Monte Carlo Rolex Masters SF 2015: (1) Novak Djokovic vs (4) Rafael Nadal

who will win?

  • Djokovic in 2

    Votes: 68 58.6%
  • Djokovic in 3

    Votes: 16 13.8%
  • Nadal in 2

    Votes: 7 6.0%
  • Nadal in 3

    Votes: 25 21.6%

  • Total voters
    116

pdcosta

Banned
For sure no, I lose the match is good no, losing gonna give me confidence in roland garros no, losing is unbelievable good feeling and fantastic, this match was only experiment for my new racquet no, for sure the big holes for the strings help me with more spin, incredible my shots spinning so much it did not go pass the net no, is the secret is the bigger holes.

Nobody gonna remember this loss no, always remember the win. I played really well, that's the true. I gonna keep improve and practice. That's the sport, you win, you lose. Happy I lose because if I lose I gonna be not favourite in anything no? I think I like losing now, because next year I gonna come back and win WTF.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Oh really. If you haven't noticed I always have little periods where I don't post at all. Like for example I didn't post anything from Dubai to the indian wells final this year.

I think I just didn't post all that much from 07-2010 compared to the past few years.... I'd like to stay under 10 though, it just seems better lol.
 

LETitBE

Hall of Fame
for sure no, i lose the match is good no, losing gonna give me confidence in roland garros no, losing is unbelievable good feeling and fantastic, this match was only experiment for my new racquet no, for sure the big holes for the strings help me with more spin, incredible my shots spinning so much it did not go pass the net no, is the secret is the bigger holes.

Nobody gonna remember this loss no, always remember the win. I played really well, that's the true. I gonna keep improve and practice. That's the sport, you win, you lose. Happy i lose because if i lose i gonna be not favourite in anything no? I think i like losing now, because next year i gonna come back and win wtf.

terrific poast!
 
V

VexlanderPrime

Guest
Actually this is the highest I've ever been. Late 2013 I was at 7.8

So peak to peak D11 is posting stronger stats... Man, he's really making a strong push for GOAThood. PLUS, I just realized that the vast majority of MN's posts came before I joined the forums in 2015, therefore he racked up his numbers in a WEAK ERA on TTW. D11 has a strong case. We might have to go to the H2H....
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
So peak to peak D11 is posting stronger stats... Man, he's really making a strong push for GOAThood. PLUS, I just realized that the vast majority of MN's posts came before I joined the forums in 2015, therefore he racked up his numbers in a WEAK ERA on TTW. D11 has a strong case. We might have to go to the H2H....

Yeah I have a surprisingly low post count considering I've been here since mid 2007... and I feel like I post alot :eek:
 

spinovic

Hall of Fame
#CC has chosen to take a #2015Jaguar down #MajorHighway where the true history of tennis unfolds.

Just a note. Novak has lost in 10 GS Semi's and 7 GS Finals. He's won 8 GS titles. The problems for #Novak extend into the GS Semi's, IMO.

Let's face it. #Novak's career has been evolving into stellar territory while playing in the tour level events. He plays remarkably well early in the year. It's a pattern with #Novak. He is an all-time Australian Open great (2nd to #RoyEmerson). Yet, once he steps onto the final steps of grand slam glory on a path to making history in #Paris, he frequently stumbles.

#Novak is 0-6 vs #Rafael in #Paris and hasn't defeated #Rafael in a grand slam match since the #2012Australian Open. These two factors will play heavily if the two play one another in #Paris. A lot of history for #Novak to overcome, IMO.

#Novak is going to have to walk-up and steal the #FO out of #Rafael's grasp. This isn't #Novak's best opportunity. Probably 2nd best.



#PTL #JC4Ever

#AngieB

It not about coming up short as much as a surface issue.

3/4 of the schedule are slow HC and clay. Djokovic is clearly the best on slow HC, so generally he dominates from the period that follows the U.S. Open up to the start of clay season. On clay, he has pulled very close to Nadal, but isn't quite there. So, he fares quite well in clay season, but can't win the big one because of Nadal.

