Poll: Rafael Nadal Or Novak Djokovic, Who’s Your Early Favorite To Win The French Open?

It is a difficult one to pick. But I will stick my neck out and predict that Novak will be the new Champion. I want him to be one since he will be winning it for the first time in his career and will also be completing the coveted grand slam to be clubbed along with legends like Laver, Roger and Nadal.

April 24th, 2013 at 12:45 am

Oh dear, the ABN (Anyone But Nadal) season is well and truly upon us…..

Enjoy the salivatings, boys and girls!!

April 24th, 2013 at 1:47 am

http://alturl.com/rmu93
Johnny Mac on Rafa’s seeding at FO.
On the one hand it may be beneficial for Rafa.
On the other hand should it not materialise not so beneficial for the big guns!
Either way, Rafa is the winner!
VamosKing

April 24th, 2013 at 2:54 am

Nadal

April 24th, 2013 at 3:02 am

I dont know if he will,but it would be great for Rafa to win a GS this year any GS,even if its not the FO,would be great to see someone break the record of winning a GS for 9 consecutive years,Vamos Rafa give it your best shot,do your best thats all anyone can ask of you.

April 24th, 2013 at 7:04 am

Vamos Rafa!

April 24th, 2013 at 7:50 am

Alison,

Break the record of winning a GS for 9 consecutive years ? Has anybody done that before ? Way back, I think William Renshaw made 7 straight Wimbledon titles but in those days if you win your first, you will only be required to face the Challenger in the finals. Even Rafa had a break in 2009 when he lost to Soderling.

April 24th, 2013 at 7:57 am

Based on Monte Carlo result, I think Nole has a better chance… In fact if Rafa was asked which surface would he like to face Nole on if he had an option, he would go either for MC or RG. Nole has already conquered MC and that would certainly give him mental edge going into RG IMO.. However, you can never write Rafa off on clay and results of Madrid + Rome are also vital to determine who will have a better chance… If Rafa can even win one of the two matches which can take place b/w the two he will be the fav to win his 8th FO trophy

April 24th, 2013 at 8:11 am

Montecarlo was a hiccup. He will win the French again…

April 24th, 2013 at 8:20 am

@michael,

u misinterpret alisons post. She meant 9 CONSECUTIVE YEARS WINNING AT LEAST 1 MAJOR. The current record is 8 consecutive years which rafa shares with borg and federer. If he manages to win any of the 3 remaining slams of this year he will have that record

April 24th, 2013 at 8:27 am

Thanks Sirius that is what i meant Michael sorry.

April 24th, 2013 at 8:46 am

Nadal may be the winner this year. BUT I am absolutely certain that Novak WILL the French Open at some point in his career.(barring some career ending injury/illness) Maybe not this year, but definitely within the next 2 seasons(maybe 3)

April 24th, 2013 at 8:53 am

i cannot pick in this poll because you left out Geezer Federer.

:(

April 24th, 2013 at 9:29 am

Tursonov just beat Ferrer 6-1 in the third in Barcelona!! There’s hope for Nadal to be seeded 4th after all.

April 24th, 2013 at 9:46 am

^ Just saw that. Incredible. Ferrer having a topsy-turvy year. He’ll lose 300 points right?

April 24th, 2013 at 9:54 am

I love how this poll gives you 3 options: 2 players, don’t know, and don’t care. Why is “don’t care” an option? If you don’t care, you’re not going to vote. It should be replaced with “other” at least, so that you can indirectly vote for another player besides the two given.

April 24th, 2013 at 9:58 am

In a 5-set format, I still believe Nadal would be a better player on clay. But after many years, there is a likely chance of a 5-set final if Nadal and Novak meet in the finals. Atlast Nadal seems to have found a player who could beat him consistently on clay if Novak forms hold good. This is great for tennis.

These two might give us the greatest quality tennis we had seen for past 10 years if they can be healthy for next 2-3 years.

April 24th, 2013 at 9:58 am

I’ve worked it out, Rafa can only overtake Ferrer if he reaches the SF at Madrid and defends Rome. Daveed is only defending 540 points up until RG. Possible.

April 24th, 2013 at 10:01 am

Daveeed , always willing to help out a bro ;)

April 24th, 2013 at 10:04 am

DA . Doesn’t sound right. The difference now is 685 with Ferrer losing. Rafa has to win Barca and Rome to defend his points. If Daveed defends his 540 pts in Rome and Madrid Rafa needs to pick up 685 points and he won’t do that by reaching semis of Madrid which is only 360 points.

April 24th, 2013 at 10:14 am

Djoker will win the French Open but next year. RG 2013 is for Nadal, no doubt it. As allison said, he will be the fist in open era and in history I think, to win the same Grand 8 times and the first winning a major for at least 9 years! Vamos Nadal, I know you can and yo will have the last smile.

