Roland Garros 2013 is beyond reach for Djokovic and company

[winstonplum]

No he wasn't. How can a player who never reached the final of the FO (and that was the case for Djokovic last year) be the favorite over a player who has won the tournament seven times. Use some logic people, it is not difficult. The only way Djokovic will be the slight favorite over Nadal this year is if Djokovic sweeps the rest of the clay tune-ups prior to the FO.

Okay. You're right. I stand corrrected. Nadal was the slight favorite last year based on MC and Rome, but in 2011 I think most people felt, as I did, that Nole was the clear favorite--four straight final wins over Nadal spoke volumes. And I'd be lying if said I wasn't on the edge of the sofa rooting Federer at the end of that fourth set. Boy, did I love that ace to win it.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Okay, I'll grant you that. What if they split them? Nole takes Madrid and Rafa takes Rome? Who would you call the RG favorite? I'd give the edge to Nole, as he took MC also.

I think the really issue is Nadal's fitness and intensity. What the hell was up with being up a break twice and then losing the first one at 15 and the next one at love? Nadal basically said he got tired. That's worrying. He lost 11 out of 12 points in the primetime Vamosing/fist-pumping part of the match--in other words the time of the match where Nadal has made himself a living legend.

I hope can find the spark/fitness/determination in the these three tournaments, or I'm not going to have a great feeling about RG.

If they split them, advantage Nole, just because of Rafa's fitness/layoff etc. Rafa wasn't too upset about the MC loss, and really i'm not either because if he would have been better prepared, he could have won that second set. He was running Novak from pillar to post, just couldn't sustain it. As he said, he didn't feel like it was 2011, and that's a good thing. I think as long as Rafa at least beats Nole in Rome, he won't be feeling too pressed about his chances at RG. A statement must be made before RG though.

 

[cc0509]

Okay. You're right. I stand corrrected. Nadal was the slight favorite last year based on MC and Rome, but in 2011 I think most people felt, as I did, that Nole was the clear favorite--four straight final wins over Nadal spoke volumes. And I'd be lying if said I wasn't on the edge of the sofa rooting Federer at the end of that fourth set. Boy, did I love that ace to win it.

Yes well 2011 was another story completely. Djokovic pummeled Nadal in seven straight finals and clearly had the momentum and confidence going. Nadal fans should be glad Federer was around to take Djokovic out that year!

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yes well 2011 was another story completely. Djokovic pummeled Nadal in seven straight finals and clearly had the momentum and confidence going. Nadal fans should be glad Federer was around to take Djokovic out that year!

I've never been so proud of the Maestro lmao

 

[tusharlovesrafa]

I've never been so proud of the Maestro lmao

Me too,It was scintillating to seE Fed in GOD mode..Some insane rallies and the way fed out-maneuvered novak was incredibly..

 

[Clarky21]

It's no use. Clarky thinks Novak owned Rafa in 2012 for whatever stupid reason.

Nadal has a 3-8 record agaisnt Cvac since 2011. He has beaten him in 7 consecutive finals, 3 of them in slam finals. He has beaten him comprehensively across all surfaces. Sorry dude, but if that's not owning someone's ass I don't know what is.

 

[Clarky21]

IMO the clay masters decide who the favorite is. If Nadal wins Madrid and Rome, there's no way Djokovic is the favorite. If Djokovic wins Madrid and Rome, there's no way Rafa is the favorite.

Isn't MC a clay masters? Why does it suddenly not count anymore? Is it because Nadal didn't win it? I think it is.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Isn't MC a clay masters? Why does it suddenly not count anymore? Is it because Nadal didn't win it? I think it is.

What are you talking about? Of course it matters. I didn't mention it because we were talking about someone heading to the FO as a favorite, something that at this point can only sway by winning Madrid and/or Rome.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

What are you talking about? Of course it matters. I didn't mention it because we were talking about someone heading to the FO as a favorite, something that at this point can only sway by winning Madrid and/or Rome.

Out of curiosity, why would the results in Rome or Madrid be more telling about who is the favourite at RG, than those from MC?

Historically, MC is the most representative in this regard.

EDIT:

Whoever wins Rome will win the RG.

Wrong.

