2013 French Open SF: Nadal vs. Djokovic

[Front242]

I'm quite sure he does think about these achievements. Why wouldn't he? Every top player is playing for history books/records, etc.

 

[Mog]

There's also a lot of stake for Nadal in here. If he wins this tournament, he will be the first player in the Open Era to win 8 titles in one particular slam. Also, if he wins this tournament, he will be first player ever to win at one least slam in NINE consecutive years. I know he doesn't think about these achievements but that still would be a huge accomplishment to do.

You are right, there is a lot of stakes for Nadal. Eight RGs wil be a huge record. But more then that he doesn't want to lose at RG to any one and not even Nole. He is the King of clay.
Said that there is also a lot at stakes for Nole. He is the #1 player, going for the career Grand Slam to join the elite players. Many expects him to win and he knows that.
It is going to be a great match and perhaps will go to five sets.
Let the best one win. I picked Djokovic to win.

 

[justapasserby]

Neither guy is beating the other to a pulp here in this match.

most probably, but noone's stopping them from wanting to do so

 

[Moxie]

Neither guy is beating the other to a pulp here in this match.

most probably, but noone's stopping them from wanting to do so

I don't see, that if that's what it takes to get through on Friday, they won't beat each other bloody. If one wants to hold something in reserve, and the other goes for the jugular, that player will win, so why would the other pull up? I expect both semis to take something out of the eventual winner...both set up big battles.

 

[justapasserby]

Neither guy is beating the other to a pulp here in this match.

most probably, but noone's stopping them from wanting to do so

I don't see, that if that's what it takes to get through on Friday, they won't beat each other bloody. If one wants to hold something in reserve, and the other goes for the jugular, that player will win, so why would the other pull up? I expect both semis to take something out of the eventual winner...both set up big battles.

really hoping both would be in tip top shape, otherwise a dud would ruin the whole tournament for me (never thought that would be possible after roger's exit). Would love to see them both at their best trying to squeeze the life out of each other.

as for tsonga-ferer. Tsonga may have problems with great defenders, but seeing how fired up he gets with the crowd, i think he will easily break through ferrer and be fresh for the final.

there is a really big chance france gets its french champion in home soil.

 

[Moxie]

^ I'm not sure that "easily break through Ferrer" is actually a thing. LOL. The crowd will be about 95% in Tsonga's favor, or it will surely seem that way, but David is not the type to lose focus over that. And both are highly motivated to win this SF, so I don't see either coming out of it unscathed. So, the winner of Nadal v. Djokovic would still likely be favored for the title, no matter how rough theirs is, IMO.

 

[Mog]

Neither guy is beating the other to a pulp here in this match.

most probably, but noone's stopping them from wanting to do so

I don't see, that if that's what it takes to get through on Friday, they won't beat each other bloody. If one wants to hold something in reserve, and the other goes for the jugular, that player will win, so why would the other pull up? I expect both semis to take something out of the eventual winner...both set up big battles.

Agree with moxie on this. No one wants to hold something and lose. There is no measure. What is it good if you do not go to final.
Secondly most semis are very much contested. And professional players are supposed to stand be ready for semi and final.

 

[Moxie]

^ You make a good point, Mog. A Slam SF should be a tough test, and then you have to play the final. That's the last man standing.

 

[crystalfire]

it is really hard to pick this match. ill go with djoker because i think he has the confidence and hes the last player to beat nadal (i believe).

 

[Moxie]

it is really hard to pick this match. ill go with djoker because i think he has the confidence and hes the last player to beat nadal (i believe).

He was the last player to beat Nadal, and rather convincingly, at MC. But I don't think that there's all there is to it. In MC, the conditions favored Novak, and he wanted send a shot across the bow, which he did. And Nadal didn't play his best. On Friday, the conditions will favor Nadal's game. (Sunny, pretty hot.) Both are highly motivated, for sure, but Nadal has to be favored on the surface, and in best-of-5, especially when the conditions take his ball. Also, Nadal worked on several aspects of his game play Wawrinka that will serve him v. Djokovic: Serve was better, (5 aces/no DFs,) first serve percentage was high, and he won a lot of points at the net. He was looking to play a more aggressive game to prepare for Nole, and he did. On the other hand, Djokovic still had to go toe-to-toe with Haas, and failed to serve it out when he had the chance. It was straight-sets, but not easily won.

No matter how much Djokovic "wants" it, or feels "confidence," (which he didn't consumately demonstrate today,) I think Rafa still has to be favored. He's still something like 56-1 at RG.

 

[El Dude]

I voted Novak in 5 sets, partially because I want to see him win and partially because I think its his time.

 

[Moxie]

I voted Novak in 5 sets, partially because I want to see him win and partially because I think its his time.

That's funny...I thought that you were the analytical one. That prediction is all sentiment. But you're entitled, anyway.

 

[rafanoy1992]

it is really hard to pick this match. ill go with djoker because i think he has the confidence and hes the last player to beat nadal (i believe).

