I think he needs to change something on Clay. Its clear .Year after year, he gets the same disappointment in RG. It clear to me that he needs to change something on Clay.
I would suggest this year for him to Play Madrid and Monte Carlo and spend a week extra on Clay. He always wins Rome and it doesnt bring anything to his table just some extra confidence which really doesnt materialize.
Maybe by playing Madrid he would go in an unknown zone, although not entirely so as he has played it before.
To me its a choice between, playing an extra week to get more practise and to play Madrid instead of Rome.
Skip Miami imo, and start training on clay ASAP.
Playing Madrid is not such a bad idea, despite the biased and disgusting crowd.
Rome though, he should play.
I really don't get the point. He doesn't need to change a thing. It's not like he was doing anything wrong. He won numerous clay Masters, his record on clay is top 5 all-time. Before 2014 he was facing the best clay courter ever. Last year after finally dismissing Nadal he faced a Wawrinka in the best match of his career. He probably would have given Nadal, even in his best days, a run for his money.
Djokovic would have probably had 3-4 RG if it weren't for Nadal. With him out of the way it's only a player in his best match of his career or himself that can stop him from getting the title.
It's tennis, it's 1 match, anything can happen. But it's the consistency that proves that Djokovic is basically a clay beast. This topic would be far more appropriate if you directed it at Sampras or even Federer for that matter.
I really don't get the point. He doesn't need to change a thing. It's not like he was doing anything wrong. He won numerous clay Masters, his record on clay is top 5 all-time. Before 2014 he was facing the best clay courter ever. Last year after finally dismissing Nadal he faced a Wawrinka in the best match of his career. He probably would have given Nadal, even in his best days, a run for his money.
Djokovic would have probably had 3-4 RG if it weren't for Nadal. With him out of the way it's only a player in his best match of his career or himself that can stop him from getting the title.
It's tennis, it's 1 match, anything can happen. But it's the consistency that proves that Djokovic is basically a clay beast. This topic would be far more appropriate if you directed it at Sampras or even Federer for that matter.
Why? Firstly, he won the title and during 2005-2012 he was just as consistent and playing extremely well on clay. He made 4 finals in a row at RG and a total 5 of them, which is more so than Djokovic so far. From 2005-2008, he was only stopped by the ClayGOAT in RG, and basically most of the clay masters. Which is no shame. During his best years, Federer was only behind Peak Claydal on clay.
Strange as it may seem, loosing at least once on clay before RG could have some positive effect. He doesn't need extra winning streaks before RG to build even more pressure.
It's not the pressure, he just simply faced an inspired Federer in 2011, the best ever on the surface aka Nadal from 2012-2014 and Wawrinka playing the match of his life last year.
Strange as it may seem, loosing at least once on clay before RG could have some positive effect. He doesn't need extra winning streaks before RG to build even more pressure.
1. Check nutrition and recovery routine
2. Update software to version 2.1
3. Get the best service pack available
4. Release quick patch to fix eventual errors.
Djokovic is not just a supreme Tennis Player he is a supreme human being also. Thats why warts around the world just wait for Djokovic to have a "fall" like screaming at a Ball Boy, which is not even true at first place. People do get jealous at greatness. Its a fact of life. Djokovic is just a supreme human being.
Djokovic doesn't need to do anything differently, 2012-14 he only lost to the GOAT clay court player and last year Wawrinka played the match of his life, he's a great player on clay and has won 6 masters, his time at RG will come maybe this year.
Show up mentally for once. His play in finals at the non Oz open majors has been pretty bad. So he's to show he can raise his level once the opponent is playing well.
I don't think he should change anything regarding his schedule nor his tennis. He went almost perfect on clay last season until the RG final where Wawrinka was simply outpowering him playing out of his world
It was unfortunate, that is all. He must do what he did last year, maybe don't let the nerves get the best of him in the final and he should be good
It's not a secret Djokovic is the biggest favourite for RG that has ever been, even bigger than Nadal at RG-08 and it's just a matter of time when serbian machine lifts RG/Career Slam/NCYGS trophy becoming GOD OF TENNIS. The progressive part of mtf commodity will celebrate this amazing day for years while haters will experience ABSOLUTE RUINS.
This day is coming for you Orka and co, the day Federer and Nadal will stop being relevant while Djokovic becomes undisputed goat.
Looking at the past won't tell anything. Djokovic was never really motivated in all those years, but this time it's the whole different story. Start counting days when Djokovic wins RG because it's clearly happening.
