Djokovic Humiliates Berdych To Win 5th Beijing, Calls Performance Probably His Best In A Final

“This has been, in the circumstances, probably the best performance in any final of my career”. Really? Or was this the worst performance from Thomas Berdych? The man should be ashamed and embarrassed at his pathetic performance. Did someone say he is a top 10 player??

October 5th, 2014 at 11:30 am

He moves quite serenely on this court. Pretty much perfect conditions for him (as Andy Murray noted) and the best of 3 rather than 5 (5= slams = more pressure scenario’s) make’s me think this is his best court.

It’s pretty much the least pressure outdoor HC event he plays (only other 500 tourny is Dubai but that being a warmup to the prestigious US Swing surely most mean more than a tune to the youngest MS event on tour: Shanghai).

Which makes me even more proud that a certain Spaniard beat him on the most important match Novak ever played on this court.

:-)

October 5th, 2014 at 11:58 am

Well Played.

October 5th, 2014 at 11:58 am

@Brando:

He never lost on this court. It wasn’t built for the Olympics.

October 5th, 2014 at 12:09 pm

@Mat4:

Correct. This is a new court from 2011. Rafa must have beat him on the old one since the Olympics was at this venue.

Oh well:

I’ll settle for him winning the most important match Novak played in Beijing. :-)

Beyond that though:

What are you doing back out of curiosity? Isn’t your MO:

Novak wins= hey presto Mat4 is here and talking lavishly.

Novak suffers a loss= send out a search party for Mat4 since he sure ain’t here!

I am surprised-truthfully- to see you here for a paltry 500 point event.

Thoughts on his USO swing performances? Particularly SF v Kei?

October 5th, 2014 at 12:24 pm

way to go nole! 5 titles and never beaten on this court is a lovely accomplishment. beat some quality opponents along the way this year in dimi, andy and berd. i think nole’s lost only about 3 sets in those 5 tournaments too.

maybe next year he can add some more 5-peats: he’s got 4 at dubai, australian, and miami so it’s possible.

October 5th, 2014 at 1:00 pm

jane, I think it is a great atmosphere there for Nole too. I don’t actually know what it was but sure glad I woke up early!! Was in no mood to watch a close match – needed a pure and anxiety – free bit of relaxation to smile about and got it! :D

Tomas played very well and handled the beating well, I must say. To my mind, no one would have been able to get many games with Novak playing at such a level.

Courses for horses, as they say! Beijing is for Nole…

October 5th, 2014 at 1:31 pm

contador, i agree. he gets a lot of support there and i think it gives him an extra boost. the andy/nole match was sweet because they each had cheering sections of young local fans, with flags and all. but yes, all things coalesce there, making it a great event for nole. hopefully he continues to play freely.

looking forward to some interesting matches at shanghai too. missing delpo a little, though. to think it was just last year when he and nole played the finals at shanghai.

October 5th, 2014 at 1:37 pm

Fantastic performance from Novak in the final unplayable in that mood,but agree with Giles(for once)absolutely p*ss poor performance from Berdych,only saw highlights of Kei v Novak at the USO,but it was nice to see a player with a pair of balls that wasnt frightened of taking it to a top player, pretty much like Klizan did against Rafa going for their shots….

October 5th, 2014 at 2:33 pm

i watched only highlights, but margot, conty and skeezer on the other thread all said that nole played great and/or that berdych played well too. andy, who we’d all agree is better than berdych and a tougher match up for nole, won 7 games in their semi, and berdych won 2 games in the final so i think it’s in perspective. stats-wise, berd hit only 3 more errors than nole, but he hit 10 less winners.

October 5th, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Jane thats fair enough,but i still stand by my above post,its great to see players stepping up and showing they are not intimidated by the top players,Klizan,Rosol,Kyrigios,Nishikori are players with balls i would say?Berdych,Ferrer,Almagro are mentally too fragile IMO?….

October 5th, 2014 at 3:37 pm

Mind you in saying that Berdych played fantastic at Wimbledon in 2010,taking it to Roger and Novak some of the best tennis i ever saw him play,even though im a Rafa fan i have to say i thought Berdych wouldve won the title in that form,although in the end he ran out of steam against Rafa for the final,although its seems that was just a freak occurence now?although he has some other good wins against Roger in GS….

