Novak did a big mistake by winning Rome

[3fees]

Winning this M1K is not a mistake, its tuning up for roland garros and moving up in pts on the ATP world tour. He wins RG he retakes No 1 spot on ATP Tour. RG win is on top of his to do list in tennis play.

He donated the prize money for Serbian flood relief.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

So now if we lose to Rafa, we increase his confidence, if we win, we re-kindle his fire, both ways this Rafa guy wins in the end !!!!

but wasnt that the case already? i thought we long established that Nadal was 100% victorious when he wins!!!

a statistic almost as staggering as his pristine 0-0 record when healthy (poker and shakira clips included).

 

[Chanwan]

I didn't really get the thread at first but some people end up teaching you new ways of looking at things.


Looking forward to Nadal's victory at RG now it might be monotonous but his greatness can't be denied and absolutely nobody is capable of stopping him from winning it yet again.

truer words have never been spoken.
You mess with the bull....you get the horns.

Or even better, as Omar said in the Wire:
You come at the king, you best not miss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP-lrftLQaQ

 

[Djokodal Fan]

if Nadal loses, it means he will be fired up and will be unstoppable.

If Nadal had won, nothing can go wrong and will be unstoppable.

Cool story, Bro!

 

[Brett UK]

if Nadal loses, it means he will be fired up and will be unstoppable.

If Nadal had won, nothing can go wrong and will be unstoppable.

Cool story, Bro!

exactly this. The best thing for Nadal would have been a win over Djokovic. He is not doomed but let's not pretend that the loss is a plus. That's some crap right there.

 

[Backhand Compliment]

I see Start Da Fail still didn't lose his touch, and delivers yet again. Legend.

 

[Ralph]

He "did" a big mistake?

I'm glad someone else pointed this out.

Surely it should be he "done"....?

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

He created error.

 

[GTturbo16v]

that's very sad to hear, my condolences to serbia......i rarely ever go through any news of NATO countries, europe and north america......i am more concerned about the sub continent, russia, latin america, middle east and asia......

thousands in the middle east are dying at the hands of america and the world media is silent over it......how many times have you raised your voice against america?

good! finally some normal respond from you. btw, Serbia is not NATO country, actually, they are pro-russian oriented.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

a statistic almost as staggering as his pristine 0-0 record when healthy (poker and shakira clips included).

not surprising given the fact that Nadal can divide by zero!!!

 

[Omega_7000]

OP did a big mistake by making this thread.

 

[Bender]

If anything, it was Rafa's mistake to lose the way he did - by playing relatively uninspired tennis.

I was surprised that he didn't lose in a straight sets demolition considering how well Djokovic played in the final.

 

[jm1980]

If anything, it was Rafa's mistake to lose the way he did - by playing relatively uninspired tennis.

I was surprised that he didn't lose in a straight sets demolition considering how well Djokovic played in the final.

Djokovic only woke up towards the end of the first set. At one point, it looked like a really, really ugly loss was on the cards for Novak. One filled with UEs and frustration. But then, he GOATed Nadal off the court.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Nadal did look comparatively tired in the third set. When he says his legs didn't answer the call, I believe him.

 

[Chanwan]

Nadal did look comparatively tired in the third set. When he says his legs didn't answer the call, I believe him.

I didn't notice it, but in all fairness, I was more focused on how well Novak was playing, so I might have missed it.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

I didn't notice it, but in all fairness, I was more focused on how well Novak was playing, so I might have missed it.

I noticed it as the game was going on by saying in the match thread something along the lines of 'Djokovic is outdoing Nadal physically' but a lot of that was due to Djokovic making Nadal run more and making him have to react rather than anticipate by playing with such authority and showing that he can hit winners into either corner off either wing.

 

[laughingcavalier]

Nadal did look comparatively tired in the third set. When he says his legs didn't answer the call, I believe him.

Yeah,Nadal indeed did have a long week and we all know that... but let's not forget that Novak didn't exactly have simple follow-the-yellow-brick-road path all the way to the final either.