NoleSlam > 17 Slams. NoleSlam > positive h2h vs main rivals in Slams. NoleSlam > 9 RG. NoleSlam > anything except CYGS, but Laver did it on 2 surfaces, so NoleSlam > Rod's CYGS.
Djokovic is one Slam away from becoming immortal. It's not just tennis which is gonna experiencing its highest possible peak when Nole gets NoleSlam, but it would be the biggest thing happened in all sports ever.
Novak needs a decent draw and better scheduling. Last year he had to beat Nadal and Murray in a row just to make the final: it's a miracle he even had energy to win a set in the final after playing 3 days in a row. I think only Delpo has beaten Nadal before the final of a slam and went on to win the final. Wawrinka beat Nadal in Rome 2015 and got routined by Federer in the next round.
It's very taxing to beat Nadal especially on slow clay so last year, Novak's brutal draw and Wawrinka ball-bashing in the final like his life depended on it proved too much for a tired Novak.
Novak obviously has the skills to win RG and he's beaten Nadal in straights at all the major clay tournaments. All he needs is to focus and hope for a decent draw.
Looking at the Australian Open 2016, Novak had to beat #7 Nishikori, #3 Federer and #2 Murray in a row to win the title. Beating 3 top 10 players in a row at slams is never easy but at least Novak had enough time to rest between matches and the AO does a far better job than RG with scheduling.
It just saw on the Hawk-Eye website that RG is listed as a client, so I hope the French have decided to be reasonable and let the players use it. The last thing Novak needs is to replay a bunch of match points in the final and end up losing due to terrible umpiring. He's had enough troubles at RG but I feel he will win it this year.
Man I always agree with your posts and rate you the most accurate and truthful Nolefan on this site, but this's like the first post that I can't take for granted because Djokovic will approach this RG with AO-12 mindset meaning he will just refuse to lose and battle all of his opponents to the winning end no matter of the draw. Give him the hardest possible draw. Djokovic would still win, he's exceptional and unbeatable when motivated on the deep level like at AO-12. :wink2:
Hard to win FO while hampered and exhausted. Nole had no days to rest before the final and played multiple days in a row. This was almost as bad as when he was throwing up all over the clay in 2014.
FO is not really an important slam. They live in the stone ages and can't even install lights or use technology.
Hard to win FO while hampered and exhausted. Nole had no days to rest before the final and played multiple days in a row. This was almost as bad as when he was throwing up all over the clay in 2014.
FO is not really an important slam. They live in the stone ages and can't even install lights or use technology.
Nadal never had his own peak to start with. The fisherman always plays on the stable level which could be measured at around of 66% of general tennis level(peak ELO), so it's just a matter whether players could get inspired and play at 67% or better. If they do - they win, if they don't - they lose. Easy and predictable, but even more importantly it's never on Nadal's racquet.
Impressive of Nadal to have a 9-4 record in slams against Djokovic despite having none of the matches on his racket. Says a lot about Nadal and more about Djokovic
WOW, some serious discussion here.
At the same time Novak just has to show up healthy. Nothing else.
The tour agreed sometime ago that all the titles will be won by Novak provided he enters the event. Tsonga testified to that this week. Check if in doubt.
But I am 100% positive tennis will survive the Novak disease and will soon recover after Novak retires.
I guess his fans and medias are considering it as a project more than himself.
He perfectly knows that Philippe Chatrier is not the place where his game style is favoured (for a couple of reasons I won't explain a hundredth time)
When you saw last year how he bounced back from that unexpected loss to Stan, winning Wimbledon and USO, I guess he wasn't in ruins as if The French was his major project.
In fact Fedtards were far more in ruins the rest of the year behaving like wild monkeys on Arthur Ashe and bashing Chico in MTF ACC.
Nothing different to last year. The only way I see him losing this year is if he gets sick, injured, or someone peaks again. Might as well give him the RG, Wimbly and USO trophies one time and quit wasting my time. :shrug: However, the only one capable of beating him on a good day is highlighted in blue in my sig.
Djokovic winning MC and Rome, and avoiding Madrid is a given
Only thing stopping him winning is a tough draw, SF or F with Slamrinka, or an epic SF with Stan followed by a fresh Clayray on a baking hot afternoon, but that's practically unthinkable surely he wins it this year and will get Federer in his half which would be basically be a bye to the final
Hope he doesn't run into a peak wawrinka, only player who stands a chance against a full focused Djokovic nowadays
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