Nole Slam in 2016?

[GameSetAndMath]

Novak currently holds Wimbledon and USO. As Novak owns the slow hard court GS of AO, we can pencil him in to win AO'16. In the Terre Battue, Novak has already demolished the King of Clay, even though he has failed to get on the throne as he failed to quell the civil war that ensued.

What do you think of his chances of completing Nole Slam in 2016?

On the positive side, he did a master move of skipping IPTL wisely. However, there are lot of questions. Can Rafa rise from ashes to stop Nole in time? Can Lightning (Stan) strike twice? Can the old man stop him like in 2011? lot

Normally, Novak faces some pressure whenever he plays at RG, as that is his only missing GS. Now, if he wins AO, he will enter RG with the possibility of finishing Nole Slam. That will only add to the pressure and not lessen it. Is Novak Strong enough to handle such pressures? :dodgy:

If he does that, he already would have done something that neither Roger nor Rafa have achieved.:speechless:

 

[shawnbm]

His chances are better than anyone else, but I am picking Roger to surprise everybody and win in Australia. The French may then go to Nole. I have no good reason for picking Fed other than that he keeps making slam finals and if you knock enough, the door will be opened to you.

 

[Puppet Master]

If the ATP pros, namely the ones at the top, let this catastrophe happen, I am sure I will take a good long break from tennis for a few years. I am aware that no one would care about this, but I really can't stand it anymore. Rest assured GSM, if this prediction turns out to be correct, no real Fed nor Rafa fans will be able to play the GOAT card anymore because they will surely be surpassed at that rate. I think I should tune out as the AO starts.

 

[Fiero425]

If the ATP pros, namely the ones at the top, let this catastrophe happen, I am sure I will take a good long break from tennis for a few years. I am aware that no one would care about this, but I really can't stand it anymore. Rest assured GSM, if this prediction turns out to be correct, no real Fed nor Rafa fans will be able to play the GOAT card anymore because they will surely be surpassed at that rate. I think I should tune out as the AO starts.

I understand how you feel! I've been calling the "also-rans" of the tour "GUTLESS" for years allowing 3 or 4 players to own the tour for a decade or more! Many have the athletic ability and game to win anything and everywhere, but something between the ears doesn't allow it! It's been like this longer than that, maybe 20 when you see and hear of players like Agassi with extended careers, Hewitt owning the #1 ranking, and real head cases acquiring the highest ranking for even a moment like Rios and Safin; I FEEL YOUR PAIN! This should not be happening; esp. with "the old man" holding onto #2 ranking with just appearances in majors in '14, finally falling to #3, but we'll see what happens in 2016! Maybe there will be a changing of the guard around Nole, but so far I'm not sure there's any hope! Players continue to get close, sometimes with MP's serving for it, but end up "choking" like dogs; it's even started happening to Nadal! I think they need to start hiring "shrinks" for the players so they can have their heads "shrunk" while getting a massage after matches! :cover uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy: :ras:

 

[Carol]

If the question is if Novak will get the Slam then my answer is who knows.
AO 2014 was catastrophic for him but even worse for Nadal who winning that final would have been the second player of the history winning more than one title of each GS, right now I don't remember who was the first one achieving that incredible record. But I hope Rafa plays well and then he will be able to shake off all that 'stress' and it seems that he is almost there

 

[Riotbeard]

Without the benefit of seeing what happens at the AO. I think is a better chance than he had in 2012. Rafa will not be 2012 Rafa, but he should be a good bit better.

 

[Carol]

I don't think Rafa will be 2015 Rafa and Novak probably neither so we'll see

 

[Kieran]

I don't think Stan will strike twice, and I can't see Federer improving, so as things stand now, Nole is favoruite for both Oz and Paris. But...he was favourite at paris last year and he found a way to lose. Also, Paris is a long way away. Plus, although Rafa hasn't properly been "Rafa" since his back went in Oz 2014, I expect him to be sturdier next year than this, and that could be enough to put him in contention in both Flinders Park and Paris. On top of this, who knows what next season may bring?

 

[Fiero425]

I don't think Stan will strike twice, and I can't see Federer improving, so as things stand now, Nole is favoruite for both Oz and Paris. But...he was favourite at paris last year and he found a way to lose. Also, Paris is a long way away. Plus, although Rafa hasn't properly been "Rafa" since his back went in Oz 2014, I expect him to be sturdier next year than this, and that could be enough to put him in contention in both Flinders Park and Paris. On top of this, who knows what next season may bring?

