Seems like 2016 all over again
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El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
In 2016, Djokovic beat Murray in the first two slam finals of the season. Then Murray won Wimbledon and a relatively out of form Djokovic lost in the USO final to Wawrinka who in the previous season beat him at the RG final. Djokovic also crashed out early at the Olympics to delpo who's a one slam winning big server whom Djokovic has dominated in the H2H but has lost to a couple times
In the sh*t-show that 2021 has been so far, Djokovic won the first two slams beating "nextgen". If by some miracle history were to repeat, then in this context one of the nextgen wins Wimbledon and Djokovic loses in the USO final to the guy who beat him in the final of last year's RG (won't say names). About the Olympics the analogy definitely gets trickier, but I know some guy who's won a single slam and has a 2-17 record against Djokovic
Anyway I definitely doubt that what I said will happen even in part but one has to hope I guess
In the sh*t-show that 2021 has been so far, Djokovic won the first two slams beating "nextgen". If by some miracle history were to repeat, then in this context one of the nextgen wins Wimbledon and Djokovic loses in the USO final to the guy who beat him in the final of last year's RG (won't say names). About the Olympics the analogy definitely gets trickier, but I know some guy who's won a single slam and has a 2-17 record against Djokovic
Anyway I definitely doubt that what I said will happen even in part but one has to hope I guess
Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
I would take that if it means the Resurrection of the Muzziah
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
Thiem to be the 2016 Wawrinka to 2021 Djokovic and Riley Opelka to be the Querrey (With Medvedev being the Murray of 2016) 
daddy
Legend
Lol, a pop up with Nick chilling with in backyard and taking pics for some newspapers was the last thing I saw of him. He's not even sure if he will play tennis, when will he resume etc.
Nadal_Django
Legend
Depends on Djokovic really. In 2016 he was mentally fried by the time of the start of Wimbledon. The first time Djokovic and Pepe Imaz were spotted together was after Wimbledon 2016. Now Djokovic looks completely different to me. He looks fresh, motivated and hungry for more glory and more success... But let's see what happens...
Nice observation...results will tell how far your replacement will workThiem to be the 2016 Wawrinka to 2021 Djokovic and Riley Opelka to be the Querrey (With Medvedev being the Murray of 2016)
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Don't forget, Djokovic was also playing 2016 with fragmented chipped bones around his elbow that were keeping him in constant pain, which just kept getting worse and worse. This time, he is has no such ailment. Plus he was mentally finished after having already won 4 in a row at point, here he has only won 2 in a row, so there is a difference.
And we don't have players that are even close to Murray, Wawrinka and Del Potro out on the tour.
And we don't have players that are even close to Murray, Wawrinka and Del Potro out on the tour.
2016 Djokovic did not have the experience of 2016 that 2021 Djokovic has.
Also, 2021 Djokovic did not show any sign of injury or being tired. On clay Slam. Playing several ~4 hour matches. While doing this his mind worked sharper than ever.
No analogy whatsoever. Chalk and cheese are both white.
Also, 2021 Djokovic did not show any sign of injury or being tired. On clay Slam. Playing several ~4 hour matches. While doing this his mind worked sharper than ever.
No analogy whatsoever. Chalk and cheese are both white.
El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
Ummmmmm...no. Believe me I know cheese, just no.
El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
I agree with this generally, but even AO21 showed Djokovic can have unexpected sudden issues with his body at his age. And ofc the level of the tour is desperately terrible even compared to 2016 but despite the mentality and focus Djokovic simply doesn't have the skill or the level that he had 5 years ago. So it really depends on whether he can avoid any sudden issues and can remain focused. Also, as unlikely as it is, there's always an extremely tiny chance that one of the losers on tour will actually show up and not choke which could be problematic for Novak
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Well nobody can predict when someone can get injured, the difference is that in 2016 he was carrying an injury all season long, so there is a difference. Of course he or anyone can get injured at any given moment, but the situation is still different from when he entered W 2016, here he is coming in healthy.
Now, I don't say Djokovic is invincible, especially not at Wimbledon, I know he has problems there, especially in the early week, which is why he could have some landmines in his way.
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
When did the elbow injury start?
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Late 2015. Have you seen the interview by Novak's mother? She spoke about it and how he was in pain for months by kept playing, ignoring it and reluctant to do any surgery.
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
I can see it being hard to do surgery when you're winning everything.
He only did surgery after AO 2018 right?
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Yes, he had to at that point.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
The end of tennis
InsideOut900
Legend
What happened at AO 21 was a stroke of bad luck, not something related to wear and tear of the body. He has been pretty fit since USO 2019.
El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
Yes please do keep going about Djokovic's "bad luck"...
In any case, what happen-ed in Australia happen-ed, what happen-ed in Paris happen-ed. Here we are, we are in London
InsideOut900
Legend
Interesting. I first noticed he isn't fully comfortable serving around RG/Wimbledon 2016. It got super obvious by USO 16 where his serve speed went down the drain.
It really makes you wonder how he got through the first half of 2016 playing such high level tennis, without the pain erroding his confidance levels.
Texas Tennis Fan
Professional
Also, remember multiple players had similar injuries perhaps related to sudden restart and not being able to practice as they normally did.
fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Next gen:
Mystery Men!
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
Next gen:
PS: ok ok, you're right... i'm too harsh on them: they often get the bagel!
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zagor
Bionic Poster
Can safely remove Thiem from said group, he's pretty much done as a contender in the forseeable future.
We'll see how Tsitsipas will recover from losing that final also, next genners are not realy made of strongest stuff mentally.
J
joohan
Guest
I wonder how much social media/smartphone age contribute to this...
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
almost want the djokovic cygs now just for the spectacle that would be. the other two are never gonna do it now, it'd be cool to see someone do it even if the tour is pretty weak rn
zagor
Bionic Poster
No idea but I do think they don't have anywhere near the grit past players used to have, even 2nd tier players.
It's probably detrimental that they receive way too much hype before they even win a big title.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Yep, definitely something you're probably not gonna witness again in your lifetime. Unless they switch slams to BO3 but then I'd stop watching them.
J
joohan
Guest
That too but I mean with regards to their attention span and all. Few seconds long Insta feeds, everything made easy and short so that it does not even begin to bore them (except YouTubers and influencers, I suppose). Everything's there on a plate (screen) at the convenience of their fingertips, minimal effort needed. Suffering through as far removed a concept as dying is to a newborn.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Yeah, can see that. Maybe it makes them harder to stay focused and patient on big points and tennis is all about big points.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Ah if only we still had 2016 Murray. As things stand, I would be grateful just to see him get through a smaller event.
If 2016 is to repeat itself, it will have to be at the hands of someone else.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
The next gen is PATHETIC. They are MUGS. Let's not mince words.
I've been watching tennis for 32 years and I've NEVER seen such INSIPID tennis players.
Even Fed's 2003-2007 - so called weak era - was 2x better than this crap.
These guys lack ambition, killers instinct, mental strength and belief. They defer too easily.
LoveTheGreatOne
Semi-Pro
NahiThiem to be the 2016 Wawrinka to 2021 Djokovic and Riley Opelka to be the Querrey (With Medvedev being the Murray of 2016)
Beckerserve
Legend
A repeat of 2016 keeps Djokovic the third member of big 3. Ill sign up for that right now if 2021 ends 20-20-19
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
Nole was exhausted going into RG 16. He was mentally spent. This time, he's full o' beans.
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