The summer is his worst stretch. He struggles with heat and fast surfaces. He is not better than his peers during this stretch. At best, he's equal to them and I don't even think that's true. Unfortunately for him, this stretch of the calendar, although the shorter, includes two majors. He's still better than everyone else, and capable of beating anyone, but it's tougher. Hence, lots of losses to Federer, Nadal and Murray in the F and SF with relatively few triumphs.

So, he dominates the majority of the calendar and posts consistently great results throughout the year. But, Nadal stops him on clay and the trio as a whole stops him at the remaining two majors because they are better players in the quicker conditions. Unfortunate for Novak.
 

Vrad

Professional
#Novak is 0-6 vs #Rafael in #Paris and hasn't defeated #Rafael in a grand slam match since the #2012Australian Open. These two factors will play heavily if the two play one another in #Paris. A lot of history for #Novak to overcome, IMO.
]

Ah, the whole, Nadal isn't good enough to make it to non-FO final therefore the #1 player must suck gambit is being used against Djokovic now...
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
#Novak is going to have to walk-up and steal the #FO out of #Rafael's grasp. This isn't #Novak's best opportunity. Probably 2nd best.
AngieB, I'll be watching Nadal carefully through the clay season. I definitely thought I saw major improvements this week in his clay game. It appears to me at this point that these two guys are so close now in ability/skills/weapons that it will come down to (again) confidence - assuming both stay healthy.

This is Novak's year to stake a bigger claim. Three slams would be impressive. It's far too early to talk about a CYGS. It's not just about Fed or Nadal stopping him a slam. After last year no slam is nearly automatic for the top three/four, as it almost was before 2014.
 

britam25

Hall of Fame
Only now did I watch a recording of the match. The slow, but steady decline of ******* is a beautiful thing to watch-and the best is yet to come, IMO.
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
Only now did I watch a recording of the match. The slow, but steady decline of ******* is a beautiful thing to watch-and the best is yet to come, IMO.
I didn't see the same match, apparently.

I saw applause from both players at amazing shots, recognition from Novak about just who he is trying to dominate. Good sportsmanship.

I thoroughly enjoyed the match, and I don't usually enjoy Novak's style of play.

Nobody is talking about the new racket. It took many months for Fed to feel comfortable with his racket change. If Nadal is already playing this well with a new racket, it seems likely that some of his short balls are because of the racket.

I think if Novak wants the FO, he's going to have to take it. And I think he can, by the way, but I don't see it as a lock.
 

Enga

Hall of Fame
I just watched the 2nd set highlights on youtube. Based on what I saw, Nadals backhand seemed a real liability in that match. He wasnt hitting with good depth at all on the topspin side, and was seeming to prefer slice.

Unless he has the cure for aging, he's gonna have to do something about that backhand.
 

D.Nalby12

G.O.A.T.
I didn't see the same match, apparently.

I saw applause from both players at amazing shots, recognition from Novak about just who he is trying to dominate. Good sportsmanship.

I thoroughly enjoyed the match, and I don't usually enjoy Novak's style of play.

Nobody is talking about the new racket. It took many months for Fed to feel comfortable with his racket change. If Nadal is already playing this well with a new racket, it seems likely that some of his short balls are because of the racket.

I think if Novak wants the FO, he's going to have to take it. And I think he can, by the way, but I don't see it as a lock.

Racket is same with different string Patten. I felt like his shots were getting more topspin than usual, especially comparing to last year.
 

Cortana

Legend
Didn't watch the game

Can someone please offer a non-troll summary? Nadal outplayed?
It was closer than you think. Of course Djokovic was dominating Nadal in that match, but Nadal had a 2:0 lead in the first set and breakpoints for a 3:0 and possibly a 4:0 after his service game. There were 2 key moments. The 7th game of both sets (both times 3:3) which both lasted around 10 minutes.

In the first set Djokovic had to face break points and managed to save himself. There were couple of amazing points. It was the best game I've ever seen in my life, you should look it up on Youtube! 2nd set 3:3 and Nadal serving and leading 40:0. Djokovic managed to get this game (Nadal had 4-5 game points). And then it was over.
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Racket is same with different string Patten. I felt like his shots were getting more topspin than usual, especially comparing to last year.

