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Much at stake in Nadal vs. Djokovic ATP World Tour Finals showdown
58 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
It’s not a major final but this showdown for the ATP World Tour Finals may be just as important for influencing how the best rivalry in the sport plays out next year.
Right now Nadal has the slight mental edge due to the close wins in New York and Paris. But Djokovic won in China and seems to be back playing his top tennis like he was two years ago.
Nadal knows Djokovic his is primary threat and he knows how important it is today to try to break the Djokovic momentum. Nadal knows this match will deflate Djokovic’s spirit and self belief for next year.
If Djokovic wins today, I believe he regains the missing incredient of the mental edge and he will dominate the ATP next year, perhaps even winning the Grand Slam.
If Nadal wins today, Djokovic will be left scratching his head again. He will continue to doubt himself for again failing to subdue Nadal in the big match. A win will set up Nadal to enter next season perfectly poised to continue his domination of the Number One ranking.
Some downplay the importance of the ATP World Tour Finals and sometimes it’s justified. But this match today is critically important, maybe the most important WTF final in history, considering how it can influence and help shape the 20l4 season
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« Previous 1 2gustarhymes · November 15, 2013 at 8:24 am
Thank you Scoop for taking the bet, though you will lose either one or both of them.
Dan, you don’t believe in Novak that much it seems. A slam is a slam? This coming from the guy who said the Australian Open is not even a slam in his opinion. Now it’s OK if Novak wins 7 of them out of his “potential” ten. I see, you also can’t stomach the possibility of wagering higher end steak.
Gaurang, the weeks at #1 is not significant to GOAT status. Is Connors more of a GOAT than Borg who had fewer weeks at #1. Rafa has the best record in ATP history in wins and losses. He also has most consecutive years winning a major (9). The career slam is definitely important, but you can be the GOAT on quality by either winning the Calendar Grand slam or having 2 or more of every major. If RAFA wins Aussie Open, he is equal or greater than Fed in spite of fewer majors.
Gusta
Scoop Malinowski · November 15, 2013 at 8:36 am
Dan; Delpo can wins slams, he moves well enough to beat Fed, Murray, Rafa and Djokovic, and yes he has unexplainable losses in majors but so do all great players Nadal Sampras McEnroe Federer Djokovic Serena Navratilova…
Dan Markowitz · November 15, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Gusta,
You made a point that you didn’t think Djoko 10 slams, now back it up with a bet, don’t hedge on it. The Aussie is just a much a slam as the others. Last time you looked you still had to win 7 best of five matches in a fortnight. That makes it a slam. Why should I weaken my bet by picking the slams Djoko wins? You’re the one who said Djoko won’t win 10 slams. Now show the guts to bet on it if you’re so sure.
gustarhymes · November 16, 2013 at 10:26 am
Dan, you claim Djoker is better than Rafa, and he will be the GOAT. Then, you back it up by taking all bets on him. It’s only fair. Djoker has to win 2 RG and 1 more Wimbledon to have 2 of every surface like Rafa. If you believe in Djoker, then you back it up like Scoop is willing too. Down deep, you know it’s too late for Djoker. 6 majors by 26 does not statistically add up to 10 majors, so the likelihood is I will win the bet; I was very good at math BTW. But, Scoop is willing to go on a limb and still say Djoker’s floodgates open and he outdoes Rafa. It’s too late to break 17, and I won’t even have you make that bet; Scoop still might. Unfortunately, Djoker’s floodgates opened in 2011 and closed already.
So, be brave like Scoop and take both bets. Will Djoker get 2 RG and 1 more Wimbledon? And, don’t backtrack on your previous views and claim the Aussie Open is suddenly prestigious; in reality it is the weakest and least prestigious major. BTW, historically players won Aussie Opens only playing 6 rounds as the draw was not always 128. 1988 onwards, the Aussie Open is a real major. But that fact detracts from one of your favorite players, Edberg, and one of mine, Wilander.
BTW,it’s an easy bet, to bet against Djoker. He pales in accomplishments to Roger or Rafa and he will continue to fall behind. His last prime year is coming up. The stretching will come to an end!
So I will change the bet to 2RG and 1 more Wimbledon to be more fair. Djoker has to get to 10 and have those particular majors; if he does more than 10 so be it. If he does these accomplishments, I will say he is equal to Rafa and honor both bets to Scoop. But I’m not making the one with you Dan, unless you take both.
Rafa at the end will be better than Djoker unless Djoker can equal his accomplishments. He only surpasses Rafa at the Aussie Open and indoors. It’s nice to have a 7 match win streak and all, but it’s the majors in quality and quantity that count.
Dr. Gusta
Dan Markowitz · November 16, 2013 at 9:36 pm
I totally agree with you, Gusta. I never said Djoker was in the running for the GOAT along with Rafa, Pete and RF. Of course he isn’t. That shipped sailed in 2012 when he couldn’t at least win two slams. My claim is Djoker will win 10 slams and that’s all I’ve ever said since the 2012 French when Djoker dropped the ball.
Scoop Malinowski · November 17, 2013 at 8:36 am
Most of Djokovic’s prime years were stuck with prime Fed and Rafa ahead of him. The toughest era by far. But Djokovic has accomplished the impossible, he has figured out how to master the two GOATs Fed and Rafa. Even if he does not surpass their major title totals, still you have to respect that Djokovic has mastered the two GOATs and taken tennis to a new higher level of excellence. I believe Djokovic’s brand of tennis is the finest, greatest we have ever seen, superior to Federer and Nadal. Djokovic will probably never been viewed as the GOAT but his quality of tennis just may be.
Gaurang · November 17, 2013 at 6:01 pm
Scoop, I think Djokovic’s level of tennis is very, very high. But he is missing a little variety. He has now started to come to the net more often, thats good. But I think he does not have a very good drop shot like Fed has. I think he really needs to master the drop shot — once he does, his game would be more complete I think.
He does have a backhand drop shot, but he uses it less frequently than I think he should.
Scoop Malinowski · November 17, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Djokovic has a good drop shot he used to use it a lot more. His first coach Jelena Gencic RIP said he has excellent volleys and should use them more but he gets tentative. I have a feeling he will attack the net more in the future and this will present even more problems for the ATP field. And it will allow him to take tennis to an even higher level. I can see Djokovic dominating for a few years. Even when Fed and Rafa were on top we always knew Djokovic had the potential to dethrone them. But I just can’t see any young player coming along who will be able to dethrone Djokovic. He could really dominate the sport for several years.