Predict Novak's Career

Behind Gasquet, Nole is easily my second favourite player on tour and I would personally love to see him have a successful career. Say if he were to retire in 2020, but which time he would be 32 or 33, how many slams do you think he will have won? Do you think he will ever reach and maintain World Number One status? I think Nole will win at least five more hardcourt slams before he retires and one Wimbledon. The French I just can't see it. That would take him up to seven slams. I also feel he will be world number one in the next 18 months. Any other knowledgeable tennis fans have any opinions on this?

Cheers,

Keep Right On.
 
I can definitly see Nole getting hot and winning australian and french back to back. He is so much of a confidence player. He would win a close match against a good player at AU and then become unbeatable for a couple of months giving him the world no. 1.

But thats about all I can see him doing....maybe a US open later in his career.
 

oy vey

Semi-Pro
Two to four slams. I don't think he wants to make tennis his whole life. I think he has a lot of irons in the fire and wants to do other things. I can see him doing television/movies, investing in other things besides his restaurants and tennis schools.
 
Two to four slams. I don't think he wants to make tennis his whole life. I think he has a lot of irons in the fire and wants to do other things. I can see him doing television/movies, investing in other things besides his restaurants and tennis schools.

Either way he'll make a hell of a lot of $$$ won't he? I read somewhere his new clothing deal is worth $50 million over ten years, which is just insane. He's such a great persona as well, you'd have to think he'll get spots on TV and such when he hangs up his racquet.
 

clayman2000

Hall of Fame
I dunno how many slams hell get. I wouldnt be overly shocked if he never one again. I wouldnt be overly shocked in he won won 5 - 6 more.

That being said i expect him to get 3 slams. He will never be no 1, but he will always be around in the top 5
 

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
Either way he'll make a hell of a lot of $$$ won't he? I read somewhere his new clothing deal is worth $50 million over ten years, which is just insane. He's such a great persona as well, you'd have to think he'll get spots on TV and such when he hangs up his racquet.

Yeah speaking of which, is that is own clothing line? I noticed he's not rocking the Adidas apparel aside from the shoes anymore.

OP - You're serious he can't win the French? He pretty much learned to play tennis on clay, so I think he's probably got a better shot to win his next major on clay or grass rather than hard court.

I'd give anything to be able to slide like he does on hard court though, man it's probably not good for your ankles but it is pretty cool to see him sliding around to stay in points.
 

Lion King

Semi-Pro
I heard that he got 25 million for the racquet change.

Wow! I I were offered this much for a racquet change, I might have thought of it if I were Novak. Making this much more than makes up for any loss in prize money he may have suffered because of the change.
 

yellowoctopus

Professional
one slam wonder

Possibly, depends on a few things.
- How quickly the younger players develop, expanding the competition.
- How long Federer and Nadal hangs around.
- Most importantly, can he shakes the habits of growing up in a priviledged family and find enough drive to tough through the pain, win for himself and not for the parents....be a man of his own.

Talent is definitely not an issue for Djokovic.
 

Biotic

Hall of Fame
I can definitly see Nole getting hot and winning australian and french back to back. He is so much of a confidence player. He would win a close match against a good player at AU and then become unbeatable for a couple of months giving him the world no. 1.

But thats about all I can see him doing....maybe a US open later in his career.

I've never seen a prediction thread where everyone was a 100 acres away.

That guy got some of it right.
 

