What do you expect from Novak in 2018?

[El Dude]

This article supported my view that Novak is going to come back quite strong in 2018. I know it is just him speaking about what he's shooing for, but I certainly he's capable.

What do you expect to see Novak do in 2018? Will he return to dominance or continue to struggle, or somewhere in between? Vote and discuss.

 

[mrzz]

I voted for the second option, a bit in doubt between the second and the third. The way I understand Djokovic's game, he needs to polish and fine tune it for a long time: it has a great deal of physical endurance, but also of mental strength and pure craft -- a precise mix of defense and offense that took him some time to get to both in 2011 and in 2014/2015.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I chose the 3rd option but I had doubts too. Something tells me, he will have go without winning a slam this time because I can think of possibly solid contenders for each slam.

0 or 1 slam.
1 or 2 masters.

Year end top 4.

 

[Moxie]

I went with the 2nd option, but like @mrzz I'm torn between 2 and 3, and we'll just have to see how he comes back. It's kind of hard to picture him not winning a Slam this year, as that would mean he'd go nearly 2 years without one. However, he's older than the age when Roger and Rafa felt their first 2+ year droughts at Majors, so maybe this is his, though his trajectory has been different than theirs. Getting back to "utter dominance" seems a pretty lofty goal, and perhaps out of reach, as he's over 30, and the NextGen is coming up, and Fedal isn't giving up just yet. His motivation may be the big question. We know he's an ambitious guy, but everyone would say they'd like to win Majors and get back to #1...doing it is another thing.

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

I think he will make Slam finals but not win any in 2018

 

[Busted]

I voted for the 2nd Option - he'll win a 1-2 Slams, a couple of Masters events and probably get back to #1 - definitely top 3.. but I don't think he'll throw down another 2011 or 2015 in 2018.

 

[Busted]

I went with the 2nd option, but like @mrzz I'm torn between 2 and 3, and we'll just have to see how he comes back. It's kind of hard to picture him not winning a Slam this year, as that would mean he'd go nearly 2 years without one. However, he's older than the age when Roger and Rafa felt their first 2+ year droughts at Majors, so maybe this is his, though his trajectory has been different than theirs. Getting back to "utter dominance" seems a pretty lofty goal, and perhaps out of reach, as he's over 30, and the NextGen is coming up, and Fedal isn't giving up just yet. His motivation may be the big question. We know he's an ambitious guy, but everyone would say they'd like to win Majors and get back to #1...doing it is another thing.

I think "utter dominance" is off the table unless 2018 is like this year - 2 of the top 4 guys are injured and the door is wide open for the 2. Notice I'm leaving any room for anyone ohter than the Big 4 to win a Slam? I just don't think anybody else can beat 2 or 3 of the Big 4/5 in succession to win a Slam. If they beat Djokovic...then they still have worry about Murray (if he's healthy), Federer and Nadal. Who knows about Stan though. He has no coach and before Magnus Norman couldn't get to a Slam final let alone win one. My faith in Stan "Headcase" Wawrinka's mental strength is basically non-existent...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

One of the options should be that from now on Novak wins as many majors as Tiger after the ..........

 

[isabelle]

as he pulled out of Abu Dhabi because of his tennis elbow, don't know when he'll be able to play and in which shape

 

[El Dude]

Hmm...Novak pulling out of Abu Dhabi could be a very bad sign.

 

[Moxie]

Hmm...Novak pulling out of Abu Dhabi could be a very bad sign.

Says he's got pain in the elbow again.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Hmm...Novak pulling out of Abu Dhabi could be a very bad sign.

At first I thought he just couldn't be bothered to play it and just used whatever excuse to get out of playing a meaningless exhibition, but then I realized that he's been out for 6 months and would need every ounce of match-practice that he can get. Therefore, it definitely isn't a good sign that he pulled out. From a neutral's perspective, let's hope it's just him being extra cautious and not wanting to risk anything, rather than the injury being still a genuine concern.

 

[Busted]

At first I thought he just couldn't be bothered to play it and just used whatever excuse to get out of playing a meaningless exhibition, but then I realized that he's been out for 6 months and would need every ounce of match-practice that he can get. Therefore, it definitely isn't a good sign that he pulled out. From a neutral's perspective, let's hope it's just him being extra cautious and not wanting to risk anything, rather than the injury being still a genuine concern.

Let's see if he pulls out of Doha this weekend. If he does...then no, it's not going to be a good start for him. If his elbow isn't better after 5 months - then another 3 weeks isn't going to bring some kind of magical cure in time for the AO.

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

I think he should've considered surgery when he took the break

 

[Moxie]

I think he should've considered surgery when he took the break

It's impossible to know what he should have done. Obviously, he has great doctors, but so did del Potro, who spent months trying to rehab his wrists, only to be told he needed surgery. The worrying thing is that Djokovic has given the elbow months of rest, and now, once he puts it to the test, it starts to hurt again. This is dishearteningly reminiscent of delPo's situation. Hopefully, it's not that. I have no love for Djokovic, but I don't want to see him in a stupid spiral of avoiding surgery, then the rehab doesn't work, then there's surgery, recovery, etc. Hopefully this set-back is minimal.

 

[roberto]

It's nice to see Moxie grow a heart

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It's impossible to know what he should have done. Obviously, he has great doctors, but so did del Potro, who spent months trying to rehab his wrists, only to be told he needed surgery. The worrying thing is that Djokovic has given the elbow months of rest, and now, once he puts it to the test, it starts to hurt again. This is dishearteningly reminiscent of delPo's situation. Hopefully, it's not that. I have no love for Djokovic, but I don't want to see him in a stupid spiral of avoiding surgery, then the rehab doesn't work, then there's surgery, recovery, etc. Hopefully this set-back is minimal.

I beg to differ. I distinctly remember that in one year, JMDP complained to his doctors that it is paining for him to play after the wrist op.
The Docs told him to suck it up and play. He followed their advice and it only aggravated the situation and then he took another one of
those long breaks.

 

[isabelle]

will he play Doha ? any news ??

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

will he play Doha ? any news ??

He pulled out-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/42521091

 

[atttomole]

I went with option 2. His elbow may heal and allow him to play at a high level for long stretches of the year. He will need a bit of luck as well.