2014 Roland Garros Final: Nadal vs. Djokovic

[britbox]

One thing's for sure... there will be some heavy duty nail biting going on tomorrow.

 

[TsarMatt]

Should be a great final. The winner goes either way for me, really. I'm sure this will go 5 regardless. It will be one of those matches, much similar to last year, where the result ultimately rests on one winner, one error, one shoddy bit of movement or one decision.

Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

 

[Moxie]

Not sure why Nole mentioning he had a little fatigue is a big deal - making excuses for a match he won? Players can get dehydrated. Even Rafa... don't forget the time when he collapsed off his chair with cramp at a post-match press conference looking like he'd been mowed down with an Uzi 9mm.

The problem is the double standard as to how it's dealt with. Note that even you remember Rafa cramping in a presser. Much fun was made of it. There is no evidence that Novak was dehydrated, only that he lost his head and a set. He said he was fatigued. Whatever is the truth, I don't mind, but my point is that Nadal is always held up as an excuse maker, yet everyone gives Djokovic a total pass on claiming fatigue, in a tournament when he's barely broken a sweat. Nadal can cramp visibly in a presser, and people find that funny. Yet Djokovic claims "fatigue" in a set that he pretty much blew mentally, and everyone gives him a pass, wondering how he might have been dehydrated. OK. But does that actually seem fair treatment of players and their discomforts, to you?

I'm kind of wondering why you are making such a huge deal out of Novak saying he felt fatigued during a match and Front observing that he drank water after the match with a conclusion that he may been dehydrated.

Because that's not the point, at all. It's a question of where "excuses" are made, and when they are decried. As I've said, I have no problem if Djokovic felt tired or too hot. But there has been a huge hew and cry over players "tanking" sets, over the last couple of days, or not putting out enough effort, and over Nadal making even the slightest excuse, for a long time. And yet, Djokovic plays a bad set and cries "fatigue," when he's had a pretty easy path to the finals, and so, in my opinion is getting a pass on that comment. Not necessarily for what he said, but by the standards (of late) on these boards. Folks have been hugely deriding players for not holding it together mentally. But Novak, poor dear, he must have been dehydrated. I'm just calling for a yellow card on double-standards.

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

 

[brokenshoelace]

The problem is the double standard as to how it's dealt with. Note that even you remember Rafa cramping in a presser. Much fun was made of it. There is no evidence that Novak was dehydrated, only that he lost his head and a set. He said he was fatigued. Whatever is the truth, I don't mind, but my point is that Nadal is always held up as an excuse maker, yet everyone gives Djokovic a total pass on claiming fatigue, in a tournament when he's barely broken a sweat. Nadal can cramp visibly in a presser, and people find that funny. Yet Djokovic claims "fatigue" in a set that he pretty much blew mentally, and everyone gives him a pass, wondering how he might have been dehydrated. OK. But does that actually seem fair treatment of players and their discomforts, to you?

I'm kind of wondering why you are making such a huge deal out of Novak saying he felt fatigued during a match and Front observing that he drank water after the match with a conclusion that he may been dehydrated.

Because that's not the point, at all. It's a question of where "excuses" are made, and when they are decried. As I've said, I have no problem if Djokovic felt tired or too hot. But there has been a huge hew and cry over players "tanking" sets, over the last couple of days, or not putting out enough effort, and over Nadal making even the slightest excuse, for a long time. And yet, Djokovic plays a bad set and cries "fatigue," when he's had a pretty easy path to the finals, and so, in my opinion is getting a pass on that comment. Not necessarily for what he said, but by the standards (of late) on these boards. Folks have been hugely deriding players for not holding it together mentally. But Novak, poor dear, he must have been dehydrated. I'm just calling for a yellow card on double-standards.

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

I don't think anyone understands what said point was, but I digress.