October 5th, 2014 at 3:44 pm

LOL Although,although,although,too many althoughs….

October 5th, 2014 at 3:45 pm

not sure i’d lump berdych with those others hippy… certainly not nico. ferrer maybe, but he has less big wins over the top guys (i.e., at slams).

berdych has beaten all of the top four at a slam except rafa: nole and fed at wimbledon, fed again at the us open, and andy at the french. berdych has won masters titles too. or at least one.

he just matches up poorly with nole, “piss poor” performance as you and giles said, or “playing well” as contador and skeezer said.

October 5th, 2014 at 3:47 pm

OK Jane not taking anything away from Novak,as i doubt anybody would beat him in this form…

October 5th, 2014 at 3:51 pm

The point i was making was there are players not intimidated by the top players,and those that are?

October 5th, 2014 at 3:53 pm

@alison: correct. Berdych played poorly. It takes 2 to tango: in this case Berdych did not have his dancing shoes on. The reality is when 2 top players meet and one ends up smashing another its because as good as the winner may play its equally since the other guy was not at the races. It’s inherent in all beat downs. Classic case: in GS final, Rafa thumping Fed in 2008. Now no one Tennis has the reputation Rafa has there, nor matches his reputation on clay yet as good as Rafa played: quite obviously fed was not the races. He’s not that bad at all v Rafa. Nor is Berdych in this case. These beat down happen when: one guy is on his A game and the other is not between top players. Either way: best stay schtum. Let Novak’s win in this 500 point event get extoled. 5 peat? LMFAO: some players have 7,8 or 9 peat and their fans don’t care since its a 500 point but clearly it’s the earth and the sun for some. Ajde Nole in this win!

October 5th, 2014 at 3:59 pm

PS: Novak wins here without dropping a set. Yet he won nada in USO. Apparently because he was concerned about Jelena. Last I heard she’s still pregnant so that does not seem to be the reason for his losses when it mattered. So what’s the excuses Nolefam: why choker in NY but Djoker in Beijing?….

October 5th, 2014 at 4:02 pm

i know hippy, and i get what you’re saying and think you have a valid point. berdych is mentally weaker than some for sure! but, i think he’s shown he can be really tough at times, like with those wins mentioned above. he has been top 10 for large portions of his career after all.

but he’s not always a thinker on the court; not much of a plan b, when plan a is not working. and that, to me, is likely the reason he doesn’t have more wins over the big guys.

with ferrer, he actually seems to mentally capitulate against the bigger guys. not even sure it’s a match up issues. he’s shown he CAN beat the top 4, adjust, etc, but in the end he always seems to give up, fade, whatever.

the top players are better at adjusting and generally just have more in their arsenals.

October 5th, 2014 at 4:03 pm

Jane/Brando you both make valid points,thanks for the input….

October 5th, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Jane/Brando you both make valid points,thanks for the input….

October 5th, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Well, I know what I watched. And I would have no problem saying that Berdych played p** poor if he had. But he didn’t. Djokovic was in a zone – Berdych did not fold like he could have. Berdych is in great form, if you watched him play.

If you listen to what each of the players had to say post-match, they both tell the story. Berdych does not say he played cr@p because he did not. Djokovic admits he played great and he did! No exaggeration. The last time I watched Djokovic play this well was in bossing Nadal around the Miami center court last spring :D

October 5th, 2014 at 4:23 pm

Contador fair enough,you have your opinion,and i have mine,Novak won the title and im glad he did,and thats all that matters,its all good,the top players will all be in Shanghai,looking forward to it….

October 5th, 2014 at 4:32 pm

Brando please lets not start attacking posters personally eh….

October 5th, 2014 at 4:44 pm

contador, it’s funny how people see things so differently and this time it happens to be down fan-base lines: thus far anyhow it’s been rafa fans who think berdych played crap. i’ll have to watch it. the comments i read at tennis.com, from fans of all players, seem to echo your view.

