So when is Novak Djokovic going to lose?
- Thread starter royalfan5
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Remains to be seen whether Djokovic can defeat Nadal when it's:
On the other hand ... evidently Djokovic learned a few months ago of a food allergy that had been hampering him all his life, and the revised diet has left him feeling stronger than ever. Maybe this level of play is customary now that he's not groggy and gasping all the time.
If so ... we've got a new number one.
- Best of five sets
- Not on hard courts
- Not on clay courts when Rafa's fighting either altitude (Madrid) or fever (Rome)
On the other hand ... evidently Djokovic learned a few months ago of a food allergy that had been hampering him all his life, and the revised diet has left him feeling stronger than ever. Maybe this level of play is customary now that he's not groggy and gasping all the time.
If so ... we've got a new number one.
And again we have a Nadal/Federer final. I'm not that big a fan of Tennis, but is this rivalry the best Tennis has ever seen? Always seems to be both of those two in the finals and they always seem to be really good finals, like that 5 set marathon at Wimbledon a few years ago.
They haven't both been in the finals since... I don't remember what was the last time, but certainly not this year. (Also in last year's Masters either, which Federer won over Murray.... and I know it wasn't the US Open either, since Nadal won it over Djokovic.) Someone will have to remind me what was the last time Nadal and Federer played each other in the finals.
This year up until Roland Garros it was, obviously, always Djokovic in the finals of big tournaments and winning each time (over Murray in Australian Open and over Nadal in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome; there's also Dubai, which Djokovic won over Federer) except for Montecarlo, which Djokovic didn't participate in because of injury, and which Nadal won over David Ferrer (Federer lost in the quarterfinals, I think).
edit: Wikipedia to the rescue! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federer–Nadal_rivalry The last time Nadal and Federer played each other in the finals was more than a year ago, in Madrid.
So, yeah, the times when those two were always in the finals are long past.
He probably wouldn't have lost against FedEx (who even had his name written all over the place to cheer him up 
) if Fognini hadn't given up the quarter final match they were supposed to play...
It broke his rhythm, and considering he was, well, on a roll, it was an important part of his winning streak. Not to mention that it happened just when he would have become No.1 and equal the 42 (coincidence?
) wins record with the next victory (and Fognini quitting didn't count as a victory), so instead not having to worry about the record and approaching Fedex with just the No.1 thing (he's childhood dream) on his mind, he had to worry about it all in one match, and after a long break... (also not to mention John McEnroe, the 42 wins record holder "pracitised" with him during that break, he probably gave him some false advice to protect his record 
...
)
Too much pressure for one day for Djokovic, I guess. But anyway, that all said, Fed was brillliant, so, even though I think Djokovic would have won if it hadn't been for the break, Fed would have still given him a run for his money.
) if Fognini hadn't given up the quarter final match they were supposed to play... It broke his rhythm, and considering he was, well, on a roll, it was an important part of his winning streak. Not to mention that it happened just when he would have become No.1 and equal the 42 (coincidence?
) wins record with the next victory (and Fognini quitting didn't count as a victory), so instead not having to worry about the record and approaching Fedex with just the No.1 thing (he's childhood dream) on his mind, he had to worry about it all in one match, and after a long break... (also not to mention John McEnroe, the 42 wins record holder "pracitised" with him during that break, he probably gave him some false advice to protect his record ...) Too much pressure for one day for Djokovic, I guess. But anyway, that all said, Fed was brillliant, so, even though I think Djokovic would have won if it hadn't been for the break, Fed would have still given him a run for his money.
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DevilEyes you are so right... Djokovic was in every single final this year.. he is going to be the first till the end of year,I am sure! Federer is so annoying now.. Nadal and Djokovic's finals are so much interesting to me!
What I find so entertaining is the "Djokovic is unstoppable and Nadal finished" camp that sprang up after that quartet of losses Rafa suffered earlier this year.
Djokovic is playing great tennis, but ... Rafa has still won four of the last five Slams. Masters' shields are cool, but ... no one will care how often Novak won Miami or Indian Wells ten years from now. On the other hand, Rafa took the title when it really counted—at Roland Garros.
Nadal is arguably the most adaptable player in tennis history. Even if Djokovic maintains this level of play, or nearly so, Rafa will find something to discomfit and defeat him. Just ask Federer about that.
That's an interesting take, and one with which I vehemently disagree. Even now, at thirty, if both play the tennis of their respective lives, Federer still beats Djokovic in four tough sets.
I like Djokovic, but ... it now remains to be seen whether he can maintain this torrid pace.
Djokovic is playing great tennis, but ... Rafa has still won four of the last five Slams. Masters' shields are cool, but ... no one will care how often Novak won Miami or Indian Wells ten years from now. On the other hand, Rafa took the title when it really counted—at Roland Garros.
Nadal is arguably the most adaptable player in tennis history. Even if Djokovic maintains this level of play, or nearly so, Rafa will find something to discomfit and defeat him. Just ask Federer about that.
That's an interesting take, and one with which I vehemently disagree. Even now, at thirty, if both play the tennis of their respective lives, Federer still beats Djokovic in four tough sets.
I like Djokovic, but ... it now remains to be seen whether he can maintain this torrid pace.
The thing is, even Djokovic himself said it, the results he was getting this year didn't stem from any specific improvement in his game, his technique, but from his newfound confidence and the general mindset... it's more of a psychological thing than some new tennis skill really... that's why I believe the drive, and roll he was on, were important, for him to keep up the boost going.
As far as for them playing the tennis of their respective lives... that's yet to be seen, for both of them, even Federer still isn't that old.
To a certain extent that's true, and rhythm does indeed play into performance ... but superior fitness proved the foundation for said increase in confidence and improved mindset. Once he'd adjusted his diet appropriately to avoid the allergens that had hampered him for years, Djokovic learned that his body could achieve and endure much more than he'd ever realized. Confidence and an improved mindset flowed from that.
You're right: His game hasn't changed. His physical capability to execute it, however, has ... and that'll make anyone feel better about their chances.
Blaming a player's loss on extra rest, though, doesn't fly. It doesn't even get off the ground. The Djoker wasn't off for a few weeks, but rather a few days—which is why you didn't hear him lamenting his ill fortune.
As to their best tennis, I thought it obvious that I was referring to what we've been privy to thus far. Djokovic as we've seen him this year vs. Federer at the height of his powers half a decade or so ago? It's Federer—not easily, but decisively.
Of course, it's highly unlikely Federer will ever again match the level he achieved four or five years ago for more than a two or three-match stretch—which, nevertheless, would still be enough to handle an optimal Djokovic. Like the old cliche says, "I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was." That's Federer, now.
It's a great achievement, and he's clearly the best in the world right now.
Nadal's unique in that he's one of the only athletes willing to discuss his fragile ego structure. I still think he will adjust in the off season this year, and find something with which to give Djokovic serious trouble in 2012.
Nadal's unique in that he's one of the only athletes willing to discuss his fragile ego structure. I still think he will adjust in the off season this year, and find something with which to give Djokovic serious trouble in 2012.
