2019 Wimbledon QF: Djokovic vs. Goffin

[tented]

Who wins?

 

[monfed]

Muffin in 4.

 

[britbox]

Kudos @tented for taking the time to add extra lines to the poll options for a Goffin victory.

 

[tented]

Novak will deliver a straight-set beatdown.

 

[Bonaca]

Novak in 4. hope he reaches a higher level, not enough what he showed in the last games.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Djokovic in 3

 

[mrzz]

Djokovic has a bad day and the match goes to the 12 all tiebreaker. He fires a ball in Goffin's eye at 7 all in the breaker. He says, "don't worry, I still have one of those eye slaps I got into court with in 2009 (?)". But the eye slap is for the right eye while the ball hit Goffin in the left one. He still uses it, plays blind but Djokovic DF's the match away.

 

[atttomole]

Djokovic in 4 sets.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Novak in four sets.

If Goffin can take a set off Rafa at RG, he surely can take one off Novak at Wimbledon.

 

[Moxie]

Novak in four sets.

If Goffin can take a set off Rafa at RG, he surely can take one off Novak at Wimbledon.

He beat Novak in MC this year. I'm actually hoping for a beat down by Novak, though. He hasn't really even gotten into 3rd gear at The Championships this year, and I don't mind keeping him there. Hey, it's a thought...

 

[DarthFed]

He beat Novak in MC this year. I'm actually hoping for a beat down by Novak, though. He hasn't really even gotten into 3rd gear at The Championships this year, and I don't mind keeping him there. Hey, it's a thought...

I didn't see Hurkacz match but he responded pretty strong after losing the set. I think that was pretty telling.

 

[Moxie]

I didn't see Hurkacz match but he responded pretty strong after losing the set. I think that was pretty telling.

I saw most of it. Did what he had to do, no more. More telling was how slow he started in that one. He was lucky to snag the first, but then lost the 2nd. Sure, Hurkacz went away after that, but are you really hanging your hat on a match v. Hurcacz that you didn't see? Look, @Bonaca is a fan and he doesn't think he's shown his best level. IMO, by a long stretch. Except the serve. He really hasn't been asked any interesting questions. Neither has Roger, for that matter.

 

[DarthFed]

I saw most of it. Did what he had to do, no more. More telling was how slow he started in that one. He was lucky to snag the first, but then lost the 2nd. Sure, Hurkacz went away after that, but are you really hanging your hat on a match v. Hurcacz that you didn't see? Look, @Bonaca is a fan and he doesn't think he's shown his best level. IMO, by a long stretch. Except the serve. He really hasn't been asked any interesting questions. Neither has Roger, for that matter.

And Rafa has? He just watched serve after serve go by him for a couple sets. Nick looked like a top 3 server in the game and it made it close vs a Nadal standing 50 miles behind the baseline.

Losing a set and destroying the guy afterwards is normally an indication of kicking it into another gear. Anyways you like to comfort yourself with Djoker not being A+ level. I remember the same thing at AO this year.

 

[Moxie]

And Rafa has? He just watched serve after serve go by him for a couple sets. Nick looked like a top 3 server in the game and it made it close vs a Nadal standing 50 miles behind the baseline.

Losing a set and destroying the guy afterwards is normally an indication of kicking it into another gear. Anyways you like to comfort yourself with Djoker not being A+ level. I remember the same thing at AO this year.

Yes, I do think Rafa has. He had a tight match and had to kick it up a gear, and he did. As to the bolded above, that is exactly what Rafa did. If you meant Roger, well, look at his draw. You don't like the thought that Rafa had a big win early doors. Keep trying to make little of it, if it makes you calm.

Sure, I'm hanging onto the notion that Novak hasn't found his A-game. But let's face it, he hasn't. I know full well what happened in Melbourne, so anything could happen in their final. Which I think will happen, btw.

 

[DarthFed]

Yes, I do think Rafa has. He had a tight match and had to kick it up a gear, and he did. As to the bolded above, that is exactly what Rafa did. If you meant Roger, well, look at his draw. You don't like the thought that Rafa had a big win early doors. Keep trying to make little of it, if it makes you calm.

Sure, I'm hanging onto the notion that Novak hasn't found his A-game. But let's face it, he hasn't. I know full well what happened in Melbourne, so anything could happen in their final. Which I think will happen, btw.

Except I don't think Rafa got out of first gear in that match. If Kyrgios wasn't just a servebot I think Nadal was there for the taking.

