Nole Predictions

[lacatch]

Like others, I find Nole's "fall from grace" quite puzzling. I assume it's psychological because he doesn't seem to have any physical issues; at the latter stages of slams (in particular) he seems to wilt at the critical moments. And 100% silence from him/his camp since the AO loss. Has anyone heard anything? Thoughts/predictions about him in 2014?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Not counting the AO, Nole has been at the later stages of pretty much everything he has played lately. He is going to be OK , I think. Yeah, he has lost some finals, but he got there...He will get over the hump at some point. His issue is that he had 2011. I mean, How do you top that?

 

[Federberg]

I'm really worried about him. The reason I think it's mental and not a physical issue, is that he really is cruising through the pack. It's only when he comes up against the top players, and in particular at the back end of tournaments that these frailties show up. What's particularly disturbing is that it seems to be slam specific. I watched him live in the O2 in November against Stan, and he looked superb. Tough to explain. Could it all be to do with that forehand volley in the RG semi last year? He was solid before that. Bring back his dietician...

 

[Denis]

"fall from grace" is an absolutely ridiculous way to phrase it. He's not doing meth like Agassi was or anything. Still ranked no 2 in the world and just came off a 20+ winning streak, beating Nadal, Federer, DP and Wawrinka in at the WTF.

We will see how he handles the next slam. A loss like that against Wawrinka can happen. Losing to Nadal and Murray is not a shame either. But it's time he starts delivering at the latter stages of a GS, yes.

 

[Riotbeard]

"fall from grace" is an absolutely ridiculous way to phrase it. He's not doing meth like Agassi was or anything. Still ranked no 2 in the world and just came off a 20+ winning streak, beating Nadal, Federer, DP and Wawrinka in at the WTF.

We will see how he handles the next slam. A loss like that against Wawrinka can happen. Losing to Nadal and Murray is not a shame either. But it's time he starts delivering at the latter stages of a GS, yes.

This is what I hope and generally think, although I definitely still worry.

 

[brokenshoelace]

What "fall from grace" is that? Winning a slam and reaching to other slam finals last year? Not to mention the one slam he didn't reach a final in was a technicality, since he had to face Nadal in the semis of the FO due to Rafa's ranking at the time. Is it winning 3 Masters 1000 events and the WTF? A 28 match winning streak?

I'm not sure what standards people have but I read some people here talk about him and you'd think he's in a downward spiral (yes, I'm looking at you DarthFed ).

Novak isn't playing as good as he did in 2011, but that's why that was a career best year. Every player has one, and by very definition, that year will be hard to recreate...until you prove that you can.

 

[DarthFed]

Last I checked he is currently holding no slams and just lost early at his best one. The 28 win streak is nice but those are the smaller tournaments, Nole hasn't delivered at slams at all the past year now.

 

[Kieran]

I think Nole will be more dangerous this year than last...

 

[Denis]

Last I checked he is currently holding no slams and just lost early at his best one. The 28 win streak is nice but those are the smaller tournaments, Nole hasn't delivered at slams at all the past year now.

Meh, that's only by Darthfed standards. He did much better than the Fedster. Two GS finals. WTF a smaller tournament?

 

[Front242]

He should be doing better than the Fedster. He's a multiple slam winner and 5 years younger He should still be doing better though. I wish he'd won one of the 3 biggest matches he lost last year.

 

[DarthFed]

Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and many others did better than the gramps too. This is supposed to be Nole's salad days and he won't be judged on the YEC and MS events.

This world is built on ambition and greed. I'd be shocked if Nole is feeling good about his results the last year. If he is satisfied then that would explain the underachieving...

 

[lacatch]

I agree with DarthFed's comments. Everyone thought he'd win Australia since: 1) It's his best slam which he won 3x in a row; and 2)He wanted/needed to avenge his losses in the last 3 slams. These ARE his salad days but........ Also wondering if anyone has heard anything about Nole from himself or his camp since AO??

