If Djokovic was mentally stronger, would he have at least 14 slams by now?
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Yes. Mental strength is most important in tennis, especially in slam finals.
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He got the tactics wrong, pushing wasn't the way to go today.
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Nope. Novak's strength is in his consistency, but Slams are about attaining a peak level on the biggest stage. Besides, it was mental toughness that got him to where he is. Remember USO 2011 vs Federer? or the AO 2012 vs Murray and Nadal? Or the AO 2013 vs Wawrinka? He's won some he might easily have lost and lost some he might easily have won, that's how things go in tennis.
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How can you get any mentally stronger than Djokovic? Basically five of his Slams (AO '12/'13/'15, W '14, USO '11) he only won because of his incredible mental fortitude (not blinking at all in those many fifth set tussles, even down match points). The Slam finals he did lose were due to either a) opponent playing better or b) opponent handling conditions better.
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or the Seppi and Tsonga in fifth sets win in RG2012 only to be stopped by Nadal probably playing his highest Clay peak after 2008..True, he's bit lacking in that extra gear when it needed most..
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Well, Nadal also did not show that extra gear outside of RG too often. In WB 10 + USO 10 he didn't need to, AO 09 he won based on matchup and USO 13 was the worst choke by Djokovic.
The only exception was WB 08, there he raised his level in the last set/games.
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Why 14? Make it 22.
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Exactly. The only Slam final he's lost that even went to 5 and was therefore all that close was the 2012 USO final and that 5th set was a blowout anyway. That was maybe his only big missed opportunity. Of the other 7 occasions, 4 times he's faced an in-form Nadal, once a peak Federer, a peak Murray on grass, and a redlining Stan on clay. All perfectly understandable losses that had nothing to do with his mental strength.
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you're blind if you think Djokovic was pushing the whole time. he was standing on the baseline for gods sake, deliberately throughout the match to step up and attack, it's just Novak does not have enough power to go toe to toe against Wawrinka in form like this
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I agree with some posts, today was not a mental issue as much as just a better opponent
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Djokovic hit 6, yes 6 forehand winners against the greatest retriever ever Wawrinka, this is Wozniacki like stats.
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Nole has won 14 slams in my eyes already regardless of what actually happened
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He could have had 11 but 8 isn't bad by any means. Anyway, he should look forward and not think too much about it. There are still Slams to be won, incl. RG
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Djokovic can definitely produce more power than he showed today. He was way too passive.
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Absolutely. If he was mentally tougher he would have way more slams. It's funny, when he is confident and playing well he is nearly unbeatable as I said in another topic. But any doubts creep into his mind, and he chokes ridiculously. He was always a talented player who didn't have enough physical or mental strength to win big titles consistently. Then 2011 came and he was both physically and mentally tough.
Looking at the slams he lost.
U.S. open 2007- choked a lead away in one set but was always going to lose to Roger, who was just the better player.
U.S. open 2010- was having the worst year of his career and was exhausted from semi. The fact he got a set is hilarious. Nadal had no business winning it really, he was lucky it was in Djoker's roughest patch.
RG 2012- he didn't choke, he just got fucked by the rain delay. Should have won this still though.
U.S. open 2012- wind affected him a lot but that's not to discredit Andy who handled conditions better. Did well to come back and force a fifth set. He's the better player but it wasn't too poor a loss due to Andy just handling the conditions better.
Wimbledon 2013- fucking awful performance. His RG 2013 choke ruined any chance he had in this match. He was so flat and awful. Mentally one of his worst performances. It was almost like when he got a lead he apologetically handed it back.
U.S. open 2013- again, RG 2013 caused this, woeful first set before hitting form in the second. Owning Nadal in the third before literally handing the set to Nadal with UE afer UE. Nadal did nothing to earn the set or the match.
RG 2014- won the first set and then his sickness took hold. Not a choke from him but very unlucky again. A fully fit Djoker would have taken this.
RG 2015- wins the first set before wilting under the pressure. A great performance from Stan but a real missed opportunity from Novak who has a clear mental block here.
So he is 8-8 in finals, but really the record should be massively in his favour and would be without his sometimes awful mental fortitude. Often he starts to play better when he is down match point and it's too late. So yeah, Djoker should have way more slams. But that's life. Sadly he can't handle the pressure often
Looking at the slams he lost.
U.S. open 2007- choked a lead away in one set but was always going to lose to Roger, who was just the better player.
U.S. open 2010- was having the worst year of his career and was exhausted from semi. The fact he got a set is hilarious. Nadal had no business winning it really, he was lucky it was in Djoker's roughest patch.
RG 2012- he didn't choke, he just got fucked by the rain delay. Should have won this still though.
U.S. open 2012- wind affected him a lot but that's not to discredit Andy who handled conditions better. Did well to come back and force a fifth set. He's the better player but it wasn't too poor a loss due to Andy just handling the conditions better.
Wimbledon 2013- fucking awful performance. His RG 2013 choke ruined any chance he had in this match. He was so flat and awful. Mentally one of his worst performances. It was almost like when he got a lead he apologetically handed it back.
U.S. open 2013- again, RG 2013 caused this, woeful first set before hitting form in the second. Owning Nadal in the third before literally handing the set to Nadal with UE afer UE. Nadal did nothing to earn the set or the match.
RG 2014- won the first set and then his sickness took hold. Not a choke from him but very unlucky again. A fully fit Djoker would have taken this.
RG 2015- wins the first set before wilting under the pressure. A great performance from Stan but a real missed opportunity from Novak who has a clear mental block here.
So he is 8-8 in finals, but really the record should be massively in his favour and would be without his sometimes awful mental fortitude. Often he starts to play better when he is down match point and it's too late. So yeah, Djoker should have way more slams. But that's life. Sadly he can't handle the pressure often
He hit more winners against Murray for God's sake. Unless you think Wawrinka is a better retriever than Murray or something.
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