The_Rev Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 How many players would thrive in any era? Agassi definitely could, in fact you could argue he did given how much the game changed between the start of his career and the end, and he was successful enough to capture grand slam titles at both ends. Borg too I guess. Maybe McEnroe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I couldn't find a Tennis thread so thought I would start one. Any thoughts on the French open. Can anybody see past Nadal winning an 8th championship. If there's anybody that can beat him its Djokovic who beat him quite easily in Monte Carlo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Yeah same, Nadal is just too strong on Clay.. Although Djokovic could push him all the way, wouldn't write him off. Edited June 4, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Not True, Nadal still has a Djokovic problem. Last year Djokovic form dipped in clay court season and into the summer where he was beaten by Nadal, Federer & Murray at their favourite Slam Events. He lost 2 consecutive clay masters finals to Nadal before he was beaten 3-1 in final of French open. things are different this time, Djokovic had a straight sets victory over Nadal at Monte Carlo and they haven't met since. So I still think Djokovic has Nadals number, like he had in 2011 where Nadal was fortunate that an inspired Federer took out Djoko in the French semis. It's a very interesting year this year. If Nadal can defeat Djoko he will win easily, but if Djoko wins then it's no guarantee he'd beat Federer in the final. Fed has a Nadal problem, Nadal has a Djoko problem. Djoko is 50:50 with Murray and Fed. Very interesting summer ahead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Novak will batter him imo. Nadal has been sketchy so far think he'll be done for early this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 4, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 4, 2013 Nadal has not been impressed with the handling of the schedule where they're keeping the singles/doubles players happy at the expense of the singles specialists. If anything beats him it could be fatigue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Nadal seemed very happy yesterday, was impressive winning too. Nadals problem is Djokovic, he's fitter, faster and mentally as tough if not tougher than Nadal. Which is why he's been beaten by Djokovic every time they have met since 2010 bar those 3 clay finals in a row last year. Djokovic has recovered from that summer of defeats though. What was evident from Monte Carlo masters last month was how futile the default Nadal tactic is against a top form Djokovic. The relentless pounding of the opponents backhand with Nadals forehand loaded with topspin comes undone by one of Djokovics best shots, the double handed backhand down the line. Djokovic is so fit and fast he can live in these rallies with Nadal on clay no problem and when Nadal thinks he's got the upper hand by running around a ball to get onto his forehand Djoko puts it to bed with the back hand winner down the line. With the answer to every Nadal shot he can get the breaks when the opportunity presents itself. Quite Simply, Djokovic is all round superior to Nadal and I think he will prove this on Friday when they meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Tim Henman's aunt used to do substitute teaching at my primary school. Weak claim to fame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Tennis thread here - http://www.villatalk.com/index.php/topic/8191-tennis-general-chat/?hl=tennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 4, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 4, 2013 Yoink! Cheers Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Sorry never spotted it. Federer struggling against tsonga, never fancied him on clay anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Tsonga and Berdych are 2 players Fed has struggled against in recent years. When they serve well he has no answer. Both have knocked him out of slams in recent times. Today will be the 2nd time for Tsonga and Berdych has done it twice already too. This side of the draw is pointless anyway, the Djoko / Nadal match is the key one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Tsonga and Berdych are 2 players Fed has struggled against in recent years. When they serve well he has no answer. Both have knocked him out of slams in recent times. Today will be the 2nd time for Tsonga and Berdych has done it twice already too. This side of the draw is pointless anyway, the Djoko / Nadal match is the key one. Yes they messed up with the draw. It should be the final Murray, Nadal and Djokovic all have the better of Federer these days. I know Federer won Wimbledon but I think playing under the roof was too his advantage or maybe he's just a threat on grass these days. Edited June 4, 2013 by PaulC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Age is of course catching up with Federer and he can't maintain his high level of performances as well as he could in his prime. But indoors he's still the best and like he proved at Wimbledon last year if he is playing well he can still win a slam. A lot will be told by his performances at Wimbledon, US Open and ATP World tour finals this year. He's been in decline for years but his Quarter final streak is still going, he's still in the top 4 and not yet in danger of dropping out of it. He needs to avoid Berdych and Tsonga in quarters in Wimbledon and US Open and he'll safely make the Semis of both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I think it is remarkable that Federer is still competitive at his age. The guy is 32 next month, which in tennis terms is positively ancient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Yes he did loose at that ATP World final event at the o2 arena to djokovic. He has a chance at Wimbledon but its not only Berdych and Tsonga he needs to avoid. There's Del Potro as well who's a monster on his day. Somehow I think Wimbledon will be between Djokovic and Murray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I think it is remarkable that Federer is still competitive at his age. The guy is 32 next month, which in tennis terms is positively ancient. I would say Federer has been quite fortunate for a large part of his career only having Nadal to worry about. In my mind Djokovic in 2011 raised the level and Nadal and Federer had to raise their game to compete with him. Murray is very unfortunate to come along at prob the strongest time ever in mens tennis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Crazy to say Fed was fortunate to only have Nadal to face. Federer is the founder of modern tennis. The first player to get to that next level and crucially remain consistently at that level for years. Nadal came along young and hungry and developed a game to beat Federer. Aided greatly by the slowing down of Wimbledon to combat serve & volley boredom. Federer now in the later years of his career is stuck in a land where you have to have a double handed backhand. So he's lucky he had some easier opponents for a time in his career. But unfortunate that the physics of tennis, the slowing down of the ball happened during his career and it's too late to change. There is always a new young hungry player to come along and usurp the dominant player. Nadal did it to Fed, Djoko has done it to Nadal. Throw in Murray and his rise and it's as tough a landscape Fed could possibly have in his final years. It will never be in doubt. He's the best ever. He has created the modern game dominated by a small group of players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) I know it's biased because you tend to go with what you have grown up with, but for me, Federer is the greatest ever.. Edited June 4, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Yes but there is rarely an era where you have 4 great players at any one time. When Djokovic won 3 grand slam events in 2011 to me that was as remarkable as anything Federer has done because of the competition around. In terms of pure class Federer has no equal. But Djokovic has raised the bar in terms of athleticism and that double handed backhand is a thing of beauty. Edited June 4, 2013 by PaulC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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