Djokovic Era

[DarthFed]

But they weren't near equals at that point, not to split hairs or anything

:laydownlaughing
It's called diplomacy!

Gloves have been off for awhile, there shall be no diplomacy on this board :devil

 

[nehmeth]

Gloves have been off for awhile, there shall be no diplomacy on this board :devil

Anything can happen, but if Djokovic remains healthy, his chances of catching Nadal (in various categories), is pretty good. He's done everything he knows to prepare himself for the long haul, from the stretching regimens he began as a young lad with Jelena Gencic, up to today, with his diet and discipline.

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different. Such things can make even the staunchest fans feel a little angst.

 

[Kieran]

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different.

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op, it's taken its toll on him. But he never returned strongly, he always took it slow. After he missed Wimbledon in 2009, he came back for the US hards that summer, but wasn't actually strong again until the clay the following year. In 2013, he deferred his comeback until he was physically up to it, and although he won IW, which felt almost like beginners luck, he went down handily to Nole in MC, and only found his form again on the hard slog through clay.

This year, obviously, he was third rate on hards and clay, and then he met Groundhog Day again at Wimbledon, a bloke performing for the ages and playing lights out against him. Too good. But I still feel that a lot of things are tied together with Rafa, confidence being a key one. I fancy him to have a strong US hards this year, and Flushing Meadows has always been a good hunting ground for him - when he's been fit enough to play there. I'm not saying he'll win anything, but from here til the season end, it's all gain for Rafa. I'm sure his attitude will reflect that...

 

[Kirijax]

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different.

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op, it's taken its toll on him. But he never returned strongly, he always took it slow. After he missed Wimbledon in 2009, he came back for the US hards that summer, but wasn't actually strong again until the clay the following year. In 2013, he deferred his comeback until he was physically up to it, and although he won IW, which felt almost like beginners luck, he went down handily to Nole in MC, and only found his form again on the hard slog through clay.

This year, obviously, he was third rate on hards and clay, and then he met Groundhog Day again at Wimbledon, a bloke performing for the ages and playing lights out against him. Too good. But I still feel that a lot of things are tied together with Rafa, confidence being a key one. I fancy him to have a strong US hards this year, and Flushing Meadows has always been a good hunting ground for him - when he's been fit enough to play there. I'm not saying he'll win anything, but from here til the season end, it's all gain for Rafa. I'm sure his attitude will reflect that...

It's got to help Nadal that he has reached bottom 'for this year). He really doesn't have anything else left to lose and he can play with abandon again, That's when Nadal is most dangerous. And once he gets that confidence back, while his body won't let him come back all the the way to where he was, he could come pretty darn close. it's going to be a very interesting summer in so many ways.

 

[nehmeth]

But I still feel that a lot of things are tied together with Rafa, confidence being a key one. I fancy him to have a strong US hards this year, and Flushing Meadows has always been a good hunting ground for him - when he's been fit enough to play there. I'm not saying he'll win anything, but from here til the season end, it's all gain for Rafa. I'm sure his attitude will reflect that...

There was some discussion that he might play a clay tourney before the Summer Masters Series tourneys began. I checked his website and nothing. Was wondering if anyone had heard more.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

But I still feel that a lot of things are tied together with Rafa, confidence being a key one. I fancy him to have a strong US hards this year, and Flushing Meadows has always been a good hunting ground for him - when he's been fit enough to play there. I'm not saying he'll win anything, but from here til the season end, it's all gain for Rafa. I'm sure his attitude will reflect that...

There was some discussion that he might play a clay tourney before the Summer Masters Series tourneys began. I checked his website and nothing. Was wondering if anyone had heard more.

I heard he was complaining how the clay has gotten faster recently and he was proposing a wet tar surface or something...Nike was supposed work on a shoe for that. Besides that, I do not know what he is up to...:snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different.

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op.

Rafa has lost his mojo. He better marry Xisca before she decides to dump him.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different.