No it isn't. It is a different racket with same strings.


Carole Bouchard @carole_bouchard
Nadal confirms he changed racquet, not strings. Thought of this for a while and now racquet ready. More spin and power, less control
 

Enga

Hall of Fame
More powerful racket eh? Hmm. I kinda thought Nadal was already powerful enough. Perhaps he hopes to offset aging by reducing the amount of effort he needs to put into shots. I dont like the thought of "less control" though. I dont think Nadal wants less placement.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
How would you rate his performance against nadal last night?

At the start of the match he was making too many mistakes, and did not look good. But once he got that rythm he needed he turned his game on.

TBH, I think Novak did his best match of the season yesterday. He had a slow start in the match, but then he just became a beast. Incredible shotmaking of both wings and very consistent and convincing at the baseline(has been shaky here this year). Was federer-like on the net with great touch, he made no mistakes in the overhead department, and on the baseline he was very consistent and dictated Nadal to the sides. Always putting pressure on him. 6-3 6-3 against the greatest clay courter of all time by far while clay is maybe novaks least fav. surface shows how great this guy is. And MC:s conditions is not the best suited for novak to play Nadal either.

Yesterday was a statement from Novak. He can add another gear when he wants.

I also think Nadal did atleast his top 3 performance for the last 6 or so months. He was not bad at all yesterday, in fact, he was good,But Djoko was too good in the end.
 
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ArcspacE

G.O.A.T.
Just watched the highlight - thanks for all the replies

Some amazing tennis!

I see Nadal was moon-balling to death
 
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movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I thought that his balls were going higher but with less depth yesterday. I attributed this to Djokovic's depth but I suppose that it could be a racquet change. Anyone have the new specs?
 

irishnadalfan1983

Hall of Fame
At the start of the match he was making too many mistakes, and did not look good. But once he got that rythm he needed he turned his game on.

TBH, I think Novak did his best match of the season yesterday. He had a slow start in the match, but then he just became a beast. Incredible shotmaking of both wings and very consistent and convincing at the baseline(has been shaky here this year). Was federer-like on the net with great touch, he made no mistakes in the overhead department, and on the baseline he was very consistent and dictated Nadal to the sides. Always putting pressure on him. 6-3 6-3 against the greatest clay courter of all time by far while clay is maybe novaks least fav. surface shows how great this guy is. And MC:s conditions is not the best suited for novak to play Nadal either.

Yesterday was a statement from Novak. He can add another gear when he wants.

I also think Nadal did atleast his top 3 performance for the last 6 or so months. He was not bad at all yesterday, in fact, he was good,But Djoko was too good in the end.

Best match of the season for Novak???Ummm.
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
No it isn't. It is a different racket with same strings.

He said "string pattern" not string. That's not contradictory to what you or Nadal said. The change in his racquet is a different drilling pattern for the strings. The frame itself is more or less the same.
 

AngieB

Banned
It not about coming up short as much as a surface issue.
3/4 of the schedule are slow HC and clay. Djokovic is clearly the best on slow HC, so generally he dominates from the period that follows the U.S. Open up to the start of clay season. On clay, he has pulled very close to Nadal, but isn't quite there. So, he fares quite well in clay season, but can't win the big one because of Nadal.

The summer is his worst stretch. He struggles with heat and fast surfaces. He is not better than his peers during this stretch. At best, he's equal to them and I don't even think that's true. Unfortunately for him, this stretch of the calendar, although the shorter, includes two majors. He's still better than everyone else, and capable of beating anyone, but it's tougher. Hence, lots of losses to Federer, Nadal and Murray in the F and SF with relatively few triumphs.

So, he dominates the majority of the calendar and posts consistently great results throughout the year. But, Nadal stops him on clay and the trio as a whole stops him at the remaining two majors because they are better players in the quicker conditions. Unfortunate for Novak.

Let's make this perfectly clear. #Novak is an all-time #AusOpen great. But, isn't even in the top ten of the #USOpen. That's because #Novak has managed to get to the SF of the #USOpen (8) straight times but could only win it ONCE. It's not a surface issue, its a #majors in #minors issue. If you only win the #USOpen (1) time in the Open Era, you are NOT an HC all-time great.

