2014 Masters Series Rome Final: Djokovic v. Nadal

[El Dude]

Wow, incredible pass.

 

[Front242]

Great passing shot by Nadal.

 

[Riotbeard]

It has gone from crap to classic.

 

[tented]

Awesome passing shot!

 

[Ricardo]

honestly, i think Djoker is 'still' in Rafa's head.

Can you explain? I don't disagree. I do think Novak is more settled playing Rafa than the other way around.

when Novak is hitting cleanly, Nadal becomes very tense..... more tense than against anyone else (who also gets on top of him). He would even appear to move slower than usual as a result.

I think that's simply because when Novak is playing well he's as good as Rafa.

i wouldn't put it that way, Novak plays a different game - he takes his shots earlier than Rafa and make Rafa's spin work against him (completely opposite to Fed), which unsettles Rafa.... deeply.
Of course, they are the same level of players.

 

[calitennis127]

That was a great backhand pass by Nadal. Djokovic could have done better finishing the point, but still, Nadal hit a great backhand passing shot.

 

[Riotbeard]

That's when you go JMac on Nadal man...

It would be fun to to JMac in tennis today, who just did super aggressive, jerk things. Although beaming isn't like that.

 

[El Dude]

honestly, i think Djoker is 'still' in Rafa's head.

Can you explain? I don't disagree. I do think Novak is more settled playing Rafa than the other way around.

when Novak is hitting cleanly, Nadal becomes very tense..... more tense than against anyone else (who also gets on top of him). He would even appear to move slower than usual as a result.

I think that's simply because when Novak is playing well he's as good as Rafa.

Better.

That's debatable and the record doesn't really bear that out. Like this match, there have been momentum swings but overall they're very close.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Great get from Rafa at the net.

 

[kskate2]

wow. clutch volley. 15-30

 

[Front242]

Becker's always bright red head...chronic hypertension, boozed related redness, constant sunburn or a combination of all 3 ?

 

[nehmeth]

That's when you go JMac on Nadal man...

It would be fun to to JMac in tennis today, who just did super aggressive, jerk things. Although beaming isn't like that.

Unfortunately, JMac's serve - and subsequent attempt at a volley - would end up getting him beaned and passed.

 

[kskate2]

2 BP's for Nadal

 

[nehmeth]

Novak's tensing up again.

 

[El Dude]

honestly, i think Djoker is 'still' in Rafa's head.

Can you explain? I don't disagree. I do think Novak is more settled playing Rafa than the other way around.

when Novak is hitting cleanly, Nadal becomes very tense..... more tense than against anyone else (who also gets on top of him). He would even appear to move slower than usual as a result.

I think that's simply because when Novak is playing well he's as good as Rafa.

i wouldn't put it that way, Novak plays a different game - he takes his shots earlier than Rafa and make Rafa's spin work against him (completely opposite to Fed), which unsettles Rafa.... deeply.
Of course, they are the same level of players.

I hear you, but my point is that it also unsettles Rafa because Novak is the closest thing he's got to an equal these days. Rafa's not used to that.

 

[El Dude]

Terrible, terrible "drop shot" by Novak to lose the break.

 

[kskate2]

Nadal breaks. 3-3. Another momentum swing

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

See...Rafa goes straight at Nole and breaks.

Momentum did change. Rafa is hitting better.

 

[calitennis127]

Can you explain? I don't disagree. I do think Novak is more settled playing Rafa than the other way around.

when Novak is hitting cleanly, Nadal becomes very tense..... more tense than against anyone else (who also gets on top of him). He would even appear to move slower than usual as a result.

I think that's simply because when Novak is playing well he's as good as Rafa.

Better.

That's debatable and the record doesn't really bear that out. Like this match, there have been momentum swings but overall they're very close.

Nadal may hit a great winner here and there, but he needs Djokovic to hit unforced errors to have his "momentum swings".

Big difference.

 

[tented]

3-3!