 

[Ricardo]

The problem is the double standard as to how it's dealt with. Note that even you remember Rafa cramping in a presser. Much fun was made of it. There is no evidence that Novak was dehydrated, only that he lost his head and a set. He said he was fatigued. Whatever is the truth, I don't mind, but my point is that Nadal is always held up as an excuse maker, yet everyone gives Djokovic a total pass on claiming fatigue, in a tournament when he's barely broken a sweat. Nadal can cramp visibly in a presser, and people find that funny. Yet Djokovic claims "fatigue" in a set that he pretty much blew mentally, and everyone gives him a pass, wondering how he might have been dehydrated. OK. But does that actually seem fair treatment of players and their discomforts, to you?

I'm kind of wondering why you are making such a huge deal out of Novak saying he felt fatigued during a match and Front observing that he drank water after the match with a conclusion that he may been dehydrated.

Because that's not the point, at all. It's a question of where "excuses" are made, and when they are decried. As I've said, I have no problem if Djokovic felt tired or too hot. But there has been a huge hew and cry over players "tanking" sets, over the last couple of days, or not putting out enough effort, and over Nadal making even the slightest excuse, for a long time. And yet, Djokovic plays a bad set and cries "fatigue," when he's had a pretty easy path to the finals, and so, in my opinion is getting a pass on that comment. Not necessarily for what he said, but by the standards (of late) on these boards. Folks have been hugely deriding players for not holding it together mentally. But Novak, poor dear, he must have been dehydrated. I'm just calling for a yellow card on double-standards.

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

the ever so lovely Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

 

[Riotbeard]

Oh dear, the sensitivity... the irrelevant stats...the drama. Just bring the match on already. It's going to be an annoying 30+ hours around here (and no doubt an even more annoying aftermath).

Thankfully I have a busy day today, away from the computer and all that

 

[brokenshoelace]

Oh dear, the sensitivity... the irrelevant stats...the drama. Just bring the match on already. It's going to be an annoying 30+ hours around here (and no doubt an even more annoying aftermath).

Thankfully I have a busy day today, away from the computer and all that

Well, today is the first of a month long vacation for me. If the only negative to that is reading Nadal and Djokovic fans going back-and-forth, I'll take it.

 

[brokenshoelace]

One thing's for sure... there will be some heavy duty nail biting going on tomorrow.

A good distraction from nail biting would be to keep the mouth busy with other activities. From personal experience, I've found profanities to do the trick.

 

[nehmeth]

The match will come down to Nadal's off forehand and his serve. Both have been pedestrian this entire year and particularly bad in the clay season. Nadal needs to vary up his serve out wide on the deuce court and down the middle in ad court to Novak's forehand. If he continues the predictable low pace backhand serving he WILL LOSE - maybe even easily. He cannot really fight for every one of his serving games and expect to beat Djokovic. The fact is, he needs cheap points and he isn't better than Djokovic off the ground. So the mphs and the placement on serve have to be vastly better.

The off-forehand is also the key. Nadal hasn't been attacking Novak's forehand as he did in the UsOpen 2013 for instance. He is also much less aggressive with that shot and uses the DTL and I/o forehands less than he should. All that will need to change unless Nadal plans to be on defense all through the match, run a lot and lose control of a majority of points.

Looking at the form in the clay season, one wouldn't expect Nadal to be very competitive in the final. BUT this is RG and this is Nadal. This is where he fights the hardest, and you write him off at your own peril.

Novak in 5.

It's always good to see you on the boards imjimmy. Enjoyed reading this.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm kind of wondering why you are making such a huge deal out of Novak saying he felt fatigued during a match and Front observing that he drank water after the match with a conclusion that he may been dehydrated.

Because that's not the point, at all. It's a question of where "excuses" are made, and when they are decried. As I've said, I have no problem if Djokovic felt tired or too hot. But there has been a huge hew and cry over players "tanking" sets, over the last couple of days, or not putting out enough effort, and over Nadal making even the slightest excuse, for a long time. And yet, Djokovic plays a bad set and cries "fatigue," when he's had a pretty easy path to the finals, and so, in my opinion is getting a pass on that comment. Not necessarily for what he said, but by the standards (of late) on these boards. Folks have been hugely deriding players for not holding it together mentally. But Novak, poor dear, he must have been dehydrated. I'm just calling for a yellow card on double-standards.