October 5th, 2014 at 4:45 pm

STAFF: please do something about the personal insults? contador is a great poster and should not be called names like “dork”.

October 5th, 2014 at 4:47 pm

nobody deserves to be or should be called names. it’s immature.

October 5th, 2014 at 4:49 pm

Thank-you jane. Guess I missed reading the insult but appreciate you sticking up for me and Tennis-X Staff deleting it.

October 5th, 2014 at 5:11 pm

no probs contador. dissenting opinions are fine; but bullying isn’t.

October 5th, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Never liked the word ‘humiliate’. It was a one-sided affair, yes, but the word humiliate has a very negative tone to it. Just because Berdych doesn’t have a huge fan following doesn’t mean such a word can/should be used in the headline. If Fed loses to Nole with the same scoreline, I’m fairly certain Tennis-x staff would be careful in choosing their words.

Anyway, glad that Nole won.

October 5th, 2014 at 6:59 pm

Birdy played badly? He didn’t play bad earlier this tournament, he dominated. Again, not enough credit goes to Nole cause of the dislike for the guy by jealous Rafa fan base. They don’t want to see that maybe Nole had something t do with it. As an example, if you miss your serve, Nole will make you pay. His ROS is the best of todays players. And his serve is now a weapon also.

October 5th, 2014 at 7:43 pm

It’s interesting that many posters here wouldn’t outright praise Djokovic for his excellent performance but would rather downgrade his victory by laying the blame on Berdych. As somebody noted, most of them appear to be Nadal fans who wanted Djokovic to lose so much that it does not matter who and how his opponent played, If he cannot beat Djokovic, then he must have played “piss-poor”.

October 5th, 2014 at 9:42 pm

Loyal Rafa fan……so glad Novak won!! He played awesome! Berdy just couldn’t cut the mustard today!!On another note, will be so glad when the little baby makes the scene!!

October 5th, 2014 at 9:57 pm

@Patson

Didn’t like the word humiliate either, and I am by no means a Berdych fan, but the word used was a bit crass imo.

October 5th, 2014 at 10:01 pm

Well just a thought although it seems pretty clear to me that one of the principle factors for Nole’s continued excellence is the substantial support of Beijing fans. The crowd support is larger, more vocal and passionate than almost any other stop on tour except perhaps Melbourne. We all know he gets a little down when certain crowds are clearly behind his opponent and seem to be rooting against him. It explains the occasional gestures of defiance towards audiences in NYC and London.

Just a theory. Although imagine what he might have achieved if he had enjoyed Federer-like levels of support. :o The mind boggles.

October 6th, 2014 at 12:28 am

good point the DA. i think it is a factor. after the match this was his tweet:

“Another great year at the #ChinaOpen, you give me all your love & I give you my best. Thank you for 1 more great year”

i am sure many players can be buoyed by crowd support. not that they need it, necessarily. but it can lift them and take the wind out an opponent too.

October 6th, 2014 at 12:48 am

I do not think Novak played anything extraordinary Tennis over there to inflict such a merciless slaughter of Berdych. He played decent Tennis which overwhelmed his opponent who had a bad day and who couldn’t just manage to keep the ball on play. Ofcourse Novak’s first serves were razor sharp and he did record a consistency in that department which is rare. That could have tilted the outcome in a way. But this kind of annihilation was never expected considering the way Berdych was playing in his earlier rounds. It does seem that Berdych was over awed by the lop sided H2H which is heavily titled in Novak’s favour and he allowed himself to be intimidated on court. What could have explained the match better was when Berdych requesting the ball girl to take up his racquet and step on to the court. And the only good thing in this match for Berdych is he averted a two set bagel which was aided in a way by the complacency on the part of Novak who was just not expecting such an easy match when he stepped on to the court. I wish Novak all the very best and it is pleasing to see that he has rediscovered his confidence. This win should keep in good stead as to finish as year end No.1.

