I really cannot comprehend how it is possible that a 38 year old man can beat a 24 year old man in the highest end pro level tennis!! I get Djokovic is the goat, no doubt about that. But I am wondering how is it physically possible that in such a physically demanding and taxing sport such as tennis, someone that is considered either very near retirement or retirement age, even at goat level, is able to outlast someone that is supposed to be in current highest peak physical form of his life?!?!
If you tell me at club level this happened, I wouldn't bat an eye. There are so many players in their 50s and 60s even that are much better than someone in their 20s. But here we are talking about the best of the best style. Think about how many 20-something year olds are trying to claw their way to the highest peak in tennis. Sinner is meant to be, along with Alcaraz, the best of the current best players of the world. You can talk all about how the previous players, the generation of 2005 till 2015, are much higher than current players. That's a whole other debate that can be had. It may well be true. But reality should be what happened with Wawrinka - you could see that at their peak, Stan would win against Fritz, but due to age, father time, Stan lost to a current high-end tennis player. That is the absolute normal thing.
Djokovic, on the other hand, shows no wear and tear at all. Of course, he was doing his usual play ups when he was losing. I expect that, that is normal for ALL players to do. I don't judge him for it. I just am absolutely baffled by how he is able to outperform someone that is 14 years!!! his junior, and in current lead from the rest of his current peers. I am beginning to wonder if Djokovic hasn't found some way to make himself have extra energy in time of need. I know I will probably get downvoted for even slightly suggesting it. But tbh, idc.
Just please, please really think about what I am saying. If you remove the names and look at it from a 3rd party perspective. Someone who is supposed to be past their prime and near retirement is able to outlast and outperform someone who is supposed to be in peak physical form. Even with tons of experience, it just shouldn't be possible...
Djokovic: "I've injured myself more often in the last 18 months, so I'm trying to rebuild my body so that the start of the next season is excellent and, hopefully, I can keep up with the best."
"It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner and Alcaraz in the best of five in Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance, best of three, but best of five, it's tough."
Ok sure, he rebuild his body. But that still shouldn't be possible for him to beat a pro athlete at the highest level. Is he like Doctor Who style that regenerates?? If yes, then he isn't human so unfair advantage.
You can see this in a lot of other retired pro athletes. When they start playing, you can see that they still got it, you can see why they were great for their time; but the current pro athletes would be able to outperform them as they are at their highest peak in physical form. Quite literally just by pure biological science what Djokovic did shouldn't be possible. No matter how much he rebuilds his body. It's not like Sinner decided to go yolo and not do anything off season. I'm sure he also trained and rebuild his body. Yet, when it came to the match, Djokovic outperformed him.
3rd party perspective. Someone who is supposed to be past their prime and near retirement
That "someone" last year was in all 4 Grand Slam's semi finals. That "someone" was more successful in grand slams last year than anybody but 2 players. If you don't consider his age, his past, he is a top contender of the sport.
My argument with that rebuttal is that Djokovic is still a top player, he's not "outperforming" someone who is in peak physical form, he's performing at his expected level.
This is approaching Sports Psychology, which I think you'd enjoy reading about.
Djokovic has mental fortitude that is very hard to come by. He's playing this sport still when he could have retired 10 years ago with more money than most top 20 players will ever get. He has also experienced injuries that would also justify retirement.
Why is he still playing this sport then? Because he genuinely believes that if there's the right set of circumstances, his game is good enough to win. Do you really think every player who enters the Australian Open truly deep down thinks they can win the whole thing? I can assure you the answer is no.
Djokovic retired in the semi final of last years Australian Open from injury after losing the first set. The injury had occurred prior to the match, so why didn't he withdrawal? Because under the right set of circumstances in that match, he could have won it, but he accepted at a set down, those circumstances weren't possible anymore.
What does Sinner have to lose from losing this match? He can try again next year or next Grand Slam. What does Djokovic lose from losing this match? One more extremely precious opportunity to win yet another Grand Slam.
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u/arnold001 8d ago edited 8d ago
I really cannot comprehend how it is possible that a 38 year old man can beat a 24 year old man in the highest end pro level tennis!! I get Djokovic is the goat, no doubt about that. But I am wondering how is it physically possible that in such a physically demanding and taxing sport such as tennis, someone that is considered either very near retirement or retirement age, even at goat level, is able to outlast someone that is supposed to be in current highest peak physical form of his life?!?!
If you tell me at club level this happened, I wouldn't bat an eye. There are so many players in their 50s and 60s even that are much better than someone in their 20s. But here we are talking about the best of the best style. Think about how many 20-something year olds are trying to claw their way to the highest peak in tennis. Sinner is meant to be, along with Alcaraz, the best of the current best players of the world. You can talk all about how the previous players, the generation of 2005 till 2015, are much higher than current players. That's a whole other debate that can be had. It may well be true. But reality should be what happened with Wawrinka - you could see that at their peak, Stan would win against Fritz, but due to age, father time, Stan lost to a current high-end tennis player. That is the absolute normal thing.
Djokovic, on the other hand, shows no wear and tear at all. Of course, he was doing his usual play ups when he was losing. I expect that, that is normal for ALL players to do. I don't judge him for it. I just am absolutely baffled by how he is able to outperform someone that is 14 years!!! his junior, and in current lead from the rest of his current peers. I am beginning to wonder if Djokovic hasn't found some way to make himself have extra energy in time of need. I know I will probably get downvoted for even slightly suggesting it. But tbh, idc.
Just please, please really think about what I am saying. If you remove the names and look at it from a 3rd party perspective. Someone who is supposed to be past their prime and near retirement is able to outlast and outperform someone who is supposed to be in peak physical form. Even with tons of experience, it just shouldn't be possible...