Nole has got Rafa's number.......

[marmar]

Congrats to Djokovic on one of the best tennis seasons ever - 3 Grand Slams and five Masters 1000 titles.

[joeybee12]

1. Yup, Raf-roid is his you-know-what...

He owns him now...what a difference a year makes.

[tishaLA]

2. Incredibly impressive tournament and year

I never thought he'd break through--I thought he'd be another Murray or Roddick--but his play this year has been nothing short of incredible and, while I didn't love the match as much as some, it had some of the most amazing rallies/games I've ever seen.

[ChiciB1]

3. He's Been My Fav For A Very Long Time. I've Watched Him From Back

in 2007, all the ups and downs, but I stuck with him. And I do know what you mean about Roddick and Murray. Murray really does have the "game" but he seems to let himself down all too often. He remains No. 4 though.

Love Joe Willy and Juan Martin DelPotro too! Would be thrilled to see them moving on up. I'm not sure how much longer Novak's run will be, but he's proved himself to me.

Tomorrow morning I can re-watch the match on Tennis channel with a lot less ANXIETY! But the match with Roger was almost a miracle! I almost got hoarse screaming at my TV! He's been amazing, and I was feeling Rafa wanted this one so bad that he was going to pull it off.

The Djoker stopped him again and I know so many there weren't happy to see Nole win... BUT I WAS!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[tishaLA]

4. I love, love, love Tsonga. I hate that he gets injured

I also think he's beautiful, so that helps, but I like that he has something akin to an all-court game.

[ChiciB1]

5. He Also Has A Great Personality... He's Like A Big "Huggy Bear"

with a LOT of power. Really was sad he didn't win through this time. I've follow tennis a lot, and have always loved the game. My husband is big on Sports so we have DISH and he HAD to have all the channels. Our one big splurge of entertainment and I've found I enjoy Tennis channel.

From time to time they preview players and Joe Willy is well liked and not only is serious about his tennis, but likes to interact with other people. Great personality, or that's the way he comes across to me.

As I said, another one of my favorites who I would love to see make a big break.

[bigwillq]

7. He IS beautiful.

I love me some Jo-Willy! :evilgrin:

[bigwillq]

6. Congrats to Novak!

Great win.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. It's awesome that someone can routinely kick Nadal's ass

This era is baseline one dimensional. Wimbledon has become a parody of grass tennis. And without the great serve and volleyers it's too simple for the top players to march to the semis uncontested. For those reasons I don't buy Federer and Nadal as the two greatest ever. They are never pressured at net or forced to severely alter their style match to match. Without Djokovic you'd have Federer and Nadal winning ridiculous number of majors. Imagine if the 3rd best guy was Andy Murray? Truly scary.

Nadal looks so ordinary when Djokovic is disposing of him. Nadal indeed quits in those situations. Look at the number of sets he loses in lopsided fashion to Djokovic.

For reference purposes, Djokovic was a -155 favorite over Nadal today. Against Federer, Nadal would have been greater than a -200 favorite. That's what Nadal is dealing with depending on the matchup, less than 40% chance versus Djokovic or more than 70% chance versus Federer. The media is reluctant to frame it that way due to respect to Roger's record, but it's the current reality.

[ChiciB1]

9. Given Your Stats Regarding Roger & Rafa... Which Is Something I

HAVE to take with a grain of salt or I would be more upset because of how I feel about what Novak has accomplished. He too is a base liner, but he seems to have learned "their" game pretty well. He's SMART!

Even I know some shots that Roger has trouble with, back hand in the ad court. He flings the one hand up and out a lot. Just seeing him doing it so many times I've become aware that he's vulnerable there. However, you actually have to MAKE that happen and Novak has been able to deal with it. Rafa's forehand can be deadly cross court, but Novak returns so well it's hard for Rafa to play him because of it.

