Where has Novak Gone since December?!

[Riotbeard]

While last season wasn't a great one for Novak, he certainly ended the year with a ton of momentum. Where did he go? How did he manage to lose all of that before the start of the season?!

I don't have a great short essay to write. I am just baffled.

 

[Kieran]

It can happen. If Oz was played within a month of the WTF, then it's likely Nole's momentum carries him to the title. Instead, himself and Rafa goofed off to South America together, and the season wound up. Start again in January and the momentum was lost. I think he's struggling with his intensity levels again, it's almost like he got something out of his system at the end of last season, and he can't get fired up as much this year.

But...he's only played two tourneys. And the guys who beat him are playing great tennis, so I wouldn't panic just yet, if I were you. He has a handy draw at IW, and likely the guy he meets in a prospective final will be war weary by then. This event is a good one for him to reboot...

 

[Riotbeard]

It can happen. If Oz was played within a month of the WTF, then it's likely Nole's momentum carries him to the title. Instead, himself and Rafa goofed off to South America together, and the season wound up. Start again in January and the momentum was lost. I think he's struggling with his intensity levels again, it's almost like he got something out of his system at the end of last season, and he can't get fired up as much this year.

But...he's only played two tourneys. And the guys who beat him are playing great tennis, so I wouldn't panic just yet, if I were you. He has a handy draw at IW, and likely the guy he meets in a prospective final will be war weary by then. This event is a good one for him to reboot...

You are my Novak optimism Kieran :laydownlaughing

It is amazing how the two best players of last year seem to be in serious ruts (by their standards) so far this season.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

he wants to be a back to the future net rusher. no more elastic legged iron man baseline biffing for our novak.

boom boom boris is altering the formula in the serbinators head.

 

[Kieran]

It can happen. If Oz was played within a month of the WTF, then it's likely Nole's momentum carries him to the title. Instead, himself and Rafa goofed off to South America together, and the season wound up. Start again in January and the momentum was lost. I think he's struggling with his intensity levels again, it's almost like he got something out of his system at the end of last season, and he can't get fired up as much this year.

But...he's only played two tourneys. And the guys who beat him are playing great tennis, so I wouldn't panic just yet, if I were you. He has a handy draw at IW, and likely the guy he meets in a prospective final will be war weary by then. This event is a good one for him to reboot...

You are my Novak optimism Kieran :laydownlaughing

It is amazing how the two best players of last year seem to be in serious ruts (by their standards) so far this season.

Well, Rafa has won two tourneys and looked good in Oz until his back broke - you're on your own, Tonto!

 

[Riotbeard]

It can happen. If Oz was played within a month of the WTF, then it's likely Nole's momentum carries him to the title. Instead, himself and Rafa goofed off to South America together, and the season wound up. Start again in January and the momentum was lost. I think he's struggling with his intensity levels again, it's almost like he got something out of his system at the end of last season, and he can't get fired up as much this year.

But...he's only played two tourneys. And the guys who beat him are playing great tennis, so I wouldn't panic just yet, if I were you. He has a handy draw at IW, and likely the guy he meets in a prospective final will be war weary by then. This event is a good one for him to reboot...

You are my Novak optimism Kieran :laydownlaughing

It is amazing how the two best players of last year seem to be in serious ruts (by their standards) so far this season.

Well, Rafa has won two tourneys and looked good in Oz until his back broke - you're on your own, Tonto!

Rafa is certainly doing way better than Novak, but it's hard to argue he looks like the same guy as last year so far.

 

[Kieran]

No, Rafa looks rough so far. I kinda thought he was okay in Oz, until he struggled with Grigor. But then he dispatched Roger routinely. In Rio, he was way below, but got the title. I'd like him winning stuff like that in a more straight-forward way, no question about it.

Maybe tonight will tell us more, but I only saw brief highlights of the match with Stepanek. He can be a tricky customer, so maybe the result wasn't too bad, but taking this season as a whole, yeah, Rafa has been below par so far too...

 

[nehmeth]

While last season wasn't a great one for Novak, he certainly ended the year with a ton of momentum. Where did he go? How did he manage to lose all of that before the start of the season?!

