2014 Aussie Open QF: Djokovic vs. Wawrinka

[Moxie]

Passive rally, and Stan wins it.

 

[DarthFed]

It doesn't take much to get Novak going. The problem is it takes very little to get him rattled.

 

[kskate2]

another passive rally and he has the AD

 

[Denis]

Serious question: Who's the better defender, Nadal or Djokovic?

On hards I take Novak.

Nadal, all day every day

Yes, but my mind is rattled by three hours of nolecoaster at the moment.

 

[tented]

OMG, that was huge.

 

[kskate2]

huge ace for the hold. Stan climbs back 3-2

 

[DarthFed]

Whoever wins the next game wins the match is my guess.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Serious question: Who's the better defender, Nadal or Djokovic?

On hards I take Novak.

Nadal, all day every day

On clay, of course. On hards, I'd go Novak at the moment. Novak covers more distance now (is probably about as fast after Nadal's movement regressed a bit) and his flexibility and wide steps means he shrinks up the court better. He also deals with pace on hards much better. See how many forehands Nadal misses (forced errors I mean) when stretched hard and wide on his forehand side. Novak gets those back with interest.

I really think people still consider Nadal a better defender on hards due him being so fast a few years ago (obviously he's still very fast), but when you consider what they actually do with the ball when they reach it, Novak does it better (less floaty defensive shots).

On clay, I agree, it's not even close and Rafa's obviously better at passing shots.

 

[Moxie]

Well, at least the match is living up to its hype. YIKES!

 

[brokenshoelace]

On a sidenote: I'm sure people will think it's a diss to consider a player to be a better defender because it's somehow seen like it undermines their game.

 

[kskate2]

Yeah Mox. So much for a straight sets victory for Novak

 

[brokenshoelace]

Wawrinka has no inside out forehand. That's one of the biggest knocks on his game, especially for a top 10 players where the majority of his peers hit that shot in their sleep.

 

[tented]

Becker shouldn't stand up anymore. There's a desperation that makes him look pointless.

 

[Denis]

On a sidenote: I'm sure people will think it's a diss to consider a player to be a better defender because it's somehow seen like it undermines their game.

I don't. If you have the additional weapons, it makes spectacular tennis. In particular if you can turn a rally around.

 

[Moxie]

Darren Cahill says that Wawrinka is beyond moral victories, here. Very true. He has to win. The moral victory was last year.

 

[DarthFed]

Djokovic defends better on the backhand but not the forehand and the passing shots are great but not anywhere near Nadals. Also Nadal is still a more consistent hitter, Novak just misses more.

 

[brokenshoelace]

For the love of god, stop going for that DTL backhand from 10 feet back. You're not hitting much easier shots.

 

[tented]

Has Stan been using the body serve much? It would be worth trying if he hasn't.

 

[DarthFed]

Come on Nole!

 

[brokenshoelace]

Djokovic defends better on the backhand but not the forehand and the passing shots are great but not anywhere near Nadals. Also Nadal is still a more consistent hitter, Novak just misses more.

I look at it this way: while watching them now, who makes me wonder "how did he get THAT back?" more?