If Novak stays injury free who will be his rival ??We all know deep down is Fedal wont be but who ?? I think Thiem on clay and Zverev on other surfaces.After today ı wont even surprised Rafa wants avoid this match up in the future.Fed ı dont think he would that much interested to involved in this age nearly 38 either.My tips for Novak rival is Thiem on clay and Zverev on other surfaces.
Who will be Novaks rival in general for the next 2 or 3 years.
- Thread starter mistik
- Start date
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Osaka
Mainad
Bionic Poster
The female Djokovic?
Plamen1234
Hall of Fame
We need this guy
tennis tom
Legend
Yah, Wav's pointing to the injury area.
MatsPhilander
Legend
Himself-if he loses the plot like he did for that 18 months or so. Nadal is really the only guy I see causing problems for him at the slams due ot the injuries to Murray & Stan. Next gen were exposed at this slam-the gulf is just too wide as we saw with Thiem at RG last year.
Rabe87
Professional
FFS when he starts to show wear and tear breaking down like a rusty old Mercedes ala Fed then age can come into play, but when you *destroy* everyone in a Slam including the 2nd best player in the world rn, then age ain't nothin but a number baby.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Someone go find Pepe.
He's the only one that can stop him.
He's the only one that can stop him.
TennisPinkBabe
Rookie
Probably Federer, just like in 2015.
Tennisgods
Hall of Fame
With this field, he should be on top a few years yet, regardless of being mid 30’s. I truly feel he could drop several gears from today and win easily against almost anyone on tour.
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
Gluten
Technology Ruined Tennis
Hall of Fame
Pay everyone in his path to WD till the final so he has no rhythm a la US '16?
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Zverev and TsiTsipas.
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
tennis tom
Legend
it's up for grabs--whoever can manage their injuries the best and keep chasing down more balls--we got a reprieve for some more Roger and Rafa time when Joker and Murray went awol. Joker's back strong and Murray's probably our for the count--once they start serious cutting it's over. When Joker gets too old, it'll be one of the up and comings--my bets on ****--I like Greek food, OHB and his heads together better then the rest of them--Like Thiem too, and the Can kid Popsickle--throw in Sharapovalova too.
tennisfan2015
Hall of Fame
Murray
lud
Hall of Fame
Nadal is easily No.1. Always and forever.
Federer - No. Mental block.
Zverev - Only at M 1000 events.
Kyrgios - It seems that he has game to hurt Novak. But,that 2 years ago with him in great form and Djokovic in decline(Still, in 2017 he wasn't bad as early 2018)
Wawrinka - could get some wins. I doubt.
Cilic - Slams - No. Maybe in BO3 he could steal some wins.
Delpo and Nishi. It seems that after their huge wins(Uso 14/Olympics 16), someone put curse on them.
Coric. Hardly. Too similiar style to hurt Djokovic.
That's it. ONLY question is how much motivation left in Djokovic. I think his goal is surpass Nadal.
Federer - No. Mental block.
Zverev - Only at M 1000 events.
Kyrgios - It seems that he has game to hurt Novak. But,that 2 years ago with him in great form and Djokovic in decline(Still, in 2017 he wasn't bad as early 2018)
Wawrinka - could get some wins. I doubt.
Cilic - Slams - No. Maybe in BO3 he could steal some wins.
Delpo and Nishi. It seems that after their huge wins(Uso 14/Olympics 16), someone put curse on them.
Coric. Hardly. Too similiar style to hurt Djokovic.
That's it. ONLY question is how much motivation left in Djokovic. I think his goal is surpass Nadal.
tennis tom
Legend
Joker will be around as long as his body lets him withstand the ravages of time--he's sowed his wild oats and has settled down into matrimonial/familial bliss. I'd like to see him tell some jokes and do some player imitations like he did when he first came on the scene and got shut down for it--add some personality to the game rather then the usual sponsor media trained fake interviews. And, if he'd learn to hit a OHBH like Pete did at 12, I'd be a fan. While we're at it change his country of origin back to Yugoslavia, rather then Serbia that no one know where it is, although I've been to Belgrade and know where that is--bring back Tito, he knew how to party.
