It looks like Rafael Nadal will have the last laugh over Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

[Deleted member 788697]

Federer is pretty much out of race. It's very likely he will get surpassed by both. But Djokovic with his stupidity lost golden opportunity to take lead in slam race.

Yeah the only upside for Djokovic is that IF Medvedev was destined to obliterate Djokovic at the AO (the way he did 64 64 64 at the US Open), then at least Djokovic won't have to experience that.
Nobody can say for sure where that rivalry was going though.

 

[NeutralFan]

Tbh, at this point I don't even care for slam race . I am just happy to see Rafa competeting again on the tour . I just hope he's healthy and competing for next 2-3 years.

 

[sportsfan1]

Yeah the only upside for Djokovic is that IF Medvedev was destined to obliterate Djokovic at the AO (the way he did 64 64 64 at the US Open), then at least Djokovic won't have to experience that.
Nobody can say for sure where that rivalry was going though.

Recall that Novak beat Medvedev the last time they played in the final of paris bercy m1000. It took zverev and Medvedev back to back along with the weight of history to take down Djokovic at the uso final.

As for op, there can be too many variables to predict that far into the future. Djokovic just has to get jabbed or a certificate, and both are easy tasks. Med and zverev are both capable of stopping nadal. Perhaps the biggest factor is Nadals past record at the Australian open.

No predictions can be made on the big 2 slam race any further beyond the Australian open.

 

[DIMI_D]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

Oh you finally came to your senses and realised it was Djoker and his teams stupidly he isn’t playing! Very sensible Adam I applaud you kind sir!

 

[DIMI_D]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

I don’t think Novak will be banned for 3 yrs and I believe he will vaccinate himself

 

[DIMI_D]

As for this AO it’s far from over ZOD is in the form of his life and is a tremendous challenge even if Nadal is at peak performance which he isn’t yet and especially a night match in fast conditions! Zod is favourite!

 

[DIMI_D]

If Nadal wins AO 22 and the FO22 Nadal is the GOAT in my books but there is along way off that let’s focus on the here and now a lot of work to be done to be in that position. But let’s imagine he does he is primed for number 1 again and yr end number one the whole GOAT debate is alive and well with a new front-runner being the raging BULL VAMOS

 

[DIMI_D]

We Nadal fans haven’t had a lot to fist pump since May last year so let’s go baby all the way

 

[D.Nalby12]

Nadal' draw likely to collapse -

DJOKOVIC - DEPORTED
ZED - could lose to Shapo
Karatsev - struggling to get past MannariNo.

In this case he will cakewalk to the final.

 

[Azure]

If Nadal wins AO 22 and the FO22 Nadal is the GOAT in my books but there is along way off that let’s focus on the here and now a lot of work to be done to be in that position. But let’s imagine he does he is primed for number 1 again and yr end number one the whole GOAT debate is alive and well with a new front-runner being the raging BULL VAMOS

Yes but thats getting ahead of ourselves. like rafa its just one match at a time for now

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Probably. Still ridiculous a 36 year old with bad wheels who’s played only a few tourneys in a year is whipping on these younger kids who play full time LOL. The field has been rotten for so long I can’t remember the last time it was any good. The slam record is just going to come down to who can maintain the best form in the end. It may be Nadal if djoker can’t play LOL

 

[maratha_warrior]

You pretend to get it but you just don't.

Chill . This isn't serious .

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nadal is the big favourite in the slam race now. No doubt about it. I just hope Novak can finish in 2nd place.

 

[DIMI_D]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

Also the world will laugh as well as all the memes after AO 22 it will well be worth it kind sir

 

[Bertie B]

Nadal has never won both AO and FO in the same season...AND, the young guys are playing really well.

 

[PerilousPear]

So no more foot injury then?

That depends whether he wins the tournament or not.

