How will Djokovic perform against the young generation in 2023?

[Fiero425]

I think you're right that Novak should be favored in the upcoming AO, and most likely Wimbledon, though that's a long way off, and he will be 36? by the summer. I don't see why it's a complete face-palm to say that he may not win one or even both. You act as if there are no youngsters chasing him up. I thought you were a fan of Medvedev. And, not to put too fine a point on it, Young Alcaraz IS the world #1. No competition?

Medvedez is struggling even with all that mobility and skill! It's a shame he couldn't hold onto the #1 ranking even while Novak unable to play early on! It's like Djokovic's absense inspired Nadal to finally take his 2nd AO! WTF? He's fooling himself along with others that believe it made little to no difference that Novak was barred from playing!

 

[Moxie]

Medvedez is struggling even with all that mobility and skill! It's a shame he couldn't hold onto the #1 ranking even while Novak unable to play early on! It's like Djokovic's absense inspired Nadal to finally take his 2nd AO! WTF? He's fooling himself along with others that believe it made little to no difference that Novak was barred from playing!

Medvedev lost the #1, and it is a shame that Wimbledon didn't let him play. (Did you know that the Russians are banned from the United Cup, too?) However, he has also been the author of his own destruction this year.

As to the AO this year, the draw was made and you know how it was sorted out. Nadal played what would likely have been the final, anyway. Novak came to Australia with the worst possible preparation, and the crowd would have been against him. You cannot tell me that he would have won 7 matches he never played. That's a ridiculous conjecture, especially when so much was against him. Keep telling yourself that, if you like, but no one gets a full pass on 7 matches they never played.

 

[Jelenafan]

There are people who feel Djokovic is already the defacto #1 with that "winning kick" this past season! His only real blemish was finishing off Rune in Paris final! It's amazing that he took the YEC undefeated even if he's rested most of the year! Alcaraz and Rune might come back to Earth and Zverev of the NG'rs still only dangerous in B03 vs Nole! It appears all Djokovic has to do is win the AO to take over the top ranking! I don't see any reason why he shouldn't win it 2 or 3 more times with another Wimbledon or 2!

Even if Djokovic wins the AO either Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud could be# 1 in the ranking.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Medvedev lost the #1, and it is a shame that Wimbledon didn't let him play. (Did you know that the Russians are banned from the United Cup, too?) However, he has also been the author of his own destruction this year.

As to the AO this year, the draw was made and you know how it was sorted out. Nadal played what would likely have been the final, anyway. Novak came to Australia with the worst possible preparation, and the crowd would have been against him. You cannot tell me that he would have won 7 matches he never played. That's a ridiculous conjecture, especially when so much was against him. Keep telling yourself that, if you like, but no one gets a full pass on 7 matches they never played.

It is not only ridiculous conjecture it is 'purely hypothetical' argument that Novak would have won if allowed to play. A huge reality check is in order btw., as you pointed out there was much against him, brought on by himself.

 

[Fiero425]

Even if Djokovic wins the AO either Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud could be# 1 in the ranking.

The points are quite close and Djokovic has none to defend! It's already been calculated that if Nole or Stefanos win the event, they'll probably take #1 over! If neither win it, the "also rans" like Alcaraz just needs to win a few matches to keep #1 ranking & Ruud just needs to make the final!

 

[Moxie]

The points are quite close and Djokovic has none to defend! It's already been calculated that if Nole or Stefanos win the event, they'll probably take #1 over! If neither win it, the "also rans" like Alcaraz just needs to win a few matches to keep #1 ranking & Ruud just needs to make the final!

For the guy who keeps claiming to be the champion of the next Generation, it's funny to see you refer to Alcaraz, world #1 (ahem) as an "also-ran." I guess you don't really care so much about the kids as you pretend to? Asking for a friend.

 

[Front242]

I think you're right that Novak should be favored in the upcoming AO, and most likely Wimbledon, though that's a long way off, and he will be 36? by the summer. I don't see why it's a complete face-palm to say that he may not win one or even both. You act as if there are no youngsters chasing him up. I thought you were a fan of Medvedev. And, not to put too fine a point on it, Young Alcaraz IS the world #1. No competition?

