Laver: Djokovic favorite over Nadal for French Open. And favored for CYGS.

[TennisFan3]

Djokovic favourite for French title, says Laver

https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/tennis/2019/06/03/djokovic-favourite-for-french-title-says-laver/

Novak Djokovic is the favourite to win the French Open and become the second man ever to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously on two separate occasions, according to Rod Laver, the man he is trying to match.

"I'm probably favouring Novak at the moment and then Rafa," Australian great Laver, now 80, told reporters on Monday. "Then it goes down the line."

Laver thinks that should Djokovic win the French he could go on to match his own calendar-year Grand Slam.

"I marvel at someone like Novak with his ability and his consistency," Laver said. "The way he plays the game, he doesn't go bang, bang, bang, ace, volleys. He wins every individual point from the baseline.

"He's won all four at one time ...so he's already done that portion of it.

____________________________

This is coming from the man who is supposedly the GOAT of tennis. Someone who has done CYGS twice. Just incredible.

 

[TennisFan3]

Could the mods please move this to General Pro Player section. Thanks.

 

[NoleFam]

Laver is an undercover Djokovic fan. ;-) I've known it for a while now. Nadal is still the favorite though in my eyes so disagree a bit with Laver. I think more than anything Laver wants to see someone complete the CYGS while he is still alive and able to see it. He called for Novak to do it 2016 but we know how that went.

 

[TennisFan3]

Laver is an undercover Djokovic fan. ;-) I've known it for a while now. Nadal is still the favorite though in my eyes so disagree a bit with Laver. I think more than anything Laver wants to see someone complete the CYGS while he is still alive and able to see it. He called for Novak to do it 2016 but we know how that went.

True. Laver might be slightly biased. But I think I would trust Laver more than all the arm chair analysts.
Laver has repeatedly said that Djokovic has the most effective game among all players.
Who can argue with the GOAT?

 

[Sport]

Well, it is his opinion. But only because Laver says Djokovic is the favorite, it doesn't mean Djokovic is the favorite. To suggest that Djokovic is the favorite because Laver says so would be a logical fallacy (wrong argument) known as argumentum of authority: to suggest that something is true because some authority says it.

More about the argument from authority:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority

Betting odds put Nadal as the favorite:
https://www.oddschecker.com/tennis/french-open/mens/mens-french-open/winner

And Nadal is the favorite for the tennis journalists of The Telegraph and The Guardian:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/...-men-power-rankings-roland-garros-favourites/
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/29/rafael-nadal-french-open

If we take into account Nadal's 11 RG vs Djokovic's 1 RG, plus the fact that Nadal leads Djokovic 6-1 at RG and defeated him convincingly in Rome, Nadal is obviously the favorite. Djokovic will also have his chances though, as he is an excellent clay player.

 

[TennisFan3]

Well, it is his opinion. But only because Laver says Djokovic is the favorite, it doesn't mean Djokovic is the favorite. To suggest that Djokovic is the favorite because Laver says so would be a logical fallacy (wrong argument) known as argumentum of authority: to suggest that something is true because some authority says it.

I know what a logical fallacy is as it relates to Appeal to authority etc.

I was just pointing out that Laver think Djokovic is the favorite, which is a BIG DEAL. And Laver might be trusted more than a lot of armchair critics who have not even played tennis at that level.
The thing is that despite Nadal's amazing record at RG, people are still picking Djokovic based on form and what happened at the AO.

Again the favorite hardly matters. Djokovic or Nadal, whoever, plays better on Sunday will win.

 

[DSH]

Nadal at his peak always defeat the best version of Djokovic on clay, especially in Paris.
The Spaniard in 4 sets.

 

[TennisFan3]

Nadal at his peak always defeat the best version of Djokovic on clay, especially in Paris.
The Spaniard in 4 sets.

This is true. However the whole argument is contingent on Nadal at his peak.
Unfortunately, Nadal is several levels below his peak. He is not even in his prime. His clay season in 2019, has been among his worst (other than 2015).

This could be a reason why Laver thinks that Djokovic will win this time.

 

[DSH]

This is true. However the whole argument is contingent on Nadal at his peak.
Unfortunately, Nadal is several levels below his peak. He is not even in his prime. His clay season in 2019, has been among his worst (other than 2015).

This could be a reason why Laver thinks that Djokovic will win this time.

I still think Nadal can defeat Djokovic on Sunday.
He is not unbeatable as many people think, and on clay, and in a final of RG, my money is on the Spaniard.

 

[TennisFan3]

I still think Nadal can defeat Djokovic on Sunday.
He is not unbeatable as many people think, and on clay, and in a final of RG, my money is on the Spaniard.

Sure. I see your point. It's a close one to call.
Nadal is always the favorite on clay. But given that he is older and not playing his best, some are backing Djokovic. Laver seems to be one of them.
Let's see what happens on Sunday. I guess it could also depend on day to day form and luck.

 

[I Am Finnish]

 

[miko]

This is true. However the whole argument is contingent on Nadal at his peak.
Unfortunately, Nadal is several levels below his peak. He is not even in his prime. His clay season in 2019, has been among his worst (other than 2015).

This could be a reason why Laver thinks that Djokovic will win this time.

No disrespect here but not longer than 2 weeks ago, the very same guy tweeted

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1130241271941849088

Let's wait and see... neither Novak nor Rafa is actually in the final, and the matches start getting interesting ONLY now...

 

[rUDin 21]

 

[BeatlesFan]

Total clickbait and and a waste of time. Nowhere does Laver say anything close to "and favored for CYGS."