Djoko's rise and Nadal's decline

have been inversely proportional to each other. This topic might have been discussed recently but the way things are going for Nadal, a steep decline is very much in the offing.

Nadal's limited game has put him into a situation where if he does not improve there might be a danger of sliping down the ranks very rapidly. Nadal has not won a tournament for long time now. Murray has taken over as the second most successful player for this season. Even players like Fish have done better than Nadal and there is every possibility that Fish will beat Nadal second time this year at o2 arena.

Djoko's dominance over rafa is going in the same way like fed-nadal or probably worse than that provided rafa keeps playing for another 4 -5 years. I cannot recall clearly if Fed has lost to a player six times in a row. This has rattled Nadal, the losses are hurting him. He tried so hard during the US open but Djoko is beating him in his own game only whether it is time wasting or MTOs, basline exchanges and the retrieiving of tennis ball from aywhere. Main advantage djoko has is that his serve holds much better than Nadal's.

Nadal used to serve around 130 during last years USO but these days he is dishing out a 100 0r 110 mph serve which is basically proving to be his achille's heel.

Djoko has inflicted deep scar on Rafa's mentality which might not heal again.

Nadal has had a bad year... so what? He had a bad year in 2009, and look what happened in 2010.

Djokovic has had an excellent year. A year almost good enough to make up for the prior 3 years of underperformance. He needs to back it up by performing to a similar level in 2012 and beyond, otherwise this year will be remembered as a flash in the pan (albeit an incredible one).

Swings and roundabouts.

2009 was a result of injuries and personal circumstances but this time it is different. This time he has lost because of on court reasons.

During the third set at USO for a moment Nadal fans thought that this is the turning point but When I see Djoko, I can clearly see in his eyes the confidence that I will beat Nadal again and again. IMO Rafa can beat Djoker if the latter is injured.

Nadal has clearly been the second best player this year.

Had it not been for Djoko Nadal probably would've had his best year on tour results wise.

I think the predictions of Nadal;s impending decline are far too premature.

I accept him to remain a strong force for a few years yet. I actually think he'll have a slow decline, similar to Federer.

It still takes a monumental effort to beat him.

Had it not been for Nadal, Fed would have had amassed 25 slams

DIINH - I can't agree that Murray has been the second most successful player this year - that accolade (and I am sure it's one he doesn't want) belongs to Rafa.

Good point TP, the ATP ranking points clearly demonstrate that.

You could argue that Nadal's season has been more successful than Murray's career... Anyhow Nadal's game is not as 1 dimensional as some may think.

Nadal has been in 10 finals (7F + 3W) while Djokovic has 11 finals (10W + 1F) in 2011, which is nothing to sneeze at. Nadal is the second most successful player this year.

In comparison Murray has 6 finals (5W + 1F). Old man Federer has 3 finals (1W + 2F).

break_in_the_fifth wrote:Anyhow Nadal's game is not as 1 dimensional as fed fans might hope.

Do not need another Fedal debate, do we, we have had plenty already!

laverfan wrote:Nadal has been in 10 finals (7F + 3W) while Djokovic has 11 finals (10W + 1F) in 2011, which is nothing to sneeze at. Nadal is the second most successful player this year.

In comparison Murray has 6 finals (5W + 1F). Old man Federer has 3 finals (1W + 2F).

break_in_the_fifth wrote:Anyhow Nadal's game is not as 1 dimensional as fed fans might hope.

Do not need another Fedal debate, do we, we have had plenty already!

You're right. My bad. I've been writing about fed quite a bit but I shouldn't have mentioned anything to do with him here. I know I'll edit.

break_in_the_fifth wrote:I know I'll edit.

Apologies, I was not trying to get you to edit your post.

I would dislike the idea of Lydian wanting to leave again.

Murray has won 2 masters this year. How many did Nadal win?

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:Murray has won 2 masters this year. How many did Nadal win?

Is this bait for a he-said-she-said debate?

break_in_the_fifth wrote:You could argue that Nadal's season has been more successful than Murray's career....

Really - And how do you figure that out?

Or is that statement a poor attempt at wumming!

Nah I wanted to edit, the quota on fedal debates has more than been filled.

Nadal has won Monte Carlo and reached several other finals on hard and clay courts.

sportslover wrote:

break_in_the_fifth wrote:You could argue that Nadal's season has been more successful than Murray's career....

Really - And how do you figure that out?

Or is that statement a poor attempt at wumming!

Well the use of the word 'could' implies a lack of certainty that is inherent to a statement. I mean there's people who make a case for Del Potro being a better player or having a more successful career. In honesty though I just don't think Murray's come close to Nadal this season either in results or level of tennis produced.

Stars are saying that Nadal will be good this year and Djoko has had a one-off lucky year.

Scars, healing, mentally etc etc, this is all medicinal whitewash being dreamt by Djoko fans.

Jahu wrote:Stars are saying that Nadal will be good this year and Djoko has had a one-off lucky year.

Scars, healing, mentally etc etc, this is all medicinal whitewash being dreamt by Djoko fans.

SO Nadal won a master this year and story ends there. Murray won 2 masters, doesn't that make his second best player.

Murray bagelled Nadal in the last match, what about that?

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:Murray won 2 masters, doesn't that make his second best player.

Without sounding harsh on Murray's season (and the Asian swing), Djokovic retired in the second Masters, if you recall.

Cincinnati F Andy Murray (GBR) L 4-6, 0-3 RET

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:Murray bagelled Nadal in the last match, what about that?

Was the discussion about Djokovic-Nadal?

laverfan wrote:Apologies, I was not trying to get you to edit your post.

I would dislike the idea of Lydian wanting to leave again.

lol, hey I dont mind a good old debate LF, just not the same debate on every thread as happened in the past.
Glad to see the forum seems to have stabilised somewhat :-)

Djoker is in Nadal's head wrote:SO Nadal won a master this year and story ends there. Murray won 2 masters, doesn't that make his second best player.

Murray bagelled Nadal in the last match, what about that?

Nadal won a slam though, Murray did not. They met 3 times in slams and Nadal won the lot. A simple way to look at it is to ask if the players themselves would swap their respective years with each other, Murray definitely would and Nadal would not. There's your answer. There's not even an argument that Murray has had a better year.

Regarding Murray, I don't think any year from now on that he hasn't bagged a GS is going to be considered a good year for him.

A good year is expected from him especially beeing ranked 4 for ages and now 3'rd. GS'es need to roll and not Masters in Asian villages.

OT: he just got a wild card from Basel.

That's right Jahu, whether fair or not.

Basel is shaping up nicely: Djokovic returns, Murray in-form and Federer in front of his home crowd. Should be good.