What is the significance of Nadal's victory in MC?

[FeVer]

How much does this change things, if at all? If Nadal had lost here i reckon he'd never overcome the Nole problem. MC is his fortress and therefore also Nadal's best chance to turn things around because of the unique confidence he has in his performance at this tournament. So what does this victory mean?

I think there are 3 main possibilities:

1) Nadal goes on to totally dominate the clay season and turns around his losing streak against Djokovic, doing well over the rest of the season and recapturing the No.1

2) Nadal dominates the clay season but Djokovic resurges at Wimbledon and regains his stranglehold from there on

3) This match changes nothing and Djokovic recovers his form, wins the remaining clay masters and captures RG

Has he solved the Djokovic problem? His tactics were noticeably better: he was less predictable, the FH had more venom as did the return, his serving was flawless, his BH was solid under pressure and he was able to pull the trigger immediately when he saw an opportunity (which is not always something he's good at). But then of course Djokovic was off his game by some distance.

So where do they stand?

 

[svijk]

the timing of this thread would be better if it came out after Rome and Madrid......hard to say anything after 1 clay win, which was sort of expected anyway

 

[powerangle]

Maybe none of the three you listed in particular. Probably some mix of all of them. It's too early to tell. As you said, Djokovic was far from his best, and this is Nadal's home (so to speak). Obviously it helps Rafa that he won, instead of lose. We'll be able to tell more once Madrid and Rome roll around.

 

[decades]

that he was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat despite dealing with a debilitating knee injury that would have savaged lesser men.

 

[gregor.b]

How much does this change things, if at all? If Nadal had lost here i reckon he'd never overcome the Nole problem. MC is his fortress and therefore also Nadal's best chance to turn things around because of the unique confidence he has in his performance at this tournament. So what does this victory mean?

I think there are 3 main possibilities:

1) Nadal goes on to totally dominate the clay season and turns around his losing streak against Djokovic, doing well over the rest of the season and recapturing the No.1

2) Nadal dominates the clay season but Djokovic resurges at Wimbledon and regains his stranglehold from there on

3) This match changes nothing and Djokovic recovers his form, wins the remaining clay masters and captures RG

Has he solved the Djokovic problem? His tactics were noticeably better: he was less predictable, the FH had more venom as did the return, his serving was flawless, his BH was solid under pressure and he was able to pull the trigger immediately when he saw an opportunity (which is not always something he's good at). But then of course Djokovic was off his game by some distance.

So where do they stand?

Not too sure. How did Rafa's parent's breakup affect his tennis? As much as Nole's grandfather's death? Hard to tell until the end of the year.

 

[monfed]

Nadal's turned the tables imo. Djokovic has lost the mental edge over Ralph.
Ralph is now the firm favourite for RG and a clay sweep is on the cards.

Since Ralph was able to break down Djokovic's BH today, I wonder if he trusts it anymore against Ralph's relentless moonsault.

 

[Numenor]

Nadal's turned the tables imo. Djokovic has lost the mental edge over Ralph.
Ralph is now the firm favourite for RG and a clay sweep is on the cards.

Since Ralph was able to break down Djokovic's BH today, I wonder if he trusts it anymore against Ralph's relentless moonsault.

You know, I'm sure Federer thought he turned the tables on his rivalry with Nadal when he bagelled him in Hamburg 2007. It seemed as though Fed was going to win the Grand Slam that year. Needless to say, it didn't really work out.

I still think it's going to be a toss up. There were many other issues at play here - most pressing of which was that Novak endured a personal tragedy.

 

[monfed]

You know, I'm sure Federer thought he turned the tables on his rivalry with Nadal when he bagelled him in Hamburg 2007. It seemed as though Fed was going to win the Grand Slam that year. Needless to say, it didn't really work out.

Federer would've been kidding himself if he thought that. Bagelling him was simply a case of Federer redlining his game for a set. Happened in RG 2006 too when he breadsticked Ralph, had no bearing on the result because he can't play at 150% for an entire match especially on clay,his weakest surface against a nightmare matchup.

I still think it's going to be a toss up. There were many other issues at play here - most pressing of which was that Novak endured a personal tragedy.

So if the match gets close, who would you bet your money on? Djokovic or Nadal? If the answer is Ralph then it's obviously not a toss-up.

 

[dh003i]

So if the match gets close, who would you bet your money on? Djokovic or Nadal? If the answer is Ralph then it's obviously not a toss-up.

This is what's known as a false dichotomy. You phrase the question such that the person can only answer "Djokovic or Nadal". Another answer would be, "I wouldn't bet money" or "I couldn't pick" or "I feel that a pick I make won't be any more reliable than flipping a coin".

Despite this loss, after 7 straight victories over Nadal, including a very close 5-setter at the AO, I would say Djokovic still has the edge in terms of a close tight match...if he gets back into form. It certainly isn't "obvious" that Nadal should be the favorite.

 

[dh003i]

to get a relatively objective unbiased measure of who the favorite to win RG should be, I'd say look at the betting odds.