A gruelling 2.5 hour slugathon against Ferrer followed by a pesky 3hour match with Milos didn't mean he went into the final wrapped in cotton wool... He played 3 consecutive 3 set matches in a row before the final... 4 including the one against Nadal.


Nadal tossing Dimitrov aside like a rag doll in relatively-quick Nadal type fashion in straights would've helped the recovery process too.

 

[Chanwan]

I noticed it as the game was going on by saying in the match thread something along the lines of 'Djokovic is outdoing Nadal physically' but a lot of that was due to Djokovic making Nadal run more and making him have to react rather than anticipate by playing with such authority and showing that he can hit winners into either corner off either wing.

I believe you saw it and you generally have good eyes - but as you say, having to guess rather than anticipate can make even Nadal look somewhat slow. And Djokovic had him guessing by the end of the match.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Yeah,Nadal indeed did have a long week and we all know that... but let's not forget that Novak didn't exactly have simple follow-the-yellow-brick-road path all the way to the final either.


A gruelling 2.5 hour slugathon against Ferrer followed by a pesky 3hour match with Milos didn't mean he went into the final wrapped in cotton wool... He played 3 consecutive 3 set matches in a row before the final... 4 including the one against Nadal.


Nadal tossing Dimitrov aside like a rag doll in relatively-quick Nadal type fashion in straights would've helped the recovery process too.

Yep. I even mentioned that in a thread that Nole had to win was it 4? 3-setters in a row to win the event. Nobody seemed to care though.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Also laughingcavalier (welcome to the board BTW), I'm looking at it not from the angle of Nadal's long week but more that Nole seems physically stronger. In the live match thread I was basically asking myself, is Nole fitter than Nadal.

 

[wangs78]

I thought both their reactions were subdued - Nadal not oo disappointed nor Djoko too excited. No idea what that is all about.

They both know that on clay either can win or lose. Between the two of them, on any surface, it really comes down to day form. So for two players who both have tons of Masters titles, winning or losing Rome isn't going to result in some crazy celebration or disappointment. That will happen at Roland Garros.

 

[heftylefty]

Nadal did look comparatively tired in the third set. When he says his legs didn't answer the call, I believe him.

So Novak was playing "Less than 100%" Rafa again?

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

not surprising given the fact that Nadal can divide by zero!!!

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

So Novak was playing "Less than 100%" Rafa again?

No, Nadal played a less than 100% Nole who has only just recovered from a wrist injury. I'm trolling slightly, I'm sure his wrist was fine.

 

[xFedal]

No, Nadal played a less than 100% Nole who has only just recovered from a wrist injury. I'm trolling slightly, I'm sure his wrist was fine.

His Injuries are minor! First the ankle and then the over hyped wrist! He never has ala Nadal or Murray back!:twisted:

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Unfortunately for Nadal, the hype is real.

 

[Cosmic_Colin]

'Did' a mistake? You don't 'do' a mistake, you 'make' a mistake.

2/10 would not read.

 

[sbengte]

'Did' a mistake? You don't 'do' a mistake, you 'make' a mistake.

2/10 would not read.

Come to think of it, you don't do 'a' mistake, you do 'da' mistake (ask OP).

 

[Mike Sams]

I believe Nadal's US Open final victory over Djokovic was a bit of a fluke. Djokovic playing several levels below his best and still should have gone 2 sets to 1 up on Nadal. That third set was the most topsy turvy set ever. Makes you wonder how Djokovic lost it considering all the chances he had. :lol:

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Come to think of it, you don't do 'a' mistake, you do 'da' mistake (ask OP).

sounds like a music sting would write

 

[NADALRECORD]

I believe Nadal's US Open final victory over Djokovic was a bit of a fluke. Djokovic playing several levels below his best and still should have gone 2 sets to 1 up on Nadal. That third set was the most topsy turvy set ever. Makes you wonder how Djokovic lost it considering all the chances he had. :lol:

Nothing flukey about Nadal coming back from 0-40 down. Nadal leads the tour in breakpoints saved most years.

