*Official* Tennis Thread

[Jono]

did you watch that third set? was a belter.

Obviously he won't be 2013 Rafa, but he's looking far better.

 

[Jono]

"Normally programming resumed". Wahhh

double wahh

 

[Jono]

djokovic crushes murray...i think he will finish ahead of nadal in terms of majors and overall wins and i can also see him winning the first double career slam in the open era...

Murray's serving was downright pathetic. Really disappointing stuff.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

geez what a season. Also he sounds like the only one with something left in the tank.

Must be the greatest season of the Open Era, surely */Cabinet* (OK Connors had a year with 99-4 when he was banned from RG, that might go close)

 

[Jono]

absolute freak of an athlete.

 

[Anil]

Murray's serving was downright pathetic. Really disappointing stuff.

the problem with murray is that his second serve is a significant weakness...if his first serve is off, he can still grind it out most of the time against lesser players but he doesn't stand a chance against someone like novak or federer...

 

[Jono]

yep, 100% agree. Just gets smoked.

 

[Cabinet96]

geez what a season. Also he sounds like the only one with something left in the tank.

Must be the greatest season of the Open Era, surely */Cabinet* (OK Connors had a year with 99-4 when he was banned from RG, that might go close)

Five-Thirty-Eight have a method to rank dominance which I quite like. It's the percentage of ranking points won of those available. By such a method this Djokovic season is notably better than what he did in 2011 or either of Fed or Nadal's best seasons (was already over 80% after the US Open which hadn't been achieved by any of them before) but I wouldn't know how to do it for Connors' season in 74.

 

[Jono]

Yeah best ever season I can remember. Funnily its taken two super human efforts at Roland Garros to deny him the calendar slam. Fed in 2011 (although he still had to beat Rafa in final) and Stan the man in 2015.

 

[Anil]

yeah incredible dominance from djokovic...jono, you mentioned that the cilic vs nishikori final at the uso was heralding a new era, a new wave of stars...a year later, do you think any of them have the potential to challenge novak (or for that matter, roger/andy/stan/rafa as well) long-term? i see a lot of players with talent but none of them have shown the heart/will of a champion...

 

[Jono]

Did I? Can't remember.

Either way, Nishi, Dimitrov and Raonic have been disappointing this year. Dimitrov in particular has been a spud. They were supposed to be this next era and they haven't kicked on yet.

Took a while for Nole to win his 2nd slam after his first, should remember that I guess.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Five-Thirty-Eight have a method to rank dominance which I quite like. It's the percentage of ranking points won of those available. By such a method this Djokovic season is notably better than what he did in 2011 or either of Fed or Nadal's best seasons (was already over 80% after the US Open which hadn't been achieved by any of them before) but I wouldn't know how to do it for Connors' season in 74.

I'm not sure it's valid to use on Connors, because the ranking method has changed so many times since then. (Also the rankings were a bit of a shambles in the 70s, IIRC the world #1 didn't change hands because the ATP refused to run the computer for eight weeks).

'70s tennis is weird in general. When you look at youtube clips it seems a different sport.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant by wouldn't know how to do it. Imagined rankings weren't the same.

Interesting stat: Djokovic is 10-0 in China finals. It's probably the country he's best supported in that hosts big tournaments. Coincidence, or nah?

 

[Jono]

He's best supported because he goes there every year, takes the tournament seriously and wins, so it is kind of self fulfilling, but no doubt him being a fan favourite there helps. Having said that, crowd were cheering Rafa over him in Beijing final, partly because they Rafa had a lot of fans but also a cheer the underdog aspect. I think first time Novak wasn't the fan fav in China.

 

[Cabinet96]

The fact he speaks a bit of Mandarin helps too.

 

[Jono]

Yep, I think he realised early its a good market for him and therefore makes an effort in every way - preparation, fan and cultural interest etc.

I mean he knows he plays well on the courts, he knows he's defending lots of points there every year, and he knows its a massive market. Played it very well indeed.

 

[Cabinet96]

Ha yeah, it's why I always laugh when people say he doesn't care if he's not as well liked as Rafa and Roger. He clearly does.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

these kids. Watch out.

 

[Anil]

Did I? Can't remember.

Either way, Nishi, Dimitrov and Raonic have been disappointing this year. Dimitrov in particular has been a spud. They were supposed to be this next era and they haven't kicked on yet.

Took a while for Nole to win his 2nd slam after his first, should remember that I guess.

but novak was incredibly consistent in slams (getting to the semis consistently and even some finals) well before he started winning them in bunches...none of these guys have come even close to showing that...we cannot compare what he was then to what these new "stars" are doing now...dimitrov's whole attitude earlier this year after he broke up with sharapova was that the relationship was what was holding him back from realizing his potential...well everyone is still waiting...

 

[Anil]

geez what a season. Also he sounds like the only one with something left in the tank.

Must be the greatest season of the Open Era, surely */Cabinet* (OK Connors had a year with 99-4 when he was banned from RG, that might go close)

you have to throw federer's 2006 season (92-5) into the mix there...