Novak Djokovic took a circuitous route to make it happen, but the highly-anticipated Rome quarterfinal showdown between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal has come to fruition. They will meet again on Friday, with the winner to face either Kei Nishikori or Dominic Thiem.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be squaring off for the 49th time in their careers when they collide again in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday afternoon.
Djokovic, who pulled even with Nadal at 23-23 with a World Tour Finals semifinal victory last fall, is now leading the head-to-head series 25-23. He prevailed earlier this season 6-1, 6-2 in the Doha title match and 7-6(5), 6-2 in the Indian Wells semis. Djokovic is on a six-match winning streak at Nadal’s expense and has won 13 consecutive sets, but the last four of those matches (and eight of the sets) have come on hard courts. Clay should give the world No. 5 a much better chance, and he is 13-6 against Djokovic on this surface. Nadal has won three of their five previous Rome encounters, but Djokovic most recently got the job done 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the 2014 final.
The top-ranked Serb made his trek to Friday’s quarterfinal contest more interesting than necessary, but he rebounded from a first-set bagel at the hands of Thomaz Bellucci to survive 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday night. He preceded that result by scraping past qualifier Stephane Robert 7-5, 7-5, so it is safe to say Djokovic has showcased nothing close to his best stuff so far this week. The top seed lost to Jiri Vesely right off the bat in Monte-Carlo last month, but he bounced back from that performance by capturing the Madrid title.
Nadal also dropped the first set of his third-round affair before overcoming Nick Kyrgios 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4. The Spaniard is now 49-4 lifetime at the Rome Masters with seven titles. The recent Monte-Carlo champion, who preceded his defeat of Kyrgios by beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3, is 27-7 for the season and 15-1 on the current clay-court swing.
Although Djokovic’s form has been less than outstanding in Rome, he can expected to inevitably raise his level against tougher competition. After all, he is 24-1 in his last 25 sets against top-15 competition dating back to his semifinal victory over Roger Federer at the Australian Open. The surface will help Nadal make this one competitive and probably even steal a set, but Djokovic will likely extend his streak to seven against the nine-time French Open champion.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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The only positive I see here, had Rafa won the match. He would have been appointed favorite for RG. All pressure back on him. Now pressure on Novak as favorite will be big.
fair point
What it takes to win a point off Rafa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQk-ttEw_rU
Gosh, can’t wait to see the whole match.
I said the loser of this match would win RG. I hope I was wrong. Maybe Nole could pull out of his match tomorrow so he can rest up. I knew both would go all out. Lucky it did not go 3 otherwise Madrid 2009 could have happened again. Maybe Andy can be this year’s Stanimal.
Novak will try to win Rome…I hope he plays two long matches and loses the second..haahah
Novak will win in Rome
Bold.
Andy’s 3 setter in Madrid was shorter or same time than this match. Novak said he felt like he played 5 sets today.
So what is better ?
I think Novak is more scared of Rafa on clay than Andy and it would be great if rafa and Novak on opposite sides.
At least Rafa poses more problem to Djoko now than last year.
I dont know, I feel Djoko isnt playing well on clay this year compared to last year (a R2 loss at MC). Even though he won Madrid, Madrid did play like a HC. He struggled vs Robert, Bellucci and now Rafa here at Rome. Kei if he plays well may be another problem for Djoko, after Djoko’s long physically and mentally draining QF match with Rafa. I do feel Murray may end up winning Rome for the first time.
Murray is playing well on clay; I hope Rafa doesnt end up in Djoko or Murray’s quarter at the FO. I dont know which is better – SF vs Djoko or SF vs Murray at the FO.
This Rafa will beat this Murray and may beat this Nole on Chartrier.
I hope so, hawkeye!
i do
Do you?
Murray beat Rafa in Madrid, but TO be fair, Rafa didn’t play with a lot of intensity and Murray served very well at key points. Rafa also says a good serve in Madrid is far more difficult to deal with. In Rome Murray hasn’t been tested, he had a dream draw.