 

[Terenigma]

Do people really put Nadal ahead of Federer right now? I know if Nadal overtakes the slam lead then sure, I can see the rationale for it but right now he's still clearly the worst of the 3, no? Everyone focuses on Djokovic/Nadal because they are still playing but in terms of achievements, Federer is still massively ahead of Nadal if both stay on 20. Right?

 

[DIMI_D]

Djoker will be playing RG he will be vaccinated! He will change his position anyone that does not believe that is absolute bonkers

 

[Deleted member 788697]

Nadal has never won both AO and FO in the same season...AND, the young guys are playing really well.

But the past doesn't predict the future in Nadal's case, his non-clay career has no pattern to it.
Like who would have thought he'd win 2 more US Opens in 2017 and 2019 (and almost 2018, but retired in the SF) after the horrendous 2015-16?
Also was extraordinarily close to winning 2018 Wimbledon, lost 10-8 fifth set vs. Djokovic, and nobody thought he'd win Wimbledon again after so many years losing early....
Just impossible to read a pattern in Nadal's career, so him winning 3 slams in 2022 won't be surprising to me.

 

[Spencer Gore]

Still a LOT of tennis to be played.

 

[Azure]

Do people really put Nadal ahead of Federer right now? I know if Nadal overtakes the slam lead then sure, I can see the rationale for it but right now he's still clearly the worst of the 3, no? Everyone focuses on Djokovic/Nadal because they are still playing but in terms of achievements, Federer is still massively ahead of Nadal if both stay on 20. Right?

No we are talking about razor thin margins among equals. All three have arguments in their favor even if one of them chugs ahead of the other two by a couple of slams.

 

[DIMI_D]

I will personally guarantee he will pick and choose his schedule and be vaccinated tennis means more to Djoker than anything else he was lead to believe he didn’t need it and all tournaments up to this point it was not a requirement! To believe he will only go to tournaments where he doesn’t need vaccination is absolutely utterly absurd. If anyone here holds that line and sooner or later we find out Nole is vaccinated I expect TTW posters to admire me as the new oracle and listen to my every word like gospel

 

[DIMI_D]

Yes but thats getting ahead of ourselves. like rafa its just one match at a time for now

Yes for sure one match at a time I think karatsev is done either way mentally stuffed to many gruelling matches and playing last week in Sydney he won’t be up for nadals intensity even though he has the tools to push Nadal

 

[Spencer Gore]

Probably. Still ridiculous a 36 year old with bad wheels who’s played only a few tourneys in a year is whipping on these younger kids who play full time LOL. The field has been rotten for so long I can’t remember the last time it was any good. The slam record is just going to come down to who can maintain the best form in the end. It may be Nadal if djoker can’t play LOL

Well, Federer had it easy at the start of the race, only fair Nadal should have it a little easier at the end. And it's far easier to win slams against poor opposition when you are in your early/mid 20s rather than mid 30s. So Federer still had the easier time.

 

[Pandaman]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

The funniest part is all of the Nadal stans whining about his "tough" draw (aka a normal one for Djoker in this new area), only for, surprise surprise, the best players crashing out before they meet him (Hubie) or pathetic efforts by floaters (Karen). Whoever gets through btwn the Lion and old man Mannarino are going to be dead for the 4th round. Insecure Nadal fans whining prematurely as usual

 

[DIMI_D]

Do people really put Nadal ahead of Federer right now? I know if Nadal overtakes the slam lead then sure, I can see the rationale for it but right now he's still clearly the worst of the 3, no? Everyone focuses on Djokovic/Nadal because they are still playing but in terms of achievements, Federer is still massively ahead of Nadal if both stay on 20. Right?

I don’t put Ned above Fred for now but if he gets this AO would be hard to put Fed ahead given he will have 100 extra weeks and WTF over Nadal which will then have slams, masters Olympics and H2H will also have 8 slams outside of clay to feds 9 outside hard so to me that’s negligible distribution plus he is a multiple surface champ with DCGS so yeah the writing will be on the wall for FRED

 

[Adam Copeland]

Oh you finally came to your senses and realised it was Djoker and his teams stupidly he isn’t playing! Very sensible Adam I applaud you kind sir!

