Novak is the Ultimate Percentage Player but has the Least Flair Amongst Big 4.

[RaulRamirez]

It's hard to define "flair", but as a surface reaction, I would probably tend to agree that Rafa and Roger have flashier styles than Novak, who I would put above Murray in this department, notwithstanding that Murray has a good arsenal of shots.

Now, my quick ranking has nothing to do with talent/skill level, or true personality. While far from a robot or machine, as described by some, Novak does make hitting insane angles and recovery shots...let alone his ability to redirect from both wings...look routine. His baseline game is also so balanced - more so than anyone else - that neither side really pops, if you will.

 

[Deleted member 756182]

Just stopping by to agree with the thread's title. Kudos, OP!

 

[mbm0912]

Just stopping by to agree with the thread's title. Kudos, OP!

how about that awkward dork in your avatar?

 

[Deleted member 756182]

how about that awkward dork in your avatar?

Oh yeah, he says "hi", too.

 

[NoleFam]

All played glued to the baseline, even the first two when weak returns rolled out the red carpet. Most were unforced errors from Fed, the ones when Novak hit a winner it was 3 or 4 shots after an attacking player would have finished the point.

One dimensional boring baseline bot.

Out of the six match points Djokovic saved against Federer in 2010, 2011 and 2019 Slam matches, 4 of them were winners. That's 67%. That means only 33% were won by an error from Federer's end. How exactly is that most? Up your dire math skills.

 

[NoleFam]

TTW clowns have reached a new level of ridiculous. Lol. Fedal wished they looked half as good hitting a backhand down line as Djokovic does or sliding to their left and crushing a backhand crosscourt, or making impossible returns look like child's play, etc. If you want to cling to this bs notion that Djokovic has no flair in his game then have at it but just remember who won most of the matches, and salivate on that.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Out of the six match points Djokovic saved against Federer in 2010, 2011 and 2019 Slam matches, 4 of them were winners. That's 67%. That means only 33% were won by an error from Federer's end. How exactly is that most? Up your dire math skills.

"Like." Can't deny Novak's clutchness.
The most annoying loss of the three from pure tennis standpoint is still 2011 USO, because that one time the other points to break except Novak's first return winner were indeed Federer's UEs. 2010 USO, two winners 1 forced error. 2019 Wimbledon, 1 winner 1 forced error 1 semi-forced error (imo).

 

[NoleFam]

"Like." Can't deny Novak's clutchness.
The most annoying loss of the three from pure tennis standpoint is still 2011 USO, because that one time the other points to break except Novak's first return winner were indeed Federer's UEs. 2010 USO, two winners 1 forced error. 2019 Wimbledon, 1 winner 1 forced error 1 semi-forced error (imo).

If I was Federer fan that one would annoy me too. He was right there and he actually hit two decent serves that most players would not have made or set up a pretty easy put away for Federer. I felt he actually went for it compared to 2019 when I thought he played more safe. I think in 2011 Federer hit an ace on Djokovic's first bp. He did start to spray after that and I think he got tight because of those missed chances.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

If I was Federer fan that one would annoy me too. He was right there and he actually hit two decent serves that most players would not have made or set up a pretty easy put away for Federer. I felt he actually went for it compared to 2019 when I thought he played more safe.I think in 2011 Federer hit an ace on Djokovic's first bp.
He did start to spray after that and I think he got tight because of those missed chances.

And double faulted on the second BP. Flurry of errors, of course you expect Djokovic to return most serves so can't be in any way an excuse. Weaksauce ending, compared to 2010 where Djokovic finished on his own terms and 2019 where he had room to be more proactive, of course the final TB was doomed with errors but I never expected anything different knowing Fed's record in championship TBs, lol.

 

[mbm0912]

TTW clowns have reached a new level of ridiculous. Lol. Fedal wished they looked half as good hitting a backhand down line as Djokovic does or sliding to their left and crushing a backhand crosscourt, or making impossible returns look like child's play, etc. If you want to cling to this bs notion that Djokovic has no flair in his game then have at it but just remember who won most of the matches, and salivate on that.

this.

