NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The Fan Club

Anxiety seems to lurk in him constantly, and the need to keep it under control may explain some of his compulsive behaviors.

Yes I agree and this is why I have always argued against Nadal's mental strength. He only relaxes when he sees his opponent tiring while he feels (felt) he could go on for ever....Until Djoko got onto that gluten free diet. Djoko keeps Nadal worried from start to finish.

You and your gluten-free....

So, for those who can not spot Nole's astonishing improvements in his game between periods pre 2011 and post 2011, here are the facts, i.e. statistics. I have used the statistics from matchstat.com and chosen grand slams matches between Nole and Nadal as follows: US11, W11, US10,W07 (Nole won matches since 2011 and lost pre 2011)
Here are the facts:

1) US open
US 11 Nole / Nadal / Variance (Nole vs. Nadal) - the figures always go in this order
1^st serve (km/hr) 178 172 8
2^nd serve (km/hr) 130 130 0
1^st serve won 65% 52% 13%
Return points won 51% 42% 9%
Winners 55 32 23
Net approaches 47 17 30
US10 Nole / Nadal / Variance (Nole vs. Nadal) - the figures always go in this order
1^st serve 188 186 2
2^nd serve 151 151 0
1^st serve won 64% 73% -9%
Return points won 32% 42% -10%
Winners 45 49 -4
Net approaches 20 45 -25%

Nole improvements between US11/US10:
1^st serve: the balls at US11 were surely slower. Nole speed dropped by 10km/hr, but Nadal by 14km/hr.
2^nd serve: both have the same speed , so neither of both is fragile to choke the 2^nd serve
1^st serve won: Nole better by 2% Return points won: Nole better won by 59% more balls on return
Winners: Nole won more by 22%
Net approaches: increase by 135%


2) Wimbledon W11 Nole / Nadal / Variance (Nole vs. Nadal) - the figures always go in this order

1^st serve 189 189 -1
2^nd serve 143 143 0
1^st serve won 72% 67% 5%
Return points won 38% 33% 5%
Winners 27 21 6
Net approaches 26 9 15

W07 Nole / Nadal / Variance (Nole vs. Nadal) - the figures always go in this order
1^st serve 189 181 8
2^nd serve 160 160 0
1^st serve won 66% 78% -12%
Return points won 31% 43% -8%
Winners 19 20 -1
Net approaches 13 11 2

Nole improvements at Wimbledon W11/W07:
1^st serve: Nole on the same speed, Nadal improved speed up to Nole (slower balls used at W11) 2^nd serve: both are equal (the speed of both dropped by 17km/hr) 1^st serve won: Nole better by 6%. Return points won: Nole better by 7% more balls on return.
Winners: increase by 40%
Net approaches: increase by 100%

So, to generalize, Nole's won % of 1^st serve improved significatly. I have an analysis of this US11 from Richard Schonborn (former chief coach of Germany tennis) and he provided all serve stats re balls placement which showed how much better serve placement Nole has against Nadal. The 1^st serve speed dropped at W11 against W07 due to slower balls. Nole has improved his return greatly (on hc by he won by 59% more returning balls). He has unprecedentedly increased amount of winners and net approaches.


Nole has switched his racket to the smaller frame since 2013, which added more speed and spin and improved his serve and strokes visibly.

The serve, return, winners and net approaches are all parameters related directly to tennis skills. It is obvious that Nole has improved his technical skills in all main areas of the game stunningly. In addition to Nole's improvements are compared with a player who play the biggest brutal moonballing ever been and has no real rivals.
Conclusions: none player does not have the tennis ability, such a movement and fighting spirit which Nole has incredibly increased recently in such an extent and what is more he showed with Nadal. Many tennis experts and players start to understand how special he is. Nole, just a special one.

I hope that I made no mistakes and sorry for sending in such a poor format. Next time I will use the table. Thanks for any your comments.

Thanks, Paul.

