Thoughts about the rest of the year (post Wimbledon)

[Fiero425]

As has been said many times before, Novak is a highly demonstrative, emotional player. I think this win will give him just the shot of confidence he needed to win the big matches with Nadal more consistently. I think the interesting challenge is how he balances personal and work life. People say Fed can do it (now with 4) so certainly Novak can, except they are obviously two very different people with different temperaments.

It's strange that Nole hasn't been given more credit in "handling" Rafa like no other player! I hadn't thought about it until 2009, but even Roger had been struggling to keep him in check; grass being an equalizer I guess until 2008! Nadal still has a winning record over most of his competitors, but Djokovic has several winning streaks against him that others can only dream of; 7 in a row back in '11 through '12 AO, then the 4 after last season's USO through the fall Masters and WTF concluding with a clay court win in Rome! No one's done anything like that; even Roger in his prime! :nono :angel:

 

[TsarMatt]

Kyrgios will win the North American slam.

 

[Fiero425]

Kyrgios will win the North American slam.

What does that mean; Canadian, USO, and Mexico? :snigger :lolz: :laydownlaughing :angel:

 

[TsarMatt]

Kyrgios will win the North American slam.

What does that mean; Canadian, USO, and Mexico? :snigger :lolz: :laydownlaughing :angel:

No.

I've heard the term used by an Australian commentator before - it's when you win Cincinnati, Toronto, and the USO or something. Wait, it's called North American hard court swing. That's right.

 

[nehmeth]

As has been said many times before, Novak is a highly demonstrative, emotional player. I think this win will give him just the shot of confidence he needed to win the big matches with Nadal more consistently. I think the interesting challenge is how he balances personal and work life. People say Fed can do it (now with 4) so certainly Novak can, except they are obviously two very different people with different temperaments.

It's strange that Nole hasn't been given more credit in "handling" Rafa like no other player! I hadn't thought about it until 2009, but even Roger had been struggling to keep him in check; grass being an equalizer I guess until 2008! Nadal still has a winning record over most of his competitors, but Djokovic has several winning streaks against him that others can only dream of; 7 in a row back in '11 through '12 AO, then the 4 after last season's USO through the fall Masters and WTF concluding with a clay court win in Rome! No one's done anything like that; even Roger in his prime!

There's been a fair amount of credit given I believe. The commentators all say that Novak is the only player who has forced Rafa to change his game; obviously that was due to the prolonged runs of match losses to him. It's been discussed here as well. Thing is, Ralf does make the adjustments and the runs have swung the other way too.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Kyrgios will win the North American slam.

What drugs you are on?

or is this a troll?

 

[Fiero425]

As has been said many times before, Novak is a highly demonstrative, emotional player. I think this win will give him just the shot of confidence he needed to win the big matches with Nadal more consistently. I think the interesting challenge is how he balances personal and work life. People say Fed can do it (now with 4) so certainly Novak can, except they are obviously two very different people with different temperaments.

It's strange that Nole hasn't been given more credit in "handling" Rafa like no other player! I hadn't thought about it until 2009, but even Roger had been struggling to keep him in check; grass being an equalizer I guess until 2008! Nadal still has a winning record over most of his competitors, but Djokovic has several winning streaks against him that others can only dream of; 7 in a row back in '11 through '12 AO, then the 4 after last season's USO through the fall Masters and WTF concluding with a clay court win in Rome! No one's done anything like that; even Roger in his prime!

There's been a fair amount of credit given I believe. The commentators all say that Novak is the only player who has forced Rafa to change his game; obviously that was due to the prolonged runs of match losses to him. It's been discussed here as well. Thing is, Ralf does make the adjustments and the runs have swung the other way too.

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again! :nono uzzled :angel:

 

[nehmeth]

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again!

Nope, that's not just you...

In 2011, it was Novak never beat him in a final, Novak never beat him in best of five, Novak never beat him on clay, Novak never beat him on real clay, and Novak never beat him on grass. One by one, all of those mantras fell by the wayside that year. Roland Garros is the only major tournament where Novak has played him and not won... yet.

 

[nehmeth]

Kyrgios will win the North American slam.

What drugs you are on?

or is this a troll?

No drugs, definitely not a troll... just a hopeful Aussie! :clap

 

[Fiero425]

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again!

