Overreacting to De Minaur is a mistake

[Chopin]

Imo... De Minaur looks like a strong 5.0 player. Nothing more. I honestly can't even believe he's in the top 100.

I've seen De Minaur in person...he's a wall...at the ATP level. I was several feet away from him Montreal. The consistency, movement, depth etc. are world class. He'd beat a 5.0 6-0, 6-0 in about 30 minutes. Don't even bother playing the match...

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Fake

 

[duaneeo]

I just watch the matches man, not interested in any sort of narrative or fanboying

I said "Nole fans". Perhaps I'm wrong, but I've never put you in that category.

Regarding whether Nole is truly injured, I have no opinion. If he is, it's a sad narrative regardless of the outcome:

35 year old Nole is truly injured but still wins the AO.
A player who wouldn't stand a chance in hell against a non-injured 35 year old Nole beats him at the AO.

 

[Kralingen]

OP makes an interesting point because the Big 3 all have recent form for demolishing opponents whilst injured, and the simple reason is they literally are that good at tennis (and their opponents sucked):

1. Federer def Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in the 4th round of the US Open 2017 whilst carrying a back injury. He hit c. 40 winners to 20 UEs on a mid pace court with 11 aces. He would lose the next round to DelPo.
   
   
2. Djokovic def Kudla 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the 4th round of the US Open 2019, whilst carrying a shoulder injury. Asked about it afterwards he said: "I managed to play almost pain free, that's a big improvement from my last match... I am able to play". He would retire from the next match losing vs Stan as it flared up again.
   
   
3. Nadal thrashed Gasquet 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 in the 3rd round of the US Open 2022 with a torn ab. He made no mention of this ab throughout the US Open. He would lose in the next round to Tiafoe.

Who would’ve thought Nadal was losing to Tiafoe or Djokovic losing to Chung pre match? Federer losing to Tiafoe or Dimitrov in USO 17/19? Nadal losing to Cilic in AO 2018 or Federer losing to RaoMUG at Wimbledon?

 

[mahatma]

OP forgets that a very easy match vs Demon means that Djokovic is rested for 4 days effectively and if it’s an injury which isn’t a big one, chances of injury getting healed partially at least are very high.

And that should be enough to beat Rublev. Anyways with no bh, you can’t beat Djokovic. I only see a straight set drubbing of the Russian here

 

[DSH]

Dimitrov spreading Djokovic out with powerful shots is what triggered the hamstring injury last time.

I fully expect it to happen again tonight.

BWEH!

 

[BeatlesFan]

Who overreacts to such a non-entity? Who even thinks about Alex except his mother or his girlfriend?

He's a journeyman, so let's move on. 99% of the threads on this forum are about the remaining two of the big three. Demon ain't in that league.

 

[Kralingen]

Who overreacts to such a non-entity? Who even thinks about Alex except his mother or his girlfriend?

He's a journeyman, so let's move on. 99% of the threads on this forum are about the remaining two of the big three. Demon ain't in that league.

Did you read the post? It’s about Djokovic

 

[No_Kwan_Do]

Completely agree. He hasn't got the power or the finesse to make Djokovic really stretch and work him around the court, and Novak knew this coming into the match.

It was basically a glorified practice session.

 

[MeatTornado]

Did you read the post? It’s about Djokovic

Reading is a lot of work

 

[NeutralFan]

Comparing Fed's injury at USO to Novak's ? Man , stop it lol.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Yeah DeM sucks. But out of those remaining in draw who doesn't? Its not like Djokovic going to face player who will going to play 10 times better. Rublev and Sisipas - that is pretty much ATP 500 level draw..

 

[Silverbullet96]

Yeah I hope he wins any games at all.

Rublev the favourite because he’s more battle tested, very good form

I hope Novak can stay competitive in the longer rallies with the Russian.

 

[Crocodile]

I think Alex needs to keep working hard to improve his game, it’s as simple as that. He is in the top 30 which is a good achievement: He has Peter Luczak helping him so let’s see what they can do m

 

[Kralingen]

I said "Nole fans". Perhaps I'm wrong, but I've never put you in that category.

