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

Nadal have proven he is too mentally tough for Novak in the slams in the past two years. People make excuses sure Novak can win the regular ATP matches on the regular tour. But Novak has squandered too many opportunities in the slams. The French Open and US Open Last year Novak had his chances but crumbled under the pressure.
 
Forehand Of Doom said:
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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The point is Novak unlike Federer is probably the only player who can challenge Nadal on clay. Novak won Monte Carlo last year but he proves he just can't seem to get the mental strength to beat Nadal at the French Open.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
The point is Novak unlike Federer is probably the only player who can challenge Nadal on clay. Novak won Monte Carlo last year but he proves he just can't seem to get the mental strength to beat Nadal at the French Open.
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Yes, I agree with you that he seems to be the only threat to Nadal on clay.

He has been training heaviky on clay for the last few months, so it seems he might give it a good try this year.
 
Brett UK said:
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!
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The analysis is spot on Djokovic is 0-3 against Nadal at the slams since the 2012 French Open. Big deal Novak can win the small battles but against Nadal in the slams he has blown numerous opportunities to win another slam.
 
Forehand Of Doom said:
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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I agree FOD and it is somewhat baffling. When I watch Djokovic play like he did yesterday, with all the skills and abilities he possesses, I find it amazing that he's won no more than 6 slams so far. I'm hoping he can rectify it this year.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
The analysis is spot on Djokovic is 0-3 against Nadal at the slams since the 2012 French Open. Big deal Novak can win the small battles but against Nadal in the slams he has blown numerous opportunities to win another slam.
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Just out of interest who do you support out of Nadal and Djokovic? It's never very clear in the posts you write.
 
Prove that he is back? Back where? He never went anywhere unlike Nadal who disappears for 6 to 8 months every other year. How did Nadal even become no 1 again? Yes he won a ton but he also had nothing to defend due to his disappearance.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
The analysis is spot on Djokovic is 0-3 against Nadal at the slams since the 2012 French Open. Big deal Novak can win the small battles but against Nadal in the slams he has blown numerous opportunities to win another slam.
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Well the big deal is that it gives the player confidence going into the bigger matches.

In 2011, Djokovic beat Nadal in 4 straight finals (IW, Miami, Rome & Madrid), then beat him at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. And if all went according to plan, he probably would have destroyed him at RG.

In 2012, Nadal beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo & Rome, then went on to beat him at RG

Last year, Djokovic managed to beat Nadal only in Monte Carlo, and very nearly almost beat Nadal at RG. Then Nadal beat Djokovic in Canada and then the U.S. Open

Now Djokovic has beaten Nadal 3 straight times. That right there is ammunition for when Djokovic meets Nadal in the slams.
 
Tony48 said:
Well the big deal is that it gives the player confidence going into the bigger matches.

In 2011, Djokovic beat Nadal in 4 straight finals (IW, Miami, Rome & Madrid), then beat him at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. And if all went according to plan, he probably would have destroyed him at RG.

In 2012, Nadal beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo & Rome, then went on to beat him at RG

Last year, Djokovic managed to beat Nadal only in Monte Carlo, and very nearly almost beat Nadal at RG. Then Nadal beat Djokovic in Canada and then the U.S. Open

Now Djokovic has beaten Nadal 3 straight times. That right there is ammunition for when Djokovic meets Nadal in the slams.
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Close is not good enough time for Novak to come through with a win the FO for his legacy.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Close is not good enough time for Novak to come through with a win the FO for his legacy.
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I agree, but in order for that to even happen, he has to accomplish a few things first.

For him to beat Nadal and win RG, he needs to have a few wins over him first. Indian Wells is a good start. Now he has to get a win over him on clay. Otherwise, it's highly unlikely that he will win it this year.
 
If Novak can win the French Open it will cement his legacy as a legend. However,despite what people say it is astonishing that Novak has only won TWO slams outside of Australia. Novak inability to beat Nadal in Paris hurts his legacy. The French Open is so important this year I think if Novak does not win the French Open in the next two years he probably never will. Novak lack of mental toughness against Nadal in the grand slams cannot be ignored. People talk about these masters events or whatever BUT for a champion like Novak the slams are his legacy.
 
Edgecrusher said:
Nole has to prove nothing. And even much less to you.
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Wrong Novak inability to beat Nadal in Paris is due to lack of mental toughness. Novak has an 0-3 record against Nadal in the slams since 2012. Novak had two huge chances in Paris and New York to win another slam he choked both opportunities. Novak crumbles under the pressure against Nadal in the grand slams since the FO 2012. He needs to win the FO to cement his legacy.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Wrong Novak inability to beat Nadal in Paris is due to lack of mental toughness. Novak has an 0-3 record against Nadal in the slams since 2012. Novak had two huge chances in Paris and New York to win another slam he choked both opportunities. Novak crumbles under the pressure against Nadal in the grand slams since the FO 2012. He needs to win the FO to cement his legacy.
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Why do you keep droning on about it all the time? What difference does it make to you whether Nole wins the FO or not? You don't even like him! :evil:
 
I still think this will be a year of change but I need to see some tennis first. I maintain that Nadal is now out of his top peak level maintained more or less from clay 2010 - US Open 2013. He remains the favourite for RG though until proven otherwise. There is something mythical about Nadal at RG, in that even if he lost every match from now until the RG final against Nole, I'd still struggle to bet against him.
 
Agreed. Nole needs to beat Ralph at RG and win the damn thing for once to prove he's numero uno AND is firmly back in Ralph's head. This Miami win gave him a bit of a boost which he can build on.
 
He has to win the uso as well. a great. hc player like. him should. have. more. than one us open . four uso finals lost is too much. he is really the new lendl.
 
MichaelNadal said:
You are more touchy with Novak than anyone here lol. Everyone doesn't like Novak..... it's ok man.
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It's got nothing to do with being touchy. I could understand AM making these threads if he were a fan of Djokovic but he isn't so what difference does it make to him if Nole never wins there? I don't get it.
 
How I love the 2010 and 2013 US open finals :) Especially being here in 07 08 and 09 listening to everyone say he'd never even get past the semis there.
 
Fiji said:
He has to win the uso as well. a great. hc player like. him should. have. more. than one us open . four uso finals lost is too much. he is really the new lendl.
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I'd love nothing more than for Novak to become the new Lendl. Great player, great career.
 
noball said:
Ralph's effort in the 3rd set was quite something wasn't it?
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Couldn't believe the level of tennis. For me, being a Rafa fan is all about moments like that. Nothing makes me happier as far as tennis goes than when he "turns it on". Even the matches he had in the clay season with Ferrer last year were epic in the same way.
 
MichaelNadal said:
Couldn't believe the level of tennis. For me, being a Rafa fan is all about moments like that. Nothing makes me happier as far as tennis goes than when he "turns it on".
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It is equally great when he is massacred by Soderling, Darcis and Rosol. The lost look on his face is priceless.
 
Fiji said:
He has to win the uso as well. a great. hc player like. him should. have. more. than one us open . four uso finals lost is too much. he is really the new lendl.
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Good post, I agree. He's too good of a HC player to only have one US Open to his name. Kind of surprising. I hope he can win a few more before it's all said and done.
 
noball said:
Yes I enjoyed them, but I enjoyed USO 11 final just a little more. :lol:
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FreeBird said:
Friends forever.
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Guess who's back? :twisted:

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image_php_u_78527_dateline_1391118969.jpg
 
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