Picks for Pre-season 2019 Slam Tournament Winners

NLBwell

Legend
Before the 2019 season starts, who are your picks for the Slam winners?
(Part of the challenge of picking now is that you have no idea who is, or will be, in good form.)

Australian Del Potro
French Nadal (really, I have to pick him to win again?)
Wimbledon Djokovic
U.S. Open Djokovic
 

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
USO - Khachanov


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NLBwell

Legend
OK.
For first round (the Australian Open)
BGod and TripleATeam were correct.

(My pick of DelPotro for AO was based on his US Open final and the thought that he might be completely healthy after the break in the tour. Of course, he was injured and didn't even play.)
 

TripleATeam

G.O.A.T.
OK.
For first round (the Australian Open)
BGod and TripleATeam were correct.

(My pick of DelPotro for AO was based on his US Open final and the thought that he might be completely healthy after the break in the tour. Of course, he was injured and didn't even play.)
I don't expect to be right about Zverev, but he's more a stand-in for "I don't know, but I don't want to say Djokovic gets 3 slams this year."
 

NLBwell

Legend
So, of the few courageous votes there were before the Australian Open:
1. TripleATeam -- 3 of 3
2. NLBwell -- 2 of 3
2A. Pantera -- 2 of 3 (He has all 3 picks correct, but he was too late in his picks, so I can't give him credit for Australian Open.)
4T. Atennisoue & tennisaddict -- 1 of 3 (Give 1/2 point for Fed at Wimbledon, though, so that might be a tiebreaker)
6T. MugOpponent & BGod -- 1 of 3
7. DeletedMember -- 0 of 3 (again 1/2 point for Fed at Wimbledon)
 
V

Vamos Rafa Nadal

Guest
Mine were.

AO djokovic
fO nadal
W Djokovic
USO Nadal.

I’m sticking to my predictions i sense a 2017 repeat where YE1 comes down to London
This is my prediction as well! :) Nadal will win USO '19. Maybe we'll get that same back & forth we had in '17 & '18 where Federer and Nadal alternated GS titles for 6 in a row!
 

Pantera

Banned
This is my prediction as well! :) Nadal will win USO '19. Maybe we'll get that same back & forth we had in '17 & '18 where Federer and Nadal alternated GS titles for 6 in a row!
Only worry for Rafa is knees. Djokovic I think will have a lull now as that Wimbledon final was brutal as was his Thiem match and the Rome run so this year I think USO will be a tournament too far for Novak...but he will storm back to win AO again next year.

Thiem at USO might be a dark horse. DEl Potro would have been a huge threat at USO, and while it helps Rafa and everyone else he is injured, I feel the game is robbed by Delpo missing. Way he played in Rome and hit his BH he could have won W and USO this year.

But, if fit Rafa will win USO as he has that aura back now.
 

Djokodalerer31

Hall of Fame
You don't think Nole will be mentally exhausted after Rome Paris and W? Some brutal matches that bound to take a toll.

No i don't think, that one mentally tough long 5 setter will drop him off his tracks for more than a month! LOL This wasn't the case back in 2011 and 2015 and this won't be the case now in 2019...And in case you will throw the whole "he is not under 30 anymore" age nonsense i would like to remind you how Federer fought for almost 5 hours in Wimbledon final just most recently...its like Fed fans like to say - "Age is just a number" right? Well...its what we Novak fans say as well!
 

daddy

Legend
You don't think Nole will be mentally exhausted after Rome Paris and W? Some brutal matches that bound to take a toll.

He may not win the USO but honestly - did you watch Wimbledon ? He had a walk through the park draw ( not originally but turned out to be ). The final was basically the only serious match he played, in the SF he never looked close to his best yet fairly easily won 3-1, other matches are not worth mentioning.
 

Djokodalerer31

Hall of Fame
He may not win the USO but honestly - did you watch Wimbledon ? He had a walk through the park draw ( not originally but turned out to be ). The final was basically the only serious match he played, in the SF he never looked close to his best yet fairly easily won 3-1, other matches are not worth mentioning.

Ok people, now WHO THE HELL can stop Novak at US Open?! LOL Who is that guy?! Nadal plays worse than Federer now outside of Clay, Novak is a universal player, that feels great on all courts and feels the most comfortable on hard courts! Who if not him is going to win USO? Washed-up Nadal? Or 38 (by the time the tournament will take place!) years old Federer, whose best chances to defeat Novak will always be on grass anyway?! Or maybe choking next-gen, all of whom just collectively pulled out of early rounds at the Wimbledon failing to even surive until 2nd week (well most of them!) LOL What oyu are trying to do it seems is just projecting your own wishful thinking, trying to full yourselves, that Djokovic is too exhausted and not playing well enough to defend his US Open title this year, which to me sounds ridiculous and biased, because lots of you don't like Novak around these forums! You just WANT to believe your own fairytales! That got nothing to do with reality! And reality is Novak is current world number one and is strongest mentally player ever! Even playing at his 70% abilities he can STILL WIN US Open this year! LMAO
 

Djokodalerer31

Hall of Fame
Basically anyone on a given day. He is not invincible although after the W final one may think so.

