Novak needs to win the French Open to prove he is back

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Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
Novak has won two hardcourt masters BUT he also did not win the Australian Open for the first time in four years. Novak hasn't beaten Nadal in a slam in over two years. Novak must win the French Open to prove he is truly back. Novak knows slams matter the most at this point in his career. Novak squandered two slam opportunities last year Nadal has proven he beats Novak when it matters most in a grand slam. As Pete Sampras said nobody cares about Philadelphia, Toronto, Miami ect. the slams matter the most. Novak hasn't won a slam in over a year and he has lost to Nadal so many times at the French Open.
 
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I agree. Whenever they meet in a GS, Rafa is still the favorite imo considering that I don't rely on Djokovic closing out Best of 3 especially after what I have seen in the last 12 months.
 
Novak has been mentally fragile and blown his chances at winning another slam. I remember the US OPEN final that Novak won a set got a break and then lost the plot. Novak can win the small titles but he has not proven he can beat Nadal in a slam in over two years. Novak has a lot to prove this year. Can Novak finally win the French Open? Last year Novak choked the lead against Nadal in Paris. Novak doesn't have much time left to win the French Open.
 
Yeah, good point. Novak seems to win those small battles, but Rafa won RG, USO and nr.1 ranking. When it mattered Nole came short.

Maybe winning RG will get monkey off his back.

For some reasons Nole seems to be mentally fragile in GS finals compared to Rafa.
 
Yea Djoker has won the battles but Nadal usually wins the WARS.

I agree, the French Open is a must.. But I see Nadal winning it again (especially after losing Miami) I think nadal is going to be out for blood in the clay season
 
Sorry what does Nole have to prove and to who? He is going to win plenty more slams, so it is lazy analysis to suggest he has a point to prove. Chances are he will not win RG, but he might! it does not matter, he just needs to keep playing like today and the slams will come. Don't worry about these posters who get too excited about the next slam being a live or die outcome!
 
If Nole gets the FO, he is the true number 1. He plays like one for sure and he deserves to be there.

Nadal has been pathetic against Novak since USO and i see another 7-0 culmination at FO.
 
I'd like to see Djokovic build up some confidence on clay this season before RG, but if he's playing like he did today he will win it.
 
tennisaddict said:
If Nole gets the FO, he is the true number 1. He plays like one for sure and he deserves to be there.

Nadal has been pathetic against Novak since USO and i see another 7-0 culmination at FO.
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He doesn't need to win RG. If he wins W,USO that would make him true nr.1 too.
 
To summarize what's happened between Nadal and Djokovic sonce 2010, as it appears to me:

Nadal beats Djokovic by staying back and drawing errors, Djokovic then plays this strategy better by getting his act together and turns the tide.

Nadal then, in 2013, starts attacking more than ever, coming into the net, and going for winners in situations where he was content to play it safe in the past. Djokovic has adjusted starting in the latter half of 2013 and continuing to this day, attacking more as well -- going for bigger shots and coming in.

Obviously, how well each guy is playing during a particular stretch of time makes a big difference, but the tactics have also changed a lot.

But the way each one is playing now I can't see either of them consenting to playing a 6-hour slugfest banging around playing it safe and waiting for errors a la AO 2012.

They don't even really play it safe against the field anymore. I think ultimately Djokovic will come to have the advantage on all surfaces by the time the two are ready to quit, not due to fanboyism, but because of the technicalities of the matchup. They both consistently beat everybody else in the world, so there's no clear advantage there.
 
I think each time Nadal adjusts his game, Novak matches these adjustments and takes it up to another level. This is evolution my friends and boy is it beautiful to watch. I am so happy to watch these two legends of the game have such a fantastic rivalry.
 
bjsnider said:
To summarize what's happened between Nadal and Djokovic sonce 2010, as it appears to me:

Nadal beats Djokovic by staying back and drawing errors, Djokovic then plays this strategy better by getting his act together and turns the tide.

Nadal then, in 2013, starts attacking more than ever, coming into the net, and going for winners in situations where he was content to play it safe in the past. Djokovic has adjusted starting in the latter half of 2013 and continuing to this day, attacking more as well -- going for bigger shots and coming in.

