[Halba]

we saw this week djokovic tested to mental and physical limits. Looks like his dominance is no longer there, as he only just clipped past murray and rafa. the very similar court speeds have contributed, djoker prefers fast conditions. Also with clay season looming, rafa is more suited to those courts and looks in real fine touch at the moment.

It took him 11 hours to get past these two opponents, who in the previous year he had no problems getting past. It doesn't mean he has gotten worse, but it means the competition is getting a bit better. Can't comment on Fed, as he never played djoker this fortnight, but Fed seems to be peaking at the wrong times, and blowing opportunities(he had a chance to get djoker in USO). Fed's level on average is still high, just peaking at non-slam events, and the slowdown in AO court speed did not help this year

Just like fed's dominance became over when his level dipped a bit, and others like nadal, murray and djokovic improved, djokovic is the one now being hunted.

 

[tests]

we saw this week djokovic tested to mental and physical limits. Looks like his dominance is no longer there, as he only just clipped past murray and rafa. Also with clay season looming, rafa is more suited to those courts and looks in real fine touch at the moment.

It took him 11 hours to get past these two opponents, who in the previous year he had no problems getting past. It doesn't mean he has gotten worse, but it means the competition is getting a bit better. Can't comment on Fed, as he never played djoker this fortnight, but Fed seems to be peaking at the wrong times, and blowing opportunities(he had a chance to get djoker in USO). Fed's level on average is still high, just peaking at non-slam events, and a bit too early at slams.

Just like fed's dominance became over when his level dipped a bit, and others like nadal, murray and djokovic improved, djokovic is the one now being hunted.

I disagree. Djokovic played like ass against nadal majority of the time, and if djokovic had played to his potential, he would have won in 3 or 4.

Murray battle-tested djokovic, but we all saw what happened when djokovic started playing his game...

 

[Branimir]

Nole could have very easily finish of Rafa in 4.

 

[Raiden]

Disagree.

I don't think Rafa has genuinely closed the gap yet.

You can't make any valid judgement about that based on the AO fnal cuz things were stacked up against Nole (Nole started the match a day less, and after playing a five setter semi final; was denied the validation of dozens of gamepoints by corrupt linesmen... etc etc)

 

[sexybeast]

Murray maybe but not Nadal! Murray had already tired Djokovic to his knees and Nadal still couldnt beat him. He will never get this chanse for some time now, expect their next match to be a beatdown. Wonder where Nadal wants to play Djokovic? Clay or grass?

I think Nadal might have better chanse on grass.

 

[NadalPhan]

I disagree. Djokovic played like ass against nadal majority of the time, and if djokovic had played to his potential, he would have won in 3 or 4.

Murray battle-tested djokovic, but we all saw what happened when djokovic started playing his game...

Just because he wasn't as dominating as he was in 2011 doesn't mean he didn't play well. He'll never play to the level he did in 2011 again. I just don't see it.

 

[SheepleBuster]

we saw this week djokovic tested to mental and physical limits. Looks like his dominance is no longer there, as he only just clipped past murray and rafa. the very similar court speeds have contributed, djoker prefers fast conditions. Also with clay season looming, rafa is more suited to those courts and looks in real fine touch at the moment.

It took him 11 hours to get past these two opponents, who in the previous year he had no problems getting past. It doesn't mean he has gotten worse, but it means the competition is getting a bit better. Can't comment on Fed, as he never played djoker this fortnight, but Fed seems to be peaking at the wrong times, and blowing opportunities(he had a chance to get djoker in USO). Fed's level on average is still high, just peaking at non-slam events, and the slowdown in AO court speed did not help this year

Just like fed's dominance became over when his level dipped a bit, and others like nadal, murray and djokovic improved, djokovic is the one now being hunted.

Haha. Nadal will always be owned by his master Djokovic, even if Novak has a hand behind his back. Now how about that buster?

 

[ballbasher101]

I remember Roddick saying I'm closer than ever to Federer a few years ago. They then met in the semis of the OZ open. We all know what happened to monsieur Roddick. Nadal would do well to stay quiet after this loss because Nole might decide to actually play next time they meet

 

[Sri]

Just because he wasn't as dominating as he was in 2011 doesn't mean he didn't play well. He'll never play to the level he did in 2011 again. I just don't see it.

So far 2012 is on par with 2011 for the Djoke. ;-)

 

[TennisGrandSlam]

Djoker still wins!

 

[Rafaspin]

Roland Garros will answer a lot.

Whilst it is arguably if Nadal and Murray have closed the gap or if Djokovic just dropped in level slightly i as a Nadal fan can comfortably say he is playing better than he was in 2011.

So whilst Novak should be the favourite for most titles this year i think Nadal will go close to sweeping the clay season this year in his current form and against slightly off 2011 peak Djokovic.