The serve & volley game isn't used as much anymore, but I think the wear and tear on the body of today's game is worse. I've often wondered if the NOW players are going to be able to play as long because of it. The drop shot has replaced serve and volley to some extent, or so it seems to me.

It's been Roger & Rafa so much that I got turned off and one main reason I've been such a huge supporter of Novak. Even the media, when they say that Novak's game is so complete seem to say so because they HAVE to. I get the feeling that they would PREFER he was gone because he's upset the apple cart. More reasons for me to get behind other players. Still, I saw Novak some time ago, and even during his down periods I stuck with him for some reason.

So he does other things, events etc., to get real attention, which I think have made the Rogers & Rafas irritated. But he's now proven that he does have the goods.

So enough... just so happy for him, he's IS NO FLUKE and he's tied and almost broken some long standing records. ALL GOOD!

[Awsi Dooger]

10. I have the same impression; the media prefer Federer and Nadal unopposed

It makes their job easier. Those matches have a simple story line, Nadal chasing Roger's records while building on his head-to-head advantage. Too many variables when Djokovic intrudes, and uncertainty whether he'll maintain this level or anything close to it.

I read plenty of analysis on Roger's game, certain shots that have slightly declined, or the mental side. I think it boils down to best 3 out of 5. He'd be fine at 2 sets out of 3 but asking a guy to take 3 sets from younger players of that caliber is like asking a senior golfer to put 4 rounds together in top company. Doesn't happen. Three is max.

[joeybee12]

11. I don't know if the problem is 3 of 5 versus 2 of 3...

I think it's the ability to hold together mentally for a two-week tournament at his age, and all the Slams go 2 weeks.

[ChiciB1]

12. Either Way, Whatever The Reason, Too Many Other Players Aren't Getting

as much credit because of these two. AND I'm not only talking about Nole! Confidence is a huge thing for these people, but when you are told over and over that YOUR mountain is Roger & Rafa, it can be a downer.

I think Nole finally got mentally stronger and believed in himself, so then others call him "cocky!" I realize people got upset with Johnny Mac's tirades, but he still got respect because he won. It may just be my perception, and I feel Nole can't function at this level day in and day out ad infinitum. But there are other players NOT getting some real credit too.

Murray has garnered some, but I feel he's going to drop down when a couple of others close to him finally regain their health and begin believing mentally.

If ANYONE looked at the presentation ceremony at the US Open, the look on Rafa's face was very telling. Part of it could have been that he was down on himself, but he really seemed like he wanted to take his racket and whack Nole with it.

And Roger was almost worse when he came to the net after his loss. He kind of slapped at Nole's and and walked away. And this isn't the first time I've seen him do this. I once thought Roger had a lot of class, but not so much now. Watching his matches with Rafa, he seems much more friendly, actually putting his arm around Rafa when he got beat. NOT FOR NOLE though.

The situation with Roddick several years back was really Andy's mouth that started it. Nole only reacted to the attack. Now, when Andy complains it seems it's okay with everyone. I think that's when I really got behind Nole and stuck with him.

Just me I guess.

[ChiciB1]

13. Just One More Thing... And This Is Something That Might Be More Of A Problem

for Roger... THEY PLAY ALL THE TIME. The season is chock full and that may be one reason Roger's game has suffered.

Again, just my opinion.

[joeybee12]

14. I think on his part it's mainly mental...you reach 30, you lose focus slightly...

I've seen it happen to all of them...physically he's in great shape, but he doesn't keep it together all the time...as fro raf-roid, his game to begin with is very mental, so if he loses that, he's in trouble...look at his superstitious routine before he serves...it's all in his head.

[joeybee12]

15. Well, Djoker lost me after he blessed himself twice after winning...

Yeah, God cares about this match and not about the Sudan...this sort of display is something that really turns me off.

[ChiciB1]

16. I Agree With You... I Really Do... For Some They Believe. I Was Once A

very devout Catholic, and I don't like the gesture either because I left the church and all churches a long time ago.

