Another very honest but still startling quote from Nadal

“Yes, I didn’t play long enough. Didn’t make the big, important points,’’ said a gracious but downcast Nadal. “No, I’m not happy with my Wimbledon. I lost my title and [the world] No. 1.’’

Nadal pointed out that Djokovic is hardly a secret. “He’s in my head. He knows it, I know it, you know it. Everybody knows it,’’ said Nadal. “Five times he’s beaten me this year [the finals of the Italian Open, Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Madrid, and here]. I’ve got to rest my mind and body, and find a solution.

http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/tennis/articles/2011/07/04/djokovic_wins_first_wimbledon_title/

Very honest here, and it isn't something that is a secret right now. But for Nadal to be so blunt with this I find very surprising. He is in my head, he knows it, I know it, we all know it. That kind of talk is very strong and is only in my mind going to hurt the situation by giving his opponents a bit more belief. Personally, if I was Nadal I wouldn't voice these kinds of self doubts in public.

“No, I’m not happy with my Wimbledon. I lost my title and [the world] No. 1.’’

Some people are too greedy

Old news Rafa, other players are taking over now

This kind of bluntness could backfire, but then again, is this just not Nadal being nadal - i.e trying to deflect pressure from himself, in this way by suggesting that Nole has surpassed him and even got into his head?

Perhaps he hopes that by making himself a huge underdog, he can reduce the expectations and relieve the pressure.

Nadal has always enjoyed the role of being the hunter.

I don't know emancipator. I think it gives all your opponents not just Novak more confidence when they play Nadal. It really isn't something he should let on with in public. So much of tennis is belief, and if anything a quote like this gives Novak and others more belief. Not that Novak needs more belief in that match up right now. But still, I don't think you put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it.

I agree with you emancipator, that Nadal deflects the media grilling and, therefore, pressure by being self deprecating or self critical in interviews - I sometimes think Fed could have deflected a lot of pressure by not becoming defensive when the media swarm in like vultures after a loss -

- one of the great ironies of last week was a journalist (forget who) who jeered at Federer for refusing to 'accept his decline' post Tsonga match, and who then promptly turned on Murray post Nadal match for Murray's apparent defeatism!

Sounds like it's sinking in: I thought he said before that making the final was a great achievement and although he hated losing, he was fine. It sounds rather different now but that's to be expected.

It might possibly reduce the pressure. I agree, I'm not sure what the value is of making these comments in public. He is prone to being self critical, I've noticed that with Nadal but I've seen his post Wimbledon interview and he seems defeated, resigned almost. He talks about keeping going, onto a 6th even 7th match defeat, until he works out what he needs to do! I mean honestly, I thought that was a bit shocking but now you find the interview above! I'm unsure if what's he said will have an impact because:

a) After watching yesterday, you could see the mental edge Djokovic had developed, so we already knew it existed even if he had said nothing about it.
b) We knew Nadal had a mental edge over Federer but did Federer ever admit it? Not as far as I know of, yet it was pretty obvious to everyone, after the Australian Open '09, watching Fed play Nadal in grand slams was like watching a lamb heading towards slaughter, dramatic but true (even if it was often close).

What he says is intriguing but it doesn't change anything, just as Federer never admitting Nadal being in his head never did. We may question the wisdom of admitting it though, especially because it might add additional motivation to other players to keep toe to toe with Nadal in rallies and keep up the challenge to him.

Nadal is saying it as it is an from now onwards, everyone knows his the underdog against Djokovic and should expect him to lose. He is not leaving in denial neither is he giving false hope to his fans. We've seen some players and their fans leave in denial even when it's obvious their opponent simply owns them. Different angle of mind set here though but can't see how speaking about it in public is wrong.

He said that but he also said this-

My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was last year winning three Grand Slams, my level of last year is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But waiting my moment to beat him another time.

http://www.ubitennis.com/sport/tennis/2011/07/03/537087-nadal_2011.shtml

Just waiting his moment to beat him again!