Of course, I am not an anti vax follower in any way.

If I was Novak then this would have been my course of action

Step 1 : I would make my Corona public and thus make solid grounds for my exemption.
Step 2 : Ok, lets assume Step 1 did not work, in this case I would never announce on Instagram that I am travelling to Australia on a valid rule that the public isn't aware of, I would well know the mood of the public before travelling
Step 3 : Assuming Step1 and Step2 did not work, I am in the mess that Novak is in, I would filed a case against the govt and once I won it, I would have either left Australia or I would have struck a backdoor deal with Morrison which would enable Morrison assuring me that he would allow me to play the Aus open (in writing) and in return I would announce publically that I have followed the rules till now and don't wish to violate it, I would either leave the country or get vaccinated as soon as the AO is over or begins, whichever the govt seems fit.... Maybe Morrison might have agreed or else if he said no, then I would have instantly left the country since my Visa is valid at that point.

Novak's camp is advising him all the wrong things and he should not be an anti vax icon, this is wrong, he is polarizing things to such an extent that it jeopardizes his career and more importantly the GOAT Race.

 

[DIMI_D]

Well, Federer had it easy at the start of the race, only fair Nadal should have it a little easier at the end. And it's far easier to win slams against poor opposition when you are in your early/mid 20s rather than mid 30s. So Federer still had the easier time.

For sure Fred cleaned up on the likes of Phillipousis, Roddick, gonzo and baggy

 

[DIMI_D]

Of course, I am not an anti vax follower in any way.

If I was Novak then this would have been my course of action

Step 1 : I would make my Corona public and thus make solid grounds for my exemption.
Step 2 : Ok, lets assume Step 1 did not work, in this case I would never announce on Instagram that I am travelling to Australia on a valid rule that the public isn't aware of, I would well know the mood of the public before travelling
Step 3 : Assuming Step1 and Step2 did not work, I am in the mess that Novak is in, I would filed a case against the govt and once I won it, I would have either left Australia or I would have struck a backdoor deal with Morrison which would enable Morrison assuring me that he would allow me to play the Aus open (in writing) and in return I would announce publically that I have followed the rules till now and don't wish to violate it, I would either leave the country or get vaccinated as soon as the AO is over or begins, whichever the govt seems fit.... Maybe Morrison might have agreed or else if he said no, then I would have instantly left the country since my Visa is valid at that point.

Novak's camp is advising him all the wrong things and he should not be an anti vax icon, this is wrong, he is polarizing things to such an extent that it jeopardizes his career and more importantly the GOAT Race.

I wasn’t saying you are a anti-vax I’m just referring to other threads popping up now Vienna introduce vaccine mandates and all these other tournaments big and small are following suit. Therefore this narrows Novaks schedule! Whoever believes this is absolute idiot to be quite frank

 

[DIMI_D]

Of course, I am not an anti vax follower in any way.

If I was Novak then this would have been my course of action

Step 1 : I would make my Corona public and thus make solid grounds for my exemption.
Step 2 : Ok, lets assume Step 1 did not work, in this case I would never announce on Instagram that I am travelling to Australia on a valid rule that the public isn't aware of, I would well know the mood of the public before travelling
Step 3 : Assuming Step1 and Step2 did not work, I am in the mess that Novak is in, I would filed a case against the govt and once I won it, I would have either left Australia or I would have struck a backdoor deal with Morrison which would enable Morrison assuring me that he would allow me to play the Aus open (in writing) and in return I would announce publically that I have followed the rules till now and don't wish to violate it, I would either leave the country or get vaccinated as soon as the AO is over or begins, whichever the govt seems fit.... Maybe Morrison might have agreed or else if he said no, then I would have instantly left the country since my Visa is valid at that point.