I used to fret about which half Rafa would be in, now I’m far more relaxed about that, because he is playing well enough to take on anyone. Djok only just beat him yesterday. Maybe Rafa didn’t expect to win which is better as he would have exceeded his expectations.
Rafa is very patient, he knows Rome was not built in a day. (Forgive the pun). I am looking forward to RG.
Vamos Rafa!
Novak’s MC loss had nothing to do with his clay court prowess. He came out flat and did not have enough emotional energy that day. The guy needed rest.
Overall, ye he looks a bit more vulnerable on clay.
Stan has been crap but I hope he catches fire in RG and meets Novak.
Also want thiem/Kyrgios to be on Novak’s side so that the Serb gets some resistance.
Have been saying for months that Djokovic is looking jaded. He is under huge pressure and living up to the high expectatios is getting to him big time. The proof is in the frequent ugly outbursts which in the past were pretty rare. Yesterday he had trouble regaining his composure on several occasions.
The assumption is a Rafole RG final but first they both have to get there. There are more dark horses than usual lying in wait to derail them but based on Rafa’s performance yesterday my money is on him as the more likely of the two to fight his way there.
If Rafole win all their matches before they meet, there is only a 25% chance of them meeting in the final. And that’s IF they win.
A Rafole final is doubtful.
Hawkeye,
You are correct. I don’t know why anyone would assume they will meet in the final.
Rafa: “I was not disappointed. Overall, I am playing well. … I have been competing at the highest level against the best player”.
Yes, Rafa you are playing well, just hold your nerves and RG is yours.
Vamos Rafa!
Yeah, just hold his nerve. He was the better player in the QF yet he lost due to nerve and some brain cramps while serving for set two.
Unless Djoko raises his level at RG and hit top form, Rafa with calm can beat Djoko. Hope Rafa can control his nerve in big matches; I do feel he should fight for a big lead so that there’s buffer in case he gets broken in his service game. One break of serve a set may not be enough against players like Djoko and Murray.
To me, Rafa just wasnt aggressive enough after getting one break and he usually surrendered his only break by being broken back in the set. Its the same old story this year.
Mental
Burning Up Rome
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016 /by STEVE TIGNOR
If you go strictly by the scoreline, it doesn’t sound like much: The No. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic, beat the No. 5 seed, 7-5, 7-6 (4), in the quarterfinals.
The victor, for one, knew better.
“It’s a straight-sets win, but it feels like we played five sets,” Djokovic said. “Winning against Nadal is the ultimate challenge on clay courts and one of the biggest challenges we have in sport.”
Djokovic knew that Nadal had pushed him to the limit, had made him sweat and scream and slam his racquet, had made him doubt, and in the end had made him come up with his very best, with the shots that only he possesses. While Nole won his seventh straight match over Rafa, and his 11th in their last 12 meetings, for the first time in a long time this felt like a rivalry. Djokovic felt it, too.
“I have to be very pleased with the way I handled myself in the biggest moments today,” he said with justifiable pride. “I won against one of my biggest rivals on his preferred surface.”
“I was fortunate in important moments,” Djokovic said. “But I managed to take him out of his comfort zone in important moments and didn’t always give him the same look….I thought he played high quality tennis. He tried to step in, he tried to be aggressive. But towards the end, I guess I was a bit more fortunate.”
There’s fortune, and then there’s magic. This match will be remembered for two Djokovic Houdini acts, each of them pulled off at a match-changing moment.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/05/burning-rome/58480/#.VzbueZErLNM
Anyone who thinks Rafa can’t beat Djokovic is not being realistic. Even Djokovic thinks otherwise.
If Rafa keeps feeling tense at crucial moments then most likely he will fall short.