October 6th, 2014 at 12:56 am

Novak was not playing something extraordinary out there. He was playing some decent Tennis complemented with consistency which rattled Berdych. Novak’s first serves were firing all cylinders and that is something he rarely does. Also on the back of his mind, Berdych was aware of the unfavourable H2H he had against Novak and so on the back of his mind that too playing spoilsport in his resolve to turn it around. What must be consolation for Berdych was that it was not a complete bagel and he managed to avert that humiliation by making the last stages of matche interesting and it was to an extent aided by Novak’s complacency as honestly he was not expecting such an easy match.

All said and done, this win should be a morale booster for Novak and might go on to cement his position as Year end No.1. It would also place him as the huge favourite to retain the prestigious World Tour Finals. Finally, it is father time celebration for Novak.

October 6th, 2014 at 1:40 am

Missed the match and can’t find it on You Tube:(

Contador, good to read you and have you here:)

October 6th, 2014 at 1:49 am

Contador i also stuck up for you 4.44pm,i believe my exact words ill repeat were lets not start attacking posters personally :)….

October 6th, 2014 at 1:59 am

Polo/Skeezer put me down as one of those Rafa fans who wanted Novak to win,and i actually did congratulate him for playing fantastic,i believe my exact words were Noles unplayable in that form,its not always so cut and dried Rafa fan must equal Nole hater etc,Berdych played well all week but as usual capitulates against the top players,and yes Novak was returning fantastically so that had alot to do with it,but i stand by the comment about been PP as i dont think a 0 and 2 scoreline can be classed as a good performance by a player IMO, and im saying this as a tennis fan and not a Rafa fan….

October 6th, 2014 at 2:11 am

^To add maybe i shouldnt have said anything,your always gonna upset someone^….

October 6th, 2014 at 2:13 am

^To add maybe i shouldnt have said anything,your always gonna upset someone^….

October 6th, 2014 at 2:13 am

@Michael: well done for not having rose tinted glasses on calling it what it actually is. Novak played well- but I’ve seen him play much better. As you said barring his serve it was his usual consistent Tennis. Now to say a top 8 player played well whilst winning 2 mere games is the stuff of idiocy. As you recognised: Berdych-again- was just rattled by playing one of the top 2. It’s his MO v them. But alas: speak your mind, don’t kiss butt on here (a shameful example exists), say what you really think and cue for a whole lot of underwears getting in a twist! I’m glad you said it since your a Novak fan. Quite clearly when another poster says it-non-fan- the hawks on here just dismiss it as well he ain’t a fan so it explains why he was not impressed. Comic thinking. Ultimately: it’s of no matter. Any of the top players dominating in paltry 500 stomping ground event is -for me- not a big deal. As far Djokovic is concerned: for me the USO swing was all that mattered. I fully expected him to win at least 2/3 events. He won none. What he does- or anyone else really- outside that on outside HC does not really matter all that to me post Wimby. Anyhow: ill end on this topic by congratulating him on his win.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:33 am

Correction: for me post Wimby on outside HC barring USO swing not much matters. Infact: only title of note left post that swing is Shanghai. The youngest MS event that was formerly Hamburg MS. Tells you all that needs saying.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:37 am

There is no use and nothing to argue when some internet posters are willfully blind and claim to know more than the players themselves, ATP journalists, commentators of the match, and basically those who actually watched the entire match as it unfolded.

All I would say is read the ATP website on the matter and the words of Novak Djokovic himself, “Best of My Career”.

October 6th, 2014 at 8:45 am

@Brando & Michael,

All of us (fans) have the right to give opinions and analysis about the match. But in the end, it doesn’t matter what you think, or what I think. What really matters is what both players said after the match.

Berdych and Djokovic have been playing in the tour for a long time and they have faced each other many times. Both of them also have played many times against other greats (i.e Nadal & Federer). So it is clear they know what they were talking about. They are the ones who play in the court, and they’re also the ones who know how they performed against each other.

In conclusion, based on what Birdych said (‘…I have never, ever experienced anything like that), and what Novak said (“This has been….probably the best performance in any final of my career), we fans have to believe them.