 

[stewietennis]

I believe Djokovic came down to Earth from his phenomenal play last year. I think this is his true level, which is still pretty high. It looks as though the only way to defeat Novak is to run him around the court and stick with him in the rallies. In his last three matches, there were a lot of sets that came down to the wire, and two matches that went the whole distance – which would have been easier played if he was in Last Year's form. Murray has improved from last year however I was disappointed that he gifted Djokovic a set (4th set without any fightback whatsoever) so essentially it was a four set match where Djokovic only had to win 2 sets. Rafa has improved a little from last year. He played in Djokovic's preferred surface and still managed to stretch the match to five sets – and that fightback by Rafa in the 4th set wouldn't have happened last year.

 

[swisht4u]

Murray has closed the gap.
Nadal has not.

Djokovic was not completely rested against Nadal, had a slow start and didn't get moving till the second set.
Nadal said he took a lot out of this match because he was very close but is dead wrong.

In Djokovic's match with Murray, it was not only long but a long grinding match physically.
Nadal worked only half as hard against Fed and had a days extra rest.

Murray was good enough to beat Nadal IMO.

We'll have to see what happens but for sure it'll be interesting with Murray showing a big change in the mental department.

 

[Rafaspin]

Biggest question is will Murray and Nadal build from their performances - you could argue they just about had match points against Novak and in some ways blew them.

So will they think - it might take 5 hours but i can beat him or will they think, even when he's off i can't beat him.

Sure they'll be thinking the former in training and with their camps but when it's game time and Novaks on the other side of the net will they start thinking the latter?

 

[luie]

There is nothing the one -trick pony nadull can do but walk with his lube & assume the position.

 

[evilmindbulgaria]

There is nothing the one -trick pony nadull can do but walk with his lube & assume the position.

Nah, that's what your idol has been doing since 2004 :devil:

Rafa has greatly improved his game since las year whereas Djokovic has not so it remains to be seen if Rafa can take him down next time they meet.

 

[luie]

Nah, that's what your idol has been doing since 2004 :devil:

Rafa has greatly improved his game since las year whereas Djokovic has not so it remains to be seen if Rafa can take him down next time they meet.

Nice try but fed was never owned by anyone in his PRIME by any-one. Novak has nadull like a puppet on a string losing 7-0 in finals to the same opponent , i dont think any other all -time great has that record . feel proud.
The sad part is Nadull the moonballer has no place to hide anymore,,he will be brutalized on clay.:devil:

 

[evilmindbulgaria]

Nice try but fed was never owned by anyone in his PRIME by any-one. Novak has nadull like a puppet on a string losing 7-0 in finals to the same opponent , i dont think any other all -time great has that record . feel proud.
The sad part is Nadull the moonballer has no place to hide anymore,,he will be brutalized on clay.:devil:

:lol: So much hate for an old man, slow down :devil: As much as you hate Rafa nothing will bring back Rome'06, Wimby'08, AO'09, FO'05,'06,'07,'08,'11... I have no problem with Djokovic winning the last 7, he has been in a league of his own and he truly deserved the victories. You are the one in denial. Repeat after me: Federer will NEVER be the GOAT. Got it? Good.

Now, come out of the basement, your mom is calling you for dinner :devil:

 

[MuzzahLovah]

Rafa's match against Nole was a lot closer to Fed against Rafa than it was to Murray against Djokovic. Murray started nervous but found his game and took control of the match in the second set, only for Djokovic resurrect and Murray falter, yet Murray came back from behind in the 5th to even at 5 all with break points, but Djokovic was too solid and came out the victor 5 hours after the match began.

Fed and Rafa came out strong against their nemeses, with a good aggressive gameplan, then mentally collapse to lose the next few sets, going back to old habits- the only difference is Rafa was facing an exhausted Djokovic that couldn't close it out in 4 despite numerous opportunities. Rafa was a break up in the 5th, but being a break up against someone who breaks as easily as Nole doesn't mean much. Rafa was never really in control after the first set and blew his best opportunity to beat Djokovic in long while.

 

[FedvsNole]

Rafa's match against Nole was a lot closer to Fed against Rafa than it was to Murray against Djokovic. Murray started nervous but found his game and took control of the match in the second set, only for Djokovic resurrect and Murray falter, yet Murray came back from behind in the 5th to even at 5 all with break points, but Djokovic was too solid and came out the victor 5 hours after the match began.

Fed and Rafa came out strong against their nemeses, with a good aggressive gameplan, then mentally collapse to lose the next few sets, going back to old habits- the only difference is Rafa was facing an exhausted Djokovic that couldn't close it out in 4 despite numerous opportunities. Rafa was a break up in the 5th, but being a break up against someone who breaks as easily as Nole doesn't mean much.

• Rafa was never really in control after the first set and blew his best opportunity to beat Djokovic in long while

.

If nole-rafa meet in the 3 remaining slams.

After seeing nole not even lose a set in 2 finals on clay last year; and now mentally having nadal 7 in a row; no way in hell a healthy fresh nole loses in a roland garros final to nadal after what we've seen.