The problem with Rafa when having set point was that he kept serving the same way at ad court and expecting different results when Djoko was already expecting it and returned with interest. Had Rafa taken his chances and served down the T for a change, it would surprise Djoko, even if it went out, at least cast some doubts in Djoko’s head!
Perhaps too many defeats had blunted Rafa’s thought process, he’s not able to think clearly and not gutsy enough to take any risk at crucial moments. How many times when he had BPs but wasted so many of them by playing tentatively?
Not many people see it the way you do not even Djoker.
Vamos Rafa!
Well, well! So we are now quoting Tiggy again? I though he was persons on grata because he said some critical things about Rafa. As soon as he says something good, he’s being quoted again.
Hawkeye, Amy and myself defended Tiggy on rafa’s fan page and were attacked for doing so!!
It’s just nice to see Tiggy being given some respect! 🙂
I meant to say persona non grata in my previous post!
Rafa will rest and work to perfect his new serve positioning. I think his serve will be the key in RG. He has already improved it, but expect more variation to it. He did not have to reveal everything in Rome.
I am more than pleased to see Team Nadal brainstorming and strategy building at it’s finest again. They have carefully thought about everything and they may still surprise us, the fans, as well as Rafa’s opponents, with some new material. I think Rafa has been working hard in order to change certain aspects in his game. He tried those drop shots (not perfect but will get to it; certainly RG clay suits him better to employ those changes); new serve position; being more aggressive (Rafa controlled most of the points yesterday); holding his nerve to consolidate breaks. He just lacked belief. After this match Rafa will definitely have more belief and stronger confidence. Rafa is no longer stating “Novak is at completely different level than me”…
Novak’s frustration and on-court behavior prove he was not expecting this much resistance from Rafa…let’s face it: Novak’s mind is on RG not Rome…he played for RG yesterday…he wanted lopsided match…he wanted to further imperil Rafa’s confidence…but Rafa showed the will to fight back and the endurance to stay in the match…
Honestly, I know most of us here are saying that it would be perfect if they would only meet in the finals…I agree that would be the fair thing to happen because Novak and Rafa are currently the best players on clay and it would be the only REAL deal…however, I am not sure who would be in more danger if they met in RG quarters: Novak or Rafa? Novak needs time to adjust and he usually peaks in the semis/finals…Novak is under huge pressure being the absolute favorite on one side but never winning it on the other…If they met in quarters we could expect Rafa to fight like hell…even in the case of Novak emerging victorious he would certainly be worn out physically and emotionally…I think Novak would more appreciate meeting Rafa at the later stage of the tourney…
Rafa peaks in the semis and finals of RG and his peak > Novak’s. Therefore, I want them to meet in the SF or the final.
yeah, it would be my preference too…but we know the draw will not be in Rafa’s favor…it has never been…we should expect the worst possible draw for Rafa…
vr,
Yes, you are correct. It would be best for Rafa to meet Novak in the semis or final. That would be when he will peak and be at his best.
Nats, I agree with your take on it. Rafa has come a long way since this time last year and his hard work will pay off sooner or later.
IfFed is not going to play RG, I hope he pulls out before the draw so that the top and bottom half will be evenly balanced as much as possible.
I feel final will be better as Novak will be under huge pressure and can choke and lose his calm big time at French open. He will be under less pressure in qtr final.
However given Rafas luck with draws I won’t be surprised if he lends in novaks qtr
Rafa stopped Novak slam in 2012. I sure hope he is the one to do it again.
i have read an interview with fed about the back. fed said he wouldn’t play unless it really improved in a short time. i think there is a very good chance he will pull out so rafa would get the #4 seed. that would be huge as i don’t see him beating nole in the quarters, it’s too early in the tourney, rafa has to build momentum.
