Paul McNamee: Wimbledon aimed to stop Novak at all costs

vokazu

Legend


Paul McNamee believes there is an agenda to downplay Novak Djokovic’s chances at 2023 Wimbledon​

Novak Djokovic will aim for his 24th Grand Slam title at the Championships next month.​

by Nirmit Mehta

June 19, 2023, 6:04 PM IST


Novak Djokovic scripted history at the 2023 French Open, as he became the first player to reach 23 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian defeated Casper Ruud in the finals to claim his third French Open title. The 36-year-old now heads into Wimbledon next month, expecting to level Margaret Court’s record of 24 Majors.

Former Australian Doubles player Paul McNamee fears that there is an agenda to downplay Novak Djokovic’s chances at the 2023 Championships. He believes that there is not a single player on the Tour who believes that he can defeat Novak Djokovic at the Championships.

The world number one is chasing a record-leveling eight Wimbledon title, which will draw him level with Roger Federer’s tally. Novak Djokovic has claimed four consecutive Wimbledon titles and will be gunning for a fifth successive title next month. Last year, he came back from a set down to defeat Nick Kyrgios in the finals.

Paul McNamee backs Novak Djokovic for Wimbledon glory next month​


Paul McNamee believes that Novak Djokovic’s chances at Wimbledonhave been played down just like his chances at the French Open. Heading into Paris, it was believed that Carlos Alcaraz was the certain favorite to claim the title, despite the fact that the Serb has 22 Grand Slams to his name.

“Yes… I fear there’s a new agenda leading up to Wimbledon… one aimed to stop Novak at all costs, as you can’t find a single player who thinks they can beat him there if he plays well,” said McNamee.

The former Australian tennis player added that there is another narrative that Djokovic will reign supreme at the Championships this year. He heads into the tournament as the outright favorite, with the rest of the field being slightly inexperienced on grass courts.

“And then there’s this narrative…only one man will be front and center this year… 007 titles, 007 spirits…his name is Djokovic, Novak Djokovic,” he added.


Novak Djokovic is well on course to complete his Calendar Slam in 2023, which he missed out on in 2021. After claiming the Australian and French Open titles, the world number one could create history if he wins the next two Majors remaining in the season.
 

Jack the Hack

Hall of Fame
Paul McNamee is almost 70 years old, lives in Australia, and last played on the pro tour almost 40 years ago. With all due respect, what insight into Wimbledon does he currently have? What proof does he have that there is some sort of "agenda to downplay" Djokovic's accomplishments there?

The article that this comes from basically sounds like "old man rants about his favorite player." He might as well join TTW. :rolleyes:
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Paul McNamee is almost 70 years old, lives in Australia, and last played on the pro tour almost 40 years ago. With all due respect, what insight into Wimbledon does he currently have? What proof does he have that there is some sort of "agenda to downplay" Djokovic's accomplishments there?

The article that this comes from basically sounds like "old man rants about his favorite player." He might as well join TTW. :rolleyes:
Maybe he already has an account here.
:oops:
 
S

Slicehand

Guest
Paul McNamee is almost 70 years old, lives in Australia, and last played on the pro tour almost 40 years ago. With all due respect, what insight into Wimbledon does he currently have? What proof does he have that there is some sort of "agenda to downplay" Djokovic's accomplishments there?

The article that this comes from basically sounds like "old man rants about his favorite player." He might as well join TTW. :rolleyes:
old people be demented and paranoid sometimes you know
 

Clay lover

Legend
The choice of words by the outlet is weird...downplay doesn't exactly mean undermine, and underrating a player's chances may sometimes take the pressure off the player.

If it's indeed a malicious undermining job I wonder what the big conspiracy is or if the senior citizen is just spitting words out of his rectum
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
These two sentences directly contradict eachother...

Former Australian Doubles player Paul McNamee fears that there is an agenda to downplay Novak Djokovic’s chances at the 2023 Championships. He believes that there is not a single player on the Tour who believes that he can defeat Novak Djokovic at the Championships.

There's an agenda to downplay Novak's chances at Wimbledon.... yet there is not a single player on tour who thinks they can defeat Novak at Wimbledon?

Which one is it??
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
So just like last year. Novak already owns 24 but stupid wimbledon organizers ruined it with their decisions.
Um... are you somehow wrongly thinking that his 2022 Wimbledon title doesn't count? Because it does... he has won 23 slams. Not 24. I don't know why you're saying he already owns 24...
 