Nobody is trying to say he is...but outside of Roland Garros you should not expect him to lose anyone else but Nadal these days and that is only if Nadal brings his "A" game, which i doubt he will at this year's US Open! Journeymen and Next-Gen chokers won't win against him at the US Open even if they will play out of their skin! They just CAN'T beat him, period! He can play with one hand tied behind his back aginst all these mugs and yet he will still win! At least that is actual for a BO5 format, which he still dominates (minus Thiem's SF loss at RG) They may beat him on ALL masters sure...but at Grand Slams, on which he focuses the most - no such luck sorry!
 

daddy

Legend
Outside of Roland Garros you should not expect him to lose anyone else but Nadal these days.

His level at Wimbledon was not nearly enough for claims like this one. Also bear in mind that everyone including the top 3 have ups and downs and after winning 4/5 GS in the last 12 months I am afraid that no one would be able to maintain that level for much longer.
 

Djokodalerer31

Hall of Fame
His level at Wimbledon was not nearly enough for claims like this one. Also bear in mind that everyone including the top 3 have ups and downs and after winning 4/5 GS in the last 12 months I am afraid that no one would be able to maintain that level for much longer.

We are in uncharted territory! There is no way of knowing for how much longer Novak can maintain this level, but what he has right now should be more than enough to pull off another victory at the US Open this year...you are exaggerating! Not saying he will go all gun blazing in 2020 winning 3 of 4 or even 2 of grand slams (even though i still think he is capable of winning 2 of the 4 in 2020!), but right now as it currently stands he CAN and probably WILL win US Open!
 

daddy

Legend
We are in uncharted territory! There is no way of knowing for how much longer Novak can maintain this level

Actually there is a way, not to know but at least to guess. In two previous cases where he was coming from a slump to raise the bar ( 2011 & 2015 ) it lasted approx the same - round about a year, a bit more probably. Maybe his experience will tell this time around, maybe the lack of real depth many posters are suggesting will help as well but ultimately you can't be at your best all the time.
 

Enceladus

Legend
You don't think Nole will be mentally exhausted after Rome Paris and W? Some brutal matches that bound to take a toll.
The basis of your idea is the desire, that Djoker not succeed on the USO.
By the way, when Djoker won Wimbledon in the past seasons, with one exception (2014) he also won USO.
 

Pantera

Banned
The basis of your idea is the desire, that Djoker not succeed on the USO.
By the way, when Djoker won Wimbledon in the past seasons, with one exception (2014) he also won USO.
No, not desire, just having played sport competitively I know how too many intense matches close together can hit anyone, and usually within 2 months.
 

Pantera

Banned
He may not win the USO but honestly - did you watch Wimbledon ? He had a walk through the park draw ( not originally but turned out to be ). The final was basically the only serious match he played, in the SF he never looked close to his best yet fairly easily won 3-1, other matches are not worth mentioning.
Thiem was mentally draining at FO, then the final at W, plus Rome...it will take a toll at some point.
 

Pantera

Banned
No i don't think, that one mentally tough long 5 setter will drop him off his tracks for more than a month! LOL This wasn't the case back in 2011 and 2015 and this won't be the case now in 2019...And in case you will throw the whole "he is not under 30 anymore" age nonsense i would like to remind you how Federer fought for almost 5 hours in Wimbledon final just most recently...its like Fed fans like to say - "Age is just a number" right? Well...its what we Novak fans say as well!
I never mentioned age at all?
 

Pantera

Banned
He can’t completely skip, needs the points if he wants to remain #1
This is where Nole and rafa differ. Rafa not interested in no.1, but Nole cherishes it. Each to their own, so I admire Nole for wanting the record, although he should aim for YE1 record as that's more prestigious.

Personally I think Majors matter more than No.1, but I like the fact players prioritise and value different things.

Djokovic could still skip Montreal as nothing to defend there and I think he is well advised to at least skip Montreal.
 

Pantera

Banned
Yes it does, he needs like a few weeks to rest. Fortunately he has them.
Not if he goes full gun at Montreal and Cincinatti. That's my point really, he should skip one and go through motions at the other. No emotional wars before USO is needed now.
 

daddy

Legend
Not if he goes full gun at Montreal and Cincinatti. That's my point really, he should skip one and go through motions at the other. No emotional wars before USO is needed now.

I think he'll be in training mode, he's not a novice anymore.
 

mwym

Professional
Actually there is a way, not to know but at least to guess. In two previous cases where he was coming from a slump to raise the bar ( 2011 & 2015 ) it lasted approx the same - round about a year, a bit more probably. Maybe his experience will tell this time around, maybe the lack of real depth many posters are suggesting will help as well but ultimately you can't be at your best all the time.

His WTF14-RG16 run is closer to/more like this 18/19 run (than 2011 run) due to similar (less physical) playing style during both. So it is more like18 months rather than 12. This (probably) means his form will drop (have a next slump?) either at AO20 or righrt after it. It is simply not likely that he can win all 3 - USO19, WTF19 and AO20 after winning 4 of last 5 slams, regardless of his age or other 2 of Big 3 form.
 
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