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Sep 9 2013 06:37pm
back to back runner up's

wimbledon and us open

:cry:

still the man though!
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Sep 10 2013 02:05am
I mean they both played some of the best tennis ever seen on the planet earth, imo.

Great match.
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Sep 10 2013 03:27pm
novak is shit mentally lately

should have 10 slams right now
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Sep 11 2013 11:45am
Quote (987 @ Sep 10 2013 05:27pm)
novak is shit mentally lately

should have 10 slams right now


Definitely a good point

He fluctuates between highs and lows so much on the court and it's easily readable in his body and face expressions
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Sep 11 2013 03:39pm
I think the 2012 ao final might have broken him slightly. he was lucky to win that match, and the level needed to get there is basically destructive on himself.

apart from the 2013 final and some assorted early round destructions he hasn't really had it consistently since. he can still beat em down and get to semis/finals (remember this guy was able to stay #3 with a pusher forehand and a broken serve that looked like someone trying to throw a javalin into a boat from 09-10), but with the emergence of murray, the refinement of nadal, and the existence of other big hitters, he is clearly vulnerable, unlike the 2011 version, which was the best level I've ever seen from anyone, including prime federer
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Sep 11 2013 03:58pm
novak in my opinion is still the most skillful player in this era. his drop shots and his return ability is incredible. his serve isnt the fastest but is always so well placed. he seems to have a temper and the idea that hes unbeatable which is letting him down.
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Sep 11 2013 04:23pm
the lines between skill/talent/sustainability are very blurred though. really it comes down to balance over anything else, and nadal might have the best balance. possibly aided by the long periods off hes had. if anything i would recommend novak cites an injury and just takes the rest of the year off tbh. if he is compromised physically (and hes acting like it mentally and with his demeanor at times), this gives him a chance to fix that. if not, the time off still gives him time to regroup mentally and rest, because he looks fried against the very best too often. murray is in a similar situation.


in terms of pure talent, there are a ton of players who can hit godly levels, the problem is sustainability though obv. redlining fed is the clear example, and seeing how nadal can wear him down.. but there are others too. wawrinka for sure (imagine if this guy was like 4 inches taller or had better conditioning? jesus christ), tipsarevic (also not big enough, weak mentally, looks injured this year), berdych (can't do it for several rounds in a row), tsonga (mentally weak), del potro (basically a better version of berdych who is clearly compromised physically and takes time to get into matches), hell even players like dimitrov or haas (too young/old), isner (too many bad matchups against him and can be forced out of rhythm easily), etc...and also murrays all around game is incredible. insane variety.


really it comes down to consistency though, and this is where nadal (a defensive clay-court/baseliner with insane topspin whos been guided into being more aggressive, beefed up serve, best volleyer for 4-5 years now) reigns supreme. his level is beatable for sure, but good luck doing that shit in a best of 5 if hes healthy. most can't even do it for more than half a set, and the other members of the big 4 usually only do it for a set+ at most.

consistency aspect of it makes the djokovic 2011 year even more incredible though, because for most of the year (at least until he was clearly hurt in the us hardcourt season) he was playing at a seemingly god-like level as an extremely aggressive baseliner would could get ahead in the point from anywhere on the court and then hit winners or force errors. this version doesn't do enough to get ahead in the point, and seems to be consistently stuck being a bit passive or going for winners too early. he had it for sure for about half an hour from the end of the 2nd set through the beginning of the third against nadal there, and hes had it for longer stretches against other players (especially those who can't really force him out of his comfort zone [ferrer, youzhny] or grind effectively enough [murray, del po, wawrinka]), but nowhere near as long as the 2011 guy, and not nearly enough to consistently beat the rest of the best.

This post was edited by 987 on Sep 11 2013 04:27pm
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Sep 12 2013 08:45pm
He can't catch a break!
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Nov 30 2013 06:36pm
Djokovich should be doing much better than runner up especially for grand slams.
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