2016 Roland Garros FINAL: [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [2] Andy Murray (UK)

[Moxie]

It will stick in their minds about as much as Murray's 2015 Canadian Masters win.

It's a tennis match yet to be played, and both have earned their way in.

 

[DarthFed]

Significantly better non-Slam resume? That's debatable, isn't it?

I don't see how. YEC is 5-0, Nole has more years and weeks at #1 and even more MS titles. Nadal has a gold medal but that doesn't come close to bridging the gap.

 

[Moxie]

I don't see how. YEC is 5-0, Nole has more years and weeks at #1 and even more MS titles. Nadal has a gold medal but that doesn't come close to bridging the gap.

Djokovic only just passed Rafa in the MS titles, which Nadal held for years. And he still leads in Majors, which you've always prized. I think you're moving the bar.

 

[DarthFed]

Who cares how many years Nadal was leading in MS titles. He isn't leading anymore, and Djokovic has 5 YEC's and significantly more time as world #1. Add it up and he has a much better non-slam resume.

Number of slams is hugely important but if Djokovic wins Sunday this will mark the most impressive achievement in the sport since Laver's calendar year slam. Something not even Roger or Rafa managed to do.

 

[Denis]

H2h is also in Novaks favour. I'd say he would need 13 to top Nadal though. But let's not count our eggs just yet.

Picked Novak in 3, last years semi worries me a bit though. Murray has the ability to drop Novaks level.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Rusedski likes Murray's chances of putting a Djokovic Career Grand Slam on ice.

 

[isabelle]

King Muzza for history

 

[Tennis Fan]

Who cares how many years Nadal was leading in MS titles. He isn't leading anymore, and Djokovic has 5 YEC's and significantly more time as world #1. Add it up and he has a much better non-slam resume.

Number of slams is hugely important but if Djokovic wins Sunday this will mark the most impressive achievement in the sport since Laver's calendar year slam. Something not even Roger or Rafa managed to do.

It kind of is moving the bar though, because Nadal leads 9-0 in RG titles. You have to take people's accomplishments in their entirety, not just cherry pick those that you like. Nadal still leads in majors too. Those YEC's aren't that big of a deal, IMO, it's just something that Nadal doesn't have. However, Nadal's Olympic Gold doesn't seem to count either. Only the things that Novak and Federer has done, never vice versa.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Rusedski likes Murray's chances of putting a Djokovic Career Grand Slam on ice.

I sure hope so. Novak's attitude (ever since he's been winning) has been atrocious.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

H2h is also in Novaks favour. I'd say he would need 13 to top Nadal though. But let's not count our eggs just yet.

Picked Novak in 3, last years semi worries me a bit though. Murray has the ability to drop Novaks level.

The Djoker had that semi won rather handily, until he lost focus before closing it out in three. For whatever reason or reasons, he let that third set get away from him and Murray made him pay for it. He let things get away from him last year. He will probably be nervous out there tomorrow, but I believe he will still bring it for the final - nerves and all.w

It kind of is moving the bar though, because Nadal leads 9-0 in RG titles. You have to take people's accomplishments in their entirety, not just cherry pick those that you like. Nadal still leads in majors too. Those YEC's aren't that big of a deal, IMO, it's just something that Nadal doesn't have. However, Nadal's Olympic Gold doesn't seem to count either. Only the things that Novak and Federer has done, never vice versa.

Olympic Gold is not something we can use to compare the greats in the history of tennis. From 1924 to 1984 it wasn't part of the Games. It's nice to have that trinket, but it's not something that should be weighted as heavily as a slam. While the YEC's are not a real tournament either, it is a round robin between the eight best players in the world... something I doubt gold medalists like Massu or Rosset would be playing often.

If the Djoker wins Sunday, he has something neither Sampras, Nadal or Fed will ever have. If he wins two more majors after that, with 14 slams and having held all four slam titles at the same time, it immediately puts him past Sampras and Nadal.

 

[britbox]

The Novak Final Trailer

 

[britbox]

Novak has also qualified for the ATP Finals

 

[britbox]

If the Djoker wins Sunday, he has something neither Sampras, Nadal or Fed will ever have. If he wins two more majors after that, with 14 slams and having held all four slam titles at the same time, it immediately puts him past Sampras and Nadal.

Yep, I guess it's like the Serena Slam - not a calendar year grand slam but holding all four pieces of the prized amulet. Can't overlook that - I don't think anyone else has done it in the Open Era other than Laver who did it via winning the holy grail (Calendar Year Grand Slam).

If Novak wins the Calendar Year Grand Slam... that will be historically massive.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

Yep, I guess it's like the Serena Slam - not a calendar year grand slam but holding all four pieces of the prized amulet. Can't overlook that - I don't think anyone else has done it in the Open Era other than Laver who did it via winning the holy grail (Calendar Year Grand Slam).

If Novak wins the Calendar Year Grand Slam... that will be historically massive.

You are correct. No male since Laver has been the reigning titleholder of all four majors. I am just happy for the guy if he can win his first French tomorrow. The monkey will be off his back and maybe we will be treated to a glimpse of what he can play like without it.

 

[Denis]

Rusedski likes Murray's chances of putting a Djokovic Career Grand Slam on ice.

Rusedski backs Murray? You wouldn't say. Perhaps another feature would be: 'Serbian minister of sport backs Djokovic'

 

[britbox]

Rusedski backs Murray? You wouldn't say. Perhaps another feature would be: 'Serbian minister of sport backs Djokovic'

You made me laugh out loud then mate.

The Greek Minister for Finance is also backing AM.

 

[Tennis Fan]

The Djoker had that semi won rather handily, until he lost focus before closing it out in three. For whatever reason or reasons, he let that third set get away from him and Murray made him pay for it. He let things get away from him last year. He will probably be nervous out there tomorrow, but I believe he will still bring it for the final - nerves and all.w


Olympic Gold is not something we can use to compare the greats in the history of tennis. From 1924 to 1984 it wasn't part of the Games. It's nice to have that trinket, but it's not something that should be weighted as heavily as a slam. While the YEC's are not a real tournament either, it is a round robin between the eight best players in the world... something I doubt gold medalists like Massu or Rosset would be playing often.

If the Djoker wins Sunday, he has something neither Sampras, Nadal or Fed will ever have. If he wins two more majors after that, with 14 slams and having held all four slam titles at the same time, it immediately puts him past Sampras and Nadal.

Yeah, but you can't just arbitrarily weight one thing more than another. The Masters Series used to be 5 setters, so that's not a fair comparison either, since some people are better three set players and others excel in the five setters. Everyone has something the others don't have, which is my point. I guess I just don't understand because no one's achievements are going to mirror someone else's exactly, so why compare at all? I do agree that the YEC isn't a real tournament either, I'm confused as to why that one even comes up. That never made sense to me.

I don't think Olympic Gold should be weighed as heavily either, but neither should the YEC. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Billie]

YEC is nothing? yeah It's just the gathering of 8 best players in the whole year battling it out for the final title of the year. I guess because Nadal never won it, it is nothing. Weeks of #1 is nothing as well, I guess. Let's just say that nothing Nole's achieved warrants a little bit of praise from some Nadal fans. How 'bout 2 7-match win streaks over Nadal? That should count for something?