Well, we'll all know Wimbledon is trying to derail Djokovic when we see the draw. Until then, such talk is just conspiracy. My prediction is that it will be a typically easy draw for Djoker. That said, since none of the current generation understand how to play on grass, I don't think even a "stacked" draw will stop him. He knows how to play at Wimbledon.
 

tennis3

Hall of Fame
Any truth to the rumours that several gentlemen with Balkan accents were seen entering Parche's apartment last April?? :cool:
Rumor has it that after waiting for 3 years he decided to get the Covid vaccine and dropped dead on the spot
 

joshuayuan

Professional
Faster courts will definitely not benefit him....

Faster courts benefits Nole. He will hit more aces and have less long rallies to conserve more energy.


AO 2021:
"This year at the Australian Open, courtesy of the extra zip and pace on the courts, Djokovic's service numbers have skyrocketed. Through his six matches en route to the final, he has sent down 100 aces, considerably more than anyone else in the tournament.
Only two others managed to reach 80, Alexander Zverev (86) and Milos Raonic (82). Unless Medvedev sets a new record for aces in a Grand Slam final, Djokovic will finish the tournament on top of the aces leaderboard, the first time he has ever managed the feat at a major. The extra aces and cheap points he's winning are coming courtesy of the court's lack of grip, which is shaving less speed off the ball and allowing it to skid faster."

Djokovic is not troubled by fast courts, that's why he won 7 Wimbledon titles, 6 Indoor Paris Masters and 6 YEC. Other player like Nadal is more troubled by fast courts and that's why he hasn't won YEC nor Paris Masters and has more big titles on Clay courts.
 
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T007

Hall of Fame
Faster courts benefits Nole. He will hit more aces and have less long rallies to conserve more energy.


AO 2021:
"This year at the Australian Open, courtesy of the extra zip and pace on the courts, Djokovic's service numbers have skyrocketed. Through his six matches en route to the final, he has sent down 100 aces, considerably more than anyone else in the tournament.
Only two others managed to reach 80, Alexander Zverev (86) and Milos Raonic (82). Unless Medvedev sets a new record for aces in a Grand Slam final, Djokovic will finish the tournament on top of the aces leaderboard, the first time he has ever managed the feat at a major. The extra aces and cheap points he's winning are coming courtesy of the court's lack of grip, which is shaving less speed off the ball and allowing it to skid faster."

Djokovic is not troubled by fast courts, that's why he won 7 Wimbledon titles, 6 Indoor Paris Masters and 6 YEC. Other player like Nadal is more troubled by fast courts and that's why he hasn't won YEC nor Paris Masters and has more big titles on Clay courts.
Wimbledon is now green clay. Speed is reduced compared to 2000s era
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Well, we'll all know Wimbledon is trying to derail Djokovic when we see the draw. Until then, such talk is just conspiracy. My prediction is that it will be a typically easy draw for Djoker. That said, since none of the current generation understand how to play on grass, I don't think even a "stacked" draw will stop him. He knows how to play at Wimbledon.
Is there such thing as a hard draw for him?
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
That article makes no sense?

It's Wimbledon's fault that no male player on tour thinks that they can beat Novak? How is that the tournaments fault and how are they trying to stop him?

Has McNamee lost the plot?
First of all, this article is not from a great bastion of journalism, and also McNamee's point isn't 100% clear.

But I think he's drawing a contrast between:
On the one hand, the media is hyping other players/contenders and even the tournament is doing the same.

On the other hand, the reality is that in the locker room, every player knows that Djokovic is the clear favorite.
 

Silverbullet96

Hall of Fame
What agenda is he talking about by the way ? Anyway I feel like downplaying Djokovic's chances can only help Djokovic, and I don't know how anything like that can "stop" Djokovic on the court. Social Media posts aren't going to come down on the court and push Djokovic's balls outside of the lines.

Well, we'll all know Wimbledon is trying to derail Djokovic when we see the draw.
...Because no player ever gets a tough draw without the tournament conspiring against him ?
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Well, we'll all know Wimbledon is trying to derail Djokovic when we see the draw. Until then, such talk is just conspiracy. My prediction is that it will be a typically easy draw for Djoker. That said, since none of the current generation understand how to play on grass, I don't think even a "stacked" draw will stop him. He knows how to play at Wimbledon.

lol, what on earth would a difficult draw look like for Djokovic with this current field?
 
D

Deleted member 629564

Guest
Former Australian Doubles player Paul McNamee fears that there is an agenda to downplay Novak Djokovic’s chances at the 2023 Championships. He believes that there is not a single player on the Tour who believes that he can defeat Novak Djokovic at the Championships.
Modern problems require modern solutions

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I think the odds of anything preventing Djokovic winning Wimbledon are in this order:

1. Injury
2. Illness
3. Disqualification
4. Another player
 
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