The point here for me is, Djokovic's great form and insanely high level of play has come only the past 6 months. Will be difficult for Nadal etc to start focusing on what to do against him within this period. As Nadal points in the comment above, he will patiently wait for his time and any small sign of vulnerability in Djokovic's game, be it consistency and he will pounce on. Easier said than done but this new Djokovic is a fresh and I believe much needed challenge for Nadal. Exciting times ahead.

It was interesting, but I noticed he's reached 8 finals and lost 5 of them (all to Djokovic). It's been one of his worst years in terms of reaching the finals and then losing them.

The problem with waiting for an opponent to dip in his level is that you might be waiting a long time (ask Federer), especially if that opponent is in your head like he confirms. Waiting for his form/fitness to dip is not going to resolve things for him if he's got inside his head.

Well even when Nadal started beating Federer in the slams, Federer did a good job of winning 3 more, so it's not completely hopeless for Rafa.

the interesting thing is that when a player who has been seemingly quite indomitable begins to be regularly beaten by another player, it often gives hope to the rest because the cloak of invincibility slips.

Interesting times indeed, but I believe that over the next 12 months Nadal will probably face players who will take some heart from Djokovic turning around the status quo.

Not sure I agree with how players are supposed to get inspiration from Djokovics form. If Djokovic can beat Nadal they're supposed to think "great that means I can too". I would guess they might be thinking "Djokovic has beaten Nadal 5 times. If I have to play Djokovic I won't stand a chance!"

Or elsewhere I have seen how Murray is supposed to believe because Djokovic can win Wimbledon he has a better chance of doing so himself. Rather than the more logical "sheesh now Federer, Nadal AND Djokovic all stand in my way".

hawkeye wrote:Not sure I agree with how players are supposed to get inspiration from Djokovics form. If Djokovic can beat Nadal they're supposed to think "great that means I can too". I would guess they might be thinking "Djokovic has beaten Nadal 5 times. If I have to play Djokovic I won't stand a chance!"

Or elsewhere I have seen how Murray is supposed to believe because Djokovic can win Wimbledon he has a better chance of doing so himself. Rather than the more logical "sheesh now Federer, Nadal AND Djokovic all stand in my way".

Federer maybe if he can still make it past the Q/F's with his new found ranking!

I didn't say that it was entirely logical hawkeye - I think a dominant player carries an aura of invincibility onto the court and they feel so confident because they are the most dominant competitor at that present moment in time which in turn gives them an even more powerful aura, which affects the self belief of the guy on the other side of the net in tight or decisive moments.

Once that aura is dented, even a little, a lot of opponents begin, very gradually, to just begin to dream a little - and sometimes to strike lucky.

Sportslover - the mighty Fed is not finished yet, diminished a little maybe, but I am sure he will be one who is waiting to pounce at the right moment.

I see what you mean hawkeye but I think what tom said once about Federer, might be more true for Nadal. Nadal often comes onto a court with a fearsome reputation that he's next to impossible to defeat, especially in grand slam finals. It was telling that it was only Djokovic himself who took a set off Nadal in all the grand slam finals last year. The record he had, until yesterday, of only ever losing to Federer in grand slam finals, and even then, only twice 4/5 years ago.

It's for players who reach grand slam finals and face Nadal who it might help. If you look at Nadal's on court manner, it certainly makes him appear more fearsome, it doesn't feel like that any more. Also, with Nadal, many of the players may have thought that Djokovic's 4 wins were flukes or insignificant (for the many reasons Nadal fans helpfully provided) but now they've been offered a study in how to beat Nadal, not only in Masters tournaments but in grand slams too. If they choose to study it, they'll have the perfect recipe on how to challenge Nadal.

Nadal has played some roller coaster matches against players other than Djokovic. The loses have been primarily to Djokovic though.