Enceladus

Legend
He would win a maximum of 2 slams and will only reach a career high of Number 2 in the world.
Two to four slams. I don't think he wants to make tennis his whole life. I think he has a lot of irons in the fire and wants to do other things. I can see him doing television/movies, investing in other things besides his restaurants and tennis schools.
one slam wonder
10 years later :cool::giggle::whistle:
maxresdefault.jpg
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Ok now I have an excuse to shamelessly brag about predicting Djokovic's 2011 season. I predicted he'd win AO, USO and become #1 that year based on his late 2010 performances. Of course, Djokovic far exceeded those expectations anyway.
Overall I would've guessed around 6-7 min, 11-12 max, mostly if not all on HC. I never expected 5 Wimbledons.
By 2018 I thought it was actually over for him. When the Wimbledon draw came out I picked Edmund to beat him in the 3R (which none of my buddies really disputed). Boy, were we in for the ride of our lives that fortnight!
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
Was the best possible prediction that anyone could have made in early 2010 I guess.
In 2007 I predicted about 5-6 Slams
I then revised that down to 2 or 3 in 2010
But after 2011/12, I increased my prediction to 12 Slams, and finally in 2014-15 I raised it to 15 Slams
And it's 17 Slams and counting...

What a player
Was the best possible prediction that anyone could have made in early 2010 I guess.
In 2007 I predicted about 5-6 Slams
I then revised that down to 2 or 3 in 2010
But after 2011/12, I increased my prediction to 12 Slams, and finally in 2014-15 I raised it to 15 Slams
And it's 17 Slams and counting...

What a player
How many do you predict now?

In 2010, I would have said 2-3. By the end of 2011 I was saying at least 12. Then 2013 happened (which I still think should be forbidden by law to mention) and I thought he would be lucky to get there. In 2015-16 I thought he would be able to surpass Fed. In 2017 early-2018 I thought that he would never won another slam. Now I'm certain that I have no Idea what Is going to happen.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
How many do you predict now?

In 2010, I would have said 2-3. By the end of 2011 I was saying at least 12. Then 2013 happened (which I still think should be forbidden by law to mention) and I thought he would be lucky to get there. In 2015-16 I thought he would be able to surpass Fed. In 2017 early-2018 I thought that he would never won another slam. Now I'm certain that I have no Idea what Is going to happen.

I've gotten made fun of on here since 2016 for simply asking if Djokovic can pass Federer. If not for an 11th hour 3 slam surge by the old man it would have already happened. Well, been equaled. For a little longer...

I think Djokovic is going to beat out both Federer and Nadal by the time it's all said and done in the slam race. I really do. And I honestly always have since about 2014 onwards. Which I could obviously be wrong but in my gut I've always thought that way. And it is documented throughout this website over the years.

Unless several players suddenly step up, he's not slowing down any time soon. And I emphasize several. Because even one guy depriving him every now and again won't be enough to stop him from 21+, IMO.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I've gotten made fun of on here since 2016 for simply asking if Djokovic can pass Federer. If not for an 11th hour 3 slam surge by the old man it would have already happened. Well, been equaled. For a little longer...

I think Djokovic is going to beat out both Federer and Nadal by the time it's all said and done in the slam race. I really do. And I honestly always have since about 2014 onwards. Which I could obviously be wrong but in my gut I've always thought that way. And it is documented throughout this website over the years.

Unless several players suddenly step up, he's not slowing down any time soon. And I emphasize several. Because even one guy depriving him every now and again won't be enough to stop him from 21+, IMO.
I know what you mean. I was laughed at in 2014 for thinking Djokovic could win 11 slams and saying even back then that he was the third best player ever. Well, it's say to say now that we might have the last laugh. It's just that since 2011 you just always feel like he is the best player in the world and that he is at his best no one can beat him, not even Fedal. The year that comes after 2012 aside, whenever he has been healthy he has been the best.

Do you also get the feeling that in the general population (people that aren't tennis fanatics) that they believe that Djokovic Is the best even though Fed has a lot more fans?
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
I know what you mean. I was laughed at in 2014 for thinking Djokovic could win 11 slams and saying even back then that he was the third best player ever. Well, it's say to say now that we might have the last laugh. It's just that since 2011 you just always feel like he is the best player in the world and that he is at his best no one can beat him, not even Fedal. The year that comes after 2012 aside, whenever he has been healthy he has been the best.

Do you also get the feeling that in the general population (people that aren't tennis fanatics) that they believe that Djokovic Is the best even though Fed has a lot more fans?

I can only speak anecdotally, which is obviously not scientific evidence, but based on anecdotal evidence, yes - I do believe that. Most of my friends have long considered Djokovic the best, dating back to 2011 onwards.

