Mens Tennis Forums banner

Honest assessment of Novak's year by his fans

14K views 217 replies 66 participants last post by  Winner Seaker 
#1 ·
As someone who's always liked Novak, but definitely had some trouble with his rapid rise last year at the expense of my favourite player, I'm intrigued by what his fans have made of his year. Is the overall feeling "a slam and likely no.1 ranking is a fabulous year" or "after 2011 it should have been better"?

This time last year most of the predictions were for Novak to win at least 3 of the 4 slams in 2012, rapidly rise towards the double digits in slams, win both Olympics and RG and perhaps even the CYGS. This was the assessment of many posters based on "who can beat him? Nadal can't. Federer can't. And Murray can't even win a slam." In some ways it seemed right given how unbeatable it had seemed. But suddenly a year on he doesn't look as unbeatable. Still one of the top players but now not necessarily higher than the other 4 in terms of his level - on their day any of them can beat each other - the little gap Novak had built seems to have closed.

Last year for Nadal was good objectively - world no.2, slam & equal Borg's record. But coming after 2010 it seemed terrible (partly due to how the press portrayed it) and also because all the main losses were to Novak and in finals. Novak has had a similar year to Nadal last year - made 3 slam finals, only won 1. But he lost to different people and also lost his Masters finals (3 lost - MC, Rome, Cincy - as compared to the 4 Nadal lost) to 2 different players. Because Murray, Nadal and Federer all beat him the year somehow hasn't had that feeling of being clouded by loss.

My question is - how do his fans feel? I personally think this is a great year for Novak - he won a slam after all. But probably an opportunity missed with the non-CYGS chance, RG career slam chance, and golden slam chance. Were you expecting more from this year and has the "fightback" from the other 3 surprised you? :)
 
See less See more
#3 ·
I am a fan and of course I would have liked Novak to have another year as good as 2011. But Novak's 2011 was one of the best seasons in the open era, so it would have been unrealistic to expect him to repeat it. But yes... I was unrealistic and I was expecting him to repeat it. :)

This year has not been bad at all: he hasn't lost to any player outside the top 10, he made the RG final for the first time, he won one grand slam and made the finals of 2 others and he's the leader of the race, with a good shot at ending the year as #1 for a second consecutive year.

There were some missed opportunities, and perhaps the most disappointing event was the Olympics, which was very important for him, but grass is not his best surface. Bad luck. :sad:

Taken in isolation (without comparing it to 2011), this year has been very good for Novak. As you say, the other three really fought back, as they were bound to do, and still Novak's won more points than anybody else in Grand Slams (5120 points) and also in Masters Events (4340 points).

If Novak manages to end the year as #1, 2012 will be an incredibly successful season, but even if he doesn't, ending the year as #2 cannot be considered as a bad season at all.

Having said that, I've been a Nole fan since 2005. I was happy with him being a one-slam wonder and the eternal #3. Everything else has been a bonus. I'm in heaven. :D
 
#4 ·
Great attitude Yolita! And if Novak had been my favourite to be honest after 2011 I too would have been confident of him winning at least one of the Olympics or RG - he just seemed so determined. Think last year the little bit of luck that everyone needs went his way in some matches, whilst this year it was the other way around.

Agree that Olympics was the biggest loss for him as it's only every 4 years and seemed to mean so much to him. He'll have more chances at RG and 2016 is a while away. That said he already has a bronze so can't be totally unhappy with his overall career in Olympics.

Wish Nadal had played the full year so we could have seen them battle for no.1 - as it is Novak has clearly been most consistent and deserves to end no.1 which I think he'll get. 2013 will be interesting as he won't be going in with quite the same momentum and perhaps Murray will threaten more in the big HC events - will be great to watch.
 
#6 ·
he won a slam
was a runner up in 2 slams
won 2 MS

he has a great chance of finishing the year as n1

i think its a great year!!!!

infact i think all the top 4 had a great year when fed had just a little better b/c 1- he is so much older 2- he won more titles
 
#11 ·
This year has been very good for novak by any standards, except 2011 standards.
Unfortunately that's the platform he is gonna be judged on..
2012 is the year when novak returned to earth.
It reminds me of federer's 2008, which was considered a poor year because he won 'only' 1 slam and made just 2 finals. That happened because he had 3 unbelievable years from 2005-07 and then the obvious decline happened.