When I observe Nole, I look at his entire period on the tour and I see three main phases there.
In the first, break-through Wilson-days phase (2006/8), he played cleanest tennis/game, although it wasn't all-court (like he's trying to develop now).
Second phase, was when he ground to a halt. His tennis and game could not physically compete with Nadal and he lost a lot of very tight, bruisingly tough matches.
He was massively sidelined by Nike&co who were pushing Fedal at all cost. He suffered big time with draw rigging, always ending up in Federer's half in fast slams (12/12).
2009/10 were very difficult. After the racquet change, which I believe were purely financial (his family bought Serbian open that year), suffocated from all sides, he hit the glass ceiling and boxed himself in that eternal number 3 spot.
We know that he knew he was better than Nadal, so all those circumstances must've hurt.
Quite possibly our of despair, he hired Tod Martin, who sold him the S&V story. We all know what happened: he ruined his serve completely - consequently - Nole played entire 2010 without the serve and nearly had a breakdown as a result of that.
Vajda was just standing on the side as a silent observer.
It was not all bad news, though. I think Tod breathed the, up to that point in time, non-existant confidence into Novak's coming to the net.
He tried to teach him to recognise when and how to come forward and worked on his approach shots.
Baseline was Novak's comfort blanket, so that was a bold change in his mind.
From mind to execution....well, we can see how long it is taking (esp bearing in mind what happened to his serving at the same time, it must have been horrible to learn to move forward without even a functioning, let alone powerful serve!!!), but it is happening now, and that's great. The story is not finished.

Finally, the third, phase, which many see as 2011. I don't. To me it started in Split, I think it was July or September 2010, when Serbia played and beat Croatia in Davis Cup SF. I won't go into some harrowing experiences and events that took place there in the background, but that was where Nole lost his inner fear and the journey began.

I have enjoyed watching him blossom since then. He has transformed on the inside and lost the anger and frustrations from the past and fully loving play now.

I have deliberately avoided any game elements/changes in this third phase, as you have pointed out most of them in your post.

Nice picture to go through the retrospective of Nole's progress

Nitb, we should think to adopt as a new member of our club nobody else than big Pete "Gun". He told "if Nole stays healthy, I see him as no. 1 as long as he wants to be there". Isn't it nice? I am for him

paulcz wrote:Nitb, we should think to adopt as a new member of our club nobody else than big Pete "Gun". He told "if Nole stays healthy, I saw him as no. 1 as long as he wants to be there". Isn't it nice? I am for him

Yes it's nice of him to say that, but I have never liked him that much, I think he is being insincere here and putting pressure on Novak, and at the same time glorifying the only record he has got left. And putting Federer down. So basically - promoting himself.

Nole has always said that Pete was his idol when he was a boy, but Pete never took him under his wing and was always hanging around with Federer, until Federer broke almost all his records.

It took Sampras only this year I think in LA, (and that's because Nole was signed up by IMG at that time) that he actually met him for the first time, gave Nole some advice etc...


It's good that he said it, but it's a bit late in my books.

Pete has no sense of humour and I think is an unhappy man. Last year I think, Aggassi and he played an exho somewhere and Aggassi (whom I also dislike even more) cracked a joke about Pete being a bit tight with money, and Pete just couldn't take it and went all grumpy on the court in front of all those people...so you can imagine how much he must be suffering to have all his records broken.

I much prefer Mac who is a lot more relaxed about his life and tennis and is still around in business, running his talent academy.

he may be over the top and all over the place, but is always genuine and has no hidden agenda.

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:Nitb, we should think to adopt as a new member of our club nobody else than big Pete "Gun". He told "if Nole stays healthy, I saw him as no. 1 as long as he wants to be there". Isn't it nice? I am for him

Yes it's nice of him to say that, but I have never liked him that much, I think he is being insincere here and putting pressure on Novak, and at the same time glorifying the only record he has. And putting Federer down. So basically promoting himself.

Nole has always said that Pete was his idol when he was a boy, but Pete never took him under his wing and was always hanging around with Federer, until Federer broke almost all his records.

It took Sampras only this year I think in LA, (and that's because Nole was signed up by IMG at that time) that he actually met him for the first time, gave Nole some advice etc...


It's good that he said it, but it's a bit late in my books.