Personally, I wasn't lucky enough to watch Federer when he was younger. I started watching tennis seriously in 2008, I watched all the way back to Sampras vs Agassi as a very little kid but didn't really care. I became a fan after he lost Wimbledon 2008, having no idea how many slams he had, or even caring.

So I try to stay out of the whole 2003-2007 debates because watching old matches on Youtube will always be an injustice for a lot of different reasons.

Personally, Djokovic is the best I've ever watched, and I've said it many times on here. Also, if I had become a fan later on, I'd have very likely been a Djokovic fan, not Federer and then everyone else (I'd still have been a Federer fan though, I just like the guy). Djokovic is a lot more like me personality wise than Fed is, and a lot of people tend to favor those in individual sports who are similar to us. I took a liking to Fed because I liked how he handled himself in the 2008 Wimbledon match, despite losing. I instantly became a fan that day.

I think at the Big 3's absolute best, it's a total crapshoot affair on anything but clay when it comes to Rafa. They all have a legitimate claim toward being the best of all time. Though like I've also said before, there are thousands of players we have never watched, or players we were not even alive to see. So the GOAT debate has always been a bit silly to me for that reason.

That's why I like ranking them in terms of who is the best I've watched. And for me, personally, that's Novak. And I think Federer when everything is clicking is probably the best of the 3. But that hasn't happened often enough for me in my personal viewing days to put him at #1. I'm just being honest.

A lot of Federer fans disagree with me on that and that's fine. I get it. Maybe I'd have a different opinion if I watched Federer from day 1. But that's just another hypothetical.
 

The Guru

Legend
I know what you mean. I was laughed at in 2014 for thinking Djokovic could win 11 slams and saying even back then that he was the third best player ever. Well, it's say to say now that we might have the last laugh. It's just that since 2011 you just always feel like he is the best player in the world and that he is at his best no one can beat him, not even Fedal. The year that comes after 2012 aside, whenever he has been healthy he has been the best.

Do you also get the feeling that in the general population (people that aren't tennis fanatics) that they believe that Djokovic Is the best even though Fed has a lot more fans?
The year that comes after 2012 (lol) was incredibly close to being an amazing year. It's the most frustrating year ever. Epic win over Peak Wawa and then the demolition of Peak Murray, Berdych and Ferrer and goes into the French Open and almost beats Rafa. He wins that match and no way Rafa has the summer he has and Djokovic with all that confidence would wreck him. We won't mention the 2013 W Final. Even without that he was so close to a 3 slam + WTF year. Why'd he have to touch the damn net? :cry:
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I can only speak anecdotally, which is obviously not scientific evidence, but based on anecdotal evidence, yes - I do believe that. Most of my friends have long considered Djokovic the best, dating back to 2011 onwards.

Personally, I wasn't lucky enough to watch Federer when he was younger. I started watching tennis seriously in 2008, I watched all the way back to Sampras vs Agassi as a very little kid but didn't really care. I became a fan after he lost Wimbledon 2008, having no idea how many slams he had, or even caring.

So I try to stay out of the whole 2003-2007 debates because watching old matches on Youtube will always be an injustice for a lot of different reasons.

Personally, Djokovic is the best I've ever watched, and I've said it many times on here. Also, if I had become a fan later on, I'd have very likely been a Djokovic fan, not Federer and then everyone else (I'd still have been a Federer fan though, I just like the guy). Djokovic is a lot more like me personality wise than Fed is, and a lot of people tend to favor those in individual sports who are similar to us. I took a liking to Fed because I liked how he handled himself in the 2008 Wimbledon match, despite losing. I instantly became a fan that day.

I think at the Big 3's absolute best, it's a total crapshoot affair on anything but clay when it comes to Rafa. They all have a legitimate claim toward being the best of all time. Though like I've also said before, there are thousands of players we have never watched, or players we were not even alive to see. So the GOAT debate has always been a bit silly to me for that reason.