Nope, that's not just you...

In 2011, it was Novak never beat him in a final, Novak never beat him in best of five, Novak never beat him on clay, Novak never beat him on real clay, and Novak never beat him on grass. One by one, all of those mantras fell by the wayside that year. Roland Garros is the only major tournament where Novak has played him and not won... yet.

Thank you! I'm not nuts afterall! :clap :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

 

[nehmeth]

Thank you! I'm not nuts afterall! :clap :snigger :laydownlaughing :angel:

uzzled

Well, I never said that you weren't nuts, but I like you the way you are.

 

[Moxie]

As has been said many times before, Novak is a highly demonstrative, emotional player. I think this win will give him just the shot of confidence he needed to win the big matches with Nadal more consistently. I think the interesting challenge is how he balances personal and work life. People say Fed can do it (now with 4) so certainly Novak can, except they are obviously two very different people with different temperaments.

It's strange that Nole hasn't been given more credit in "handling" Rafa like no other player! I hadn't thought about it until 2009, but even Roger had been struggling to keep him in check; grass being an equalizer I guess until 2008! Nadal still has a winning record over most of his competitors, but Djokovic has several winning streaks against him that others can only dream of; 7 in a row back in '11 through '12 AO, then the 4 after last season's USO through the fall Masters and WTF concluding with a clay court win in Rome! No one's done anything like that; even Roger in his prime!

There's been a fair amount of credit given I believe. The commentators all say that Novak is the only player who has forced Rafa to change his game; obviously that was due to the prolonged runs of match losses to him. It's been discussed here as well. Thing is, Ralf does make the adjustments and the runs have swung the other way too.

Thanks for that, nehmeth. I think plenty of credit is given, including by Nadal fans, who mostly consider him Public Enemy #1. (Yes, emphasis on the #1, why not?) Rafa didn't need to adjust his game, for the most part v. Roger, except on grass. (Not much to do for indoor hards, I'm afraid.) But he did for Djokovic, after 2011. And I don't know how much more credit or compliment you'd want from Nadal fans than that we know he's the greatest threat that Rafa has ever faced, along with his own body.

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again!

Nope, that's not just you...

In 2011, it was Novak never beat him in a final, Novak never beat him in best of five, Novak never beat him on clay, Novak never beat him on real clay, and Novak never beat him on grass. One by one, all of those mantras fell by the wayside that year. Roland Garros is the only major tournament where Novak has played him and not won... yet.

I don't suppose Nole has done himself any favors by talking about how much he wants to win RG, but it IS actually true that he has fallen short, so I don't know why Fiero should feel like he's alone in hearing it, or that it's especially ill-mannered to say. Though, as you mention, Djokovic has climbed past a lot of other things he'd never done against Nadal, so surely hope is not lost. (OK, it's not my hope, but you take my point. Plenty of tennis left in both of them. )

Anyway, that's all for next year.

Back to the OP, and what lies ahead for 2014, shall we?

 

[nehmeth]

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again!

Nope, that's not just you...

In 2011, it was Novak never beat him in a final, Novak never beat him in best of five, Novak never beat him on clay, Novak never beat him on real clay, and Novak never beat him on grass. One by one, all of those mantras fell by the wayside that year. Roland Garros is the only major tournament where Novak has played him and not won... yet.

I don't know why Fiero should feel like he's alone in hearing it, or that it's especially ill-mannered to say. Though, as you mention, Djokovic has climbed past a lot of other things he'd never done against Nadal, so surely hope is not lost.

It's not that he's alone in hearing it.... it's just the last thing the Rafa fans can say Novak hasn't done when facing their man, so he's just saying he hears it often. I simply affirmed that fact.

 

[Moxie]

Maybe it's just me, but what I keep hearing about are their French Open matches and how Nole keeps coming up short; again and again and again!

Nope, that's not just you...

In 2011, it was Novak never beat him in a final, Novak never beat him in best of five, Novak never beat him on clay, Novak never beat him on real clay, and Novak never beat him on grass. One by one, all of those mantras fell by the wayside that year. Roland Garros is the only major tournament where Novak has played him and not won... yet.

