The Rankings Thread (ATP)

[nehmeth]

Anyway, Djokovic fans shouldn't feel sad, this autumn he built a great foundation to regain the top spot next summer and it's definitely admirable in the truest sense of the word how he responded to the disappointments in Paris, Wimbledon and New York. To be honest I feared he would suffer a free fall until the AO but he proved us all wrong. The guy is a true champion.

Well said Didi. As a Djokovic fan, thank you. He really did step it up after a gut-wrenching summer. We will soon see how much he has left in the tank here; it looked as though he won on fumes yesterday.

 

[Riotbeard]

Anyway, Djokovic fans shouldn't feel sad, this autumn he built a great foundation to regain the top spot next summer and it's definitely admirable in the truest sense of the word how he responded to the disappointments in Paris, Wimbledon and New York. To be honest I feared he would suffer a free fall until the AO but he proved us all wrong. The guy is a true champion.

Well said Didi. As a Djokovic fan, thank you. He really did step it up after a gut-wrenching summer. We will soon see how much he has left in the tank here; it looked as though he won on fumes yesterday.

Hear Hear:celeb:

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Well said Didi. As a Djokovic fan, thank you. He really did step it up after a gut-wrenching summer. We will soon see how much he has left in the tank here; it looked as though he won on fumes yesterday.

I guess Djokovic was really desperate for the #1 ranking. When you have the Davis Cup final coming up, Paris would surely not be a priority just before the World Tour Finals, unless you are chasing ranking points.

 

[kskate2]

Well said Didi. As a Djokovic fan, thank you. He really did step it up after a gut-wrenching summer. We will soon see how much he has left in the tank here; it looked as though he won on fumes yesterday.

I guess Djokovic was really desperate for the #1 ranking. When you have the Davis Cup final coming up, Paris would surely not be a priority just before the World Tour Finals, unless you are chasing ranking points.

You say that like it's a bad thing. If more players were desperate for #1 they would aspire to reach that goal. Do what it takes to attain that ranking and play the way is necessary to keep it. It's the true heart of a competitor to want to be on top of their respective sport.

 

[Riotbeard]

Well said Didi. As a Djokovic fan, thank you. He really did step it up after a gut-wrenching summer. We will soon see how much he has left in the tank here; it looked as though he won on fumes yesterday.

I guess Djokovic was really desperate for the #1 ranking. When you have the Davis Cup final coming up, Paris would surely not be a priority just before the World Tour Finals, unless you are chasing ranking points.

Yeah, I know, what a weirdo. I guess Nadal isn't desperate to win tournaments. Their hunger for victories is what makes them great. Was Nadal passingly interested in getting to number 1? Of course not, I am sure Novak cares more about slams, but losing number 1 was the last bit of territory he had, and when he lost that he flipped the switch. I don't think it's even about the number per se, but realizing that being the best player in the world with a healthy Nadal around is a different task than against Murray and antique Federer.

 

[DarthFed]

That and maybe Nole has the belief that getting momentum back after a horrendous summer campaign could benefit him next year. He doesn't need to have good energy to win his DC matches either...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Djokovic's recent results can be explained by a combination of so many things, but I feel they're getting a tad over-analyzed. There are so many things that can contribute: A positive reaction to the US Open loss that forced him to improve his level, the surface and the fact that he's probably the best player there at this point, the fact that Nadal isn't as good indoors, losing the number 1 ranking, etc...

There's also the fact that he's just a phenomenal player who, despite what some would have you believe, has hardly had an atrocious year, so it's not really a surprise to see him winning, something he's done quite a lot of throughout his career, particularly the last two years. Discussing Djokovic's results since the US Open is normal, since he's the one who's been winning everything. But discussing the reasons is a bit odd to me. It's not like he just popped out of the blue and started winning again. He was playing the final of a major just a few weeks before that. A great player is achieving great results. The reasons are self explanatory. All he needed was a slight improvement in level. That, combined with a slight drop in his main rival's level (whether due to the surface or anything else), explains everything.

 

[huntingyou]

Djokovic's recent results can be explained by a combination of so many things, but I feel they're getting a tad over-analyzed. There are so many things that can contribute: A positive reaction to the US Open loss that forced him to improve his level, the surface and the fact that he's probably the best player there at this point, the fact that Nadal isn't as good indoors, losing the number 1 ranking, etc...

for the record, both players have participated in ONE indoor tournmanet this year.......Paris. Just being accurate here. Maybe what you are looking for lower bouncing hardcourts in general or quicker...I know some people get emotional when discussing courts attributes.

Novak turned a switch, losing the #1 ranking had an impact just like last year when he lost it to Federer. He recently talked about where he is at MENTALLY........it's a good place he says. The guy enjoys to chase. The player with a chip on his shoulder so to speak.

