Official Rafa vs Nole thread

[Hs0022]

ok, here we go. Cast your predictions, spells, frustrations and sarcasm right here. Personally I think the seven in a row goes out the window and Nole has a fight on his hands. Nole fans that are proclaiming him as Jesus on virtually every FB tennis article should get him a diaper cause he is about to crap his pants against Rafa. It's all about matchup and not so much as current form.

 

[cezero]

All of the Masters 1000 clay tournament surfaces have different eccentricities. Even if Nole gets him a couple of times in best of 3's off of Paris clay, I wouldn't read too much into it.

There has never been a surface more conducive to the strengths of Rafa's game than Paris clay.

 

[Hs0022]

Wow first set over 6-3 Nole. Rafa better make his move now or else it's home sweet home.

 

[bksballer89]

Easy work for Novak

Straight routine 6-3 6-3 win for Novak

 

[Hs0022]

Never thought I'd be rootin for Rafa.

 

[Hs0022]

Djoko and his fans over inflated ego gets further boost if that is possible. We will hear no end to this.

 

[bksballer89]

Novak is the better player obviously.

Rafa can still maybe beat him best of 5 at RG but that is the only tournament that he'll ever be favorite over Novak at when you consider the form both players are in 4 months into the season.

Novak is having an amazing year.

The GS may very well happen if he can win the French

 

[cezero]

As I said, don't read into these MS tournament results between Rafa and Nole too much.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Nole win in Rome if they face each other, and Rafa has struggled in Madrid over the years before coming into the French Open and ripping everybody to shreds.

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

 

[cezero]

And Nole will have to back up quite a bit on Paris clay since it plays a lot differently from Monte Carlo clay. Nole will be able to stalk the baseline even more in Madrid since that plays as much like a hard court as like a clay court.

The overhype about these MS victories is hilarious. I'd love to see Nole get the career slam, but MS victories have pretty much zero effect on where I put his chances against Rafa in a French final.

Can't wait to see Gilbert's "Expert Picks" at the French this year He is consistently the worst of any of the ESPN commentators with it

 

[Fiero425]

Some Nole history:

1st player to win the first 3 Masters 1000 tournaments to start the year

1st player to win AO and 1st 3 Masters 1000 tournaments

1st player to win 6 straight tournaments that are 1000 and above (Paris, WTF, AO, IW, Miami, MC)

Masters titles since 2011 - Djokovic = 18; Federer + Nadal + Murray = 18

 

[cezero]

Some Nole history:

1st player to win the first 3 Masters 1000 tournaments to start the year

1st player to win AO and 1st 3 Masters 1000 tournaments

1st player to win 6 straight tournaments that are 1000 and above (Paris, WTF, AO, IW, Miami, MC)

Masters titles since 2011 - Djokovic = 18; Federer + Nadal + Murray = 18

And he's trade it all for 1 French Open title.

 

[nuraman00]

And he's trade it all for 1 French Open title.

LOL!

 

[cezero]

Don't get me wrong.

I really want to see Nole win the French, and he might just be able to do it now. If Rafa is healthy, I just don't see it happening.

 

[Fiero425]

Don't get me wrong.

I really want to see Nole win the French, and he might just be able to do it now. If Rafa is healthy, I just don't see it happening.

I was hoping Rafa would be 5th seed with Nole taking him on in the QF where there would be less fanfare! Can it still happen? Need to go check the points in the rankings!

 

[bksballer89]

This is now the biggest gap between 1 & 2 EVER

Not even Fed did this when Roddick was the 2nd best player in a weak era

 

[Fiero425]

This is now the biggest gap between 1 & 2 EVER

Not even Fed did this when Roddick was the 2nd best player in a weak era

It's been more common on the ladies side to see such a disparity! Serena has almost doubled the points of her rivals in the past! Things have tightened up recently though, but the men's side is showing severe inequities with Nole ruling this season!

 

[Liberal Icon]

It's been more common on the ladies side to see such a disparity! Serena has almost doubled the points of her rivals in the past! Things have tightened up recently though, but the men's side is showing severe inequities with Nole ruling this season!

...and the tennis world!