 

[Netspirit]

Whoever wins Rome will win the RG. Rome is basically the second most important clay tournament of the year, and all players treat it extremely seriously. It has the same prestige and significance as Indian Wells ("mini AO") for slow HC and Cincy ("mini USO") for fast HC, grass tennis is split between Queens and Halle with Queens having an edge.

 

[Start da Game]

i told you all way back, djokovic's movement is mediocre for clay.......even a kid has exposed it today.......forget about roland garros already.......

 

[JackReacher]

After Nadal won one 500 tournament with one or two real contenders...
Right...
Lets talk in about 45 days...when we really know where he is...

Nadal will win Madrid this week to bring up his 5th title of the year (and that includes a Masters hardcourt event!), and then Rome would be his 6th. Imagine a 7-time Roland Garros champion winning 6 events before Roland Garros and not being the favorite :lol: :lol: Now THAT would be denial :lol:

 

[Start da Game]

Nadal will win Madrid this week to bring up his 5th title of the year (and that includes a Masters hardcourt event!), and then Rome would be his 6th. Imagine a 7-time Roland Garros champion winning 6 events before Roland Garros and not being the favorite :lol: :lol: Now THAT would be denial :lol:

all this has happened.......he won six titles and still people don't think he's the favourite.......i cannot wait for the semis.......nadal is peaking at the right time, just ask nishikori.......the score in the semis will be something like 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to nadal.......book it.......

 

[Start da Game]

just in case nadal has an off day and plays at 40% capacity, djokovic will still lose and these are the reasons why:

1. like how a real tennis match should be conducted, it will be an afternoon match played under the sun.......

2. 6 hours of baseline exchanges and still you would be striving deep in the fifth.......will you even have any legs left by then?

3. mentally and physically nadal is superior.......

conclusion: it is not possible to take 3 sets against fit nadal on clay in a single day......

 

[FreeBird]

just in case nadal has an off day and plays at 40% capacity, djokovic will still lose and these are the reasons why:

1. like how a real tennis match should be conducted, it will be an afternoon match played under the sun.......

2. 6 hours of baseline exchanges and still you would be striving deep in the fifth.......will you even have any legs left by then?

3. mentally and physically nadal is superior.......

conclusion: it is not possible to take 3 sets against fit nadal on clay in a single day......

LOL.....not now.

 

[Start da Game]

LOL.....not now.

you saw what happened in last year's final when people thought the mental edge had tilted towards djokovic.......nadal crushed him on a rainy day with heavy conditions which are not ideal for his game and suited djokovic better.......

 

[abmk]

you saw what happened in last year's final when people thought the mental edge had tilted towards djokovic.......nadal crushed him on a rainy day with heavy conditions which are not ideal for his game and suited djokovic better.......

Lol, what crap. Djokovic was crushing nadal under the heavy conditions, winning 8 games in a row
Nadal only held for one game. Things had changed the next day

Also in which world did djokovic have the mental edge at rg last year? He had been crushed at mc and lost at rome

Talking about stamina, which la la land are you in ? Djokovic easily outlasted him at the uso and miami in 2011. Beat nadal in straights at rome after a tense 3 setter vs Murray the previous day. Beat nadal in the gruelling ao 2012 final after a gruelling semi vs Murray

If it comes down to a completely physical contest , nadal is toast vs djokovic just like uso 2011. He will have to outplay djokovic to win

 

[Start da Game]

Lol, what crap. Djokovic was crushing nadal under the heavy conditions, winning 8 games in a row
Nadal only held for one game. Things had changed the next day

it was heavier than normal that day, sprinkling for most part of the first two sets.......nadal handled him quite well as long as it remained clay.......djokovic dominated only when the clay got totally wet and turned into mud(almost) like in montecarlo this year.......

 

[kishnabe]

it was heavier than normal that day, sprinkling for most part of the first two sets.......nadal handled him quite well as long as it remained clay.......djokovic dominated only when the clay got totally wet and turned into mud(almost) like in montecarlo this year.......

Hope you admit yourself wrong if Nadal loses to Djokovic.

 

[Start da Game]

Hope you admit yourself wrong if Nadal loses to Djokovic.

rafa will not put me in such a situation......

 

[ScottleeSV]

Nadal is a very very minor favourite this Friday. I'd say it's 55-45 in his favour, so nothing in it.

