Hmm, not always, but I think when someone says "I'm going to win this match" and then they do it in straight sets with a bagel right off the bat then the perceived confidence/arrogance is nothing if not accurate.
"I don't care, I'm going to win" - Nadal after being told of roof closure for RG Final
- Thread starter weakera
- Start date
N
Nuclear Warhead Sinner
Guest
Novak getting into Nadal's head doesn't imply Nadal not getting into Novak's head. Had Novak not been such a threat Nadal could've walked into the match with a more relaxed mindset and just done his best. This time he knew he had no other choice but to be excellent. And please, with all due respect to the clay king, "worst possible clay conditions" is a myth.
intrepidish
Hall of Fame
You managed to write an even more incoherent post than the previous one, congratulations
RaulRamirez
Legend
I don't know where the confidence/arrogance line is BUT expressing that level of self-belief to his team just before the match (as a result of physical and mental preparation) does not cross into arrogance for me. If he went public with a boastful statement (as Goran foolishly did) that would smack of arrogance.
N
Nuclear Warhead Sinner
Guest
If you don't understand, get a brain. Then comeback and tell me exactly what makes my post incoherent.
N
Nuclear Warhead Sinner
Guest
Let me give you a hunter gatherer analogy. With no offense, I think it will suit you better, or perhaps you just need a cup of coffee.
Suppose Nadal is a hunter, and Djokovic is a prey. If the prey is slow and has little endurance, then the hunter can kill it without necessarily being at the top of his performance. He may go on the hunt telling himself : "Well, I'm going to do my best as always, and we'll see how it goes" .
Why? Because his level of focus and physical performance can vary(it can be due to external factors). Even if every single one of these days he does his best, from an outside, un-biased perspective the quality of these performances will vary.
But he's aware that the range of variation of the quality of his performances will not threaten his chances of killing the prey. Remember, the prey is slow... like Suresh kind of slow.
However, suppose the prey is extremely fast. In this case it will require a top-quality performance from the hunter to take it down. Whether or not he does his "best" doesn't matter. What matter is that his performance is good enough to get the kill.
Because of Hunterdal's unapologetical attitude, you can infer that he perceived Djokoprey as a fast and difficult animal to take down.
Swingmaster
Hall of Fame
He knew he would win and not a single human in the entire universe honestly thought he wouldn’t.
Yugram
Legend
TTW is not in our universe then.
Swingmaster
Hall of Fame
Did I forget to include the word “honestly?” Let me go and check. I’ll be right back.
ADuck
Legend
Only idiots think this is arrogant.
Pumping yourself up before such a momentous occasion is a completely normal thing to do when in a private setting. Verbally telling yourself that you won't fail is very helpful sometimes.
People who are making it anything more than that once again are failing to understand what context is appropriate to apply the word, or are just Federer/Djokovic fans who feel they need to murky the waters to put their idol in a comparatively better standing. They're only fooling themselves.
Beacon Hill
Hall of Fame
I didn't care who won, but I wanted to see a decent match. You make some good points, but I think it's hard to argue Djokovic played well. His head has been elsewhere for a while. He didn't put up a fight. His new drop shot strategy is foolish. It's like he's constantly focused on how people perceive him, including while he's playing matches. Maybe he realizes he has one of the most boring playing styles of any ATG, and he hates that no one talks about how he's had to reinvent himself or overcome huge obstacles, like the narrative around Federer and Nadal. Perhaps he thinks if he won by playing drop shots as a new strategy, people would be impressed with this new unexpected and brilliant tactic, and see him in a better light than someone who merely gets the ball back into play better than anyone in history.
Imagine watching Federer play Federer. They would routinely have some of the most entertaining matches in history. Even though it's most fun to watch Nadal against someone with a very offensive playing style, even watching Nadal vs Nadal would be fun to watch. Now imagine Djokovic vs Djokovic. Watching paint dry would be more interesting. Djokovic must know this. He's very fortunate all the courts are slow now, or he would certainly not be in the ATG conversation. But that's where he is. Credit to him. He might get the major record if he goes back to being a mostly despised warrior on the court, but I don't think he'll get there in this current form of trying hard to be liked, and trying out new ways of being.
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
Alpha king
"When they come to tell us that the final will be played indoors, we wonder how we're going to announce that to Rafa," Moya said. "15 minutes from the match, Francisco Roig (Rafa's co-trainer) told him so. And there, Rafa's response was: 'I don't care, it doesn't change anything, I'm going to win this match'."
"Rafa had never said such a thing to me before a match," Moya added. "He knew he wouldn't fail. Nadal is such a humble person. It wasn't arrogance, it was a feeling of confidence, of security."
"I don't care, I'm going to win" - Rafael Nadal to his team upon learning Roland Garros final would be played under the roof
Prior to the start of Roland Garros 2020, many had tipped Novak Djokovic to end Rafael Nadal's reign in Paris.www.sportskeeda.com
The words in bold are really all that needed to be said. #humblebull. #unbeatenandunbeatablemoralgoat. #injuredpersonwhoplaystennis. #neverlosesunlessinjured.
Alpha king
"When they come to tell us that the final will be played indoors, we wonder how we're going to announce that to Rafa," Moya said. "15 minutes from the match, Francisco Roig (Rafa's co-trainer) told him so. And there, Rafa's response was: 'I don't care, it doesn't change anything, I'm going to win this match'."