I don't have a great short essay to write. I am just baffled.

What was the biggest change in routine, diet, team since December?

 

[DarthFed]

While last season wasn't a great one for Novak, he certainly ended the year with a ton of momentum. Where did he go? How did he manage to lose all of that before the start of the season?!

I don't have a great short essay to write. I am just baffled.

What was the biggest change in routine, diet, team since December?

Last Fall was a case of him trying to make up for a dreadful 4-5 months where he was everyone'w whipping boy in the finals and desperately trying to remain #1. I think the intensity dropped a bit and in general he has not had a good 12 months aside from last Fall. It is worth repeating, he currently holds no slams. I don't think even the biggest detractors would've thought that possible this time last year.

 

[Riotbeard]

While last season wasn't a great one for Novak, he certainly ended the year with a ton of momentum. Where did he go? How did he manage to lose all of that before the start of the season?!

I don't have a great short essay to write. I am just baffled.

What was the biggest change in routine, diet, team since December?

Becker...

 

[Kieran]

Come on, leave Boris alone! He needs at least another four years in the job before you can decide if he's worth keeping... :snigger

Seriously though, it's most likely too soon for him to have had a negative impact...

 

[Riotbeard]

Come on, leave Boris alone! He needs at least another four years in the job before you can decide if he's worth keeping... :snigger

Seriously though, it's most likely too soon for him to have had a negative impact...

To be fair, it's tough to blame Becker himself, but he is the only obvious change made.

 

[Rose]

No, Rafa looks rough so far. I kinda thought he was okay in Oz, until he struggled with Grigor. But then he dispatched Roger routinely. In Rio, he was way below, but got the title. I'd like him winning stuff like that in a more straight-forward way, no question about it.

Maybe tonight will tell us more, but I only saw brief highlights of the match with Stepanek. He can be a tricky customer, so maybe the result wasn't too bad, but taking this season as a whole, yeah, Rafa has been below par so far too...

I don't know anything about Novak, but I do know Rafa said when he serves his back still bothers him! Rafa's serve is weak anyway and now with the back it is even worse! I guess with the point system no one feels like they can take that much time off unless it is such a serious injury that they just can't continue to play at all!

 

[bobvance]

No, Rafa looks rough so far. I kinda thought he was okay in Oz, until he struggled with Grigor. But then he dispatched Roger routinely. In Rio, he was way below, but got the title. I'd like him winning stuff like that in a more straight-forward way, no question about it.

Maybe tonight will tell us more, but I only saw brief highlights of the match with Stepanek. He can be a tricky customer, so maybe the result wasn't too bad, but taking this season as a whole, yeah, Rafa has been below par so far too...

I don't know anything about Novak, but I do know Rafa said when he serves his back still bothers him! Rafa's serve is weak anyway and now with the back it is even worse! I guess with the point system no one feels like they can take that much time off unless it is such a serious injury that they just can't continue to play at all!

I didn't know Rafa said this. It would explain why his serve looked so bad against Stepanek. Do you remember where you read about this?

And who is that woman in your signature? :basiate

 

[TsarMatt]

Too busy having late nights with Boris Becker.

Hittin' the clubs and all.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Let's revisit this thread after he makes the final at Indian Wells.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Let's revisit this thread after he makes the final at Indian Wells.

Ahem.

Though I don't think it was an off the charts prediction.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Let's revisit this thread after he makes the final at Indian Wells.

Ahem.

Though I don't think it was an off the charts prediction.

Let us revisit this thread after he loses the finals. While the "tennis" is ok with Novak,
there seems to be some serious mental issues. I don't know exactly what; may be
lack of focus or lack of confidence or nervousness.

 

[Front242]

I stick to my theory that some dirty scumbag is turning up early at every match and spiking his water bottles with gluten. Probably paying him a million a year but that's just pocket change

 

[DarthFed]

We should revisit this when he wins another slam. The Indian Wells type tourneys haven't been his problem the past couple years but he has been weak at the slams. Focus has been the problem, he just has too many lapses in play.