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"Federer is the best ever... For us it was always more difficult to play against Djokovic"@RafaelNadal's uncle and former coach Toni speaks about his rivals
You’re being unfair, he has a strategy, which he did execute back in his prime successfully, especially in 2013. He just doesn’t have the physicality to executive it anymore, and clay isn’t any less of a surface than HC or grass, so his wins on clay has as much value as Djokovic HC’s wins. I can see the argument of grass having more value in particular to this rivalry as it’s the neutral surface as per se. It has been 3-3 overall between Nadal and Djokovic since 2017. Edge to Djokovic because it’s 2-0 in grand slams, not because he won the ones off clay..Nadal has no strategy to play Djokovic. Actually, wait a minute, now he has no strategy to play Federer either.
I suppose, 'hope that the match is on clay' is a sort of strategy.
So, Nadal has the physicality to win on clay - the most physically demanding surface - but not the physicality to win on hard? 🤔You’re being unfair, he has a strategy, which he did execute back in his prime successfully, especially in 2013. He just doesn’t have the physicality to executive it anymore, and clay isn’t any less of a surface than HC or grass, so his wins on clay has as much value as Djokovic HC’s wins. I can see the argument of grass having more value in particular to this rivalry as it’s the neutral surface as per se. It has been 3-3 overall between Nadal and Djokovic since 2017. Edge to Djokovic because it’s 2-0 in grand slams, not because he won the ones off clay..
Nadal said in his book that his strategy for Federer was to hit every single ball to his backhand. That doesn't work any more, so he now has no strategy.You’re being unfair, he has a strategy, which he did execute back in his prime successfully, especially in 2013. He just doesn’t have the physicality to executive it anymore, and clay isn’t any less of a surface than HC or grass, so his wins on clay has as much value as Djokovic HC’s wins. I can see the argument of grass having more value in particular to this rivalry as it’s the neutral surface as per se. It has been 3-3 overall between Nadal and Djokovic since 2017. Edge to Djokovic because it’s 2-0 in grand slams, not because he won the ones off clay..
I clearly meant in terms of footspeed, reaction time, defensive skills and return of serve. Those are clearly declined. So it’s easier for Djokovic and Federer to rush him on HC now. On clay he still has more time to counter that. Fedole’s declined physically has made them worse on clay too. That’s why their matches on clay and HC are more one sided now than before..So, Nadal has the physicality to win on clay - the most physically demanding surface - but not the physicality to win on hard? 🤔
Maybe the hard courts are playing much quicker these days than in years past. Maybe Djokovic's much improved serve is the difference. Maybe Nadal is no longer getting easy draws before playing his rivals. Maybe 2013 was an anomaly. 2013 is the only year of the decade that Nadal was successful against Djokovic off of clay. Who knows?
I’m more interested in their record from 2011-13 when both were at their prime than post 2014 where Nadal lost the physical edge in that match up. 6-10, which isn’t too bad.Nadal said in his book that his strategy for Federer was to hit every single ball to his backhand. That doesn't work any more, so he now has no strategy.
I've discussed this previously, but Nadal's record going back a decade against Djokovic is absolutely dreadful. Since 2011, he has barely won a match against him on anything other than clay. Nadal trails Djokovic 10-22 since 2018, and eight of those ten wins have been on clay. He's only beaten Djokovic twice on all of the other surfaces combined in ten years, and he hasn't won a single match against Djokovic on anything other than clay since 2013.
So I think that constitutes having no strategy to play against him.
Why is Nadal still dominating the clay, but Djokovic is no longer dominating the slow hard court (places like Indian Wells and Miami)? Explain how Djokovic has the physical edge when he is much better on faster hard courts now, while for Nadal he still has his advantage on the slow clay courts.I clearly meant in terms of footspeed, reaction time, defensive skills and return of serve. Those are clearly declined. So it’s easier for Djokovic and Federer to rush him on HC now. On clay he still has more time to counter that. Fedole’s declined physically has made them worse on clay too. That’s why their matches on clay and HC are more one sided now than before..
You're talking about peak; not prime. Messi, Ronaldo, and LeBron are no longer at their peaks, but they are still in their primes and the best at what they do in their mid-30s. A player is not just judged by a peak, but by their sustained excellence.I’m more interested in their record from 2011-13 when both were at their prime than post 2014 where Nadal lost the physical edge in that match up. 6-10, which isn’t too bad.
One thing we do know is that even the more recent USO17 & AO18 were draws specially sent from the tennis GODs & who better to vulture them than Fedal.So, Nadal has the physicality to win on clay - the most physically demanding surface - but not the physicality to win on hard? 🤔
Maybe the hard courts are playing much quicker these days than in years past. Maybe Djokovic's much improved serve is the difference. Maybe Nadal is no longer getting easy draws before playing his rivals. Maybe 2013 was an anomaly. 2013 is the only year of the decade that Nadal was successful against Djokovic off of clay. Who knows?
As I've already pointed out previously with other people who have made this bizarre argument, Nadal was 27 in 2013, and is less than one year older than Djokovic. For several days of the year, Nadal and Djokovic are the same age! So I don't think you can really claim that Djokovic was in his prime, but Nadal somehow wasn't.I’m more interested in their record from 2011-13 when both were at their prime than post 2014 where Nadal lost the physical edge in that match up. 6-10, which isn’t too bad.
Yep, Djokovic turns 33 tomorrow, so Rafole will both be 33 y.o. for the next 13 days.As I've already pointed out previously with other people who have made this bizarre argument, Nadal was 27 in 2013, and is less than one year older than Djokovic. For several days of the year, Nadal and Djokovic are the same age! So I don't think you can really claim that Djokovic was in his prime, but Nadal somehow wasn't.
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