In 2011 and 2010, he had a terrible fall season........actually historically, he was never THIS good after the UO until last year. He did well against a non-existing field in 2009 in Paris and Basel though and won the WTF in 2008. But last year and this year, he has tuned on the heat a coupel notches.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Djokovic's recent results can be explained by a combination of so many things, but I feel they're getting a tad over-analyzed. There are so many things that can contribute: A positive reaction to the US Open loss that forced him to improve his level, the surface and the fact that he's probably the best player there at this point, the fact that Nadal isn't as good indoors, losing the number 1 ranking, etc...

for the record, both players have participated in ONE indoor tournmanet this year.......Paris. Just being accurate here. Maybe what you are looking for lower bouncing hardcourts in general or quicker...I know some people get emotional when discussing courts attributes.

Novak turned a switch, losing the #1 ranking had an impact just like last year when he lost it to Federer. He recently talked about where he is at MENTALLY........it's a good place he says. The guy enjoys to chase. The player with a chip on his shoulder so to speak.

In 2011 and 2010, he had a terrible fall season........actually historically, he was never THIS good after the UO until last year. He did well against a non-existing field in 2009 in Paris and Basel though and won the WTF in 2008. But last year and this year, he has tuned on the heat a coupel notches.

OK... Change that to "Nadal has never been as good this time of the season." Indoors or otherwise.

 

[Fiero425]

Btw, Novak does not get no 1 ranking next week, since the WTF results of last year expire tomorrow.... :cry

Anyway, Djokovic fans shouldn't feel sad, this autumn he built a great foundation to regain the top spot next summer and it's definitely admirable in the truest sense of the word how he responded to the disappointments in Paris, Wimbledon and New York. To be honest I feared he would suffer a free fall until the AO but he proved us all wrong. The guy is a true champion.

Very good point. I am one of the happy Novak fans, because for me, the race for # 1 for this year was a done deal a long time ago. The USO sealed it for me and ever since Nole started his winning campaign in Beijing, I am a happy camper. Is no point living in the past.

I'm calmer now! We can't hope Rafa loses all 3 of his RR matches like he did a few years! We can only hope Nole will race past to take back his #1 ranking after the beginning of the year! This will be a total switch-aroo with Nadal having a ton of tourneys to defend while Djokovic didn't win much after Monte Carlo this year! This is why I feel Rafa isn't the GOAT; yoyo-ing like this his entire career! He probably could have broken the trend if not for Nole '11 campaign taking almost everything in sight! I wonder when the rankings will take an explosive turn? Murray couldn't complete the deal with his injury! At least he took a couple majors, but I can't see him continuing his move to #1! What are we to make of Roger? OMG, can he drop even further? Never thought I'd see Stanley ahead of him; even for a moment! DelPo seems to be on the cusp, but he too has trouble getting past the other top players at times; Nole practically owning him! Ferrer has maxed out too! Like Rafa, he just works too hard to win the simplest of matches! Look for him to drop from #3 soon! :angel:

 

[huntingyou]

OK... Change that to "Nadal has never been as good this time of the season." Indoors or otherwise.

I can't modify your own posts..............

so "this time of the season" implies his results have to do more with calendar circumtances than actual surface or playing condition (indoors) . Which one is it? I can't answer that for you either .....

 

[huntingyou]

Like Rafa, he just works to hard to win the simplest of matches!

I think your vcr it's stuck with 2005-2007 Rafa matches.....get the BR and update your collection.

 

[Fiero425]

Like Rafa, he just works too hard to win the simplest of matches!

I think your vcr is stuck with '05-'07 Rafa matches.....get the BR and update your collection.

Maybe! I'm truly stuck in the 90's! I told you I don't watch as much tennis; boring with the toweling off, endless rallies, and homogenized way of playing! Will these people ever learn how to play at the net? :huh:

 

[brokenshoelace]

OK... Change that to "Nadal has never been as good this time of the season." Indoors or otherwise.

I can't modify your own posts..............

so "this time of the season" implies his results have to do more with calendar circumtances than actual surface or playing condition (indoors) . Which one is it? I can't answer that for you either .....

You're trying too hard...

This time of the season is not calendar related, but related to the surface in which this time of the season is played on, be it indoor or low bouncing outdoor hards like the ones in Shanghai and Beijing. Both play somewhat similarly, and Nadal is pretty mediocre on both, by his incredibly lofty standards... Is my point clear now?

 

[huntingyou]

OK... Change that to "Nadal has never been as good this time of the season." Indoors or otherwise.

I can't modify your own posts..............

so "this time of the season" implies his results have to do more with calendar circumtances than actual surface or playing condition (indoors) . Which one is it? I can't answer that for you either .....

