2014 Masters Series Rome Final: Djokovic v. Nadal

[calitennis127]

Djokovic playing at his best is simply better than Nadal - on any surface. That said, you have to give Nadal credit for forcing a very high level out of Djokovic in key stretches. Those stretches may be on Djokovic's racket, but he does have to be on top of things to win points in those moments.

 

[Ricardo]

better player on the day (of the tournament as well) won, well deserved.

 

[Riotbeard]

Also Novak has won 4 matches in a row...

 

[Kieran]

Well done to Novak, very strong performance :clap

I still insist that Rafa has improved in this event, but his serve is WTA, worthless, when he needs it to be strong. But Nole finished like a steam train and throughout the match he had huge flashes of brilliance, whereas with Rafa, these were few and far between.

Vamos!

I agree. Rafa played much better today than he has all year. If that weren't the case sets 2 and 3 would not have even been competitve. Both played into form on some level, just one guy got a little further. There really is a silver lining if you are a rafa fan. He improved throughout the tournament and has a couple weeks to up his game even more.

His serve is an absolute lame duck, though, it's really unreliable, and he wasn't as aggressive as he needs to be, but he's had a good week overall and I expect him to be better again in Paris...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

13 majors keiran..lol, not 14. rafa "forgot" to win AO 2014.

 

[kskate2]

Yes Novak has the streak right now. This rivalry will turn again and Nadal will win a few in a row.

 

[calitennis127]

Great win for Djokovic. Congrats to him. He is gradually getting back to his rightful place as the #1 player in the world.

Really? His rightful place? Let me tease this out a little: he holds no slams and Rafa holds two. He's won six majors in his whole career and Rafa has fourteen (EDIT: Freudian slip maybe, I meant, 13! ).

Help me out here, buddy, help me out! :huh:

When he is playing his best, he is simply better than Nadal, even if Nadal has weaseled out a number of bogus victories against Djokovic like last year's US Open.

 

[Kieran]

Djokovic playing at his best is simply better than Nadal - on any surface. That said, you have to give Nadal credit for forcing a very high level out of Djokovic in key stretches. Those stretches may be on Djokovic's racket, but he does have to be on top of things to win points in those moments.

This isn't borne out by the stats, buddy, and nor does any of it mean that's Nole's "rightful place is as world number one.

I mean, remember Nalbandian, right? Greatest man since Laver, when he played at his best. Was his rightful place as world number one as well... :nono

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

WHAT A CHATTERBOX. Christ.

 

[Riotbeard]

Well done to Novak, very strong performance :clap

I still insist that Rafa has improved in this event, but his serve is WTA, worthless, when he needs it to be strong. But Nole finished like a steam train and throughout the match he had huge flashes of brilliance, whereas with Rafa, these were few and far between.

Vamos!

I agree. Rafa played much better today than he has all year. If that weren't the case sets 2 and 3 would not have even been competitve. Both played into form on some level, just one guy got a little further. There really is a silver lining if you are a rafa fan. He improved throughout the tournament and has a couple weeks to up his game even more.

His serve is an absolute lame duck, though, it's really unreliable, and he wasn't as aggressive as he needs to be, but he's had a good week overall and I expect him to be better again in Paris...

He needs to build off this for sure, but it's the first thing he has really had to build off of.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Interesting clay court season from Rafa, no? Couple of early exists, a win, in which he got a bit lucky , and a final's loss. The big one is still up for grabs though and I am still not prepared to count him out there.

 

[Kieran]

Great win for Djokovic. Congrats to him. He is gradually getting back to his rightful place as the #1 player in the world.

Really? His rightful place? Let me tease this out a little: he holds no slams and Rafa holds two. He's won six majors in his whole career and Rafa has fourteen (EDIT: Freudian slip maybe, I meant, 13! ).

Help me out here, buddy, help me out! :huh:

When he is playing his best, he is simply better than Nadal, even if Nadal has weaseled out a number of bogus victories against Djokovic like last year's US Open.

:snigger :clap :lolz:

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I see they got a couple of prostitutes on stage.

 

[calitennis127]

Great win for Djokovic. Congrats to him. He is gradually getting back to his rightful place as the #1 player in the world.

whoever has the top spot is at his rightful place, nobody got free ranking points from Santa.

I am not saying that Nadal cheated his way into the top ranking. I am just saying that Djokovic playing to his peak is a better player.

 

[Kieran]

Interesting clay court season from Rafa, no? Couple of early exists, a win, in which he got a bit lucky , and a final's loss. The big one is still up for grabs though and I am still not prepared to count him out there.

Yeah, it's been a shaky, patchy, unsatisfying campaign, so far. He's showing too many frailties, but he's still not far off...

 

[kskate2]

Great win for Djokovic. Congrats to him. He is gradually getting back to his rightful place as the #1 player in the world.

Really? His rightful place? Let me tease this out a little: he holds no slams and Rafa holds two. He's won six majors in his whole career and Rafa has fourteen (EDIT: Freudian slip maybe, I meant, 13! ).

Help me out here, buddy, help me out! :huh:

When he is playing his best, he is simply better than Nadal, even if Nadal has weaseled out a number of bogus victories against Djokovic like last year's US Open.

Cali,
How can a 4 set win be labeled a weasel win? It's not like it went to a 5th set breaker.

 

[Ricardo]

This is great for Novak. This match will be in Ralf's mind when they meet in Par. Unless Fed knocks Nole out in the semis again.

a bit pointless for Fed to beat Djoker, since he would go to meat grinder in the final.... but wait, there are still others who are capable of beating either of them on their day.

I don't know that Federer's mind will be on RG probably more like Wimbledon. Federer has a lot going on in his personal life with the birth of the twins, so I can see maybe another fade at the French.

I am sure Fed won't be 100% mentally or physically but will have no regrets about the distractions.....

 

[bobvance]

Watching Novak play the way he did in the last two sets was a real pleasure. I'm looking forward to the French.

 

[Front242]

Impressive Italian. Guy speaks loads of languages.

 

[Front242]

They both do!