What ingredients made Djokovic peak 2011 and fall so quickly after? All Nadal, or....

[NADAL2005RG]

I agree. Actually, I think that if the other thread stays open only to discuss some kind of medical treatment, this one should be closed. What is the merit of this thread?

The doping thread was all about slandering Nadal. This thread is trying to figure out what the main factors were behind Djokovic's only multiple-slam year.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Both threads are silly, except the other one had serious unfounded accusations, as opposed to just an uninformed tennis opinion. Hardly the same. Don't think either should be closed though...just ignored, hopefully.

 

[britbox]

I think people forget how close these players are. A 2% drop by one player mirrored by a 2% increase in another turns the tables completely.

Look for this rivalry to flip flop a little here on in, little streaks by both players where they have the edge. Djokovic had it in 2011 and Nadal has it right now. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it was the opposite next year and then flipped back again on it's head again.

As for 2011, it was more about Djokovic than Nadal. His overall consistency against the entire tour tells it's own tale. He had improved stamina and was more patient pulling the trigger. He "out-Nadalled" Nadal in a nutshell. Since then, I think he's dropped a fraction and Nadal has stepped up a fraction... That's all it takes to swing this rivalry.

 

[Front242]

Nadal is player who broke his foot even before he won a slam title. Nadal is the player who fans and experts all across the globe have predicted an early retirement. Nadal is the player who injured his knee and stomach muscle in 2009, and again had serious knee complaints in 2012 (as evidenced by the photos of his knee injection marks at 2012 Halle/Wimbledon). Does it really mystify you why he had a lull in 2009 and 2012? Its the complete opposite of the mysterious case of Djokovic.

That's true it is the complete opposite. Djokovic hasn't had any magic injections in his knee.

No such thing as magic painkillers/numbing injections, as shown at Halle and Wimbledon 2012.

Good man. Well done for crediting Kohlschreiber and Rosol. :clap

 

[Front242]

Depends on your definition of great year. 3 slam finals and 1 semi and 1 slam title is a great year. It just happens to be disappointing in the way he lost in the ones he did. He had chances in RG and the 3rd set of the USO this year was inexcusable. At Wimbledon Andy just played a whole lot better and Djokovic was flat out bad. Even there though he had breaks in each set but just lost them each time. I think any other player out there would consider this a great year too and gladly lap it up, just disappointing relative to what it could have been.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I think people forget how close these players are. A 2% drop by one player mirrored by a 2% increase in another turns the tables completely.

Look for this rivalry to flip flop a little here on in, little streaks by both players where they have the edge. Djokovic had it in 2011 and Nadal has it right now. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it was the opposite next year and then flipped back again on it's head again.

As for 2011, it was more about Djokovic than Nadal. His overall consistency against the entire tour tells it's own tale. He had improved stamina and was more patient pulling the trigger. He "out-Nadalled" Nadal in a nutshell. Since then, I think he's dropped a fraction and Nadal has stepped up a fraction... That's all it takes to swing this rivalry.

Well it would flip-flop (or have a chance of flip-flopping) if Djokovic was capable of recreating 2011. We know Nadal can recreate 2008/2010, because he did it in 2013. I'm not convinced Djokovic can swing it back his way at all. That's the difference between Nadal and Djokovic. Nadal has had 3 great years. Djokovic has had one great year (and didn't just decline in 2012, he declined further in 2013). Nadal saw off Federer. Nadal saw off Djokovic. I wonder who the next challenger will be. I'd say Murray but frankly I see no evidence. Probably Nadal vs someone from the next generation. Dimitrov is the only youngster with the tools, but no sign of the necessary grit yet.

 

[britbox]

Djokovic doesn't need to recreate 2011. It's that finally balanced, the outcome can often only hang on a few key points and momentum swings in any given match. Write Djokovic off at your peril. This rivalry will likely be like a see-saw.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Djokovic at least needed to beat a rusty Nadal at Roland Garros to convince me. Failed. And then when Djokovic couldn't do any better than a breadstick 4th set loss at the US Open (Djokovic's favorite surface), pretty obvious that Nadal owns the future. Nadal will be even more difficult to beat next year at Roland Garros. I have confidence that Dimitrov can make the future interesting at least, but it'll take a few more years depending on when Nadal declines or when Dimitrov arrives mentally.

