2014 Masters Series Rome Final: Djokovic v. Nadal

[tented]

So far in this tournament, Rafa has lost the first set sometimes and the second set sometimes.

And no sets sometimes.

 

[Kieran]

thanks for the welcome, nehmeth and moxie629! hopefully tomorrow's final will be an epic one, whether in 2 or 3 sets..

Welcome, anticaria! Exactly, let tennis be the winner, and we can have something special to enjoy... :clap

 

[Kirijax]

I haven't seen any of Djokovic's tennis this week. Is he completely back from the wrist thing or is it still bothering him?

 

[Riotbeard]

I haven't seen any of Djokovic's tennis this week. Is he completely back from the wrist thing or is it still bothering him?

Wrist appears fine. A brief moment where he shook it out today. His play has been high overall but a little rust for sure. Not his best, but a good level generally. Hard gauge his level when playing a guy raonic though...

 

[golds girl]

This hurts me but I'm going to have pick Novak in 2. There was so much struggle in the Murray match, not to mention the inexplicable struggles vs. Simon and Youzhny.
The match against Dimi is irrelevant as he was so off it was the equivalent of Rafa playing a Junior.
I also can't consider Nole's aggravation today because I've seen him act like this one day and blow folks away the next.
I hope Rafa proves me wrong but the evidence isn't there in my mind.

 

[Kieran]

Anybody think this match will have a bearing on Paris, if they meet there?

 

[tented]

Anybody think this match will have a bearing on Paris, if they meet there?

Yes and no. (Wasn't that helpful? :snigger)

Since RG is best-of-five, it's almost a different sport when it comes to Rafa, especially at that particular tournament.

Yes, his form isn't even close to his best (2008 & 2010), but he's still only ever lost one best-of-five on clay. If it were best-of-three, then I would answer differently. But it's not.

He has time to warm into the tournament, and each match. It's more difficult for an opponent, even Novak, to get on top of Rafa in five sets. Most Novak wins are straight-set affairs: 13/18.

 

[Rose]

thanks for the welcome, nehmeth and moxie629! hopefully tomorrow's final will be an epic one, whether in 2 or 3 sets..

Welcome, anticaria! Exactly, let tennis be the winner, and we can have something special to enjoy... :clap

You both have such good attitudes And a welcome to anticaria from me also I don't think I'll be watching the Final either! Rafa's and Andy's Match just about wore me out!

 

[Kieran]

I think if Rafa wins tomoro, Nole will find it very hard to get even two sets in Paris. If Nole wins tomorrow, it may go to give in Paris, but I'd always give the nod to Rafa in a five set dogfight on clay. However, if Rafa is off, or his confidence affected, Nole might win in Paris...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Does anyone know whether this match will be available on old fashioned TV in ESPN or
ESPN2?

 

[DarthFed]

I think if Rafa wins tomoro, Nole will find it very hard to get even two sets in Paris. If Nole wins tomorrow, it may go to give in Paris, but I'd always give the nod to Rafa in a five set dogfight on clay. However, if Rafa is off, or his confidence affected, Nole might win in Paris...

If Rafa wins tomorrow I wouldn't even count on Nole reaching the final of RG. He would go in short of form and confidence and he hasn't fared well at majors in quite some time.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Nole might win this one in three sets.

I don't think any match between these two will have an effect on their next match anymore, unless one goes on a tear and win 6-7 in a row, or someone comes back from 6-0, 5-0 down to turn it around, like, something that drastic... I mean, these guys know each other so well, there are no secrets, no psychological edge, no nothing. It is all about how they show up on the day. Momentum can even change from game to game, so I don't think there is any carry over from a previous match between these two.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think Nole might win this one in three sets.

I don't think any match between these two will have an effect on their next match anymore, unless one goes on a tear and win 6-7 in a row, or someone comes back from 6-0, 5-0 down to turn it around, like, something that drastic... I mean, these guys know each other so well, there are no secrets, no psychological edge, no nothing. It is all about how they show up on the day. Momentum can even change from game to game, so I don't think there is any carry over from a previous match between these two.

I beg to disagree. The pattern between these two seem to be series of wins for one player
until the other figures out how to deal and then a series of wins for other players. Currently.
Novak is running the table. A side effect of this observation is that if Rafa wins this one,
that will just be the beginning of a new series and hence, Rafa will win FO, if these two
meet again in FO. On the other hand if Novak wins, anything can happen at FO as it
could be the ending of sequence of wins for Novak or continuing of the streak. This
is just assuming the same pattern holds.

 

[Kieran]

The curse! The cruelty! Of this one is...I won't see it. Fecking dumb scheduling again. Why don't they ask me. :nono

And no, I don't watch matches after they've been played. Well, rarely I do...

 

[nehmeth]

And no, I don't watch matches after they've been played. Well, rarely I do...

How many times did you watch the 2008 Wimbledon Final? :snigger

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Nole might win this one in three sets.

I don't think any match between these two will have an effect on their next match anymore, unless one goes on a tear and win 6-7 in a row, or someone comes back from 6-0, 5-0 down to turn it around, like, something that drastic... I mean, these guys know each other so well, there are no secrets, no psychological edge, no nothing. It is all about how they show up on the day. Momentum can even change from game to game, so I don't think there is any carry over from a previous match between these two.

I beg to disagree. The pattern between these two seem to be series of wins for one player
until the other figures out how to deal and then a series of wins for other players. Currently.
Novak is running the table. A side effect of this observation is that if Rafa wins this one,
that will just be the beginning of a new series and hence, Rafa will win FO, if these two
meet again in FO. On the other hand if Novak wins, anything can happen at FO as it
could be the ending of sequence of wins for Novak or continuing of the streak. This
is just assuming the same pattern holds.

I am not too sure GSM. They are streaky, I get that, but the only time I think one was seriously inside the other's head was Nole's 7 game streak covering every surface in around 2011. I mean, remember the epic AO Final that Nole won? That was heartbreaking for Rafa. Rafa won the next 3 after that. If that does not effect you ( and I believe it doesn't) what does?

Nole took Monte Carlo from Rafa after umpteen years. Next match at the RG, Rafa won.
Rafa won 2013 US Open, humiliating Nole in the last set. Next couple of hard court matces, Nole pretty much schooled Rafa.

Each tournament, each match, each set and each game have their own unique set of circumstances and momentum changes. Like I said initially, unless something SERIOUSLY drastic happened in a previous match, these guys know how to forget. That's what set them apart from the average player, IMHO.

 

[tented]

And no, I don't watch matches after they've been played. Well, rarely I do...

How many times did you watch the 2008 Wimbledon Final? :snigger

Or, to put it another way, how many copies have you worn out?

 

[nehmeth]

And no, I don't watch matches after they've been played. Well, rarely I do...

How many times did you watch the 2008 Wimbledon Final? :snigger

Or, to put it another way, how many copies have you worn out?

And how many did you send as Christmas presents?

 

[the AntiPusher]

I guess I am the lone wolf who Is picking Rafa, I just like what I daw against Murray. Murray's return of service is amongst the best and Rafa was able to find a way to become victorious. Unlike Miami, he is ready for djoker dtl back hand . He knows he has got to make djoker try to hit through him with his fh, it's the wing that produces more ufes

 

[rahulpawar]

I am picking rafa in 2 sets