October 6th, 2014 at 8:57 am

@Ngentot: False. What I, your or anyone says need no approval in terms of validity. We free to draw our own conclusions as we see it. Players? They can say whatever they like does not mean it should override one’s own judgment. Case in point: Nadal says that he always must play his best, has a extremely tough match, always a huge challenge v Fed etc etc. How many people genuinely believe that to be true? Rafa says so that its how he sees it, Fed even champions his chances but how many actually believe it? And should they dissent are their views null and void because the players themselves, ATP and media who hype the great rivalry argue otherwise? LOL: of course not. I think the case is obvious here: some posters- fans and non-fans of Novak- were not all that impressed with this match as some were. It’s their free right to see it as such. However that quite clearly annoys, bothers a ingnorant bunch who cannot stand others not seeing it as they do. I think of a 4 letter word and follow it with ‘them’. They are even ignorant enough to extrapolate it with baseless claims that no one had made attached to them. How typical. The very same folks have actually made some buffoonish judgments in the past when certain events unfolded that were not to their liking so actually I expect such riled, overreaction from them when others think as they want and not to their liking. It’s their problem not mine or others. No one has to be believe anything if its a matter of interpreting a event they see unfold and have a different reaction to it. It’s idiocy even to conform to a opinion just because players and some fanatics say otherwise. Another case in point: a 500 point event, a final, a top 10 player like Berdych got thumped according to scoreboard 6-0 6-2 as in this one. The surface was Clay and the winner- rafael Nadal- is universally regarded as having a greater command on Clay than Djokovic has on HC. Now if Nadal came out saying that’s the best I have ever played in a final, Ferrer conforming saying as so does not mean folks should accept it as so. On that occasion I thought- as a Rafa fan- Rafa played well but Ferru- a superior Clay courter and fighter than Berdych is as a HC player- played in a word: crap. Likewise: yesterday barring Novak’s serve I thought he was just his consistent self. Berdych I thought capitulated like he always does against the top 2, and with a serve % below 50% for the majority of the match its obvious folly to claim his game was great like some experts on here do. Ultimately: one has every right to think as they feel and just because it does not conform to view held by others does not make it invalid, especially when sound reason accompanies. Anyhow: ill stop here on this rather banal topic of a 500 point final. Too much discussion for a rather lowly event on tour.

October 6th, 2014 at 9:24 am

Quite an accomplishment for the Djoker. To win any tournament multiple times without ever having a loss in this era is remarkable.

October 6th, 2014 at 10:44 am

contador, Ngentot – good posts.

October 6th, 2014 at 11:00 am

All this BS of “This has been ….. probably the best performance in any final of my career”. Conversely I would say that this was probably the worst performance of Berdy’s career. He made joker seem “god like” as he put it. The man was actually smiling when he almost got a second bagel . Truth is he played so very badly and silly joker praises himself and takes credit for his average performance.
You fans can believe what you like, it’s your prerogative. I know what I saw!!

October 6th, 2014 at 11:33 am

Yes, Ngentot. They’re the ones out there playing and doing their best. Somebody is always going to play better than the other and therefore win, in some cases overwhelmingly better as in the Djokovic-Berdych match. Bad enough for a player to lose, worse to get insulted on top of that also. I’d much rather hear about the winner getting congratulated than the loser getting derided.

October 6th, 2014 at 11:48 am

I always thought everybody was entitled to have an opinion,i guess i was wrong?

October 6th, 2014 at 11:57 am

^^^^^ Me too, Polo. Berdy got to the finals, that’s better than my guy did, which pains me to say.

We all wondered if Cilic could back it up……. out again…..the fickle finger of tennis !!

October 6th, 2014 at 12:02 pm

“I’d much rather hear about the winner getting congratulated than the loser getting derided.”

indeed polo.

October 6th, 2014 at 12:24 pm

LOL @post 11:33 am.

@Giles,

Say what you want, believe what you want to believe. In reality, from all the reports that I read (feel free to check ATP website, Tennis.com, Bleacher Reports, and so on) and heard on TV reports, all seemed to agree that it was a masterclass performance by Djokovic.

I saw the match and I agreed with the reports. Berdych agreed, and Djokovic agreed. So you can go on with your BS, nobody will care.