As many others, he also goes on Nole's hype. But better later than never

I agree if he really meant what he said. But his words sound cheap to me at the moment.

I would actually love for Nole to prove him right and then see his face

Well, just like when a twisted ankle goes cold, so does last night loss hurt a bit more this morning

As I have known all last week but did not want to advertise it, Novak's ankle has not recovered at all since that DC injury and playing on it raw during Monte Carlo did not help.
Nole has not trained AT ALL since Monte Carlo, so it is no surprise he lacked his usual sharpness, esp on serve last night. The crowd didn't help either. Novak will not lose to Dimi again. I accept any bets here.

Novak traveled to Prague last week to see an ankle specialist. I was hoping Paul was going to update us on that, but he must be very busy.

Nole was actually seriously considering not playing in Madrid, but decided last minute he would.
Had he played Stepanek or Mayer, I'm sure he would've been in the third round.

After the match, Nole was very upset with the crowd. You'd think he would've got used to hostility and crowd by now, but I have to admit, it's hard to prepare yourself for such displays of unwarranted hatred.

Ugly cowards. Just like their cheat hero.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knpf2k6ufMw

Nole, thy will be done. One battle lost but the final victory and the war will be yours

Yes Nitb, Nole visited Dr. Kolar, who is known as the best expert on locomotive organs in Czech. He cares about top sport players and athletes. There is nothing to discuss about it, only thing is to wish to Nole his quick recovery and the best to his career.
In my opinion even lost match with Grigor was good for Nole to play with somebody who plays similar style to Fed. Nole's performance was not bad at all, he showed better coping with BH slices, improved net game. Only area when he was subpar in the comparison with Grigor was worse serving and surprisingly worse returning, which is nothing worrying about. Only thing he needs is to stay healthy, everything else he has in a blessed way

Amazing to see what crowd Nole has at his training sessions in Rome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGP5b0UXg88

noleisthebest wrote:Amazing to see what crowd Nole has at his training sessions in Rome!

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGP5b0UXg88

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGP5b0UXg88[/quote[/url]]

I also appreciate to see players from closeness, sometimes it is better to see such a practise than a final from 20th row at a big stadium. That is very nice to see Nole again

Congratulations to Nole for good session today with Dolgo and looking forward to seeing how can robots be dismantled by the best player

oh, let's wait, tomorrow I will not able to see it. Then I will not miss Saturday for sure

paulcz wrote:Congratulations to Nole for good session today with Dolgo and looking forward to seeing how can robots be dismantled by the best player

oh, let's wait, tomorrow I will not able to see it. Then I will not miss Saturday for sure

I only saw two games at the end of the first set and then went to the gym. But am not going anywhere tomorrow so planning to see EVERYTHING

Bird or Berd, that does not matter. What is important is RG and everything is going to start in a week and we all know who is the best

Yes we know that The Best will bust The Beast

I don't know that...

Happy birthday to Nole from all true tennis fans and from Czech

I wish you all the best and nothing else than this year RG

I used to be so excited about Nole's birthdays in the past

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A36282189
(I must protest and say that I used the If poem from Kipling 2 months BEFORE the wretched 2008 Fedal final , had I known how badly it was going to be abused, I would have definitely chosen a different one!)

What to wish to someone who has fulfilled his own dreams, but to....:

KEEP DREAMING, NOLE!!!

and, of course, Happy Birthday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvyCQTDxpBc

I remembered this clip, haven't seen it for years. And in those days there were so few with Nole!

This was his 20th birthday, and he is dancing with Jelena (before she went blonde).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2re-9GThdE

I am happy to confirm that Nole is looking every inch of the new RG champion.
Gregor Dimitrov to receive the full brunt of Nole's fury on Saturday

Having seen the last set with Pella, Nole has the game to win this year RG when ankle holds together and does not play up. Next match is going to say much more. Well done Nole and hit the road from the beginning with Fed Baby

noleisthebest wrote:I am happy to confirm that Nole is looking every inch of the new RG champion.
Gregor Dimitrov to receive the full brunt of Nole's fury on Saturday

As predicted....Nole showed Dimi who the boss is

Kohlschreiber next.

