Bluemoon20
New User
Well whoever leads the slam race at the end of this year is favourite given the ages of all three.
Toni Nadal: "Rafa Nadal was favorite in Grand Slam race, but it has changed. Wimbledon Withdrawal Surprised him"
- Thread starter TennisFan3
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Deleted member 629564
Guest
Can't wait for insightful interview from Srdjan.
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic might well have a few years left, yes. But Nadal might have quite a few years left at Roland Garros. We’ll see in time!
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
I have spent a bunch of time over the last few years arguing that players can go on much longer than most posters think these days (*) but even I don’t think a three-slam lead is insignificant at 34.25, especially when the leader is a moving target and would with the win have remained overwhelming favorite at Roland Garros. In my view, Nadal still is heavy favorite for next year’s Roland Garros. And he is hardly out of the running at the US Open, either.
* Edit: since I wrote this reply, I wrote another post arguing that players can go on longer than they used to be able to, in reply to @Ganstaz003.
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TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I doubt it. Nadal will be 36 next year.
Clay is the most physical surface. No one won F.O titles so late.
How will Nadal do it as he looks very physically diminished already. Plus Titspas and younger players will be bigger factors.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Not really. Not as far as I'm aware. But I don't read Spanish.
Rosstour
G.O.A.T.
Right now I think Toni would rather see Federer win this, on the logic that it will be easier for Rafa to pass Federer than to fend off Djokovic.
CHillTennis
Hall of Fame
I agree with everything that you said except for that last part.
Nadal is not done.
Yes, he did lose to Djokovic at the major that he's won 13 times.
But he had chances to win that match.
Nadal will continue to contend for grand slam titles in the years to come.
The grand slam race (between the Big 3) is not over yet.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Hayole
Rookie
No the reason is Nadal knows he'll have many arguments against Federer is both are tied at 21
He has nothing on Novak is they're tied or Novak has more
Street
Semi-Pro
In what way would Fed secure his legacy as the greatest by winning Wimbledon? He would be at 21 which both Nadal and Djokovic would be likely to equal and surpass in the near future.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Can't wait for insightful interview from Srdjan.
His next insightful interview will be his first.
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Deleted member 762343
Guest
Overall he’s right and his words are sensible but it’s a bit unclassy to not give any credit to Djokovic for his victory, to be to honest. It’s not like he beat 2015 Nadal, his tennis was far from perfect but overall very good. It was a pretty high quality match, although saying it was extremely high would be a stretch.
Sunny014
Legend
Bad thing about Nadal's body is that he needs a lot of practice and needs to be in the game to be competitive or else he will lose edge, without practice his muscles become rusty. Give him months away from the game he might even return fat. This is not the case with Federer, in Djokovic's case too his body won't degrade that easily + he practices a lot, so he is always in top shape.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
His tennis was actually better in 2015.
clay return games won % '21 = 38.76, '15 = 40.47, '20 = 50.43
service games won % '21 = 80.67, '15 = 81.07, '20 = 86.96.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Sunny014
Legend
Quite true.
Despite playing 5 sets in the Semi final ... Sascha TsiTsipas was looking too strong for Novak in the first 2 sets, next year he will only get stronger physically, Nadal or any old man in mid 30s will struggle to beat these young guys
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Deleted member 770948
Guest
Whenever Djokovic beats Nadal the media hypes the win like he's just performed a miracle....
Nadal serves 8 double-faults, including a double-fault in the tiebreaker which also included the absolute worst volley of Nadal's carer........and that decided the match most likely........and its the best performance of Djokovic's RG career.
Nadal serves 8 double-faults, including a double-fault in the tiebreaker which also included the absolute worst volley of Nadal's carer........and that decided the match most likely........and its the best performance of Djokovic's RG career.
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Deleted member 770948
Guest
Actually Nadal won 2 of the last 3 US Opens before covid, and has won more US Opens than Djokovic.
That shows you how pathetic Djokovic is.......he's a hardcourt specialist and he still hasn't won as many US Opens as Nadal........and Nadal didn't even play 2012, 2014 and 2020 US Opens.
Nadal can tie the all-time US Open record this year, going for this 5th US Open title........and 6th Canada Masters title....
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Even though you are a troll account, designed simply to get heat on Nadal, this poast is epic
mxmx
Hall of Fame
Perhaps they just claim that grass is his second best surface (while in their minds they mean it's his second most important surface).
It's perhaps a mental mindgame to say that he's a huge threat on grass...when I don't think he is anymore.
I agree that hard is his second best surface. Perhaps he fights harder at Wimbledon due to it's importance...making him seem more significant. He probably knows he doesn't stand a chance this year and pulled a clay-Roger on imself. The US will be his goal.
