RAK ALERT: wojna o nieśmiertelność (24-22-20)

[Damian]

If you had said 20 years ago that Rafael Nadal would win 13 French Opens, you would've been locked in a madhouse: Pat Cash

Spoiler:

Pat Cash recently spoke in glowing terms about Rafael Nadal's dominant record at the French Open.
The Australian reckons there will never again be a claycourter as great as Nadal.
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According to Pat Cash, Rafael Nadal winning as many French Open titles as he has is a phenomenon that defies all expectations and predictions - to the point of making them sound ridiculous. The Australian believes that Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros is similar to that of a world-class football team at their home stadium or a cyclist winning the Tour de France on multiple occasions.

Former World No. 4 Pat Cash is a Slam champion himself, having won Wimbledon in 1987. Unlike Rafael Nadal though, Cash was known to struggle on clay - as evidenced by his poor record at the French Open. In five attempts, Cash never went past the fourth round in Paris.

During a recent conversation with Tennisnet, Pat Cash spoke in glowing terms about Rafael Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros, which for him is nothing short of 'unthinkable'.

"Think of any football team that is simply unbeatable in any stadium or someone who wins the Tour de France year after year. 13 times! It is actually unthinkable. If you had said that 20 years ago, you would have been locked in a madhouse," Cash said.Pat Cash
Pat Cash
Pat Cash also believes that the number of Slams amassed by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is a remarkable feat. The Australian is seemingly in awe of the Big 3's motivation levels, and he pointed out how they refuse to stop fighting despite having achieved far more than anyone before them.

"It is actually unimaginable that these guys won 20, 20 and 17 Grand Slams," Cash continued. "There is something that motivates the three of them. It's fascinating. I was happy to win a Grand Slam title, to win the Davis Cup. I was very happy with my career. And Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are not happy with 20. And two or three Davis Cups."Beating Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros is the most difficult task in the history of the sport: Pat CashRafael Nadal after winning the 2019 French Open
Rafael Nadal after winning the 2019 French Open
Pat Cash believes it is almost impossible for anyone in the future to dominate clay the way Rafael Nadal has. The Australian claimed that only the legendary Bjorn Borg could hold a candle to Nadal on the red dirt.

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"One should never say never, but one can assume that we will never see a clay court player like him again," Cash said. "Bjorn Borg would have come closest to that, he too was almost impossible to beat."
Pat Cash concluded that defeating Rafael Nadal on the clay courts of Roland Garros is the most challenging feat there has ever been in tennis.

"For me, the most difficult task in the history of the sport is to win against Rafael Nadal in Paris. I can't think of anything that could be more difficult," Cash added.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news ... tennispage

[DUN I LOVE]

To już czas, Rafa.

[DUN I LOVE]

Rafael celuje w 25.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/tennis/53342422

[Kiefer]

Rafael celuje w 25.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/tennis/53342422

Kiedyś bym pomyślał, nie ma szans, a teraz powątpiewam, ale nie wykluczam. W każdym razie dopóki będzie zdrowy, to swoich fizycznych atutów jeszcze przez kilka najbliższych lat nie powinien utracić, a przynajmniej nie na tyle by nie wygrywać w Paryżu ze 2-3 razy. Te przewidywania w przeciągu ostatnich 7-8 lat się tak człowiekowi rozmyły i tak były chybione, że naprawdę ciężko jest pisać kolejne rozważania nie będąc bardzo ostrożnym. Kiedyś byłem daleki od teorii, że Rafa pogra może do 25 roku życia, ale jednak uważałem, że dłużej jak do 30-ki nie pogra i skończy się na 8, może 9 RG, dychy nie brałem za bardzo pod uwagę.

[Damian]

ON THE LINE IN 2021: FEDERER, NADAL AND THE GRAND SLAM RACE

Spoiler:

In a normal year, the Australian Open would start two weeks into the tennis season—but 2021 isn’t going to be a normal year by any means, and due to international travel restrictions and quarantining regulations caused by COVID-19, the Happy Slam is scheduled to begin the week of February 8th.

But it’s going to be worth the wait, as it could be the most historic Australian Open in a long time.

While the Grand Slam race between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal—and potentially even Novak Djokovic—will be a hot topic at the Slams throughout the year, it’s going to heat up right away in Melbourne next month, because if Nadal wins the title, he’ll set the new all-time men’s record.

