Is Djokovic the toughest opponent Nadal has faced in his life?

[victorcruz]

I'm always fine with a loss in tournaments before the slams. Slams are the only ones I care about.

Remember when Nole beat Nadal at Monte Carlo and many were saying he was going to beat him at the French? I was so glad Nadal got that monkey off his back by losing that streak.

Then, when the FO rolled around, having had a loss, it made him dig deeper for the next time, so I was very confident going into the French.

Same thing with the USO.

This loss will make Rafa prepare better for the Oz. I'm happy.

Just do the math. 2 majors and a Masters vs. was it 2 Masters and a 500?

No contest.

Totally agree. I wish Rafa got a chance to play Djoker in the 2011 French Open Final. If he had played him, I think he beats him in 4 and it sets up a different mentality the rest of the year in the 2 GS Finals.

The fact that Fed beat him ticked me off. Rafa would have got the monkey off his back and beaten him and maybe he beats him in Wimbledon or USO instead of losing. I definitely think he would have beaten him in one of those. The confidence would have been back.

 

[Egoista]

yes because he neutralizes rafas weapon FH

 

[robertharris]

Djokovic is certainly the most frequent opponent Nadal has ever had to face. They have now met a total of 39 times which is 7 times more than he has faced Federer, the player once thought to be his biggest rival and toughest opponent. While Nadal still leads both H2Hs, his lead margin over Djokovic (+5) is now less than half that against Federer (+12).

So yes, who can disagree that Djokovic is now the toughest opponent Nadal has ever had to face?

Djokovic is his toughest career opponent, Murray second toughest (but an extremely distant 2nd, nobody is even close to Djokovic), and probably Davydenko third. Not sure where Federer would be, but not even close to Djokovic either in that regard.

Had it not been for Djokovic, Nadal would probably have already broken Federer's slam record and been the hands down Open Era GOAT today. Djokovic is going to make him work hard to complete his career, but will also ultimately add to his legacy as he is the huge rival and A+ quality opponent that Federer especialy never had in his prime.

 

[papertank]

Djokovic definitely is Nadal's toughest opponent ever, no contest.

 

[eldanger25]

I'd still say Federer, the age gap plus a general recency bias kind of clouds how epic those battles were 5, 6, 7 years ago.

2011 had a little bit of a poacher's feeling to it - Fedal clobbered each other, then they both got mugged by Nole 2.0 while exhaling/regrouping. Djoker lay waiting, like the hyenas in the wild, waiting for two animals to wear each other out before striking.

That said, Djokovic has Nadal's full attention these days, and if Novak manages to trip him up a few times at the majors in 2014-16, I think he'd vault past Federer as Nadal's toughest opponent. Three 5-set victories over six months from July 2011 - January 2012 aside, Djoker's consistently come up short in their longer matches (losing all 9 of them, and only once taking a match to 5 sets). He's gotta change that dynamic to pass Fed as toughest rival.

 

[eldanger25]

I'd still say Federer, the age gap plus a general recency bias kind of clouds how epic those battles were 5, 6, 7 years ago.

2011 had a little bit of a poacher's feeling to it - Fedal clobbered each other, then they both got mugged by Nole 2.0 while exhaling/regrouping. Djoker lay waiting, like the hyenas in the wild, waiting for two animals to wear each other out before striking.

That said, Djokovic has Nadal's full attention these days, and if Novak manages to trip him up a few times at the majors in 2014-16, I think he'd vault past Federer as Nadal's toughest opponent. Three 5-set victories over six months from July 2011 - January 2012 aside, Djoker's consistently come up short in their longer matches (losing all 9 of them, and only once taking a match to 5 sets). He's gotta change that dynamic to pass Fed as toughest rival.

Just to add, Rafa and Nole have indeed had two epic 5-set matches, AO 2012 (aka the Gunfight at the OCD Corral), and RG 2013. That doesn't quite compare to Miami 2005; Rome 2006; Wimbledon 2007-08, AO 2009, as well as some very tight Fedal 4 setters during the second half of the last decade. Plus, there was only one straight set affair, RG 2008, between Nadal and Federer on the biggest stages, whereas Novak lost in straights or retired during every one of his 5-set matches with Nadal before the 2010 US Open. That has to be factored in, especially since the two men are less than a year apart in age.

Still plenty of time for Novak to write a few victorious chapters against Nadal at the majors, and he's certainly the hottest player going into 2014 - but right now I'd still say Federer has been Nadal's greatest rival.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Davydenko is his toughest opponent.

This might actually be spot on.

 

[RF20Lennon]

Yeah I would think so. But I feel Federer still pushed Nadal more on clay in the Rome 2006 final. But Djokovic overall matches up better against Nadal!

