Is Djokovic in a better position to win the FO than in 2011?

[Chanwan]

Yes and no. Yes because Djokovic now has more experience with the latter stages of the French Open. No because he went into the 2011 French Open in much better overall form (unbeaten in the calendar year) having just blown away Nadal twice on clay. The 2014 Djokovic win in Rome was close, not a blow out.

I just wish that all the people debating the potential Nadal vs. Djokovic final at the 2014 French Open don't forget the fact that they both have to get to the final first for it to even matter, and them both reaching the final is not a certainty. 2011 showed that.

agree with this.
One addition. Even though it wasn't a blow out, it was a pretty clear win once Nole found his range. Moreover, another yes, is that Nadal has been more vulnerable in general this year and just might lose before the final (Djoko may as well though).

 

[Anti-Fedal]

No.

2011 he was clearly in better form and was beating Nadal on clay in the RG preliminarily tournaments without even dropping a set.

 

[veroniquem]

Pros:
1- in 2011, he played a whole lot before RG. He will arrive fresher this year
2- pushing Rafa to the limit last year (1st time he stretched him to a 5th at RG) should give him a lot of confidence for this year
3- probably no walkover. That was a factor in disrupting his rhythm in 2011
4- in 2011, he had never made a RG final. He's gained experience since then
5- Rafa's just had his worst clay season since 2004. He's never looked this vulnerable on clay (he may have lost twice to Djoko in 2011 but he didn't lose to anyone else, still made all clay finals and his stats were much better)

Cons:
1- He had a better clay season in 2011 (won 2 masters + Belgrade)
2- He lost a set in almost every one of his matches in Rome 2014, not just vs Nadal (more vulnerable?)
3- He hurt his wrist during clay season
4- He's older (age works against you in tennis after 25/26)
5- He's never won RG despite many attempts

Unchanged: he's arriving with a good streak and a good mental edge vs Rafa (like 2011). 4 consecutive finals won. That will help only if he has to play Rafa though. Not vs the rest of the field.

 

[agreed]

http://www.oregonlive.com/the-spin-of-the-ball/index.ssf/2014/04/roger_federer_no_way_the_6_mos.html

The argument: During Federer's 2004-2009 heyday, people routinely called the all-time major champion the greatest player of all time, pointing to both his astounding accomplishments and his beautiful, all-around game. But how can he be the greatest ever when he isn't even the best in his own time? This is, yes, about Federer's poor head-to-head record against Rafael Nadal -- 10-23 overall and an even worse 2-9 in major tournaments. True, Federer just happens to match up particularly badly against Nadal, what with Rafa's unprecedentedly mammoth lefty spin going naturally to the Swiss' one-handed backhand. But shouldn't the GOAT still find a way more than twice in 11 tries in the sport's biggest tournaments?

-___
The unfortunate rafa effort at 2007 Wimbledon brought fed hope for luck every week's tourney. Genius fed, the fortune teller.

If not for that Rafael meltdown on 0-40 chance vs. servebot fed, fed would be only lucky with a close lone Wimbledon win. Journeyman bothered federer with 2 set chokes and set point chokes at Wimbledon as well as at French open and Aussie open.

 

[ultradr]

Uncertainties in the air. Mainly because Nadal is in uncertain form.

Djokovic beat Nadal but so did Ferrer and anybody seems to give
lots of trouble to Nadal right now.

My hunch is that Djokovic may not reach final at RG this year.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Pros:
1- in 2011, he played a whole lot before RG. He will arrive fresher this year
2- pushing Rafa to the limit last year (1st time he stretched him to a 5th at RG) should give him a lot of confidence for this year
3- probably no walkover. That was a factor in disrupting his rhythm in 2011
4- in 2011, he had never made a RG final. He's gained experience since then
5- Rafa's just had his worst clay season since 2004. He's never looked this vulnerable on clay (he may have lost twice to Djoko in 2011 but he didn't lose to anyone else, still made all clay finals and his stats were much better)

Cons:
1- He had a better clay season in 2011 (won 2 masters + Belgrade)
2- He lost a set in almost every one of his matches in Rome 2014, not just vs Nadal (more vulnerable?)
3- He hurt his wrist during clay season
4- He's older (age works against you in tennis after 25/26)
5- He's never won RG despite many attempts

Unchanged: he's arriving with a good streak and a good mental edge vs Rafa (like 2011). 4 consecutive finals won. That will help only if he has to play Rafa though. Not vs the rest of the field.