 

[mbm0912]

Oh yeah, he says "hi", too.

adorable yet very punchable

 

[NoleFam]

And double faulted on the second BP. Flurry of errors, of course you expect Djokovic to return most serves so can't be in any way an excuse. Weaksauce ending, compared to 2010 where Djokovic finished on his own terms and 2019 where he had room to be more proactive, of course the final TB was doomed with errors but I never expected anything different knowing Fed's record in championship TBs, lol.

Yea I guess from a Federer fan standoint 2011 was indeed annoying to watch unfold, because of the momentum shift that happened right at what seemed like the finish line and Federer getting tight.

 

[TennisFan3]

It is now universally acknowledged that Novak is BETTER THAN Fed and Nadal BOTH.

https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/a...s_and_a_single_goal_for_the_2019_us_open.html

"Djokovic leads his head-to-head against Federer, 26-22, including six of their last seven, and in the most-played head-to-head matchup in Open era history, Djokovic leads Nadal, 28-26.

“He just has a great ability to focus on what's in front of him,” Brad Gilbert, ESPN analyst and former world No. 4, told USOpen.org. “A lot of times that stuff can fuel you, but if you don't have the ability, it doesn't matter. His ability and when he's playing at his level, it's just insane.”

“If he's totally playing at his highest level, I've never seen anybody, from a courtside position, from where I sit and where I watch, that plays better than him,” Gilbert said.

He witnessed it in Australia, when, for the first time in 25 Grand Slam finals, Nadal didn't win a set.

“You start to look at him, like, 'Uh oh, he's in lockdown mode.' And if he's in lockdown mode, see if you can win a set,” Gilbert said.

“I don't know if he has a best or worst surface, that's how good he is,” Gilbert said.

Djokovic has defended his Australian Open titles three times and his Wimbledon championships twice, but never in Flushing Meadows. Both times he tried, he finished runner-up.

This Flushing fortnight, Djokovic, who has spent his career chasing Federer and Nadal, will chase his own marker.

 

[BHud]

You should be blasted for "big 4"...there is only the "big 3"...

 

[Deleted member 307496]

@Sabratha
How would you compare it to 2014-15 and 2017-18.
You forget Korda made the number 2 in 1998.

1996-1999 is still weaker, it's a joke period. Guys like Magnus Norman making it to No. 2 in 2000 doesn't sit well either LOL.

 

[RS]

1996-1999 is still weaker, it's a joke period. Guys like Magnus Norman making it to No. 2 in 2000 doesn't sit well either LOL.

Magnus helped Wawrinka win 3 slams he really had talent he isn’t that bad
So even Djokovic and Murray getting hurt in 2017 doesn’t help you sway 1997/1998 over a year like 2017 which Kevin Anderson made a slam final

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Magnus helped Wawrinka win 3 slams he really had talent he isn’t that bad

He is better as a coach than as a player, in the same mold as Annacone. Still don't think 1996-2000 was a good era for Men's tennis. People talk about 1993-2000 being really strong but guys like Todd Martin and Cedric Pioline made multiple GS finals in this period.

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

He’s definitely the most boring of the 4

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

I'm genuinely baffled that anyone thinks Novak plays with anything approaching flair. He can be astonishingly good but even when he's producing shots that require magical touch and/or a wizardly control over his body to make the racquet do what it needs to he manages to make it look rehearsed. His movement is ultra-efficient, his anticipation is off the charts, his defense is ridiculously good and he's the master at hitting the shot you can see coming that's incredibly difficult to pull off yet he'll make it look simple.

I can enjoy watching Novak play but usually only when he's up against someone really going at him who's playing well enough to rattle him (e.g. Stan when he's on form).

Murray's flair typically only appears as a result of the opponent's play, usually when he's forced into scrambling or some last-ditch counter punch effort, so if he's playing Novak, or a-another player grinding from the baseline, you can pretty much forget about seeing much of it.

Federer's flair is obvious and the very nature of Rafa's play brings with it a certain bestial flourish.

This.