W 2011 - Muller, Del Potro, Fish, Murray
Queens 2011 - Tsonga, Stepanek
FO 2011 - Isner
Rome 2011 - Lorenzi
Madrid 2011 - Federer
MC 2011 - Murray
Miami 2011 - Berdych
IW 2011 - Karlovic

The Ferrer AO and Lacko Doha matches are with injuries.

"Even for me when I was last year winning three Grand Slams, my level of last year is not forever."

Neither is his level to fight.

"Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting my moment."

So will others.

"I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But waiting my moment to beat him another time."

Djokovic will play some different tournaments then Nadal, where others can beat him [Nadal] too. The US HC will be interesting.

Time please and hawkeye make some salient points. Once a player loses an aura of invicibility it makes all of his matches tougher. Look at Nadal this year, he has lost one match when he was hurt to david ferrer and 5 times to one player Novak. But that is deceptive, because he has struggled a lot more in matches for example Isner at the FO, Murray at Monaco, even in matches he has won he has struggled a lot more. Federer and all great champions have this aura that gives them at least a break advantage over the course of a match. Players lack the belief, the kind of statement Nadal is giving out to the public only stokes the flames of belief not only in Novak but in other players as well.

Health always plays a big part in it actually. Laverfan would Fed have had that rebirth in 09 if Nadal hadn't been injured? I agree with what you are saying Djokovic is in startling form. But I actually think Nadal is playing pretty close to his 2010 level. He has been in the finals of every tournament he has entered and he is losing to one player. Although seemingly he struggles more in matches he wins now. The thing that as a nadal fan must be scary about this Djokovic streak is that Rafa is not that far off his best. Look he just won the french and has gotten into the finals of every tourney but one. Its not Rafa giving it away, its a matter of Novak taking it away. Nadal has one loss this year to anyone not Named Novak.

I don't think Nadal admitting the situation publicly will make him any weaker. He is an honest competitor and he is being honest about the mental, technical and physical challenges facing him.
I do agree with time please that the perception of Nadal's invincibility is gone. It is a natural part of a zero-sum game with two competitors. Not sure what it is, though the pack mentality combined with the meagre percentages that a winner previously held from both sides now gone is probably close.
I doubt whether Djokovic will continue his hold over Nadal indefinitely, though Nadal's invincibility, like Fed's before which he ended, is now gone. He will play tennis and the best player on the day will win, psychology aside.

Sidespin, I still don't think its a good idea for Nadal to go public with his self doubts. Tennis is after all among the most mental and psychological of all sports. And like you said it is a one on one competition where you don't want to let your opponent even think that he has the edge on you, here he is coming out and going public. Honesty is important but so is discretion. In this area I wouldn't be so open about these issues. But that is just my opinion.

Agreed socal, good points there. I agree, the idea his form has slipped some from last year isn't entirely true. He got to 5 masters finals in a row and won the French, he just keeps running into Djokovic.

On Djokovic's current form, I'd say he stands a great chance of winning the Canadian (he's won it before) and Cincinnati (made 2 finals) Masters. In which case, he'll start to assume the mantle of invincibility that first Fed and then Nadal have built over the last 10 years. Except that he's won more Master tournaments then either of them amassed in a single year (if he does it). I think he'll settle for the USO though rather than win either of those but making a clean sweep of the American hardcourt season isn't beyond the realm of possibility anymore. It would also send out a powerful statement of intent to all the other players.

If Djokovic has a good American hardcourt swing he could be on his way to the best winning percentage year in history. No question, lucius, Novak wants the USO he has already been to two finals. I think this year if he finds himself in the semis or finals he will find away to kick it up that extra notch and win it. He didn't just take the #1 but he has a very healthy lead and I would say he is almost a lock to be year end #1. For the rest of the year he is kind of playing with the house's money, he already has two grandslams in the bank.

