Jul/11
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Novak Djokovic, The New King Of Tennis!
15 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Exellent match, followed the general pattern of the last three 2011 Djokovic-Nadal confrontations. Djokovic establishes control early then Nadal fights back and makes a battle of it by staggering and forcing Djokovic to a lower level of play. But once again, Djokovic, his self-belief seemingly unbreakable, recovers and regains his winning touch and performs his magic.
Novak Djokovic is the master of the tennis universe.
Can’t say we didn’t tell you!
Djokovic world domination continues
15 comments
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Andrew Miller · July 3, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Congrats to Djokovic. He did it!
Joda · July 3, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Congrats to Djokovic, and all respect to you Scoop Malinowski.
Sakhi · July 3, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Indeed, a thorough beat-down. I was surprised to see how quickly it all ended. Here’s an interesting analysis of what this means for Nadal:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon11/columns/story?columnist=tandon_kamakshi&id=6734865
Gans · July 3, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Scoop and Dan for your authoritative prediction that Novak will win. Real good job. It’s not easy to visualize it so clearly like you both did. I knew Novak could do in straights as he has done it in the past, but I wasn’t too confident whether he can get it done right here on grass.
Like you mentioned, the reasoning is elemental.
Novak destroyed Nadal to earn his first Wimbledon. This win just further validated his #1 satus and gives him further confidence going into North American hard courts.
Many who don’t follow the sport with that intensity underestimate the importance of these ATP events. Nadal and Djokovic fought tooth and nail in all these ATP events because that is where the seeds are planted, confidence constructed and authority established. They are the harbinger of what is to come in the slams when these top dogs meet. It’s not about a world #25 getting a rare win over Rafa in Miami for instance.
It’s Novak Djokovic we are talking about here. I was astonished looking at his talent when he first burst into the scene in 2007 beating the then World # 3 Roddick, #2 Nadal and #1 RF back to back to win Toronto masters. He backed it up with some spectacular performance in the US open only to lose to RF in a tight 3-setter in the finals. Novak served for the first set 40-0, but choked away. He could have won that match or given a tough fight had he not let his mind interfere.
I honestly never expected that Novak will break open like he did at the start of the year. I was in fact shocked that Fed lost to him in the AO semis. He was a different player already. It took me a couple more ATP events to fully recognize and appreciate Novak’s improved mind-set and better fitness.
Today, he should have won the match in straights. He almost gave Nadal a bagel in the second. He was in the ‘zone’ as Bille Jean King said after winning the 1975 Wimbledon: “I was playing out of my mind and felt sorry for my opponent as there was not much she could do to stop.” Then in the third set, Novak couldn’t keep his self in the shelf. He doubted himself and lost the set in no time. In the fourth he won it despite his nerves because of his pure talent.
Novak will win the US open. Nadal dethroned the mighty Fed and went on to dominate him, but this year Rafa has found his true rival- the one I doubt if he can ever overcome. At the age of 30 we are talking about whether Fed can win another slam, but I am going out on a limb to say that the window is closing for both GOATS because another one has just arrived.
Salute Nole!
Regards,
Gans
Dan Markowitz · July 4, 2011 at 12:35 am
The reasoning was elemental, but the usual pundits were confused by Nadal’s dominance of Del Po and Murray. But against Djoko it is a losing battle he’s fighting. His forehand isn’t as ferocious, his backhand can’t withstand Djoko’s forehand assaults and Nadal is not the athlete Djoko is.
I won’t go as far as to say that Nadal will never win another slam. That is quite a prediction! I think he’ll get 13-15, but I do think Novak now with three, will get double-digit slams, too. I’ve been saying for a long time now that Fed’s window of winning another slam is closed. To do so his draw would have to be like it was when he won the U.S. Open last, and he’d have to really step up to beat Djoko-Nadal-Murray-Del Po. To me, Fed is No. 4 in the game now and slipping.
Onto Newport where I will post a story on Harrison-Dmitrov.
