Peak Novak Djokovic vs peak Rafael Nadal at US Open, who wins?

Who would win at US Open?

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Ganstaz003

Rookie
Rafael Nadal leads the supposed 'ATG / greatest hard court player' 2-1 at US Open. In fact, Nadal has ABSOLUTELY demolished Djokovic at his supposed 'favorite' or 'best' surface (hard court) two times (2010 and 2013). Whilst Djokovic only managed to do it once (2011).

So what would happen if peak versions of both faced off at US open? Who would win? Is Rafael Nadal the better US Open hard court player than Novak Djokovic or is Novak Djokovic better at both hard court slams (US Open and Australian Open)?
 
Much like Fed vs Djoker @ RG2011 and Rafa vs Fed @ W2008 were the matches where both players were playing closest to their respective peaks at the same time, I see Djoker vs Rafa @ USO2011 in the same way.

So for me, peak Djoker > peak Rafa @ USO.
 
Nadal in 2013 was incredible, also in 2011 I remember a guy doing a classic MTO to stop momentum, then Nadal going AWOL. Those were the days ;)
 
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Charlie said:
Djokovic going through Fed and Nadal playing their prime level of tennis back to back... Sorry but Nadal's two cupcake draws are no match for that.
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Djokovic's USO 2016 draw is the easiest slam draw in the history of tennis. Nadal with his "cupcake" draws actually had to face prime Djokovic in both finals.
 
KINGROGER said:
07, 11, 15 Djokovic vs 10, 13 Nadal.

I go for Djokovic. Nadal caught him cold twice.
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90f8a2202f9d45c884065fd49d37620f.gif
 
Newcomer said:
Djokovic's USO 2016 draw is the easiest slam draw in the history of tennis. Nadal with his "cupcake" draws actually had to face prime Djokovic in both finals.
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It was a very easy draw, but what's the point of bringing it up in this discussion? Nadal had an easy path to both finals and played Crapovic who also had 5 setters against some actually decent competition in the previous round.
 
This is one of the toughest questions in tennis. Novak seems clearly the better HC player but his performance in USO finals has been subpar.
It's basically a coin toss.
 
Charlie said:
It was a very easy draw, but what's the point of bringing it up in this discussion? Nadal had an easy path to both finals and played Crapovic who also had 5 setters against some actually decent competition in the previous round.
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Of course. According to Djokovic fans he never lost a match in which he played well. :rolleyes:
In 2013 Djokovic's draw until the semifinals was easier than Nadal's. Also, Wawrinka in 2013 still was a mental midget.
 
Newcomer said:
Of course. According to Djokovic fans he never lost a match in which he played well. :rolleyes:
In 2013 Djokovic's draw until the semifinals was easier than Nadal's. Also, Wawrinka in 2013 still was a mental midget.
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No, but he wasn't good in the USO finals.

Wawrinka wasn't a mental midget. He already brought his best tennis and kept producing it for five sets at both hard court Majors.
 
The kind of tennis Djok played in 2015 Finals - quote just one match that Rafa played at that level
At USO against a big player.
 
Newcomer said:
Of course. According to Djokovic fans he never lost a match in which he played well. :rolleyes:
In 2013 Djokovic's draw until the semifinals was easier than Nadal's. Also, Wawrinka in 2013 still was a mental midget.
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According to Bullzillions (Not real Nadal fans) Nadal never lost a match in which he was healthy and at playing 100%....
 
Hey guys just to refresh your memory since it's a bit hazy or you guys forgot to watch the match but in 2013 this match already happened and the result was:

djokovic_nadal_tennis_us_open_2013.jpg

No need to thank me lads
 
MichaelNadal said:
Those were bold words at a time when he had never made it past the semis too.
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And all of us knew that too! I believed it the moment he said it, and thought to myself "This guy is gonna break Feds record before its over with." Thought that every moment going into AO 14' and even after
 
I think it would be close. I have doubt that Djoker is the better hard court player but peak Djokovic has more often than not shown up at Wimbledon and AO rather than USO. I'd give this one to Djoker slightly based on the 2011 final. Both were as close to peak as you can get.

Enviado desde mi E6853 mediante Tapatalk
 
Lemme get uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nadal in 4
 
Djokovic. Nadal is NOT a better fast court player, quite the contrary to what some people seem to think.

Cincinnati is most similar to the US Open in terms of court material, etc. Djokovic has been a finalist there 5 times, only to be stopped by both Murray and Federer. Nadal, on the other hand, has won it once, but even 2013 Federer managed to take the first set off of him and push it to somewhat of a close match.

Djokovic has the flatter strokes, better willingness to end points at the net (don't confuse looks with effectiveness), and more importantly, the better serve. Nadal is better at hitting forehands early (on the rise and half volleying) and on the run on the surface as well as creating angles to set up rippers, but Djokovic is superior mostly everywhere else.

Djokovic wins in four tiebreaks.
 
So it's basically 2010 Nadal vs 2011 Djokovic! It will be a very tight contest, but I'd have to give the edge to Djoker in 5 sets.
 
Djokovic. Nadal has shown better form than Djokovic quite a bit at USO (including 2 h2h wins). Novak has obviously made more finals and has been more consistent there, but Rafa's 2010 and 2013 would probably beat Novak's USO every year besides 2011. So why do I say Novak? Because his USO 11 final performance would beat Rafa of 2010 or 2013 imo. Some of it is due to matchup and play style...the 11 Djok played perfect to counter RN. 2015 Djokovic might have been better to counter Federer (yes I realize this was older Fred), but not as good for facing peak Nads imo. But 2011 Djok beats RN of any version in Flushing Meadows methinks!
 
Although Djokovic is without doubt the better hard court player overall it is still pretty close. Nadal's 2010 and 2013 US Open form vs Djokovic's 2011 and 2015 would be a very close match, probably a 5 setter each time.

augustobt said:
Djokovic wasn't peak in 2010 nor in 2013. Nadal was in 2011.
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IMO Nadal was definitely better in 2010 and 2013 than 2011. His serve just for starters was like it never was in the 2010 event, and miles beyond what it was in the 2011 event which was weak even for him, like a WTA serve (excluding Serena).
 
Very close, but Novak in 5.
Nadal did have 2 beastly peaks in 2010 and 2013, playing slightly different in each.
Novak's 2011 was his peak, but 2015 is underrated as well with serve being clutch and playing smart.
 
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