Can’t belive I missed. Had to go to my younger sister birthday and left Rio on Friday, returning tomorrow. Should have been there, but family comes first.

November 18th, 2012 at 9:28 pm

Thanks for posting; looks like Guga, his son, Nole and the crowd had a fun time.

November 19th, 2012 at 2:35 am

Absolutely hilarious. Love the hair and headband. #GreatEntertainer

November 19th, 2012 at 4:13 am

Nole reminds me alot of Britains Robbie Williams,not in looks but personality wise,Robbies regarded as the clown prince of pop,and Noles concidered the clown prince of tennis both struggle to be accepted and at times get on some peoples nerves,some people love him and some people cannot stand him,both have had personal battles and struggles in their careers,and both strived hard to succeed when things got tough,and both seem to have found peace within themselves now too,and both have hearts of gold when it comes to the love of their fans too,love them both,my two cents.

November 19th, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Searched on youtube and finally found some highlights.

Guga looked good.

@alison:

It would be interesting to analyse a personality like Novak’s. The fear not to be loved and recognised as the great champion he think he is, to be misjudged and underrated; the sensation to always remain an outsider; the deceptions, the fight to become better than Federer and Nadal; the need for a family (he recreated it with his team).

But he grows, he matures well, on and off the court. And I have no doubts that in a few years, he will finally be accepted, and missed, in his own right.

November 19th, 2012 at 6:35 pm

alison, mat4,

Nice posts :)

November 19th, 2012 at 7:44 pm

Hi, WB. I thought I was alone here today.

November 19th, 2012 at 8:04 pm

Hi mat5,

Thanks to those smart mobiles you can pop in on TX and check what is going on when ever you want, as long as there is mobile coverage.
BTW, have you seen Nole dancing samba after football match with those beautiful Brazilian samba dancers girls. I wish I was there though I am not much of a dancer but who cares:)

November 19th, 2012 at 8:15 pm

mat4
I upgraded you to mat5:)

November 19th, 2012 at 8:16 pm

An upgrade would be indeed welcome. Any model between 5 and 6 feet, 200 and 300 months old, blonde or brunette.

My non-mercedes grey needs an upgrade too.

And a new stadium for the USO with a roof, in case of wind…

November 19th, 2012 at 8:30 pm

Count me among those who think mat4 should be upgraded to mat5 based on his 6:35 PM comment about Novak. It was a very astute and eloquent assessment.

November 19th, 2012 at 9:40 pm

mat4.5, I see you show some flexibility in your desire for upgrades, which is nice. :)

Good comments by all.

November 19th, 2012 at 11:51 pm

Wogboy thanks sometimes people come across as way too judgemental,they may be millionaires with more money than you or i dare to dream about,but underneath they are like the rest of us,not perfect and suffer the same insecurities that the rest of us do.

November 20th, 2012 at 6:48 am

@jane, Polo:

Thanks for the nice comments.

Anyway, flexibility is a thing you learn with time, more time, more flexibility.

But thinking of Nole, I remembered a bit of Apollinaire:

“Comme la vie est lente, et comme l’espérance est violente.”

November 20th, 2012 at 7:04 am

alison,

Pleasure.

For Nole fans, his schedule until April:
Abu Dhabi, Hopman cup, AO, DC in Belgium, Dubai, IW, Miami.
Rest of the year is to be decided later. So he is playing Davis Cup next year.

November 20th, 2012 at 7:08 am

Wogboy i dont know if you read my post a couple of days ago,but i just wanted to let you know that the music at the WTF was a song called Fix You,by British group Coldplay,its a beautiful song if you want to listen to it on youtube,i really recomend it.

November 20th, 2012 at 7:14 am

alison,

I did read it and left message for you on the other thread, “Why Nole is Numero Uno.”… methinks.
Thanks once again, you were right about the words, they are sad:(

November 20th, 2012 at 7:25 am

Wogboy sorry threads come and go as you know,and i cant find it now,but glad you liked the song anyway,even if it is sad.

November 20th, 2012 at 7:28 am

Novak has an uncanny ability to pick-up other peoples’ mannerisms and tics on court. This tells me that he studies every detail about them and this probably translates into an analysis of his oppenents game, discover their weaknesses and strengths. It is no wonder that he is number one.

November 20th, 2012 at 10:04 am

Wog boy, it’s interesting that he’s playing 2 events pre-AO. He hasn’t usually done that I don’t think. But aren’t those both those exhibitions?

Polo, interesting theory!