The two are currently tied for the record with 20 Grand Slam titles apiece—Nadal actually tied Federer’s record at the last major, Roland Garros, after which the Swiss only had kind words for him.


“As everybody knows, we have a very, very good relationship. We respect each other a lot,” Nadal said. “At the same time, in some way, I think he’s happy when I’m winning, and I’m happy when he’s doing the things well. It means a lot, the positive relationship we have together, because we have been going through a great rivalry for a very, very long time. Yeah, can just say thanks to him.”

A few weeks ago it was announced Federer would miss the Australian Open—a tournament he’s won six times before, and twice in the last four years—as he continues to recover from a right knee injury. That means one of Nadal’s biggest obstacles won’t be in his way as he goes for a record 21st major—he leads their overall head-to-head, 24-16, but Federer’s won six of their last seven meetings.

But, curiously, the Happy Slam has been Nadal’s unhappiest major. He’s won two Wimbledons, four US Opens and a ridiculous 13 French Opens, but he’s only won the Australian Open once, and that came all the way back in 2009—he also had to win back-to-back five-setters in the semifinals and final to do it. He’s been to the quarterfinals or better in nine of his 10 appearances since that triumph, including four more finals in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019, but he went home without the trophy every time.


Getty Images

The Spaniard never backs down from a fight, though. “My goal is always the same: to go to every tournament and to give myself a chance to compete well and to try to win it,” he said at the ATP Finals in November. “That’s the goal of every year. My motivation has always been the same. Next year is going to be an important year. I hope to be ready to fight for the things that I want to fight for.”

Of course, if he doesn’t do it at the Australian Open, Roland Garros is right around the corner…

But while Nadal is clearly in a strong position to take the lead in the Grand Slam race in Melbourne or Paris, it’s never wise to count Federer out. If the Swiss plays Roland Garros he’s always in with a shot there, having won it in 2009 and reaching four more finals there in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011. And then comes Wimbledon, which he’s won eight times, and the US Open, where he’s won five times.

After reaching the semifinals of the last Grand Slam he played, the 2020 Australian Open, the Swiss was asked if he believed he could win more majors. “Yes, I do believe that,” he said. “I think by having the year that I had last year, also with what I have in my game, how I’m playing, I do feel that, yeah.”


Getty Images

There’s also a wild card in the Grand Slam race in 2021: Djokovic. With 17 majors, he’s three behind Federer and Nadal—but he’s swept four in a row before, winning Wimbledon and the US Open in 2015 then the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2016, so it’s not unprecedented that he could jump past the other two members of the Big 3 and end up in the lead with 21 by the end of the year.

The Serb, who’s won five of the last nine majors and 16 of the last 39, also has eyes on the record.

“Obviously at this stage of my career, Grand Slams are the ones I value the most,” he said after winning his eighth Australian Open in 2020. “They are the ones I prioritize—before the season starts I try to set my form for these events, where I can be at my prime tennis, mental and physical abilities.”

It's anyone's guess who will be in the lead at the end of 2021, but it'll definitely be fun to watch.

https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2021/01 ... ace/92331/

[DUN I LOVE]

Tak to się zaczęło...

@Kamileki, @Lucas, @Nando, @lake, @Anula, @Sowa, @robpal, @arti, @Kulfon bez moniki, @Barty, @Mario, łapcie:

[Kamileki]

Tak to się zaczęło...

@Kamileki, @Lucas, @Nando, @lake, @Anula, @Sowa, @robpal, @arti, @Kulfon bez moniki, @Barty, @Mario, łapcie:

Mario wiadomo, ale że Barty też kibicuje Rafie?

Boże, jakie on piły wtedy wyjmował. To chyba wtedy włosy zaczęły Ci uciekać @DUN I LOVE ?

[DUN I LOVE]

Z pamięci pisałem, sorry jak coś.

[Nando]

@DUN I LOVE Masz jakieś przeczucie, że ta 1 za kilka tygodni się przerodzi w 21, że ją wrzucasz??

Co do filmiku to faktycznie, czasami zapominam już jakie piłki potrafił wyciągać te kilka/naśćie lat temu

[DUN I LOVE]

Raczej w czerwcu moim zdaniem.

Wrzucam, bo nowe i pojawiło się w propozycjach.

[Nando]

Na pewno najwcześniej w czerwcu.