And here's to the 500th win !

Sad news

Nole's first coach Jelena Gencic died at 77 today. Jelena discovered Nole when he was 4.
She was also Monica Seles's first coach, and Goran Ivanisevic's early coach.

Nole's team have kept this news from him before his match with Dimitrov and only told him once it was finished. He was very distressed and asked the organisers for understanding not to attend the post-match press conference.

What a career to have discovered Seles and Djokovic in such a small country with no tennis tradition and only a few tennis courts at the time.

She used to make paper trophies and give them to Nole to lift imagining they were Wimbledon's one.
Nole fulfilled their dream when he visited Jelena at her home and let her lift the real deal he won in 2011.

Nole used to call her "tennis mother": when he was a little boy under her supervision, she introduced him to the world of books and music, playing Vivaldi and Beethoven to him. She also instilled in him that money must never be the main reason for him to play tennis.
She told his father, Nole was going to be about 180cm tall and chose to develop him in the way of elasticity rather than build his strength and muscle mass as a route to his tennis longevity.

She said that the first thing she intuitively noticed about young Nole were his great reflex time and concentration.

Jelena was also a good tennis player before her coaching career.

Having come back from Saturday celebration must say that Nole's win surpassed birthday party. Nole, the amazing player and current the best player showed Dimi how the clay court tennis should look like

Well done Nole, the great win, still four to go!

noleisthebest wrote:Sad news

Nole's first coach Jelena Gencic died at 77 today. Jelena discovered Nole when he was 4.
She was also Monica Seles's first coach, and Goran Ivanisevic's early coach.

Nole's team have kept this news from him before his match with Dimitrov and only told him once it was finished. He was very distressed and asked the organisers for understanding not to attend the post-match press conference.

What a career to have discovered Seles and Djokovic in such a small country with no tennis tradition and only a few tennis courts at the time.

She used to make paper trophies and give them to Nole to lift imagining they were Wimbledon's one.
Nole fulfilled their dream when he visited Jelena at her home and let her lift the real deal he won in 2011.

Nole used to call her "tennis mother": when he was a little boy under her supervision, she introduced him to the world of books and music, playing Vivaldi and Beethoven to him. She also instilled in him that money must never be the main reason for him to play tennis.
She told his father, Nole was going to be about 180cm tall and chose to develop him in the way of elasticity rather than build his strength and muscle mass as a route to his tennis longevity.

She said that the first thing she intuitively noticed about young Nole were his great reflex time and concentration.

Jelena was also a good tennis player before her coaching career.

That's really sad, I saw her an interview about Nole's early tennis genesis. Very nice woman.

Condolence to her family and all relatives and tennis friends around her

Jelena Gencic's commemoration/funeral service took place in Belgrade today, and Nole sent a letter to her :

"My dear Jelena,

I am desperately sad because I am saying goodbye to you today. You have coached me and prepared me for many situations in life: for victories, triumphs, our trophies but for this separation, I am left unprepared.
I am saying goodbye to you, desperately sad because I cannot do it in Belgrade.
I know you'd be upset with me if I gave up the tournament and reduce the chance of fulfilling our last wish/dream - to win Roland Garros.

Thank you for your patience, for your enormous love.
Thank you for your daily support, for all the advice that is with me, for warm words that always carried a special message.
I want you to know, I remembered them all, and I keep them.
Our last meeting, two weeks ago didn't indicate you weren't well. I am sad because even then you tried not to burden me with any worries, reassuring me everything was fine, that your visit to hospital was just a routine check-up, that I had nothing to worry about, just keep winning.

You were a good angel.
When you were coaching me as a boy and after, everywhere I was - I felt your support. Genuine. Strong. Unconditional.
You have let a deep mark in Serbian tennis. All of us holding a tennis racquet in our hands now owe it to you.
I promise to carry your legacy over to new generations, so that your spirit lives on our tennis courts forever.

Nice words.

Tomorrow match with Haas will be not easy at all. Having seen a part his match with Youzhny I was astonished how good footwork and feeling Haas had in that match. I had to take the hat off to him. My prediction is Nole in 4 sets though.