Regarding whether Nole is truly injured, I have no opinion. If he is, it's a sad narrative regardless of the outcome:

35 year old Nole is truly injured but still wins the AO.
A player who wouldn't stand a chance in hell against a non-injured 35 year old Nole beats him at the AO.

It really is a tough tournament to follow. The overwhelming favorite essentially has to play below himself to make it interesting. Tsitsipas will push him to the limit though. Their last few matches have been quite close and Tsits actually loves the slow night conditions as it’s harder to rush him.

 

[ojo rojo]

Rublev in 5?...

 

[NeutralFan]

...

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

That's great.

Djokovic in straights.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

I’m not sure why you’re going so far out of your way to carry water for this “Djokovic is hampered” narrative. It doesn’t really matter, whatever level he’s at the rest of the field is garbage.

 

[Rafa the King]

I agree. I personally think that match was more like a practice match for Novak. It was far to easy and doesn’t indicate his true level.

Rublev is at least a couple of levels up on De Minaur. I personally see Rublev the favourite because he’s more battle tested, very good form and better physical shape.

He will test novaks leg a lot more and force him to play more on the BH defensive side.

I hope Novak can stay competitive in the longer rallies with the Russian. Hopefully a fun match.

I see rublev the favourite still based on current form and physical condition.

Was almost impossible no?

 

[Topspin_80]

I agree. I personally think that match was more like a practice match for Novak. It was far to easy and doesn’t indicate his true level.

Rublev is at least a couple of levels up on De Minaur. I personally see Rublev the favourite because he’s more battle tested, very good form and better physical shape.

He will test novaks leg a lot more and force him to play more on the BH defensive side.

I hope Novak can stay competitive in the longer rallies with the Russian. Hopefully a fun match.

I see rublev the favourite still based on current form and physical condition.

See 3 easy sets, 2 hs.

Stop with the injury, even you could see by now, there is no injury.

 

[Topspin_80]

Was almost impossible no?

Truly impossible!!!

A huge mountain to climb

 

[Julius Caesar]

I dont feel sympathy for the op and now im starting to think that his posts are meaningless

 

[Silverbullet96]

Rublev is at least a couple of levels up on De Minaur. I personally see Rublev the favourite because he’s more battle tested, very good form and better physical shape.

He will test novaks leg a lot more and force him to play more on the BH defensive side.

I hope Novak can stay competitive in the longer rallies with the Russian. Hopefully a fun match.

I see rublev the favourite still based on current form and physical condition.

How did he do it bro, despite what you said ? Explain to me.

 

[ghostofMecir]

Hamstring injury lol

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

How did he do it bro, despite what you said ? Explain to me.

Beautiful thread!

 

[Lauren_Girl']

Don’t do it.

De Minaur is the most weaponless player to ever make the top 20. He had almost no serve and was unable to put any power into his shots. Djokovic was forced into a defensive position maybe 3 times the entire match, and was able to stay in first gear, hitting essentially static shots, the entire time. It was as close to a practice session as you will ever see in a Grand Slam 4th round. Djokovic’s movement was not tested at ALL.

Federer beat Goffin 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 before failing heavily at USO 19. Djokovic himself beat Ramos Vinolas 6-2 6-2 6-3 at AO 18 before losing to Chung. Don’t overreact to matches against horribly overmatched opponents.

Here’s what happened the past two matches before this

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1616082298625216518

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1616781227897520130

These quotes and the eye test from Dimitrov and Couacaud have shown me the following. If you stretch Djokovic and make him work defensively, the hamstring gets aggravated. It may be fine going into the match, but it worsens when you hit the ball hard and move him around.

Whatever you think of Rublev, know that he hits much harder and applies much more forward pressure than De Minaur ever could. He has a great serve out wide and can change direction on the ball with pace. He demolishes FHs. Tsitsipas does all of this even better than Rublev does and has an elite serve.

Djokovic is not out of the woods yet. I think the De Minaur match was a red herring and that his defensive issues will be exposed heavily in the matches to come.