Thanks for the great input on Tennis-prose.com over Wimbledon. Let’s keep it up. We want to hear your voices.
Dan Markowitz · July 4, 2011 at 12:38 am
Oh, and there will be more about Donald Young, Dmitrov and my fave, Dustin Brown, who all play tomorrow on the grass at the Hall of Fame Tournament.
Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2011 at 2:29 am
Good point by Kamakshi, about Djokovic being to Nadal what Nadal was to Federer (their kryptonite for lack of a better word). One question Sakhi, as you are a Federer fan you might be able to understand his mindset. Do you think Federer is happy to see Djokovic win? As it prevents Nadal from taking another step to break his overall slam record of 16? Sampras seemed to not really care that Federer, who he respects and likes so much, took his record. We know Federer admires and likes Nadal so much, perhaps he wouldn’t mind to see Nadal break his total slam record.
Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2011 at 2:36 am
Gans, you remember that first showing of Djokovic brilliance in Montreal. But then the follow up rematch with Federer at the US Open was hugely disappointing as Djok had set points in each of the first two sets. He was so close to prime Federer even back then. We saw how great this young man could play and it took so long for him to put it all together, but finally he has now. The win in Miami over Nadal was so important. It was the only time I ever saw Uncle Toni jumping out of his chair in the third set, imploring Rafa on and trying to pump him up even more. This showed us how important that match was for Rafa. If Rafa won that match in Miami he probably would have beaten Djok in Rome and Madrid and today too, as it would have been yet another heartbreaking loss to Rafa in yet another close match. But Djok won it and we see now how important that win was. Djokovic might really dominate the sport now, I’m talking a handful of slams over the next few years and also a stranghold on #1. It was interesting when McEnroe asked Rafa after if he used a different new strategy today vs. Djokovic, that was different than what he tried in Rome, Madrid, Miami, IW. Interestingly, Rafa said he did not and that it just came down to a few shots that he missed. It sounds like Rafa is getting the same stubborness that Fed had against him, and that Becker had playing Agassi from the baseline, etc.
Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2011 at 2:39 am
Dan, wasn’t it odd how Nadal said after that he didn’t play as well as he did earlier in the week? Maybe it’s because the way Djokovic played forced him to play poorly and under extreme pressure. Even though Djokovic may not break the all time record for slams, it’s entirely possible he could play a greater brand of tennis than Federer or Nadal ever did. Whether he can for as consistently long as his two predecessors have, remains to be seen. I actually think Djokovic is playing the best tennis right now in the history of the ATP. See you in Newport mate, the draw looks fantastic, a nice mix of young and veteran players.
Michael · July 4, 2011 at 7:04 am
The King is Dead. Long Live the King.
Good call on Novak. The final was the battle for #1 as far as I’m concerned and Novak won it easy.
I may have to stop my Murray picks as I’m 0-12, at least. Seriously, what is wrong with that guy.
On the women’s side, my biggest question is when will they come down on the shrieking. It’s absurd. I can’t stand it. I know it’s a common sentiment. It has consequences for viewership. Do you guys think the powers that be need to act ?
Because it seems a good time to act given the state of the women’s game. With no shrieker as the clear #1 no one has the clout to tell the WTA/ITF/Slams to stick it. If Novak or Nadal don’t show up it’s a big deal. If Azarenka/Sharapova don’t show — who cares.
And if they take (at least token) action now they could certainly influence the Juniors before it’s too late. Point Penalty. Game Penalty. Default. Try that a few times.
Dan Markowitz · July 4, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Scoop, I’m not surprised that Nadal said he felt he played better earlier in the week than against Djoko. Tennis is a sport that your opponent tries to impose his/her game on you and Djoko has absolutely stymied Nadal’s game with the way he plays.
Also, who says Nadal doesn’t have a big ego, that only Federer does? Nadal also made the comment after the match that Djoko would not sustain this level of superior play. I don’t know how Nadal could know this. Djoko might just be at the beginning of his dominance and his game might get increasingly, incrementally, better. Both Nadal and Fed, I guess because they dominated at the top for so long–that’s a ridiculous fact that the last player to win Wimbledon besides Nadal and Fed was Hewitt in 2002!–that they can’t believe anyone would top them when the one guy is in his prime and the other is at the end of it.