TheGhostOfAgassi
Talk Tennis Guru
Zverev and Tsitsipas
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Since obviously Nadal won't it will have to be 57 year old Fed.
Pandora Mikado
Semi-Pro
Nada and Nadal 
Djoko has 2 years like we have not seen before
Djoko has 2 years like we have not seen before 
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Nadal is the guy who is most like to beat Novak the next 3 years? Nadal will be 35 in 3 years. Since the USO in 2013, they've played 16 times and Nadal has won three of those matches.
Three.
Federer also has an undeniable mental block against Novak. Yet since January, 2014 Fed and Novak have played 11 times (all after Fed turned 32, older than Novak is now) and Fed won four of those matches.
Which is better: 3/16 for men one year apart in age or 4/11 for a man 6 years older than Novak?
In any case, Nadal sure isn't going to be the one stopping Novak, any more than old Fed is.
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
No one if he keeps playing like this
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Well, Shapovalov got to him. Had Djokovic screaming and muttering to himself and snatched a set with power & movement and youthful enthusiasm.
Nadal is much more likely to stop Djokovic on clay by far than Federer is on any surface going forward. Outside of Nadal on clay Djokovic's biggest competition will probably be himself, age or some up and comers if they really show improvements.
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
And Nadal doesn't have a mental block vs Djokovic? In their last 10 matches Djokovic has won 8, the same as his record with Fed in their last 10 matches, the difference is the 2 wins Nadal has had were 2017/2018 in clay season during Djokovic's slump and slam drought. Fed Actually beat Djokovic twice during 2015 at the WTF and Cinci. And you have to go back to 2013 USO to find Nadal beating Djokovic anywhere off clay.
I mean I think Nadal is a bigger threat to Djokovic than Fed but that's because Fed is no longer playing well, not because of a mental block. If Federer was back to playing like he was in 2017 or even 2014/2015 he'd have his wins in best of three and most likely put up a better fight than Nadal did in Australia
ohiostate124
Professional
Big Chungus
wangs78
Legend
Yeah, but in 2018 Fed lost twice, and very convincingly to Novak. The issue is Roger is way too slow now. The only chance Roger has is if he plays freely (like he did in the 5th set of the AO 17 final against Rafa) and happens to be on fire with his shotmaking. Those 4 Fed wins you mention were all before his knee injury when he was still moving very well. I would say in terms of movement, Novak is 5/5. Fed was 5/5 until he was about 30, then fell to 4.5/5 until before his knee injury. Then was 4 when he came back in 1'7. And in 18, he's been at 3.5/5. Maybe he's back at 4/5 in '19 but hard to say.
I think the weeks at #1 going is almost a foregone conclusion at this point. The only question is the slam record, the weeks at #1 is already a write off. Djokovic is sure to have more years at #1 which is arguably more important than weeks anyhow.
Zebrev
Hall of Fame
Yes, if he is number 1 through '19 and '20, then he has already broken the record by some way. Tennnis moves quickly, so never say never, but right now it looks probable that Novak will secure another big record on his way to GOAThood.
TearTheRoofOff
G.O.A.T.
TearTheRoofOff
G.O.A.T.
It would be pretty funny if it ends up being Fred. At least, in general; it certainly won't be funny for Fred because he will get bummed in the arse.
They'll be standing next to each other after slams a lot
prairiegirl
Hall of Fame
Tsitsipas - possibly
Shapovalov - possibly
DeMinaur - possibly
It's up to the younger guys now. They have to step up and own this.
Shapovalov - possibly
DeMinaur - possibly
It's up to the younger guys now. They have to step up and own this.
HolgerNova
New User
Boredom
TennisDawg
Hall of Fame
Who is Pepe?
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