I know Haas is good, it just came to me that Dimitrov is not Baby Fed but Baby Haas.
On clay Haas will have all the time he needs for his ground strokes, plus he can slice the ball well and plays a very robust all-court game, so, yes it will be an experienced, non-choking, fit, best-case scenario attacking version of Dimitrov, definitely toughest opponent for Nole, tougher than Wawrinka or Ferrer.

I hope he gets the crowd behind him, he'll need it in the first set which I expect to go to TB.

Congratulations to Nole for the great match with Haas, 35 yo, who did not give up even when he was down 3:5 in the third set. Well done, still two to go

There is no way around it: this was one hard and sad loss.

5 sets of struggle with desire, difficult playing conditions, relentless opponent and a bit of bad luck in the mix, all made this match one to forget for Nole and his fans.

An unusual opening set from Nole with a full-on attack made many wonder why.

I would not be surprised if he played like he did because of his childhood coach, for that is exactly how she taught him and would have wanted him to play.
So he believed her again and did it for her, abandoning his usual strategy. And lost that first set.

I also think he played the first two sets on pure adrenaline fuelled by his desire to win. That "extra" bit he had prepared for this match.

It was a hard task to keep which is why he must have collapsed in the third.

In the 4th, he finally returned to where he should've been at the beginning of the match: himself - and came back into the lost match. That momentum carried him all the way to break in the fifth where he did his usual thing and relaxed before the match was really over.

I don't blame him, I thought it was over, too, but quickly saw he was being too "free" and playful too early.

And Nadal being Nadal, waited and clawed his way back having previously been holding onto the cliff by mere fingernails.

What can you say after all that...

The could'ves, should'ves, would'ves....I don't think there is a place for them in this conversation.

Nole went and played the match the best HE could have. It's hard to rein the heart if you've got one

This fan is very proud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSVd1TcuGcQ

noleisthebest wrote:Nole went and played the match the best HE could have. It's hard to rein the heart if you've got one

I wish we could say that but clearly not the case yesterday.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Nole went and played the match the best HE could have. It's hard to rein the heart if you've got one

I wish we could say that but clearly not the case yesterday.

Why not?
I think he played the best he old have given all the circumstances, and how he went into the match.

Nitb, you described so nicely Nole's match yesterday, that there is practically nothing to add

Everybody who played or is able to imagine a match with such a moonballer a kind of Nadalish knows how much physical and mentally effort the match requires and how difficult is to keep focus for the whole match.

Nadal after 7 months break came back with his intention to defend his RG title and he will very probably take it again (unless he gets really injured during the match).

There is nothing to polemize that Nole is much better player of Nadal nearly on all surfaces. But the conditions on the court were not with Nole yesterday. Despite that he was very close and deserves much praise. It is clear that the dry clay with gusts of wind disrupted Nole's precision of his timing for the early ball taking and more slippery clay did not allow him to play harder and more precise shots when going from his split step to hitting position.
Nadal, to the contrary of Nole, due to his “thicksetish “ body benefited when playing his super retrieval points when his power goes is supported by his lower centre of gravity.

These conditions were the crucial key of the match and everybody who understands the tennis game knows it, so do organizers.

The way which Nole goes is absolutely right. He has become the best versatile player on the circuit. He has improved his net game, slices handling and slices as well, likewise his serve and his much more proactive approach with net game.

If anything I would recommend to Nole to add 1-2 kilos to his weight to get more stability and an additional force of
penetration when going for winners, smashes and for his serve. Not sure how his stamina would be affected by a bit heavier body, but it would help him on slower and medium fast harder courts and grass in particular.

I have no doubt that Nole if stays healthy then he is going to win next RG even if they play on the beach

noleisthebest wrote: all made this match one to forget for Nole and his fans.

Why should any fan forget it? It is one of the best FO matches in history and became an instant classic. Every tennis fan should watch this match, doesn't matter which tennis player they may like or dislike. They both gave their all and fought to the last point. Good stuff.

BlueClay wrote:

noleisthebest wrote: all made this match one to forget for Nole and his fans.