#PTL #JC4Ever

#AngieB
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
#CC has chosen to take a #2015Jaguar down #MajorHighway where the true history of tennis unfolds.

Just a note. Novak has lost in 10 GS Semi's and 7 GS Finals. He's won 8 GS titles. The problems for #Novak extend into the GS Semi's, IMO.

Let's face it. #Novak's career has been evolving into stellar territory while playing in the tour level events. He plays remarkably well early in the year. It's a pattern with #Novak. He is an all-time Australian Open great (2nd to #RoyEmerson). Yet, once he steps onto the final steps of grand slam glory on a path to making history in #Paris, he frequently stumbles.

#Novak is 0-6 vs #Rafael in #Paris and hasn't defeated #Rafael in a grand slam match since the #2012Australian Open. These two factors will play heavily if the two play one another in #Paris. A lot of history for #Novak to overcome, IMO.

#Novak is going to have to walk-up and steal the #FO out of #Rafael's grasp. This isn't #Novak's best opportunity. Probably 2nd best.



#PTL #JC4Ever

#AngieB

enough is enough
 
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britam25

Hall of Fame
I just watched the 2nd set highlights on youtube. Based on what I saw, Nadals backhand seemed a real liability in that match. He wasnt hitting with good depth at all on the topspin side, and was seeming to prefer slice.

Unless he has the cure for aging, he's gonna have to do something about that backhand.

Also, I enjoyed seeing Novak judiciously use a tactic I've wondered why more players-him included until this match-don't try more often: the drop shot. ******* wants to stand that far back, make him pay for it. Even when he gets to it, the running can pay dividends later on-he didn't exactly look fresh as a daisy in the 2nd set, imagine how gassed he would have been even if he had been able to extend it to 3 sets.
 
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jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, Novak has been practising his drop shots for a long time and it finally seems to be paying dividends.

I don't think so. Novak has always had a good drop shot even though shot selection is puzzling at times.

I actually think the overhead has improved and the Miami final was an anomaly.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
I don't think so. Novak has always had a good drop shot even though shot selection is puzzling at times.

I actually think the overhead has improved and the Miami final was an anomaly.

Agree with you on both accounts. He can overplay that drop shot, and he did a bit in the final.

As for the overhead, yes, it was much better than what it was in NA.
 

tennis_commentator

Hall of Fame
This is the real Sh !t. Whoever wins this Sh !t gains a big edge.

Nadal is not as physical as he used to be, So good Chance for Djoking to get an inner look before the actual match at RG!

Big edge for what?
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros after winning Rome last year :lol:
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros when Nadal had cramps in the 4th set.
Nadal basically beat Djokovic with his hands tied behind his back :eek:
Your boy is a born loser at Roland Garros, and nothing can be done about that.
 

Marty Cintron

Semi-Pro
Big edge for what?
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros after winning Rome last year :lol:
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros when Nadal had cramps in the 4th set.
Nadal basically beat Djokovic with his hands tied behind his back :eek:
Your boy is a born loser at Roland Garros, and nothing can be done about that.
Something can be done: Roland Garros 2015.
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Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
Racket is same with different string Patten. I felt like his shots were getting more topspin than usual, especially comparing to last year.
Do you have more information? I keep trying to find the facts. I have heard different things from different announcers.

What I see is this: Nadal has been hitting some very fast groundstrokes, and the huge amount of top spin that he gets on the ball keeps them fairly aggressive even when they are hitting short. Obviously this is still not good. But it happens so much that all he has to do is hit a couple of those short shots with less pace and then players like Novak attack.

I think that is mostly what lost him the first set yesterday.

You know how it goes. If you have a new racket (or different stringing that makes the racket play differently) the old swing does different things. I think it takes a few months to fully sort out such a change. It pays dividends in the future but makes a player question his instincts.

With Nadal we can expect some balls that used to be 6 inches in to be a 6 inches out. So on his FH he will try to get more top spin on the ball to make that same shot still come down. But every shot is going to feel different. If he sticks with this stringing, 6 months from now it will feel second nature.