Obviously, how well each guy is playing during a particular stretch of time makes a big difference, but the tactics have also changed a lot.

But the way each one is playing now I can't see either of them consenting to playing a 6-hour slugfest banging around playing it safe and waiting for errors a la AO 2012.

They don't even really play it safe against the field anymore. I think ultimately Djokovic will come to have the advantage on all surfaces by the time the two are ready to quit, not due to fanboyism, but because of the technicalities of the matchup. They both consistently beat everybody else in the world, so there's no clear advantage there.
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Both playing aggressive is good news for tennis.
 
He needs to win rg and the uso. he has lost four uso finals! time to redeem himself at rg and the uso....
 
If he wins RG this year, and Cincinnati to complete his Masters collection, that's it. My expectations of him as a player is complete. Anything else is a bonus.
 
Damn that Pascal Maria. If it was not for him we would not have to endure threads like this. Novak would have been the righteous bearer of the RG title already. Oh well. The order will be restored in June.
 
Solo said:
If he wins RG this year, and Cincinnati to complete his Masters collection, that's it. My expectations of him as a player is complete. Anything else is a bonus.
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I feel exactly the same but I'd still like him to win another US Open as well. He's too great a hardcourt player to have only won it once.
 
He doesn't have to win RG, if he wins Wimbledon and US Open.

But, FWIW, I think he'll win the French this year and the US Open. He may win the remaining three slams, but Wimbledon seems more up for grabs to me. Just my guess at this point.
 
Big lol on couple of people here, saying djokovic is Falling in the big moments against nadal lately. Does ATP World tour finals not ring any bells to you guys?

And since when isn't a 1000 masters title a big moment?

Jesus christ.
 
Djokovic2011 said:
I feel exactly the same but I'd still like him to win another US Open as well. He's too great a hardcourt player to have only won it once.
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Nadal achieved 2. Anything less than 3 for Novak at USO is a shame. I hope Novak gets a couple more USO.

2 more USO and 2 more FO to end with 10 majors.
 
RF-18 said:
Big lol on couple of people here, saying djokovic is Falling in the big moments against nadal lately. Does ATP World tour finals not ring any bells to you guys?

And since when isn't a 1000 masters title a big moment?

Jesus christ.
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I know right? They make it sound like every player can win multiple Masters.
 
Novak has never left as far as I'm aware?

Also, he's never won FO, so winning it this year will prove he has become even better, not he's come back to his previous best, won't it?
 
RF-18 said:
Big lol on couple of people here, saying djokovic is Falling in the big moments against nadal lately. Does ATP World tour finals not ring any bells to you guys?

And since when isn't a 1000 masters title a big moment?

Jesus christ.
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But it is partly true. Yeah, Nole wins masters and WTF. But Rafa won their last GS matches and is ranked nr.1 and was even year end nr.1.

In biggest moments Rafa has the edge right now. Until Nole gets to nr.1 and has a big win vs Rafa at GS, I won't be convinced.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Novak has won two hardcourt masters BUT he also did not win the Australian Open for the first time in four years. Novak hasn't beaten Nadal in a slam in over two years. Novak must win the French Open to prove he is truly back. Novak knows slams matter the most at this point in his career. Novak squandered two slam opportunities last year Nadal has proven he beats Novak when it matters most in a grand slam. As Pete Sampras said nobody cares about Philadelphia, Toronto, Miami ect. the slams matter the most. Novak hasn't won a slam in over a year and he has lost to Nadal so many times at the French Open.
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For once I agree with you.
 
jg153040 said:
But it is partly true. Yeah, Nole wins masters and WTF. But Rafa won their last GS matches and is ranked nr.1 and was even year end nr.1.

In biggest moments Rafa has the edge right now. Until Nole gets to nr.1 and has a big win vs Rafa at GS, I won't be convinced.
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Yes but before that Nole had 3 straight GS final wins against rafa.

Nevertheless, I dont think djokovic has to prove he is "back", he has already shown that after the loss in USO by beating nadal three times in a row.