 

[Denis]

I agree with DarthFed's comments. Everyone thought he'd win Australia since: 1) It's his best slam which he won 3x in a row; and 2)He wanted/needed to avenge his losses in the last 3 slams. These ARE his salad days but........ Also wondering if anyone has heard anything about Nole from himself or his camp since AO??

You can look on his facebook page or on his website if you're so interested, but you're not. I know that.

He did not need to avenge anything. Let's hope he makes you annoyed by winning the French.

 

[Denis]

Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and many others did better than the gramps too. This is supposed to be Nole's salad days and he won't be judged on the YEC and MS events.

This world is built on ambition and greed. I'd be shocked if Nole is feeling good about his results the last year. If he is satisfied then that would explain the underachieving...

He won a Slam, the WTF and reached two Grand Slam finals. Your standard is Fed in the 2005-2007 period which by all means is otherworldly. Rafa, the other GOAT contender, has only had a couple of years where he has won multiple slams.

Lets see how 2014 unfolds. I have good hopes he'll do well.

 

[Federberg]

I for one would be happy for him if he won the French This should be peak Djoker right now. Perhaps it is, and we're basing our expectations on the lofty standards of Fedal. It's probably unfair to do that. He should be hurting really bad right now, but I'm not sure he is

 

[DarthFed]

Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and many others did better than the gramps too. This is supposed to be Nole's salad days and he won't be judged on the YEC and MS events.

This world is built on ambition and greed. I'd be shocked if Nole is feeling good about his results the last year. If he is satisfied then that would explain the underachieving...

He won a Slam, the WTF and reached two Grand Slam finals. Your standard is Fed in the 2005-2007 period which by all means is otherworldly. Rafa, the other GOAT contender, has only had a couple of years where he has won multiple slams.

Lets see how 2014 unfolds. I have good hopes he'll do well.

No that is not the standard, but as I mentioned he currently holds no slams. It's kind of bizarre that you see this as good results based on losing a couple GS finals and winning YEC. If I have high standards for what constitutes a great year you appear to have none.

 

[Mastoor]

As far as i see just couple of weeks with Becker were sufficient for Nole to be sick of tennis, so he is skiing right now far away from any playable tennis courts (those that he used as a child in the ski resort were devastated in the nato bombardments in 1999).

I think he will take a long break and will come back only for the clay season.

 

[tented]

As far as i see just couple of weeks with Becker were sufficient for Nole to be sick of tennis, so he is skiing right now far away from any playable tennis courts (those that he used as a child in the ski resort were devastated in the nato bombardments in 1999).

I think he will take a long break and will come back only for the clay season.

I doubt it. I think he'll be back for the Indian Wells/Miami Masters, which are not only mandatory events, but a chance at picking up 2,000 points.

 

[Denis]

Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and many others did better than the gramps too. This is supposed to be Nole's salad days and he won't be judged on the YEC and MS events.

This world is built on ambition and greed. I'd be shocked if Nole is feeling good about his results the last year. If he is satisfied then that would explain the underachieving...

He won a Slam, the WTF and reached two Grand Slam finals. Your standard is Fed in the 2005-2007 period which by all means is otherworldly. Rafa, the other GOAT contender, has only had a couple of years where he has won multiple slams.

Lets see how 2014 unfolds. I have good hopes he'll do well.

No that is not the standard, but as I mentioned he currently holds no slams. It's kind of bizarre that you see this as good results based on losing a couple GS finals and winning YEC. If I have high standards for what constitutes a great year you appear to have none.

There is too much wrong with your post to really bother. Reread the results I listed. Sure the losses against Rafa were disappointing, but I don't like this trashtalking of Nole that's going on here.

 

[Denis]

As far as i see just couple of weeks with Becker were sufficient for Nole to be sick of tennis, so he is skiing right now far away from any playable tennis courts (those that he used as a child in the ski resort were devastated in the nato bombardments in 1999).

I think he will take a long break and will come back only for the clay season.

I doubt it. I think he'll be back for the Indian Wells/Miami Masters, which are not only mandatory events, but a chance at picking up 2,000 points.

Indian Wells is more than a month ahead.