Rock Paper Scissors

Djokovic beats Nadal. Nadal Beats Federer. Federer beats Djokovic. Are the top three locked together in this eternal triangle? Will the outcome of the US Open therefore be decided by a random draw? (Barring the intervention of another Tsonga)

Great point. Rock Paper Scissors is exactly what I've been thinking off of late too to describe this weird situation. I can't recall seeing something similar in tennis. As for the draw at the USO, I'd love for a Fed- Nadal semi final to happen, with the other semi being Murray- Djoker. How nice would a Nadal- Murray final be. I guess it's the one final we've never seen among the to four in a Grand slam.

It's not that secure with Fed/Nole because of their ages, but I agree in principle.

It will matter where Federer goes in the USO draw. Nadal will be praying he's over in Noles half because otherwise he will probably have to take on Federer at the USO, and even if he got past him, face Djokovic again.

No, he needs Federer to do his work for him again, even if like in 2010 it was only to take him to 5 long sets.

Tennisanorak wrote:Great point. Rock Paper Scissors is exactly what I've been thinking off of late too to describe this weird situation. I can't recall seeing something similar in tennis. As for the draw at the USO, I'd love for a Fed- Nadal semi final to happen, with the other semi being Murray- Djoker. How nice would a Nadal- Murray final be. I guess it's the one final we've never seen among the to four in a Grand slam.

Do they do 3rd/4th place play-offs now?

bogbrush wrote:

Tennisanorak wrote:Great point. Rock Paper Scissors is exactly what I've been thinking off of late too to describe this weird situation. I can't recall seeing something similar in tennis. As for the draw at the USO, I'd love for a Fed- Nadal semi final to happen, with the other semi being Murray- Djoker. How nice would a Nadal- Murray final be. I guess it's the one final we've never seen among the to four in a Grand slam.

Do they do 3rd/4th place play-offs now?

The US Open is the one where Murray has the best chance, I'd say. And he can beat Djoker there. I honestly think Murray has better chance at beating the Djoker than even Nadal!

I think the "Federer beats Djokovic" is the weak component in this theory.
Federer played a superb match at RG to defeat Djokovic but don't forget that Djokovic knocked Federer out of the two slams before that. Djokovic also beat Federer in Dubai and Indian Wells before RG.

There is an element of truth in the theory in that I think Federer has a better chance than Nadal of beating Djokovic but I wouldn't class him as the favourite in that encounter.

Agree with HM

Indeed, which was my point earlier in the thread.

This Djoko, Rafa, Fed "trivalry" is a hark back to the period around 79-81 when you had Borg, McEnroe and Connors. Sadly, Borg retired when things were hotting up. Or is it still the fab four? If you look at today's rankings, even Murray is a long way clear of fifth place and there are huge gaps between third and fourth, second and third and, now, between first and second. If the fab four continue to do well at the last Slam of the year, then they are guaranteed the top four places for yet another year.

I agree HM, easy to forget that the improvement Djokovic has made recently has also affected his results against Federer, which means more often than not he'll beat Federer.

It says something about Federer that he's the man who beat Djokovic during his winning streak and who's also now won 8 titles this year. Maybe Nadal fans might stop running down Federer and his achievements for a change, but don't hold your breath.

HM Murdoch wrote:I think the "Federer beats Djokovic" is the weak component in this theory.
Federer played a superb match at RG to defeat Djokovic but don't forget that Djokovic knocked Federer out of the two slams before that. Djokovic also beat Federer in Dubai and Indian Wells before RG.

There is an element of truth in the theory in that I think Federer has a better chance than Nadal of beating Djokovic but I wouldn't class him as the favourite in that encounter.

I think that Federer would have beaten Djokovic in the semi's if Tsonga hadn't got in the way. Very dissapointed not to have seen that particular semi.

bogbrush wrote:Indeed, which was my point earlier in the thread.

Great minds and all that! I disagree with you slightly though because I don't think Nadal will be unduly worried about Federer on a hard court. It will be the toughest surface to beat Federer on, certainly, but I really think Nadal has mastered the gameplan of how to beat Federer, especially a 29 year old present day Federer.

Incidentally, is 'bogbrush' a Private Eye reference?

HM Murdoch wrote:I think the "Federer beats Djokovic" is the weak component in this theory.
Federer played a superb match at RG to defeat Djokovic but don't forget that Djokovic knocked Federer out of the two slams before that. Djokovic also beat Federer in Dubai and Indian Wells before RG.

There is an element of truth in the theory in that I think Federer has a better chance than Nadal of beating Djokovic but I wouldn't class him as the favourite in that encounter.

Do you expect these Tennis experts to realise Djokovic beat Federer 3 straight times before the FO? 1 victory changes history I guess lol.

cry some more Unbiased, won't change the fact of Rafa being a number 2 to a guy from his same era

Josiah Maiestas wrote:cry some more Unbiased, won't change the fact of Rafa being a number 2 to a guy from his same era

Can you just feel the luuuurve oozing out ?

Funny seeing Federer fans turned Djokovic fans. Would last as long as when Federer next loses to him or when Nadal wins a slam. If only Federer was as good as Djokovic against Nadal.

Simple_Analyst

Should change his name to Federer_Obsessivest.

Simple_Analyst wrote:Funny seeing Federer fans turned Djokovic fans. Would last as long as when Federer next loses to him or when Nadal wins a slam. If only Federer was as good as Djokovic against Nadal.

I think you mean 'IF'.

It's always good to be optimistic



emancipator - my quest will continue

Ah, SA, I've always had a soft spot for Djokovic, he's my second favourite player on the tour, I said that before he beat Nadal, so I don't think you can say I've magically turned into a Djokovic fan just because of his win. I can't speak for other Fed fans.

You are correct Emancipator, let's see when Nadal wins his next slam. I'm pretty sure Wimbledon was supposed to be his best shot after the French of a slam? If that's the case, it doesn't bode well for the USO and next year's French is a long time away, 11 months away. Any more of a slow down in Federer's step and Djokovic can give Nadal a run for his money @ the French. Nadal owns the French? The days could be numbered.

Simple_Analyst wrote:Funny seeing Federer fans turned Djokovic fans. Would last as long as when Federer next loses to him or when Nadal wins a slam. If only Federer was as good as Djokovic against Nadal.

SA... I did not realise you maintain a list of player-poster affiliations across forums and posts. Must be a lot of tedious and boring work to keep track of such and use that as a context for future posts. .

HM Murdoch wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Indeed, which was my point earlier in the thread.

Great minds and all that! I disagree with you slightly though because I don't think Nadal will be unduly worried about Federer on a hard court. It will be the toughest surface to beat Federer on, certainly, but I really think Nadal has mastered the gameplan of how to beat Federer, especially a 29 year old present day Federer.

Incidentally, is 'bogbrush' a Private Eye reference?

I was bogbrush a long time before Private Eye used it. I am also bogbrush on one or two other forums and I don't know of another, so I reckon they pinched it!