2018 Wimbledon men’s SF: Djokovic v Nadal

[Denis]

Lol! You're funny mate. I tell you I really don't care about this then you tell me to relax? Ok.....

Now you're confusing me. If you're talking about entertainment, then I would probably agree that the Nadal Djoker match was more suspenseful and interesting. But my view point is based solely on the quality of the tennis. If you're going to tell me that you think the quality of the tennis played on Saturday was up to scratch then that's fine. It'll tell me a lot about either your knowledge of tennis or the actual attention you paid to the play. Either way... your view and you're welcome to it

If you think assessing the quality of tennis is not subjective, I beg to disagree. If not, and you assess quality purely on the basis of perfect execution of shots, Isner can serve 100% aces on all his serves and you would have to say quality of tennis is high.

Now, I do think the quality of tennis in this weekend's match was high. I don't know what you need. Nadal played aggressive tennis with purpose, perhaps his forehand was a little off, but his backhand was clicking. I also strongly disagree that Djokovic was meekly pushing. Just watch the final two shots of the match for instance. Tentative at moments yes, but big balls on big moments (eg breakpoint at 7 all as well). Those passing shots? I saw a Djokovic reminiscent of 2011-2016. Inexplicable and costly misses? Sure there were a few, but do you remember the overhead in the FO semifinal in the fifth between the two? Or Nadal's sitter in the AO 2012 final in the fifth. It happens.

Fed - Cilic was just not all that thrilling, except that it was Fed's last slam so a nice footnote to the tennis history books.

 

[monfed]

Relax, we are all entitled to our opinions of matches and debate them. It's subjective to an extent and arguments are made to convince the other. I don't particularly like the Cilic Fed matchup, too serve focussed in my view. And the AO final in the end played out as expected, nothing too thrilling except Cilic hanging in there for four sets. It was a good match, but I consider this Friday/Saturday's match more exciting and eventful, in addition to some really good tennis. Yes, I love the Nadal/Djokovic matchup, it's a battle for every point. I would pick Nadal's US Open wins over Djokovic over that Fed/Cilic semifinal for that reason, even if they only went to four sets.

Be careful with Fredberg, he'll ignore you if you disagree with him too much.

 

[monfed]

Faker is back! DOOOOOOBAR!

 

[Federberg]

If you think assessing the quality of tennis is not subjective, I beg to disagree. If not, and you assess quality purely on the basis of perfect execution of shots, Isner can serve 100% aces on all his serves and you would have to say quality of tennis is high.

Now, I do think the quality of tennis in this weekend's match was high. I don't know what you need. Nadal played aggressive tennis with purpose, perhaps his forehand was a little off, but his backhand was clicking. I also strongly disagree that Djokovic was meekly pushing. Just watch the final two shots of the match for instance. Tentative at moments yes, but big balls on big moments (eg breakpoint at 7 all as well). Those passing shots? I saw a Djokovic reminiscent of 2011-2016. Inexplicable and costly misses? Sure there were a few, but do you remember the overhead in the FO semifinal in the fifth between the two? Or Nadal's sitter in the AO 2012 final in the fifth. It happens.

Fed - Cilic was just not all that thrilling, except that it was Fed's last slam so a nice footnote to the tennis history books.

I guess we can agree to disagree on what we watched. For the most part Novak was barely able to hit rally shots more than a few yards over the service line. It's quite clear that he's rented space in Rafa's head though. There was a time where Rafa would have made mince meat of the shots Novak was producing.

As for your prediction that the AO will be Roger's last slam I hope you're man enough to stick around when you're proved wrong. Please own this then..

 

[Front242]

Had 2 laugh at the comment of did you see the last 2 shots? Good to know there were at least 2 (!) shots on Saturday where Novak wasn't pushing lol. The general consensus is that any gynecologist would have been proud of the amount of pushing by Novak! He won. Good on him. But man did he push on Saturday...

 

[Fiero425]

Had 2 laugh at the comment of did you see the last 2 shots? Good to know there were at least 2 (!) shots on Saturday where Novak wasn't pushing lol. The general consensus is that any gynecologist would have been proud of the amount of pushing by Novak! He won. Good on him. But man did he push on Saturday...

What does that say about Rafa if he actually lost to "a pusher?" Not sure you thought that thru; signifying always ends up boomeranging!

 

[Federberg]

What does that say about Rafa if he actually lost to "a pusher?" Not sure you thought that thru; signifying always ends up boomeranging!

I'll take this one Front

Mate he's a Fed fan. He loathes Rafa. What boomerang are you talking about?

 

[Front242]

What does that say about Rafa if he actually lost to "a pusher?" Not sure you thought that thru; signifying always ends up boomeranging!

It's obvious the reason he won is he played a few key points better. That's always the case in a close match. Doesn't negate the fact that he pushed like the local heroine dealer though for most of Saturday!

 

[Denis]

I guess we can agree to disagree on what we watched. For the most part Novak was barely able to hit rally shots more than a few yards over the service line. It's quite clear that he's rented space in Rafa's head though. There was a time where Rafa would have made mince meat of the shots Novak was producing.

As for your prediction that the AO will be Roger's last slam I hope you're man enough to stick around when you're proved wrong. Please own this then..

No worries. I'll admit I was already wrong once, I thought he was definitely done after 17. But with Novak AND Nadal back in contention, I just don't see it. Don't forget that Fed lost two (!) Wimbledon finals against Novak already. FO he is not even bothering with. That leaves the US Open (where he has not beaten Novak since 2009) and the Australian Open (2007 lol). He needs upsets and not get upset himself.

I really don't see it. But I appreciate he is still out there fighting, I wish it could last for at least another decade. It's sad when they will all retire and we are stuck with Zverev and his buddies.

