Why you won’t love Novak, not yet
When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’. The third man to arrive in a sport made for two, Novak Djokovic has had…
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When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’. The third man to arrive in a sport made for two, Novak Djokovic has had…
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in a blockbuster semi-final at the Paris Masters, 7:6, 5:7 7:6, in what was one of the matches of…
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Thiem is a one-dimensional slugger at the moment who seems to love the plan A of smashing balls relentlessly too much. He has a great slice and can mix up spins on the forehand, I think he needs to adopt some of this finesse into his game and yes, pick his schedule more carefully now that he is firmly entrenched in the top 20 and looking for grand slam success.
What’s wrong with Dominic Thiem?
Silly to compare – The women’s game is very different, they have different bodies. If they combined it would be unfair and no women would win a match at ATP level. Categories exist to level the playing field to a fair standard so achievements can be recognised with their category (men’s, women’s, wheelchair, veteran’s tour etc.)
If you say “Serena is the best tennis player ever” you are not recognising the categories and excluding wheelchair players like Esther Vergeer who won 470 matches in a row, 40 odd slams and statistically the most dominant tennis player of all-time. She rarely gets mentioned in the GOAT debate.
Objectively, the men are the best tennis players – it’s not sexist, it’s just how it is. Serena is one of the greatest female players, to say she is the greatest tennis player is ignoring other categories of players where they are achieving more.
Is Serena better than Roger?
Contrary to what we’ve seen this week, with the likes of Misha Zverev troubling Murray on a court with a little speed. I hate when guys call titles in the early 2000’s cheap. A lot of variety, a lot of power players playing on stuff that is lightening quick compared to today. Andy Roddick’s game used to be monstrous until balls and courts slowed down a lot. He ended up slicing serves in basically. The poo on quick grass was tough and he even made the final on the slow er grass of 03 (grass type changed in 01).
Who is tennis' greatest of them all? It depends on the conditions
Nadal’s success has rarely come on a low bouncing court. Fast yes he can excel, but slow and he struggles. Against Federer, rafa would want the conditions heavier knowing that Federer dictates 99% of matches he plays i.e. – he is the aggressor, the faster you make conditions the more the pendulum swings in federer’s favour.
Federer’s game gets neutralised in slow conditions a lot more than Nadal’s. Just take a loot where both have the majority of their titles. 7 wimbledons, 5 us, 7/8 Basel titles (indoor hard), 7/8 Halle titles grass, Cincinnati titles maybe 5? Pre 2008 Aus titles 3.
Compare that to Rafa – 9 French, 9 monte carlo, Barcelona, less madrid at altitude even though clay, Indian Wells, Aus open finals in 12 and 14.
Rafa has NEVER won the world tour finals since he made them in shanghai – quick carpet LOW. OR London, medium-slow and low bounce. Federer and Djokovic dominate on low courts depending on speed.
Who is tennis' greatest of them all? It depends on the conditions
You’re missing the point – I’m trying to explain that it’s ignorant to label one of them the clear greatest, because it’s quite clear they are at the mercy of the conditions. You could say federer had cheap titles, or that Nadal got to play on the slowest/highest bouncing hard courts and grass in history. And that he got all his finals at night when conditions were slower against federer. You could argue Pete’s main rival agassi went missing for several years. You could argue Nole only plays well on slow low conditions. Every player has a strength and a weakness in their resumes, usually aided or hampered by conditions that they have no control of. When theta guys are all so good and what separates them is millimetres in one or two points (take last night’s match for example) sometimes it isnt the fact that one is clearly greater, it’s probably the conditions gave them that slight 0.1% edge.
Who is tennis' greatest of them all? It depends on the conditions
Yes, not as fast as the old days.
Who is tennis' greatest of them all? It depends on the conditions
Contrary to everyone’s belief that fast courts don’t suit Nadal – that is rubbish. Far more a factor is how the court takes spin and how high it bounces. Contrary to another belief, Rafa’s grips are not that extreme, his forehand is semi-western, so he is more than prepared to handle fast courts.