Novak's camp is advising him all the wrong things and he should not be an anti vax icon, this is wrong, he is polarizing things to such an extent that it jeopardizes his career and more importantly the GOAT Race.

Your points are very valid hindsight is great tbh I think your plan could of worked but like I said hindsight is great only in hindsight

 

[DIMI_D]

Of course, I am not an anti vax follower in any way.

If I was Novak then this would have been my course of action

Step 1 : I would make my Corona public and thus make solid grounds for my exemption.
Step 2 : Ok, lets assume Step 1 did not work, in this case I would never announce on Instagram that I am travelling to Australia on a valid rule that the public isn't aware of, I would well know the mood of the public before travelling
Step 3 : Assuming Step1 and Step2 did not work, I am in the mess that Novak is in, I would filed a case against the govt and once I won it, I would have either left Australia or I would have struck a backdoor deal with Morrison which would enable Morrison assuring me that he would allow me to play the Aus open (in writing) and in return I would announce publically that I have followed the rules till now and don't wish to violate it, I would either leave the country or get vaccinated as soon as the AO is over or begins, whichever the govt seems fit.... Maybe Morrison might have agreed or else if he said no, then I would have instantly left the country since my Visa is valid at that point.

Novak's camp is advising him all the wrong things and he should not be an anti vax icon, this is wrong, he is polarizing things to such an extent that it jeopardizes his career and more importantly the GOAT Race.

Totally agree with your last statement about his team! It’s a shame he is half my families favourite player a lot of ppl and tennis fans it’s a shame not to see the current GOAT at his most successful event

 

[Adam Copeland]

Probably. Still ridiculous a 36 year old with bad wheels who’s played only a few tourneys in a year is whipping on these younger kids who play full time LOL. The field has been rotten for so long I can’t remember the last time it was any good. The slam record is just going to come down to who can maintain the best form in the end. It may be Nadal if djoker can’t play LOL

Well, Federer had it easy at the start of the race, only fair Nadal should have it a little easier at the end. And it's far easier to win slams against poor opposition when you are in your early/mid 20s rather than mid 30s. So Federer still had the easier time.

Actually Roddick/Hewitt/Safin did well in taming Sampras/Agassi, they used their 10-11 years age difference very well.

Compare that with Khadchanov or Zverev, these fellows are more than a decade younger to the Bull and the Bull today is only as good as Sampras was in 02, but unable to stop him.

Khachanov should be really ashamed of himself, the deciding set he lost 1-6... damn ...

 

[maratha_warrior]

Of course, I am not an anti vax follower in any way.

If I was Novak then this would have been my course of action

Step 1 : I would make my Corona public and thus make solid grounds for my exemption.
Step 2 : Ok, lets assume Step 1 did not work, in this case I would never announce on Instagram that I am travelling to Australia on a valid rule that the public isn't aware of, I would well know the mood of the public before travelling
Step 3 : Assuming Step1 and Step2 did not work, I am in the mess that Novak is in, I would filed a case against the govt and once I won it, I would have either left Australia or I would have struck a backdoor deal with Morrison which would enable Morrison assuring me that he would allow me to play the Aus open (in writing) and in return I would announce publically that I have followed the rules till now and don't wish to violate it, I would either leave the country or get vaccinated as soon as the AO is over or begins, whichever the govt seems fit.... Maybe Morrison might have agreed or else if he said no, then I would have instantly left the country since my Visa is valid at that point.

Novak's camp is advising him all the wrong things and he should not be an anti vax icon, this is wrong, he is polarizing things to such an extent that it jeopardizes his career and more importantly the GOAT Race.

It is really stupid of the Djokovic team management to let Djokovic become an anti-vax icon .

He isn't even anti-vax .

A statement from Djokovic's team that Djokovic isn't an anti-vax would have helped to kill the public anger towards him .

Either his current team management and PR is stupid or they deliberately want him to be destroyed .