You're trying too hard...

This time of the season is not calendar related, but related to the surface in which this time of the season is played on, be it indoor or low bouncing outdoor hards like the ones in Shanghai and Beijing. Both play somewhat similarly, and Nadal is pretty mediocre on both, by his incredibly lofty standards... Is my point clear now?

Not trying anything, merely corrected your initial statement which by the way most people are guilty of. Some still think Shanghai and Beijing were indoor.

You then said change that to blah blah.............a "yes you are right" would have been enough. In addition, I made the point that Novak's resurgence this year, similar to last year coincides with him losing the #1 ranking and then trying to get it back. Maybe you should have address that part of the post if you were going to say anything, otherwise you could have kept it shut.

 

[brokenshoelace]

OK... Change that to "Nadal has never been as good this time of the season." Indoors or otherwise.

I can't modify your own posts..............

so "this time of the season" implies his results have to do more with calendar circumtances than actual surface or playing condition (indoors) . Which one is it? I can't answer that for you either .....

You're trying too hard...

This time of the season is not calendar related, but related to the surface in which this time of the season is played on, be it indoor or low bouncing outdoor hards like the ones in Shanghai and Beijing. Both play somewhat similarly, and Nadal is pretty mediocre on both, by his incredibly lofty standards... Is my point clear now?

Not trying anything, merely corrected your initial statement which by the way most people are guilty of. Some still think Shanghai and Beijing were indoor.

You then said change that to blah blah.............a "yes you are right" would have been enough. In addition, I made the point that Novak's resurgence this year, similar to last year coincides with him losing the #1 ranking and then trying to get it back. Maybe you should have address that part of the post if you were going to say anything, otherwise you could have kept it shut.

First of all, I said: "OK, change that to..." and corrected my statement. Meaning I acknowledged my mistake (I am also fully well aware that Beijing and Shanghai aren't played indoors, since I actually wrote at length about the surface there in a thread about those tourneys). I don't have to say "you are right" to boost your insecure ego.

Second of all, you're the one who swayed my statement in a way to make it sound like Nadal's troubles are calendar related, when you know very well what I meant.

And finally, I don't have to address the second half of your statement since my take on the topic is found in this very thread: I don't think it's simply a matter of losing the number 1 ranking, but a combination of things I mentioned in my initial post. Just because you disagreed with me doesn't mean I have to rehash the same points over and over to satisfy your ego again and engaging in a cringe-worthy argument that leads nowhere because you refuse to ever accept that your conjecture may not be 100% accurate. What a Cali-esque sense of entitlement... Never mind the fact that Federer returned to the number 1 ranking after Wimbledon last year, and Novak did not go on a tear until this time of the season a year ago. So why didn't that light a fire underneath him during the North American hard court season? Could it be that it's not simply a matter of motivation due to losing the number 1 ranking and other factors are involved?

In a way, NOT tackling your argument is me "keeping it shut," and yet, you somehow chastise me for not replying to it and then say that I should have kept it shut. Which one is it?

 

[Mastoor]

That and maybe Nole has the belief that getting momentum back after a horrendous summer campaign could benefit him next year. He doesn't need to have good energy to win his DC matches either...

I actually hope he won't get to #1 before Roland Garros. That will teach him not to lose against Rafa already won matches.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

That and maybe Nole has the belief that getting momentum back after a horrendous summer campaign could benefit him next year. He doesn't need to have good energy to win his DC matches either...

I actually hope he won't get to #1 before Roland Garros. That will teach him not to lose against Rafa already won matches.

they were not already won matches..

if they were then he would not have lost..because he would've already won..but he didn't win because they were not already won but very much still up for grabs.

 

[nehmeth]

That and maybe Nole has the belief that getting momentum back after a horrendous summer campaign could benefit him next year. He doesn't need to have good energy to win his DC matches either...

I actually hope he won't get to #1 before Roland Garros. That will teach him not to lose against Rafa already won matches.

they were not already won matches..

if they were then he would not have lost..because he would've already won..but he didn't win because they were not already won but very much still up for grabs.

Agreed. He needed to close them out and failed.

It's nice to see the way he's stepped it up in the last part of the season. Hope he can keep it going and win here too.

 

[Moxie]

That and maybe Nole has the belief that getting momentum back after a horrendous summer campaign could benefit him next year. He doesn't need to have good energy to win his DC matches either...

I actually hope he won't get to #1 before Roland Garros. That will teach him not to lose against Rafa already won matches.

they were not already won matches..

if they were then he would not have lost..because he would've already won..but he didn't win because they were not already won but very much still up for grabs.

Oh, whew, JLLB…thank you for interpreting that post for me. I was just gonna ask...