Unless of course the big 3 has a gentlemen's agreement to all try to end up on 20 or was asked to do so by the people in charge "for the sake of tennis".
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mxmx
Hall of Fame
That's like saying Federer is pathetic for not winning as much on clay as Nadal...or Nadal being pathetic not winning as much on grass as Federer.
Even if Nadal had won '21 RG, Djokovic still wouldn't be in trouble, because he still has Wimbledon and AO to lean on for his Slam wins.
But because Nadal lost RG, he's in big trouble! Rafans are putting all their hopes on USO. But did you know that Nadal is 1-4 against Djokovic at Slams since 2015?
But because Nadal lost RG, he's in big trouble! Rafans are putting all their hopes on USO. But did you know that Nadal is 1-4 against Djokovic at Slams since 2015?
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
This is very true
topher
Hall of Fame
The thing is Novak’s physical drop off is that compared to the NextGen, who he has a significant lead on already technically and mentally. He may start losing finals to them here and there if he loses another step, but he’ll still be the or a favorite likely for some time at 3/4 slams.
Rafa had the 1 slam as a favorite, which even if it were a lock, which it isn’t, is not enough when Novak’s tallying 2-3 a year as long as he’s healthy.
If Novak keeps Roger’s health, which is not for sure but I personally consider highly possible, he can be winning 1-4 slams a year for the next 5 years. That’s a lot of slams that are mostly on his racquet unless a mystery ATG or GOAT candidate appears, so 3 slams looks pretty small in that respect.
SonicNirvana
Hall of Fame
Cant be too bad. he’s out playing golf recently. Just probably felt he didn’t have what it takes for Wimbledon this year. Which is disappointing considering last year was canceled.
Yeah Djokovic will win for the next 50 years. Stop with this b.c.
No matter how godlike they both are, this and the next year are their last chances for GS titles.
You can mark my comment, and we can talk in 2023. Maybe AO 2023 will be the last chance for Djoko.
The best chance for Nadal are this year USO, and this is if the next-gen are still doing their usual mug stuff, and next year AO and RG. This is it for him.
He will be 36 next year, and he is already physically declined. He will be 100% worst the next year around. And he will also drop in the ranking as well. And while the next-gen may not have been that talented, at his age, you are prone to have days off, and that is all that is needed, to have 1-2 bad days early on, and to add fatigue, and then he won't keep it up at the 1/2 and in the finals.
This year he have a cakewalk till the semis, and while he have a off hour or so against Diego and lost a set, against Djokovic at the 4th he was all done physically. Let's not forget he lead with a break and 2-0 at that set. And then he eat a bagel.
Some people suggest him to skip more Clay tournaments, which will mean worst ranking, cause Clay is his main source for big points. And if he doesn't win USO this year, he will go in the ranking even more. Which will mean harder draw at the RG.
And also he needs to get confidence, matches, rhythm, momentum, form and so on. Let's not forget that his style has a lot to do with a lot of repetition, otherwise he will be making more and more UE, which will also be a factor, cause he will become even slower, which will lead to more UE, and will lead to not running out of his backhand, as often as before.
So he is in all kind of trouble for sure, and nothing is set for him anylonger. The RG 21 was his absolutely best chance to get in front and put the pressure to the rest. Now the pressure is pretty much on his back again.
Can he even handle a serious of 3-4 tough matches at GS anylonger?
No matter how godlike they both are, this and the next year are their last chances for GS titles.
You can mark my comment, and we can talk in 2023. Maybe AO 2023 will be the last chance for Djoko.
The best chance for Nadal are this year USO, and this is if the next-gen are still doing their usual mug stuff, and next year AO and RG. This is it for him.
He will be 36 next year, and he is already physically declined. He will be 100% worst the next year around. And he will also drop in the ranking as well. And while the next-gen may not have been that talented, at his age, you are prone to have days off, and that is all that is needed, to have 1-2 bad days early on, and to add fatigue, and then he won't keep it up at the 1/2 and in the finals.
This year he have a cakewalk till the semis, and while he have a off hour or so against Diego and lost a set, against Djokovic at the 4th he was all done physically. Let's not forget he lead with a break and 2-0 at that set. And then he eat a bagel.
Some people suggest him to skip more Clay tournaments, which will mean worst ranking, cause Clay is his main source for big points. And if he doesn't win USO this year, he will go in the ranking even more. Which will mean harder draw at the RG.
And also he needs to get confidence, matches, rhythm, momentum, form and so on. Let's not forget that his style has a lot to do with a lot of repetition, otherwise he will be making more and more UE, which will also be a factor, cause he will become even slower, which will lead to more UE, and will lead to not running out of his backhand, as often as before.