By acknowledging the issue, when Nadal does beat Djokovic (which is bound to happen eventually), it will seem as though the tables are turned, and he may regain some of the aura again, especially if he does it twice consecutively. Even so, the natural loss of aura is the greatest loss, irrespective of the public acknowledgement.

For Novak's sake, want him to stay healthy and be judicious with his scheduling. I would like him to try and beat McEnroe's 82-3 season.

"Laverfan would Fed have had that rebirth in 09 if Nadal hadn't been injured? "

Not a big fan of what-if scenarios in Tennis. Would Nadal have not won W in 2008, where would Nadal be?

It is really tricky to do what-if.

If Nadal (who had been beaten by Soderling @FO 09) had continued @ W, his injuries could have worsened for him to not get the clay masters slam and three slams in 2010.

Much rather the current reality, then a TARDIS one.

He has lost just one match, albeit an important one. Great players (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal,...) bounce back from loses.

For example , Federer beat Djoko @FO 11, after the USO 10 and AO 11 loses.

Nole did get the better of Fed despite the previous USO record.

Del Potro beat Federer @USO 2009, despite the five-set loss @ FO 2009.

Like others here, I am a bit concerned about Rafa's comments. They certainly seem to be true given the shocking way that he surrendered breaks of serve to Djokovic at key moments in yesterday's final. Those lapses were VERY un-Rafalike. It is good that he acknowledges that Djoko seems to have the measure of him now, but as socal says, he has had an amazing year, apart from the Novak defeats and he needs to focus on that. And, it is not a given that Rafa will have to play Djoko in every Slam Final (FO 2011, a good case in point).

What is slowly being proven is that tennis is all about matchups. Nadal just cannot hurt Novak the same way that he hurts Fed. Novak's backhand has become a weapon and Novak is winning the long rallies with Rafa now, and that as I have stated before is the main difference. Novak's strength is that he is just as solid as Rafa from the back of the court, albeit minus the jaw-dropping forehand winners that Rafa seems to summon at will.

To beat Djoko, Rafa is actually going to have to have to try and add variety to his game and try to stay away from the predictable baseline rallies, which always ends up in him coming up second best against the Djoker. I know that he is capable and can come up with a new gameplan. He would never have won the US Open last year (His serving and volleying were unbelievable in that tournament).

Kemet I actually think Novak hits more jaw dropping winners off of both sides a than Nadal. Early in the match Novak was really hitting through the court with especially with his forehand.

It's always easier to chase the top guy than be chased, simply because you get to develop your game to all the changes in the game while he's trying just to hold it all together.

Only the most extremely great players stay at the top for a long time, which is why the weeks at #1 is such a celebrated achievement.

I think all Rafa said was both true and blatantly obvious to everyone watching the final - that was not a quality Nadal performance, and he made errors that were out of character. Compare how he played against Murray in the SF (barely an error after the first set) with how he played against Novak (relatively loose play, double faults on break points etc). That isn't technical, it's psychological.

Whether he should have made such comments in public is a different question. However, as others have pointed out, it's not as though he's now losing to a host of players (as happened to Federer once his invincibility was dented - I remember consecutive defeats to Tipsarevic), he's making finals when he's fit and healthy, but is not able to get the better of one player.

It is though going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few months - will Rafa continue to be solidly the second best player, or will these losses start to affect his confidence and give others a better chance against him?

I don't agree with the idea that Rafa has had an aura of invincibility, outside of clay.

Even in 2010, his best year on the tour, Rafa lost 10 matches. I think the other players have always felt that they have a chance against him on the hardcourts. Even since 2008 Rafa's hardcourt resume is probably the third best on tour after Novak and Roger. Murray is probably considered to be a better HC player.

Roger certainly had an aura of invincibility. He lost just 15 matches in three years from 04-06.