November 20th, 2012 at 10:54 am

^ sorry, one too many “those”…

November 20th, 2012 at 10:57 am

jane, omit one “those” in your next post. It is already covered by the extra one above.

Re: Novak, instead of “studies”, I think it would be more appropriate to say that he instinctively picks up every little nuance his opponents show. I am sure it helps him tremendously when he plays.

November 20th, 2012 at 11:07 am

jane,

Nole used Hopman cup for preparation for AO few times before, last time it was 2011. I think it is good to come earlier in Australia and get used on conditions, it worked before:)

November 20th, 2012 at 2:07 pm

@Polo:

In my own experience, such focus on others reveals that he is very depressive. Perhaps it is the reason he jokes that much.

November 20th, 2012 at 3:21 pm

@Mat4:

‘reveals that he is very depressive. Perhaps it is the reason he jokes that much.’

GLAD someone other than me thinks this also. I have long felt that behind the confident, extrovert bravado that nole puts on lies a somewhat mixed up individual- someone who needs alot of affection and approval since he’s not quite at ease with himself and has not tamed the uncertainty he has about himself.

I could EASILY be way off the mark, BUT i have ALWAYS felt that there was more to nole than this extrovert public personality.

He DEFINITELY seems to be a VERY EMOTIONAL individual looking at his entire career so far. Indeed, he has even said so himself.

Overly emotional people (not all of course) seemingly have do have a somewhat depressive side to themselves.

Maybe he does all the joking, fun loving stuff in order to get away from himself and seeks the adoration, affection from people in order to feel better about himself. Who knows…………

November 20th, 2012 at 3:46 pm

mat4, I don’t know if I’d call him depressive, but I do get the impression (no pun intended) that aside from Nole’s fun-loving side, he’s a perfectionist and drives himself to be the best he can be in many ways. I remember Rafa saying something about “fear” as being a motivating force for him (maybe fear of losing?) and Fed talking about his temperamental side when he was a junior. So I think all high achievers have some underlying force driving them. I know many actors claim that fear motivates some of their best performances. And then I would think that the fact that Nole and Murray both lived through personal tragedies in childhood (war and a school shooting) would’ve had some sort of impact on their psychological make up, perhaps having to do with need for reassurance. I am only speculating, but it just seems likely that traumas like that would have deep impacts.

November 20th, 2012 at 3:57 pm

@Brando. I think you are spot on!

November 20th, 2012 at 3:58 pm

@Brando:

Each in a different manner, Rafa, Murray and Novak are complicated, complex personalities. I read Rafa’s book diagonally, but — I think I was not the only one to notice it — the contrast between his private life and his court behaviour certainly reveals a deep conflict in him.

Murray also has problems, and the only one that matures in peace with himself could be Roger Federer — the way he reacted after the WTF final revealed it clearly, when he congratulated Novak with the words: “you’re the best”. It takes strength, and wisdom.

It is really so difficult to write in English.

November 20th, 2012 at 4:20 pm

@jane:

I am almost certain that Novak is a anxious and depressive character. Of course, just like Murray, Nadal and Federer, he is a perfectionist: they wouldn’t be where they stand without exceptional abilities and will, a tremendous work intelligence, and unbridled ambition.

I also believe that Nole is the nicest of them all. Not because I am a Novak fan: I have also good arguments for this — his behaviour in the AO final in 2011, at the end of the FO final 2012, his grace in loosing, all testify of it.

November 20th, 2012 at 4:31 pm

mat4, yeah, nice and anxious – I see both. :) I just don’t know about “depressive.” He doesn’t strike me as an Eeyore type in that he seems to bounce back so well from defeats and hardships, and he seems generally happy, although not “content”, if that makes sense. What I mean is that he wants to achieve more, and he definitely loves to be loved (who doesn’t?!) but I get the sense that he’s a proud and happy guy anyhow. I think a lot of us concur, with nuances. And, b.t.w., your writing is very clear to me.

November 20th, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Mat4
Novak is also the most intellectual of the top players IMO-Tipsarevic being the other. He is a fan of opera music, classical music and is an avid reader. He mentioned in a presser or TV interview in Asia that he wanted to study linguistics and he indeed seems to have a natural aptitude for languages. His parents are Serbian language speakers only. Roger’s parents are native speakers-English (mother) and Swiss German (father). Of course, being in Switzerland he would also be exposed to French and Italian speaking people although I don’t know if Roger’s Italian is good. I don’t see this same environmental factor in Novak’s talent for languages. There are some studies now which suggest the talent for languages is an inborn trait.In Murray’s case I don’t see any interest in languages although he spent time in Spain, befriended players from that country and even had a Spanish coach. I too believe that Novak is the ‘nicest’ of them all. Roger and Novak are great humanitarians and I hope their charities continue to garner support long after they have left the tennis scene.