I don't think that's a con and Djokovic is Djokovic. He might have started physically declining at 25 or it might start at 27. I doubt it's 25/26 for every single player. He's more experienced now and I think the combination of his extra experience with still being physically in top shape actually works out as age being more likely a pro than a con.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

A microcosm of this forum and the Nadal Djokovic rivalry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MW9Nrg_kZU

 

[swordtennis]

A microcosm of this forum and the Nadal Djokovic rivalry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MW9Nrg_kZU

This is great! LMAO The lyrics rule

Your primitive and limited you live in a village of idiots! Epic

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

This is great! LMAO The lyrics rule

Your primitive and limited you live in a village of idiots! Epic

Hahaha, yes I loved that line! Watching a bunch of others now, the Jordan Ali one is too good (bit riskaay though)!

 

[swordtennis]

Doing the same this is funny.
As to the topic if he cuts off that Nadal forehand down the line like he did on Sunday with his forehand he has a good shot. Djokovic success in the late stages of these tournaments depends on his forehand.

 

[Fedwimby86]

Djokovic came very close last year to beating Rafa at the FO and was even up a break in the 5th set. He's getting awfully close. This is reminiscent of Nadal getting closer and closer to beating Federer on grass before he finally did it. Very exciting FO coming up! The draw nears....

 

[JohnKramer]

Djokovic came very close last year to beating Rafa at the FO and was even up a break in the 5th set. He's getting awfully close. This is reminiscent of Nadal getting closer and closer to beating Federer on grass before he finally did it. Very exciting FO coming up! The draw nears....

Yes djokovic is definitely a favorite for 2014 FO. The only difference is when Nadal defeated federer in 2008 wimby, federer was the favorite.

So this could put additional pressure on djokovic.
Lets see how it works in the end.

 

[Goosehead]

no, he's in worse position than 2011..then djoko was at least IN the SF, so far in2014 he still hasn't got past rd 1. :neutral:

 

[sportsfan1]

Rafa can still get it done against the field, but if he runs into Djoker again, Rafa's RG title is toast. Rafa's now lost 4 consecutive against the Djoker, been pushed close several other times, and that doesn't just happen by chance. If Rafa's to win RG again, he will need some help from one of his "single hander" friends - Wawrinka, old men Fed or Haas with the sore back and tired legs, or one of the upcomers like Dimitrov- to peak and take the Djoker out. Yeah, I would say the Djoker is the favorite for RG 2014.

 

[NADALRECORD]

Rafa can still get it done against the field, but if he runs into Djoker again, Rafa's RG title is toast. Rafa's now lost 4 consecutive against the Djoker, been pushed close several other times, and that doesn't just happen by chance. If Rafa's to win RG again, he will need some help from one of his "single hander" friends - Wawrinka, old men Fed or Haas with the sore back and tired legs, or one of the upcomers like Dimitrov- to peak and take the Djoker out. Yeah, I would say the Djoker is the favorite for RG 2014.

Nadal is toast if he runs into Djokovic again? :lol: They were 3-3 in the deciding set of Rome.....and clearly Nadal did a lot more running that week (and the week before).

If Djokovic is struggling against Nadal in Rome, why would Nadal be toast at Roland Garros of all places? And in 2013 Djokovic beat Nadal at Monte Carlo in straight sets....and that made zero difference when they got to Roland Garros.

 

[veroniquem]

The only difference is when Nadal defeated federer in 2008 wimby, federer was the favorite.

.

Not really true. A number of analysts picked Nadal that year, which created havoc among the Fed fan community. Bottom line though is: storm in a tea cup. Who cares who the favorite is? The only thing that matters is who actually ends up winning...

 

[mike danny]

Yes djokovic is definitely a favorite for 2014 FO. The only difference is when Nadal defeated federer in 2008 wimby, federer was the favorite.

So this could put additional pressure on djokovic.
Lets see how it works in the end.

Disagree. Federer wasn't playing at his usual standards anymore and nadal was only getting better.

Nadal was the favorite by a mile IMO

 

[NADALRECORD]

Nadal was good enough to beat Federer in 2007 Wimbledon but Nadal was a bit psyched out. Nadal was also a bit psyched out in 2008 when he went from a 2 sets to love lead to almost losing.

Djokovic is psyched out at Roland Garros, and will continue to be, because he's always had mental issues. Nadal could turn his Wimbledon issues around, but I don't think Djokovic can do it at Roland Garros.