2017 RG Quarterfinals: Thiem vs. Djokovic

[DarthFed]

The best thing for tennis is for Roger and Novak to meet in the quarterfinals or semifinals at Wimbledon . Novak won't tank a set against Roger..really sad to see Djoker just give up like he did today.

Not at all worried about Roger playing Nole or any of the other big 4 at Wimbledon. He plays remotely well he wins in 4 or less. And I'd be surprised if Nole even makes the QF there. He's basically just a top 10 player at this point. More concerned about a big server/hitter having a hot day and Fed being a bit off.

 

[crystalfire]

Not at all worried about Roger playing Nole or any of the other big 4 at Wimbledon. He plays remotely well he wins in 4 or less. And I'd be surprised if Nole even makes the QF there. He's basically just a top 10 player at this point. More concerned about a big server/hitter having a hot day and Fed being a bit off.

if fed continues playing as well as he has done this year, then im honestly not worried about him at all. write him in for at least QFs of Wimby. His backhand is much improved and hes well rested don't see why he cant be in wimby finals again. again its a big IF to see if he plays as well as hes done

 

[MartyB]

I was trying to figure out the different scenarios and rankings coming out of the French. If Nadal is up against Stan that's for #2..i get that. What happens if Thiem wins? Does that drop Djokovic out of the top 4 and move him into 5?

 

[Moxie]

I was trying to figure out the different scenarios and rankings coming out of the French. If Nadal is up against Stan that's for #2..i get that. What happens if Thiem wins? Does that drop Djokovic out of the top 4 and move him into 5?

No, I think the only one with enough possible points left in the tournament that can displace Novak is Stan, and he has to make the final. See the live-rankings here. So Djokovic is #3 as of today, and his worst possibility is #4. Thiem wouldn't pass him even if he won the whole thing.

 

[Denis]

Not at all worried about Roger playing Nole or any of the other big 4 at Wimbledon. He plays remotely well he wins in 4 or less. And I'd be surprised if Nole even makes the QF there. He's basically just a top 10 player at this point. More concerned about a big server/hitter having a hot day and Fed being a bit off.

The depressing truth. It's becoming ridiculous, he's wasting the few years he has left this way. He needs to get over himself and start fighting again.

 

[Moxie]

The depressing truth. It's becoming ridiculous, he's wasting the few years he has left this way. He needs to get over himself and start fighting again.

But how do you manufacture whatever it is he's not feeling anymore?

 

[Denis]

But how do you manufacture whatever it is he's not feeling anymore?

Dont think it's about manufacturing. I'll admit though part of me has a bad Wilander feeling about this.

I hope I'm wrong and he just needs to get his head / personal issues sorted out hopefully with the help of his family/ close ones. He is a more complicated character than Fedal for sure.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Dont think it's about manufacturing. I'll admit though part of me has a bad Wilander feeling about this.

I hope I'm wrong and he just needs to get his head / personal issues sorted out hopefully with the help of his family/ close ones. He is a more complicated character than Fedal for sure.

Maybe I am missing something but Yesterday at this time he was still owned the last of his championship grand slam trophies. At this time last year he owned all four and now you think he is just a top ten player?

 

[DarthFed]

But how do you manufacture whatever it is he's not feeling anymore?

Easy, he mans up and realizes his job isn't done. I don't know why motivation is an issue when Fed and Rafa are still well ahead of him in slams after RG last year. He's had a great career but there's a sour taste in the mouth of the guy who finishes as third wheel between Fed, Rafa and Nole. I'd say there will be even a sour taste for the 2nd best of that group, at least there should be.

 

[Denis]

Maybe I am missing something but Yesterday at this time he was still owned the last of his championship grand slam trophies. At this time last year he owned all four and now you think he is just a top ten player?

Have you seen him play the past year? What were his results in the past four slams?

 

[DarthFed]

Maybe I am missing something but Yesterday at this time he was still owned the last of his championship grand slam trophies. At this time last year he owned all four and now you think he is just a top ten player?

Have you seen him play this year? And if he didn't have the easy early draws that come with a top ranking it'd be even worse.

 

[Denis]

Easy, he mans up and realizes his job isn't done. I don't know why motivation is an issue when Fed and Rafa are still well ahead of him in slams after RG last year. He's had a great career but there's a sour taste in the mouth of the guy who finishes as third wheel between Fed, Rafa and Nole. I'd say there will be even a sour taste for the 2nd best of that group, at least there should be.

Nadal is on his way to no 15. That's a 3 gs deficit. I hope it's some kind of motivation. At least he has the h2h over both of them.

 

[DarthFed]

^ yes but if he keeps this way he won't finish with the H2H. Career wise as of today he is pretty neck and neck with Nadal, but as you say Rafa is going to get #15 on Sunday and with the state of the tour he and Roger could add a lot more yet.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Have you seen him play this year? And if he didn't have the easy early draws that come with a top ranking it'd be even worse.

Yes..but he is still the world's number #2 for now..there's nothing wrong with him physically..he just need to reset his mind with Mr Clean(Agassi) ..he will be aight

 

[El Dude]

All of this assumes that Novak actually really cares. I'm not sure that he does. I see a guy who is confused - who doesn't even know if he really wants to play anymore. There's no joy out there.

