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There’ll be no asterisks in the history books.
I’m a Djokovic fan, but you don’t win any big titles in absentia. (Nadal too has missed plenty of events due to injuries) John McEnroe for instance went 82-3 in 1984, one of the best seasons in the Open Era, but still missed the AO due to suspension. (due to the infamous Stockholm outburst)
Nobody but a hardcore tennis fan would actually remember that.
In the meantime the Madrid Masters finals have now been determined.
The womens has 1 vs 2, Swiatek vs Sabalenka, a dream final.
The mens has the number 1 seed and defending champion Alcaraz, up against a surprise finalist and lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff.
Very different finals, but great for tennis.
Nope, didn't know that. I bet my dad does though, he was a huge McEnroe fan and despised Connors. As a lefty, he loved McEnroe's forehand heavy game and despised Connors' reliance on his backhand. He also hated those early aluminum racquets Jimmy used, calls them rattle traps. I think he still has a couple wooden Wilson Pro-Staff models from the end of the wood era.
I guess people remember what matters. If Novak falls short, those absences matter and will be remembered. If he takes the final lead, they will be like AO of 1984, a "did you know" type story that rounds out the overall career of the player.
Nadal withdraws from French Open. Leaves door open for Djokovic to surpass him in number of majors.
It sounds like he pretty much admits his days of competitive tennis are over, and 2024 will be a farewell tour. Lots of talk about how his body just doesn't respond and recover anymore because of age, and there isn't much else that can be done about that........father time always wins.
I guess we understand why he fought like a maniac last season to win the Aussie and French Opens, to the point of numbing a serious foot injury........he probably figured the end was very near and he was right.
So, we see if Novak can take one or more of these next 3 slams this year. Tennis will be very different. What a decade+ of being spoiled by these three. I'm going to miss it.
I like young gun Holger Rune and think he’s great for tennis.
But I don’t see him making the RG final here, not this year.
Alcaraz obviously the strong favourite in the men’s.
Djokovic can’t be ruled out, despite his indifferent form leading into RG.
Medvedev can now suddenly play on clay as well.
Tsitsipas has a tough draw, but still a contender, as is Ruud.
In the women’s Iga Swiatek should still be favoured to defend her title.
Recent clay Masters winners Sabalenka and Rybakina the main challengers.
Alcaraz is clueless on high-bouncing clay, not a title-contender here.
Even at last year's US Open Alcaraz needed 3 five-setters vs. non-slam-contenders (Cilic, Sinner, Tiafoe), so he's more of a non-slam player.
Rune is getting better every month, so no limit to what he can achieve.
Swiatek in poor form, plus she's lost 3 times to Rybakina this year. I give this title to Rybakina.
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