But, if he does Face nadal in the final, I wouldn't call it a moment for nole to prove everyone that he is back, thats a joke to say after what we have seen him do the past years, like someone said moments ago, he never left. If this scenario happens in may(him and nadal meeting in the final) ,it will rather be a perfect moment for nole to prove how big he is in this sport and that he can become one of the greatest. I dont think he will get bigger than GOAT Federer, but definatly has the potential to get past nadal. They are in the same generation. One year seperates them.

So this thread is a joke to be quite honest
 
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Novak needs to win the French period. He should have won in 2011, and in any case should have won last year. His performance at the slams during his tenure as number 1 was lackluster at best. He needs the career slam to redeem himself.
 
Tenez101 said:
Novak needs to win the French period. He should have won in 2011, and in any case should have won last year. His performance at the slams during his tenure as number 1 was lackluster at best. He needs the career slam to redeem himself.
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I don't think "redeem himself" is the right way to put it. Djokovic has already proven he's one of the 10 greatest players ever, and he still has lots of time to do better than that. He's playing in an extremely tough, competitive era. But I think you can argue persuasively that he should have captured the past 3 RGs, and would be going for 4 in a row this year. I don't think Nadal was playing well enough to beat him in 2011, and there's overwhelming proof of that. In 2012, Djokovic was having a lot of personal issues and played poorly by his standards, but he could have won it anyway. Last year there was the net issue.
 
4 Masters 1000's in a row

Djokovic has won 4 Masters 1000's in a row (and throw in the WTF as well) - which says that he doesn't need to come back....he is already there.
 
I am glad that Novak and rafa take every tournament seriously and do not think that slams are the be all and end all.
 
Djokovic is 20 wins on the trot in Masters and if he wins more slams regardless of whether it is the french or not he will be back. I think he will win RG at some point. Shot for shot he can match Nadal he just needs to stop having these wild emotional swings in matches in terms of focus. Form is temporary class is permanent and Novak and Nadal are the class of the current crop of players plain and simple.
 
RF-18 said:
Yes but before that Nole had 3 straight GS final wins against rafa.

Nevertheless, I dont think djokovic has to prove he is "back", he has already shown that after the loss in USO by beating nadal three times in a row.

But, if he does Face nadal in the final, I wouldn't call it a moment for nole to prove everyone that he is back, thats a joke to say after what we have seen him do the past years, like someone said moments ago, he never left. If this scenario happens in may(him and nadal meeting in the final) ,it will rather be a perfect moment for nole to prove how big he is in this sport and that he can become one of the greatest. I dont think he will get bigger than GOAT Federer, but definatly has the potential to get past nadal. They are in the same generation. One year seperates them.

So this thread is a joke to be quite honest
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I agree. Only 7 Grand Slam titles are between them now. Very doable, no?
 
jg153040 said:
Yeah, good point. Novak seems to win those small battles, but Rafa won RG, USO and nr.1 ranking. When it mattered Nole came short.

Maybe winning RG will get monkey off his back.

For some reasons Nole seems to be mentally fragile in GS finals compared to Rafa.
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When you consider the huge epic battles for slams, no.1 it's happened on 3 occasions between these 2:

2008, 2011, 2013. Nadal won 2 out of 3 of these important stretches.
 
Chico said:
Damn that Pascal Maria. If it was not for him we would not have to endure threads like this. Novak would have been the righteous bearer of the RG title already. Oh well. The order will be restored in June.
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Pascal Maria had nothing to do with it. Nadal murdered Djokovic in the last set, and Nole shouldn't have tripped on the net like an amateur. It shouldn't even have gone to 5 sets if Nadal hadn't relaxed so much.
 
Forehand Of Doom said:
Sarcasm detector just went crazy.
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How's it going FOD? I see you've been very busy again tonight. I have to applaud the way you enter so many threads defending Nadal, definitely one of his best fans on this forum. But you must be exhausted mate- there are some hardcore trolls around here! :(
 
Djokovic2011 said:
How's it going FOD? I see you've been very busy again tonight. I have to applaud the way you enter so many threads defending Nadal, definitely one of his best fans on this forum. But you must be exhausted mate- there are some hardcore trolls around here! :(
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Hey man! Congratulations again. :)

No, it has been a pleasant evening for me. Djokovic fans are way better than the Federer trolls that resent Nadal. I also made another Djokovic fan friend, so I'm the better for it.