He was the last player to beat Nadal, and rather convincingly, at MC. But I don't think that there's all there is to it. In MC, the conditions favored Novak, and he wanted send a shot across the bow, which he did. And Nadal didn't play his best. On Friday, the conditions will favor Nadal's game. (Sunny, pretty hot.) Both are highly motivated, for sure, but Nadal has to be favored on the surface, and in best-of-5, especially when the conditions take his ball. Also, Nadal worked on several aspects of his game play Wawrinka that will serve him v. Djokovic: Serve was better, (5 aces/no DFs,) first serve percentage was high, and he won a lot of points at the net. He was looking to play a more aggressive game to prepare for Nole, and he did. On the other hand, Djokovic still had to go toe-to-toe with Haas, and failed to serve it out when he had the chance. It was straight-sets, but not easily won.

No matter how much Djokovic "wants" it, or feels "confidence," (which he didn't consumately demonstrate today,) I think Rafa still has to be favored. He's still something like 56-1 at RG.

Moxie, he is 57-1

 

[Moxie]

it is really hard to pick this match. ill go with djoker because i think he has the confidence and hes the last player to beat nadal (i believe).

He was the last player to beat Nadal, and rather convincingly, at MC. But I don't think that there's all there is to it. In MC, the conditions favored Novak, and he wanted send a shot across the bow, which he did. And Nadal didn't play his best. On Friday, the conditions will favor Nadal's game. (Sunny, pretty hot.) Both are highly motivated, for sure, but Nadal has to be favored on the surface, and in best-of-5, especially when the conditions take his ball. Also, Nadal worked on several aspects of his game play Wawrinka that will serve him v. Djokovic: Serve was better, (5 aces/no DFs,) first serve percentage was high, and he won a lot of points at the net. He was looking to play a more aggressive game to prepare for Nole, and he did. On the other hand, Djokovic still had to go toe-to-toe with Haas, and failed to serve it out when he had the chance. It was straight-sets, but not easily won.

No matter how much Djokovic "wants" it, or feels "confidence," (which he didn't consumately demonstrate today,) I think Rafa still has to be favored. He's still something like 56-1 at RG.

Moxie, he is 57-1

Even better!

 

[Mastoor]

it is impossible to predict because it is one of those matches where everything is possible from one guy winning in straights to his opponent doing so.

So, I voted following my heart and hoping No1e rises to the occasion and wins in straight sets.

 

[tented]

There's also a lot of stake for Nadal in here. If he wins this tournament, he will be the first player in the Open Era to win 8 titles in one particular slam.

"... be the first player in the Open Era" is probably your way of saying "be the first man in the Open Era," but just to be clear Rafa will not be the only player. That distinction goes to Navratilova, who won Wimbledon nine times.

 

[tented]

it is impossible to predict because it is one of those matches where everything is possible from one guy winning in straights to his opponent doing so.

So, I voted following my heart and hoping No1e rises to the occasion and wins in straight sets.

I agree, Mastoor. It could be Djokovic in 3, 4, or 5 sets; it could be Nadal in 3, 4, or 5 sets. Honestly, any of those possible outcomes wouldn't be shocking. Surprising or disappointing, yes. Shocking, no.

Like you, I will vote with my heart, and the hope that Rafa handles Djokovic better than he did in MC. I'll go with .... hmm, this is difficult ... OK, I'll go with Rafa in 4.

 

[Moxie]

There's also a lot of stake for Nadal in here. If he wins this tournament, he will be the first player in the Open Era to win 8 titles in one particular slam.

"... be the first player in the Open Era" is probably your way of saying "be the first man in the Open Era," but just to be clear Rafa will not be the only player. That distinction goes to Navratilova, who won Wimbledon nine times.

Duly-noted, tented. And also, for those who don't find it completely impossible to compare men's and women's records, if/when Rafa wins on Sunday, he would pass Chris Evert as the only person to have won RG 8 times. (He is currently tied with Chrissie at 7.)

 

[BalaryKar]

Watching a match not involving a favorite actually helps, you can then watch tennis

Some how my haunch is that Nadal is loosing this in 4-5 sets. Nole knows that Soderling is not around and there is no point waiting for the lightning to strike at the same place twice over. He is no.1, he has defeated Nadal 3 times in slams, and 3 times on clay. So, go Nole.

Nadal's not going down easily. He knows that to win the FO, he needs to just win the semi , and there is still a strong possibility of a return and there won't be a break-up 30-15 lossing in the 5th set. This is not simply a match, it is a war out there.

 

[El Dude]

tented, Rafa losing the French Open final in 3 sets would be shocking - I don't care if its to Novak Djokovic or an android from the year 2102 named Bjorn Cyborg - no one beats Rafa in 3 sets on his home turf.

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I voted Novak in 5 sets, partially because I want to see him win and partially because I think its his time.

That's funny...I thought that you were the analytical one. That prediction is all sentiment. But you're entitled, anyway.

I only play analytical in context. I'm all sentiment - just ask my wife :blush: