What do you expect from Novak in 2018?

[Moxie]

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.

I know it's tempting to think his doctor sucked, and I rather wanted to put "good doctors" in quotes, but JMDP when from Argentina to the Mayo Clinic to work with that doctor, and he stuck with him, even after the original injury was misdiagnosed. It may just be that these things are difficult to diagnose and treat in elite athletes, to put them back into top-of-the-game shape. Personally, I'm not a medical doctor, so I'm trying to believe that they get excellent treatment, no matter how it looks from my Barcalounger.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Interestingly, most people are confident about his slam chances next year. It is the reputation. The scenario however might turn out to be difficult if a few young guns come of age a little.

 

[Moxie]

Interestingly, most people are confident about his slam chances next year. It is the reputation. The scenario however might turn out to be difficult if a few young guns come of age a little.

I think "most people" and "confident" is a slight over-statement, though I see most went for #2. At least 2 of us said we were on the fence between 2 and 3. I think you're right it's rather on his reputation, (well, and skills,) but who knows. As I said above, he could also be due for a couple of fallow years, which happened to Roger and Rafa. We'll have to see how he comes back to full health, though, as you say, the competition will likely have more to say about it than they did in 2015, for example.

 

[isabelle]

now he pulled out of Doha, I have a bad feeling about his season

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

What we thought would have been a huge field of competitors in 2018 is seeming to diminish a lot. Let's hope starting clay season we will see a big 4 or at least a big 3.

 

[Moxie]

What we thought would have been a huge field of competitors in 2018 is seeming to diminish a lot. Let's hope starting clay season we will see a big 4 or at least a big 3.

Gosh, I hope we don't have to wait for the clay season to see Big 3-4 and other top competitors back in action.

 

[Denis]

So relieved it went well today. He crushed Thiem.

I voted for the first option. I think he will take Melbourne and the record of 7 titles.

Thank goodness 2017 is over!

 

[El Dude]

So relieved it went well today. He crushed Thiem.

I voted for the first option. I think he will take Melbourne and the record of 7 titles.

Thank goodness 2017 is over!

Hey, if Roger did it - come back and win a Slam after a long layoff - then there is no reason a younger Novak can't.

But we shall see.

 

[herios]

I missed Novak the last few months. I hope he comes back healed then I will be satisfied.

 

[Moxie]

So relieved it went well today. He crushed Thiem.

I voted for the first option. I think he will take Melbourne and the record of 7 titles.

Thank goodness 2017 is over!

Good to have you back, Denis.

 

[El Dude]

Let's also not be too impressed with beating Thiem. Thiem is a really good clay courter, but he's wildly overrated of clay, imo. Consider that he's won 53% of his hard and grass matches, vs. 73% of his clay matches - and 2017 was a step back in that regard. In other words, he's a top 5 clay player, but more like a #20-30 grass/hard player. Or something like that.

Still, a nice first result from Novak.

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

Let's also not be too impressed with beating Thiem. Thiem is a really good clay courter, but he's wildly overrated of clay, imo. Consider that he's won 53% of his hard and grass matches, vs. 73% of his clay matches - and 2017 was a step back in that regard. In other words, he's a top 5 clay player, but more like a #20-30 grass/hard player. Or something like that.

Still, a nice first result from Novak.

Also Thiem is not well according to this report-
https://www.sport24.co.za/Tennis/ATPTour/thiem-pulls-out-of-kooyong-over-virus-20180111

 

[brokenshoelace]

I didn't watch the match, but to me, it's not about the quality of the player he beat, but rather, how he looked. I can't comment since as I said, I didn't watch, but if Novak looked sharp and moved well, that's all you need if you're a Djokovic fan right now, at such an early stage of the comeback. The opposition doesn't matter. What matters is he's sharp enough coming into the Australian Open to where he'll give himself a chance of winning it, or at least, set himself up nicely for the rest of the season.

 

[Moxie]

I didn't watch the match, but to me, it's not about the quality of the player he beat, but rather, how he looked. I can't comment since as I said, I didn't watch, but if Novak looked sharp and moved well, that's all you need if you're a Djokovic fan right now, at such an early stage of the comeback. The opposition doesn't matter. What matters is he's sharp enough coming into the Australian Open to where he'll give himself a chance of winning it, or at least, set himself up nicely for the rest of the season.

Except there is also the issue of his changed serve motion. I'll be interested to know what you think of it, when you do see it.

 

[mrzz]

I didn't watch the match, but to me, it's not about the quality of the player he beat, but rather, how he looked. I can't comment since as I said, I didn't watch, but if Novak looked sharp and moved well, that's all you need if you're a Djokovic fan right now, at such an early stage of the comeback. The opposition doesn't matter. What matters is he's sharp enough coming into the Australian Open to where he'll give himself a chance of winning it, or at least, set himself up nicely for the rest of the season.

Well, I posted highlights somewhere, and the thing is that Thiem made so many errors that it is hard to assess Djokovic's form. There were the obvious flashes of brilliance -- but, judging from the highlights it would seem that he still lacks a lot of consistency.

 

[Moxie]

Well, I posted highlights somewhere, and the thing is that Thiem made so many errors that it is hard to assess Djokovic's form. There were the obvious flashes of brilliance -- but, judging from the highlights it would seem that he still lacks a lot of consistency.

And, as above, Thiem was unwell. Realistically, we don't have any great indicators as to where Novak is, in terms of his game and his elbow. But if his elbow is fine, and he can play his way into the tournament, there is no reason to think he won't be a threat in the 2nd week. The question is his elbow. And, well, his head.

 

[Front242]

At least he avoided the deadly Istomin. He could've been in Deepika trouble right there.

 

[Denis]

Except there is also the issue of his changed serve motion. I'll be interested to know what you think of it, when you do see it.

This is the thing I am most curious about going into the first match at the AO. I hope I get to watch it and it won't be at 3AM my time or something.

 

[Denis]

At least he avoided the deadly Istomin. He could've been in Deepika trouble right there.

Federer seems to have dodged the Seppi bullet too

 

[Moxie]

This is the thing I am most curious about going into the first match at the AO. I hope I get to watch it and it won't be at 3AM my time or something.

Here is an article about the new serve with side-by-side comparisons in slo-mo.