I don't know why Fiero should feel like he's alone in hearing it, or that it's especially ill-mannered to say. Though, as you mention, Djokovic has climbed past a lot of other things he'd never done against Nadal, so surely hope is not lost.

It's not that he's alone in hearing it.... it's just the last thing the Rafa fans can say Novak hasn't done when facing their man, so he's just saying he hears it often. I simply affirmed that fact.

I thought he was questioning if he was alone. ("Is it me…?") Which I was saying he wasn't, of course. In the direct H2H, it's the only thing he hasn't beaten Nadal at, I think. So, yes, he would hear about it, from the media in general, and the forums. That would be expected.

 

[Moxie]

*Rafa is a bit of a question remark. I'd expect him to be really hungry at the US Open, but I wouldn't be surprised if the 2014 Wimbledon marks the end of his reign as the #1 player in the sport. His clay court season wasn't quite as potent as in years past and he struggled on grass. Still, Rafa seems to play best from behind, so maybe he'll have a surge this year. I do expect him to remain an elite player for some time yet, but maybe not quite as dominant as he was in his best years.

Although I don't think Rafa will get the #1 back anytime this year, contrary to Dude's
opinion I think Rafa has another stint at #1 in him.

Could be a hard call, but Rafa comes back from the dead often enough. He's got a lot to defend through the USO, and I don't think he'll defend all of it. And he didn't do poorly in the fall of last year, so his chances of passing Novak are slim, unless Novak dumps some points. So unlikely this year.

 

[TsarMatt]

I remember riding Nadal off around this time last year. I specifically recall saying to myself - "Nadal is only going to win on clay from now on". The prospects of him winning the USO, as well as Cincinnati and Toronto seemed very foreign. After all, his experience on the hardcourts weren't exactly at a high during 2013 and the second half of 2012. He played IW but then skipped Miami.

It turns out he epically trolled me, so I'm not going to say anything this time.

I think Nadal is going to be the man to beat from here on out. I expect Djokovic's confidence to skyrocket, too, and Wawrinka should have a promising rest of the year.

 

[Moxie]

^ Good one, Francis.

 

[Fiero425]

I remember riding Nadal off around this time last year. I specifically recall saying to myself - "Nadal is only going to win on clay from now on". The prospects of him winning the USO, as well as Cincinnati and Toronto seemed very foreign. After all, his experience on the hardcourts weren't exactly at a high during 2013 and the second half of 2012. He played IW but then skipped Miami.

It turns out he epically trolled me, so I'm not going to say anything this time.

I think Nadal is going to be the man to beat from here on out. I expect Djokovic's confidence to skyrocket, too, and Wawrinka should have a promising rest of the year.

All that success, but at what cost? Whenever Nadal has had amazing string of wins out of the ordinary, he usually can not replay his act, only being able to defend clay titles! He did well to win last summer, but look what it's done to him for the last several months; going down in flames at his favorite events in the spring on clay! It was made even worse by losing to his normal pigeons which are his team mates! All those problems culminating in him going out to a wildcard at Wimbledon! He has too many points to defend and there's no reason to believe he can do it; never done it before! Why now when he's a year older and breaking down? :nono uzzled :angel: If you won't write his epitaph for this year, I certainly will; it's his own history I'm going by!

 

[Moxie]

^ Well, what cost, actually? Bad back at the AO, final, yes. Didn't defend everything on clay, but still won the French Open. Did better at Wimbledon than the last two years. (OK, still not such a great success. :blush: ) He's holding 2 of the 4 Slam titles, though. We are going into to his least historically successful time of the year, outside of the US Open, but are you really prepared to completely write him off for the year? With 4 months left?

 

[Fiero425]

^ Well, what cost, actually? Bad back at the AO, final, yes. Didn't defend everything on clay, but still won the French Open. Did better at Wimbledon than the last two years. (OK, still not such a great success. :blush: ) He's holding 2 of the 4 Slam titles, though. We are going into to his least historically successful time of the year, outside of the US Open, but are you really prepared to completely write him off for the year? With 4 months left?

You see any reason why we should be confident he can do more? He might take something, the rest of the tour are still as gutless as I've been saying! It won't be on him as much as them giving away their chance to take him out! He's very vulnerable at this time; history tells us so! I haven't exaggerated anything, no matter my animus; still honest about the facts! :angel: