Novak Djokovic is the ultimate tennis destroying machine. At his best he’s superior to Nadal and Federer. Djokovic is taking tennis to a new, unimagined level of excellence. And he does it all with a sense of class and humor too.
Nadal is more a wild animal of fury and passion and relentless fighting. Djokovic is a systematic, efficient machine who can outthink, outplay and slay the physically superior beast.
Imagine a Raging Bull in a fight to the death combat with an Arnold Schwarzeneggar Terminator. This is what the Djokovic vs. Nadal rivalry is. Animalistic fury vs. machine-like precision.
Nadal and Djokovic are two of the greatest tennis gladitiators in history.
Right now it looks like the machine has the advantage on the beast, and could potentially begin a period of domination. But as we have seen so many times in this remarkable rivalry, things can dramatically change in just an instant.
"A systematic · efficient machine"
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« Previous 1 2CS3 · November 18, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Rafa’s THE CLEAR BEST OF THEM ALL because his various records solidify as much… ONLY PLAYER to DOMINATE a Prime Roger right from the get go… Only player in the Big 4 to have a winning H2H versus the others… Has beaten them all in Slams on their favorite surface etc… Novak is Rafa’s Greatest Rival & Only Equal… Winning 7 in a row versus Rafa is among the most amazing feats in tennis history granted especially 2 in successive weeks in Masters 1000 series Finals on Red Clay… Unlike Scoop & others however, I don’t solely obsess on 2011 because that was the ONLY YEAR Novak got the better of Rafa though it was quite dominant… Much of that came from planting the seed of doubt in Nadal’s head… Rafa overcame that doubt & in the last 2 years has proven he’s every bit the player Novak is when he’s right & even has recaptured the true edge due to being MUCH MENTALLY TOUGHER UNDER PRESSURE… Rafa doesn’t fall apart nor quit in matches like Novak does on a pretty recurring basis… I think 1 of the MOST IMPRESSIVE FEATS in Rafa’s career & for that matter tennis history is the fact that Rafa regained the edge over his conqueror because that rarely if ever happens in Tennis… When a TOP PLAYER & ALL TIME GREAT has been surpassed by his match, he usually fades away… Rafa didn’t fade away but rather found the right formula to get this rivalry back on his terms or at least on equal terms… As I’ve said, we can look forward to more shifts in the future because both of these guys are that damn good & that damn proud… With all due respect, it’s ridiculous to elevate a 6 time Grand Slam champion over a 17 time & 13 time Grand Slam winner… Fact is Rafa has denied Novak more Grand Slam titles than Novak has him including the CROWN the Djoker desires most… Rafa’s denied Novak a Gold Medal as well… Numbers tell the REAL STORY in life & in Tennis!! Rafa = Tennis’s TRUE GOAT & PHENOM!!
Gaurang · November 19, 2013 at 4:03 am
CS3, what I most admire about your arguments that you actually talk sense. Unless other die-hard blind-folded fans of Rafa, who dont seem to see reality — you actually admit that Novak did great things. You actually admitted Novak’s 7 successive is one of the greatest things. Such things are difficult for fanatic followers of Rafa (or of anybody).
In the end your conclusion is the same, but atleast you put things in perspective and consider both sides of the argument.
I always enjoy having people like you in debates rather than people who can only think in ONE WAY.
Way to go!
CS3 · November 19, 2013 at 7:09 am
Likewise Gaurang… I am a PASSIONATE Rafa FANATIC but I’m also a very big fan of the sport of Tennis as a whole & pride myself on being objective… Novak’s a TREMENDOUS PLAYER & is Rafa’s lone true equal… I’m sure reasonable Novak fans like yourself realize the same applies to Rafa the other way around… These 2 INCREDIBLE TENNIS MACHINES have & are taking the sport to a level never before seen… When they play, it’s MUST SEE TV & ranks among the very best things sports has to offer right now… The fact that either player can beat the other any time they step on a court makes it even more compelling… Another thing that stands out in this EPIC rivalry is the fact that Rafa & The Djoker have the upmost respect for each other & there really isn’t any bad blood… They were basically best friends at 1 time & are still on good terms off the court… On a final note, in defense of Djokovic I will just say it’s VERY UNFAIR to take a shot at a guy for “only having 6 Grand Slams at the age of 26″… 6 Grand Slam titles is more than many All Time Greats enshrined in Newport won during their career… 6 Grand Slam titles matches the total of 1 of My Top 3 Favorites Ever-Boris “Boom Boom” Becker… Much respect & credit to Djokovic where it’s due… He was actually the other player I was a fan of prior to him emerging as Rafa’s toughest challenge!! LOL
gustarhymes · November 19, 2013 at 9:11 am
To CS3, I’m not putting down 6 majors by 26. But for Dan and Scoop to say that he gets to 10 majors is unlikely, when you consider 6 majors by 26. The players that got to 10 majors either already were there by 26 or before age 26. Rafa had 10 by 25, Borg 11 by 25, Sampras 10 by 26, Fed 9 by 25. 6 majors is obviously a hall of fame career, and he is an all time great. But he is not likely to get to the double digit category, and he is not likely to be a GOAT candidate. Hence, the 7 straight matches though somewhat meaningful, is not likely to be impactful in a negative way on Rafa; though some Rafa pundits used it that way. The fact that Rafa still beat Novak in majors after this, makes it less impactful. And, I still hold to the belief that Novak is not a legit Wimbledon winner by using illegal spikes. He is not going to win another Wimbledon, or win 2 French Opens as Scoop likes to believe. The window will close on his ability to equal Rafa. Rafa only needs 1 Aussie Open to get 2 of every major, and 1 Wimbledon to get 3 of every surface; one of these is likely to happen and hence Rafa gets to be the GOAT on quality career. Though some of you try to make the WTF tournament more important than it is.
