When will Nadal beat Djokovic again?

[Fiero425]

My answers:

1. a. Even though the improvement is slow in coming, Rafa is definitely gradually improving. He has even cleared Fog and rose up all the way to the finals to get beating from No-vak instead of from a No-body in the early rounds. b. He definitely is a hardworker and has very good work ethics.

2. Surely Rafa's 2016 will be better than 2015 due to at least a "dead BULL bounce". Of course, a couple of back to back clay wins in the clay season might revive Rafa. The clay season of 2016 will
surely be a do or die moment for Rafa.

I am willing to write off Rafa if he does not win a slam in 2016. I am not predicting whether he will win a slam or not in 2016. But, I am predicting that if he does not win a slam in 2016, he is never ever going to win another slam.

Ya never know; well known how I feel about the tour and their inabilities to finish off top players when leading, winning, with a MP at times! I think most should be embarrassed allowing Nadal to come and go as he pleases, twice getting to #1 after an extended absence! That just shouldn't happen! The women have successful kept passed champions at bay who left and returned like Hingis, Henin, and Seles, but the same can't be said about the ATP!

Down the line in 2017 or 2018, Rafa might surprise us all and take a FO! Roger snuck one more at Wimbledon in 2012! That's Rafa's best bet; not sure he's a real threat in the other majors! He's had trouble even getting out of the early rounds at Wimbledon; how can he win? At least he got to his appointed round and match against Nole before he was so rudely auf'd at the FO! It all remains to be seen how long Rafa's willing to stay on tour without winning a major! He can still make a fantastic living; appearance fees, exhibitions, & endorsements! Will he hang around like Connors, not even getting a sniff of a title after 1985, but having a great run late at a USO at 39 years old? Even getting to Roger's age is debatable IMO! Can Nadal continue to toil in the 2nd tier and luck into another major final against an unseeded underdog? Not likely! :laydownlaughing :cover

That is total BS. Kim Clijsters came back from retirement after giving birth to a child. She did not even have a ranking next to her name when she came back. She played two or three small tourneys and then won the USO immediately. That kind of thing will not happen in ATP.

Roger is trying to constantly innovate to keep him relevant. But, Rafa is trying to "recover" his old form. That kind of "recovering" is not going to work when you are slamless for two years in a row and with the style of play of Rafa.

Finally, even the mighty Roger did not win a slam (at least not yet) after being slamless for two years in a row. Even though he won one in 2012, he had won AO in 2010 and so it is just an year gap.

I was just musing and forgot about Kim and now that I think about it, Evonne Goolagong won her last Wimbledon in '80, many years after her last major and a couple of kids! The ol' memory is really slipping! :cover :nono :angel: :dodgy: :eyepop

 

[the AntiPusher]

When Rafa finally commits to retooling his game.

1.Rafa's bh has got to become a weapon again(especially the cc bh which can pull Djoker's fh off the court so he can quickly take control of the center of the court).
2. Rafa's has got to commit mentally to go to War with Djoker for the duration. (even though he lost AO 12, Rafa was fully engaged for the entire match.. the player who won the crucial points won that day).
3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

 

[nehmeth]

3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

There are a few things that make this last set problematic for Rafa.

- Novak isn't dropping his shots short nearly as often as he had in the past
- His return of serve has only improved over time and he handles the body shots well.
- His serve has also become much better in the last year

 

[Fiero425]

When Rafa finally commits to retooling his game.

1.Rafa's bh has got to become a weapon again(especially the cc bh which can pull Djoker's fh off the court so he can quickly take control of the center of the court).
2. Rafa's has got to commit mentally to go to War with Djoker for the duration. (even though he lost AO 12, Rafa was fully engaged for the entire match.. the player who won the crucial points won that day).
3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

Easier said than done! If it was as simple as listing his deficiencies with solutions, he would have done it already IMO; SORRY! :ras:

 

[the AntiPusher]

3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

There are a few things that make this last set problematic for Rafa.

- Novak isn't dropping his shots short nearly as often as he had in the past
- His return of serve has only improved over time and he handles the body shots well.
- His serve has also become much better in the last year

Novak isn't invincible, Fed and Stan has proven this.

 

[the AntiPusher]

When Rafa finally commits to retooling his game.

1.Rafa's bh has got to become a weapon again(especially the cc bh which can pull Djoker's fh off the court so he can quickly take control of the center of the court).
2. Rafa's has got to commit mentally to go to War with Djoker for the duration. (even though he lost AO 12, Rafa was fully engaged for the entire match.. the player who won the crucial points won that day).
3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

Easier said than done! If it was as simple as listing his deficiencies with solutions, he would have done it already IMO; SORRY! :ras:

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

 

[nehmeth]

3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

There are a few things that make this last set problematic for Rafa.

- Novak isn't dropping his shots short nearly as often as he had in the past
- His return of serve has only improved over time and he handles the body shots well.
- His serve has also become much better in the last year

Novak isn't invincible, Fed and Stan has proven this.

Who ever said he was invincible? I was just addressing your talking points

Stan had to redline to win the French and Fed usually has the upper hand on fast hards. We're talking about Nadal.

 

[Fiero425]

3. Shorten the rallies or play more aggressively. Rafa's has to punished Novak when a short ball is produced just as Novak does everytime Rafa's balls land short. Serve more body serves or try to use the lefty serve to pull Novak off the court. Attack the ROS instead of just blocking back into play.

