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2011-12-17 20:39:10
For the first time in at least 158 years, the tennis story for this year was not about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. In fact, until the post-Asian swing, the most notable thing we got out of Federer was one of his answers in his post-match presser after losing to Djokovic at the US Open semifinals.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame the guy for being slightly incoherent after losing a 40-15 lead on serve that would have won him the match. Still his answer to a reporter’s question about a blistering return winner Djokovic hit on match point was a complete head-scratcher. “I believe in hard work's gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on maybe I didn't always work at my hardest. So for me, this is very hard to understand how can you play a shot like that on match point.” Huh?
Not only do I not understand what hard work (or lack thereof) has to do with hitting a return winner, I also don’t understand how saying ‘I didn’t always work my hardest’ proves that hard work pays off. And before somebody accuses me of being a sadistic #$@%, I gain no enjoyment from watching great tennis players lose heartbreaking matches, but it would be dishonest of me to claim that this particular presser wasn’t rich with entertainment value.
The good news for the Federer nation is that when everyone else (read: Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) was busy nursing back problems, staggering from exhaustion or getting mysterious injuries in their sleep, Roger went about the business of playing spectacular tennis and winning 3 titles in a row. To use the common vernacular, ol’ Rogi was fresh as a daisy while the other 3 resembled nothing so much as wilted parsley.
As for Nadal, he always seemed to be a half step short. Yes, he won the French Open. I realize this. And yes, he was outstanding against Robin Soderling in Paris. In fact, given how diabolically awful he was in week 1 of that tournament, I’d probably put his title win right up there with turning water into wine and the healing of lepers. But for most of the season, Nadal was notable for being second best (though the Rafans will surely take heart from his impressive Davis Cup performance).
This year was the Year of the Djokovic. And whether you enjoy the primal screaming, chest thumping and general posturing, or if you fall more into line with the Federer philosophy of ‘less is more’, you have to admit that what Nole accomplished is pretty danged impressive. Yep, we’ve seen 3 Slam titles in a year before. And we’ve seen the likes of Roger Federer and John McEnroe have similar 70-6-type records. But don’t you wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten injured? What might his post-US Open have looked like without the muscle tear and the extreme fatigue?
I certainly do. It was shaping up to be literally record-breaking...and if you take into account the fact that he is the only player who has ever managed to defeat Rafael Nadal twice in a row on clay, he sort of WAS record-breaking. In 1984, when John McEnroe had his best year ever, he came back in ’85 and stunk up the place (well, as much as McEnroe COULD stink, that is). He didn’t win a single slam. But in 2007, after Federer's benchmark 2006 season, he went right back to work winning the Aussie Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. There is no telling what 2012 is going to hold for the Serb...but you can be sure all eyes are going to be watching him the way they once watched Roger and Rafa.
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"I believe in hard work's gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on maybe I didn't always work at my hardest."
Cheryl,
being early he was referring his starting year on the tour i.e. 1998-2001.He has said earlier that he had attitude problem at that time!!
mani4Tennis , 12/18/11 6:44 PM
mani- I know when he meant. I've followed his career since he was a promising junior. But having the best tennis player the world has ever seen say, "I didn't always work hard" to prove that hard work pays off is...convoluted. To say the very least. And it doesn't answer why hitting a return winner means you HAVEN'T worked hard. It was all very surreal for me.
cherylmurray , 12/18/11 8:05 PM
Straight from the horses mouth...........Roger says he didn't always work hard. That corroborates what I said on the other thread.
nadline , 12/18/11 9:18 PM
what Federer meant is that he would have blocked the return back in play and taken his chances in a normal rally
he felt like Djokovic was just resigned to losing and swung recklessly for the fences....which is exactly what Djokovic did
RickyDimon , 12/19/11 3:16 AM
So isn't it 'skill' that for two years running, Nole was able to swing freely but got the ball in both times when facing match points? So it's all 'fated' that both Rafa and Nole would each have a three slam year, for after free swinging to win his USO SF both times, he wasn't successful last year against Rafa in the final, unlike this year. For Nole, against same player and having same results in the SFs; against same player but having different results in the Finals.
Let's see come 2012, will there be anymore three slams year and if yes, whose will it be! Also will it be on two different surfaces or three?
luckystar , 12/19/11 4:19 AM
So isn't it 'skill' that for two years running,.............
luckystar , 12/19/11 4:19 AM
No. It's called luck.
nadline , 12/19/11 8:55 AM
Nadline... you are joking???
zare , 12/20/11 11:44 AM
Season's greetings to everyone I've exchanged: laughs,tears and civilised conversation with, in 2011.
See you all in 2012!
deuce , 12/20/11 12:42 PM
Thank you deuce.
Good holidays to you.
bleck , 12/20/11 2:13 PM
So isn't it 'skill' that for two years running,.............
luckystar , 12/19/11 4:19 AM
No. It's called luck.
nadline
, 12/19/11 8:55 AM
One of the few times we agree with each other.