October 6th, 2014 at 12:55 pm

Preach it Giles, preach! LOL: seriously in all seriousness: the match is over. It’s done with. Novak won: congrats to him and his fans. Berdych lost: better luck next time. Differing views/interpretation of match: everyone’s entitled to whatever they view it as, so respect it dont get offended by it, let it slide and move on. The tour moves onto Shanghai: and so should we all with our views.

October 6th, 2014 at 1:18 pm

ngentot, “reality” is a wondrous thing…hee hee ;)

October 6th, 2014 at 1:30 pm

@Ngentot. Lol. I do think you care that I don’t care!!

October 6th, 2014 at 1:46 pm

Novak did play amazing tennis in beijing final. I think he’d have beaten Rafa in straights too expecially the one who showed up after 3 months lay off. Birdman did try to play good but he needed to play differently to have any chance. The ball they used in Beijing is way too soft for someone like Tomas who only knows how to hit the ball hard. And when Novak is playing like that you need someone who can match him in speed and return of serve. The only one who I think would have done well against Novak in this form is the guy who played and won Tokyo. Novak can’t expose his poor court positioning or lack of speed as the Japanese is so quick himself. And Kei’s return game is so good, he makes Novak’s 2nd serves look very ordinary. I hope these two meet again this fall.

October 6th, 2014 at 2:21 pm

‘“reality” is a wondrous thing…’:

It sure is:

14 Grand Slams to 7 Grand Slams, whilst having lesser talent (or so the wise ones tell us) as well as having superior regard in the Tennis fraternity for many a year continuously now!

I also ‘hee hee’ everyday at that reality!

October 6th, 2014 at 2:31 pm

I cease my trolling on that 2.31 post and now move on to more sincere posts.

October 6th, 2014 at 2:32 pm

@James:

Spot on post and I completely agree!

I’ll post my views on that one in a while since that really is the most fascinating rivalry in this fall:

DJOKOVIC v NISHIKORI.

October 6th, 2014 at 2:48 pm

I watched the entire match. Novak certainly served very well. His return game was brilliant and he put a lot of pressure on the Tomas serve but Tomas did not have a very good serving day. It seemed as if his serve or ground strokes did not have the usual power. Maybe it was due to the court or the balls as some poster said earlier. The early break did not help matters. It is fair to say that he was quite inconsistent but he did play some good points. He also seemed to hang in some rallies only to mess up the good work by committing an error due to poor movement and court positioning. He had one or two good moments towards the end. He was not consistently good but he was not consistently bad either.

I am somewhat surprised that Novak thinks that this was his best performance in a final “in the circumstances” whatever that means. He probably meant that in terms of a dominant performance or a one-sided scoreline because it was only this July that he rated his Wimbledon win over Roger as his best in a major final. That was a way bigger match even if it was against a player in the twilight of his career.

October 6th, 2014 at 3:26 pm

@Rogerafa:

Great post but best get running, since around here you are not entitled to an opinion if does not conform to the popular view/insistence of a fanbase.

Re Wimby final:

Spot on re ‘a player in the twilight of his career.’

There is a reason why Fed went into that match 11-0 on Grass, against a player who was not as stable as him pre final in Wimby, who also has widely acknowledged Grass as his weakest surface. That reason is:

Fed is not the same player he was in his heyday. Period.

Not a shot at him or anything. Just a recognition of Father Time kicking in. Hence for me:

The fact that Fed took it to the brink when he’s past his prime, imagine what he would have done Novak had he faced him in his prime on Grass?

I imagine another finger wagging moment.

Novak got lucky catching Fed nearing 33 in a meeting in a Slam final.

October 6th, 2014 at 3:43 pm

How many Mickey mouse trophies Nole will add in his career?

Nishikori will be his nightmare

October 6th, 2014 at 6:26 pm

1 US Open for the hardcourt master in his all career said it all.
Best of 5 is a different animal and Djoker is not in the same category of Borg, sampras, Federer or Nadal.

He will be tier 2 in Open Era, He will decline next year like Rafa did this year.
Adje!

October 6th, 2014 at 6:43 pm

If Beijing is Mickey Mouse tournament with 5-6 top 10 players and four GS champions at their pick playing, what one can say (call) about Barcelona, for example. I wish there is more “Mickey Mouse” tournaments like Beijing.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:05 pm

“hardcourt master in his all career said it all.”

