Quote (gunja1984 @ Jan 26 2012 06:23pm)
Fed>Djok? With this game level Federer wouldnt stand a chance against a Novak.Djokovic>all,
tbh i think djokovic may have gotten lucky to not land federer in his half of the draw. novak still would probably be still have been a slight favorite, but federers game gives novak a few more problems than nadals.
Quote (TerryWrist @ Jan 26 2012 08:55am)
Srsly. Every match vs Nadal he just tries to out play his forehand with the backhand, Nadal hides his backhand and wants this but Federer to stubborn to change his game.
Djok will crush Murray and Nadal now, its like the great circle of life.
Fed > Djok > Nadal > Fed
so true. the interesting thing is how they match up with most of the other top 20-50 players as well. murray can still beat any of them on a good day (even djokovic), but seemingly not at a major (still think hes a better best of 3 player). people who have a big serve and/or solid groundies can still beat nadal or fed on occasion (tsonga, del potro, soderling come to mind) and even david ferrer seems to own all those guys and isn't intimidated by nadal (except for at those clay masters 1000 tournaments.. geez).
i'd really like to see some of these guys and some others step it up at a major and do something (all listed previously + berdych, tipsarevic, monfils). the gulf between that top 5-20 and the big 3 + murray isn't as much talent as it is mental. also a lot of these guys have been around for awhile, and/or are going to have to deal with the next generation (tomic, dolgopolov, harrison, etc) so their time to have any real opportunity is running out. i may not think soderling has a lot of variety, but i respect that he at least got himself to 2 finals, berdych got to a semi and that wimbledon final (although played poorly).. i know monfils, verdasco (although he might be almost done) and even youzhny have reached semis.
the big problem is none of those guys have played well in their biggest matches, and to be honest no one other than the big 3 and del potro has proven they're capable of playing their best when it matters. it will be interesting to see the matchups + who beats who in the 4R and QF of slams for the next year or 2, and if any of them can do something. its gotta be rough though considering most of them run into one of the big 4 either in the 4th round or the quarters.. i always feel like any of them in good form can put up 2 or 3 solid efforts, but never really have a chance to win 4 matches in a row against high quality/superior competition.
anyway back to the ot.. federer needs to get full confidence in his ability to stay on nadals backhand for long periods.. specifically his confidence in the backhand down the line (at at least 3/4 pace, less of this loopy off pace shit that gives nadal all day to run around, and to get him to stop hitting those cc bhs that get him in huge trouble) and his choice on approach shots. too much going wide to the backhand and then back to the open court and nadals (usually) running forehand, which is probably one of the best shots of all time. also his serve seems indicative of his mentality/psyche. he takes a little off vs. nadal at times and constructs the points methodically while getting a high % of first serves in, but if hes getting worked he starts going for much more on the serve and the percentage usually drops off a cliff (although seemingly not as much when hes in similar situations against people not named nadal).