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op, it's taken its toll on him. But he never returned strongly, he always took it slow. After he missed Wimbledon in 2009, he came back for the US hards that summer, but wasn't actually strong again until the clay the following year. In 2013, he deferred his comeback until he was physically up to it, and although he won IW, which felt almost like beginners luck, he went down handily to Nole in MC, and only found his form again on the hard slog through clay.

This year, obviously, he was third rate on hards and clay, and then he met Groundhog Day again at Wimbledon, a bloke performing for the ages and playing lights out against him. Too good. But I still feel that a lot of things are tied together with Rafa, confidence being a key one. I fancy him to have a strong US hards this year, and Flushing Meadows has always been a good hunting ground for him - when he's been fit enough to play there. I'm not saying he'll win anything, but from here til the season end, it's all gain for Rafa. I'm sure his attitude will reflect that...

It's got to help Nadal that he has reached bottom for this year.

So, we will see a dead bull bounce.

 

[Kieran]

Conversely, Nadal though healthy again, is not yet showing signs of bouncing back to any semblance of his previous form. While he's come back strongly in the past, this time around seems quite different.

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op.

Rafa has lost his mojo. He better marry Xisca before she decides to dump him.

What's Xisca's full name? Xisca Fiero? :snicker

 

[Fiero425]

Well, this is observably true, Rafa has lost something, between the wrist injury then the appendix op.

Rafa has lost his mojo. He better marry Xisca before she decides to dump him.

What's Xisca's full name? Xisca Fiero? :snicker

As much as I pride myself on knowing just about everything concerning tennis, I've never kept up with the wives, husbands, bf's, gf's, or "beards" of players; male or female! If they're always sitting at courtside, you can't help but remember them, but other than that; I HAVE NO IDEA! :ras: uzzled :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Front242]

Let's hope none of the players wives have beards. That can get a bit scary.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I do not have a pic but Fabio's girl was...hot. Don't know if they are still together.

 

[Fiero425]

I do not have a pic but Fabio's girl was...hot. Don't know if they are still together.

Last I heard he was dating another tennis player; Pennetta I believe! She was watching in a warm-up event last month! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[herios]

I do not have a pic but Fabio's girl was...hot. Don't know if they are still together.

Last I heard he was dating another tennis player; Pennetta I believe! She was watching in a warm-up event last month! :angel: :dodgy:

This is all true, but I am sure murat is referring to Fabio's ex-girlfriend, Svetlana Simeonova who was superhot.

 

[Fiero425]

Let's hope none of the players wives have beards. That can get a bit scary.

Is this Teresa Guidice of RHWNJ. Last I heard she was in the slammer! Sheeshhh, she needs a good waxing in the worst way! :angel: :dodgy:

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- http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=teresa+giudice&FORM=IARRTH&ufn=teresa+giudice&stid=ba974ce7-2bbc-316d-615e-a235611ce84e&cbn=EntityAnswer&cbi=0&FORM=IARRTH -

 

[Obsi]

If Djokovic wins 4 slams and Nadal wins none, Novak would have 10 and Rafa 5. Do you agree that in this case 2011-2016 is Djokovic Era?

That's far too big an "if" for anyone to take seriously. Can you be a bit more realistic, and accept that most likely Rafa will win 3 majors over the next two seasons, and Nole 2 (max)?

So, who was more realistic?

 

[Kieran]

If Djokovic wins 4 slams and Nadal wins none, Novak would have 10 and Rafa 5. Do you agree that in this case 2011-2016 is Djokovic Era?

That's far too big an "if" for anyone to take seriously. Can you be a bit more realistic, and accept that most likely Rafa will win 3 majors over the next two seasons, and Nole 2 (max)?

So, who was more realistic?

And who had a sense of humour?

 

[El Dude]

Nothing like dredging up old posts and gloating.

 

[Kieran]

Nothing like dredging up old posts and gloating.

Sense of humour failure didn't help either, but that's grand. I have better things to do.

For example, I'm going to look at all my posts from the previous millennium, I think I got something right in 1997... :snicker

 

[herios]

Nothing like dredging up old posts and gloating.

It feels soooo damn good to say that famous "I told you so"