I think there is a danger of overreacting to his comments. Nadal was open and negative like this at the French Open but went on to win the title. I dont think these outbursts affect him as much as we think. He's just very open. And you can bet Toni will be working overtime on his mind. I also think Nadal is very tired mentally, which these "outbursts" are a sign of. Ok, he's not won all the titles, but he's got to a heck of a lot of finals in 2011 (maybe more than previous years?) and I think he just needs a break to recharge. I'm pretty sure we'll see a renewed Nadal in Canada. He's only losing to pretty much one player, its not like he's losing to all and sundry - Toni will be working out ways to keep him bouyant and focused.

Clearly Djokovic cant stay at the unreal peak he's at forever, plus he will gets beaten by others letting the door open for Nadal who will always be on the other side of the draw from him for the next 12 months...they can only meet in finals, so they both have alot of tennis to play before meeting each other.

In terms of aura, I dont think he's lost much - all these finals and only losing to one player doesnt really give much heart to the others unless they can play like Djokovic.

I think Rafas aura is more about the experience the player goes through in a match - the sheer physical stress of the match - rather than the feeling of "I can't win", which is what Federer used to have over them back in his peak years.

15 losses in 3 years is, quite simply, ridiculous. No wonder almost everyone just knew they were going to get beat, even though the experience might not be that unpleasant (a player whose name I forget once said that he quite enjoyed losing to Federer because you got the best seat in the house on some lovely play - hardly the attitude of a winner but you see what he meant).

It's hard to tell how the meteoric rise of Djokovic will affect Rafa and the others because none of us have top class athletes minds - or am I presuming too much here??

However, this is not a shining new star that has burst onto the horizon, but the long time No 3 who while he had notable wins over Federer and Nadal, had also clocked up many brilliant matches against them both, taking both to the wire and yet still being vanquished, time after time.

There is little that is new in one player's game for the other to figure out - and Djokovic has been so close so many times before - he has matured fully physically a little later than Rafa and his new diet has obviously paid dividends.

I think they, the other players (who have also beaten Djokovic) might well find a little new belief if they too have come close in the past, and we have yet to see how, after holding the No 3 off for so long, Rafa deals with him.

On the subject of Rafa though Lydian - I agree that usually you cannot place too much importance on his negativity because he can turn this around very quickly. However, I thought that in the final he looked resigned several times - very un Rafa like, plus there is that comment about 'sometimes feeling like he has been playing tennis for a 100 years' at RG and it all adds up to someone looking like he might be going through a period of slight burn out? (ridiculous probably to say so after such a good season) I don't know - Rafa has always said he wouldn't hang about if he stopped winning, but I do wonder if he is not the Nadal's family's golden goose and wouldn't be entirely free to leave the stage when he would choose - not that he should be ready any time soon!

There was a very interesting debate between Ljubo and Mirnuy about playing Federer and Ljubo. Both had oppsite preference for the same reasons.

Ljubo prefered to play Nadal cause he felt he could beat him IF he was executing well, whereas he felt that playing Federer was simply impossible at his best and turned him as a spectator.

Mirnuy on teh other end found Federer easier cause the rallies were shorter and he coudl turn this into a lottery...whereas v Nadal, the physical challenge was simply too tough.

Interesting to note that Mirnuy became quickly a doubles specialist cause of his difficulty moving around.

time please makes some very good points, it can turn around quickly one or two big wins and exorcises the demons. However, a lot of times when top players get that confidence and that edge over you it can be hard to break the streak and to ever get that confidence back. Once Mac started beating borg, Borg couldn't find a formula on a fast court to beat Mac, once he realized it he couldn't bring himself to consistently lose those matches and he left. I am not saying that Rafa will do the same thing. But what has to be disconcerting for Rafa is that this isn't 2009 where he suffered a major injury and while he was working his way back he lost to lower ranked players. Here Rafa has played well, he has had niggling injuries but nothing that he isn't used to. And at his peak or near peak, while going the entire season losing once to Ferrer, 5 times to Djokovic. It isn't so much Nadal's form going down as someone else raising the bar.

