2014 Masters Series Rome Final: Djokovic v. Nadal

[Moxie]

Holy Toledo…the break back. My nerves...

 

[Front242]

^ Kei Nishikori was absolutely destroying him a lot more than this before his back/legs went. With better fitness he's a giant slayer. That was in response to El Dude who I didn't quote sorry.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Great Chokeovic is making an appearance at the wrong time :/.

 

[nehmeth]

Wow... Nadal's obnoxious parents yelling and cheering.... so Djokovicesque. :snigger

 

[tented]

Horrible miss. That was dreadful.

 

[kskate2]

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.

It's not that simple Cali. Sometimes, Novak doesn't hit w/ a lot of margin. When you're going for shots like that you aren't going to make all of them.

 

[tented]

&*#%$#!!!!

 

[Riotbeard]

3 Break points!

 

[kskate2]

0-40 for Novak to break again

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

3 bPs for Nole now...the peaks and valleys in this match are stunning.

 

[Front242]

Lately it seems Novak's return games are way better than his own service games but if he breaks here and holds this could be it.

 

[nehmeth]

YES!!!!!

 

[Riotbeard]

NOLE NOLE NOLE

 

[TsarMatt]

Just like the second set. Nadal breaks back to only give it away the following game.

 

[nehmeth]

Dear God... where are the nitro pills??

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Chokedal put in an appearance too!

 

[Front242]

Booyahcrusha! In an Ali G voice

 

[kskate2]

and another momentum swing. How many did I say we would have before the end, 3+

 

[Ricardo]

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.

that's not the way i see it, not from the same perspective. i was thinking in terms of the 'finger print' of Djoker's game.

 

[Front242]

Well most of us here voted Novak in 3. If holds here it's looking good. But his service games can be dodgy, especially right after breaking.