…and four AO titles!! I thought AO is HC, or it is not?

October 6th, 2014 at 7:08 pm

^^ “1 US Open for the hardcourt master in his all career said it all.”

October 6th, 2014 at 7:12 pm

hard court performance zone, steve27; nole’s doing alright.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Performance-Zone/Performance-Hard-Career-List.aspx

October 6th, 2014 at 7:21 pm

not too shabby on grand slam performance either
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Performance-Zone/Performance-Gland-Slams-Career-List.aspx

October 6th, 2014 at 7:22 pm

@Steve 27,

“He will be tier 2 in Open Era. He will decline next year like Rafa did this year”. LOL

Man, you’re trying too hard and sounds desperate. Nobody can guarantee what the future holds for each of these great players. Just because you believe that your fave is declining this year, doesn’t mean that other players (particularly his “main” competitor)will decline next year.

I know that Rafa is only one year older than Novak, and so with Hewitt and Federer. Hewitt is only a year older than Federer, but he declined much earlier. So you see, age is not the only factor.

So, instead of spreading your unnecessary “wisdom”, why don’t you relax and enjoy this fantastic sport and these great players while you can? PEACE.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:23 pm

I bet that Nole prefer 2 Us Open than 6, 7 Beijing.
But you are his fan, i dont blame you.

If the serbian win a fifht AO, he will be in my eyes, the best in Open Era in that GS, no matter how many sf the swiss have. I give you that.
Like if Rafa win a second AO, he will unique in the Open Era, so, I honestly prefer Nadal avoid Nole until the final, I expect a rematch, the second part of 2012 classic.
2016 will be the inevitable decline of the big3(4)

October 6th, 2014 at 7:24 pm

28 is when all great players lost a step and yours hero will be no exception.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:27 pm

i have no idea why nole is constantly being compared to other players by some of rafa’s fans in this thread.

why does it matter that he has 7 slams and so and so has more?

no one on here – not one nole fan – was disputing that. no one said he’s the master of hard courts.

we were just happy for him that he won his 5th bejing title; we’re excited he played well and continued his streak there.

what purpose is served by degrading that or anything he’s accomplished in his career, for that matter. i don’t get it.

have a look at the atp records page; nole’s done well for himself – and his fans – to this point, and i think many of us fans are perfectly happy with what he’s achieved and where he’s at even right now. heck, i was his fan before he even won ONE slam.

it’s not all about having “the most”, not for all fans anyhow.

let those fed and nadal fans who want to do so duke that one out (the most, the GOAT, etc), if need be.

nole’s well deserved and admirable bejing title has nothing to do with it.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:28 pm

of course any player would prefer 2 slams over 6 or 7 500 tournaments steve27. i agree with you. but who is disputing that? why is it at issue? did nole say he’s happier to have won this title than the us open? no. did his fans? no. so what has it got to do with anything? it seems to me it’s just common sense that ANY player would prefer to win grand slams not just nole. but that doesn’t mean his success at bejing needs to be diminished. or … apparently it does?

October 6th, 2014 at 7:33 pm

@Steve27: whilst I agree- and ultimately most Tennis observers would do so- that Nole is not tier 1 in tennis history (no particular order) (Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Laver and Borg make that 5) it’s pure foolishness to talk certainly about the future by any individual as no one knows the future. Presently: he lies in the: Lendl, Agassi, Connors, McEnroe category. Last I heard all those guys command respect in Tennis community and are regarded as all time greats. Our favourite- Rafa- only recently called Novak one of the best players he has ever seen. I think Rafa would consider it idiocy to sneer at Novak’s Tennis career. And rightfully so. I won’t do so anymore after few trading of pot shots with his fans since ultimately that silly and I actually regard their fav very highly and I know a high % of them used to root for Rafa in big ones Pre 2011 and still respect him. I suggest you do the same. Ultimately at worst Novak may never reach Fedal regard when his career. That is of no shame. It would render is career insignificant or something to sneer at, look down on. That would be stupid to do. Especially so when the likes of Rafael Nadal or more than likely look at him as an equal as opposed to someone lowly of skill. Best stop here on that front friend: since its a dead end road!

