Those thinking Djokovic is going to dominate for 4-5 years more are mistaken.

[DSH]

That's still putting it on his racquet.

Nadal fans (and Jim Courier) are constantly making excuses as to how poor performance is never Nadal's fault.

The excuse of mononucleosis, of sudden old age at 26, of rackets, of the speed of surfaces, etc.

 

[Rosstour]

The excuse of mononucleosis, of sudden old age at 26, of rackets, of the speed of surfaces, etc.

Which of those did Fedfans blame 40-15 on?

Fedfans know he chokes.

But Rafans don't understand that sometimes, Rafa just isn't automatically the better player.

 

[DSH]

Which of those did Fedfans blame 40-15 on?

Fedfans know he chokes.

But Rafans don't understand that sometimes, Rafa just isn't automatically the better player.

You said at Wimbledon that you didn't think Nadal was injured and that he was faking it and I asked you, what would happen if Nadal withdraws from the tournament?, you answered me, if so, you would believe him about the magnitude of his injury.
The months have passed, you have seen his (poor) performance in the US Open and in the other tournaments after what happened, you still believe that Nadal was not going to play the Wimbledon semifinals, with the Grand Slam at stake, if he wasn't really injured?

 

[Rosstour]

You said at Wimbledon that you didn't think Nadal was injured and that he was faking it and I asked you, what would happen if Nadal withdraws from the tournament?, you answered me, if so, you would believe him about the magnitude of his injury.
The months have passed, you have seen his (poor) performance in the US Open and in the other tournaments after what happened, you still believe that Nadal was not going to play the Wimbledon semifinals, with the Grand Slam at stake, if he wasn't really injured?

I think he would have played if the path to victory wasn't Kyrgios-Djokovic, which is about the toughest two rounds of tennis you can face at Wimbledon in 2022.

If it was Garin and Sinner, he'd have played.

 

[DSH]

I think he would have played if the path to victory wasn't Kyrgios-Djokovic, which is about the toughest two rounds of tennis you can face at Wimbledon in 2022.

If it was Garin and Sinner, he'd have played.

And if he had faced Norrie in the first semifinal, while Djokovic would have faced Kyrgios in the second, do you also think he would have continued in the tournament?

 

[Rosstour]

And if he had faced Norrie in the first semifinal, while Djokovic would have faced Kyrgios in the second, do you also think he would have continued in the tournament?

More likely, yes.

 

[mahatma]

How much would you be willing to bet that it will happen?

Give me the odds and I will tell.

 

[clayqueen]

It's an excuse. Rafa doesn't lose when healthy.

That's a fact.

 

[Rosstour]

That's a fact.

Thank you for proving my point. Rafa fans are incapable of ever admitting "the other guy was just better today."

Fedfans can do this. And I've even seen Djok fans do it. But not Nadal fans.

 

[clayqueen]

That's still putting it on his racquet.

Nadal fans (and Jim Courier) are constantly making excuses as to how poor performance is never Nadal's fault.

It's the truth.

 

[sportsfan1]

The barriers are only mental; young players have to believe in their possibilities and they will knock down any obstacle.
It has always been like this.

Yes but with the big 2 that's been an even more uphill battle for the next gen. A few like tsitsipas haven't managed that yet at slams, at least not to a slam win.

 

[Wesling]

Gonna go against the grain here for a bit , I dont really see Djokovic regressed at all - He lost loads of matches in his supposed prime too, Last couple of years he has had the Covid and banned thing going on which affects his match fitness ,
but thats not age related.

Sure as you age you change and usually not for the better, no doubt Novak was fitter and faster 8-10 years ago - but his serve throw is more efficient now, serving is more clutch, his forehand is flatter and sharper compared to his old more western grip -
Yes he can be beaten so can anyone ,but its a garguantian task to do so - anyone can GOAT like Rune did in Paris, that last game - 99% of the tour would have been broken ( and rune was cramping up bad, he was done if it was BO5) and we all know how the tiebreak would have went..

 

[ChrisRF]

Gonna go against the grain here for a bit , I dont really see Djokovic regressed at all - He lost loads of matches in his supposed prime too, Last couple of years he has had the Covid and banned thing going on which affects his match fitness ,
but thats not age related.

Sure as you age you change and usually not for the better, no doubt Novak was fitter and faster 8-10 years ago - but his serve throw is more efficient now, serving is more clutch, his forehand is flatter and sharper compared to his old more western grip -
Yes he can be beaten so can anyone ,but its a garguantian task to do so - anyone can GOAT like Rune did in Paris, that last game - 99% of the tour would have been broken ( and rune was cramping up bad, he was done if it was BO5) and we all know how the tiebreak would have went..

Fully agree, and I already said it myself. Those best of 3 losses (and even some bad Slam losses) were always quite common apart from 2011 and 2015. It doesn't really mean anything in terms of a general "decline".

Many people seem to make the mistake that they pretend some non-existant "prime" of Djokovic that continously lasted many years, even though it actually only was 2011/15 that was superior than what he does now. 2012-14 on average wasn't better than everything since 2018 on average. It's rather the opposite actually.