Djokovic v Nadal Final - Live

First topic message reminder :

*Now Live Final Discussion Here*

I am quite looking forward to the final at the moment. Opinions were mixed about their last gruelling meeting here, which made their US Open career head to head 1-1, but I personally thought it was their best match. The faster court encourages even defensive players to try a few aggressive shots, and the rivalry between the two is also in better balance than before, than when Djokovic was dominating it. We used to talk about Djok in Rafa’s head, mentally dominating, it’s not quite so clear cut now Rafa has a win on hard and won their last slam meeting, admittedly on clay and only just.

To my mind, whoever wins this is #1. Whoever wins it will be the only player with 2 slams in the calendar year. If Djokovic wins it he will be able to point to the official rankings, holding both hard court slams as well as the world tour finals, being perhaps a net touch away from the French Open as well, and a Wimbledon final.

If Rafa wins he will be clearly the best player in 2013, in both masters series (5-1 in such tournament wins vs Djokovic in 2013) as well as slams, and will be second in the rankings purely because of time out through to injury. He will be locker room #1 with the official rankings just needing some time to catch up to the truth. Djokovic cannot realistically claim to be the locker room #1 if he has only won the least important slam in the last 2 full years.

The rankings battle is now being engaged in terms of total weeks at number 1 as well, with Djokovic on course to catch Rafa up in a few weeks (both have about 100, Djokovic just under, Rafa just over).

10 Reasons Why Djokovic will win tomorrow:
1. The faster hard court should suit Djokovic a little more as he is relatively more aggressive – the fast speed makes it that bit harder for Nadal to chase down forehands struck out wide from the middle of the court, for instance.
2. Rafa hasn’t beaten him in a non-clay slam since 2010. Djokovic has come out on top in last three non-clay slam meetings.
3. The better backhand and the 2 hander response to Rafa’s high, spinny shots.
4. He is the number one player of the last 12 months.
5. His best on a hard court is better than anyone’s since 2011 - he has won 3 hard court slams since Rafa won one, and has a career total of 5 hard court slams compared to only 2 for Rafa.
6. He has often worked Rafa out tactically in the rivalry.
7. When Djokovic gets behind or has match points against him, he gets even better. The stadium of “the shot” could inspire again.
8. Djokovic very nearly beat him at the French Open, with the change of surface, Djokovic should be able to convert that into a victory.
9. New (since 2011) Djokovic leads the head to head 8-5. Results before then are when he was a lesser player.
10. Djokovic leads the career hard court head to head 11-6. Even the old, pre-peak Djokovic tended to beat peak Rafa on hard court at least half the time.

10 Reasons Why Nadal will win tomorrow:
1. He has won their last two slam meetings.
2. The better forehand.
3. Djokovic’s smash still slightly looks dodgy to me even though it hasn’t been exposed yet in this tournament, just one or two lost points can be costly in a tight match. It cost him last time, and he still hasn’t fixed it. You can bet Rafa will test it.
4. He is the number one player of 2013.
5. Nadal leads 21–15 in the rivalry. In Grand Slams, Nadal leads 7–3. In best-of-five matches, Nadal leads 8–3.
6. Rafa is much more the form player, having not lost on hard court this season.
7. He won their last head to head meeting on a hard court.
8. He has lost only one set on his way to the final, while Djokovic has last three. 6-7 is his worst set, but Djokovic’s losses were 2-6, 3-6 and 3-6 again.
9. Rafa had the easier semi final (although he did play second), so may have a little more energy for a 5-hour marathon.
10. Rafa has won double the number of slams in his career that Djokovic has (12-6).

Bookmakers are making Rafa the 60/40 or 55/45 favourite, but I am not sure about that, I think it is more like 50/50 and Djokovic’s hard court record and recent years head to head still counts for a lot.

Will Djoko let Rafa hold 1 more time in this match?  

Rafa hanging on. DJoko should be 3-0 up here. But holds well.

Plenty of pressure now on the Rafa serve. This is the biggest defining dynamic of their matches.

Is this now the greatest hold  according to the theme of this forum.  

greatest ad break of all time or at least in the top three

Absolutely xrucial hold right there for Nadal. Novak is dominating at the mo

That could be massive, Djokovic is a fluctuating player, and hopefully Nadal has deflated something.