 

[TheTruth]

I'd still say Federer, the age gap plus a general recency bias kind of clouds how epic those battles were 5, 6, 7 years ago.

2011 had a little bit of a poacher's feeling to it - Fedal clobbered each other, then they both got mugged by Nole 2.0 while exhaling/regrouping. Djoker lay waiting, like the hyenas in the wild, waiting for two animals to wear each other out before striking.

That said, Djokovic has Nadal's full attention these days, and if Novak manages to trip him up a few times at the majors in 2014-16, I think he'd vault past Federer as Nadal's toughest opponent. Three 5-set victories over six months from July 2011 - January 2012 aside, Djoker's consistently come up short in their longer matches (losing all 9 of them, and only once taking a match to 5 sets). He's gotta change that dynamic to pass Fed as toughest rival.

AO,2012?

But wonderfully creative writing. Great reading.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Davydenko is his toughest opponent.

You might be onto something here, but it's a shame they never really got to face each other when it really mattered (as in late stage of Slam events).

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Why did Death Master get banned?

 

[kiki]

well, he hasn´t faced too many tough players, so Djokovic is definitely a good candidate.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

well, he hasn´t faced too many tough players, so Djokovic is definitely a good candidate.

A beautiful and wonderful viewpoint. I always find that you show such incredible tact.

How's the former pro player forum?

 

[mike danny]

Totally agree. I wish Rafa got a chance to play Djoker in the 2011 French Open Final. If he had played him, I think he beats him in 4 and it sets up a different mentality the rest of the year in the 2 GS Finals.

The fact that Fed beat him ticked me off. Rafa would have got the monkey off his back and beaten him and maybe he beats him in Wimbledon or USO instead of losing. I definitely think he would have beaten him in one of those. The confidence would have been back.

He could not take a single set from nole in their clay matches. Do not throw me the "at RG he is a different animal" crap. At that point he has 2 straight losses to Novak. Nadal, as a champion as he is has a big ego and he sure as heck wanted to prove to Djoker that clay was still his domain and i am sure he was motivated to end his streak. He did not win a single set. Nobody destroyed Rafa so badly on clay in consecutive tournaments.

Even Federer was troubling him big time but because of the mental edge rafa has over him he pulled through.

With nole it was a totally different matter. He was in his head and was full of confidence. I did not see good things for rafa.

At W it was the same thing. Rada was considered the superior grass courter and how did that turn out?

 

[mike danny]

Djokovic is his toughest career opponent, Murray second toughest (but an extremely distant 2nd, nobody is even close to Djokovic), and probably Davydenko third. Not sure where Federer would be, but not even close to Djokovic either in that regard.

Had it not been for Djokovic, Nadal would probably have already broken Federer's slam record and been the hands down Open Era GOAT today. Djokovic is going to make him work hard to complete his career, but will also ultimately add to his legacy as he is the huge rival and A+ quality opponent that Federer especialy never had in his prime.

So? Without Nadal fed would have won 23 slams and 2 CYGS. Your point?

 

[beast of mallorca]

Well, Djokovic is definitely tougher than weak minded Fed..........:twisted:

 

[mike danny]

Well, Djokovic is definitely tougher than weak minded Fed..........:twisted:

All that Djokovic has is a 2 handed backhand.
otherwise he's got nothing on Fed.

But still it is amazing that Fed still gave Rafa incredible matches despite the inferior backhand

 

[kiki]

A beautiful and wonderful viewpoint. I always find that you show such incredible tact.

How's the former pro player forum?

Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

The former forum, I know, it is my place.You know, that is where the paleolitics belong to.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

The former forum, I know, it is my place.You know, that is where the paleolitics belong to.

It sounds like a wonderful place, I'll be sure to visit it again.

 

[kiki]

It sounds like a wonderful place, I'll be sure to visit it again.

yeah, you better do and get sink in some excellent tennis experience...by men, not kids.

 

[dknotty]

I'm looking forward to a Murray Nadal match.

Murray has improved enough to make it a good game I think.

 

[degrease]

Novaks game matches up well with rafa's

 

[winstonplum]

Djoker 2.0. Let's get this straight. The first Nole 1.0 didn't bother Nadal in the slightest. The man that showed up in 2011 had never beaten Nadal in a final. But yes, this new Nole is the hardest competition of Nadal's career.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Well, Djokovic is definitely tougher than weak minded Fed..........:twisted:

This.

/thread

 

[RF-18]

Any thoughts on this now?

I Would say by far. Nadal has never been in this much trouble consistantly against Anybody in his careers

 

[RunDatGame]

I agree, no doubt.
But i also think that Nadal is the toughest opponent Djokovic had ever faced.