So he is in all kind of trouble for sure, and nothing is set for him anylonger. The RG 21 was his absolutely best chance to get in front and put the pressure to the rest. Now the pressure is pretty much on his back again.
Can he even handle a serious of 3-4 tough matches at GS anylonger?
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
Good post man!
RaulRamirez
Legend
This thread underscores why I am reluctant to make predictions.
If, as most expected, Rafa won the semi and went on to win the final, he'd be up by 3 on Novak, who would still also trail Roger by two. Future wins at RG would seem likely (pick a number from 1-4) and what if Novak gets beaten at Wimbledon, and Rafa takes another US?
So, Novak winning RG (of course) was significant, but momentum is as fickle as ones most recent match, or in this case, the last slam.
I'm sure that there are more twists and turns remaining in this saga, and what if Roger turns the clock back at Wimbledon?
And there are 125/126 other players in these draws. I don't pretend to know where this is all headed.
If, as most expected, Rafa won the semi and went on to win the final, he'd be up by 3 on Novak, who would still also trail Roger by two. Future wins at RG would seem likely (pick a number from 1-4) and what if Novak gets beaten at Wimbledon, and Rafa takes another US?
So, Novak winning RG (of course) was significant, but momentum is as fickle as ones most recent match, or in this case, the last slam.
I'm sure that there are more twists and turns remaining in this saga, and what if Roger turns the clock back at Wimbledon?
And there are 125/126 other players in these draws. I don't pretend to know where this is all headed.
Don't get me wrong. If you ask me who will i favor in the next 2 year slam i will absolutely say Novak. But pretty much every player have a down in his game after a very strong season, which Djokovic is having now. And he is 34. You don't know when exactly father time will start knocking on the door. At this age it could happen overnight.
Federer at 36 in 2017 was looking absolutely unstoppable, and that no one will take the crown from him. Yet after Wimbledon he may have relaxed way too much, and in the next month dropped his level big time. Then he come back strong for Shanghai and Basel, and then F**** at WTA.
And next year while he won AO 2018, his level was terrible.
That fast can thing change in tennis.
Still i see a lot of people are fancy Nadal on USO, but i don't see him having much chance against even 80% version of Djokovic.
Nadal serve and return is absolutely best on Clay. And USO changed the surfaces i'm not wrong and its faster now.
But still some people saying silly things as Djoko or anyone else will rule for the next 5-8 years is ridiculous.
Who do you wanna Djoko face at the finals at Wimbledon if he is to get in there?
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
I agree with your post. Yes things change fast in tennis and Father Time is catching all of the big 3 more and more.Don't get me wrong. If you ask me who will i favor in the next 2 year slam i will absolutely say Novak. But pretty much every player have a down in his game after a very strong season, which Djokovic is having now. And he is 34. You don't know when exactly father time will start knocking on the door. At this age it could happen overnight.
Federer at 36 in 2017 was looking absolutely unstoppable, and that no one will take the crown from him. Yet after Wimbledon he may have relaxed way too much, and in the next month dropped his level big time. Then he come back strong for Shanghai and Basel, and then F**** at WTA.
And next year while he won AO 2018, his level was terrible.
That fast can thing change in tennis.
Still i see a lot of people are fancy Nadal on USO, but i don't see him having much chance against even 80% version of Djokovic.
Nadal serve and return is absolutely best on Clay. And USO changed the surfaces i'm not wrong and its faster now.
But still some people saying silly things as Djoko or anyone else will rule for the next 5-8 years is ridiculous.
Who do you wanna Djoko face at the finals at Wimbledon if he is to get in there?
I don’t know if you seen my other posts but I am not an arrogant fan about Djokovic sweeping everything. I personally think this Wimbledon won’t be as easy as some might think. He’s never won Wimbledon easy and he had to fight hard to win his last 2 slams this year. It’s just fine margins at present but can easily go other way. Djoko mental strength is amazing but he will need to maintain it to keep his edge on the field.
Djoko is favourite but I’m humble enough to know things can change fast. He was in this position before in 2016 and it didn’t work out. I not looking beyond Kevin Anderson right now. That won’t be an easy match.
As for the final well I dunno as not sure who gets there from either side yet. I think berretini and medvedev will like their chances potentially. They both won grass warmups but Meddy has a tough round 1 to deal with. Can’t right Fed off but I’m not convinced about his chances this year. At nearly 40, coming off double knee surgery, with little match time and fitness I feel it’s a step too far this time.
Not sure what to make of zverev chances but we will see how he fares soon.
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