Doesn't it seem a bit risky to be doing this right now?
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
I don't think so. Novak has always had a good drop shot even though shot selection is puzzling at times.

I actually think the overhead has improved and the Miami final was an anomaly.
It is that drop shot/lob combo that has been working so well for him so far this season.
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
At the start of the match he was making too many mistakes, and did not look good. But once he got that rythm he needed he turned his game on.

TBH, I think Novak did his best match of the season yesterday. He had a slow start in the match, but then he just became a beast. Incredible shotmaking of both wings and very consistent and convincing at the baseline(has been shaky here this year). Was federer-like on the net with great touch, he made no mistakes in the overhead department, and on the baseline he was very consistent and dictated Nadal to the sides. Always putting pressure on him. 6-3 6-3 against the greatest clay courter of all time by far while clay is maybe novaks least fav. surface shows how great this guy is. And MC:s conditions is not the best suited for novak to play Nadal either.

Yesterday was a statement from Novak. He can add another gear when he wants.

I also think Nadal did atleast his top 3 performance for the last 6 or so months. He was not bad at all yesterday, in fact, he was good,But Djoko was too good in the end.
I watched the match after I knew the result. I expected to be lopsided, but it wasn't.

The most important stat is that Nadal only converted 1/3 BPs in the match. I think that's right. What that doesn't show is that at 3/3 in the first set, when it was still dead even, he came SO close to breaking back. But Novak hit a miracle return to Nadal's drop shot, angling the ball back at an impossible angle close to the net with his forehand. That one shot was a game changer, because it took Novak a LONG time to finally serve the game out, getting to ad several times but not being able to finish the game. So it was a hair away from being 4/3 to Nadal, up a break again.

At 3/3 in the second set there was an even longer game. Both were over 10 minutes.

It was a very exciting, competitive match, with many amazing points won by both players. I think it may be the best match I've seen in 2015. It was WAY closer than the score suggests.
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Do you have more information? I keep trying to find the facts. I have heard different things from different announcers.

What I see is this: Nadal has been hitting some very fast groundstrokes, and the huge amount of top spin that he gets on the ball keeps them fairly aggressive even when they are hitting short. Obviously this is still not good. But it happens so much that all he has to do is hit a couple of those short shots with less pace and then players like Novak attack.

I think that is mostly what lost him the first set yesterday.

You know how it goes. If you have a new racket (or different stringing that makes the racket play differently) the old swing does different things. I think it takes a few months to fully sort out such a change. It pays dividends in the future but makes a player question his instincts.

With Nadal we can expect some balls that used to be 6 inches in to be a 6 inches out. So on his FH he will try to get more top spin on the ball to make that same shot still come down. But every shot is going to feel different. If he sticks with this stringing, 6 months from now it will feel second nature.

Doesn't it seem a bit risky to be doing this right now?

I agree with your sentiments. He was clearly hitting differently than what I've seen him do in the past. It seems like there is no really good time to change racquets. It was a bit painful watching Federer going though his transition but I think that he's playing a better game now with the change but it took about 3/4s of a year to where he was clearly in his comfort zone. The change for Nadal seems to be smaller - it's still mostly the same frame model - no size changes.

I'd love to see a comparison of the specs.
 

britam25

Hall of Fame
Big edge for what?
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros after winning Rome last year :lol:
Djokovic couldn't even win Roland Garros when Nadal had cramps in the 4th set.
Nadal basically beat Djokovic with his hands tied behind his back :eek:
Your boy is a born loser at Roland Garros, and nothing can be done about that.

Your final sentence makes 2 points, and both of them are incredibly dumb. "Born loser?" "Nothing can be done?" No bias there at all...
 

britam25

Hall of Fame
I didn't see the same match, apparently.

I saw applause from both players at amazing shots, recognition from Novak about just who he is trying to dominate. Good sportsmanship.

I thoroughly enjoyed the match, and I don't usually enjoy Novak's style of play.

Nobody is talking about the new racket. It took many months for Fed to feel comfortable with his racket change. If Nadal is already playing this well with a new racket, it seems likely that some of his short balls are because of the racket.

