooting for a federer nadal final

 

[caulcano]

I d like to see those two playing each other in the FO semi and the winner to face rafa in the final...

I wouldn't. I'd prefer to see a Djokovic v Nadal semi, it will then at least Federer more of a chance in the final albeit a small one (similar to what happened at Hamburg).

 

[Iced_jacob]

I wouldn't. I'd prefer to see a Djokovic v Nadal semi, it will then at least Federer more of a chance in the final albeit a small one (similar to what happened at Hamburg).

Yeah but we need to find a way to know who is No 2 on clay now and that best of 5 semi sounds sweeeeeett

 

[Hansen]

i think federer is not able to shoot rafa of the court in a best of five match (cause thats what he has to do) and i doubt that djokovic has the stamina

 

[daddy]

I think federer is not able to shoot rafa of the court in a best of five match (cause thats what he has to do) and i doubt that djokovic has the stamina

I've heard this so many times. Anyways here is my view on these stamina statements. If you play on Rafa's favourite clay courts and vs in form, in the mood, determined and running everything down Rafael, you are going to lose.

So whats this got to do with stamina ? You do not need it to win. You can only win if Rafa is somehow off due to either injury or whatever else can be a possible reason, and probably only in straights possibly taking the first set by a storm in 30 minutes ( something both Djokovic and Federer had a chance to do in Hambur - Joker potentialy 5-0 up in no time - had couple of balls for going 4-0 and serving for 5-0 - Federer was 5-1 up in no time ).

Rafa is human and is meltdowns happened to him, as we saw many times on hard courts and so on. He is just too good on clay and if you give him any hint he can beat you, better believe he will beat you for sure. So to conclude, LUCK has to be a major factor in Rafas potential loss. You have to play out of your mind and hope he's off for whatever reason.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

If you play Nadal in the best of 5 set match, you are going to get tired if you extend the match.Djokovic did as well as anyone playing Nadal for over 3 hours. Maybe Federer in 2006 Rome was the best anyone has ever done in stamina vs. Nadal. Still he lost.

 

[Morrissey]

If you play Nadal in the best of 5 set match, you are going to get tired if you extend the match.Djokovic did as well as anyone playing Nadal for over 3 hours. Maybe Federer in 2006 Rome was the best anyone has ever done in stamina vs. Nadal. Still he lost.

True, I would add Coria in 2005 too. I don't remember how long his match with Hewitt went last year in Hamburg.