I agree, but I think it’s not good for either one of them…They will probably kill each other on court…
I think Fed will decide to play…he may end up with decent draw and reach qrtrs which is fine result for him…although I strongly belive it’s better and smarter for his Wimby chances to skip RG..
i don’t think rafa can hang with nole in the quarters i’m afraid. i don’t think that match would be that difficult for nole. if it’s semis or final then it will be a huge match and whoever gets to play the winner in the final, if it is semis, will have a big advantage because of that.
still, i remember in 2013 i was desperate for rafa to get #4 from ferrer. he got it, but ferrer had the easy draw!
given that fed has had back problems for a while and wimby is his #1 goal + olympics then it doesn’t make much sense for him taking risks at rg where he could go out early on. could get thiem or nick in the fourth round. even fed fans like benny are saying maybe he should pull out.
of course i am desperate not to see rafole in the quarters!!!
You mean Nole is better earlier on even though he nearly lost to a qualifier in 2nd Rnd and got bageled in the 3rd round?
The issue with fed playing RG, is that it’s best of five set matches. That is much more demanding than best of three set matches. So that is one of the risks fed will be facing.
Amy,
I agree with you! I believe in being realistic and honest. There is no way that I want Rafa to play Novak in the quarterfinals and if one is a real Rafa fan, then they would not want that at all. Their battles are so physical and it would take a lot out of Rafa to face Novak that early.
Rafa got lucky in the 2013 RG because after that intense five set battle with Novak, Rafa played Ferrer in the final. He was able to beat him easily in 3 sets. But after the semifinal with Novak, Rafa pulled out of a warmup tournament for Wimbledon. I think it was Halle. Also, Rafa got knocked out if Wimbledon early. Playing Novak takes it out of him and he was three years younger at that time.
This is true for Nole too! Not good to play Rafa in the QF or any round at FO! Would like to avoid it altogether, if possible.
Yes, of course it’s not good for Novak to have to play Rafa in the quarterfinals. I just usually speak about how things affect rafa since I am his fan,
Yeah. I’m likely getting a bit wound up in advance of FO and starting to see everything from a Nole fan perspective. I’ll calm down. It’s not the end of the world if he loses his chance at FO again this year. It might seem like it for a short time but I’ll get over it. After all the years hoping, I’m a bit frayed and fried.
nny, i would be very worried if they played in the quarters! rafa gets better and better as the tournament progresses and i don’t think he would have sufficient momentum by the quarters. semis or final is a different matter.
also i want to see a rafole final because i am starved for lack of gr8 rafole matches. without this rivalry tennis at the very top has been a shadow of what it used to be….
what’s all this about rafa taking up a serving position in the ad court where he renounces the t serve?
one of the big problems he has had for a long while is that on break points he used to hit the t serve and save himself. doesn’t seem to be able to do that now.
Amy,
The 2013 RG was probably the best match Novak and Rafa have played. A true classic! Their rivalry has made tennis so exciting. I do miss their epic clashes. That’s why it’s important that Rafa is himself again. The sport needs him to challenge Novak.
yes i cried after that match nny!! the last set was absolutely unbelievable!
one of the reasons i get so mad with the rafa situation is that i miss those matches so much. there is no comparable rivalry without it.
but hell, i wouldn’t want rafa to play nole in the semis and go five and then have to play murray in the final. that wouldn’t be good…
A stat to ponder upon from yesterday:
Rafa had 83% 1st serves in, won 69% of 2nd serve points, yet lost in straights.
Rafa has better stats than Nole in that match he was just unlucky at key points.
Right now, I’m watching the USO final to keep my spirits up.
The same way Fed and others have been unlucky against Rafa multiple times!
Nole was good enough to make his own luck.
You don’t seem to get the point :
Do you think Rafa can put up an even better serving performance in their next meeting?
I have my doubts.
Rafa only won 59% of first serves. Another stay to ponder.
rc,
I know it must be hard as a Novak fan to see him lose so often at RG. Last year was the biggest surprise, considering that Novak finally beat Rafa in the quarterfinals.
Thanks, all due awe and respect to Stan. But that was hard to take.