Well, as good as Alcaraz is, it was the global nonsense over covid that messed up the rankings or he wouldn't be number 1 and we've all talked it to death as regards Djokoovic being banned from 2 tournaments. The whole it was his choice has etc still doesn't change the fact that this is the only reason Alcaraz is number 1.

 

[Kieran]

Well, as good as Alcaraz is, it was the global nonsense over covid that messed up the rankings or he wouldn't be number 1 and we've all talked it to death as regards Djokoovic being banned from 2 tournaments. The whole it was his choice has etc still doesn't change the fact that this is the only reason Alcaraz is number 1.

Really? Do you ever apply that logic when Rafa has to miss half a season injured? Remember, Carlos is exceptional. He’s at a level unprecedented by a 19 year old in over 30 years. I notice a few posts here writing him off as being something less than extraordinary. Something ordinary, in fact. Lucky. He seems capable of making his own luck. The kid is brilliant!

 

[Kieran]

I think the real question in this thread is, “How will the next generation perform against Rafa and Novak?”

They’re the ones to beat…

 

[Front242]

Really? Do you ever apply that logic when Rafa has to miss half a season injured? Remember, Carlos is exceptional. He’s at a level unprecedented by a 19 year old in over 30 years. I notice a few posts here writing him off as being something less than extraordinary. Something ordinary, in fact. Lucky. He seems capable of making his own luck. The kid is brilliant!

I like Alcaraz and he's definitely very good but Djokovic lost massive amounts of points from missing 2 slams and whatever other US masters events he wasn't allowed to play while Alcaraz gained points at all of these. Every player suffers injuries but this was an unprecedented mess that the former world number 1 lost so many points due to global and unscientific corruption. They knew the vaccines did nothing to stop transmission so he should never have been banned from playing. Just look at all the vaxxed players who had to withdraw due to positive tests and because they didn't even test any vaxxed players at many events the whole thing was laughable. The most useless so called vaccine of our lifetimes.

 

[Kieran]

I like Alcaraz and he's definitely very good but Djokovic lost massive amounts of points from missing 2 slams and whatever other US masters events he wasn't allowed to play while Alcaraz gained points at all of these. Every player suffers injuries but this was an unprecedented mess that the former world number 1 lost so many points due to global and unscientific corruption. They knew the vaccines did nothing to stop transmission so he should never have been banned from playing. Just look at all the vaxxed players who had to withdraw due to positive tests and because they didn't even test any vaxxed players at many events the whole thing was laughable. The most useless so called vaccine of our lifetimes.

“Every player suffers injuries?” But can you name me a great player who has had to skip so many slams through injury, throughout their career, as Rafa?

The point I’m making is, you don’t asterisk them slams and you shouldn’t asterisk slams that Novak chose to skip. Rafa chose to skip the 2020 USO as defending champ - did you asterisk that one? Let’s face it, his record there is far better than Novaks - 4/9 since 2009, with four absences, compared to 3/12 with only one voluntary absence. And Novak was no gimme last year in Australia, even if he’d entered legit.

Leave Charlie alone. He’s better at that age than any of the Big 3. We should be praying on bended knees that he plays his best in Australia…

 

[Moxie]

^ Indeed. I also wanted to point out that @Front242 ignored the intent of my post that he quoted above in order to relitigate his grudges about the vaccine. My intention was to call out Fiero for a) being inappropriately (IMO) dismissive of Alcaraz, NOT because he's #1, but more specifically because he just won the USO, and because he's very talented, and b) for his hypocrisy. Fiero loves to tell us that what he REALLY wants is for the young generation to wrest control away from the Big 3 as they get geriatric, but read the above. That is not at all what he wants. He wants Novak to keep on winning.

But if you're going to bring up the mess of the rankings, on this thread, you should also mention the UK ban on Russian and Belarusian players this year, which affected another former #1 from this year, your buddy, Daniil Medvedev. And that was involuntary, not voluntary, as Djokovic's absences were.

 

[Front242]

“Every player suffers injuries?” But can you name me a great player who has had to skip so many slams through injury, throughout their career, as Rafa?

The point I’m making is, you don’t asterisk them slams and you shouldn’t asterisk slams that Novak chose to skip. Rafa chose to skip the 2020 USO as defending champ - did you asterisk that one? Let’s face it, his record there is far better than Novaks - 4/9 since 2009, with four absences, compared to 3/12 with only one voluntary absence. And Novak was no gimme last year in Australia, even if he’d entered legit.