 

[britbox]

Good luck with that, especially if you think Dimitrov is going to be more relative than Djokovic in the future. :lolz:

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Good luck with that, especially if you think Dimitrov is going to be more relative than Djokovic in the future. :lolz:

I have no confidence in Dimitrov being better than Djokovic next year. But he's the best talent of the youngsters (and he's actually ahead of some of them mentally already), so in 5 years when those youngsters are in their prime (and when Nadal may be declining), I'd say Dimitrov will be the most likely to challenge Nadal. He's even showed some ability on clay. Hopefully it'll never happen. It would be great if none of the newbies challenge Nadal. Nadal deserves a bit of luck, after having to live in the same generation of a previous great like Federer.

 

[Front242]

Till he realizes that talent and potential, that's all it is...great talent and potential. Dimitrov had one great win over Djokovic at Madrid and pushed Nadal hard in Rome, losing by only a break 6-4 in the 3rd. Still, you can have enormous talent but if you don't harness that talent with results it's all just what ifs. Just look at Nalbandian (and I was a great admirer of his game when in "god mode" a la Quake). Wasted talent. I hope Dimitrov won't go down the same path. He's still young and has time to realize his potential and make the most of it and I sure hope he does as he's great to watch when playing well.

 

[DarthFed]

The US Open is probably Djokovic's 3rd best slam, 2nd best at most. When you think about it he is probably just as good at RG than USO, but the competition there, including Roger's performance in 2011, is a whole lot tougher than what he has faced in New York.

 

[DarthFed]

Djokovic at least needed to beat a rusty Nadal at Roland Garros to convince me. Failed. And then when Djokovic couldn't do any better than a breadstick 4th set loss at the US Open (Djokovic's favorite surface), pretty obvious that Nadal owns the future. Nadal will be even more difficult to beat next year at Roland Garros. I have confidence that Dimitrov can make the future interesting at least, but it'll take a few more years depending on when Nadal declines or when Dimitrov arrives mentally.

Ok guys fess up, who liked 6 of this guy's posts? Does his mom post on here?

 

[Front242]

Djokovic at least needed to beat a rusty Nadal at Roland Garros to convince me. Failed. And then when Djokovic couldn't do any better than a breadstick 4th set loss at the US Open (Djokovic's favorite surface), pretty obvious that Nadal owns the future. Nadal will be even more difficult to beat next year at Roland Garros. I have confidence that Dimitrov can make the future interesting at least, but it'll take a few more years depending on when Nadal declines or when Dimitrov arrives mentally.

Ok guys fess up, who liked 6 of this guy's posts? Does his mom post on here?

:laydownlaughing It's actually 7 now!

 

[nehmeth]

Djokovic at least needed to beat a rusty Nadal at Roland Garros to convince me. Failed. And then when Djokovic couldn't do any better than a breadstick 4th set loss at the US Open (Djokovic's favorite surface), pretty obvious that Nadal owns the future. Nadal will be even more difficult to beat next year at Roland Garros. I have confidence that Dimitrov can make the future interesting at least, but it'll take a few more years depending on when Nadal declines or when Dimitrov arrives mentally.

Ok guys fess up, who liked 6 of this guy's posts? Does his mom post on here?

fedfan
johnsteinbeck
fashionista
moxie (2x)
kieran (2x)

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic at least needed to beat a rusty Nadal at Roland Garros to convince me. Failed. And then when Djokovic couldn't do any better than a breadstick 4th set loss at the US Open (Djokovic's favorite surface), pretty obvious that Nadal owns the future. Nadal will be even more difficult to beat next year at Roland Garros. I have confidence that Dimitrov can make the future interesting at least, but it'll take a few more years depending on when Nadal declines or when Dimitrov arrives mentally.

Ok guys fess up, who liked 6 of this guy's posts? Does his mom post on here?

fedfan
johnsteinbeck
fashionista
moxie (2x)
kieran (2x)

When someone says something reasonable/interesting some people try to encourage it, hoping it will become self-propagating. Still more weeds than flowers, but it's not wrong to try.

 

[Moxie]

And, hey...who are all of you goofballs voting in that fake poll? At least I've steered clear of that for trollish, so don't point fingers at me for encouraging.

 

[Kieran]

If he said something worth liking, I like it. What's wrong with that? I hit the unlike button on Darth and Nehmeth enough times, and consider them to be buddies...

 

[nehmeth]

Now, now.... Darth asked a simple question and I did the research.

Moxie with all the manure that chappy has in each post keep looking. Something good is bound to spring up eventually. uzzled

 

[Kieran]

And I'm wondering why the question was asked or research was even needed.

Moxies way is the best, give a little encouragement...

EDIT: but not encouragement to make threads about players doping or make fanboy blind statements of iggerunt lurve!