Of course, I've been letting my mind be known (in a meek and subdued manner, as is usually the norm for me). LMFAO.

The clay season suddenly looks like it's going to be a battlefield, huh? :)
 
Forehand Of Doom said:
Hey man! Congratulations again. :)

No, it has been a pleasant evening for me. Djokovic fans are way better than the Federer trolls that resent Nadal. I also made another Djokovic fan friend, so I'm the better for it.

Of course, I've been letting my mind be known (in a meek and subdued manner, as is usually the norm for me). LMFAO.

The clay season suddenly looks like it's going to be a battlefield, huh? :)
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Good for you mate- I know how it feels when people on here are saying nasty things about your favourite and how frustrating it can be. Like I said it's great the way you defend Nadal as there are indeed a lot of horrible things that get said about him, I have to wonder sometimes where the Mods are at on this forum. Thanks again for the congratulations from you- very classy and much appreciated. And yes the clay season should be great, I'm really looking forward to it but it's such a shame there'll be no more tennis for the next two weeks. :(
 
Djokovic2011 said:
Good for you mate- I know how it feels when people on here are saying nasty things about your favourite and how frustrating it can be. Like I said it's great the way you defend Nadal as there are indeed a lot of horrible things that get said about him, I have to wonder sometimes where the Mods are at on this forum. Thanks again for the congratulations from you- very classy and much appreciated. And yes the clay season should be great, I'm really looking forward to it but it's such a shame there'll be no more tennis for the next two weeks. :(
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Yes, thank you Djokovic2011. Crap is thrown around about all players, it comes with the territory. Actually, considering the volume of posts I think the mods do well. Imagine sifting through all this stuff. :)

Two weeks without tennis don't bother me. One of the things I like about tennis is that it is nicely distributed around the year, and there are plenty of opportunities for excitement. Hopefully Nadal and Djokovic will take the opportunity to recharge.

All I dread is the boasting I foresee from a member of your clan (one who shall not be named). My frontal lobe already hurts. LOL :)
 
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Tenez101 said:
Novak needs to win the French period. He should have won in 2011
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That year he would have absolutely pwned Nads had he made it past Fred. Nads had no answers at any point and was basically his perma-pigeon until clay season 2012. Plus they were using those faster than normal balls in '11 that drove Nads batty.

Winning RG that year saved ********'s psyche imo, and he got massively lucky last year when Djok ran out of gas in the 5th.

But Nads' stamina doesn't seem to be what it was in the past, now does it? Clay season looks to be very interesting, and my feeling right now is that this may finally be Djok's year at RG.
 
Smasher08 said:
That year he would have absolutely pwned Nads had he made it past Fred. Nads had no answers at any point and was basically his perma-pigeon until clay season 2012. Plus they were using those faster than normal balls in '11 that drove Nads batty.

Winning RG that year saved ********'s psyche imo, and he got massively lucky last year when Djok ran out of gas in the 5th.

But Nads' stamina doesn't seem to be what it was in the past, now does it? Clay season looks to be very interesting, and my feeling right now is that this may finally be Djok's year at RG.
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Nadal stamina remains off the charts, crazy high.
 
Novak hasn' won a slam outside of Australia in THREE YEARS he has a 1-4 record in US OPENS and 0-3 record against Nadal in slams since 2012. People can make all the excuses they want BUT at this point for Novak he KNOWS he needs to win more slams outside of Australia. Of course Novak wants to win the French Open if he can do that he has the complete set. Novak inability to win the French Open is a black mark on his stellar career.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Novak hasn' won a slam outside of Australia in THREE YEARS he has a 1-4 record in US OPENS and 0-3 record against Nadal in slams since 2012. People can make all the excuses they want BUT at this point for Novak he KNOWS he needs to win more slams outside of Australia. Of course Novak wants to win the French Open if he can do that he has the complete set. Novak inability to win the French Open is a black mark on his stellar career.
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Djokovic has won 50% of his slams in a 8 month period of his career. 2011 was brilliant, but then what?
 
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