April 24th, 2013 at 10:57 am

Steve 27 All good wishes for Rafa gratefully accepted by his fans.
#Vamos7TimeRGChampion

April 24th, 2013 at 11:03 am

@Giles – that’s the problem with working things out quickly in my head. It looks like he needs to also win Madrid. My bad.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:08 am

I hope you’re right about Nole winning it at some point Steve27; it would be so awesome to see him complete the full set of slams. And in a way it makes sense; he was the youngest player ever to reach the semis or deeper at all the slams, so he’s always been able to play on all the surfaces – I truly think he enjoys clay too. (Still wondering if Serbia will choose clay for the DC semis). Agree that Rafa is definitely still the favourite to win it this year.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:09 am

DA Or Ferrer failing to defend his points, which is very unlikely.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:17 am

Ferrer just got thumped by Tursonov. Anything is likely.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:21 am

Jane. “He was the youngest player to reach the semis or deeper at all the slams”. Are you sure? He reached the semis at RG for the first time last year at age 25.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:27 am

jane,
The youngest reaching the four sf: Djokovic with 20 years and 8 months.
The youngest reaching the four finals: Courier with 22 years and 11 months.
The youngest reaching the four championships: Nadal with 24 years and 3 months.
All in open era, of course.
Don Budge and rod Laver are the youngest to win the 4 majors.
22 years and 11 months: Budge
24 years and 1 month: Laver

April 24th, 2013 at 11:30 am

PS He reached the semis of RG at age 24 (in 2011).
How does Rafa compare in this scenario)

April 24th, 2013 at 11:31 am

Steve27, so I was correct yes? Nole was in the semis at RG in 2007, the semis at Wimbleon in 2007, the finals at the FO in 2007 and then he won the AO beginning 2008. I believe he reached the semis of the FO again in 2008?

April 24th, 2013 at 11:36 am

Giles, you know Djokovic reached the semis of RG in 2008, right?

April 24th, 2013 at 11:39 am

Oh yeah, and 2007.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:40 am

Ben. Yes, sorry just couldn’t think that far.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:42 am

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/04/sampras-djokovic-can-challenge-record-run-no-1/47185/#.UXf-JKyHPFw

April 24th, 2013 at 11:46 am

^ Sorry @11:36 meant the finals of USO in 2007.

April 24th, 2013 at 11:51 am

Agree with Thomas even if Nole does not win the French Open this year,i believe he still will at some point.

April 24th, 2013 at 12:30 pm

I would love to see Nadal take another bite out of the La Coupe des Mousquetaires!!!! It may sound boring to the non Nadal fans, but I’m hoping he will find his best clay match to date and win with style and grace. Borg’s legacy lasted for several years and I hope Nadal’s would last even longer. VAMOS El Rey de Clay!

April 24th, 2013 at 2:32 pm

With his record Nadal is the favorite at RG until proven otherwise. Only an idiot (and Nadal himself) would say anything different.

Nadal may still not be at full strength after so much inactivity and the knees remain an ever question mark over the long haul

You’re kidding me, right? 3 titles out of five finals, first hard-court title in two and a half years, and you think he’s not at his best?

You’re really busting my balls, here, Staff. Put down the Nadal PR team Kool-Aid.

Nadal’s in 100% tip-top shape. His knees are fine (they were always fine, no matter whatever nonsense he spewed) and he’s playing great. It’s just that he has Djokovic breathing down his neck these days.

April 24th, 2013 at 3:06 pm

Cindy Rafa has already surpassed BB at the FO,whatever happens now is gravy,if he were to win it this year with Novak breathing down his neck then i think that would be all the sweeter.

April 24th, 2013 at 3:21 pm

Massacre in Germany! Totally agree with you, Tipsy, Germans are playing sick football:

RT @TipsarevicJanko: “2 nights in a row they are shownig Adult Movies way to early….#GermanFootball”

Are they mad at something? The dud Euro, maybe?

#GermanyRising
#WTF

April 24th, 2013 at 4:22 pm

Rafa must be spitting feathers right now…..

April 24th, 2013 at 4:24 pm

^^^ He sure won’t be a happy bunny’

April 24th, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Lew4ndonski!
Mourinho-Team wurde gedemütigt und seinen Traum von der zehnten zunehmend distanziert. Dortmund feiert!

April 24th, 2013 at 5:48 pm

“Are they mad at something? The dud euro, maybe?

No, they just play better football then Spaniards, they always did!

April 24th, 2013 at 5:51 pm

I hope Djokovic gets it this time, however, Nadal is certainly the real favorite and he will be probably for the next 2/3 years, if he stays healthy. But why are we assuming it’s a given thing that one of them will win? “The Soderling scenario” could happen again, and we know what happened in 2011 to Nole. Of course, they are the heavy favorites, but who can really tell for sure what’s gonna happen?

April 24th, 2013 at 7:04 pm

Miki,

Agree, win in MC doesn’t make Nole favorite and he is not, Rafa is. You are right that one of them, or even both, might as well not make it to final. Rafa had his Soderling, Isner (almost) and Nole got out of jail twice last year, Seppi and Tsonga, at FO.