I also don't think novak will regain that level of play again..He will remain one of the top guys for another 2-3 years but that kind of dominance is gone.
 
#12 ·
Interesting. So most Novak fans are satisfied. Where are the fans then who were so confident that 2012 would be a procession? I'm sure I could look back at posts from a year ago which basically could not imagine that Nadal or Federer could ever beat Novak again after US Open 2011.... It really was "who can beat him"?! Interesting how pendulum has swung so much so that very few have that level of confidence anymore... Even in January post-Aus Open I'm sure the thought was that he was unbeatable. Did the summer results change perceptions?

Personally I think Novak will never get to 2011 level again - it was his absolute peak - and really to me it was only from Aus 11 to Rome 11 - RG, Wimbledon, US Open etc. weren't flawless tennis like those few months were - he was still great but that 5 month period was amazing. Nadal had it in 2008 (even in 2010 was more successful slam wise), Fed in 2006. Still win a lot but not at that same unreachable level.

Would be interesting to know what Novak's own expectations were and how he assesses the year. The statements at the start of the year were all about going for RG and Olympics and getting that non-calendar slam - credit to him for not slumping after those disappointments.
 
#14 ·
Interesting. So most Novak fans are satisfied. Where are the fans then who were so confident that 2012 would be a procession? I'm sure I could look back at posts from a year ago which basically could not imagine that Nadal or Federer could ever beat Novak again after US Open 2011.... It really was "who can beat him"?! Interesting how pendulum has swung so much so that very few have that level of confidence anymore... Even in January post-Aus Open I'm sure the thought was that he was unbeatable. Did the summer results change perceptions?

Personally I think Novak will never get to 2011 level again - it was his absolute peak - and really to me it was only from Aus 11 to Rome 11 - RG, Wimbledon, US Open etc. weren't flawless tennis like those few months were - he was still great but that 5 month period was amazing. Nadal had it in 2008 (even in 2010 was more successful slam wise), Fed in 2006. Still win a lot but not at that same unreachable level.
It's all relative. After Nadal won RG, who would've thought his year is done? As for the 2011 level, he doesn't really need to win 40+ in a row to prove anything to anyone. Next year he'll most like target RG again more than anything else.
 
#15 ·
Thankfully, nowhere near as good as 2011. Tennis doesn't need another year like that.
 
#19 ·
He won one Slam, reached two other finals and a semi, two Masters titles... and he is the best tennis player on the planet today. Only very delusional tards could be disappointed/consider it a negative season. It's a tremendous success; sure, it's not like 2011, but no one reasonable could expect that.

He might still have some regrets despite a great season, namely losing the USO final to Murray, he was the far better player when the wind died down so he might feel hard done by. Also, losing the Olympic medal to Delpo, who's a grasscourt mug of sorts. But overall, it was a great season, as it is any time a player wins a Slam (and Novak did far more than just that).
 
#21 ·
Also, having "come down to earth", as some put it, might release some pressure for next year. Andy will be the one battling with high expectations and Nole will be under the radar again. He may win RG next year, who knows?

But this season is not over, he may end the year as #1. That would be a pretty good follow-up to a fabulous season in 2011.
 
#26 ·
A very good year for Nole, but it should have been better. The thing that most annoyed me about his game was that it took him too long to play his near best in the finals of the French and USO finals. The same is true of the Wimby semi. Had the rain not stopped play, I think he would have won the FO final as Nadal seemed to be tired and depressed before the match was stopped. Novak needs better preperation before finals and other matches against Roger, Nadal and Murray. Also, Novak seemed emotionally inconsistant throughout the year, especially in the more important matches. Perhaps he put too much pressure on himself to perform as well as he did last year.
 