"Rafa had never said such a thing to me before a match," Moya added. "He knew he wouldn't fail. Nadal is such a humble person. It wasn't arrogance, it was a feeling of confidence, of security."
"I don't care, I'm going to win" - Rafael Nadal to his team upon learning Roland Garros final would be played under the roof
Prior to the start of Roland Garros 2020, many had tipped Novak Djokovic to end Rafael Nadal's reign in Paris.
It looks like he played better under the roof, LOL.
T
TheNachoMan
Guest
I like it. More swagger from Rafa and less fake humility please 
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Just thought about how badass this is again 
Bender
G.O.A.T.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
After 6+ years of lusting for that win against Djoko in a Grand Slam tournament after recieving beating after beating he had to win at some point and what other tournament would it be
Other than RG? But 6+ years is alot. It has to happen at some point. The real question is why Nadal has to wait so long to beat Djoko? Hmmm
Other than RG? But 6+ years is alot. It has to happen at some point. The real question is why Nadal has to wait so long to beat Djoko? Hmmm
ADuck
Legend
A combination of Nadal being a non-contender in slams from 2015-2016 and Djokovic being a non-contender from 2017-mid2018. Counting only the periods both were playing well it's only been 2 years really.
D
Deleted member 775898
Guest
Just like Djokovic hasn't beaten Wawrinka in a Slam for 6 years already lolz.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Lol, "beating after beating". They met only 3 times during these 6 years, and one of them was in 2015. And it isn't Nadal's fault that Djokovic wasn't even good enough to reach him in RG 2017, 2018, 2019.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Beckerserve
Legend
If you read my threads around then i said numerous times that all the negativity to Rafa by the media and Djokovic arrogance would take all the pressure off Rafa and make him dangerous. People on here were slating me calling me a fan boy. I had a feeling he was going to rip Djokovic apart once i saw the last set v Sinner.
Beckerserve
Legend
Legacy wise probably still is W 2008 as it was against the other guy on 20 Majors. However FO 2019 was sweeter.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Gloating is all fine and good but when Novak delivered a similar or even worse slam final beatdown in AO19 (Nadal won fewer points in that match then Novak did in FO20) did we still bring it up in specific threads months later? Did Novak’s team, also months later, leak to the press that Novak had stated he was going to beat Nadal no matter what ahead of the AO final? If so, carry on. 
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
Just saw this now.
lmao Ned had it all figured out before the match
lmao Ned had it all figured out before the match
Beckerserve
Legend
Dude Novaks team cannot ever claim the moral high ground lol.Gloating is all fine and good but when Novak delivered a similar or even worse slam final beatdown in AO19 (Nadal won fewer points in that match then Novak did in FO20) did we still bring it up in specific threads months later? Did Novak’s team, also months later, leak to the press that Novak had stated he was going to beat Nadal no matter what ahead of the AO final? If so, carry on.
The reason why FO 2019 was an utter humiliation was because Djokovic mouthed off for months about going unbeaten all season and that conditions at FO were perfect. I said at the time Djokovic was helping Nadal. This is the problem about talking too much. Karma bites hard.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
i don’t think anyone claims the high ground, whatever that means. But imagine all the pearl clutching here at TTW if months after the AO19 final beatdown Vajda leaked to the press that Novak had said he was going to beat Nadal no matter what.
Nadal_Django
Legend
I wonder what was the talk before the 2021 SF!?
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
I wonder what was the talk before the 2021 SF!?
His coach Francisco Roig was not impressed with his serve and movement.
Beckerserve
Legend
I would love to know how he was before the SF. He looked a bit flat. Dare i say the great Nadal maybe got complacent 5-0 up and lost the intensity for a bit. Against a fellow ATG that is fatalAlpha king
"When they come to tell us that the final will be played indoors, we wonder how we're going to announce that to Rafa," Moya said. "15 minutes from the match, Francisco Roig (Rafa's co-trainer) told him so. And there, Rafa's response was: 'I don't care, it doesn't change anything, I'm going to win this match'."
"Rafa had never said such a thing to me before a match," Moya added. "He knew he wouldn't fail. Nadal is such a humble person. It wasn't arrogance, it was a feeling of confidence, of security."
"I don't care, I'm going to win" - Rafael Nadal to his team upon learning Roland Garros final would be played under the roof
Prior to the start of Roland Garros 2020, many had tipped Novak Djokovic to end Rafael Nadal's reign in Paris.
Beckerserve
Legend
Would love to know.I wonder what was the talk before the 2021 SF!?
Beckerserve
Legend
Before the SF? Really? How have you found that out
TheAssassin
G.O.A.T.
We know VB's talk at least. He gonna win, but just in case he loses it's a wrist boo boo, no?I wonder what was the talk before the 2021 SF!?
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Before the tournament.
Nadal_Django
Legend
I've told you that Djokovic played a complete blunder of a match, certainly one of his worst matches of his career in the 2020 RG Final and you refused to believe me. Now you've seen that I was right isn't it!? When Djokovic doesn't make 50+ UEs for two and a half sets, and is playing purposeful and with the right aggression, this matchup is a completely different ball game, even on Rafa's beloved clay.
