No reason to be overly optimistic about Djokovic at Roland Garros.....

[tented]

Not really. Roger didn't turn up for the first 2 sets. The highs don't need to be as high if the lows aren't as poor as the dross Roger provided early on. Besides... try not to get your knickers in a twist, I did say close to.... The thing that would get it there is if it was a dramatic final. It isn't even necessarily about the quality of the match. It's the significance of the King of Clay being dethroned in a final at RG

If it isn't about the quality, then why did you mention the quality of Roger's first two sets in '08? Or is it about the quality?

I think you've missed the whole point, anyway. There is no way a 2015 RG final will even come close to the epic scale of the '08 Wimbledon final -- and not just for the quality. That was a peak Roger playing a peak Rafa -- not the near wheelchair-tennis level Rafa is bringing to the court these days.

Also, my knickers aren't in a twist -- that's not the state someone needs to be in to disagree with you. Or are you projecting?

Sigh... I didn't think I would need to explain this to you, but if you're talking about the level of tennis you imply quality yourself. I decided to attack your post in two ways. Quality and historical significance. In discussing quality, in my opinion what makes that final, apart from the dethroning of Federer and Rafa achieving number 1 for the first time, is Federer's fight back which starts in set 3. He had been passive and wasn't playing with confidence before that. I surely don't need to spell out the historical significance bit to you do I?

And now going on to RG 2015. Where as Roger had had his problems at the start of the year in the AO, and he got whipped in the RG final. Rafa is having his own obvious problems now. It's a sketchy parallel, but in 2008 a lot was made out of Roger's first half of the year, and the first noises about decline happened then. Now people are talking about Rafa's decline now. Well... we could easily have similar drama now if Novak goes 2 sets up in a final against Rafa, and Rafa comes raging back. If Novak is able to to finally overcome Rafa deep in a 5th set, people will talk about the match in similar terms to Wimbledon 2008. Is that clear enough for you? I've led you to the water, it's up to you to drink. All you need is a little imagination, it's not that difficult :cover

You can be as condescending as you want -- and apparently you really, really want to -- but you're not going to convince me a 2015 RG final could ever come close to the '08 Wimbledon final. I don't think you're going to get many takers on that, actually.

 

[mrzz]

(happy to see other Djokovic fans express their views on this):

Why everyone keeps attacking me on this thread!?!?!?!?!?!!?!

Ok, ok, I'll try another forum. Sigh...

Not attacking you at all! Dude, I just liked all of your posts in this thread

I genuinely was interested in seeing more awesome Novak performances

Hehehe, I know, Denisovich. Just a little pick as I suggested that calling someone a Djokovic fan is an attack.

Calling someone a Nadal fan is.

 

[Federberg]

You can be as condescending as you want -- and apparently you really, really want to -- but you're not going to convince me a 2015 RG final could ever come close to the '08 Wimbledon final. I don't think you're going to get many takers on that, actually.

Convince?? I never made any attempt to convince anyone. I expressed a hope that the match could be close to the epic 08 Wimbledon final. Entirely harmless. You rather forcefully chose to dismiss my hope as nonsense. If I'm condescending now it's entirely due to your own attitude which was uncalled for. All you had to do was disagree :nono No harm no foul.

 

[tented]

You can be as condescending as you want -- and apparently you really, really want to -- but you're not going to convince me a 2015 RG final could ever come close to the '08 Wimbledon final. I don't think you're going to get many takers on that, actually.

Convince?? I never made any attempt to convince anyone. I expressed a hope that the match could be close to the epic 08 Wimbledon final. Entirely harmless. You rather forcefully chose to dismiss my hope as nonsense. If I'm condescending now it's entirely due to your own attitude which was uncalled for. All you had to do was disagree :nono No harm no foul.

"I didn't think I would need to explain this to you"

"I surely don't need to spell out the historical significance bit to you do I?"

"Is that clear enough for you? I've led you to the water, it's up to you to drink. All you need is a little imagination, it's not that difficult"

You're definitely being condescending.

