Federer: Novak never won in Paris

[Deleted member 716271]

Bottom line: Novak is the guy to beat on HCs. If he plays on the same level after RG, he has to be the favorite for the USO.

But he spends too little time on clay, and it may bite him in the ass this year. Last year he went into Wimbledon with NO prep on grass and won because there is zero competition on grass now other than Fed...

Well, he's playing Madrid this year apparently

 

[NatF]

He's definitely been more complimentary of Nadal thruout their careers. It's not a sin for him to not like or speak coldly of Novak. I just notice it and I'm not sure why that is considered a "victim complex". I think the concept of a "victim complex" is funny for fans of a player and not even the actual player itself. Tennis isn't even my favorite sport.

He wasn't even complimentary of Nadal at the beginning, I believe he called him one dimensional - classic Fed

I never said the words victim complex, tbh I haven't even read the whole thread. My initial post was aimed at the OP you then questioned my objectivity

Federer has been complimentary of Djokovic in recent years, going back further he wasn't but I think Novak has clearly earned his respect. If you don't think he has then that's fine.

 

[Gary Duane]

Well, he's playing Madrid this year apparently

Yes, but the most matches he played were in 2007 and 2009, 23. He only played 17 matches last year. He spends too much time padding his Masters 1000 totals on HCs. He should now be focusing on slams and on clay, his career weakness in comparison to Nadal. If he wants RG, he has to fight harder on clay...

 

[Gary Duane]

My personal hunch is that Fed likes Rafa and always has. I could see them becoming close after they retire. I doubt Fed and Novak will ever get along.

 

[Deleted member 716271]

He wasn't even complimentary of Nadal at the beginning, I believe he called him one dimensional - classic Fed

I never said the words victim complex, tbh I haven't even read the whole thread. My initial post was aimed at the OP you then questioned my objectivity

Federer has been complimentary of Djokovic in recent years, going back further he wasn't but I think Novak has clearly earned his respect. If you don't think he has then that's fine.

Alright, fair enough. I agree with you that there are good posters regardless of fanbase and I consider you one of them. Sometimes these "partisan" arguments get heated and unfair battle lines are drawn.

The Federer "worst fanbase in sports" thing I've said a few times, I admit is somewhat incendiary. Somebody once said it on here, and I just found it incredibly amusing, I meant it mainly in jest

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Yes, but the most matches he played were in 2007 and 2009, 23. He only played 17 matches last year. He spends too much time padding his Masters 1000 totals on HCs. He should now be focusing on slams and on clay, his career weakness in comparison to Nadal. If he wants RG, he has to fight harder on clay...

I agree with the slam approach in general, but that actually means less master's focus.

What makes you think he'd be better served grinding more on clay pre RG? He played a full schedule in '12 and '13.

I agree he has to do something different on clay. I think he finally nabs RG this year but he's gonna have to suffer for it.

 

[Jonas78]

I actually said the fairest ones, not the worst. Not sure how you got that out of it

To be fair, you said the fairest ones. Anyway - problem is that what you consider as objective is your subjective meaning. Same goes for me of course.

What i really didnt like about the OP is that what Federer actually said was in no way insulting, unless you put in a "Federer dont like Djokovic" - context. If another player or person had said the same words it wouldnt be seen as an insult.

 

[Deleted member 716271]

To be fair, you said the fairest ones. Anyway - problem is that what you regard as objective is your subjective meaning. Same goes for me of course.

What i really didnt like about the OP is that what Federer actually said was in no way insulting, unless you put in a "Federer dont like Djokovic" - context. If another player or person had said the same words it wouldnt be seen as an insult.

Well that's true, this particular statement wasn't that insulting. I do think there is a history of the 2 at odds so maybe I'm examining it with a different lense.

I don't think it's wrong for Federer to hope Nadal wins RG of course, which I think realizing he probably can't, does.

I found things way in the past offensive towards Novak from Fed, so that does color these comments which were certainly "in bounds", I just found them characteristic of Fed's general attitude towards ND, if that makes sense.

 

[SpinToWin]

I don't see the same animosity between other members of the Big 4. If you read the whole article, he also dismisses his rivalry with Djokovic. He's ABSOLUTELY entitled to his opinion though, the Fedal rivalry was more classic. He does have a tenor in talking about ND that is a bit cold and that is reflected in these latest comments imo, even though they were quite benign. JMO. I never said it was out of line.I do think other comments about Novak in the past were. I can't believe this is an issue to say yeah he doesn't really like Novak and he's not giving him as much credit or speaking in the same manner as he does to say, Rafa. Why is that sacrilege to note that?

You're missing the point.

1) you are seeing a form of disrespect or dislike here. I am saying that it is you projecting your conceptions of these two's relationship onto the comments which leads you to that conclusion, for the comment in full context doesn't reflect that at all otherwise.

2) given 1) there is no reason to bring up their dislike(?) for each other. You wouldn't go to the thread Coolest Pictures of Pro Players and randomly say "yeah, Fed doesn't like or respect Novak much" either.

Their relationship is irrelevant for this interview, that's all I'm saying.

 

[cknobman]

Federer was asked if he ever doubted a Rafa comeback, and the Swiss former world number one had a clear-cut response.

“Zero; absolutely not,” Federer said. “Maybe you journalists were upset, but we players of course were not. A guy who won nine times in Paris, nine times in Monte Carlo, who was world number one for much time does not lose his qualities. Maybe we have come to expect to him to recover faster from injuries, but I cannot imagine Nadal at such a low level. To me, he is always there at the top. And on clay, he is still one of the first two or three players in the world,” Federer said.

“[The] King of clay is Rafa,” Federer said. “He is the tennis player to beat. Novak’s never won in Paris. Maybe now he’s the favorite, but Nadal is Nadal. I am happy of what he showed to those, who did not believe that he could win in Monte Carlo.”
Source:
https://rafaelnadalfans.com/2016/04/24/roger-federer-chooses-rafael-nadal-over-novak-djokovic/

It's pretty dooch of him to point out about Novaks RGs. There was no reason to bring it out.
Also of importance, he thinks Nadals recent struggles are due to injuries. That might also be indirectly jabbing Novaks dominance.





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Truth hurts dont it?