IF Rafa can accomplish this, he can turn this back into a more competitive battle. IMO

There are a few things that make this last set problematic for Rafa.

- Novak isn't dropping his shots short nearly as often as he had in the past
- His return of serve has only improved over time and he handles the body shots well.
- His serve has also become much better in the last year

Novak isn't invincible, Fed and Stan has proven this.

Hilarious! You're very hard to please; 3 majors, 5 or 6 Masters 1000 wins, and retaining of ranking #1 in the world for well over 170 weeks! What does Nole have to do? :nono :cover :lolz: :angel::dodgy:

 

[nehmeth]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

 

[Kieran]

There are a few things that make this last set problematic for Rafa.

- Novak isn't dropping his shots short nearly as often as he had in the past
- His return of serve has only improved over time and he handles the body shots well.
- His serve has also become much better in the last year

Novak isn't invincible, Fed and Stan has proven this.

Hilarious! You're very hard to please; 3 majors, 5 or 6 Masters 1000 wins, and retaining of ranking #1 in the world for well over 170 weeks! What does Nole have to do? :nono :cover :lolz: :angel::dodgy:

Let's be clear about this, if Novak didn't win all those things, we'd be looking sideways at him. Who was going to stop him? Murray goes away when he should be comin' on, Federer is still defying time and tide through the miracle of - er - miracles, and Rafa has been third or fourth rate since his return in January. So, who else? Nishi? Raonic? Safin? Baggy? Gonzo?

Oops, my bad, confused the eras there. :snicker

But the point remains the same.

As for the title of the thread, actually, it's coming closer. If Rafa ever gets back to near his best, then that's the day he beats Novak. But he ain't there just yet...

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Thank you! It's like people aren't watching Rafa struggle from day one of an event! He's spraying the ball all over the place and if it wasn't for the gutless play of other pros in the lower echelons, he wouldn't even be in the top 10! He's done IMO! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Kieran]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Or a gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs should do it.

30 is old, but he should be okay for at least another year, if he manages his health okay...

 

[nehmeth]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Thank you! It's like people aren't watching Rafa struggle from day one of an event! He's spraying the ball all over the place and if it wasn't for the gutless play of other pros in the lower echelons, he wouldn't even be in the top 10! He's done IMO!

I don't know if he's "done" per se, but the heights he was able to attain in the past aren't there for him anymore. He is certainly benefitting from the 'gutless' play of those in the lower echelons. Dimitrov should be beating him and giving Roger and Novak a run for their money too. :cover

 

[Kieran]

Dimitrov doesn't look so cocky since he lost his spot on Maria's arm...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Or a gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs should do it.

30 is old, but he should be okay for at least another year, if he manages his health okay...

YEah, that's all Rafa needs is the Djoker's diet formula"(gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs and his room temp "water", Yep.. that's what turned his body into the Super Solider he is now.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Thank you! It's like people aren't watching Rafa struggle from day one of an event! He's spraying the ball all over the place and if it wasn't for the gutless play of other pros in the lower echelons, he wouldn't even be in the top 10! He's done IMO!

I don't know if he's "done" per se, but the heights he was able to attain in the past aren't there for him anymore. He is certainly benefitting from the 'gutless' play of those in the lower echelons. Dimitrov should be beating him and giving Roger and Novak a run for their money too. :cover

Well, I haven't seen it but I am certain that you didn't count out Roger and he has rebounded.. There is too much talent in Rafa not to make another serious run, his problem is his confidence which has been shaken IMO but a poorly designed strategies to compete at the highest level. Rafa is on an incline which is way too slow for some of us because I want to see him as the ultimate warrior again , it takes time

 

[nehmeth]

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Or a gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs should do it.

30 is old, but he should be okay for at least another year, if he manages his health okay...

YEah, that's all Rafa needs is the Djoker's diet formula"(gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs and his room temp "water", Yep.. that's what turned his body into the Super Solider he is now.

With the biological passport these days, I seriously doubt that it's anything else. :angel:

Funny how Nadal's performance has dropped since it was introduced.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa did it before in 2010 and 2013. It can be done.

Ralf turns 30 in 2016. He will need to find the Captain America formula for him to do what he did in 13.

Thank you! It's like people aren't watching Rafa struggle from day one of an event! He's spraying the ball all over the place and if it wasn't for the gutless play of other pros in the lower echelons, he wouldn't even be in the top 10! He's done IMO! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

So you saying Rafa is done for good, Fed is gonna stay at #2 or whatever but no real threat to Novak.. is that your opinion

 

[the AntiPusher]

Or a gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs should do it.

30 is old, but he should be okay for at least another year, if he manages his health okay...

YEah, that's all Rafa needs is the Djoker's diet formula"(gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs and his room temp "water", Yep.. that's what turned his body into the Super Solider he is now.

With the biological passport these days, I seriously doubt that it's anything else. :angel:

Funny how Nadal's performance has dropped since it was introduced.

I see that Front's suggestions have resonated with you too.

 

[nehmeth]

YEah, that's all Rafa needs is the Djoker's diet formula"(gluten-free pack of hard-boiled eggs and his room temp "water", Yep.. that's what turned his body into the Super Solider he is now.

With the biological passport these days, I seriously doubt that it's anything else. :angel:

Funny how Nadal's performance has dropped since it was introduced.

I see that Front's suggestions have resonated with you too.

Front is not in this conversation; you guys went 'there' all by yourselves.