Will be interesting indeed to see if Djokovic gets a second wind, and whether he needs a toilet break or MTO at any stage to help him find it.

At the moment Djokovic looks the better shotmaker from the back of the court, but I see Rafa as perhaps having a mental and physical advantage today.

Why oh why do these matches have to be so emotionally draining!

Energy of both players seems to have dipped a touch. I think Novak needs this set more than Rafa though.

I think Novak has let Rafa back in this set. No way Rafa should have been allowed to hold for 1-3

Somehow Djoko need to win this set quick if he wants this match, otherwise Bull will run all day.

I meant 1-2

is Djoko's serve that good or Rafa's return position that bad?  

An opening for nadal here maybe?

invisiblecoolers wrote:is Djoko's serve that good or Rafa's return position that bad?  

The latter, Rafa is standing so far back its ridiculous. He needs to step into these returns

Djoko and Rafa would be thankful they are playing in USO where the 5th will be decided in a tie breaker otherwise this match might get over tomorrow I guess and this give both players are tired, if only both players are fresh I guess it will take a weak for it to get over.

I will watch this match all day just for Rafa's girl friend   

Djoko throws that away.

ALPanorak wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:is Djoko's serve that good or Rafa's return position that bad?  

The latter, Rafa is standing so far back its ridiculous. He needs to step into these returns

I noticed too Rafa is never this passive when he plays one of the best server in history in Fed, here Djoko is making a mockery with his serve coz Rafa stands way too back.

This is what kills me watching Novak - these terrible service games that come out of nowhere. He had the momentum and just hands the break back.

That was the game where the title got away from him.

Somehow!

Nole is on tenterhooks, I feel. I know he played an 11-hour weekend once. But that was beginning of the season. With the mileage on his legs, I dont think he wants five sets.

I think I said it last time they played, they are both too tough to believe! Break back

Both Djoko and Rafa sucked at the nest today.

Awful from Nole there, though. Nadal's Christmas came early.

This is big. Can Nole be the gift that keeps giving?

invisiblecoolers wrote:Both Djoko and Rafa sucked at the nest today.

Egg-cellent observation.

36 winners for djoko. 16 for rafa.
I tend to support the aggressor.

Two of Djoko's lobs are the best I have seen in this era, the era that lacked the lob skills are compensated by the master of this era.

she fell over!

The bull don't lie down for ever,  

Problems

How come the ball is not broken yet ? 

Stunning spinning Kick serve down the T to save the 3rd break point.

Bold prediction: whoever wins this game will win the match.

ACE!!

Gotta say this, While Djoko's gf is hot she pales in comparison to Nadal's gf, such a beauty.   

Definitive moment of the match. Novak to lose serve next game.

invisiblecoolers wrote:Two of Djoko's lobs are the best I have seen in this era, the era that lacked the lob skills are compensated by the master of this era.

Only in this era. Why not just to the whole hog and pull out the "ever". You know it makes sense.

No, I'm calling TB this set.

Seems like both of them overcame the tiredness and both look fired at the moment.

Second wind. They are good at it

Henman Bill wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:Two of Djoko's lobs are the best I have seen in this era, the era that lacked the lob skills are compensated by the master of this era.

Only in this era. Why not just to the whole hog and pull out the "ever". You know it makes sense.

Come on 90's era and to some extend even the so called weak era of noughties had better lobs, but this era from 2011 was pathetic in lobs except for few players and Djoko proving to in the list of those few exceptions. 

Unreal how Nadal managed to win that set. Sheer strength of will. Mental monster

WTF is going on? how can Djoko lose this set he dominated so badly at the start?  

Now don't say me he gonna win the 4th set from no where, really confusing match.

For all those who like me have sacrificed MNF to see this streetfifght, Eagles are pimp slapping Washington.

HM Murdoch called it right.

kingraf wrote:For all those who like me have sacrificed MNF to see this streetfifght, Eagles are pimp slapping Washington.

Whats MNF?  

I told you! You can always rely on Novak for a brain fart when he's serving to stay in a match.

I think that's GSM, so off to bed for me now.