I remember I said something similar in another thread. Some people were even saying that Nadal would not win another slam, even though he had come back from injury at least twice before to win slams. Such knee-jerk reactions occur in the heat of the moment. I think Djokovic can still come back and do well. He needs time.Don't forget, also, that it took Rafa over two years to return to something resembling prime form, from Roland Garros 2014 to the beginning of 2017.
Now obviously the situations are different, but I'm just pointing out that while it has now been over a year and a half since Novak won anything big (Canada, 2016), it isn't unheard of for a great player to return to a high level of play after 2+ years of struggle.
I remember I said something similar in another thread. Some people were even saying that Nadal would not win another slam, even though he had come back from injury at least twice before to win slams. Such knee-jerk reactions occur in the heat of the moment. I think Djokovic can still come back and do well. He needs time.
I remember I said something similar in another thread. Some people were even saying that Nadal would not win another slam, even though he had come back from injury at least twice before to win slams. Such knee-jerk reactions occur in the heat of the moment. I think Djokovic can still come back and do well. He needs time.
Agreed. We will never know. Its not easy to prognosticate how a player coming from injury would recover their game, especially if they are above 30 years of age.Well to be fair to those who thought Rafa would never win another (including me), dial it back to late 2016 and not many people--even Rafa fans--thought he would do what he did in 2017. If I remember correctly, only @Carol thought he would return to form; most Rafa fans were hoping for one more dead-cat-bounce Roland Garros - like Pete's 2002 US Open. I'm guessing Rafa exceeded even Carol's expectations.
What Rafa and, more so, Roger did in 2017 is rare indeed, even unprecedented. Not simply longevity, but having a late career peak after years of relative drought. Players have done that before, but rarely if ever in their 30s - and never in their mid-30s.
I think the bottom line is that we simply don't know what to expect from Novak. He could continue to struggle and then hang up his racquet in frustration, or he could find his form again and have another two or three years of dominant form. He's a world class talent, one of the greatest of all time, but he's also struggling mightily - so anything is possible.
In the poll I started a couple months ago, I took the moderate route and voted that he might win another Slam or two, certainly some Masters. I still think that's possible, but I'm starting to question. Even though he could come back, the longer it takes the more doubtful it becomes. Still, he's "only" turning 31, which is the new 28, so theoretically could maintain a high level for at least 2-3 more years. We shall see.
It's true that Rafa has never had surgery, but Novak has spent a lot of productive years when there was nothing more than a niggle, while Rafa carries chronic tendonitis in both knees, and has had significant injury lay-offs. This is Novak's first real struggle with injury. I'm sorry if it offends you that I say "not everyone comes storming back like Roger and Rafa." That was a comment directed @Federberg, who has stated as much, more than a few times. Call it "bullshit" if you like, but so far, it seems to be true.Nadal never had so serious injury as Djokovic. Rafa never had surgery. Federer had the surgery in early February of 2016 but he didn’t play before Monte Carlo. He took 6 months off after Wimbledon and returned with his knee fully healed. Djokovic too had 6 months break but it didn’t fix the elbow problem.
It’s bullshit to say “not everyone comes storming back like Roger and Rafa” when talking about the Novak’s comeback.
I have absolutely said that Novak can come back to form. It seems that it's going to take some time. I don't think that's controversial, at this point. And yes, Rafa did have a couple of years working on his best form, after injury in 2014. Likewise, it had taken Roger 4 1/2 years to win another Major. Djokovic will find his own way back, to whatever level. We'll just have to see how long this period of struggle lasts.Don't forget, also, that it took Rafa over two years to return to something resembling prime form, from Roland Garros 2014 to the beginning of 2017.
Now obviously the situations are different, but I'm just pointing out that while it has now been over a year and a half since Novak won anything big (Canada, 2016), it isn't unheard of for a great player to return to a high level of play after 2+ years of struggle.
I have absolutely said that Novak can come back to form. It seems that it's going to take some time. I don't think that's controversial, at this point. And yes, Rafa did have a couple of years working on his best form, after injury in 2014. Likewise, it had taken Roger 4 1/2 years to win another Major. Djokovic will find his own way back, to whatever level. We'll just have to see how long this period of struggle lasts.
It's true that Rafa has never had surgery, but Novak has spent a lot of productive years when there was nothing more than a niggle, while Rafa carries chronic tendonitis in both knees, and has had significant injury lay-offs. This is Novak's first real struggle with injury. I'm sorry if it offends you that I say "not everyone comes storming back like Roger and Rafa." That was a comment directed @Federberg, who has stated as much, more than a few times. Call it "bullshit" if you like, but so far, it seems to be true.
I agree to most of what you say but let’s be accurate. He got his first slam earlier than Federer didn’t he?I wonder if we are not getting too carried away by the categories we create. "Who is the best on clay", "who has the best forehand", well, that's fine, but "who is the best at comebacks..." sorry, this is too much for me. I get the point that it is really hard to come back at the very top -- it is hard to get there to begin with -- but how in the world could we compare different comebacks? Different players, different conditions, different reasons for the lay off...
..about Djokovic, a lot of people here, including myself, figured that he would have a hard time coming back, one of the reasons is the delicate mix of precision, physicality, endurance and technique that his top game is based on. It took him more time to develop as an upper elite player (probably because of that), it is not that surprising that it takes more time for him to climb back the mountain. If he actually start winning majors again, at least for me it is completely irrelevant if it took six months or a year to do so...
Nice catch (@#$&#¥€£!!!!)I agree to most of what you say but let’s be accurate. He got his first slam earlier than Federer didn’t he?
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