 

[DjokovicForTheWin]

Nadal as well as his fans know this was probably a one-off thing. Hence the lack of troll threads.

 

[El_Djoker]

that he was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat despite dealing with a debilitating knee injury that would have savaged lesser men.

Knee injury ???

What knee injury , he has none, it's all MIND GAMES ..... he is a liar and a cheat that pretends to be injured to mess with other players.

A disgrace to the game.

 

[Sartorius]

You know, I'm sure Federer thought he turned the tables on his rivalry with Nadal when he bagelled him in Hamburg 2007. It seemed as though Fed was going to win the Grand Slam that year. Needless to say, it didn't really work out.

Federer didn't have to "turn the tables" against Nadal in 2007 (I think he never had to and he doesn't have to now, that's another topic). He was mainly losing against him on clay. After that win in Hamburg he might had his hopes higher for a FO title that year but pretty sure he would still know that Nadal is the better player on clay. And he still ended up winning Wimbledon and USO so, things weren't so bad to say the least.

Nadal's win in MC, to me, makes sense. It was a perfect opportunity for him to get a win, and he was due a win. I still think the rest of the season, and the rest of other possible Rafole matches are all to play for.

 

[JustBob]

Pretty meaningless. If Rafa had beaten Djoker in top form in a hard fought 3 set match, then it would have meant something.

 

[sillymonkey]

Serbian monkey removed from Spaniard's back.

 

[GOAT BAAH!!!]

It elucidated how badly tennis needs Federer.

This was an abysmal tournament with an absolutely shameful final.

 

[li0scc0]

The significance is more evidence of how stupid the posters are who said "Nadal will never ever ever ever again beat Djokovic".

 

[beast of mallorca]

The significance is more evidence of how stupid the posters are who said "Nadal will never ever ever ever again beat Djokovic".

Even the Great Clarky slips "once in a while". :twisted:

 

[li0scc0]

Even the Great Clarky slips "once in a while". :twisted:

Clarky is a true genius. His prognostication skills are legend. HE is legend. Hail Clarky.

 

[sureshs]

Nadal da king of clay. Even with injured knee, he da king of clay. Dont mess with Nadal.

 

[Tony48]

The fact that we even have to ask....

 

[Crisstti]

Has he solved the Djokovic problem? His tactics were noticeably better: he was less predictable, the FH had more venom as did the return, his serving was flawless, his BH was solid under pressure and he was able to pull the trigger immediately when he saw an opportunity (which is not always something he's good at). But then of course Djokovic was off his game by some distance.

So where do they stand?

True. Independently of Novak's level, Rafa played a great match, and that has a great value on it's own. Plus, in any case it has to be good mentally for him.

Knee injury ???

What knee injury , he has none, it's all MIND GAMES ..... he is a liar and a cheat that pretends to be injured to mess with other players.

A disgrace to the game.

Not smart enough to get the sarcasm in that post?. No wonder.

 

[DjokovicForTheWin]

I thought Novak looked quite listless.

 

[Murrayfan31]

Nadal will wear himself out by the time of the French Open.

 

[flyinghippos101]

By my assessment of the match, Nadal played a very good, steady match. By no means was it a mind-blowing performance, but he was able to step it up when he really needed to. The serve was probably the thing that was working for him today; Novak wasn't able to take advantage at all on the serve.

Novak though played a fairly ugly match tbh. Backhand was noticeably off today, footwork was kind of iffy and he never looked really interested in the match the whole time. Overall, Nadal didn't do anything to reinvent his strategy, he just went out there and executed his regular game-plan and did it well. The freebies from Novak also helped out too though

 

[Sentinel]

Nadal as well as his fans know this was probably a one-off thing. Hence the lack of troll threads.

+1

So Clarky can hold her head up and still keep posting that Nadal's game is in the gutter and he should just tank in the first round itself.

Noel had better lift himself up, he's not been playing too well this year.

 

[sjam316]

I think it depends on how Nadal views it. Djokovic was (maybe still is) in his head. If he thinks of this match as "I beat a sub-par Djokovic" then I don't think it will change anything. However, if he sees it simply as "I beat Djokovic" and ignores the fact that Novak wasn't his best, then it could help him overcome that mental hurdle. We won't know until after Rome and Madrid.

 

[Talker]

It was a good win for Nadal.
Djokovic will be his normal self soon enough.
He'll play in Belgrade, be home with family and get his emotional part all sorted out.

What Nadal takes from it is some confidence but he knows it wasn't the best Djokovic he saw.

 

[Tenez101]

For Rafa, it was definitely very significant. It will give him much more self-belief now going into the clay season, and he looks hungry for more.

Regarding Djokovic, I don't think this is as significant mentally as he (and Rafa) knows that he played nowhere NEAR his best, and pretty much tanked the second set. A final is still a good result for him, and he still builds up his points lead over Nadal.

HOWEVER, if Djokovic wants to have a good shot at RG and maintain his dominance over the tour, he will have to make a statement in the next clay masters, preferably by beating Nadal in the final, and ideally by beating him in a few consecutive finals like in 2011.

