[Nathaliia]

Nole attracts more crowds and needs to play an extra match to collect $$$ for the organizers

[Looner]

They pay them millions just to show up. Djokovic did not even play here last year. It's their money so they can do whatever they want with it. I'd prefer Fed over Djoko any day.

[BigJohn]

It's a conspiracy!!!

[Topspindoctor]

Nadal and Federer are legends. They deserve a BYE.

[Saberq]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Nadal and Federer are legends. They deserve a BYE.

I dont care that Novak has to play an extra match but your statement has no logic to be honest

[Topspindoctor]

Originally Posted by Saberq

I dont care that Novak has to play an extra match but your statement has no logic to be honest

How so? Winning many slams takes a great of effort and Nadal and Olderer did it. Djoker may join them in the future, but he needs 4-5 more slams to be considered a legend.

[rutinos harcos]

Originally Posted by zlaja777

Yes, this might just be the case. Djokovic made the deal after both of them plus it's his first time in Abu Dhabi. He wasn't really in a position to set up his own terms and I'm sure he agreed to play QF's.

It's totally irrelevant.

[Yolita]

Whos cares? It's Abu Dhabi! An exhibition! The organisers are entitled to organise their event as they see fit.

I'm interested to see how Novak will play the event mentally, if he beats Gael and faces Roger.

Will he play below his level to make Roger cocky and overconfident?

Will he play his best tennis to frighten Roger even more, by saving MPs, for instance?

I wonder... I very much wonder.

[MIMIC]

Fed and Nadal are still ranked No. 1. and No. 2 respectively in most people's minds. Why else would they stay glued in opposite sides of the draw (and put Djoker in Fed's half) in every last slam? Even the tard commentators acknowledged how they had to resist the urge to refer to Fed as the number one-ranked player

Djoker just has to do it the hard way, like he's been doing all year. He knows it. It just makes his victories that much sweeter.

[Saberq]

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

How so? Winning many slams takes a great of effort and Nadal and Olderer did it. Djoker may join them in the future, but he needs 4-5 more slams to be considered a legend.

hell by that logic let's put Fed at number 1 seed for every tournament .....I dont see why they get a bye that's all ....It's not an important event....Although I agree with you that Novak needs more Slams to be considered a legend

[theseth1119]

Point well taken, in fact the last time it wasn't Rogie/Djokovic and Rafa/Mugray on each side in a grand slam was the 2010 French Open, the pairings there for the SF were to be Rogie-Mugray and Rafa-Djokovic. Before the 2010 FO, the last time it wasn't the usual SF pairings was 2009 Wimbledon (only b/c Rafa didn't play here, but it was set up the usual way too), so the last real time other than 2010 FO was the 2008 French Open (Rafa, Djokovic, Mugray on one side and Rogie alone on the other), but this was 3 1/2 years ago before they were The Big 4.

[theseth1119]

On another note, there's two possibilities for the 2012 AO. The one that's NOT a possibility is Djokovic-Rafa and Rogie-Mugray. So that leaves, the USUAL Djokovic-Rogie and Rafa-Mugray, or Djokovic-Mugray and Rafa-Rogie. Rogie and Rafa haven't been on the same half since the 2005 FO (meet in that SF) to the best of my knowledge. That's a 6 1/2 year span plus with them on opposite ends of the GS draws.

[Chirag]

Its an exho and most likely he himself wanted 3 matches

[paseo]

Even in exhibitions they put Djokovic and Fed in the same half of the draw.

[Chirag]

Originally Posted by paseo

Even in exhibitions they put Djokovic and Fed in the same half of the draw.

well duh Nadal didnt want to play him this early