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i would start by saying 4.........rome, roland garros, wimbledon and paris.........
Agreed on expecting wins at Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. But Paris? He's never won it before and fast hard courts like those in Paris would kill his knees. Then again, Djokovic won Cincinnati last year, so anything is possible.i would start by saying 4.........rome, roland garros, wimbledon and paris.........
I wouldn't be too sure about Rome. He is the favorite as always, but his clay stats this year have been subpar, to put it lightly. Djokovic has beaten him 3 times there, and he's looking good on clay. He could easily knock out the Bull in the finalAgreed on expecting wins at Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. But Paris? He's never won it before and fast hard courts like those in Paris would kill his knees. Then again, Djokovic won Cincinnati last year, so anything is possible.
I'd pick Rafa to win 4 titles in 2019: Rome, RG, and Wimbledon, and one more title after that. Don't know what that would be. Canada seems most likely, although remarkably he's never defended a hard court title. Possibly Hamburg or Shanghai. Paris and the World Championship are long shots, but he may be extra motivated to win them because of how much it would add to his legacy.
Agreed on expecting wins at Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. But Paris? He's never won it before and fast hard courts like those in Paris would kill his knees. Then again, Djokovic won Cincinnati last year, so anything is possible.
I'd pick Rafa to win 4 titles in 2019: Rome, RG, and Wimbledon, and one more title after that. Don't know what that would be. Canada seems most likely, although remarkably he's never defended a hard court title. Possibly Hamburg or Shanghai. Paris and the World Championship are long shots, but he may be extra motivated to win them because of how much it would add to his legacy.
I wouldn't be too sure about Rome. He is the favorite as always, but his clay stats this year have been subpar, to put it lightly. Djokovic has beaten him 3 times there, and he's looking good on clay. He could easily knock out the Bull in the final
Still optimistic about Wimbledon after all these years?
Nadal, the 2018 Wimbledon moral winner.why not? he was a point away from breaking ultron in the final set at 7-7 15-40........all that happened while the match was being played with the roof shut in braod daylight conditions........imagine what rafa would have done to nole in the fast outdoor conditions under the sun as it should be for slams........
It's all about the serve. It's always been his weak point, but it was much stronger in his early prime (2008-11). His serve declined sharply after 2013, which left him vulnerable on grass to the Kyrgios, Brown, and Muller's of the world. In 2018, he put much more speed on the serve and it took a superhuman effort from Djokovic to beat him there. As goes Nadal's serve, so goes the grass game.Still optimistic about Wimbledon after all these years?
i'll ask @helterskelter about itDo moral titles count?
@vive le beau jeu !
Amen to that, brother! Nole getting #5 at Wimbledon would be unbelievable.Nadal, the 2018 Wimbledon moral winner.
Next time, he's not going to get to a 5th set. Roof or no roof.
(hopefully... *crossing fingers*)
Do moral titles count?
@vive le beau jeu !
They do, indeed. He is on 28 so far if you don't count Rome. But as far as I'm concerned, he is already confirmed as the moral winner of Rome, too, so I make it 29 and counting.
Great post.
Do moral titles count?
@vive le beau jeu !
It's all about the serve. It's always been his weak point, but it was much stronger in his early prime (2008-11). His serve declined sharply after 2013, which left him vulnerable on grass to the Kyrgios, Brown, and Muller's of the world. In 2018, he put much more speed on the serve and it took a superhuman effort from Djokovic to beat him there. As goes Nadal's serve, so goes the grass game.
His serve was poor in 2009 and 2011, which let's be clear, has always been his weakest point. His losses to the underlined were more due to poor movement and groudstrokes. I am one of those few who think that Rafa was pretty much the same in '17 as well as '18, just that he met a big server earlier. He served 23 aces during the Mueller match, and his serve was fantastic for his standards that year. Haven't seen much tennis this year so can't judge.
I also believe pretty much the same thing
i would start by saying 4.........rome, roland garros, wimbledon and paris.........
This is far more likely than the minimum of 4 in the poll.
He has his chances in Rome.This is far more likely than the minimum of 4 in the poll.
I say 2 or less. May be even zero.
Anything Djokovic doesn't want to take.
If he doesn;t win RG, he doesn;t win any slam. There I said it.
It was a moral title for Novak. But it will be closer to 0 than to 4. Equal at best. Mark my words.right...
Ya, right. Like I said, it's still 2 or less. Google can help you with what "May be" means.right...
Despite Nadal having a bad year so far I can see him winning at least 2 slams which is RG and USO. He is peaking just at the right time for RG and always has a shot at the USO, he was just injured last year but he would've taken Novak out last year. He's been good on grass for years and if a few things went his way he would've won it last year, he has a shot there too.
Other titles I can see him winning is Rome tomorrow, Canada or Cincinnati, China Open and Shanghai outside chance.
So glad Djokovic didn't want another Rome title.