[robpal]

Niedoskonała, ale mimo to dość konkretna maszynka do zabijania ten piesełke.

[DUN I LOVE]

Maturalna klasa, super czasy były. Ja na egzamin z WOSu, a mój rówieśnik po wszystko, co grane na cegle.

Dziś rówieśnicy maturzystów walczą o top-100.

[Damian]

Medvedev On Big Three’s Grand Slam Success: ‘Those Are Ridiculous Numbers’

Spoiler:

World No. 4 to meet Rublev in Australian Open quarter-finals

Following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win against Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open Round of 16 on Monday, Daniil Medvedev was asked which member of the Big Three he believed to be the superior player.

Earlier in the tournament, when asked a similar question, Nick Kyrgios shared his belief that Roger Federer is the greatest player of all time. Medvedev, however, refused to separate Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

“For me, all of the three because no matter how many Grand Slams they all have at the end of their careers, what they did in tennis is amazing,” said Medvedev. “I remember when Pete Sampras beat the record [number] of Grand Slams [won], I was really young. I remember all the news, sports news, saying, ‘This record is forever.’ Just like Messi and Ronaldo in football. Then the three guys came, they not [only] beat the record, they destroyed the record.”

You May Also Like: Medvedev Powers Past McDonald Into First Australian Open QF
For Medvedev, who turned 25 last week, the possibility of reaching the record Grand Slam hauls of Federer and Nadal (20) is difficult to comprehend. If the Russian won the next 20 Grand Slam events, his first opportunity to break Federer and Nadal’s record would come just before his 30th birthday at the 2026 Australian Open. Only two men in the Open Era — Rod Laver (1969) and Djokovic (2015-’16) — have won four consecutive Grand Slams.

”[It] is amazing because, for example, me, I'm 25, I'm playing good tennis. I feel like I'm one of the top players in the world. I have zero slams,” said Medvedev. “Imagine me [getting] to 20, I [would] need to win five years in a row every Slam… against amazing opponents, [in] five-set matches [and] not be injured. [Those are] ridiculous numbers. For me, they're the three, for sure, greatest players in the history of tennis.”

Medvedev’s bid to capture a first Grand Slam title will continue on Wednesday, when he meets good friend Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park. The pair began the year as teammates, when they each claimed four singles victories for Russia en route to the ATP Cup title.

Medvedev and Rublev will meet for the fourth time in their ATP Head2Head series on Wednesday. The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion owns a 3-0 record against Rublev and is yet to drop a set against the seven-time ATP Tour titlist. The fact that he will be looking across the net at a friend will make no difference to Medvedev’s approach to the match.

“It doesn't make a difference [that Andrey and I are friends]. On the tennis court, we're going to try to win. [It] doesn't matter,” said Medvedev. “If you can win 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, you're going to make it. You're not going to give two games at the end to say, ‘He's my close friend, I'm going to give him two games.’ If you have to win 7-6 in the fifth, you're going to try to make it.

“[It is the] same for him… [At the end of the match], one of us is going to say congratulations to [the] other one. We'll be disappointed with the result, but we'll move on and have many more matches to come.”

Team Russia

With Medvedev and Rublev crossing paths in the quarter-finals in Melbourne, Russia is guaranteed a semi-finalist at the Australian Open for the first time since Marat Safin’s title run in 2005. However, the winner of the all-Russian clash may not be the only player from the nation to reach the last four at the opening major championship of the year.

Medvedev and Rublev’s teammate Aslan Karatsev, who is competing in his maiden Grand Slam main draw, will attempt to reach the semi-finals on Tuesday. The World No. 114 has defeated eighth seed Diego Schwartzman and #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to the quarter-finals, where he will meet 2017 semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov.

“We are both really happy for Aslan, because he was practising good at the ATP Cup,” said Medvedev. “We felt like he could do something amazing. To be honest, being in your first Grand Slam main draw and making the quarter-finals is something exceptional. He's not over yet. Let's see how he does tomorrow.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/medvede ... 8-reaction

[DUN I LOVE]

!!

Pełnoletni Nole.