 

[jg153040]

Well, Djokovic is definitely tougher than weak minded Fed..........:twisted:

Oh really? Is that why Fed has only a single loss to Murray at majors. While Rafa and Nole have 4 losses vs Murray at majors.

All the rest of top three have combined more than 15 losses vs weak era guy Ferrer. While Fed is undefeated vs Ferrer.

Strange.

 

[Djokovic2011]

I agree, no doubt.
But i also think that Nadal is the toughest opponent Djokovic had ever faced.

In some ways one could argue that Federer has been just as tough for Djokovic but Nadal is obviously right up there.

 

[chjtennis]

Agreed . Joker is better than Federer ever was.

:lol:


=====================

 

[chjtennis]

Djokovic has been the real rival of Nadal since 2009. Nadal matured early but once Djokovic matured, he has given Nadal the toughest time. The toughest opponent for Nadal, obviously.

 

[victorcruz]

Djoko is tough on Nadal. I appreciate him fighting Rafa, it keeps him from getting too full of himself. Not that Rafa is like that.

Good match by Djoko, I look forward to their showdown at the French Open

 

[Solo]

Nole v Rafa matches are the only ones worth watching in finals. Feels like a real battle. Or Nole v Federer.

 

[oneness]

As rafa said in his post match presser today Djoker's first shot in a point trumps Rafa's. ie. both serve and ROS. He is better than Rafa in both these aspects and that allows him to stay in his comfort zone and still win pretty handily, especially on Hard. Rafa has to be on his toes to eke out a match here and a match there on hard.

 

[Devilito]

Well? The way he has handled nadal in the past years I have never seen anything like it. He just has nadal in his hands.

If in 2004-2007 Nadal faced Federer at Wimbledon, US Open, WTF, Cincinati, Indian Wells etc. Then he'd be the toughest opponent he'd have faced. Unfortunately at that time Nadal wasn't good enough to make it far enough in these events to face Fed.

It's all circumstance. Nadal peaked WAY earlier than Djokovic and Nadal is not nearly as good as he was 4-5 years ago. Djokovic is in his prime now. Nadal's prime was 4-5 years ago, Fed's prime was 7-10 years ago. As of now, none of the top players have ever been Prime vs Prime except for Djokovic vs Murray. But Murray's prime is not even close to Djokovic so yeah no contest there.

Prime Nadal vs Prime Djokovic, Nadal takes it on almost every surface

 

[90's Clay]

I think Davydenko was perhaps the toughest opponent for Nadal. You have to remember, Nadal lost a pep in his step after 2010 (When Nole finally began to get the best of him) and his speed and movement has been going downhill ever since.

If Nadal kept the speed, quickness and defense, he had pre 2011, Nadal would be wayyy far ahead still in the h2h. But Nadal has a ton of miles on him at this point (Far more than Nole does currently)

Nadal could STILL hit the ball short and loopy vs. this Nole and still win 95 percent of the matches if he still had the speed, movement, foot work, and explosiveness he USED to have.

 

[insideguy]

I think Davydenko was perhaps the toughest opponent for Nadal. You have to remember, Nadal lost a pep in his step after 2010 (When Nole finally began to get the best of him) and his speed and movement has been going downhill ever since.

If Nadal kept the speed, quickness and defense, he had pre 2011, Nadal would be wayyy far ahead still in the h2h. But Nadal has a ton of miles on him at this point (Far more than Nole does currently)

Nadal could STILL hit the ball short and loopy vs. this Nole and still win 95 percent of the matches if he still had the speed, movement, foot work, and explosiveness he USED to have.

Yep. It aint about Nole. Its about Rafa. Rafa is not playing well this year. Period. This is about him losing to stan who he never lost a set to. This is about losing to the dog who he has never lost a set to. This is about him being taken to three sets twice in Qatar by no names. And this is about him getting thrashed by joker in Miami.

 

[RF-18]

Well, what do you guys say now?

 

[Cortana]

Of course he is. Djokovic managed to beat him 21 times in 44 matches. The best player of all time (Federer) only won 10 times in 33 matches.

 

[swordtennis]

Nadal has already said that he is on multiple occasions. Federer was the one who put nadal on the map. Djokovic was the one who cemented his greatness and put him on mt rushmore.

 

[heninfan99]

Davydenko
100Russians

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Well, doesn't the H2H say it all? 21-23 to Nadal, with Novak getting the best of things in recent years.

Davydenko also caused Nadal a lot of trouble, but they never faced off at a Major.

Federer caused Nadal some problems but wasn't close to the threat that Djokovic now consistently is.