 

[catskillthunder]

I don't think its a lock by any stretch of the imagination. I was impressed by his quick start today and ability to shrug off the 3rd set lapse with relative ease. These are the type of matches that will get him battle tested for a deep run. Also his next opponent for the Rd4 match could be feeling the physicality wear and tear as they are battling.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I don't think its a lock by any stretch of the imagination. He was impressed by his quick start today and ability to shrug off the 3rd set lapse with relative ease. These are the type of matches that will get him battle tested for a deep run. Also his next opponent for the Rd4 match could be feeling the physicality wear and tear as they are battling.

Rafa gonna run whoever win's legs ragged next round

 

[NeutralFan]

Rafa gonna run whoever win's legs ragged next round

That choke fest marathon is still going on.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

If Shapo beats Zod. Rafa will have one hand on the trophy

 

[Adv. Edberg]

Why? Nadal will never win AO 2022 or another slam, and Djoko will win 5-6 more slams in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Booster Gold]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

Don't count your chickens. Remember how Novaxx was a shoe-in to win the USO last year?

 

[D.Nalby12]

Karatsev eliminated. Zverev next. Nadal is all set to repeat his USO 2017 adventure.

 

[Sport]

Tbh, at this point I don't even care for slam race . I am just happy to see Rafa competeting again on the tour . I just hope he's healthy and competing for next 2-3 years.

Welcole, new user. Great to see a Schopenhauer and Nadal fan on this forum.

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal will give everything he has to take this slam.
He seems like a man on a mission.

I thought Nadal looked that way last year too....and the year prior and the year prior....

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

If Shapo beats Zod. Rafa will have one hand on the trophy

I still think Rafa can beat either to be honest.

 

[Mike Sams]

One thing I do like is all the attention Nadal is getting this year. It's nice not having Federer and Djokovic there. With Nadal in the spotlight, there's a nice, chilled narrative which is very celebratory of Nadal as a leader without all the gushing you get with Federer and the polarization that comes with Djokovic.

Nadal's the only member of the big 3 playing in this tournament. Of course he'll be in the spotlight. And at 35 years of age contending against the young gen.

 

[NeutralFan]

Karatsev eliminated. Zverev next. Nadal is all set to repeat his USO 2017 adventure.

Fed 2018 ao, Djokovic 2018 us open and 2021 Wimbledon was no better but it seems you can't be objective .

 

[Mike Sams]

Stars has aligned in Nadal's favor

Federer couldn't win many slams in 2010s due to Novak and now Novak is out due to his own stupidity.

This has opened the road for an Aus Open win for Nadal in 2022 .... who would have thought this would ever happen ?

With AO 22 and FO 22 Nadal will move onto 22 slams.

When Novak returns at Wimbledon then he will still be the favorite but anything can happen, lot of pressure on him to take number 21.

Then the USO which has been a good slam for youngsters in recent times

Then in 2023 again he is banned from Australia

French Open 2023 coming again and he will be 36 then

Nadal will have the last laugh over Djokovic and Federer by ending up with more slams than them

There's probably more pressure on Nadal to take 21 here considering so many players that beat him in Melbourne aren't playing. Federer, Djokovic, Stan, Thiem...

 

[Zara]

All's well if it ends well.

 

[NeutralFan]

Welcole, new user. Great to see a Schopenhauer and Nadal fan on this forum.

Haha thanks , man ! He's my favourite philosopher . "Studies in pessimism " has made me appreciate the present and not worry about things which are not in our hands.

 

[Mike Sams]

Djokovic has to summon some inner anger in him and conjure another dream run of 3-4 slams at an 18 months stretch .... he has dug a deep hole for him.

Really? Last I saw, the big 3 are all at 20 Slams.

 

[Sport]

Haha thanks , man ! He's my favourite philosopher . "Studies in pessimism " has made me appreciate the present and not worry about things which are not in our hands.

He's my favorite philosopher too. Love his writings as well, they were life-changing to me (and it's not an exaggeration). Have fun on the forum!