Having to beat Rafa to get to the final could very well have taken too much out of him in terms of mental/emotional energy, if not physically.
Kind of giving up hope for Nole at this point. Best to let go of expectations and just enjoy tennis. Nole is still amazing, win or lose.
Having to beat Rafa, Andy and then Stan…that was too much. But it’s not getting any easier, that’s for dang sure!
Abhirf doesn’t get it.
Those stats prove that Rafa controlled the match but his anxiety was heightened on five set points and caused him to give Nole his only break point in the second set when serving for the set.
The match was on Rafa’s Raquet until he got tight on key moments.
Hawkeye gets it!
And this is far better than he was a few short months ago.
He is getting close and Chartrier may make the difference.
There is real hope now.
Vamos Rafa!
Or maybe, Nole just got better on those key moments!
@abhirf 7:46 am,
I tend to agree! Rafa lacked guts and was too defensive and too tentative on key points! Novak was just better in those crucial situations and Rafa let him be and was severely punished for it…
In tennis, matches are won in those crucial moments! Rafa will have to get more determined and more aggressive when it matters the most! That was his only flaw in this match with Novak!
I also find it hard to understand why Rafa wasn’t confident enough when he had the lead in both sets and even managed to consolidate the breaks, was in control of the match and then became easy target on set points! It’s almost as he calls for Novak to become a beast and plays his best tennis in the key moments…
abhirf perhaps but doubtful.
Not five set points and the only bp allowed when serving.
Reeks of tightness.
regarding rg. i’ve said for ages now that rafa will be vulnerable in the early rounds. he was even in 2013 so will be even more so now that he has developed slamitis (inability to get past the first 3 rounds). it’s imperative he gets help with the draw early on.
so some of this talk about nole is moot really – he has to get there first and that’s not a given.
this is RG, remember? There is little probability Rafa would lose in the first rounds to anyone…he was most vulnerable last year and managed to reach quarters and face Novak…this year he is playing way better and is more confident…
of course, nothing is given! For Rafa but also for Novak…
he struggled and was very nervous in the early rounds of rg in 13 when he had been on fire! no-one believed he was beatable then but the field does believe that now. also he used to have a record of always going deep in slams…now he is on a 3 slam record of going out in the early rounds, that is bound to weigh on him.
what does a struggle mean? Losing a set on clay? Novak used to lose sets in his favorite AO and yet ended up wining it so many times! Would you then say the same for Novak that he was nervous or struggling?
In 2013 Rafa dispatched quality opponents in Fognini, Nishikori, Wawrinka before he met Novak…so basically saying that Rafa was struggling just because he lost a set in the first two rounds makes no sense…he was never in danger to lose the match because he won the remaining sets comfortably…
even though I agree players now have more belief they could test Rafa on clay I still think there are only a few who think they could actually beat Rafa on RG clay in the best of 5…Rafa did not lose in the early round on clay this year…Novak did…so players might as well believe they can test Novak…for Novak being tested means being taken to four long sets is a killer scenario at RG because there is no POD available for recovery and he is so dependent on it…
Rafa not struggling in the first week of RG 2013?! That was PAINFUL! I guess you have forgotten about the massive struggles against Daniel brands in rnd 1 ! I was so scared he’ll be down 2 sets to love ! Thankfully he won the second set in a tie break somehow! Don’t know what else would qualify as a struggle in the first round ..haha
The match against Klizan was also quite challenging and then his performance against the Fog was plain bad. Thank God Fog was worse. He became a diff player round 4 onward though! Dispatching Nishi in rnd 4 and then Stan in the Qtr just enabled him to reach his peak level.
glad you agree with me vr!! i am VERY nervous about the early rounds in rg….i do not want to see foggy there or a player like foggy…
VR and Amy remember.