Rafa is far more blunted by low bouncing courts than he is by fast courts. The bounce at this years AO is good for him, it takes the spin well as Serena’s coach said at the start of the summer. These courts are quick but they also bounce and take the spin, so it’s no wonder Fed and Rafa have done well here.
A night match suits rafa better as the balls will fluff more in the cooler conditions – but there is still plenty of pace for federer to work with should rafa get through dimitrov.
Listen to Roger Federer, he knows what he's talking about
I think he will rebound at the start of this year. I think Zverev will rise rapidly and be the next consistent force to challenge because Kyrgios is balling on the NBA court. Rafa..hmm, just looks a touch slow and hasnt regained that energy or explosiveness that made him lethal, the forehand is just…there, it’s not bullying guys as much. Dimitrov, well, we know he has the talent but he finally looks like he is committing to an aggressive game plan – taking returns earlier and looking to impose his forehand. Stan is always dangerous. Murray will be tough to beat over 5. Federer maybe still too early for him to go deep in melbourne without a kind draw. It’s looking like a Murray Djok final with other main contenders – Wawrinka, Raonic, Dimitrov, Nishikori, could Kyrgios go deep? perhaps.
2017: The year of the Djoker
they had only played on 12 occasions prior to that aus open final.
Try, try again - Stan Warinka has failed his way to success
Yea, there isn’t anyone else I can think of besides those two who have the power and consistency off both wings to be able to do that. Federer beats them with finesse, Kyrgios’ backhand and mentality is too fragile, and everyone else just doesn’t have enough game to do it over 5 sets.
Try, try again - Stan Warinka has failed his way to success
Won’t dominate and the hard truth of that match was Rafa got tight. You can say it’s lack of matches or a painful wrist but the easy forehand he missed in the fifth set breaker was reminiscent of a player feeling extremely tight. Pouille had nothing to lose and went for it, full credit to him and he is a future top 10, possibly 5 player, but Rafa is only getting older and time is ticking if he wants to win another slam with his style of play.
Rafa may be out, but he's not down
Strange first week with a lot of comebacks 2 sets down and interesting results (harrison over raonic, sock over cilic in straight). Tsonga or sock could give Novak a lot of trouble if he gets past Isner (or edmund*). My quarter-final line ups now look like Djokovic v Tsonga, Nadal v Monfils, Delpo v Wawrinka, Nishikori v Murray. If those results transpire could be some amazing tennis.
Also, the rankings and the race are two different things, with the race only counting points since january and the rankings dropping off weekly, so one can lead the race and not be ranked 1 (if Monfils won Doha and Novak didn’t play until Aus open, for example, Monfils would be ahead of Novak in the race, but behind in the rankings).
Murray, Williams sisters roll on in New York
the race and the rankings are two different things. If Murray wins the title and Novak loses before the final, Murray will be leading the race for the year, but Novak will still be number 1 given points only drop off weekly. Delpo is a dangerous floater for sure, but he isn’t the same player he was before with his backhand clearly weaker and his win over Novak at the Olympics impressive, but it was clear Djoker wasn’t at his best, something is not quite right with him.
Nadal has a relatively kind draw, however even Istoman first up is a flat hitter who can cause trouble if Rafa is off.
Yes, I meant first anywhere – just a matter of semantics. To be honest I don’t really rate Olympic performance and its often provided some surprising results.
2016 US Open preview: Murray and Djokovic battle for No.1
Nice read but what made Rio “one of the most spectacular and successful”? It’s an economic disaster, the venues will likely become hauntingly derelict – Russia was still allowed to compete which is a step backwards for clean sport, and a German canoe coach was killed amongst several other thefts and social dramas. Thank god for Usain Bolt because the olympics would have been over after Phelps finished his last race without him. The opening ceremony was sub par and it was more a feeling of relief rather than jubilation that they got through the games without something really seriously occurring which could have.