AO Twitter

[DUN I LOVE]

STAN NA 21.02.2021 (Po AO2021)

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Roger Federer - 20 tytułów:

Indian Express

Wiek: 39 lat, 6 miesięcy
Ostatni tytuł: Australian Open 2018
Najwcześniej pobije: Roland Garros 2021 (39 lat, 10 miesięcy)

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Rafael Nadal - 20 tytułów:

Yahoo

Wiek: 34 lata, 9 miesięcy
Ostatni tytuł: Roland Garros 2020
Najwcześniej pobije: Roland Garros 2021 (35 lat)

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Novak Djoković - 18 tytułów:

AO Twitter

Wiek: 33 lata, 9 miesięcy
Ostatni tytuł: Australian Open 2021
Najwcześniej wyrówna: Wimbledon 2021 (34 lata, 1 miesiąc)
Najwcześniej pobije: US Open 2021 (34 lata, 3 miesiące)

[Damian]

Melbourne Masterclass Draws Djokovic Nearer Nadal, Federer

Spoiler:

This is the World No. 1's 18th Grand Slam title
Novak Djokovic won a historic ninth Australian Open title on Sunday at Melbourne, becoming just the second player in history to lift nine trophies at one Grand Slam championship.

Djokovic breaks a tie with Roger Federer for the second-most victories at a single major, and now the Serbian only trails Rafael Nadal's 13 crowns at Roland Garros. Next year, Djokovic will try to become the second man in history to win 10 titles at a single Grand Slam.

Most Titles At A Single Grand Slam (Open Era)

Player Grand Slam Titles
Rafael Nadal Roland Garros 13
Novak Djokovic Australian Open 9
Roger Federer Wimbledon 8
Pete Sampras Wimbledon 7
The World No. 1 already had the record for the most Australian Open titles in history, but he has widened the gap to his nearest rivals, Roy Emerson and Federer, who have six titles each. This is the second time the Serbian has completed a three-peat at this event (2011-13 and 2019-21).

Djokovic is the first man in history to win three Australian Open titles after turning 30. The 33-year-old claimed his first trophy at Melbourne Park in 2008 when he was 20.

Most Australian Open Titles (All-Time)

Player Australian Open Titles
Novak Djokovic 9
Roy Emerson 6
Roger Federer 6
Andre Agassi 4
Jack Crawford 4
Ken Rosewall 4
Djokovic is now closer than ever to Federer and Nadal in the Grand Slam titles race after earning his 18th major title. The 33-year-old is within two Slam trophies of his greatest rivals, who have 20 each.

Most Grand Slam Singles Titles (All-Time)

Player Grand Slam Titles
Roger Federer 20
Rafael Nadal 20
Novak Djokovic 18
Pete Sampras 14
When Djokovic first earned major glory Down Under in 2008, Federer had already won 12 Grand Slam titles and Nadal three.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/grand-s ... -open-2021

[DUN I LOVE]

[magdalia]

Widziałam, świetne to

[Barty]

Goran On Slams Race: 'The Chase is Beginning'

Spoiler:

Djokovic’s coach reflects on his charge’s ninth Australian Open final win

After declaring Novak Djokovic's stunning 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 Australian Open final victory against Daniil Medvedev a 'masterpiece', coach Goran Ivanisevic says that it's only a matter of time before the Serb and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal overtake Roger Federer in the Grand Slam titles battle.

Djokovic’s 18th major championship triumph places him within touching distance of Big Three rivals Nadal and Federer, who both own a record 20 Grand Slam trophies. This is the first time that Djokovic has been within two titles of the all-time record and he has also extended his lead over Nadal and Federer in the 'Big Titles' race.

“This is great. Number 18. Now the chase is beginning. The chase is there and it's great. [Novak has] a lot of confidence.”

As a coach and a tennis fan, Ivanisevic is excited for what the remainder of 2021 and beyond will offer in the race for Grand Slam supremacy. Djokovic and Nadal have combined to win 10 of the past 11 Grand Slam events, with Dominic Thiem's breakthrough at last year's US Open the only exception.

“Rafa, for sure, is going to win one [more Grand Slam], I hope not two, but I give him one,” said Ivanisevic. “Who knows? They're unbelievable. They [are] producing better and better tennis every time when you think they [are] gone. The young guns are coming, they are here but these guys are better, one step better in the finals. I don't know where is the end…

“It's amazing what they are doing on the court. It's amazing how they perform in the big matches. I'm waiting for Roger to come back. It's going to be more interesting to see what is going to happen at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. [It] is just great. The race is there. I said a couple [of] years ago [that] Rafa and Novak [are both] going to overtake Roger. I still believe that. I still think so.”