The big thing that will play in Nadal's advantage is the same thing that played to his advantage in 06,07, and 08 against Fed; Djokovic is looking for the career slam and will feel all that weight on his shoulders. He's 26 now. He's getting slowly to that point Federer got to where the chances are getting less and less. Unlike Federer though, he may actually have to beat Nadal to win the trophy. Not easy.

I wonder if he regrets that defeat to Kohlscreiber (sp?) more and more as each year goes by?

 

[kalyan4fedever]

These kind of threads should be deleted by mods atleast for slams jinxing/anti jinxing is the agenda ex:why fed will win ao, djoker is a lock for FO , nadal lock for FO ...getting old. However on topic djoker has more chance of losing to Haas than nadal for one simple reason he owns nadal...

 

[ScottleeSV]

I'd tend to agree, but on clay Nadal still beats him at least half the time.

Funny thing is; if Djokovic could just win this one time, I'd back him to then never lose to Nadal at the French again.

 

[FreeBird]

These kind of threads should be deleted by mods atleast for slams jinxing/anti jinxing is the agenda ex:why fed will win ao, djoker is a lock for FO , nadal lock for FO ...getting old. However on topic djoker has more chance of losing to Haas than nadal for one simple reason he owns nadal...

Agreed...

 

[ctjpm]

However on topic djoker has more chance of losing to Haas than nadal for one simple reason he owns nadal...

Djokovic 'owns' Nadal?
0-5 BO5 on clay
3-12 on clay
8-3, 3-3/clay (if only 2011-2013 counted.)

What a strange definition of owing you have.

Weather heating up in Paris, tourney schedulers throughout the year rarely put Djokovic in the sun, IW SF'13, played in heat & lost. Whoever the winner, should they both win their QFs as long as Feddy doesn't win yet another 'Rafaless' slam (15/17 - ouch!) I'd be content.

 

[Start da Game]

6-4, 6-4, 6-2......book it......

 

[Start da Game]

These kind of threads should be deleted by mods atleast for slams jinxing/anti jinxing is the agenda ex:why fed will win ao, djoker is a lock for FO , nadal lock for FO ...getting old. However on topic djoker has more chance of losing to Haas than nadal for one simple reason he owns nadal...

owns? i understand fediva maniacs have been futilely searching for a player who can "own" nadal but that player just doesn't exist.......

 

[World Beater]

6-4, 6-4, 6-2......book it......

isnt it a little early for you to start DA FAIL?

will you man-up and leave if nadal cannot win in straights?

or will you be a coward and back-track?

 

[Start da Game]

isnt it a little early for you to start DA FAIL?

will you man-up and leave if nadal cannot win in straights?

or will you be a coward and back-track?

crawl back to the hole where you came from.......nadal cannot be defeated at roland garros........

he should have closed it out in 4 but did it in 5 anyway in the end.......proved why he is the GOAT.......

 

[World Beater]

crawl back to the hole where you came from.......nadal cannot be defeated at roland garros........

he should have closed it out in 4 but did it in 5 anyway in the end.......proved why he is the GOAT.......

He has been defeated before. you are just delusional as always

nadal deserved this match but it was a far cry from what you predicted.

as usual, you are the coward. you made a wrong prediction with incredible arrogance.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Was out of reach in 2014 too

 

[Djokovic2011]

Was out of reach in 2014 too

Hopefully not in 2015

 

[Start da Game]

Hopefully not in 2015

2015 could be a great chance but i also have a feeling he is running out of chances......there are other players now who can take him out on clay......forget rafa, he will win even if he is out of form for that fortnight provided he is physically fit......

 

[BringBackSV]

Even though he was dismissed early in 14, curious to see what Kei can do (if healthy) at RG 15.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Hopefully not in 2015

Well, according to Becker, it's getting harder every year that goes by :twisted: I have a feeling someone not named Rafa could take him out this time.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

After Nadal won one 500 tournament with one or two real contenders...
Right...
Lets talk in about 45 days...when we really know where he is...

 

[punsalen]

Most likely will remain so every year. Like Seles and that fellow PED abuser Justine Henin at Wimbledon, Djokovic is just not talented enough to triumph at all 4 slams. I was about to say on his worst surface and slam, but unlike the more talented Seles and Henin, clay is not his worst surface and yet he still lacks the talent necessary to triumph there as they did on their truly worst surface only.