Novak Djokovic: Predict His Total Slam Haul

[ClayDeath]

numbers don't lie. they are as cold as death itself.

and the numbers are right in front of you. he has no competition right now.

he also  just said he is interested in improving and progressing.

it is pretty damn clear to me that he wants to go after history.

 

[Billie]

Man, I have to be honest and admit that I am a bit on tennis overload.  I am looking forward to this season being over so that I get some rest from tennis.   LOL Imagine what players are feeling.   How in the world are they going to play that silly IPTL.

This is my philosophy, I hope for the best for Nole, always, but I usually tone down my expectations as I very much prefer to be pleasantly surprised.   At the end of the day I just pray that he stays injury free and he will take care of the rest.

 

[Denis]

I would love to see Djokovic hit 18 or more.

Still a long way to go though. But right now, Novak is the man to beat on every single surface for the foreseeable future. Good times ahead.

 

[Moxie]

At the end of the day I just pray that he stays injury free and he will take care of the rest.

Interesting point about how Nole and Roger differ on skiing in the off-season.  I've known much less elite athletes who have been prohibited from doing it in their off-season.  Note that he makes it part of his contract.  I find it a bit foolhardy, as much as he likes it.

 

[Billie]

Billie wrote:
At the end of the day I just pray that he stays injury free and he will take care of the rest.

Interesting point about how Nole and Roger differ on skiing in the off-season. I’ve known much less elite athletes who have been prohibited from doing it in their off-season. Note that he makes it part of his contract. I find it a bit foolhardy, as much as he likes it.

I wasn't even thinking about skiing, or biking, or canoeing, or whatever he does.  And he doesn't even do it too often, maybe a couple of times a year.  I trust that he is careful enough.  I am more worried about him pushing hard and over the threshold of what he can do.  Back pains, wrist pains, shoulder pains, sometimes players instead of easing up they push and push and they make it worse for themselves in the long run.  Poor Janko had foot problems and pain for months before really looking into it, now the damage is done and he had another surgery.  I admire his desire to come back but I don't think he'll be able to.  And not to mention poor Delpo and his problems.  Wear and tear is their biggest enemy, I think.

 

[Moxie]

Moxie wrote:
<blockquote>
Billie wrote:
At the end of the day I just pray that he stays injury free and he will take care of the rest.

Interesting point about how Nole and Roger differ on skiing in the off-season. I’ve known much less elite athletes who have been prohibited from doing it in their off-season. Note that he makes it part of his contract. I find it a bit foolhardy, as much as he likes it.</blockquote>
I wasn’t even thinking about skiing, or biking, or canoeing, or whatever he does. And he doesn’t even do it too often, maybe a couple of times a year. I trust that he is careful enough. I am more worried about him pushing hard and over the threshold of what he can do. Back pains, wrist pains, shoulder pains, sometimes players instead of easing up they push and push and they make it worse for themselves in the long run. Poor Janko had foot problems and pain for months before really looking into it, now the damage is done and he had another surgery. I admire his desire to come back but I don’t think he’ll be able to. And not to mention poor Delpo and his problems. Wear and tear is their biggest enemy, I think.

Biking or canoeing?  I think you've missed the point about a sport that might be dangerous to an elite athlete in his off-season.  I think downhill skiing is a risk, and he mentions that it's part of the negotiation with his sponsors.  Whatever...he's welcome to it.  I just thought it was interesting to find that both Novak and Roger had talked about skiing, and saw it differently.

And yes, a drag about both Tipsarevic and Del Potro injury lay-offs.  Seems that Juan Martin thinks he could be back by Jan-Feb.

 

 

 

[ClayDeath]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2587645-is-the-gap-between-novak-djokovic-and-the-field-getting-bigger

 

 

 

What's scary is that the 10-time Slam champion believes he can get better. After the win, Djokovic spoke with the ATP about his drive and determination to avoid complacency:

I try to take nothing for granted. I try to work on my game all the time, because I know that the only way I can stay successful is to continue progressing. I'm not trying to keep the status quo, because for me, that's a regression

I just try to improve all the time, work on certain things in my life and my game, and hopefully get better in the process

[...]

Nobody can be perfect, but if you are going for perfection, you might reach excellence. That's the kind of mindset I have.