I am always nervous for the early rounds at RG. But this year I will be even more nervous. Rafa has been knocked out early in the last three slams. So this might make him anxious or nervous. We don’t know how he will react. He did not do well at this year’s AO. Another early exit which took many of us by surprise.
The early rounds are always tricky. Anything can happen. But I am hoping that rafa’s recent results will give him that inner confidence.
the way Novak celebrated some of his points seemed as they were playing in the RG final not the qtrfinal of a Master…he had that crazy frightening look in his eyes…it sure meant a lot to him…it tells Novak is not at all comfortable playing Rafa…
Exactly, Nats.
I think Luckystar is too disappointed that Rafa lost so is not looking at things clearly.
Yes I am disappointed, that Rafa really troubled Djoko yet couldnt give him the killer punch when it mattered, to take the win.
I dont doubt Rafa’s abilities despite his shortcomings (poor ROS, too tentative, brain cramps at crucial moments, misfiring FHs) as long as he’s fighting out there and creating chances for himself. What I doubted and disappointed about were his inability to take the chances after creating them. If he keeps getting nervous at crucial points, how’s he going to beat a Djoko who’s full of confidence and has the belief in his own abilities to hit gutsy shots?
Lol! this is what happens when you try to read too much into one’s psyche.
Nole was just being Nole out there yesterday. Nothing more, nothing less.
Recently, Nole has played really underwhelming tennis in the early rounds, although he always managed to win. I think after his performance against Robert and Bellucci, other players will have more belief against him.
To me, both the players gained a lot of positives out of this match.
Rafa finally played at a high level. His groundstrokes for once had the required pace and depth of both the wings.
Nole, even after not having his best serving and return day, still managed to came back in both the sets and made all the important shots. This kind of win can actually boost his confidence even more for the coming matches and RG!
I don’t think so…not at the RG…he feels too much pressure there…otherwise he would have not lost to Wawa last year…
Not at RG? Dangerous assumption!
Yes, he might be full of nerves in the RG final if he reaches there. But lately, his performances in the later stages of slams have been really dominant to say the least!
We will see.
I don’t really understand, how Djokovic can’t feel more confident with that win going forward!
just compare Doha match and this match! Rafa provided no resistance to Novak last year and even in the beginning of this year…the situation has changed with Rafa being competitive at last…Novak knows this Rafa will put up a fight..Rafa of January 2016 could not even do that…
Yes, the match in Doha was very disappointing. Rafa was just a sitting duck. I wouldn’t even call it a competition. I think he had Nole firmly planted in his head then, that was not the case yesterday.
Doha were entirely different conditions. Rafa said he couldn’t do much in the cold night conditions.
Djoko would feel good no doubt about that but would also feel worried, for how close Rafa was and Djoko knew he was quite fortunate winning set 2.
He knew he may not be so fortunate the next time they meet. He knows Rafa too well, that Rafa will gain confidence and learn from this loss.
Rafa’s problem is his nerve, now that he can stay with the no.1 player despite his own game still can have room for improvement. If we think Djoko wasnt playing well in the match and can still raise his level at RG, Rafa too can raise his – at least hits his FH with less misfirings, varies his serve a little, takes his chances when returning weak second serves etc and etc.
He barely scrapped past Rafa, how can he be confident? Rafa had the upperhand for most part of the match, Djoko may not be as fortunate as in winning the second set the next time they meet. Its not like Djoko was having the upperhand thereby feeling confident about the match and the win.
abhirf, I don’t think Nole got a lot of positives from that match. He now realises that RG is not there for the taking as everyone assumed and he acknowledges that he was lucky to win the match.
abhirf,
That is how I see the match. Positives for both players.
Its clay now, not slow HCs so Djoko cant play like he did at Doha and AO. Even at Dubai, Djoko had/has never played like that too because of the quickness of the courts there. Djoko’s fav surface is slow HCs though he can win on any surface, just not in as dominant manner.