November 20th, 2012 at 5:03 pm

One thing I noticed it that when they were all doing this ATP interview thing, and choosing their favourite films, Nole chose films like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “21 Grams”, which are both rather deep and artful movies in their own ways, while most of the others chose action films; I found that to be an interesting. That didn’t stop him from doing a cameo (later cut) for Expendables though, :)

November 20th, 2012 at 5:23 pm

“is” not “it” that…

November 20th, 2012 at 5:56 pm

I am on the side that thinks Djokovic is not on depressive personality. I think he is very ambitious in that he want to be the best in everything: best player, most popular, everybody’s best friend. I can see that in his demeanor when people cheer for the other guy. He gets affected. When they cheer for him, he gets elated and plays even better. He savors the adulation which I think he feels he deserves and rightfully so. I think in his mind, he does not play second fiddle to Federer or Nadal. And he wants to prove that. I think this will drive him to achieve more in the coming years. Look at his face when he beats the other three. It is different from he beats the also-runs.

November 20th, 2012 at 7:55 pm

there are grammatical errors and omissions there but the smart ones can read through that.

November 20th, 2012 at 7:56 pm

Polo,

Can you repeat with the corrected errors and omissions please? I am not on of the smart ones…..

j/k ;)

November 20th, 2012 at 8:07 pm

@jane:

I could agree with you that my expression is… let’s say, clear, but, unfortunately, it is never what I really wanted to say ;-)

@Laslow: There are many factors relevant in language learning. But let’s just notice that the phonological system of the serbian language facilitates language learning.

Also, I could add that the scholar system in mittel and eastern Europe, before the reforms dictated by the EU, was vastly superior to the western education system.

November 20th, 2012 at 8:38 pm

@Skeez:

Don’t worry, Skeez. We knew it already… You’re just a Fed fan ;-)

November 20th, 2012 at 8:41 pm

@laslow:

And, about the most intellectual: I think that Youzhny is probably the one.

November 20th, 2012 at 8:43 pm

@Polo:

I am not sure that ambition and depression exclude each other.

I agree with the rest of your post. Well said.

November 20th, 2012 at 8:47 pm

Mat4,

ROTFL! ;)

November 20th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

Mat4
Ah yes, Youzhny! I see he has an advanced degree in philosophy.He may well be one.I don’t know anything else about him-his habits. What music does he listen to? What books does he read? Does he play video games? I tend to believe that a degree alone does not an intellectual make. I have a degree but don’t consider myself one at all.

November 20th, 2012 at 10:35 pm

And also Super Mario (Ancic); isn’t he now a studying law at Harvard or some such? Impressive – all Eastern European guys mentioned too – Nole, Tipsa, Super Mario and Sergeant Youz.

mat4, clear and poetic then!

November 20th, 2012 at 10:38 pm

“a studying” – that has a nice ring to it, like a ballad or something.

And ole Mario set to a studying
buried in the stacks
When suddenly he heard a ringing
… blah blah blah…

November 20th, 2012 at 10:40 pm

mat5 …;) @ 8.38
Most Brits, I am truly embarrassed to say, are pretty awful at learning foreign languages. Must be to do with being a “cut off” island race.
And now English seems to be the language of the http://www., even less incentive.
That’s one of the many reasons that makes Wiggo so special…;)
Interesting idea that Nole is a depressive. Am not convinced myself. Am sure his experiences in Serbia will have left a shadow, but if it were the case wouldn’t he have had periods of not playing well? Have seen no evidence of this.

November 21st, 2012 at 1:58 am

@Margot:

But it had a lot of impact on Djokovic, even though he knows he just can’t allow it.

Anyway, your fav, despite the difference in education, culture, origin, has a very similar, hypersensitive character.

November 21st, 2012 at 2:57 pm

Finally, I don’t want to argue about depression any more. I am the expert here, since I am depressive for at least 25 years. I know all about it.

November 21st, 2012 at 2:59 pm

I was curious about smart tennis players so I googled. Youzhny has a PhD in Philisophy. Ancic finished law in his country. He did research work in Harvard Law School then decided to go to Columbia Law School for his masters. They were studying for their degress while still playing professional tennis. I’m impressed. They are good role models for kids.

November 21st, 2012 at 3:47 pm

mat4,

Blonde or brunette, can’t they cure your depression?

