In Miami, Novak played Murray and they shared the first 2 sets, then Novak crushed Andy in the 3rd. People on this forum said 'Andy trains for 5 set matches, so it must be mental - he's mentally weak'.
In Rome yesterday, Novak played Kei and they shared the first 2 sets, then Novak crushed Kei in the 3rd. Kei trains for, and wins, 5 set matches, so how come those same people aren't going on about Kei mental weakness?
Double standards, methinks.
[There's been talk of how it's harder for Novak to get into the tennis record books, as he comes along after Federer, which is true, certainly in terms of Grand Slam total.
But there are a few highly realistic targets that Novak can aim for that no one has ever done before, and he can aim for them even over the next year or so.
As people have mentioned today, Novak has just passed Fed for Masters titles, and is only 3 behind Rafa. A very doable record there - he could achieve it over the next year. And by the end of his career, he could have a number of Masters titles that will stand for a very, very long time.
First player to win all 9 master events - if he can win Cinci.
First player in history to win all of the 'big 15' tournaments in tennis - all 4 GS's, all 9 Masters, WTFs and Olympic gold - he's 3 titles away from this - RG, Cinci and Olympics. Nadal is 4 away - needs miami,shanghai, paris, and wtfs. fed needs both monte carlo and rome. i think we'd all agree that whilst fed or rafa achieving this feat seems like a long shot, djokovic achieving ti - the first ever to do so 0 seems resaonably likely.
And of course there are the things that others have done, but very few:
The career slam - still something only 7 guys have ever done.
Career golden slam - if he can win olympics next year. Only 2 guys have done it.
Calendar slam - still a realistc possiblity if he can win RG - only 2 guys have ever done it.
Even though I am somewhat neutral, I for one am very interested to see if he can do these things. It adds spice to the narratives on the tour at the moment.
Exciting times to be a Novak fan...
In Rome yesterday, Novak played Kei and they shared the first 2 sets, then Novak crushed Kei in the 3rd. Kei trains for, and wins, 5 set matches, so how come those same people aren't going on about Kei mental weakness?
Double standards, methinks.
[There's been talk of how it's harder for Novak to get into the tennis record books, as he comes along after Federer, which is true, certainly in terms of Grand Slam total.
But there are a few highly realistic targets that Novak can aim for that no one has ever done before, and he can aim for them even over the next year or so.
As people have mentioned today, Novak has just passed Fed for Masters titles, and is only 3 behind Rafa. A very doable record there - he could achieve it over the next year. And by the end of his career, he could have a number of Masters titles that will stand for a very, very long time.
First player to win all 9 master events - if he can win Cinci.
First player in history to win all of the 'big 15' tournaments in tennis - all 4 GS's, all 9 Masters, WTFs and Olympic gold - he's 3 titles away from this - RG, Cinci and Olympics. Nadal is 4 away - needs miami,shanghai, paris, and wtfs. fed needs both monte carlo and rome. i think we'd all agree that whilst fed or rafa achieving this feat seems like a long shot, djokovic achieving ti - the first ever to do so 0 seems resaonably likely.
And of course there are the things that others have done, but very few:
The career slam - still something only 7 guys have ever done.
Career golden slam - if he can win olympics next year. Only 2 guys have done it.
Calendar slam - still a realistc possiblity if he can win RG - only 2 guys have ever done it.
Even though I am somewhat neutral, I for one am very interested to see if he can do these things. It adds spice to the narratives on the tour at the moment.
Exciting times to be a Novak fan...