I think if Novak wants the FO, he's going to have to take it. And I think he can, by the way, but I don't see it as a lock.

By "slow decline," I wasn't talking so much about this particular match(though you could make an argument about that, too, in that Nadal started well with a break in the very first game, but gradually got ground down and then went away to some extent in the last set, which was decided by 2 service breaks-and, in the final analysis, he got straight setted), as about the past several months: the number of former pigeons exacting revenge is reaching epidemic proportions, the less-than-impressive record in best of thee matches lately, even winning but allowing other pigeons like Ferrer and Isner on dirt to stretch things to a 3rd set when they could've easily been out of there in straights. The decline is going exactly as anticipated, and that, combined with the overall excellent results for both Novak and Serena, have made this an extremely enjoyable tennis season thus far.
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
I agree with your sentiments. He was clearly hitting differently than what I've seen him do in the past. It seems like there is no really good time to change racquets. It was a bit painful watching Federer going though his transition but I think that he's playing a better game now with the change but it took about 3/4s of a year to where he was clearly in his comfort zone. The change for Nadal seems to be smaller - it's still mostly the same frame model - no size changes.

I'd love to see a comparison of the specs.

to me the racquet seems more oval shaped than lollipop shaped like the previous one...
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
By "slow decline," I wasn't talking so much about this particular match(though you could make an argument about that, too, in that Nadal started well with a break in the very first game, but gradually got ground down and then went away to some extent in the last set, which was decided by 2 service breaks-and, in the final analysis, he got straight setted), as about the past several months: the number of former pigeons exacting revenge is reaching epidemic proportions, the less-than-impressive record in best of thee matches lately, even winning but allowing other pigeons like Ferrer and Isner on dirt to stretch things to a 3rd set when they could've easily been out of there in straights. The decline is going exactly as anticipated, and that, combined with the overall excellent results for both Novak and Serena, have made this an extremely enjoyable tennis season thus far.
I've learned to wait when it comes to Nadal. his career has been like no other. It's totally unpredictable. If he loses RG, that would be a sign you are right. But I'm going to wait until then and see what happens. ;)
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
It was a very exciting, competitive match, with many amazing points won by both players. I think it may be the best match I've seen in 2015. It was WAY closer than the score suggests.

You must be joking. I hate when people say the match was closer than the score suggests. That is silly imo. The scoreline was 6-3, 6-3. That is not a close match between two main rivals no matter how you try and spin it. I prefer Nadal over Djokovic so I would obviously want to say the match was close but it really wasn't. Djokovic controlled most of that match and every stroke of his was superior to every stroke of Nadal's. I don't know what match some people were watching? :confused: Sure there were a couple of competitive games and points but overall Djokovic was in control.

If you want to say a Djokovic-Nadal match was competitive, look at the AO 2012 match or many other matches they have played but this match was far from competitive. I would say the best match Nadal has played this year was probably vs Raonic at IW. That was competitive.
 

AngieB

Banned
AngieB, I'll be watching Nadal carefully through the clay season. I definitely thought I saw major improvements this week in his clay game. It appears to me at this point that these two guys are so close now in ability/skills/weapons that it will come down to (again) confidence - assuming both stay healthy.

This is Novak's year to stake a bigger claim. Three slams would be impressive. It's far too early to talk about a CYGS. It's not just about Fed or Nadal stopping him a slam. After last year no slam is nearly automatic for the top three/four, as it almost was before 2014.
#MrGaryDUANE,

I agree it is too soon for #CYGS talk. You have to hold the #AO/#FO combo and be in the 2nd week of Wimbledon before serious consideration should be given. Also, it takes a tremendous amount of mental fortitude to accomplish the #CYGS. I don't know whether or not #Novak is up for that type of pressure.

As you mentioned in another posted article, #Rafael picked an #ODD time to tweak his racquet/stringing. I think even #one win on clay would help him tremendously heading to #Paris.

