2018 Wimbledon men’s SF: Djokovic v Nadal

[crystalfire]

Set Djokovic. He was lucky to get this one. He was outplayed in sets 2 and 3.

this is the old djokovic tho finding ways to win even when outplayed. hella glad to see him play this well

 

[DarthFed]

Surprised Nole survived that after some of those ROS misses

 

[rafanoy1992]

Bloody hell...I was sure that Rafa was going to take that one. Come back tomorrow and play 5.

I knew Nadal had to make a return to win that tiebreak but he could not do it at all. Credit Djokovic for staying in there mentally.

 

[kskate2]

Bloody hell...I was sure that Rafa was going to take that one. Come back tomorrow and play 5.

From what I saw of the TB, too many dropshots and not enough returns in.

 

[Jelenafan]

What a tiebreaker, I do agree Rafa went once too often with the dropper

 

[Horsa]

Bloody hell...I was sure that Rafa was going to take that one. Come back tomorrow and play 5.

They were generous & gave you an extra 5 minutes play according to my clock as it's 23:05.

 

[Federberg]

Mighty impressive from Novak there. He didn't look in it mentally until the tail end of the tie break. Then inexplicably Rafa lost his nerve

 

[DarthFed]

Who says Novak is tired? my goodness he running more than a greyhound, incredible!

Did you see those drop shots he was struggling to track down?

 

[rafanoy1992]

I knew that when Nadal could not return serve on 8-7 and 8-8 he will lose the tiebreaker.

Both guys were serving well so I thought whoever returns the serve well enough will win the 3rd set. Big credit to Djokovic for staying there mentally. His serve saved him that set (and Nadal too).

 

[Moxie]

I knew that when Nadal could not return serve on 8-7 and 8-8 he will lose the tiebreaker.

Both guys were serving well so I thought whoever returns the serve well enough will win the 3rd set. Big credit to Djokovic for staying there mentally. His serve saved him that set (and Nadal too).

I really didn't think Djokovic could keep up the intensity and he did. I'd say he's back. I'm just hoping he still loses tomorrow.

 

[Jelenafan]

Ironically this is old Wimbledon, except the match wasn’t postponed due to rain or darkness but curfew !

 

[rafanoy1992]

It will be interesting on who will capitalize first tomorrow. Also, I am hoping Nadal continues to serve well tomorrow or else it will be over in 4 sets.

 

[DarthFed]

I really didn't think Djokovic could keep up the intensity and he did. I'd say he's back. I'm just hoping he still loses tomorrow.

He's mostly back, id say about 90% physically and mentally. You can tell he still isn't moving like the old terminator, not after the middle of the 2nd set. I'd say this break is good for both players, I think Nadal needed to regroup mentally and Djoker was showing signs of weariness but gutted it out. But if he was all the way back on an indoor grass court I don't think Nadal would've taken a set.

 

[kskate2]

The resumption will be played outdoors, which will change things a little. But if Djoke can bring his intensity and focus for the 4th set he can steal the match

 

[kskate2]

The men are resuming play at 8am EST

 

[Horsa]

The men are resuming play at 8am EST

What's that in G.M.T. please?

 

[Fiero425]

Wow Nole and Nadal have the most head-to-heads...

This is the real rivalry! "FEDAL" was a manifestation of commentators looking to make tennis interesting! Nadal owned Federer early and often while it took them approaching Social Security for Roger to start winning over Nadal! He's been on a streak from AO '17 to now with nary a loss to his bud from Spain! Nadal still has won the majority of big contests with Djokovic, but Nole's the only player who's had two "7 win" streaks against Rafa! Nole's still up by 1 match so tomorrow is key to keeping this rivalry in his hands up 2-1 in sets today at Wimbledon! :whistle:

 

[kskate2]

What's that in G.M.T. please?

Let's see. London is 5 hours ahead of EST so that would be 1pm

 

[Jelenafan]

Did both players have to agree to switch it outdoors, because otherwise that’s almost like two different matches..

 

[DarthFed]

he's had the score board pressure but to my eyes he's been hanging in there with some great first serves

I felt like Nole was dictating more early in that 3rd set and then it was Rafa doing most of it after that. Even against a 90% Djoker this is a brutal matchup for Nadal, he's serving great and mixing up his play more than I've seen. Djoker is struggling with North-South movement and Nadal is throwing in more short balls with great effect. Against old Djoker those would be suicidal.