And the 4th set was 6-1, the most lopsided set of their rivalry. Nadal is clearly better at the US Open than Djokovic. I think Nadal will win the next couple of US Opens.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Nothing flukey about Nadal coming back from 0-40 down. Nadal leads the tour in breakpoints saved most years.

And the 4th set was 6-1, the most lopsided set of their rivalry. Nadal is clearly better at the US Open than Djokovic. I think Nadal will win the next couple of US Opens.

How is Nadal "clearly better" than Djokovic at the US Open? You sound so desperate since Sunday, I love it! :lol:

 

[NADALRECORD]

Also laughingcavalier (welcome to the board BTW), I'm looking at it not from the angle of Nadal's long week but more that Nole seems physically stronger. In the live match thread I was basically asking myself, is Nole fitter than Nadal.

Djokovic was fitter than Nadal in 2013, but Nadal hit 22 winners in the 5th set in order to end the points quickly and prevent it becoming a stamina contest.

Djokovic may still have better stamina than Nadal in 2014 too, but its hard to tell because Nadal ran more than Djokovic during Rome, and Nadal also played Madrid, so he may have simply been lacking energy late in the final (and that's what he said).

How is Nadal "clearly better" than Djokovic at the US Open? You sound so desperate since Sunday, I love it! :lol:

Yeah Nadal has won twice as many US Opens, so that's clear.

 

[Djokovic2011]

^^^Just one more title doesn't signify "clearly better".

 

[martini1]

It has been done in the past. Rafa tanking a master clay so that he does not reveal his true form until RG.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Djokovic was fitter than Nadal in 2013, but Nadal hit 22 winners in the 5th set in order to end the points quickly and prevent it becoming a stamina contest.

Djokovic may still have better stamina than Nadal in 2014 too, but its hard to tell because Nadal ran more than Djokovic during Rome, and Nadal also played Madrid, so he may have simply been lacking energy late in the final (and that's what he said).



Yeah Nadal has won twice as many US Opens, so that's clear.

I only just caught this, funny as it relates to something I just talked about in another thread. Djokovic definitely has the edge in 2014 but in 2013 he was equal at best for my moolah and probably inferior. This year though, the results are clear and even damning. Nadal must find a way to turn this around by playing in a more bipolar fashion against Djokovic, transitioning between extreme, goading and frustrating offence into absolutely brutal attacks to confuse Djokovic, upset his rhythm and make up for seemingly lost ground in the fitness stakes.

 

[NADALRECORD]

One thing is for sure, Nadal directed a lot more ball crosscourt at 2013 Monte Carlo than he did at 2013 Roland Garros. And I think we'll be saying the same about 2014 Rome and 2014 Roland Garros. Nadal's down-the-line magic is clearly something Nadal saves for the slams.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

One thing is for sure, Nadal directed a lot more ball crosscourt at 2013 Monte Carlo than he did at 2013 Roland Garros. And I think we'll be saying the same about 2014 Rome and 2014 Roland Garros. Nadal's down-the-line magic is clearly something Nadal saves for the slams.

It will be key in Nadal fending off his latest threat for RG glory. If he finds it, he won't run nearly as far and will save his legs while punishing Nole. The problem is that Nole is being very smart about the manner in which he attacks Nadal's forehand regarding the angle of approach and also in context of the preceding strokes. Nole has done his homework so now Nadal must do his own.

 

[NADALRECORD]

It will be key in Nadal fending off his latest threat for RG glory. If he finds it, he won't run nearly as far and will save his legs while punishing Nole. The problem is that Nole is being very smart about the manner in which he attacks Nadal's forehand regarding the angle of approach and also in context of the preceding strokes. Nole has done his homework so now Nadal must do his own.

No evidence of Djokovic doing homework this year. Djokovic beat Nadal in straight sets at 2013 Monte Carlo, whereas in 2014 Rome it was 3-3 in the deciding set. Looks like Nadal is now closer to Djokovic (in the non-clay slams) than he was last year.