#I'm #FINNISH

#PTL #JC4Ever

#AngieB
 

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
#MrGaryDUANE,

I agree it is too soon for #CYGS talk. You have to hold the #AO/#FO combo and be in the 2nd week of Wimbledon before serious consideration should be given. Also, it takes a tremendous amount of mental fortitude to accomplish the #CYGS. I don't know whether or not #Novak is up for that type of pressure.
AngieB,

Something very strange is going on right now. You have a knowledge of history, and you remember that Laver won the CYGS at nearly the age of 31.

My feeling is that he did so at that time because of sort of "pro tennis pressure cooker" that caused the elite pros to develop such a superior level of tennis in the 1960s that no one could come close to them when they entered the amateur world in open tennis. So you saw incredible performances by Laver, and Rosewall was in a way even more impressive as someone 4 years older. Gonzales was a miracle, because there was a man who drank Coke and smoked cigarettes, who knew nothing of modern training methods, yet Gonzales remained a headache for much younger players until past the age of 40, and he was 10 years older than Laver, 6 years older than Rosewall.

We have seen the average age of the top 20 move from a bit over age 24 to a bit over the age of 29. If this new standard is indicative of what is to come, Novak is just now approaching his prime.

We will know by RG. If Novak wins, we are into a new era, and we simply have to buckle up and watch what happens next.

But those of us who are older - I include myself - know that it is wise to wait to see what happens. I'll be here talking to you in July, "God willing and the creek don't rise". ;)
As you mentioned in another posted article, #Rafael picked an #ODD time to tweak his racquet/stringing. I think even #one win on clay would help him tremendously heading to #Paris.
I find his change in racket very odd in the timing. It would be wise to make such a change several months earlier. But whether the change is in the racket or the strings, it is obvious that the results of his strokes have changed. The first thing to change with a racket change is the serve. Fed had almost instant results on his serve, but changes in his other strokes happened many months later. There will be a time lag with this change in equipment. An increasingly effective clay season will suggest that Nadal's potential change will go on beyond the clay season - assuming no further injuries.

I find this to be a very exciting time in tennis. Even the possibility that someone might win another CYGS is energizing. And if Novak can't do it, who will stop him? Will it be Nadal winning another FO? Fed winning another W? Or some younger player stepping up in the manner of Cilic and Wawrinka last year?
#I'm #FINNISH
I'm WELSH, but that is a topic for another time.
 
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Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
You must be joking. I hate when people say the match was closer than the score suggests. That is silly imo.
It was close up until 3/3 in both sets. Any set that is decided by only one break of serve is close to me. Because when the break happened, it could have gone either way.
The scoreline was 6-3, 6-3. That is not a close match between two main rivals no matter how you try and spin it.
Ah, so I am "spinning it". That means that my intent was to make Novak out to be less than he is, or Nadal more than he is.

I have said, clearly, that in my opinion that it was a great match. The player I did not want to win won. I enjoyed watching, and I thought Novak was brilliant. What is your objection?
I prefer Nadal over Djokovic so I would obviously want to say the match was close but it really wasn't.
I have the same preference. Again, in 3/3 in the first set Novak played a genius point against a superb drop shot. Had he not done that, Nadal would most like have won the first set. And the winner of the first set in a Bo5 usually wins. Look at all the stats again. Tell me I am wrong when I say the match was much closer than the score suggests.
Djokovic controlled most of that match and every stroke of his was superior to every stroke of Nadal's. I don't know what match some people were watching? :confused: Sure there were a couple of competitive games and points but overall Djokovic was in control.
I just don't see it the same way. I saw a close match, and on the basis of that alone I think that Nadal is on the way up. I could be wrong. We will know by RG.
If you want to say a Djokovic-Nadal match was competitive, look at the AO 2012 match or many other matches they have played but this match was far from competitive. I would say the best match Nadal has played this year was probably vs Raonic at IW. That was competitive.
I don't care about his match with Raonic because Raonic is not going to challenge him for RG. That's in the past. I'm looking at the tug of war that is going on between the guy who clearly has been THE clay champion of the past, and the guy who wants to change that.

Again, the Novak I saw in the final was not the guy who played Nadal the day before, and know from experience that the only way to guarantee that Nadal loses in big matches on clay is to put a stake through his heart. ;)
 
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