 

[Federberg]

You can be as condescending as you want -- and apparently you really, really want to -- but you're not going to convince me a 2015 RG final could ever come close to the '08 Wimbledon final. I don't think you're going to get many takers on that, actually.

Convince?? I never made any attempt to convince anyone. I expressed a hope that the match could be close to the epic 08 Wimbledon final. Entirely harmless. You rather forcefully chose to dismiss my hope as nonsense. If I'm condescending now it's entirely due to your own attitude which was uncalled for. All you had to do was disagree :nono No harm no foul.

"I didn't think I would need to explain this to you"

"I surely don't need to spell out the historical significance bit to you do I?"

"Is that clear enough for you? I've led you to the water, it's up to you to drink. All you need is a little imagination, it's not that difficult"

You're definitely being condescending.

I'm not going to disagree As I said... a fair response to the tone of your post. Read what I said again.. I expressed a hope. I have never made any attempt to convince. I shouldn't have to for an expressed hope, which for some bizarre reason you seem to think of as a what I think the expected outcome could be

 

[tented]

Convince?? I never made any attempt to convince anyone. I expressed a hope that the match could be close to the epic 08 Wimbledon final. Entirely harmless. You rather forcefully chose to dismiss my hope as nonsense. If I'm condescending now it's entirely due to your own attitude which was uncalled for. All you had to do was disagree :nono No harm no foul.

"I didn't think I would need to explain this to you"

"I surely don't need to spell out the historical significance bit to you do I?"

"Is that clear enough for you? I've led you to the water, it's up to you to drink. All you need is a little imagination, it's not that difficult"

You're definitely being condescending.

I'm not going to disagree

Good. I did not use expressions like that.

 

[tented]

Does anyone remember their 2008 SF at RG? That was a very high-level, competitive match, as I recall, but I can't find it on YouTube.

 

[Kieran]

Does anyone remember their 2008 SF at RG? That was a very high-level, competitive match, as I recall, but I can't find it on YouTube.

I remember Rafa losing concentration in the third, when it had all been routine. I think he was up 5-2? If Novak had won, he'd go to #2 in the world...

 

[tented]

Does anyone remember their 2008 SF at RG? That was a very high-level, competitive match, as I recall, but I can't find it on YouTube.

I remember Rafa losing concentration in the third, when it had all been routine. I think he was up 5-2? If Novak had won, he'd go to #2 in the world...

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Also, that was the year Rafa was on course to break Borg's record for winning a slam while dropping the fewest games -- until the SF, which stopped that possibility.

If nothing else, it was significantly more competitive than the final. They played a SF in Hamburg right before that, too, which was a thriller, and also would have put Novak at No. 2 (I think?).

 

[Kieran]

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

 

[Fiero425]

Does anyone remember their 2008 SF at RG? That was a very high-level, competitive match, as I recall, but I can't find it on YouTube.

I've already indicated how unwatchable Nadal was back then; esp. when he won! Never saw a moment of '08; PTL! :angel: Rafa's whole "act"* is so offensive and technology helped win him more titles than his talent IMO! :nono He's getting some of it back with Nole taking his time and punishing him when he can!

* - Stalling, relentlessly toweling off, challenging calls unsuccessfully, positioning his water bottles, and resentment if called out by the umpire when taking too long or receiving coaching from Uncle Tony! He's robbed his opponents of victories with these tactics!

 

[Denis]

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

And you were the one calling their recent Monte Carlo match competitive. :snicker double standards?

 

[Kieran]

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

And you were the one calling their recent Monte Carlo match competitive. :snicker double standards?

No, I don't think I did call it that. Both sets were competitve until the 7th game, unfortunately then the Curse of Dan Maskill kicked in... :cry

 

[tented]

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

Thanks for the link. I thought it was more competitive than that, but apparently not.

 

[Kieran]

I don't remember the specifics, but it went to a third set tiebreak, so Novak made him work for the straight set win.

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

Thanks for the link. I thought it was more competitive than that, but apparently not.