 

[jokinla]

8 straight Masters Series in a row in MC, that won't be done again, I'd say pretty significant.

 

[monfed]

8 straight Masters Series in a row in MC, that won't be done again, I'd say pretty significant.

It simply adds to his clay legacy which is #1/#2 of all time anyway.

 

[rascaypica]

Nadal as well as his fans know this was probably a one-off thing. Hence the lack of troll threads.

You bet it. i am a Nadal fan, and i clearly understand that Djoko indeed had some mental weakness today. He told yesterday,iif you want to win Nadal in clay, you have to be very 100% mentally. Grass is the same. At this level, tennis is about mental strengh.

So my predictions is that this will enforce the Nadal mental strengh against Djoko, he has been about to win him, few times, but, Djoko was so good that nadal finnaly got nervous. So, I belive Nadal will make a really good clay season, and probably will win RG, and will be in the last rounds of WB. Djoko will performance equally BUT.

I think mentally speaking, if before the match they were 35 Nadal 65 Djoko, after the match they are 45 Nadal 55 Djoko... If we add the clay reign from Nadal, this turn to 55-60 Nadal 40 Djoko.

So, Nadal will reign the clay season and may be grass, if so, and if there are more games beteween them favourable to Nadal... in hard court season, they will be tie, or little bit better for Djoko.

 

[Feather]

How many times Nadal lost to Federer? Does it mean that Nadal will lose again to Federer next time they meet? Come on guys, no streak is gonna last forever. Rafa has to win one day and he won that yesterday. Novak will be back, after spending time with his family and he is gonna win again.

 

[Alchemy-Z]

The only thing more crushed than bricks on the surface of Monte Carlo's Tennis Club is Rafa Nadals competition.

 

[wendersfan]

1) Nadal goes on to totally dominate the clay season and turns around his losing streak against Djokovic, doing well over the rest of the season and recapturing the No.1

2) Nadal dominates the clay season but Djokovic resurges at Wimbledon and regains his stranglehold from there on

3) This match changes nothing and Djokovic recovers his form, wins the remaining clay masters and captures RG

Number 2, maybe number 3. depends on whether Nadal's body can hold up over the next couple of months.

 

[macca1983]

For Nadal it was MASSIVELY important - serious confidence booster. As a Nadal fan I am super happy.

For Djoko I doubt it matters really. He didn't seem to be there yesterday mentally.

We will know more in a few weeks.

 

[Evan77]

Congrats to Rafa, but let's be honest, Djokovic wasn't there. I don't see it as a big deal. You can't win everything. I'm not even sure why Djokovic entered MC. He still won 600 points so life is good.

 

[Bobby Jr]

Has he solved the Djokovic problem? His tactics were noticeably better: he was less predictable,..

Pretty dubious call there. I watched it and nothing seemed special in that regards - just Nadal doing what he does best on probably the best sub-version of his favourite surface.

I wouldn't read into this win any more than it signifying the beginning of Nadal's favourite time of the year.

 

[DjokovicForTheWin]

How many times Nadal lost to Federer? Does it mean that Nadal will lose again to Federer next time they meet? Come on guys, no streak is gonna last forever. Rafa has to win one day and he won that yesterday. Novak will be back, after spending time with his family and he is gonna win again.

That's hindsight. To say that no streak can last forever is fallacious.

 

[Murrayfan31]

The ball bounces higher in Monte-Carlo. The sunny conditions helped Nadal out. Djokovic liikes slow and low bouncing surfaces. See Australian Open.

 

[mellowyellow]

I think Nadals own words after describe the importance of this match, and what he knows the outcome of it means considering the extenuating circumstances surrounding Djoko.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal as well as his fans know this was probably a one-off thing. Hence the lack of troll threads.

Or maybe Nadal has the least fans that are trolls?

 

[Hood_Man]

Or maybe Nadal has the least fans that are trolls?

Nadalaggasi's multiple personalities alone outnumber the populations of most small nations.

 

[CDestroyer]

Or maybe Nadal has the least fans that are trolls?

Well he certainly has the most obsessed, disturbed, fruity, oddball fans.

Fair?:twisted:

 

[cknobman]

Nadal beat a mentally distracted and emotionally damaged Djoker.

The significance only lies in how long will Novak be affected by his grandfathers death.

Until Novak recovers from it Nadal will be able to take advantage as playing Rafa requires peak mental and emotional health.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Well he certainly has the most obsessed, disturbed, fruity, oddball fans.

Fair?:twisted:

Hmm. I agree to some extent. But he definitely has the least spiteful and hateful, troll-thread creating fans out of the bunch for sure.

 

[jackson vile]

It could mean that he has finally a strategy that makes sense, however only time will tell. For all we know Nadal could be doing a "*********", and Novak will be better than ever steamrolling through Ralph and Ronald LOL

 

[DjokovicForTheWin]

Nadalaggasi's multiple personalities alone outnumber the populations of most small nations.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Gut Check]

Winning 8x MC must be thrilling.

 

[jackson vile]

Winning 8x MC must be thrilling.