That's why I like ranking them in terms of who is the best I've watched. And for me, personally, that's Novak. And I think Federer when everything is clicking is probably the best of the 3. But that hasn't happened often enough for me in my personal viewing days to put him at #1. I'm just being honest.

A lot of Federer fans disagree with me on that and that's fine. I get it. Maybe I'd have a different opinion if I watched Federer from day 1. But that's just another hypothetical.
You're one of the most honest posters I have ever seen. Personally, even thought I don't like Federer and I respect Nadal, the only player that I will accept for people to say Is better than Djokovic is Federer. Sorry Nadal but for me it's pretty obvious who the better player is outside of clay.

I don't know if Djokovic is similar to me personality wise as some of the things he says are ridiculous even to me but we are both very emotional people and I have an awful temper which he sometimes has on the court.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
The year that comes after 2012 (lol) was incredibly close to being an amazing year. It's the most frustrating year ever. Epic win over Peak Wawa and then the demolition of Peak Murray, Berdych and Ferrer and goes into the French Open and almost beats Rafa. He wins that match and no way Rafa has the summer he has and Djokovic with all that confidence would wreck him. We won't mention the 2013 W Final. Even without that he was so close to a 3 slam + WTF year. Why'd he have to touch the damn net? :cry:
Look when it comes to that ridiculous excuse of a year, he was very close to having a good one. However, the reason I developed PTSD from that year is because he lost all those important matches that IMO he had no business losing. How do you touch the net at such a critical moment in the match? How do lose to Nadal two sets 6-2 and 6-1 and then proceed to constantly make him children on HC in the next 7 years. Even that year, he destroyed him in their next two matches.

This is why I have to have a conversation with the moderators about that year being mentioned on these forums
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
The year that comes after 2012 (lol) was incredibly close to being an amazing year. It's the most frustrating year ever. Epic win over Peak Wawa and then the demolition of Peak Murray, Berdych and Ferrer and goes into the French Open and almost beats Rafa. He wins that match and no way Rafa has the summer he has and Djokovic with all that confidence would wreck him. We won't mention the 2013 W Final. Even without that he was so close to a 3 slam + WTF year. Why'd he have to touch the damn net? :cry:
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
To add a bit-

Federer at his absolute best is an absolute marvel. Nadal on clay is an absolute marvel. And Djokovic's ability to win matches he is on the verge of defeat in is an absolute marvel. And you could come up with a dozen or so more superlatives for each of them that are 'marvel' status.

All 3 have a legitimate claim toward thinking they're the best like I said.

But to me, Novak has always been the best by a little bit. I mean, I've seen him win 16 slams now. 16 !!! Whereas with Fed I've been lucky enough to see a little over half that. And that's why Federer's losses to Djokovic have hurt me in the past. Because I didn't think of it as 'Federer's got this'. You'd have to go back to 2012 Wimbledon the last time I was confident in Federer beating Djokovic on any surface.

But the match that made me become a fan of Djokovic for good was the 2014 Wimby final. It hurt like hell at the time, still does - but to be able to compose himself from almost a monumental collapse was pretty amazing. With the crowd not on his side (a usual thing he has to deal with) etc etc. Probably one of the most impressive wins in his career. Form and clutch wise.

Since then I've just accepted the fact that the dude is incredible. Period. Throw out all the hypothetical bs and all the crazy attempts at rationalization..and you come to that one simple indisputable fact.

Which isn't to say Nadal or Fred are some bum off the street to me. No, they're right up there with Novak.

It's splitting hairs to me. But I have little problem admitting Djokovic is the best I've seen. And it's all just my opinion.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
You're one of the most honest posters I have ever seen. Personally, even thought I don't like Federer and I respect Nadal, the only player that I will accept for people to say Is better than Djokovic is Federer. Sorry Nadal but for me it's pretty obvious who the better player is outside of clay.

I don't know if Djokovic is similar to me personality wise as some of the things he says are ridiculous even to me but we are both very emotional people and I have an awful temper which he sometimes has on the court.