 

[Denis]

It's obvious the reason he won is he played a few key points better. That's always the case in a close match. Doesn't negate the fact that he pushed like the local heroine dealer though for most of Saturday!

Lol and yet he beat Rafael Nadal in a semi at Wimbledon. Dream on man, you're taking to much inspiration from monfed.

 

[atttomole]

No worries. I'll admit I was already wrong once, I thought he was definitely done after 17. But with Novak AND Nadal back in contention, I just don't see it. Don't forget that Fed lost two (!) Wimbledon finals against Novak already. FO he is not even bothering with. That leaves the US Open (where he has not beaten Novak since 2000) and the Australian Open (2007 lol). He needs upsets and not get upset himself.

I really don't see it. But I appreciate he is still out there fighting, I wish it could last for at least another decade. It's sad when they will all retire and we are stuck with Zverev and his buddies.

But Nadal has been in contention. It is Novak who has not been in contention, just to set the record straight.

 

[Front242]

No worries. I'll admit I was already wrong once, I thought he was definitely done after 17. But with Novak AND Nadal back in contention, I just don't see it. Don't forget that Fed lost two (!) Wimbledon finals against Novak already. FO he is not even bothering with. That leaves the US Open (where he has not beaten Novak since 2000) and the Australian Open (2007 lol). He needs upsets and not get upset himself.

I really don't see it. But I appreciate he is still out there fighting, I wish it could last for at least another decade. It's sad when they will all retire and we are stuck with Zverev and his buddies.

I don't personally think Roger will win any more slams but he's proven us all wrong before. One thing I'm confident of though is that since the AO has been been playing faster the last 2 years I'd fancy Roger's chances there against Novak. Every year Novak won there it was a lot slower.

Novak also benefited from the biggest upset this year at Wimbledon and his fans know it well. But there's only one guy to blame there.

 

[Front242]

Lol and yet he beat Rafael Nadal in a semi at Wimbledon. Dream on man, you're taking to much inspiration from monfed.

And complete donkeys have beaten him in the first few rounds in the last 6 years so what's your point?

 

[Denis]

And complete donkeys have beaten in the first few rounds in the last 5 years so what's your point?

Haha, good one Well I actually think Nadal was very good this year. I liked seeing him play, it was more aggressive and smooth than what I have seen in the past. I will admit it's not his surface and I expected Novak to do better.

 

[Denis]

But Nadal has been in contention. It is Novak who has not been in contention, just to set the record straight.

Yes, I am not arguing with that. It's the combination tho that will make it so hard. Because of Nadal Fed can rule out the French. With the other three, he has two factors that are going to be huge hurdles.

 

[Front242]

Haha, good one Well I actually think Nadal was very good this year. I liked seeing him play, it was more aggressive and smooth than what I have seen in the past. I will admit it's not his surface and I expected Novak to do better.

He was very good at times but pretty poor at others. Still shocked he lost to Novak tbh though. They both played passive and tentative knowing they were pretty much playing for the title right there.

Would like to see them play without the result being a jaded and wounded opponent in the final as it surely affected the level of their semi.

 

[atttomole]

Yes, I am not arguing with that. It's the combination tho that will make it so hard. Because of Nadal Fed can rule out the French. With the other three, he has two factors that are going to be huge hurdles.

Rafa had a good draw for the early rounds at Wimbledon this year, so I am not sure whether we can call him a contender at Wimbledon because he reached the semi finals this year. I think it works both ways for all three. You can't be sure that Djokovic was beating Fed if they had met this year at Wimbledon.

 

[Denis]

Rafa had a good draw for the early rounds at Wimbledon this year, so I am not sure whether we can call him a contender at Wimbledon because he reached the semi finals this year. I think it works both ways for all three. You can't be sure that Djokovic was beating Fed if they had met this year at Wimbledon.

They are definitely stealing each others slams, that's what makes it so much fun . I can't resist tho pointing out that Fed didn't even make it to the final, so I'll leave the whole if thing for what it is. Otherwise we can bring up the argument that Fed should have tanked the 2011 FO semi, just to keep Nadal from winning in the final.

 

[the AntiPusher]

happy to. But you're a bit vague in your specifications. My contention is that the level of play was poor. When you say "better" are you talking about level or entertainment? I don't think anyone here has suggested the match wasn't gripping and suspenseful. We're all tennis heads here, or at least most of us are anyway, we all know what Novak and Rafa are capable of. The level of play in this match was woeful. Get back to me with a precise answer mate

Both but really level..remember the clock is ticking ..you can handle this without the aid of big Sis Moxie ..name the highest level 5 setters over the past 2 years..i will help you out Grigor vs Rafa AO..now you come up with 9 more..

 

[Federberg]

No worries. I'll admit I was already wrong once, I thought he was definitely done after 17. But with Novak AND Nadal back in contention, I just don't see it. Don't forget that Fed lost two (!) Wimbledon finals against Novak already. FO he is not even bothering with. That leaves the US Open (where he has not beaten Novak since 2009) and the Australian Open (2007 lol). He needs upsets and not get upset himself.

I really don't see it. But I appreciate he is still out there fighting, I wish it could last for at least another decade. It's sad when they will all retire and we are stuck with Zverev and his buddies.

Doesn't really matter whether you can see it or not. You talk about slams as if everyone faces everyone else. Let's just say that your contention that Federer can't beat Novak at a major. It means nothing if they don't face each other. In any case I don't believe that Roger can't beat him. With that backhand clicking his court positioning changes dramatically. Granted he's not showing that sort of form at the moment. But if he's still sticking around, it's because he thinks he can still summon the fire. Your assumptions about how majors are fixtures is completely flawed and you're obviously high on Novak's recent success. Good for you