Gusta
This thread of Novak is the greatest, does not hold water, and is not likely to occur. Novak is likely to decline with age, just as Rafa, and anyone else. Both players are approaching there post prime years. Novak is hence not likely to get to 10 majors, statistically speaking, and just looking at trends.
Scoop Malinowski · November 19, 2013 at 9:18 am
Rafa is the alpha dog, the king of the tennis throne right now for sure CS3, but everyone can see there is a new sheriff coming to town and you know what they say, uneasy is the head that wears the crown. Rafa knows danger is lurking, the most frightening adversary he’s ever locked horns with. Rafa’s tenure is in severe danger of being impeached by this fearsome new dictator who I don’t think is planning on taking any prisoners in 20l4. I’m sure Rafa and Uncle Toni are going to put up a brave fight to protect their territory. And that’s why we are all looking forward to see who is standing tall and banging his chest, at the end, with his fist high in the air, when all the dust settles and the path of destruction is cleaned up. Gaurang and others think it will be Djokovic triumphant, CS3 and others believe it will be Rafa. Only one thing is certain: Tennis-prose.com is gonna be the place to best analyze, study and discuss the greatest rivarly in the history of mens tennis next year 🙂
CS3 · November 19, 2013 at 1:37 pm
I hear where you are coming from & agree with you on many fronts Gusta… We both are FANS of the same player who when the dust settles historically will indeed go down as THE GREATEST OF HIS OR ANY ERA… Novak will go down as his greatest advisary & among the All Time Greats which he already is… I think Novak has a legit shot to reach 10 career Slams but if he doesn’t win at least 2 this year, I don’t think he’ll reach that total… Rafa has shown the ability to keep reinventing himself in such a way that he remains ON TOP or NEAR THE VERY TOP… Novak has 2 truly at his best years left & I still feel there’s a strong possibility another player will emerge as a MAJOR THREAT for the World’s True #1-3: Rafa, Novak & Murray in the upcoming year or 2… Could be Del Po if he puts it together & reaches a much needed point where he’s not just content to be among the World’s Top 5… Del Po has legitimate #1 in the World ability if he puts it together… Young guys like Dimitrov have the goods to ascend as well… I could see Djokovic having a very big season next year but I don’t see him having another 2011… That true mental edge he had over Rafa is gone as the last 2 years have seen BOTH PLAYERS have the ability to rattle the other & Rafa has won their most significant matches in such a fashion that he defintely is more than capable of making Djokovic fall apart & tap out! Novak usually wins against Rafa when he plays his A+ LEVEL game which for him is much more likely to happen in best 2 out 3 set matches… Over 5 sets, Novak is pretty much bound to have those dips in play/focus that don’t get it done versus the relentless & UNBREAKABLY DETERMINED “Mallorcan Bull”… Next year will be interesting & we should enjoy these next 2 years as much as possible for we likely won’t see anything like Rafa-Novak again… On a Final note, 2008-2010 TOP FORM Rafa was & is better than any of his peers at their very best… 2013 wasn’t Rafa at his VERY VERY BEST though he was still pretty damn close… 90-95% of Rafa is better than 100% of pretty much any player in history!!
Doogie · November 20, 2013 at 10:08 am
Listen guys:
Djokovic could not play the Davis Cup doubles match because he had to make a doping test (this test lasted 5 hours)
WTF – is there something wrong in the State of Denmark?
Strange story – isn`t??
Scoop Malinowski · November 20, 2013 at 11:55 am
Doogie I read that he was unable to support his mates in the doubles match because of the five hour test. But are you sure he was slotted to play doubles but the dope test prohibited him from playing? Outrageous revenge tactics by WADA to force Djokovic to take a FIVE HOUR doping test in a closed room. Absolutely outrageous. Seems like it was revenge for Djokovic’s comments defending his pal Troicki.
Gaurang · November 20, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Lol. I am doubtful they can have a doping test at the same time as the match. Thats just not possible.
I think Novak may have not been chosen to play. And trust me, he is a really bad doubles player. I dont think they would have won had he played. He has lost a lot of easy matches in doubles.
Also he was already tired after ATP Finals — with only a few days gap, he would have a hard time playing 3 continuous days of 5-set tennis.
Scoop Malinowski · November 20, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Djokovic is mediocre at doubles Gaurang. Saw him play an exo with Sampras vs. the Bryans – they lost. Saw him play first round doubles in Miami with Murray against a nondescript team – they lost. But I hope Doogie has his facts mixed up, and that a drug test did not prevent Djokovic from playing doubles.
Doogie · November 20, 2013 at 4:59 pm
I just have a german link but the whole sounds quite strange.
There is to read that he had to make a doping test which lasted 5 hours (??!!).
Pls tell me how a doping test can last that long.
The Serbian doctor said that the test was a torture and was beneath of medicine diginity.
Nole had to give them 4 tests until all was ok. No matter what this mean.