Why should any fan forget it? It is one of the best FO matches in history and became an instant classic. Every tennis fan should watch this match, doesn't matter which tennis player they may like or dislike. They both gave their all and fought to the last point. Good stuff.

Not any fan. Nole fans.
You should be able to see it from what I wrote in the post you quoted from. As well as the reasons.

paulcz wrote:Nitb, you described so nicely Nole's match yesterday, that there is practically nothing to add

Everybody who played or is able to imagine a match with such a moonballer a kind of Nadalish knows how much physical and mentally effort the match requires and how difficult is to keep focus for the whole match.

Nadal after 7 months break came back with his intention to defend his RG title and he will very probably take it again (unless he gets really injured during the match).

There is nothing to polemize that Nole is much better player of Nadal nearly on all surfaces. But the conditions on the court were not with Nole yesterday. Despite that he was very close and deserves much praise. It is clear that the dry clay with gusts of wind disrupted Nole's precision of his timing for the early ball taking and more slippery clay did not allow him to play harder and more precise shots when going from his split step to hitting position.
Nadal, to the contrary of Nole, due to his “thicksetish “ body benefited when playing his super retrieval points when his power goes is supported by his lower centre of gravity.

These conditions were the crucial key of the match and everybody who understands the tennis game knows it, so do organizers.

The way which Nole goes is absolutely right. He has become the best versatile player on the circuit. He has improved his net game, slices handling and slices as well, likewise his serve and his much more proactive approach with net game.

If anything I would recommend to Nole to add 1-2 kilos to his weight to get more stability and an additional force of
penetration when going for winners, smashes and for his serve. Not sure how his stamina would be affected by a bit heavier body, but it would help him on slower and medium fast harder courts and grass in particular.

I have no doubt that Nole if stays healthy then he is going to win next RG even if they play on the beach

Thanks, Paul.

I often thought he should put a bit of weight on, but think he is better off as he is. It's a bit of a trade off and I think he plays his game better when he is lighter, any extra weight would slow him down, although a bit of body weight on his FH would be great. Really tough one. Either that or to somehow work on his ball-striking, hit the ball earlier and flatter.

noleisthebest wrote:

BlueClay wrote:

noleisthebest wrote: all made this match one to forget for Nole and his fans.

Why should any fan forget it? It is one of the best FO matches in history and became an instant classic. Every tennis fan should watch this match, doesn't matter which tennis player they may like or dislike. They both gave their all and fought to the last point. Good stuff.

Not any fan. Nole fans.
You should be able to see it from what I wrote in the post you quoted from. As well as the reasons.

But even a big Novak fan should be proud of the way he played in that match. He took Nadal to five sets on clay and only one other player has ever done that at the FO. He lost but he played an incredible match in the fourth and fifth sets. That match instantly became one of the best FO matches in history.

BlueClay wrote:
But even a big Novak fan should be proud of the way he played in that match. He took Nadal to five sets on clay and only one other player has ever done that at the FO. He lost but he played an incredible match in the fourth and fifth sets. That match instantly became one of the best FO matches in history.

Sorry BC, but that's how losers think. He had the match in his hands even on Nadal's terms (wind,dry clay) and lost. That is not good enough. That's why he is upset and that's why I am sad.

noleisthebest wrote:

BlueClay wrote:
But even a big Novak fan should be proud of the way he played in that match. He took Nadal to five sets on clay and only one other player has ever done that at the FO. He lost but he played an incredible match in the fourth and fifth sets. That match instantly became one of the best FO matches in history.

Sorry BC, but that's how losers think. He had the match in his hands even on Nadal's terms (wind,dry clay) and lost. That is not good enough. That's why he is upset and that's why I am sad.

Nadal had the match in his hands in the fourth and should have closed it out in the fourth set. The fact that it even got to a fifth set is credit to Novak's great play. You win some and you lose some. I know it was a tough loss but the way I see this rivalry between Novak and Nadal, I see a split of slam results in the next year or so. I do not see Djokovic winning every slam between them in that time period. That is why it is a good rivalry.