Leave Charlie alone. He’s better at that age than any of the Big 3. We should be praying on bended knees that he plays his best in Australia…

Haha, of course I can. Sorry but this really annoys me about Nadal fans. Forget the missed events. This is down to how he plays. If he didn't run like a maniac all through his career he might not have been in this situation although it's also the reason for his success but, still, you reap what you sow. Anyway, enough about a guy still playing who has 22 slams and how about players who had to retire early due to injury or illness? The list is endless so I won't bother because this is clearly much worse.

 

[Front242]

^ Indeed. I also wanted to point out that @Front242 ignored the intent of my post that he quoted above in order to relitigate his grudges about the vaccine. My intention was to call out Fiero for a) being inappropriately (IMO) dismissive of Alcaraz, NOT because he's #1, but more specifically because he just won the USO, and because he's very talented, and b) for his hypocrisy. Fiero loves to tell us that what he REALLY wants is for the young generation to wrest control away from the Big 3 as they get geriatric, but read the above. That is not at all what he wants. He wants Novak to keep on winning.

But if you're going to bring up the mess of the rankings, on this thread, you should also mention the UK ban on Russian and Belarusian players this year, which affected another former #1 from this year, your buddy, Daniil Medvedev. And that was involuntary, not voluntary, as Djokovic's absences were.

Ligitimate grudges. It's not a vaccine and it's bs he wasn't allowed play. I like Alcaraz anyway as I said but it's obvious this year that the reason he became number 1 had more to do with Novak not being allowed play and subsequent massive points loss than his own results. And yes the ban on players from Russia and Belarus was an utter disgrace. The woke bs in this world just keeps gettng worse and worse. No ban on players from the US and UK when their countries blew the living shit out of Iraq. The double standards are an utter joke. The critical thinkers in society see through the bs at least.

 

[Kieran]

Haha, of course I can. Sorry but this really annoys me about Nadal fans. Forget the missed events. This is down to how he plays. If he didn't run like a maniac all through his career he might not have been in this situation although it's also the reason for his success but, still, you reap what you sow. Anyway, enough about a guy still playing who has 22 slams and how about players who had to retire early due to injury or illness? The list is endless so I won't bother because this is clearly much worse.

Well that’s the cliche about Rafa but in this one, I identify as a modern girl and I accuse you of victim-blaming and anti-swarthy-geezer bigotry. What about all those who didn’t have hardly any injuries and have done worse than Rafa? I could go on but I get tired too quickly when I identify as a bird…

 

[Front242]

Well that’s the cliche about Rafa but in this one, I identify as a modern girl and I accuse you of victim-blaming and anti-swarthy-geezer bigotry. What about all those who didn’t have hardly any injuries and have done worse than Rafa? I could go on but I get tired too quickly when I identify as a bird…

LOL about the bird part but obviously he's a better player than most.

 

[Kieran]

LOL about the bird part but obviously he's a better player than most.

How dare you eh misgender me - I think!?

 

[Front242]

How dare you eh misgender me - I think!?

 

[Fiero425]

Really? Do you ever apply that logic when Rafa has to miss half a season injured? Remember, Carlos is exceptional. He’s at a level unprecedented by a 19 year old in over 30 years. I notice a few posts here writing him off as being something less than extraordinary. Something ordinary, in fact. Lucky. He seems capable of making his own luck. The kid is brilliant!

I'm starting to believe Nadal's FOS! I think he just takes off to "take off!" Mentally I think he shuts it down after FO! His record after Paris sucks for "a GOAT" candidate w/ 2 Wimbledons, 4 USO's (Novak's 3 undervalued by Rafa fans), and no Paris Masters or YEC to his name! JMO!

 

[Kieran]

I'm starting to believe Nadal's FOS! I think he just takes off to "take off!" Mentally I think he shuts it down after FO! His record after Paris sucks for "a GOAT" candidate w/ 2 Wimbledons, 4 USO's (Novak's 3 undervalued by Rafa fans), and no Paris Masters or YEC to his name! JMO!

Novaks 3 are undervalued? His 6 are undervalued but his 3 are what they are…