If djokovic tried that return on MP he would miss 9 out of 10 times, so yes he was lucky. There was one person that was unlucky though...
bleck , 12/20/11 2:15 PM
There was one person that was unlucky though...
And I'm not talking about Roger.
bleck , 12/20/11 2:17 PM
Well if luck was involved, than Fed was twice unlucky, more so than Rafa (who was able to beat Nole at least once, in the USO 2010 final!). Wasn't that 'fated' then, that Fed had to be twice unlucky when facing Nole two years in a row at the USO? Well maybe that's revenge time for Nole vs Fed after losing to him for three straight years prior to 2010.
Merry Christmas to everyone of you here! Happy Holiday!
luckystar , 12/20/11 4:52 PM
I was only talking about the return of serve in the 2011 semi.
Although any player that is 1 point from losing and ends up winning a match is lucky.
bleck , 12/20/11 5:03 PM
luckystar, I am not sying that Djokovic's achievement last year was down to luck but the two shots you cited I believe was down to luck as Nole himself admits.
nadline , 12/20/11 5:04 PM
A big thank you to Cheryl and Ricky for the extra dimension provided by TT which enhances our enjoyment of this great sport.
And thank you too to all the stalwart fans - of all persuasions- who make this such an enjoyable and lively tennis community.
Best wishes to all for 2012 and the dawning of a new tennis season.
ed251137 , 12/21/11 6:49 AM
I just wanted to come on here and second ed's thank you to Cheryl and Ricky for their dedication and hard work, not to mention reading their great blogs, match previews, picks, etc. Well done!
Here's wishing all of the wonderful people who breathe life into this site with their thoughtful and insightful posts, the best holiday ever!
Happy holidays! :)
Nativenewyorker , 12/21/11 6:59 AM
Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all on TT.
Some posters are on Santa's naughty list but:
Cheryl gets the 2011 Moderator of the Year Award and Ricky takes the Predictions of the Year Award.
nadline , 12/21/11 9:23 AM
"Some posters are on Santa's naughty list..." lol ;)
Happy holidays everyone!!!!!
P.S.: Don't know if you've done it before Ricky, but you should do a blog thread with your predicitons for the slam winners and who's going to finish #1 ...
bleck , 12/21/11 9:48 AM
Nadline, you're funny. :D
Happy holidays to all. It's been a great year! And just think in about a week, the tennis season starts right back up again. LOL.
cherylmurray , 12/21/11 1:59 PM
Best wishes to everyone for Chritmas & the New Year. Let's hope it will be an interesting one with lots of great tennis.
I join in the thanks to Cheryl and Ricky for all their hard work on this site - it is much appreciated.
schatz , 12/21/11 5:57 PM
When you play as well as Nole did last year, you make your own luck! Seasons Greetings Everyone!
AO: Nole
FO: Rafa
W: Rafal
USO: Nole
Olympics: Fed
WTF: Fed
Number 1: Rafa
Conspirator , 12/21/11 6:42 PM
I hope everyone's New Year's resolution is to be a Rafan. Lol
nadline , 12/21/11 9:01 PM
Best wishes for Year 2012.
Happy holidays to all!
sabs , 12/22/11 5:17 AM
Wed 09/05 14:58
Novak Djokovic takes up skating at the Madrid ice rink
Thu 29/03 14:30
Nadal and Spain give French TV a punch in the mouth
Mon 19/03 13:56
And Roger Federer is BACK
Mon 30/01 15:12
Djokovic and Nadal’s Aussie Open final, the best tennis has to offer
Sun 22/01 02:28
Adding insult to injury, Nalbandian fined
Tue 17/01 02:06
Nadal voices displeasure at Federer's inaction
Wed 11/01 14:41
Mardy Fish has gone off the rails
Sat 17/12 20:39
2011, the tennis year in review
Tue 22/11 17:46
Yannick Noah out for some Spanish blood
Thu 03/11 14:40
Nadal bails on Paris Masters again
Sun 09/10 22:00
The post-US Open blues
Sat 10/09 16:52
Wozniacki and Serena battle for bragging rights
Wed 07/09 15:40
Where US Open rain stops, scheduling paranoia begins
Tue 16/08 19:29
US Open scandal brewing
Wed 10/08 17:22
A less Maestro-like Federer gets ignored
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I think Roger was saying he didn't always work his hardest early in his career - and given his natural talent he was a bit of a late bloomer. Makes perfect sense to me. But he was having a serious case of sour grapes. Not a good loser, but none of them are. Just some of them conceal it better than others. Plus the press does bait Roger, and he keeps rising to it.
Roger's durability is perhaps the most amazing thing about him. I knew it was only a matter of time before Nole's body surrendered. Astonishing he lasted as long as he did.
Ramara , 12/18/11 4:58 PM