Nole had dust storm issues in Dubai this year — sensitive eyes. I was a little worried about the swirling sand and wind in Rome yesterday. He did okay.
Fantastic match! Very entertaining.
Not talking about Dubai this year but Dubai all these years. Djoko was not as dominant there, had to go the distance to win sometimes. I didnt see dominant performance like Doha this year at Dubai.
There wasn’t a dust storm going on in Doha at the time they played in January. My point was the swirling sand and his eye trouble this year in Dubai.
But what’s Novak not doing well in Dubai got to do with now? That he has trouble transitioning to different surfaces? He’s playing pretty well in Rome. He’s played very well in Paris on clay – just not better than Rafa. No one is better than Rafa on Chatrier. Last year, imo, is an aberration. I expect Rafa to be monstrous again this year.
rc,
I agree with you that Dubai has nothing to do with now.
Rafa should be ready for RG this time. I am looking forward to it. However, I think this idea
that Novak may crumble due to the pressure or not feel confident, is wishful thinking.
I am happy that Rafa has found his game again. But I do not take anything for granted with Novak. He has been the dominant player for a while now, I do not subscribe to this idea that he has not bee playing well and somehow has gotten away with it.
Thanks, Nny. I was beginning to wonder about this place this morning.?
It’s understandable though, considering. Everyone has an opinion! It’s still more sane here than tennis-x much of the time.
Dont agree. Djoko didnt play well BUT got away with it! This was certainly not Djoko at his best yet he could win with grit and determination.
He having problem with Bellucci and was bageled in one set certainly qualified as not playing well! How often you see Djoko being bageled? Not since Cincy 2012 final at the hands of Fed.
Djoko of 2015 clay season certainly was playing better tennis than now. Of course, he will raise his level come FO, but whether better than 2015 level or not no one knows yet.
Just beginning now rc?
I wonder all the time lol.
No, read the posts above – they were discussing about Rome vs Doha results between Rafa and Djoko, and not expecting Djoko to have a 6-1, 6-2 beatdown on Rafa.
I said slow HCs are Djoko’s fav surface, so cant compare with Rome or even Dubai where Djoko couldnt dominate with lopsided scoreline but still could win.
Follow??
No.
I won’t comment on your posts again, Lucky. No way I’m going to wade through all the posts here – much of it nonsense if it is about Nole.
What are you talking about? Saying that we are talking nonsense?
So we cant even compare Djoko’s performance on clay vs other surfaces?
Ok, skip my posts then. Thank you.
You are welcome.
A bit insane here rc where Nole is concerned. I for one hope he wins FO if Rafa cannot.
seconded hawks. best to ignore a lot of what is said about nole here or at least take it with a very large pinch of salt.
the whole egg/pod obsession just about sums the worst of it up.
Amy,
I really take offense at the egg/pod thing being brought up. Rafa fans rightfully take offense when anyone accuses him of doping. The Pod is legal and there is no reason to bring it up in a derogatory way regarding Novak.
I am grateful that Rafa appreciates and respects what Novak has done. It’s just our class from Rafa and another reason to be proud to be his fan.
I am sure it’s hard for Novak fans here to read some of this stuff. But I know that Rafa understands what it takes to be at the top. Rafa and Fed did not always play their best when they were dominating and there is no reason to think that Novak can play his best all the time. But to say that he plays boring crap tennis or that he’s just lucky is simply sour grapes.
There are many things to like about Tenngrand. The comment sections can be brutal for a Nole fan but no one forces me to post here.
I like how Ricky covers tennis, enjoy his wit and humor. It’s all good Nny. I just don’t want to discuss Nole here. If I have a disagreement with a Nole opinion, I’ll choose letting it go to swimming upstream. Used to be more game for going around and around — no longer tho. If it gets too flagrantly offensive, I’ll leave but opinions about Nole are fair game as they should be. I like how Ricky moderates keeping personal insults off limits and allowing opinions of players be expressed to a large extent.