BlueClay wrote:
Nadal had the match in his hands in the fourth and should have closed it out in the fourth set. The fact that it even got to a fifth set is credit to Novak's great play. You win some and you lose some. I know it was a tough loss but the way I see this rivalry between Novak and Nadal, I see a split of slam results in the next year or so. I do not see Djokovic winning every slam between them in that time period. That is why it is a good rivalry.

Maybe for the masses.
I like a bit of drama in a tennis match, but more than drama I like the good old-fashioned, all-court tennis and there is not a lot of it in Novak-Nadal rivalry, mainly thanks to the man who plays 4m behind the baseline.

I find Nadal's tennis extremely dull. I didn't watch the AO 2012 final at all for that very reason.

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:Nitb, you described so nicely Nole's match yesterday, that there is practically nothing to add

Everybody who played or is able to imagine a match with such a moonballer a kind of Nadalish knows how much physical and mentally effort the match requires and how difficult is to keep focus for the whole match.

Nadal after 7 months break came back with his intention to defend his RG title and he will very probably take it again (unless he gets really injured during the match).

There is nothing to polemize that Nole is much better player of Nadal nearly on all surfaces. But the conditions on the court were not with Nole yesterday. Despite that he was very close and deserves much praise. It is clear that the dry clay with gusts of wind disrupted Nole's precision of his timing for the early ball taking and more slippery clay did not allow him to play harder and more precise shots when going from his split step to hitting position.
Nadal, to the contrary of Nole, due to his “thicksetish “ body benefited when playing his super retrieval points when his power goes is supported by his lower centre of gravity.

These conditions were the crucial key of the match and everybody who understands the tennis game knows it, so do organizers.

The way which Nole goes is absolutely right. He has become the best versatile player on the circuit. He has improved his net game, slices handling and slices as well, likewise his serve and his much more proactive approach with net game.

If anything I would recommend to Nole to add 1-2 kilos to his weight to get more stability and an additional force of
penetration when going for winners, smashes and for his serve. Not sure how his stamina would be affected by a bit heavier body, but it would help him on slower and medium fast harder courts and grass in particular.

I have no doubt that Nole if stays healthy then he is going to win next RG even if they play on the beach

Thanks, Paul.

I often thought he should put a bit of weight on, but think he is better off as he is. It's a bit of a trade off and I think he plays his game better when he is lighter, any extra weight would slow him down, although a bit of body weight on his FH would be great. Really tough one. Either that or to somehow work on his ball-striking, hit the ball earlier and flatter.

That is absolutely correct, it is the trade off. I was surprised how Berdych added kilos during winter especially on his legs, but when came to clay season he managed to lose quite something. Players's weight can be adjusted according to a season, which many do. I would appreciate if Nole added a couple of kilos after AO for US hard courts and tried out how it works for him and then to decide how to continue.
It is quite difficult to overdo his FH ball-striking. His semi-western FH grip been firmly rooted and suits to his game strategy, i.e. pushing players from the court and coming for easy points to the net or playing winners from middle of the court. I can see also the improvements there and he surely works on it.

paulcz wrote:
It is quite difficult to overdo his FH ball-striking. His semi-western FH grip been firmly rooted and suits to his game strategy, i.e. pushing players from the court and coming for easy points to the net or playing winners from middle of the court. I can see also the improvements there and he surely works on it.

So can I. When I watched him in RG against Goffin, his shots were deep and heavy, penetrating the court well, Goffin on the other hand, had the same if not better pace just by striking the ball better, it was amazing to see.

Nole used to strike differently when he was using Wilson, then started spinning the ball once he finally got used to HEAD and is now trying to go back to his early days which is the way to go.

It is interesting to observe how it all goes. I would like him to win Cincy and USO this year.

noleisthebest wrote:

BlueClay wrote:
Nadal had the match in his hands in the fourth and should have closed it out in the fourth set. The fact that it even got to a fifth set is credit to Novak's great play. You win some and you lose some. I know it was a tough loss but the way I see this rivalry between Novak and Nadal, I see a split of slam results in the next year or so. I do not see Djokovic winning every slam between them in that time period. That is why it is a good rivalry.