Nole was still very much the third wheel back then, and he actually regressed in 2009, but I dunno what we attribute his huge transformation to in 2011 (Davis Cup?) but whatever it was, he's made the game more exciting to watch. At some point in 2010 I had given up on him, he annoyed me with the defeat to Melzer in Paris and then the semi-final drubbing by Berdy at Wimbledon, but he sure responded to them in style the following season... :clap

 

[tented]

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

Thanks for the link. I thought it was more competitive than that, but apparently not.

Nole was still very much the third wheel back then, and he actually regressed in 2009, but I dunno what we attribute his huge transformation to in 2011 (Davis Cup?) but whatever it was, he's made the game more exciting to watch. At some point in 2010 I had given up on him, he annoyed me with the defeat to Melzer in Paris and then the semi-final drubbing by Berdy at Wimbledon, but he sure responded to them in style the following season... :clap

Right, the 2008-2009 years were bizarre. Even 2008, which began with the AO win, went on to a noteworthy clay court season, a terrific Queen's Club final ... then a second-round loss at Wimbledon -- to Safin, no less.

 

[Fiero425]

Here's a fairly accurate description of it. It wasn't too competitive, but yeah, much more so than the final. But, as Bob Dylan might sing, that ain't sayin' much...

Thanks for the link. I thought it was more competitive than that, but apparently not.

Nole was still very much the third wheel back then, and he actually regressed in 2009, but I dunno what we attribute his huge transformation to in 2011 (Davis Cup?) but whatever it was, he's made the game more exciting to watch. At some point in 2010 I had given up on him, he annoyed me with the defeat to Melzer in Paris and then the semi-final drubbing by Berdy at Wimbledon, but he sure responded to them in style the following season... :clap

Wasn't it around that time his team found out Nole was allergic to gluten and was having breathing problems? uzzled I attributed his 2011 to a change in diet at least! Not sure if he had surgery performed to deal with breathing difficulties! Just something I sorta remember! Anybody else? :huh:

 

[Kieran]

Thanks for the link. I thought it was more competitive than that, but apparently not.

Nole was still very much the third wheel back then, and he actually regressed in 2009, but I dunno what we attribute his huge transformation to in 2011 (Davis Cup?) but whatever it was, he's made the game more exciting to watch. At some point in 2010 I had given up on him, he annoyed me with the defeat to Melzer in Paris and then the semi-final drubbing by Berdy at Wimbledon, but he sure responded to them in style the following season... :clap

Wasn't it around that time his team found out Nole was allergic to gluten and was having breathing problems? uzzled I attributed his 2011 to a change in diet at least! Not sure if he had surgery performed to deal with breathing difficulties! Just something I sorta remember! Anybody else? :huh:

Could be that as well, maybe Denis can help us, but diet didn't account for him becoming a bug-eyed mental freak in 2011. It was like he felt invincible, and largely, he was. I think he underwent some transformation where he decided, I'm not gonna give in again, I'll make these bass turds work harder than they ever did, if they're to get a win against me - and he stuck to it...

 

[tented]

^ And don't forget The Egg.

 

[Front242]

And yours comes down to, "it doesn't matter if Nole has won only 4 sets in 7 matches - he's better than Rafa!"

Basically, that's it. You sound a bit like Nole in his calf years when he withdrew from their first RG match at two sets down (because his nose was runny), and immediately exclaimed, "I was thrashing him!" :lolz:

No, that is not what I am saying. :nono

Look, read my posts above, I've been fair with Novak in this thread, praising the guy because at least he's trying to take on Rafa, and he's doing a much better job of it than Roger.

We're all getting into shape for RG - just like the players :snicker - and let's enjoy these men while we can. I put another post up a few minutes ago which went back on topic, personally speaking, I think it sums up where we are...

Actually apart from the 2013 semi at RG no he's not doing better than Roger did besides the 2008 fiasco. Check the scores of the matches between each of Roger v Rafa and Novak v Rafa. There's still this year to go though.