And I would disagree on the technical aspects in Djokovic's game. Everyone foucses on the gluten diet and allergies. But the biggest reason for Novak's improvement is techinical. This year he is holding serve at an 89 percent clip. From mid 09 to late 10, Djokovic went into a swoon on his serve as bad as any in tennis history. He has also worked on many parts of his game over the years and he is now becoming comfortable with. He is a decent to good volleyer now 2-3 years ago he couldn't volley to save his life. 26 net approaches winning 70 percent of the points against nadal's passing shots. His forehand has also been retooled over the last 2-3 years and is better than it was as well. The fitness is part of the success but he has been working on himself and his game for years and its just starting to all work together.

Agree Socal,

Perhaps his improved diet has helped, but there is no doubt that the biggest game changer has been his serve.

It is the most important shot in the game; the rest of the game is built around it.

For much of 09/10 Djokovic was making more double faults than aces in his service games. Now that he can hold serve more easily, it allows him to apply more pressure in the return games and gives much more confidence and mental stability.

Disagree. Sure Djoko's serve went aloft when he changed his racquet and Martin tried to change his move but his serve had been ok way before the 2011. Last summer during the US season it was very good alread then.

The difference nowadays is that Djoko can run without running out of breath. He is not under the same pressure to shorten rallies than he was in 2010 and before when he had to regularly take MTO to recover some breathing problems down also to allergies.

Actually, tenez his serve really wasn't this good back at USO 2011, one of the principal reasons he lost that final to Nadal was that Djokovic served very poorly that match. Last year I remember he was holding serve at around a 75 percent rate which is abysmally poor for a top player. Now he is in the top 5 in percentage of service games held. His double faulting last year was at times laughable, I routinely remember watching games where he would double fault 3 times regularly in matches.

If Nadal played how he did against Murray in sets 2,3 and 4 - he would've beaten Djokovic.

Plain and simple

For some bizarre reason Nadal is far to defensive vs Djokovic.

Murray allowed Nadal to play attackingly, that is the difference MM

Novak doesn't allow him to dictate 8)

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Murray allowed Nadal to play attackingly, that is the difference MM

Novak doesn't allow him to dictate 8)

If Nadal wasn't intent on standing with the line judges then he could have been more aggresive.

You rarely see Federer off the baseline - even when he's not as his best.

Nadal's default setting is of a clay courter - whuch he now needs to rectify.

Nadal only comes in when the ball is left short though, Novak's returns were always deep

I think he just voiced, as he said, what we are all thinking. He does like to be the underdog even when he is clearly not. McEnroe said that its time Nadal stopped talking himself down all the time. Basically he was saying to put aside the false humility now as no one buys into it any more!

I am surprised that Djokovic has got into Nadal's head and to be honest I think Nadal has put him in there. Looking at the two that day Nadal was made to look very average. The returns had so much length and were so deep it always kept Nadal on the move. There was one point in the 4th set were Nadal made a f/h right into the corner expecting it to be a winner but Djoko chased it down and returned it. Nadal had almost stopped moving but had to change direction and chase it down eventually missing. I think he is so accustomed to making these winners that he does not expect them to be returned.

Maybe Nadal will beat Djoko 5 times in a row from the next time they meet.

What surprised me was that Nadal said that Djoko is the best player at the moment and that this form is temporary and cannot last which is disrespectful of Djokovic's achievements this year and his talent/abilities. I mean it wasn't a couple of good months but 7 months of brilliant tennis. On the form issue maybe Nadal thought Djoko would run out of steam hence the reluctance to change his approach. He has to get it into his head that he is NOT the only only one who can chase down balls and smack down winners from anywhere in the court. I guess its hard to accept you are not the best player at the moment and that someone else is catching up...FAST!

I don;t think there is a lot of love between Nadal and Djoko actually. They use big nice words publicly about each other but I am not sure Nadal and Toni (who left during the ceremony) like the Serb.