:cover uzzled :nono :cover

 

[Kieran]

I don't think Stan will strike twice, and I can't see Federer improving, so as things stand now, Nole is favoruite for both Oz and Paris. But...he was favourite at paris last year and he found a way to lose. Also, Paris is a long way away. Plus, although Rafa hasn't properly been "Rafa" since his back went in Oz 2014, I expect him to be sturdier next year than this, and that could be enough to put him in contention in both Flinders Park and Paris. On top of this, who knows what next season may bring?

:cover uzzled :nono :cover

You emphasised the two most true pieces of my post, buddy, although I might have more accurately wrote that he hasn't been "Rafa" since he won the US Open in 2013.

By the way, what are the odds on Novak winning no slams in 2016? Must be quite long?

 

[Riotbeard]

I don't think Stan will strike twice, and I can't see Federer improving, so as things stand now, Nole is favoruite for both Oz and Paris. But...he was favourite at paris last year and he found a way to lose. Also, Paris is a long way away. Plus, although Rafa hasn't properly been "Rafa" since his back went in Oz 2014, I expect him to be sturdier next year than this, and that could be enough to put him in contention in both Flinders Park and Paris. On top of this, who knows what next season may bring?

:cover uzzled :nono :cover

You emphasised the two most true pieces of my post, buddy, although I might have more accurately wrote that he hasn't been "Rafa" since he won the US Open in 2013.

By the way, what are the odds on Novak winning no slams in 2016? Must be quite long?

In general, I am fine with your post, but I am not convinced Novak found a way to lose. Stan played out of his mind.

 

[Fiero425]

:cover uzzled :nono :cover

You emphasised the two most true pieces of my post, buddy, although I might have more accurately wrote that he hasn't been "Rafa" since he won the US Open in 2013.

By the way, what are the odds on Novak winning no slams in 2016? Must be quite long?

In general, I am fine with your post, but I am not convinced Novak found a way to lose. Stan played out of his mind.

Thank you! That's all I was thinking; "found a way to lose?" Gives Stan no credit I guess; unbelievable! :cover :nono

 

[Kieran]

:cover uzzled :nono :cover

You emphasised the two most true pieces of my post, buddy, although I might have more accurately wrote that he hasn't been "Rafa" since he won the US Open in 2013.

By the way, what are the odds on Novak winning no slams in 2016? Must be quite long?

In general, I am fine with your post, but I am not convinced Novak found a way to lose. Stan played out of his mind.

No that's true too, Stan played like a man possessed, from maybe the middle of the second set onwards. Nole won the first and had break points early in the second but didn't maintain his level. It's a great win for Stan but still, I'm sure Novak often thinks about that second set and how much more aggressive he could have been, when Stan was looking vulnerable...

 

[Fiero425]

You emphasised the two most true pieces of my post, buddy, although I might have more accurately wrote that he hasn't been "Rafa" since he won the US Open in 2013.

By the way, what are the odds on Novak winning no slams in 2016? Must be quite long?

In general, I am fine with your post, but I am not convinced Novak found a way to lose. Stan played out of his mind.

No that's true too, Stan played like a man possessed, from maybe the middle of the second set onwards. Nole won the first and had break points early in the second but didn't maintain his level. It's a great win for Stan but still, I'm sure Novak often thinks about that second set and how much more aggressive he could have been, when Stan was looking vulnerable...

...and? You can say the same about Roger in the finals he's lost to Nole over the last couple years! He's had advantages, but that's why we wait until the end of the match! It's called shifting advantages and the tide can turn anytime! I watched that FO final and said to myself Nole didn't look right even after winning the 1st set! I wasn't surprised in the least he lost it! I've seen this happen a lot over 40+ years of watching tennis; MP's mean nothing if you can't complete the deal and Nole didn't! Stan got on a roll and deservedly won his first FO title; 2nd major! I was disappointed, but Nole's had his share of comebacks when others had the advantage; including Roger, Rafa, and Andy! Happens all the time! No one's immune to changing fortunes! :ras:

 

[Kieran]

In general, I am fine with your post, but I am not convinced Novak found a way to lose. Stan played out of his mind.

No that's true too, Stan played like a man possessed, from maybe the middle of the second set onwards. Nole won the first and had break points early in the second but didn't maintain his level. It's a great win for Stan but still, I'm sure Novak often thinks about that second set and how much more aggressive he could have been, when Stan was looking vulnerable...

