2014 Roland Garros Final: Nadal vs. Djokovic

[TsarMatt]

Nice S&V.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Nadal almost got that one...crazy.

 

[Federberg]

much great mental impact on Rafa if Novak wins this game with attritional rallies

 

[tented]

Hi, Matt.

 

[kskate2]

almost made it 15-30

 

[TsarMatt]

Hey Tented!

 

[kskate2]

yo Matt, welcome

 

[TsarMatt]

Hi mate. Good match so far.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

It's taken me until this far into the match, but I think I'm officially rooting for Nadal. Simply because, despite the fact that I am not a fan of Nadal's because I'm a Federer fan, it is my Federer fandom that simply will not allow me to root for Djokovic. I simply don't want Djokovic to beat Nadal at the French before Federer. And I know Fed is never going to beat Nadal. And that Djokovic probably is going to one of these days, if not this day. But for today, I'm going to keep the illusion alive that Federer at 32 can still find a way to get past these guys, if even just one more time. But also, watching the match, watching Nadal fight so hard right now, being a set down in the final for the first time since Fed took the first set in 2006, it's like he's the underdog. And well, the root for the underdog mentality has kicked in for me I guess. But at the same time, as I've been watching Nadal over the last year, I think I've really warmed up to him. Not because I've realized anything new. He's always been amazing. And I've always respected him. But now, somehow he's winning me over. I don't know. He's just so phenomenal. Of course, so is Djokovic. And I was actually a fan of his when he first showed up on the tour. Especially when he was doing his impressions. But somewhere along the way, between '08 and '10 I not only quit being a fan, I actively started disliking him. Anyways, all of that to say I'm rooting for Nadal today for like the fifth time ever. It's weird that I'd rather see Nadal get to 9 RGs than to see Djokovic get to a career grand slam. Even though that means Nadal gets to 14 total, one closer to Federer. Perhaps it's because I've resigned myself to the fact, that no matter what I think, when all is said and done and both have retired, I imagine most people and most of the records will declare that Nadal is the GOAT.

 

[calitennis127]

Djokovic's low first serve percentage destroyed his chances in that second set. He couldn't make one to save his life.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Djokovic getting thrown off by the crowd it seemed at the end of that set. Hope he can still win. It was never going to be in straights anyway, was it?

Rafa has the momentum at the moment though, Nole sloppy.

 

[Fiero425]

Djokovic getting thrown off by the crowd it seemed at the end of that set. Hope he can still win. It was never going to be in straights anyway, was it?

Rafa has the momentum at the moment though, Nole sloppy.

Too sloppy to watch! He puts Nadal on the defensive, see's a weak shot is coming, and meekly lets it bounce, allowing the point to continue! If Nole doesn't start taking advantage of those weak returns, closing out more points at the net, he might as well just give it up like Ferrer! He looks nowhere near capable of taking this match! He's allowed Nadal a 2nd life when he was trying to give him points and the match early on! If his wrist is giving him trouble, all the more reason to finish off points quicker! :nono uzzled

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Match time pix:

 

[Denis]

Congrats Rafa on his 9th RG title. He didn't need to do much, Novak messed up big time.

Terrible performance really. Everything went AWOL in the second set. Backhand especially.

 

[calitennis127]

Well, as I anticipated, Djokovic's inability to decisively put Nadal away really cost him. His second-set first serve percentage swung the match.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Congrats Rafa on his 9th RG title. He didn't need to do much, Novak messed up big time.

Terrible performance really. Everything went AWOL in the second set. Backhand especially.

Thanks Dude..Novak is still a great champion.. Congrats to Djoker fans..Number 14, Yippee

 

[crystalfire]

really hope djokovic gets it together for wimby

 

[calitennis127]

Congrats Rafa on his 9th RG title. He didn't need to do much, Novak messed up big time.

Terrible performance really. Everything went AWOL in the second set. Backhand especially.

Maybe you shouldn't have celebrated those Djokovic victories in Miami and Rome so much, as there were clear problems in how Djokovic was approaching Nadal at key moments.

 

[Denis]

Novak did well the first set going for the Nadal forehand. Couldn't keep it up. His movement started suffering and missed the backhand a lot as a consequence. I felt he was getting back into it at the end, but he messed up again in the last game. I think Nadal made a good tactical choice slowing down the pace, making Novak overhit (especially with the few slices here and there).

A very tough loss. Congrats to Nadal for fending off every challenge that was presented to him here for the last decade.

 

[Denis]

really hope djokovic gets it together for wimby

Hope so too, but there are more contenders there.