I don't overate him, but you can't just ignore the fact that he is in great form and has been a solid top-20-25 player for more than 5 years. You don't beat Medvedev in Indoors and a non-injured Nadal "just like that". He had match points against PEAK Alcaraz in Barcelona, everyone seems to ignore this match for some reason.
He is 23 and has won more 250 titles than most guys at the same age.

In Australia with the crowd support, he would have been a dangerous opponent for anyone except Djokovic and maybe Tsitsipas (who is 8-0 against him). He is exactly the kind of player you're expected to face in 4th rounds of a Slam. Nole deserves credit for dismantling him so quickly.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

GOAT anti-jinxing thread! @Kralingen is a genius!

 

[Rovesciarete]

I don't overate him, but you can't just ignore the fact that he is in great form and has been a solid top-20-25 player for more than 5 years. You don't beat Medvedev in Indoors and a non-injured Nadal "just like that". He had match points against PEAK Alcaraz in Barcelona, everyone seems to ignore this match for some reason.
He is 23 and has won more 250 titles than most guys at the same age.

In Australia with the crowd support, he would have been a dangerous opponent for anyone except Djokovic and maybe Tsitsipas (who is 8-0 against him). He is exactly the kind of player you're expected to face in 4th rounds of a Slam. Nole deserves credit for dismantling him so quickly.

He is right now among the very best returners on hardcourt and plays a smart game with supreme fitness. Arguably the most improved player of 2024 tied with Sinner.

 

[merwy]

Saw De Minaur play in person against Sinner in Rotterdam. Was very eye-opening. On TV he looks quite rigid and mechanically unsound, but I didn't get that feeling at all in person. Like others have said, he is a wall. But on top of that he also puts some good pace on the ball himself, he's very good at redirecting the ball, and knowing when to come into the court. He seems to understand tactics and court positioning. Something that many younger players struggle with.

 

[KantenKlaar]

Well, I've been watching him since last year and unlike others he gets the results right now. I am impressed with his progress - very impressed.

 

[Kralingen]

He has improved a lot since last year.

 

[Bender]

I've seen De Minaur in person...he's a wall...at the ATP level. I was several feet away from him Montreal. The consistency, movement, depth etc. are world class. He'd beat a 5.0 6-0, 6-0 in about 30 minutes. Don't even bother playing the match...

I’d be worried if a 7.0 couldn’t beat a 5.0 6-0, 6-0

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

I agree. I personally think that match was more like a practice match for Novak. It was far to easy and doesn’t indicate his true level.

Rublev is at least a couple of levels up on De Minaur. I personally see Rublev the favourite because he’s more battle tested, very good form and better physical shape.

He will test novaks leg a lot more and force him to play more on the BH defensive side.

I hope Novak can stay competitive in the longer rallies with the Russian. Hopefully a fun match.

I see rublev the favourite still based on current form and physical condition.

I'm officially disappointed

 

[nighthawkrr]

Saw De Minaur play in person against Sinner in Rotterdam. Was very eye-opening. On TV he looks quite rigid and mechanically unsound, but I didn't get that feeling at all in person. Like others have said, he is a wall. But on top of that he also puts some good pace on the ball himself, he's very good at redirecting the ball, and knowing when to come into the court. He seems to understand tactics and court positioning. Something that many younger players struggle with.

I saw him in New York. He was clearly putting things together.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

I’d be worried if a 7.0 couldn’t beat a 5.0 6-0, 6-0

Excuse me de minaur is more like a 7.5 or 8

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

He has improved a lot since last year.

It is a mistake to underreact to De Minaur he is going to become the GOAT

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I'm officially disappointed

I disappoint myself sometimes bro. I understand and agree

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

I disappoint myself sometimes bro. I understand and agree

Underrating Djokovic after THAT match was a crime

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Completely agree. He hasn't got the power or the finesse to make Djokovic really stretch and work him around the court, and Novak knew this coming into the match.

It was basically a glorified practice session.

He has now.
De Minaur played Djokovic like a puppet, totally obliterating the deranged Serb 64 64.
De Minaur has more power, more athleticism, and a better temperament as of 2024.
Djokovic is about to be shoved into retirement... and it all began with De Minaur.

 

[Deleted member 806402]

Djokovic is about to be shoved into retirement...