November 21st, 2012 at 4:10 pm

Wog boy,

Blondes and brunettes, they often are the cause of depression.

November 21st, 2012 at 4:21 pm

Polo,

Not wrong, but at least it is nice while it lasts:)

November 21st, 2012 at 5:20 pm

Wogboy and Polo carefull now lol,you are treading on thin ice there.

November 21st, 2012 at 5:32 pm

alison,

It wasn’t us, mat4 started it few they ago;)

November 21st, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Who says I want to be cured? Depression is just… so poetic.

Anyway, blonde or brunette… It is always worth a try.

Is it?

November 21st, 2012 at 5:44 pm

Wogboy,Mat4 lol loving your posts,this from a gal whos been both.

November 21st, 2012 at 5:51 pm

Nole has some of the best fans on this forum.

November 21st, 2012 at 5:53 pm

Redheads are great too.

November 21st, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Anyway, our mind likes so much to play games with us. The other day, a piece of Apollinaire crossed my mind:

Comme la vie est lente, Et comme l’Espérance est violente.

But the verses that preceed those one are:

L’amour s’en va comme cette eau courante,
L’amour s’en
Comme la vie est lente,
Et comme l’Espérance est violente.

For those who don’t know the language of the Gods, Richard Wilbur translated it the following way:

All love goes by as water to the sea
All love goes by
How slow life seems to me
How violent the hope of love can be

So, Polo seems to be right again. He has to be German. :-)

November 21st, 2012 at 5:55 pm

@alison:

lulz (there’s at least a month a want to write this somewhere).

November 21st, 2012 at 5:56 pm

@alison:

We do everything we can to attract a few of the misguided Rafa fan on our side.

November 21st, 2012 at 5:58 pm

^Naughty lol^.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Mat4 this Rafa fan loves this forum and the posts on it,well for the most part anyway,and will continue to post as long as she has access to a computer,the scales will tip next year for my favorite one way or the other,and i will still be here to take any stick that comes my way,even if next year his season does go tits up,objective critisism i will take,the trolls i will just have to ignore,we will see time will tell.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:11 pm

alison,

I am not as picky as mat4 when it comes to colour of the hair.

mat4,

That was nice.
BTW, I thought Greek is the language of GODS.:)

November 21st, 2012 at 6:16 pm

@WB:

Of Greek gods, yes, you’re right. But they are just a few. But even Roman gods speak French nowadays.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:18 pm

@WB, alison:

I played chess for years, and since I was polite in my youth and kept my mouth shut while playing, they had to teach that, there’s no point, really, in winning, if you’re not bragging, joking and teasing your opponent.

So… Just like Rafa fans need Fed fans, lately, we, Nole fans, need Rafa fans. Who would we tease if there wasn’t for them?

There is just one exception, unfortunately — the second Sunday afternoon of Roland Garros. But nothing is perfect.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:23 pm

Mat4 yeah great post and very true,we all need each other,and dont worry Nole will get the FO at some point of that i am certain,sorry it wasnt this year though,although i was delighted for Rafa all the same.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:29 pm

mat4,

French was the language of the Russian Court under the regin Catherina the Great, many couldn’t speak Russian……and she was a German:)

November 21st, 2012 at 6:39 pm

Without joking, this time:

Nothing is granted. I was a big fan of Mats Wilander (no one’s perfect), and when he won 3 GS, I thought there will be many more. But he simply disappeared after that.

So, we should enjoy while it lasts. What did I write: depression is poetic? Worse: life is but a long, slow depression.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:40 pm

Where are we going to be when the top 4 are gone? I’ve been loving these exchanges from fans in each corner of that quadrangle.

@mat4: Ich bin nicht Deutsch.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:43 pm

Oops! I think I made myself depressed by what I just said.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:44 pm

WB:

The whole Romanov dynasty were Germans…

And I had the dubious honour to read a lot of Léon Tolstoï (Лев Н. Толстой): his French is just perfect.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:46 pm

The best poets are the depressed romantics. Try Pablo Neruda.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:46 pm

@Polo:

I tried, I tried…

Are you German? ;-)

November 21st, 2012 at 6:49 pm

Sorry, missed your previous post.

November 21st, 2012 at 6:51 pm

Do you think they will preserve this thread for posterity?

November 21st, 2012 at 6:58 pm

I don’t know if they will do that. But I will preserve it in my memory that I truly enjoyed these exchanges today. My worry now is that my memory is not a very reliable storage site.

Goodnight! And when you feel depressed, pick up a pen and put down what you feel. That depression might simply be a poet trying to get out.

November 21st, 2012 at 7:42 pm