 

 

 

[ClayDeath]

he has won everything in sight. winning 94% of the matches with ridiculous ease.

what rivals? he has no rivals.

and still he is looking forward to his training in the off season. he is also setting new goals.

this is how you do it. and then people wonder what has happened to Rafa.

the difference is that Djokovic loves the sport to death.

he is just not willing to stand still. he wants to improve, progress, and innovate so he can keep his competitive edge.

take note Rafa: if you want to beat this guy then you are going to have to outwork him.

 

 

 

[Federberg]

Didn't watch the match against Istomin, but it does seem that Novak is following the same trajectory as Rafa and Fed. It's odd but both Murray and Wawrinka's late success might be the key to their future success in a bizarro sort of way.

This just shows that we can't just extrapolate into infinity even for the all time greats. 2017 might just becoming a make it or break it year for Novak now. I wonder will people slow down on the talk that he has already exceeded Rafa's achievements?

 

[Denis]

Didn't watch the match against Istomin, but it does seem that Novak is following the same trajectory as Rafa and Fed. It's odd but both Murray and Wawrinka's late success might be the key to their future success in a bizarro sort of way.

This just shows that we can't just extrapolate into infinity even for the all time greats. 2017 might just becoming a make it or break it year for Novak now. I wonder will people slow down on the talk that he has already exceeded Rafa's achievements?

It's a bit too early to make that comparison in my opinion. Fed had a younger Rafa, and Rafa had Nole that kept him from winning more. Nole has ... Murray? I think Novak should be able to win a few more, but yes it looks like his results are becoming more erratic.

 

[Federberg]

It's a bit too early to make that comparison in my opinion. Fed had a younger Rafa, and Rafa had Nole that kept him from winning more. Nole has ... Murray? I think Novak should be able to win a few more, but yes it looks like his results are becoming more erratic.

But doesn't that make this worse? As you say, he only has Murray, but stuff like this is happening. In the last 3 slams he's not faced Murray and still not won any of them. I'm not saying his done, I'm just pointing out how unrealistic previous extrapolations were. 17 looks crazy far away, and now we can't just take it foregranted he gets to 14

 

[Moxie]

It's a bit too early to make that comparison in my opinion. Fed had a younger Rafa, and Rafa had Nole that kept him from winning more. Nole has ... Murray? I think Novak should be able to win a few more, but yes it looks like his results are becoming more erratic.

Or Nole has himself, or the field to stop him. Being the AO, this is a big loss for Novak. Which is not to say he won't make a good year out of 2017, but it's not a great start for winning Majors. This was his last chance to win a Major before turning 30, which is a Rubicon for the men and the Majors.

 

[Denis]

But doesn't that make this worse? As you say, he only has Murray, but stuff like this is happening. In the last 3 slams he's not faced Murray and still not won any of them. I'm not saying his done, I'm just pointing out how unrealistic previous extrapolations were. 17 looks crazy far away, and now we can't just take it foregranted he gets to 14

Well we cant take for granted he gets to 13. But I hope and think he should be able to match Rafa's 14. I am holding off on Fed's record for the time being.

 

[Moxie]

Well we cant take for granted he gets to 13. But I hope and think he should be able to match Rafa's 14. I am holding off on Fed's record for the time being.

Personally, I'm still thinking that Rafa has at least another one in him, and his chances just got better at this AO.

 

[Federberg]

Personally, I'm still thinking that Rafa has at least another one in him, and his chances just got better at this AO.

And to complete the trifecta of delusional fandom... I think Roger still has one more in him!

 

[Moxie]

And to complete the trifecta of delusional fandom... I think Roger still has one more in him!

:lulz2:

 

[DarthFed]

After sucking at the end of last year I figured he'd end at 14 at most and I'm sticking to that. Looks like he's lost a half step and the confidence is in the crapper.

Ralph could still win the RG sadly, especially since Nole likely won't be a force there. Hopefully that rat gets swatted a bunch more times this year.

 

[Federberg]

I make Stanimal the new beast of RG, but for sure Rafa will always have chances there

 

[Denis]

I make Stanimal the new beast of RG, but for sure Rafa will always have chances there

Nadal will destroy Stan if they meet. There will be no 'new beast' of RG. I think Novak is still the prime contender there.

 

[Federberg]

I'll have to see it to believe it. The days of Stan having an inferiority complex against the big 3 are over imho