Posted on 07/13/2023 12:29:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Two completely different styles of play, plus Nadal was always a much bigger draw than Djokovic. Djokovic is great but boring as hell, along with his arrogance he just wasn’t a crowd pleaser. No one could get people on their feet cheering like Rafa Nadal. He could make shots that just simply were not of this world. Many said Nadal’s body would not last ten years with his intense style of play. So far he has doubled that expectation and he will return.
Nadal won two when Djokovic wasn’t allowed due to vaccine requirements.
Both of which are his best surface and not Nadal’s.
Djokovic has been in 34 Grand Slam finals compared to Nadal’s 30. And Djokovic has been in 46 GS semifinals compared to 38 for Nadal.
Djokovic is the greatest returner who has ever lived. He is far from boring and not arrogant at all. He along with Nadal and Federer are among the most gracious and humble champions ever. If you want arrogance, look to the Williams sisters who seldom praise their opponents.
Not sure what Willie Mays did in the military or for how long, but Ted Williams missed 5 baseball seasons being a Marine fighter pilot in 2 different wars.
Willie spent two years in the military starting in 1952.
Willie spent two years in the military starting in 1952.
If I was great at tennis, I could have won more than both of them.
Djokovic also spent some time as a vaccine refusenik refugee. Any comparison is more than fair.
Possibly you have forgotten Andre Agassi in offensive service return. I am not taking anything away from Djokovic’s tennis game, but he has never been an overwhelming crowd favorite and he has admitted just that, it has been his Achilles. Throughout his career he has had to beg for applause, and has made comments that he has never been given the respect Federer and Nadal have received, which has been his career quest.
Djokovic has become more popular because of his anti-vax stance.
Then Germany stabbed Seles, and she was out for a long time, and only went on to win one more major, after dominating.
Now, does anyone seriously believe if Graf was stabbed in Germany that day, it would have been declared a non-crime.
Coincidentally, Monica Seles was also born in Serbia, but they were both born when it was part of Yugoslavia. (Seles family is ethnically Hungarian.)
Can't Nadal still win more?
Federer is a classy giant, one of the greats
Nadal is a weasel specialist and a massive doper
The Djoker is the GOAT, without a doubt, and he’s nowhere near done
Nadal is not even in the top five conversation.
Or if Mantle hadn’t broken his leg in his rookie year because DiMaggio wouldn’t move over.
Avoiding those "physical issues" are a part of the game bro.
These records coincide with racquet technologies.
You don’t use “aluminium” bats....graphite, boron, carbon fiber, steel-Conners, etc , at the major league level.
Unfortunately, these crossed into professional tennis.
Without them, no 130-140 mph service, nor returns over 100, negating the full court complete game.
Thus, ranking for real tennis would be:
1. Federer
2. The Rocket, Rod Laver
3. Jack Kramer
4. Pancho Gonzales
5. Bill Tilden.
Plenty of injuries and age is a factor. Nadal is 37 years old. Novak is 36, but he is in better shape physically. Nadal might be able to win one more French Open, but it will be tough.
You must be joking. Name the five who are better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.