2021 Australian Open Final: Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev

[tented]

Who wins?

 

[Bonaca]

Tough call.

I go with Novak in 5 (heart of course Novak in 3!).

The best 2 in the F, hopefully an epic battle.
Daniil was right by saying the pressure is on Novak, very high stake!

If Novak can manage this kind of ultra-pressure, it will be a good sign for this years slam-challenges.

 

[tented]

My heart says Medvedev in 3, but my head says Novak in 4.

 

[Sabratha]

My heart says Medvedev in 3, but my head says Novak in 4.

Heart says Medvedev in 4 but my head says Novak in 5.

 

[Front242]

I'm thinking Medvedev has this one. 20 match winning streak, won his last 12 against top 10 opponents and beaten Djokovic 3 out of the last 4 times they've played. Guy's an animal and he's confident af.

 

[rafanoy1992]

This should be a fun match-up and hopefully a great match! Out all of the "young" players that has faced Djokovic, Medvedev is the one that cherishes and loves to face Djokovic on a hardcourt. There is something about this match-up that Medvedev truly enjoys and he does not mind suffering against Djokovic.

The H2H favors Djokovic 4-3 and he won the only meeting in a slam at 2019 Australian Open 4R. Their last 5 encounters (including the 2019 AO meeting) have been a war of attrition in a good way. Heck, even their last meeting at the 2020 ATP Final RR, that could have been a long one, but Djokovic decided that he did not want to go that route again.

It will be interesting on how Medvedev will play Djokovic at the start of the match. We know he can grind with Djokovic. The question is will he mix both aggressiveness and defensive tennis at the right amount or during critical moments? One of the weaknesses of Medvedev is that he tends to be overly aggressive when he is feeling pressured or gets nervous at tight moments. At the same time, sometimes he gets too far back behind the baseline that his opponents just go for aggressive shots and Medvedev gets out of rhythm, thus costing him the match.

One thing I loved about his post-match interview with Jim Courier last night is that the 2019 US Open Final defeat has allowed him to gain some type of experience and will try to incorporate that experience into the match. That statement tells me that he is ready to cross the finish line and lift his 1st Slam. It will definitely be very tough, he knows that, but he looks like he is ready to take the torch away from Djokovic.

Sorry for the cliché strategy: He NEEDS to win the 1st set though (no excuses!). If he can win the 1st set, then he can start grinding Djokovic. One thing about Djokovic these days is that he does not want to go into long rallies that much anymore. He knows his body is not what it is used to be so he will try to shorten the points as quickly as possible.

 

[Front242]

Medvedev in 3 or 4, probably 4.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Here's an added incentive for Medvedev: If he wins on Sunday, he will be ranked number 2 in the world! Talk about killing three stones at one!

 

[Front242]

Here's an added incentive for Medvedev: If he wins on Sunday, he will be ranked number 2 in the world! Talk about killing three stones at one!

Predicted a year ago he'd be the next number 1 and sticking with that. If he wins, he'd have been able to clinch number 1 sooner too if not for these Covid altered rankings.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Here's an added incentive for Medvedev: If he wins on Sunday, he will be ranked number 2 in the world! Talk about killing three stones at one!

I just did some maths...If Dannii wins on Sunday he will be No 2 come Monday in the rankings he will pass Rafa by 685 points.
If Dannii loses he will pass Theim and be ranked No 3 and will trail Rafa by 135 points.

 

[Front242]

He's lost in the first round every year at RG and has to break that curse soon so he has tons of potential points to gain in clay season. Having beaten Djokovic at Monte Carlo and reached the Barcelona final, he's proven he's actually decent on clay when he plays well, just had shocking results at RG. Number 1 is definitely very much on the cards if he keeps his high level of play up.

 

[Jelenafan]

Novak in 4.

For some reason I just can't get on board with "Grumpy Woken from a nap" Russian this season so far.

Go Novak!!!!

 

[don_fabio]

I hope Novak wins it, but I like Daniil too and if he will be able to dethrone Novak in AO then he deserves all the glory no doubt.

Medvedev is riding high on confidence and should have no trouble to raise his game even if he loses the first set.

I expect a close match, not less than 4 sets, but this match deserves to be decided in 5th set. Too bad I won't be able to watch it, but I will most likely tune in for a radio.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nico Helwerth from Germany will be the chair umpire.It will be Helwerth's first Grand Slam men's single's final.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Novak will find a way to slow Daniil down with his antics ( injuries, MTO, bathroom , racket smashing) but it will not stop Daniil. Daniil will capture his 1st GM title.

 

[Moxie]

Novak will find a way to slow Daniil down with his antics ( injuries, MTO, bathroom , racket smashing) but it will not stop Daniil. Daniil will capture his 1st GM title.

Not sure about the "antics," but I do think Daniil will need to play his frustrating, mix-it-up best to beat Novak. He's been looking mostly very good, what I've been able to watch this past week, and he has the experience of a Slam final, and confidence to pull it off, if he brings his A-game and keeps his head. Djokovic hasn't looked really his best this tournament, particularly if he's still playing hurt, but that seems to be over now, right? The ab issue?

 

[Moxie]

Novak in 4.

For some reason I just can't get on board with "Grumpy Woken from a nap" Russian this season so far.

Go Novak!!!!

LOL, I do agree that Medvedev does often look like he just woke up from a nap. I think it's the bed-head hair. But that just makes him the "Sleepy" of the 7 Dwarves. For "Grumpy," esp. of the two finalists, you have to go with Djokovic. The key for Medvedev will be to bring out the Grumpy in him, anyway. If Meddie wins, I suppose he'll need to do it in 4, though I went with 5. I hope he gets his first Major here tomorrow/tonight...whichever it is in Oz.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

My heart says Medvedev and my head says Medvedev.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The one thing I can say for sure is that it won't be a straight set win for either guy.

Novak got defaulted at USO and then he faulted at RG. So, he must be very hungry to win a GS. Given that RLA is backyard (with 8 titles coming there), I am going with Novak. Not very sure in 4 or 5. But, voted for 4.

Having said all that, if Med wins, I will be happy for him as well.

p.s. I am going to bed now and will watch the encore presentation (in a "live for me" manner) at 8 a.m. in ESPN2.

 

[Vince Evert]

I'm thinking Medvedev has this one. 20 match winning streak, won his last 12 against top 10 opponents and beaten Djokovic 3 out of the last 4 times they've played. Guy's an animal and he's confident af.

And I hope Danill therrrr-ashes Novak. Bring it On