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

clueless and illogical Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

I swear this poster posts just like New Age:huh: who got banished into cyberspace.

 

[Ricardo]

Because that's not the point, at all. It's a question of where "excuses" are made, and when they are decried. As I've said, I have no problem if Djokovic felt tired or too hot. But there has been a huge hew and cry over players "tanking" sets, over the last couple of days, or not putting out enough effort, and over Nadal making even the slightest excuse, for a long time. And yet, Djokovic plays a bad set and cries "fatigue," when he's had a pretty easy path to the finals, and so, in my opinion is getting a pass on that comment. Not necessarily for what he said, but by the standards (of late) on these boards. Folks have been hugely deriding players for not holding it together mentally. But Novak, poor dear, he must have been dehydrated. I'm just calling for a yellow card on double-standards.

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

clueless and illogical Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

I swear this poster posts just like New Age:huh: who got banished into cyberspace.

swear to whom? swearing too much and i'll send you to cyberspace.... i swear :laydownlaughing

 

[kskate2]

I know you're all waiting to see how I will vote. I won't call this one. The momentum swings in their matches are insufferable and too many to calculate any advantage for one player over the other. I will say this, if Novak allows this to slip through his fingers yet again he will be inconsolable and likely shed :cry .

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is one of the biggest "much ado about nothing" I've seen here in a minute.

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

clueless and illogical Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

I swear this poster posts just like New Age:huh: who got banished into cyberspace.

swear to whom? swearing too much and i'll send you to cyberspace.... i swear :laydownlaughing

I have been there already and I have returned. Dude, I am like a cockroach during the Apocalypse, I ain't going no damn where. Just like my good friend Moxie, I am one of Tennis Frontier's MVPs, you had better get to know me.

 

[Ricardo]

You have rather a nerve, as one who can run down any point they want to make. Anyway, for some I've made mine.

clueless and illogical Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

I swear this poster posts just like New Age:huh: who got banished into cyberspace.

swear to whom? swearing too much and i'll send you to cyberspace.... i swear :laydownlaughing

I have been there already and I have returned. Dude, I am like a cockroach during the Apocalypse, I ain't going no damn where. Just like my good friend Moxie, I am one of Tennis Frontier's MVPs, you had better get to know me.

what med you taking?

 

[Riotbeard]

AP and Ricardo, get a room. This is a tennis forum, try to keep the conversation relevant and at least not purely insulting.

 

[the AntiPusher]

clueless and illogical Moxie taking on Broken? haha, not a level playing field.

I swear this poster posts just like New Age:huh: who got banished into cyberspace.

swear to whom? swearing too much and i'll send you to cyberspace.... i swear :laydownlaughing

I have been there already and I have returned. Dude, I am like a cockroach during the Apocalypse, I ain't going no damn where. Just like my good friend Moxie, I am one of Tennis Frontier's MVPs, you had better get to know me.

what med you taking?

Jesus.. :angel:

 

[Ricardo]

Monumental match for both, Novak completing his career GS and Nadal going for unprecedented 9 RG (again!). Feeling destiny, Nadal disrupts Novak's career GS this time but Novak stops Rafa from winning his 10th RG next year..... gut feeling.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I know you're all waiting to see how I will vote. I won't call this one. The momentum swings in their matches are insufferable and too many to calculate any advantage for one player over the other. I will say this, if Novak allows this to slip through his fingers yet again he will be inconsolable and likely shed :cry .

Come one Crystal Kate, call it !

 

[the AntiPusher]

AP and Ricardo, get a room. This is a tennis forum, try to keep the conversation relevant and at least not purely insulting.

Relax... We are just having some prematch banter, its all good. I am leaving to go work on my Rafa fh , Fed bh and my Sampras serve.

 

[Ricardo]

I know you're all waiting to see how I will vote. I won't call this one. The momentum swings in their matches are insufferable and too many to calculate any advantage for one player over the other. I will say this, if Novak allows this to slip through his fingers yet again he will be inconsolable and likely shed :cry .

however, it's only his first RG final.