I think you'll end up disappointed. Roger humiliated himself against Nadal here 11 years ago. One of my first lessons in life is revenge is a dish best served cold. I shall pass that onto Fed somehow

 

[tenisplayrla08]

So as a Goffin fan, I'm definitely pulling for him here against Djokovic. Really wish it would have been like, Nishikori or Goffin that got lucky and ended up in the Anderson quarter instead of Zverev. But that is a pointless statement. It is what it is. They may not be where they are if they didn't get the matches they won.

Similar to Nishikori against Djokovic or anyone in the big 3, Goffin can push them in rallies and come up with great shots and break them. But he's going to be broken more than he's gonna break. Especially by Djokovic. Plus Djokovic is quietly serving really well. As he often does at Wimbledon (and everywhere really.) We focus so much on his return ability and his great shots and backhand and general wall-likeness, that his serve gets overlooked. But it's so good that it does still get a mention from a lot of commentators, as it should.

Goffin took a set from Rafa at RG. And had a very nice grass court season. Just the one win against Djokovic so far though. Goffin got to the top 10 and wins matches because he is incredibly fast for one, but mostly because he's consistent and constructs points better than most of his opponents on tour. He's done so well on the grass this season because of those skills. He's been slicing and dicing everyone I've watched him play. But all of that is nearly null and void against Novak. Or at least severely diminished. Djokovic plays that game style better than anyone. And while Goffin has showed some good and effective and well executed aggression this last week, Novak is still more experienced at this level and is more aggressive because of it. I do think Goffin can get a set. And as I always say, if you can get a set you've got a chance. But I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see Djokovic swat Goffin away. Even if Goffin got a set, I could then see a frustrated by now dialed in Djokovic just running away with it.

But I mean. I'm sitting here wondering which of the big 3 really has the best chance of being upset. I mean. I want it to be Rafa and Novak. Obviously. But, as I said honestly in my Fed post, simply because of his age and the fact that Nishikori is the player he is, technically it has to be Roger. Right? But. I guess I really think all three of them have an outside chance of being upset. I can see Querrey and Goffin pulling off a highly improbable upset. And I can actually see Nishikori doing too. But I'm not sure any of them will. I do agree that Djokovic has not always looked at his best so far. But I'm not sure he has to have his best to beat Goffin. At least he doesn't have to have his best 100 percent of the match. He can lose a set or two and still win it. But Goffin's solid grass season so far suggests he really can give Djokovic a run for his money. And even though they'll have a day of rest, maybe if Goffin can take Novak to five then Pella or RBA can actually beat him in the semis.

Again. I'm rooting against Djokovic for the sake of rooting against Djokovic. Has nothing or little to do with wanting Fed to win. Theoretically I'd actually like to see Fed avenge his losses to Novak here. And to do that you gotta play him. But mostly I just like to see Djokovic lose. I just like it when he's human. When he's not unplayable. And more importantly, I like when he gets reminded that he's human. Not that he's a particularly prideful guy. It's just that it's nice to see guys that dominate so much, get told that they are not always in control. I should probably feel that way about Fed. But of course, that's not gonna happen. Especially now that he's 37 and moving towards the end of his time on court.

 

[tented]

Djokovic has a bad day and the match goes to the 12 all tiebreaker. He fires a ball in Goffin's eye at 7 all in the breaker. He says, "don't worry, I still have one of those eye slaps I got into court with in 2009 (?)". But the eye slap is for the right eye while the ball hit Goffin in the left one. He still uses it, plays blind but Djokovic DF's the match away.

I want some of whatever you’re taking. PM me.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

Djokovic has a bad day and the match goes to the 12 all tiebreaker. He fires a ball in Goffin's eye at 7 all in the breaker. He says, "don't worry, I still have one of those eye slaps I got into court with in 2009 (?)". But the eye slap is for the right eye while the ball hit Goffin in the left one. He still uses it, plays blind but Djokovic DF's the match away.

What you describe is impossible. After hitting Goffin in the eye, Djokovic would be up 8-7. For Goffin to win from there he would have to win a service point.