 

[Djokovic2011]

No evidence of Djokovic doing homework this year. Djokovic beat Nadal in straight sets at 2013 Monte Carlo, whereas in 2014 Rome it was 3-3 in the deciding set. Looks like Nadal is now closer to Djokovic (in the non-clay slams) than he was last year.

LOL, Djokovic won, Nadal lost. Deal with it! :lol:

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

No evidence of Djokovic doing homework this year. Djokovic beat Nadal in straight sets at 2013 Monte Carlo, whereas in 2014 Rome it was 3-3 in the deciding set. Looks like Nadal is now closer to Djokovic (in the non-clay slams) than he was last year.

There's evidence of Novak mixing up his patterns to keep Nadal consistently off balance. Nadal needs to either pre-empt them or find his devastating DTL strokes to suddenly wrest control of more points. The problem is that even if he wants to, he's finding it harder than usual to access a winning game because of the manner and timing with which Nole is attacking the Nadal forehand and the positions from which he handcuffs Nadal so that he cannot automatically run around to also hit more forehands. You've watched the matches as have I, surely you could appreciate that Nole did this very effectively. A Nadal RG victory cannot be taken for granted though he is still the favourite and has a clear edge against Nole in recent Slam encounters.

 

[NADALRECORD]

I still see no difference in the Nadal-Djokovic clay match-up between 2013 and 2014, apart from Nadal doing better in 2014 Rome compared to 2013 Monte Carlo.

 

[booson]

I still see no difference in the Nadal-Djokovic clay match-up between 2013 and 2014, apart from Nadal doing better in 2014 Rome compared to 2013 Monte Carlo.

You have a very narrow and simplistic vision of tennis. Not only your intra-match analysis is poor but you fail to do any inter-match analysis at all. Comparing two matches with one year and 6 matches between them is... Just... Wrong.

 

[PrinceMoron]

Djokovic can't actually beat Nadal at slams. Nadal has won their last 3 slam meetings, despite Djokovic winning 5 of their last 6 non-slam meetings (including their last 2 clay non-slam meetings). Even when Djokovic beat Nadal in straight sets at Monte Carlo 2013, Djokovic went on to lose Roland Garros and US Open. Let's face it, you can't trust Djokovic at slams. He can't get it done. He's getting worse each year at the slams - that's why he holds none.

Can't beat him if he does not reach the final. Federer had the same problem for years with Nadal. where is he when you want him? At least Federer got to the FO final. Giving Roddick a beat down is all very well, but where was Nadal all those years?

 

[SLD76]

Can't beat him if he does not reach the final. Federer had the same problem for years with Nadal. where is he when you want him? At least Federer got to the FO final. Giving Roddick a beat down is all very well, but where was Nadal all those years?

This is NadalRecord's last line of defense. After djoker dismantled him at Rome and after seeing Nadal beat by scrubs on clay this year it's all he has left

 

[PrinceMoron]

Off to Sweden tomorrow. Will have to let Sod know he made the biggest mistake of his life beating Nadal.

 

[Start da Game]

'Did' a mistake? You don't 'do' a mistake, you 'make' a mistake.

yeah go 'make' a pyramid with your english.......english is my fourth language.......

 

[Start da Game]

I'm glad someone else pointed this out.

Surely it should be he "done"....?

the word 'did' was used instead of 'make' maybe because i wanted to affirm/stress on the self destructive move of novak of winning rome......i read the title myself later but just left it like that thinking that people would understand the depth of the sentence......

 

[Murrayfan31]

Of course he can, and you suggesting he can't is absurd. He beat Nadal is slams before and he can do it in the future.

Yep I expect him to beat Nadal at RG. The only time they meet in slams this year. The other slams, Nadal won't make the finals.

 

[Start da Game]

told you all so......why do you build up pressure and expectations by winning insignificant titles?

play nadal's servant......nadal's never comfortable when he is the king......he loves a challenge.......novak presented him one right before roland garros by thumping him in roma......

nadal is a sort of player who panics when there is no challenge in front of him......he ascends to his best when he is pushed to the corner......a reactive person......