Looking back at the 2016 Rio Olympics from a world perspective
It was a pretty loosely grouped term I threw around – obviously Djokovic, Murray are favourites and after that everyone else could be considered a surprise winner, except for maybe Fed and Raonic.
Wimbledon form guide: Murray threatening Djokovic's throne
I’m not sure you’re right in saying “absolute best” – at 21 years old he’ still improving each year. Wins over Fed, Nadal and Murray before 21, and also made two quarterfinals at slams as a teenager – last bloke to do that? hint, name rhymes with smojer smederer. Just been granted 15th seed, crucial to avoiding a top 16 player early on as well. A player has to break through at some stage, this could be his black swan tournament.
As for Dimitrov, ah he beat murray and almost took Djokovic to 5 two years ago at wimby to make semis. Having been out of form, I think that’s exactly what a dark horse is meant to be?? Not sure what you want Lance.
Wimbledon form guide: Murray threatening Djokovic's throne
Yes but black swan events always happen on the back of consistent history, who saw his shock exit in 2013? Same year he was struggling with back injuries like he is now. He’s come in under done in my opinion, a lack of genuine matches so with a kind draw I think he will make the second week for sure, but a danger man early on could really take him down. I think the ship for has sailed as far as grand slams are concerned for him, just too hard now to put 7 consistent performances together and trying to avoid novak.
Wimbledon 2016: Men's singles preview
Beat me to it mastermind! My wimby form guide might be posted tomorrow. I’m actually not sure of Fed I think he’s a chance to lose early, I don’t see him making the semis. As always a kind draw could help him play into more form, I hope he gets it!
Wimbledon 2016: Men's singles preview
Can’t really compare eras – Laver’s was grass and pro/amatuer messy, it’s too different now to compare.
The 90’s had too much variety for one man to dominate which puts Pete’s 14 slams as more impressive than 14 now in my opinion.
Federer had some easy slam wins early on but now Djoker too is benefiting from a weary Federer and Nadal.
They are all amazing players and you can compare stats all day and skew them to your preference so any of them could be the goat really.
For me, it’s fed still, not just because of his numbers, but because of the way he played, some people don’t appreciate that and like to stick to numbers but that counts for me, it takes the game to another level.
Djokovic takes the reins as the greatest of the modern era
Not GOAT yet for mine but definitely in that top tier. Agassi deserves tier 2 as he won all 4 slams in very polarising conditions – something none of the players today have to contend with. Sampras should be in their company – the slams are much friendlier now given 32 seeds instead of 16, and surfaces/playing styles all much easier to adapt to than the 90s. I think Novak is probably playing the most complete game of tennis we have ever witnessed, maybe Fed 2006/7 is there about, but he still has to earn the GOAT tag and win more than 12 majors, which Im confident he will. Incredible player and what an incredible era we are witnessing, surface homogenisation aside.
Djokovic completes the career grand slam, winning 2016 French Open
I’m not sure fitness was the reason for Novak’s loss last year. I know it was played over 2 days but ultimately he played too passively and stan played incredible offensive tennis over a couple of hours. Anyway, this year the draw is perfect for him, he should make the final and you would expect a murray or stan to meet him – probably tired as well.
Dominic Thiem is in his half and looking strong. he gave Djokovic trouble in Miami earlier this year and is looking good so far which could make for a great semi if thiem gets that far. Also, Nishikori went 5 sets with verdasco, not straight.
Now or never for Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros
great article on a little known story to one of tennis’ biggest events. Well done.
Roland Garros: The man, the myth, the legend
I think it was unfair to group him with tomic given he recently had a few disastrous incidences involving not trying/tanking, which is worse than having a minor spat with a chair umpire in my opinion. At least Kyrgios is trying, performing well, and improving in both facets (on court and off). Ill-timed warning at the least given he hadn’t done anything of note for some months, it was as if she was just stoking the fire.
Chill out Kitty, Kyrgios has improved
To be fair the Roar changed my title, which didn’t mention Kyrgios at all. Cues, no, is he playing more freely? I think so.
Federer's new winning ways come straight from Kyrgios' book