Still, his game isn't his religion, it's his job. I don't know his politics, but I have sisters who are very devout and are Democrats just the same. We DON'T talk religion because I'm the "black sheep" of the family!

I won't even TRY to defend it!

[joeybee12]

17. I was in Serbia/Croatia a few years back...the whole area bothered

me because it's painfully religious, dirt poor people and they spend money on religious shrines and icons on every street corner...it's supersition, in my view. Djoker was probably raised that way.

[ChiciB1]

18. I Can Attest To That Myself. Growing Up In MY Family I Was Taught That

Catholicism was the ONLY true religion until I decided I wanted to look elsewhere. I suppose, like felons who "find religion" in prison you get trapped by certain beliefs. Given from where he came from I'm sure it has a LOT to do with it. I don't know what your background is regarding this issue, but I began to feel "brainwashed" by the time I was 20.

Even when I decided to leave the church I had residual feelings. It took me a VERY LONG time not to feel I was going to get "struck down" for being what seemed to others as being blasphemous. My parents were shocked and I had to finally tell them that we had to agree to disagree. From a family of 6 girls it was difficult to stand my ground, but I told them it was worse to be a hypocrite and I saw too many people going to church on Sunday and sinning later.

Around the time I stopped believing was when Viet Nam was roaring and I began to realize just how many WARS have been fought in the name of religion. When I tell you I was a devout Catholic believe me our family actually said the rosary every single night. All eight of us kneeling around my parents bed and it was required. This was back when the mass was always said in Latin and strict rules applied, fasting etc.

I'm was also an Army brat so my upbringing was filled with many rules and regulations. BUT it was my father who introduced me to politics AS A DEMOCRAT when I was 11 and he & I were very close. He was a good man, but we did have to obey. We didn't get beatings nor was he violent, we JUST KNEW. It was all about respect, and he was truly a loving giving man. I know when he went to Korea and we couldn't travel with him, he spent his free time helping orphans. He was always that way. But because of my upbringing I feel the term "bleeding heart liberal" was a truth for me. We had little, but I never knew it and felt no shame.

So, what you say about Serbia/Coatia is very apt.

[Awsi Dooger]

19. Djokovic was very subtle with the religious stuff compared to golfers

The PGA Tour is unbearable these days. I literally alter my rooting allegiance on Sundays trying to prevent the most over the top players from winning. You know damn well they'll grab the microphone and relentlessly claim they were the chosen one. The recent two time winner Webb Simpson is the biggest offender of all. He'll point to the sky and say he felt the presence. Famed British golf commentator Peter Aliss tweeted late during Simpson's first win that his bookie was offering 1/2 favoritism on Simpson touting God as the first words out of his mouth. Easy collect. It's caused quite a bit of reaction on golf message boards, pro and con. Simpson closed down his twitter account after so much negative reaction.

[Awsi Dooger]

20. Agreed regarding Nadal's reaction

He's startled right now and doesn't know how to deal with it. Federer was the mountain but eventually he realized he had the upper hand, and destined to widen. Nadal knew he was going to receive massive credit for routinely dismissing someone who is considered perhaps the best ever. It doesn't get much better than that.

Nadal is now stuck. Djokovic breaks his serve fairly routinely, more than the other players combined. Nadal conceded in his book he doesn't have a game plan for Novak. Nadal seemingly has the upper hand in every long rally with Roger but it's reversed against Novak. Nadal presses and hits the poor shot late in the rally, like Federer against him.

Nadal doesn't know if he should assume Djokovak will regress, or if he has to alter his game. My guess is Nadal will be patient. In his post match interview he somewhat ungraciously said, "Congratulations on a great season. There's no way you can do this again," or something along those lines.

Per Roger's reaction at net, both times against Novak he was frustrated he gave it away. The losses to Nadal are typically a matter of time so he's composed and classy.