Michael, I don’t see how they can officiate grunting/shrieking. What would they have a decible level. I mean how would you suggest dealing with it? They can’t even agree to put a shot clock up to keep the players within 20 seconds between points. I counted Djoko dribbling the ball once on his serve, 20+ times. This is something where something can be and should be done, but I don’t see where you can waylay grunting other than if the umpire deems it too loud or disturbing.
Sakhi · July 4, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Scoop–I think there is a clear mutual admiration society between Federer and Nadal that Djokovic has tried to crash for years. Hence, I don’t think Federer would celebrate Djokovic’s victory out of some concern for his record. My sense is that Federer does not like Djokovic and it’s interesting that he’s one of the few players that continues to piss Federer off. I rare see Djokovic trying to hug Federer post a match (as he does with all his opponents) and I think Djokovic’s mother pronouncing the death of Federer after Nole’s first Aussie open hasn’t helped either.
I’m actually curious to see how both Nadal and Federer respond. Nadal has done his usual self-flagellating thing –oh, gee, Djoker’s in my head, and I can’t possible be “calm”. Fed continues to ride his high horse into denial and claims none of this affects him and that nothing but future glory is in his head. I’m not sure which approach works but obviously these are seasoned professionals. It’s Nadal who I am more interested in—he’s seemed more tormented than Federer ever was–over the schedule, over his game, over his body and just about everything. That I find interesting and promising–He makes me miss Safin!
Scoop Malinowski · July 5, 2011 at 12:06 am
Agree Sakhi, Fed and Rafa almost seem like loyal brothers who would never betray the other. They really genuinely like and respect each other. Like you, I don’t see Djokovic being accepted by the dynamic duo and making one big happy trio. But you never know. Djokovic did give Federer a warm embrace after losing to him at the French Open and after Fed beat Djok in the Masters Cup SF, at the handshake you can hear Fed verbally wishing Djok good luck in the Davis Cup final which was nice. Were these gestures real or just for the cameras, who knows. But it’s a very interesting scenario and how it will play out. Fed’s stance about Djokovic in Miami was like, Okay let’s see if he can keep this up, it seemed Fed was doubtful. Djokovic responded to these Fed quotes by saying, I learned from my ups and downs and I will maintain this consistency. I remember he said it very firmly with conviction in his voice ( I was there). SO far Djokovic has not only maintained his high level but raised. Now it’s up to Rafa and Roger to raise their levels. If they can.
Kujo · July 5, 2011 at 1:51 am
Nole’s in Rafa nightmares. He’s totally in his head. There’s really no other player on the ATP tour that can push around Nadal, and just dominate him from the baseline. Djoker’s play yesterday was just stunning to watch. Add his speed, cat like quickness, and his amazing defensive abilities, and it appears his only opponent right now is himself.
I did notice an icier greeting at the net on Nadal’s part when Novak beat Nadal in Madrid. Nadal was clearly frustrated then.
Nadal’s foot injury makes his prospects for defending his 2010 US Open title even more daunting. I Novak to win his first U.S. Open title later this summer. It goes with out saying he’s clearly the favorite. I look for Delpo to have a great tournament, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him the finals.
Kvitova winning the Wimbledon was a breath of fresh air because she’s shriek/grunt free (though she has a tolerable mini high pitch shriek when she hits big winners). She also fully exposes what a joke Woz is at #1. Kvitova is on her way to the number #1 ranking imho. I don’t think she’s a one slam wonder. She hits the ball too cleanly, and with so much power and accuracy to be another WTA disappearing act.
Tennis_Tipster · July 5, 2011 at 4:03 pm
@Dan Markowitz Dustin Brown is great. He just lost sadly, but waiting for him to break out soon. Huge game when he’s ON.