"...with the ability to challenge Federer for the big titles on all surfaces,unlike Rafael Nadal"?? when did Djokovic challenge Federer on any surface other than hard (which is his best surface)? and what did rafa do on wimbledon last year to federer? did he not challenge roger? ok, i respect novak,he's an excellent player but please stop underestimating rafa!

I'm not underestimating Nadal but to become world no 1 and challenge Federer for that ranking, he needs to mount a serious challenge in the Aussie Open and/or the US Open....so far he's yet to look like a potential winner in either while Djokovic has won 1 and made the final of the other........Nadal rules supreme on clay for sure and could become Wimbledon champion very soon but that's a small part of the season....

apart from Indian Wells he's disappointed in the other big hard-court events and indoors. Djokovic is a major threat on all 4 surfaces, fast-improving on clay and I see no reason why he can't win on grass too given his indoor success.....for that reason he's the more likely to become the next world no 1 at the moment

If Nadal starts playing more aggressive on hard courts and indoors.....ie plays a similar game style to the one he uses so effectively on grass.....then that could change

but still,you're comparing rafa and novak according to their hardcourt successes,which is unfair.it's one's best surface,while the other's weakest. why do you take aussie and us open as basis to challenge the no.1 ranking?
another unfair thing is,as you said,grass and clay season is a small part of the season,which means hardcourt players are favored in this system.if you aren't consistent on hard,it's very hard that you survive in the rankings,whereas if you play your best tennis only on hard,you can still find yourself in the top 10 for many years (just look at roddick and blake)! just for this reason,you have to respect rafa!

besides,"apart from indian wells,he's disappointed in the other big hard-court events and indoors" is also wrong! just to give you a mathematical proof,going in to clay season,nadal is no.2 in the race,which means he's the second best player so far of this hard -court season.

Fun Fact: Best hard court record and most hard court wins this year? Rafael Nadal... Learn to research before you make comments that make you look ignorant. When Djokovic learns to respect the game, then we will allow the conversation to proceed. Until then Lets go Roger and Vamos Rafa.

I have decided that it is time for Roger and/or Rafa to imitate Novak. They could possibly hold an exhibition match and quit when one or the other is up a set. Maybe they could bend over to exhibit breathing problems, or maybe they could proclaim themselves the new #1, the new force to be reckoned with. Oh wait, that would be classless.

Novak,
You are undoubtedly a talent. Most likely the heir to the throne. It may be time to hire a coach who can instill some guts into you as well as teach you some respect for the real #1 and #2 and the great game of tennis that you are lucky to play.

If examples are necessary, just watch the Monte Carlo Final tomorrow. There are two class acts playing in it. Look and observe. We know the real reason you imitate is because you are truthfully jealous of there stature and presence on and off the court.

Sincerely,
A Waning Fan

Novak Djokovic is a rubbish player and gets all that hype for winning the Aussie open... oh please.... hahahahaha Cant even compare him to the likes of Nadal or Federer. Nadal is an amazing player and will be Number 1 by the end of the season there is no question about that. Novak needs to learn to grow up if he wants to play with the big boys his arrogant serbian face hahaha wanna slap it, when he`s getting beat what does he do erm...``RETIRES`` does he sound like the next number 1 or 2? It`ll continue to be Rafa and Roger dominating tennis until Rafa finally wins Wimbledon which he deserved to last year, dont even get me started about that ! Vamos Rafa xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Federer struggled to come up with answers in the Australian Open semifinals." WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, THE GUY HAD MONO FOR CHRISTS SAKE. Can you imagine the harm FedEx would have inflicted on the young punk would he have been fit! Punk kid "Djoke" quickly realised today he wouldn't stand a chance against the FedEx and wisely chose to retire instead of facing the hars reality of defeat. In order to challenge for the no 1 spot in the world I do think it's necessary to be able to finish matches off successfully also when you're not feeling 100 per cent and I think punk kid Joke has his work cut out in that department. Talk is cheap!

wow, this article has definately touched a few nerves among Rafa fans !!!

sisterofnight...I fully respect Rafa, he's one of my fav players on tour.....all I'm trying to say is that I think Novak is the more likely to be to take over from Fed as world no 1......even with all his clay-court successes and making the Wimbledon finak, Nadal hasn't been able to accumulate enough points to overtake Federer as world no 1.....to do so he needs to do better at the other 2 slams (and big hard-court masters and indoor tourneys).....both huge sources of points and so far the best he's managed is 1 semi-final......Novak has a better game for the hard-courts, he's less vulnerable to getting out-hit by someone like Ferrer/Gonzo/Tsonga/Berdych/Blake because he looks to dictate pts himself while Rafa too often plays too passively imo.......for that reason I think Novak is the more likely to continue picking up more points in US and Aussie Opens and tourneys like Toronto, Cincinatti, Paris, Miami etc in future seasons and so take that no 1 spot when Federer starts to slip (it could be this yr)

ok i respect your opinion but looks like we're not getting to an agreement! so,i hope and (think) you're wrong because i really don't want that arrogant and narsisistic boy to get to the no.1 before rafa! God knows what would happen then,he's already claiming everywhere that he's the new no.1 unlike rafa!

and if he does get to the no.1,it will be because of what i've earlier said.it's easier in this system to be no.1 for a hardcourt player than for a claycourt or grasscourt player.

it SHOULD be easier to get to No. 1 for a "hardcourt" player because that's the most neutral surface and does the best job of sorting out who the best players are regardless of surface. BUT clay-courters actually have it pretty easy with THREE Masters-Series events AND a Grand Slam not to mention all kinds of random clay-court events throughout the year.

just think, for Federer, if those Masters Series events were on GRASS instead of CLAY. #1 would STILL not be close - and it wouldn't be for several more YEARS.

Ricky,
As always you are insightful and well spoken, but clearly bias. While it is easier to maintain ranking with clay court points, I would venture to say that Rafa only plays one tournament that is out of the norm, that being Stuttgart. Other than that, he plays nearly the same schedule as Roger. That being said Rafa's performance has been less than superhuman on the hard courts, but it has been no slouch. Two finals and a semi-final appearance in the hard court portion of the first half of the year. To my count there are 6 hard/ indoor masters tourneys (IW, Miami, Montreal, Cincy, Paris and Madrid) and one tourney that should be considered an important hard court tourney because the entire upper echelon goes to it, that being Dubai. Clay courters have the best all around game, combination of speed, power, technique and stamina. The hard court game has made a whore out of tennis. I would not call a serve and a return, "the best way of sorting out who the best players are regardless of surface."

In my opinion since Wimby is most likely the most prestigous tourney of the year, the ATP should make Queens or create another hard court tourney for the sole purpose of being a Masters level tourney. Grass would seem to be the neutral surface. It has provided for great rallies, while also at times showing how useful a great serve can be. For my money until, the hard courts either tone down the racquet technology and/or slow down the surface a tad, you will never be able to consider a hard court tourney a show of the "the best players in tennis."

IUUSF,

I appreciate the comments, but you don't quite have me figured out just yet! If there's one thing my comments aren't, it's biased.

I am a Nadal fan. Right up there with the biggest. I might even root for him in Davis Cup against the United States (well, maybe not). I root against Federer in pretty much every match he plays.

So no, I am actually a NADAL fan and NOT a Federer fan. I am simply admitting the facts that Federer pretty much gets the short straw with no grass-court tournaments, whereas Nadal and the rest of the clay-courters rack up clay points to no end.

And I maintain that hard courts - not fast ones - are the best in terms of sorting out who the best players are. Clay a close second and grass by far the worst.