Big Titles Kings

As Djokovic’s coach, Ivanisevic has experienced the biggest highs and lows of the Serbian’s past two years on Tour. The Croat was a part of the team when Djokovic saved two championship points to defeat Roger Federer in an all-time classic 2019 Wimbledon final and he also supported the World No. 1 when Rafael Nadal produced a stunning display against his charge in last year’s Roland Garros championship match.

After witnessing his man’s dominant performance against Medvedev on Rod Laver Arena, Ivanisevic’s assessment of Djokovic’s ninth final win at Melbourne Park was simple.

“Today was just a masterpiece… [It was an] unbelievable, unbelievable performance,” said Ivanisevic.

The 2001 Wimbledon champion approved of every element of his player’s game. Djokovic won 68 per cent of second-serve return points (19/28), kept his unforced error count to 17 and won 16 of 18 net points (89 per cent) en route to victory.

“Everything [impressed me]. How he stayed calm, how he did everything exactly [how] we talked [about] before the match. All the key points,” said Ivanisevic. “If you see Daniil’s record for [the] past 20 matches (20-0), [it] was very impressive.

“[Daniil] was really playing unbelievable tennis, probably the best tennis from everybody here. [Novak had] all the key points to return Daniil’s serve.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/nova ... iew'>Novak Djokovic</a>

As it has in each of the nine Australian Open finals Djokovic has played (9-0), the 82-time tour-level titlist’s game came together at the perfect time at Melbourne Park. Ivanisevic was not only impressed with the six-time year-end World No. 1’s individual strokes, he was also pleased by Djokovic’s fearless attitude against an opponent who had won his past 12 matches against Top 10 players.

“He was not afraid of Daniil's backhand. He was not afraid to come in. He was not afraid to serve,” said Ivanisevic. “He was serving [well throughout] the whole tournament, so many aces... Novak was just perfect and executing and taking every chance…

“Honestly, I thought [this would be] a pretty even match before the match started. But this is the final. This is Novak's court. Novak never lost a match here in the final. You could see that that helped a lot in the end.”

Djokovic’s record-extending ninth Australian Open title run has placed the Serbian in the most exclusive of Grand Slam clubs. Djokovic is only the second man, alongside 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, to win nine or more titles at a single major championship.

“He showed the world again how great, how big he is as a tennis player,” said Ivanisevic. “This is his tournament. Like Rafa has Roland Garros, Novak has [the] Australian Open. This victory is even sweeter [given] that I know what he has [gone through]. I know what kind of emotions and pain he went through in [the] past week, and he won the tournament in this way. It's just amazing.”

You May Also Like: Djokovic Confirms Muscle Tear, Making Melbourne Run Superhuman
Djokovic’s run to his 18th Grand Slam trophy was perhaps his most complicated. The 33-year-old, who was competing in his 28th major final (18-10), conceded more sets en route to this championship match (5) than any of his previous 27 Grand Slam final runs.

Two of those five sets were dropped in a dramatic third-round clash against Taylor Fritz. Leading by two-sets-to-love, Djokovic sustained a tear to an abdominal oblique muscle in the early stages of the third set. The Serbian was pushed to a fifth set by the American, but he eventually managed to pull through in three hours and 25 minutes.

Djokovic, who took an MRI after that match, was pushed to four sets in his next two matches against Milos Raonic and Alexander Zverev, before playing pain-free in his straight-sets semi-final victory against Aslan Karatsev.

“Some people, they can deal with the pain. Some people, they cannot deal with the pain,” said Ivanisevic. “It's like that… [The] key match for me was [the] one with Raonic, and after with Zverev. After that [he] was better and better.”

Djokovic’s ability to manage the injury through his final four matches of the tournament was inspirational to Ivanisevic.

“He's amazing. [This run] shows you that the guy is just unbelievable,” said Ivanisevic. “Mentally, I never met somebody like that… I witnessed something that was amazing. This victory — with what he had — is unbelievable, just amazing.”

The Grand Slam titles race will recommence from 23 May to 6 June at Roland Garros. Nadal has won the clay-court Grand Slam championship on 13 occasions since his debut in 2005, while Federer (2009) and Djokovic (2016) have both claimed the trophy on one occasion.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/ivanise ... l-reaction