...and? You can say the same about Roger in the finals he's lost to Nole over the last couple years! He's had advantages, but that's why we wait until the end of the match! It's called shifting advantages and the tide can turn anytime! I watched that FO final and said to myself Nole didn't look right even after winning the 1st set! I wasn't surprised in the least he lost it! I've seen this happen a lot over 40+ years of watching tennis; MP's mean nothing if you can't complete the deal and Nole didn't! Stan got on a roll and deservedly won his first FO title; 2nd major! I was disappointed, but Nole's had his share of comebacks when others had the advantage; including Roger, Rafa, and Andy! Happens all the time! No one's immune to changing fortunes! :ras:

Oh I agree, and I'm not criticising Novak, I'm just saying, he'd have bitten your hand off last January if you told him he'd knock Rafa out, and lead Stan by a set and have break point early in the second. Of course, over five sets fortunes can fluctuate. I watched Connors go up 2 sets against Borg in 1981, playing out of his skin, and Borg looked punch drunk, but came back to win in five. Put it this way: I never bought the idea that the 2014 Oz final was over soon as Stan broke in the second set, regardless of Rafa's back. The beauty of five set matches is, they're long and fortunes can change.

However, I think as good as Stan played, Novak might look back and think, dang, I was in charge there and lost. Somehow Stan played superhuman, but I think we all can agree that maybe the occasion got to Novak on a smaller scale than we've seen before, but still enough to make him play less aggressively and confidently than he can...

 

[nehmeth]

Normally, Novak faces some pressure whenever he plays at RG, as that is his only missing GS. Now, if he wins AO, he will enter RG with the possibility of finishing Nole Slam. That will only add to the pressure and not lessen it. Is Novak Strong enough to handle such pressures?

After getting by Rafa last year, he opted to a game plan of keeping the ball in play and waiting for Stan to blink. He got hit off the court.

If he wins Oz again, I'm sure he will have a battle with nerves during the fortnight in Paris. I'd love to see him win it all.

 

[herios]

His chances are better than anyone else, but I am picking Roger to surprise everybody and win in Australia. The French may then go to Nole. I have no good reason for picking Fed other than that he keeps making slam finals and if you knock enough, the door will be opened to you.

Roger keeps knocking on "certain doors" Wimbledon being clearly one of them. I am not sure if the AO will get opened for him, even he will knock as many times as Sheldon Cooper in "the Big Bang Theory".

 

[GameSetAndMath]

His chances are better than anyone else, but I am picking Roger to surprise everybody and win in Australia. The French may then go to Nole. I have no good reason for picking Fed other than that he keeps making slam finals and if you knock enough, the door will be opened to you.

Roger keeps knocking on "certain doors" Wimbledon being clearly one of them. I am not sure if the AO will get opened for him, even he will knock as many times as Sheldon Cooper in "the Big Bang Theory".

What if somebody else breaks open the door and Roger has to just walk through it?lot

 

[El Dude]

At this point it is hard imagining Rafa ever beating Novak again. Watching their last few matches reminded me of Roger playing someone like Richard Gasquet or David Ferrer - it is like Roger envelops and surpasses them in every way, so there is just no way either could ever beat him. And so it is with Novak 15 and Rafa 15, even at the end.

But I'm not ready to write Rafa off yet at Roland Garros. I can see a scenario where he is possessed by some ancient Spanish spirit and destroys the clay season, culminating at Roland Garros and then excelling for a couple more matches through sheer momentum before collapsing at Wimbledon. But even so, while Novak might drop a half step, he's like two steps ahead of everyone else and three steps ahead of Rafa - so Rafa would have to reclaim his best to beat him. Can anyone, even Rafa's superfan Carol, envision that?

And AO? For some reason I'm thinking Andy.

 

[herios]

His chances are better than anyone else, but I am picking Roger to surprise everybody and win in Australia. The French may then go to Nole. I have no good reason for picking Fed other than that he keeps making slam finals and if you knock enough, the door will be opened to you.

Roger keeps knocking on "certain doors" Wimbledon being clearly one of them. I am not sure if the AO will get opened for him, even he will knock as many times as Sheldon Cooper in "the Big Bang Theory".

What if somebody else breaks open the door and Roger has to just walk through it?lot

It can happen, as we have seen 2 years ago when Stan upset him and went all the way through to win it all. That defeat makes Nole's record at the AO in the last 5 years 32-1.
That is aprox. 3% of his total matches since the start of 2011.
I am giving that ratio (3%) to the field against him as odds to take him down at the AO.
We shall see if that will come true and who will be the one to make it happen.