From 2014 onwards I was finally able to just be honest about Djokovic when it comes to playing against Federer and his credentials in general. Look, the age stuff is all valid and well and good. But it's almost always used in a way that tries to make it seem like Djokovic wouldn't give any form or age of Federer fits. It's almost always used in a way to just insult the guy.

And yeah, every fanbase does it. I've taken part in it myself. I'm not immune to it.

But at the end of the day - when you can be calm and level headed about everything (especially now with tennis not happening), everyone should at least be able to understand why I have the opinions that I do. Even if they don't agree. And plenty don't.

As far as the whole GOAT thing, I haven't a clue. My fandom of Federer won't diminish at all if he ends up 3rd on the list. Because that's not what got me into tennis, and although it's a big reason I've stuck around (the slam race is my favorite part of tennis right now) - it's not the end all be all to me.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
From 2014 onwards I was finally able to just be honest about Djokovic when it comes to playing against Federer and his credentials in general. Look, the age stuff is all valid and well and good. But it's almost always used in a way that tries to make it seem like Djokovic wouldn't give any form or age of Federer fits. It's almost always used in a way to just insult the guy.

And yeah, every fanbase does it. I've taken part in it myself. I'm not immune to it.

But at the end of the day - when you can be calm and level headed about everything (especially now with tennis not happening), everyone should at least be able to understand why I have the opinions that I do. Even if they don't agree. And plenty don't.

As far as the whole GOAT thing, I haven't a clue. My fandom of Federer won't diminish at all if he ends up 3rd on the list. Because that's not what got me into tennis, and although it's a big reason I've stuck around (the slam race is my favorite part of tennis right now) - it's not the end all be all to me.
So in 2014 you finally saw the power of the dark side. I keep telling people that they don't know the power of the dark side. It's a shame.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
So in 2014 you finally saw the power of the dark side. I keep telling people that they don't know the power of the dark side. It's a shame.

2014 Wimbledon forever changed my opinion of Djokovic. For the better. Never hated him, but wasn't honest about how good he was before then either.

In hindsight I'm sort of even happy Federer didn't win. Because I needed that fresh perspective because it helped me take sports a lot less seriously and just enjoy the sport again. When Fed had his resurgence it was easy to get bitterly disappointed again at his close losses because we as a fandom got to taste winning again...but 2014 Wimby helped me deal with any loss from then onwards as well. 2019 Wimbledon included in that.

Now, for Fed fans that cannot stand the guy, yeah I get it. But I've always liked Djokovic - or at least not hated him. So it made the losses a lot easier to handle. Sometimes I'll get annoyed (and engage in) the bickering on here. But we're all human and that happens lol.

I'm going to miss all 3 of them when they're gone, that's for sure.
 

ND-13

Legend
2014 Wimbledon forever changed my opinion of Djokovic. For the better. Never hated him, but wasn't honest about how good he was before then either.

In hindsight I'm sort of even happy Federer didn't win. Because I needed that fresh perspective because it helped me take sports a lot less seriously and just enjoy the sport again. When Fed had his resurgence it was easy to get bitterly disappointed again at his close losses because we as a fandom got to taste winning again...but 2014 Wimby helped me deal with any loss from then onwards as well. 2019 Wimbledon included in that.

Now, for Fed fans that cannot stand the guy, yeah I get it. But I've always liked Djokovic - or at least not hated him. So it made the losses a lot easier to handle. Sometimes I'll get annoyed (and engage in) the bickering on here. But we're all human and that happens lol.

I'm going to miss all 3 of them when they're gone, that's for sure.

All of the Big 3 have to be cherished . It is so silly to keep fighting who is better . Many of us are spending more time to hate on the opponent than cherish the wins and the incredible matches they have given us
 

DjokoGOAT

Semi-Pro
I think novak will win at least 8 more slams easily. Federer from age 32-38 won 3 and would have won 8-9 without the GOAT stopping him. Novak is already ageing much better so will surpass grandpa Fed’s numbers with ease.
 
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