Oh Nole!

Have just watched the final set of the Djokovic Federer Abu Dhabi match. I've always been impressed with Djokovic's showmanship and understanding of whats expected but this time he got things totally wrong. There was his opponant in full exhibition mode (ie slow serves, put the ball in play but no killer shots, don't run too much, even wear a bling watch) and Djokovic put his game face on and went for the kill!

Djokovic won't have made any friends in Abu Dhabi and they may not invite him back (that would be a shame financially). He won't have made friends with Federer (that would be a shame for lots of reasons). Oh Nole! You have a lot to learn...

Is this sarcastic?
If Federer did tank then thats just stupid, cos now Djokovic will be very confident if they play in Australia.
I watched the match- Fed played a poor match- he didn't lose on purpose.

Maybe Djokovic was upset that the current World Number 3 got a bye to the semis whereas the current World Number 1 had to play the prelimary round. Don't see many tournaments where that happens.

Djokovic entered late- hence he was not given a bye.

Federer didn't "tank" he just played as was expected.

Djokovic isn't stupid. He should have understood why Federer got a bye. It was an exhibition and Federer was one of the prime exhibits. If he doesn't understand why Federer is a prime exhibit he really does have a lot to learn... If he doesn't like it that Federer is a prime exhibit it is something he is just going to have to learn to live with.

Well hopefully if Nole took that match seriously then he might have given away some of his new tactics already.

amritia3ee wrote:Djokovic entered late- hence he was not given a bye.

Looks like they knew he was coming on October 25th. Doesn't seem late to me.

http://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/djokovic-to-make-abu-dhabi-debut-1.918102

amritia3ee wrote:Djokovic entered late- hence he was not given a bye.

Of course he was given a bye ...

What do you think his match with Federer was

Nore Staat wrote:

amritia3ee wrote:Djokovic entered late- hence he was not given a bye.

Of course he was given a bye ...

What do you think his match with Federer was

Well said.

PS: BTW, HE, two articles for the same Federer celebration, yours and SAs?

laferfan

Federer bash!? Have you been at the sherry?

Unfortunately Djoko wasn't as courageous in the indoor season. The way he avoided a meeting against an in form Federer was quite embarrassing (Typsy in London, Nishikori in Basel)

hawkeye wrote:laferfan

Federer bash!? Have you been at the sherry?

... right after Federer won his first game....

Guess everyone wanted a Fedal match, so they have it, albeit for the third place.

Ferrer-Djokovic (repeat of WTF?) is the final.

laverfan wrote:Guess everyone wanted a Fedal match, so they have it, albeit for the third place.

Ferrer-Djokovic (repeat of WTF?) is the final.

Hurray!

I reckon Federer and Nadal will play an exhibition and leave Djokovic and Ferrer to slug it out. Its a win win situation. (of course I'de much prefer Nadal and Federer to slug it out but there's a time and place for that and this isn't it).

I hope Nole was watching Federer and Nadal. Thats how to play an exhibition.

hawkeye wrote:I hope Nole was watching Federer and Nadal. Thats how to play an exhibition.

Djokovic already played Federer once. Are they playing again today?

Ferrer won't be in such a giving mood as Federer was. Easy money.

laverfan

Please read the bit at the top. Of course Djokovic has already played Federer. If he gets invited back next year (after yesterdays performance that may be in doubt) hopefully he will have learnt something from watching Nadal and Federer.

hawkeye wrote:If he gets invited back next year (after yesterdays performance that may be in doubt) hopefully he will have learnt something from watching Nadal and Federer.

He is still going for the kill with Ferrer, rather than being relaxed.

I know! He has learnt nothing...

Are you guys for real, have watched the matches and none of the players are not trying. As if federer would be content with being destroyed by djokovic, he was outplayed and could not find an answer. You guys are naive if you don't think players are trying their best to win. Why has fed also lost four of his previous five matches to djokovic......because he was not trying too??

slashermcguirk

These matches are part of an exhibition. Most players are aware and understand the etiquette of such occasions. Particuarly the very top players who get to play more of these events. I'm sure you would agree that Djokovic is a very top player? But he doesn't appear to understand what is expected of him.

Federer I'm sure was surprised by Djokovics attitude in their match.

I am aware it is an exhibition but top players take a winning mentality to court every time they play. I can tell you that these guys will not just lose on purpose due to lack of caring. They enjoy themselves but will still go out to win. You dont become a top player unless you have that competitor in you. They won't lose their sleep if they lose but it offers a great opportunity to see where your game is at. Losing badly in straight sets will not feel good against your closest competitors

slashermcguirk wrote:Are you guys for real, have watched the matches and none of the players are not trying.

I have seen better effort from all of the players.

slashermcguirk wrote:As if federer would be content with being destroyed by djokovic, he was outplayed and could not find an answer.

It has not been as one-sided as you think. Their matches have been close, with Djokovic winning four out of five in 2011.

slashermcguirk wrote:You guys are naive if you don't think players are trying their best to win. Why has fed also lost four of his previous five matches to djokovic......because he was not trying too??

Do you think Federer is playing with same intensity as say a slam or the WTF?

No I dont think they are playing with intensity of a slam but they are still trying to win. No top player goes on court to lose to a close rival. The loss will not affect a player as much but they will still want to win.

I think Djokovic was playing with the intensity of a slam... As the commentaors have just said it appears no one told him it was an exhibition. He should be paying attention.

slashermcguirk wrote:No I dont think they are playing with intensity of a slam but they are still trying to win. No top player goes on court to lose to a close rival. The loss will not affect a player as much but they will still want to win.

Some of these players get over losses fairly easily or should otherwise, it would be hard for them to compete. For example, Federer.

hawkeye wrote:I think Djokovic was playing with the intensity of a slam... As the commentaors have just said it appears no one told him it was an exhibition. He should be paying attention.

So what if he did? Is a half-hearted knock about a better 'exhibit' than seeing a player try his best? You hold Federer up as having a better attitude toward the tournament but he played four sets and lost two 6-1, one 6-2 and only managed to make one competitive at 7-5. Unless he was playing trick shots, how is this in any way an exhibition?

I doubt Djokovic will be celebrating this victory much and I know that Federer won't be losing a moment's sleep over his defeat. This is just training session for these guys. But I completely fail to see the logic that says Djokovic is in some way making a mistake by making an effort, especially as it is his only tournament before AO.

HM Murdoch at least making sense on here. Totally agree that players giving their best is more of an exhibition. Didn't see fed playing trick shots so maybe he is just playing poorly or his opponents are playing well. Fair play to djokovic, regardless of size of tournament it will only give him confidence to beat monfils, federer and ferrer. Don't see any harm in that

Impressive.

deeznu wrote:Impressive.

Welcome to 606v2, DeeZNu.

Slasher,

clearly you have not watched many Federer exhibitions..

Roger was not going to play at anything more than 80%. He was wearing his watch.. that says it all.

I refer you to the 'matches for Africa', where Roger was also in exhibition mode or the series against Sampras a few years back.

A 16 slam champ couldn't give two hoots about a money-spinning exho (apart from turniung up for the money of course). He barely turns up for masters events nowadays; do u really think he's going to risk injury in a slugfest with Nole?

Nole, otoh, clearly wanted to make a statement, and thus had his game face on. Besides, it's the only warm-up event that he's playing before OZ.

In real terms this match means nothing.

Nole is still the clear favourite for the OZ open, just as he was before this tourney.

Oh Hawkeye! Novak has learned how to win slams!