 

[mrzz]

What you describe is impossible. After hitting Goffin in the eye, Djokovic would be up 8-7. For Goffin to win from there he would have to win a service point.

ooohhhh... I forgot to tell the most moving part of it all... Goffin had to serve twice completely blind. He fired underarm serves. He is lead to the service position by one ball kid whose mother is blind. Then Djokovic, from the other side of the net, orientates him, screaming, "turn left, no, not that much, a bit more to the right", and when it is all perfect, he screams "now serve"! The first goes long.... then the ball kid comes back, put the ball in his hand, crying, and whispers to him "I believe in you". Goffin feels the rush of adrenaline, presses the ball so hard in his hand that it becomes deformed and deflated. He serves, and it is in!!!!!!! Is in!!!!! The ball kicks so strangely that it is a WINNER! The first tennis ace ever by a blind(ed) person!!! It is 8 all now.

Djokovic walks to the deuce side all smiles, but a bit annoyed. Goffin hears the kid running in his direction to lead him to the service position to play the next point, but he raises his arm and stops him:

-- I can do that alone. I can feel my way to victory or defeat by myself. Thank you, my young friend.

And he makes two steps to the right, but ends stepping on the line. He hears the murmur, he knows the kid will scream something, and he raises his hand again, screaming "silence, it must be all me". Meanwhile Djokovic is smiling on the other side, waiting for the foot fault. He shows to the world that he is evil, he is mean, he wants to win at all costs and CONQUER THE WORLD no matter at what price, no matter if this price is the tears of a blind man... and he sits on court, shaking his head, because what he really wanted to do was to imitate Goffin's moves and mock him all around. But it is too soon to do that... he cannot show his true colors already.

Goffin stops and takes a deep breath. There is complete silence... apart from people sobbing on the stands, they want to scream something to warn him, but no, they feel obliged to nobly remain silent.

But he TAKES A STEP BACK IN THE LAST SECOND and serves! It is IN. Djokovic is sitting and cannot get up in time. Now he has to serve at 8-9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then he double faults, as explained before, not without drama, not without cursing the world and offending Goffin, screaming "oh, you little Belgian waffle, you will see... or better, you will hear, you blind fuck". But, consumed with hatred, he double faults! In his victory speech, Goffin says that he is actually an AMERICAN, and the star spangled banner starts to play, marines storm in Wimbledon to take down all the russian operatives there, working with their Serb counterparts. The good guys win again! In the end Goffin kisses his Native American boyfriend!

 

[brokenshoelace]

ooohhhh... I forgot to tell the most moving part of it all... Goffin had to serve twice completely blind. He fires an underarm serve, but he is lead to the service position by one ball kid whose mother is blind. Then Djokovic, from the other side of the net, orientates him screaming, "turn left, no, no that much, a bit more to the right", and when it is all perfect, he screams "now serve"! The first goes long.... then the ball kid comes back, put the ball in his hand crying and whispers to him "I believe in you". Goffin feels the rush of adrenaline, presses the ball so hard in his hand that it becomes deformed and deflated. He serves, and it is in!!!!!!! Is in!!!!! The ball kicks so strangle that it is a WINNER! The first tennis ace ever by a blind(ed) person!!! It is 8 all now.

Djokovic walls to the deuce side all smiles, but a bit annoyed. Goffin hears the kid running in his direction to lead him to the service position to play the next point, but he raises his arm and stops him:

-- I can do that alone. I can feel my way to victory or defeat by myself. Thank you, my young friend.

And he makes two steps the right, but ends stepping on the line. He hears the murmur, he knows the kid will scream something, and he raises his hand again, screaming "silence, it must be all me". Meanwhile Djokovic is smiling on the other side, waiting for the foot fault. He shows to the world that he is evil, he is mean, he wants to win at all costs and CONQUER THE WORLD no matter at what price, no matter if this price is the tears of a blind man... and he sits on court, shaking his head, because what he really wanted to do was to imitate Goffin's moves and mock him all around. But it is too soon to do that... he cannot show his true colors already.

Goffin stops and takes a deep breath. There is complete silence... apart from people sobbing on the stands, they want to scream something to warn him, but no, they feel obliged to nobly remain silent.

But he TAKES A STEP BACK IN THE LAST SECOND and serves! It is IN. Djokovic is sitting and cannot get up in time. Now he has to serve at 8-9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then he double faults, as explained before, not without drama, not without cursing the world and offending Goffin, screaming "oh, you little Belgian waffle, you will see... or better, you will hear, you blind fuck". But, consumed with hatred, he double faults! In his victory speech, Goffin says that he is actually an AMERICAN, and the star spangled banner starts to play, marines storm in Wimbledon to take down all the russian operatives there, working with their Serb counterparts. The good guys win again! In the end Goffin kisses his Native American boyfriend!

God damn you guys have some good dealers in Brazil.