#28 ·
A very good year for Nole, but it should have been better. The thing that most annoyed me about his game was that it took him too long to play his near best in the finals of the French and USO finals. The same is true of the Wimby semi. Had the rain not stopped play, I think he would have won the FO final as Nadal seemed to be tired and depressed before the match was stopped. Novak needs better preperation before finals and other matches against Roger, Nadal and Murray. Also, Novak seemed emotionally inconsistant throughout the year, especially in the more important matches. Perhaps he put too much pressure on himself to perform as well as he did last year.
You read my thoughts... I think the pressure got to him... But he's a fast learner: this year he didn't let himself get burnt-out like last year and looks quite fresh and ready to go...Maybe next year he'll handle the pressure a little better and will be more stable emotionally... It's easy to forget how tough the competition is, not only from Roger, Rafa and Andy. Lots of other players have big games and want to claim some big scalps. It's not easy to stay at the top...and Nole seems to be managing quite well...
 
#22 ·
What a terrible year

Australian Open, Miami Masters, Canada Masters, Final of the French and US Opens, Finals of Cincinnati, Rome and Monte Carlo Masters.

What a terrible year.
 
#23 ·
Yes but compare it to Nadal last year - RG champ, Monte Carlo Masters, Finals of Wimbledon, US Open, IW, Miami, Rome, Madrid - quite similar - Novak won 1 more Masters. Nadal's year was seen to be a real disappointment even though he made 7 finals in a row at one point...

As I said I think as Novak lost to all of the rest of the big 4 in big matches - in fact at each slam that they won they went through Novak - his year doesn't feel as gutting as Nadal's did where he beat everyone else, including Federer and Murray, but just kept losing to Djokovic. As I said, to me it's a great year. But I wondered what the true expectations of many fans were and if Novak not achieving either of his two big goals - gold medal and RG - was still a dampener.

I'm not sure him getting to RG this year should be touted that much given his struggles with clay giants like Seppi and Tsonga. Was an odd RG in that regard - Novak just didn't hit top gear all of clay season. Expect him to be better next year - no way should he struggle against Tsonga on that surface.
 
#29 ·
Even as someone who isn't a fan of his, I can adknowledge he's had a good year, his best year besides 2011. Any of his fans unhappy with it should remember how disappointed they were with his 2009 and 2010 seasons. He's now a clear fave in one slam, a genuine contender in another and one of the challengers in the other two. He's fine.
 
#32 ·
Even as someone who isn't a fan of his, I can adknowledge he's had a good year, his best year besides 2011. Any of his fans unhappy with it should remember how disappointed they were with his 2009 and 2010 seasons. He's now a clear fave in one slam, a genuine contender in another and one of the challengers in the other two. He's fine.
I think he is clear and big favorite on every slam bar wimbledon :shrug:
 
#39 ·
#38 ·
It was going to be hard for him after his 2011 season which was one of the best seasons by any player ever. I think that run for 4 straight and the loss in Paris had an effect on the grass, but he has still played well. He has been the most consistent player this year, and if he plays the way he is capable of should finish year end #1.
 
#45 · (Edited)
My question is - how do his fans feel? I personally think this is a great year for Novak - he won a slam after all. But probably an opportunity missed with the non-CYGS chance, RG career slam chance, and golden slam chance. Were you expecting more from this year and has the "fightback" from the other 3 surprised you? :)
Similar to Roger's 2008 year. Good but not great year. The Serbian has started declining this year like Federer in 2008 and Nadal in 2011.


Didn't he go further this year than any other year? He didn't win USO on first attempt either, luckily didn't have to wait very long :p
He won the USO on his third attempt. Maybe he will win RG on his third attempt? He is definitely better on the USO HC than on the RG clay where he only has one final. He won Wimbledon on his first attempt like at the AO. I think he will lose another RG final before finally winning there. Reminds me of Agassi.


Originally Posted by EliSter
I think he is clear and big favorite on every slam bar wimbledon
The only slam where Djokovic is the favorite is at the AO.
 
#46 ·
I think we need a seperate thread for an honest assessment from his haters
 
#47 ·
Even if we forget about his amazing 2011 season, this season has been an incredible year for Novak. It only looks "average" because of his previous amazing season, Rafa's before that and Roger's a few years earlier. But if you place his season in the early 1990s to 2000s people would be saying he's the GOAT.
 
#50 ·
We, as fans, expect too much out of these guys. After a GS win, it seems like the winner is unbeatable which is not the case. Novak is fine - he'll challenge at every GS for a while. I suspect that Murray (now that he's gotten over his mental block) will too. Great summer for Murray - a W final, Olympic and USO wins.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top