2023 Australian Open Final: GOAT Novak Djokovic vs. Chosen One Stefanos Tsitsipas

[ArbitraryWater]

Tune in, fellas.


The big one.


Can Djokovic win a record-tying 22nd slam, tying Nadal, distancing himself from Federer by one more, or can Tsitsipas win his first?

We have a big one on our hands.


If Djokovic wins, even for me as a Nadal fan, it will be near impossible to deny him of his GOAThood. I always point out how many slams Rafa was denied by injury when he was BETTER than Djokovic, but thats a tough argument many casuals dont like to entertain.

[diamenz]

what sport is this

[Nanners]

Novaxx joecovid is an inspiration to us all

[ArbitraryWater]

Here. We. Go

[Im Still Ballin]

The Djok might continue to win grand slams for another 3-5 years.

[SouBeachTalents]

That was NOT a good match.

[ShawkFactory]

Novak is the GOAT and it makes me sad.

Although Fed and Rafa even remotely in their primes make quick work of this field too.

[ArbitraryWater]

That was NOT a good match.

That was a very good match. Tsitsipas choking rid it of any intrigue and prolonged volume though.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Novak is the GOAT and it makes me sad.

Although Fed and Rafa even remotely in their primes make quick work of this field too.

Why does it make you sad?

Pretty cool story. Perennial third wheel until 2011 when he went God mode after alterations to his diet and preparations. Most well rounded player every.

[ArbitraryWater]

Why does it make you sad?

Pretty cool story. Perennial third wheel until 2011 when he went God mode after alterations to his diet and preparations. Most well rounded player every.

then was a run of the mill member from 2012-14 and actually bested by Nadal the later 2 years, and and rose back to the top when Rafa fe off the rankings.

Then got his 3rd winning window started in 2018.

Its a cool story and I can live with it and really like Djokovic,

but until 2015 Nadal was better than him year for year every single year but 2 (2011-12), and 2012 only because he missed the 2nd half of the year.

Rafa should have built up and even bigger gap but injuries denied him many times in which he was the best in the world at said time (most notably 2014 AO).

[ShawkFactory]

Why does it make you sad?

Pretty cool story. Perennial third wheel until 2011 when he went God mode after alterations to his diet and preparations. Most well rounded player every.

Because I love both Fed and Rafa. Obviously. Both of them are good dudes who don't take themselves too seriously and Novak is kind of a drip.

Rafa is the most physically dominant and Fed is the most talented and skilled I've ever seen. But Novak has such an absurd resiliency and preparation as you said.

[AlternativeAcc.]

then was a run of the mill member from 2012-14 and actually bested by Nadal the later 2 years, and and rose back to the top when Rafa fe off the rankings.

Then got his 3rd winning window started in 2018.

Its a cool story and I can live with it and really like Djokovic,

but until 2015 Nadal was better than him year for year every single year but 2 (2011-12), and 2012 only because he missed the 2nd half of the year.

Rafa should have built up and even bigger gap but injuries denied him many times in which he was the best in the world at said time (most notably 2014 AO).

Rafa was always my favorite and if healthy is the GOAT

Unfortunately health and durability is crucial. His aggressive style didn't help

At full health at their peaks I'd take Rafa if my life depended on it on any surface.

[ArbitraryWater]

Because I love both Fed and Rafa. Obviously. Both of them are good dudes who don't take themselves too seriously and Novak is kind of a drip.

Rafa is the most physically dominant and Fed is the most talented and skilled I've ever seen. But Novak has such an absurd resiliency and preparation as you said.

Im not sure I can still say that if his backhand holds up worse to either in CC exchanges. Of course you cant just go there time and time again (its the less exploitable side), it would be too predictable. But its a technically inferior / less stable shot.

Rafa was always my favorite and if healthy is the GOAT

Unfortunately health and durability is crucial. His aggressive style didn't help

At full health at their peaks I'd take Rafa if my life depended on it on any surface.

100%

[ShawkFactory]

Im not sure I can still say that if his backhand holds up worse to either in CC exchanges. Of course you cant just go there time and time again (its the less exploitable side), it would be too predictable. But its a technically inferior / less stable shot.



100%

I don't think it was a technical issue with Fed really though. He was just slightly less of a dog than Novak or Rafa and was more set in his ways. Didn't adjust like he should have both with the actual racket and mentally.

I guess the sentiment I have is that if all 3 are playing their best and it's a completely neutral surface he's tough to beat. I know grass isn't the best determinant for Rafa vs Fed in particular but Fed ate him alive with the backhand at Wimbledon in 2019. It's less stable, yes. But when it's on it was like if Shaq had that FT line hook shot going or if Lebron is hitting faders.

I'm comfortable with him being 3rd of the group but it's way closer than most acknowledge.

[ArbitraryWater]

I don't think it was a technical issue with Fed really though. He was just slightly less of a dog than Novak or Rafa and was more set in his ways. Didn't adjust like he should have both with the actual racket and mentally.

I guess the sentiment I have is that if all 3 are playing their best and it's a completely neutral surface he's tough to beat. I know grass isn't the best determinant for Rafa vs Fed in particular but Fed ate him alive with the backhand at Wimbledon in 2019. It's less stable, yes. But when it's on it was like if Shaq had that FT line hook shot going or if Lebron is hitting faders.

I'm comfortable with him being 3rd of the group but it's way closer than most acknowledge.

Yeah but I mean like literally, look at both BHs in sow-mo, Rafas stance and contact point and follow-through is more compact and stable...

Rog, he kind of goes on his toes a itte ike upwards, sighty off baance, follow through looks a little flappy.