October 6th, 2014 at 7:39 pm

Right. Tell that to Andre Agassi.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:39 pm

My post @ 7:39 pm was to Steve 27 @ 7:27 pm.

October 6th, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Oops: it would not render his career as insignificant is what I meant to write. It’s late here and I am off to call it a night but ill end on the note that: one should NEVER measure the value of a individual and their skill, worth etc in comparison to another. That’s just folly. Measure them on their own worth. As far as Novak’s concerned he’s nothing but a huge success story who came from a war torn country, not great means and achieved immense success in his career. That’s something amazing. Regardless of what others story maybe his is great no matter what. Some folks need to end the —- measuring thinking since it seems to have stayed with them beyond school. Time to grow up huh?

October 6th, 2014 at 7:45 pm

@Jane,

Good post @ 7:28 pm. Novak was fantastic last Sunday, and nobody can convince me that he didn’t.

October 6th, 2014 at 9:21 pm

compare Hewitt with Rafa?. Lmao! Your comparison doesnt make sense.
Rusty decline after 2005 and never return to his old level and the australian archieve his performance after Sampras and before Federer and Nadal. He was a transitional champion. A very good player, but not a great one.
Rafa is a legend, and 2 or 3 more majors will add its already huge record.

October 6th, 2014 at 9:30 pm

Maybe I missed a certain post? Who compared Hewitt with Rafa?

October 6th, 2014 at 9:40 pm

Meant to say “wasn’t” instead of “didn’t” @ post 7:21 pm. :)

October 6th, 2014 at 9:47 pm

How many professional tennis players have there been? How many of them have won tournaments? And on an even higher level, a major? They all work hard, it’s their livelihood, their life, so any win is big, best of all a majors title. Just because somebody has 17 or 14 major titles is not enough reason for anybody to presume that one who has 7 or 1 or even nothing should feel any less worthy. We cannot all be number one in whatever field we are in but whatever achievement one has achieved the best way he could, give him his due respect.

October 7th, 2014 at 12:13 am

Look Novak is a fantastic player,the guys won 8 GS for goodness sake,and has been the most consistent player for the last three years,going deep in every tournament he enters,and yeah he played fantstic against Berdych,but why should i say Berdych played well when i believe he played poor?(and yes im sorry if that derides Berdych),but its my opinion and im entitled to it,as i thought we all were?anyway im sure he will win the title this week,this time facing a player who will also be playing fantastic,and also playing fantastic in the final?

October 7th, 2014 at 3:29 am

^Sorry 7 GS….^

October 7th, 2014 at 3:37 am

Definitely, HC, everybody is entitled to his/her opinion and should be free to voice it, even if it focuses more on the negative than on the positive side of things.

October 7th, 2014 at 8:06 am

Polo thankyou and fair enough,sometimes people should agree to disagree which i will in future try to do more of,im sorry if it was negative it wasnt really meant to be only merely objective critisism,what i said was as a tennis fan rather than been some Novak hater which im not,although sometimes people seem to want to interpret things that way which i cant really do much about im afraid?….

October 7th, 2014 at 8:16 am

The word hajde-ajde sound nice when it is used to encourage some body that is fighting,winning or loosing.it is very funny when used by haters to degrade Novak.
There are people who are just the fans of a tennis player with 14 GS and just because of that they think that they are smarter,better,classier.They think that they could do what ever they want : bullying,degrading,destroying. That is how they do on this forum.It is not important any more if Novak is loosing or winning it is important just to bully,degrade,destroy,not only Novak but anything and any one that like or love Nole.
I am glad that there are some people willing to be bullied to stop this ill nature.
There is one good thing Nole’s haters are learning Serbian language.
For them only there are more…….
HAJDE,AJDE NOLE,HAJDE NOLE SRPSKI SOKOLE…
UDRI NOLE,UDRI JACE NEK POLUDE ONI STO TE NEVOLE.TO NOLE,TO NOLE SVE TE VISE LJUDE VOLE.

October 7th, 2014 at 10:16 am