Maybe for the masses.
I like a bit of drama in a tennis match, but more than drama I like the good old-fashioned, all-court tennis and there is not a lot of it in Novak-Nadal rivalry, mainly thanks to the man who plays 4m behind the baseline.

I find Nadal's tennis extremely dull. I didn't watch the AO 2012 final at all for that very reason.

I like old-fashioned all-court tennis as well and to be honest I don't find it in either Novak's or Nadal's games. They are both pretty much grinders to me. i like Federer's style. But, there is no question that this rivalry is a good rivalry (Novak-Rafa) and is probably a better rivalry than Federer-Nadal has been since that 2008 W match. I think Novak and Rafa will split slam wins in the near future with Murray possibly getting in there as well.

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:
It is quite difficult to overdo his FH ball-striking. His semi-western FH grip been firmly rooted and suits to his game strategy, i.e. pushing players from the court and coming for easy points to the net or playing winners from middle of the court. I can see also the improvements there and he surely works on it.

So can I. When I watched him in RG against Goffin, his shots were deep and heavy, penetrating the court well, Goffin on the other hand, had the same if not better pace just by striking the ball better, it was amazing to see.

Nole used to strike differently when he was using Wilson, then started spinning the ball once he finally got used to HEAD and is now trying to go back to his early days which is the way to go.

It is interesting to observe how it all goes. I would like him to win Cincy and USO this year.

I actually think that he is able to succeed in Wimbledon. This 'enforced' loss should kick him off and play freely. The season goes quickly and there is nothing to worry about, because he is best player on the tour.

You are absolutely right about his FH hitting. I thought quite a lot about this change as well and am sure that there is only Nadal behind that. This FH grip allows him to play short FH crosses, which is a great weapon against Nadal.

If he just improves a bit FH hitting who sits in the middle of the backcourt, then he does another big improvement in his game.
Re his match against Goffin, Nole tries his hitting and game patterns against a weaker opponents. It is important that he is able to win matches with Baby Fed and Haas, which really matters in a style. He comes back to the flatter hitting, which is superb.

paulcz wrote:
I actually think that he is able to succeed in Wimbledon. This 'enforced' loss should kick him off and play freely. The season goes quickly and there is nothing to worry about, because he is best player on the tour.

You are absolutely right about his FH hitting. I thought quite a lot about this change as well and am sure that there is only Nadal behind that. This FH grip allows him to play short FH crosses, which is a great weapon against Nadal.

If he just improves a bit FH hitting who sits in the middle of the backcourt, then he does another big improvement in his game.
Re his match against Goffin, Nole tries his hitting and game patterns against a weaker opponents. It is important that he is able to win matches with Baby Fed and Haas, which really matters in a style. He comes back to the flatter hitting, which is superb.

I really hope so. His serving has been much better this year as well as volleying. He has worked hard and those changes should actually work well on grass.
His footwork there also needs to reorganise back from clay.
I hope to see Nole on grass from very close up at Boodles just before Wimbledon, in a few weeks' time and will let you know how he went there

noleisthebest wrote:

paulcz wrote:
I actually think that he is able to succeed in Wimbledon. This 'enforced' loss should kick him off and play freely. The season goes quickly and there is nothing to worry about, because he is best player on the tour.

You are absolutely right about his FH hitting. I thought quite a lot about this change as well and am sure that there is only Nadal behind that. This FH grip allows him to play short FH crosses, which is a great weapon against Nadal.

If he just improves a bit FH hitting who sits in the middle of the backcourt, then he does another big improvement in his game.
Re his match against Goffin, Nole tries his hitting and game patterns against a weaker opponents. It is important that he is able to win matches with Baby Fed and Haas, which really matters in a style. He comes back to the flatter hitting, which is superb.

I really hope so. His serving has been much better this year as well as volleying. He has worked hard and those changes should actually work well on grass.
His footwork there also needs to reorganise back from clay.
I hope to see Nole on grass from very close up at Boodles just before Wimbledon, in a few weeks' time and will let you know how he went there

Nitb, I just envy you and you are . Now, it is up to Nole to cope with that turn-off factor and no doubt that he will do it.