The amazing thing about Roger is that he still loved playing once he slipped to #2-3. The amazing thing about Rafa is that he worked hard in the trenches for two and a half years to fight his way back. Novak? It is harder to see.

 

[MartyB]

No, I think the only one with enough possible points left in the tournament that can displace Novak is Stan, and he has to make the final. See the live-rankings here. So Djokovic is #3 as of today, and his worst possibility is #4. Thiem wouldn't pass him even if he won the whole thing.

Thanks for clarifying appreciate it.

 

[Denis]

All of this assumes that Novak actually really cares. I'm not sure that he does. I see a guy who is confused - who doesn't even know if he really wants to play anymore. There's no joy out there.

The amazing thing about Roger is that he still loved playing once he slipped to #2-3. The amazing thing about Rafa is that he worked hard in the trenches for two and a half years to fight his way back. Novak? It is harder to see.

You're talking with the benefit of hindsight and at a moment where Djokovic is clearly struggling. You didn't talk like this when shankerer was barely in the top 10 back a few years ago. Nadal? Many of us, except Kieran perhaps, thought he was done. Age caught up to him.

Only time will tell, most of me thinks like the AP, he is too much of a fighter to just fade away. But perhaps he might go the Wilander way.

 

[El Dude]

You're talking with the benefit of hindsight and at a moment where Djokovic is clearly struggling. You didn't talk like this when shankerer was barely in the top 10 back a few years ago. Nadal? Many of us, except Kieran perhaps, thought he was done. Age caught up to him.

Only time will tell, most of me thinks like the AP, he is too much of a fighter to just fade away. But perhaps he might go the Wilander way.

You're missing the point. Roger was supplanted as the best player in the sport in 2008 - almost ten years ago - but he still kept playing, was still happy to be on court, except for moments in 2013 when he looks unhappy. But the point is, his love of playing surpassed his love of being #1. Rafa struggled for two plus years; even Kieran thought he was probably done - it was Carol who held the candle (of course as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day! ;-)

I have no idea what Novak is thinking and feeling - it is all speculation. Maybe he deeply wants it, but just can't find it. Or maybe he just thinks he wants it, and hasn't accepted the fact that he doesn't really want it anymore. Regardless, to be a top player, you really have to want it.

I definitely don't see him going the Wilander way, unless we're cutting off Mats career in 1989 or 1990. Mats had that comeback mini career in the 90s when he totally sucked. I don't see Novak doing that. I think either he finds a way to want it enough to at least return to elite form (he's never getting back to 2015), or he struggles for another year or so and calls it quits. The jury is still out.

 

[Denis]

You're missing the point. Roger was supplanted as the best player in the sport in 2008 - almost ten years ago - but he still kept playing, was still happy to be on court, except for moments in 2013 when he looks unhappy. But the point is, his love of playing surpassed his love of being #1. Rafa struggled for two plus years; even Kieran thought he was probably done - it was Carol who held the candle (of course as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day! ;-)

I have no idea what Novak is thinking and feeling - it is all speculation. Maybe he deeply wants it, but just can't find it. Or maybe he just thinks he wants it, and hasn't accepted the fact that he doesn't really want it anymore. Regardless, to be a top player, you really have to want it.

I definitely don't see him going the Wilander way, unless we're cutting off Mats career in 1989 or 1990. Mats had that comeback mini career in the 90s when he totally sucked. I don't see Novak doing that. I think either he finds a way to want it enough to at least return to elite form (he's never getting back to 2015), or he struggles for another year or so and calls it quits. The jury is still out.

Missing the point? Lol . You suggest that Novak can't recover because according to you unlike Roger he doesn't love the sport anymore. If this is true than why is Laver not racking up slams at the moment and why did Agassi ever even win a slam in the first place. Roger was in a hole a few years ago and now Djokovic is. Saying that Federer is different is too easy of a claim to make as Federer has already bounced back, clearly something that we all didn't expect to happen, just like it's hard at the moment to see Djokovic to bounce back.

In fact, I think its easier to see Novak bounce back than it was to see Federer bounce back in 2013 at that specific moment in time. Again, as I said, you are talking with the benefit of hindsight.

 

[El Dude]

Missing the point? Lol . You suggest that Novak can't recover because according to you unlike Roger he doesn't love the sport anymore. If this is true than why is Laver not racking up slams at the moment and why did Agassi ever even win a slam in the first place. Roger was in a hole a few years ago and now Djokovic is. Saying that Federer is different is too easy of a claim to make as Federer has already bounced back, clearly something that we all didn't expect to happen, just like it's hard at the moment to see Djokovic to bounce back.

In fact, I think its easier to see Novak bounce back than it was to see Federer bounce back in 2013 at that specific moment in time. Again, as I said, you are talking with the benefit of hindsight.

OK, I hear your point about hindsight. I don't know if Novak will recover or not - I have no idea. I am just questioning how much he wants it. It was clear that Roger wanted it in 2013, that he still loved playing. It is not so clear with Novak in 2017, at least to me. That's the point I was making that I think you were missing, which is just speculative.

He looks confused, like he's not even sure he wants to be out there anymore rather than OMing in the Himalayas.