You should know a thing or two about getting shoved into retirement.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

TTWdog: de minwoofr, de minwoofr, de minwoofr!!!

@Kralingen : please DON'T do that.

TTWdog: i'm so sorry, i did it again......

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

He has now.
De Minaur played Djokovic like a puppet, totally obliterating the deranged Serb 64 64.
De Minaur has more power, more athleticism, and a better temperament as of 2024.
Djokovic is about to be shoved into retirement... and it all began with De Minaur.

Way ahead of you already made a De Minaur will be GOAT thread

 

[Move]

.

 

[KantenKlaar]

Way ahead of you already made a De Minaur will be GOAT thread

De Minaur can multitask.

 

[Kralingen]

TTWdog: de minwoofr, de minwoofr, de minwoofr!!!

@Kralingen : please DON'T do that.

TTWdog: i'm so sorry, i did it again......

De Minwoofr is much better than De Minaur

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

De Minwoofr is much better than De Minaur

I always call him De Minrawr!

 

[Rovesciarete]

De Minaur has now crossed the 2000 points mark, after being so close for so many years…

Elo rankings only available for seasons with at least 20 matches played at qualifying levels.

Year​	ATP Rank​	Points​	Elo Rank​	Elo​	hElo Rank​	hElo​	cElo Rank​	cElo​	gElo Rank​	gElo​	Doubles: ATP Rank​	Points​	D-Lo Rank​	D-Lo​
Current (2024-03-04)	10​	3210​	8​	2019​	5​	1980​	18​	1821​	7​	1849​	​	​	​	​
2023	12​	2740​	11​	1945​	11​	1906​	29​	1784​	10​	1812​	​	​	​	​
2022	24​	1790​	16​	1945​	15​	1898​	37​	1772​	15​	1798​	​	​	​	​
2021	34​	1561​	55​	1792​	51​	1742​	109​	1623​	30​	1721​	​	​	​	​
2020	23​	1860​	15​	1918​	13​	1887​	93​	1633​	​	​	61​	1595​	​	​
2019	18​	1775​	9​	1964​	8​	1929​	79​	1673​	20​	1764​	141​	540​	108​	1565​
2018	31​	1298​	30​	1842​	28​	1799​	101​	1620​	29​	1730​	406​	60​	​	​
2017	208​	245​	235​	1502​	200​	1485​	296​	1344​	204​	1422​	1139​	18​	​	​
2016	349​	132​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	864​	44​	​	​
2015	1574​	2 ​

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

De Minaur has now crossed the 2000 points mark, after being so close for so many years…

Elo rankings only available for seasons with at least 20 matches played at qualifying levels.

Year​	ATP Rank​	Points​	Elo Rank​	Elo​	hElo Rank​	hElo​	cElo Rank​	cElo​	gElo Rank​	gElo​	Doubles: ATP Rank​	Points​	D-Lo Rank​	D-Lo​
Current (2024-03-04)	10​	3210​	8​	2019​	5​	1980​	18​	1821​	7​	1849​	​	​	​	​
2023	12​	2740​	11​	1945​	11​	1906​	29​	1784​	10​	1812​	​	​	​	​
2022	24​	1790​	16​	1945​	15​	1898​	37​	1772​	15​	1798​	​	​	​	​
2021	34​	1561​	55​	1792​	51​	1742​	109​	1623​	30​	1721​	​	​	​	​
2020	23​	1860​	15​	1918​	13​	1887​	93​	1633​	​	​	61​	1595​	​	​
2019	18​	1775​	9​	1964​	8​	1929​	79​	1673​	20​	1764​	141​	540​	108​	1565​
2018	31​	1298​	30​	1842​	28​	1799​	101​	1620​	29​	1730​	406​	60​	​	​
2017	208​	245​	235​	1502​	200​	1485​	296​	1344​	204​	1422​	1139​	18​	​	​
2016	349​	132​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	​	864​	44​	​	​
2015	1574​	2​

He will be making a steady climb up to GOAT elo now watchout!

 

[ND-13]

DeMinuar’s FH is now lethal.

Yes, i think Katie Boulder has done a great job in coaching