 

[Zoid]

Why you won’t love Novak, not yet

When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’. The third man to arrive in a sport made for two, Novak Djokovic has had…

www.theroar.com.au

 

[BlueB]

Nadal was schooled via NEO BH and congrats to Djokovic on the luckiest return in history followed by the most disgusting seek of fan love ever. Total desperation, luck, and disrespect ever on MP at UO making Federer wait to serve.

40:15

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[True Fanerer]

40:15

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[BlueB]

It's a disrespectful finger wag, but I like it never the less
However, it happened once, 40:15 seems to be a trend

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[D.Nalby12]

Nadal is far far boring to watch.

 

[BeatlesFan]

but just remember who won most of the matches, and salivate on that.

Most of "the" career matches won (as stated above) works out to this:

Federer: 1222 career match wins
Nadal: 960 career matches
Djokovic: 874 career matches

That's the answer to "who won most of the matches."

 

[NoleFam]

Most of "the" career matches won (as stated above) works out to this:

Federer: 1222 career match wins
Nadal: 960 career matches
Djokovic: 874 career matches

Salivate on that.

I never said anything about career matches, and that's pretty explanatory considering whose been playing longer, but if this makes you feel better, go for it.

 

[Ray Mercer]

TTW clowns have reached a new level of ridiculous. Lol. Fedal wished they looked half as good hitting a backhand down line as Djokovic does or sliding to their left and crushing a backhand crosscourt, or making impossible returns look like child's play, etc. If you want to cling to this bs notion that Djokovic has no flair in his game then have at it but just remember who won most of the matches, and salivate on that.

Come on any grown man should have the shoulder strength to hit the one hander.

 

[NoleFam]

Come on any grown man should have the shoulder strength to hit the one hander.

I think any man has the strength to hit it. It doesn't necessarily mean that they should hit it. The goal is to win, not pose for pictures while winning.

 

[Ray Mercer]

I think any man has the strength to hit it. It doesn't necessarily mean that they should hit it. The goal is to win, not pose for pictures while winning.

It takes for more skill to hit the one hander in today’s era. The two hander should be a banned stroke.

 

[NoleFam]

It takes for more skill to hit the one hander in today’s era. The two hander should be a banned stroke.

I guess it depends on the player. You can hit a two hander but it doesn't mean you will master the stroke like the best two handers to ever hit it. You think it should be banned but the shot was immortalized way before this era. It's a part of the game, and totally legit.

 

[TheAssassin]

Like there is any picture more stunning than Djokovic's two handed backhand anyway...

Out of the six match points Djokovic saved against Federer in 2010, 2011 and 2019 Slam matches, 4 of them were winners. That's 67%. That means only 33% were won by an error from Federer's end. How exactly is that most? Up your dire math skills.

Got him. But Djokovic didn't rush the net like a madman so that guy will think his point still stands.

I don't get that kind of complaining anyway. For modern tennis he has displayed a very good amount of aggression and decent net approaching over the years. A player like Federer is a great example of all court tennis but it's exactly why you can't expect many to try and copy him properly. He is unique. If you think only one top player today is worthy of admiration, then you are just fan of that player. Not the game. Tennis hasn't changed that much over the last two decades for any genuine fan to dislike everyone but Fed.

 

[NoleFam]

Like there is any picture more stunning than Djokovic's two handed backhand anyway...

Got him. But Djokovic didn't rush the net like a madman so that guy will think his point still stands.

I don't get that kind of complaining anyway. For modern tennis he has displayed a very good amount of aggression and decent net approaching over the years. A player like Federer is a great example of all court tennis but it's exactly why you can't expect many to try and copy him properly. He is unique. If you think only one top player today is worthy of admiration, then you are just fan of that player. Not the game. Tennis hasn't changed that much over the last two decades for any genuine fan to dislike everyone but Fed.

Nothing better looking than that master stroke being crushed down the line.

I don't get it either but maybe that's because I was a fan of a few players before Djokovic came along. Federer is great, don't get me wrong, but I too get annoyed with this worship like he or this type of tennis is the only thing that matters and everyone else should bow down to his greatness. There are many great players who are worthy of recognition for being great, even if they don't play the style that you enjoy most. It's too much blind worship of players instead of the game.