My opinion ATM, Rafa is favorite for FO.

April 24th, 2013 at 7:24 pm

Who will win the champions league?
Was ist so gut wie sicher ist, dass geht ein Deutscher zu sein.
Auf wiedersehen Spanien

April 24th, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Sirius and Alision,

Thanks for the clarification.

April 25th, 2013 at 12:38 am

To me Rafael Nadal is not the favorite anymore.
He lost Monte Carlo fair and square, and whoever is winning this tourney often also wins the French Open. Madrid and Rome are less important in that respect.
That’s why I think it’ll be Djokovic, regardless of what’s gonna happen there.

April 25th, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Federer won FO in 09 after winning Madrid only. Monte Carlo might be a good indicator, but it’s not a guarantee of anything.

April 25th, 2013 at 1:08 pm

The Arrogant One is not on the poll. Yet the followers of the saint in the forum are not complaining. I think they have accepted what has long been known to others.

April 25th, 2013 at 1:59 pm

Every girl I know has a daddy. Now the poll has a poll daddy?

April 25th, 2013 at 2:01 pm

@ Ben Pronin
What you say is correct, Ben.
It’s not a guarantee of anything.
But the likelihood of winning Roland Garros is bigger when you’ve already won Monte Carlo than when you’ve won Madrid imo.

April 25th, 2013 at 3:18 pm

I just want to give a belated congratulations to Djokovic and his fans on here for the Monte Carlo win. As a Nadal fan, that sucked big time! I was watching the match on a crappy stream that kept cutting out, so when Rafa was getting whipped in the first set I pretty much gave up watching. Rafa was playing meh and Nole was totally dominating, playing amazing tennis, I have to admit.

Now it’s time for Rafa to get it together and get back to his winning ways! I still think he’s the fave for RG, given his record there, but it’s obvious Nole is really gunning for the title this year.

By the way, my first child is due May 5, so I’ve been busy getting ready for that and not keeping up with the tennis so much. My little girl is due the same day Madrid starts, so who knows how much of the clay season I’ll see. Anywho, VAMOS RAFA!

April 25th, 2013 at 4:01 pm

Lulu Iberica,

Thanks.

Great news, good luck, girls are the best.

April 25th, 2013 at 5:15 pm

Thanks Lulu, and congrats on your little package. ;)

April 25th, 2013 at 5:27 pm

Everyone seems to be getting along lately. Has the nut gone underground?

April 25th, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Congratulations on the bundle of joy, Lulu!

April 25th, 2013 at 8:38 pm

Everyone seems to be getting along lately. Has the nut gone underground?
—
Someone in tennis is on a hiatus. When he returns and most importantly, starts losing, the nuts will show up. Until then, the skies are clear.

April 25th, 2013 at 9:03 pm

Congrats Lulu!
So names?
“Rafaela”?

April 26th, 2013 at 1:31 am

“Rafaela”?
—
Humblista

April 26th, 2013 at 2:32 am

skeezer,

I thought about that but didn’t want to put the pressure on Lulu.
It was one Raffaella that I fell in love with when I was teenager, she was older than me (I didn’t mind it) but she never returned my calls, I still love her after so many years:(

Her name was Raffaella Carra, check her out on You Tube.

April 26th, 2013 at 3:00 am

Lulu, congratulations. Why not Xisca?

April 26th, 2013 at 12:40 pm

Thanks for the congrats, everyone. Yeah, I’d love to have a little Rafa namesake but my last name is so white bread it would sound ridiculous! (Also, I don’t think Mr. Lulu would like it very much :)

April 26th, 2013 at 7:53 pm

Lulu,

lol never thought about that.
Ever thought of…….Roger? Sweet name…. Bond like. lol (j/k)

Discussions and topics can get heated up here at times, but when u share about your expected new one, well, it makes everthing come to the center. all the best with your new babes thats coming :-)

——-

Wog boy,
hey, she’s nice!

April 26th, 2013 at 9:19 pm

Congratulations Lulu :-)

April 27th, 2013 at 2:28 am

Almost 50% of 695 voters here think Novak will win RG. The tide does seems to be turning against Rafa based on fans’ perceptions.

April 27th, 2013 at 1:04 pm

rogerafa, the key word in your post is “fans”. The number difference is less than 30 “fans” so I don’t think it is indicative of anything more than fans on this particular site.

April 27th, 2013 at 1:25 pm

Congrats to Lulu and your family! Best wishes and lots of sleep to you!

April 27th, 2013 at 1:26 pm

@ Julia

I do not remember Rafa being anything other than an overwhelming favorite on this blog. Even Roger fanatics conceded in the past that Rafa was the favorite by a mile. Of course, fans’ perceptions do not determine on-court performances. However, I do feel it is significant that such a thing has happened. It speaks volumes about the kind of clay monopoly Rafa created and also about the kind of threat Novak poses to that monopoly at this moment.

April 27th, 2013 at 3:10 pm