2021 Wimbledon SF: Djokovic vs. Shapovalov

[Fiero425]

In all three sets (especially in the first two), Shapo played better than Novak. Novak won, because he played the big points better. That is the story of the match.

That's always the story of the match! There are exceptions of course, but 9 times out of 10 Djokovic is coasting until the end of the set, then goes into lockdown mode to wait out the best of them! He'll throw in a little S & V action with a dropshot or 4 in the end, but Nole allows most players to self-destruct!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

"He does a really good job on putting pressure on you.Confidence come and goes in the match,but I had chances in every set.It could have been a different match,but it's a learning process,hopefully I can use this to go forward".

Shapovalov.......

 

[Jelenafan]

You may think he's been around awhile, but he's just 22. I don't even think it will take him as long as it did Stan to figure out how to win big. Even Cilic won a Slam, and that in the era of the Big 3-4. And that era is ending, either sooner or later, but, as I mentioned, Denis has the time to wait them out.

Actually he made his big splash back in Canada Masters in 2017, which is 4 years ago.

Not to be the voice of pessimism, and I wish Dennis well, but it's hard to tell at this point in his career if this is his highwater mark or the start of getting to the next stratosphere level. "Just 22" isn't what it used to be. Certainly he's talented and has power, but the question with him is can he reign in his worst tendencies.

My bigger point is I'm not so sure he can "wait out" Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Zverev, Rublev, Berretinini, etc who are also at the cusp, i.e. will Theim also make a comeback? and we are not even talking about the younguns nipping at his heels such as his compatriot Felix AA, Jannik Sinner , and dark horses such as Aslan Karatsev, Karen K, Casper Ruud, etc plus the promising rookies ala Sebastian Korda, Musetti, Carlos Alcaraz, etc.

IMO it's a fairly large pool of contenders once the Big 3 are gone, and I'm not betting on all of them winning Majors in their careers. There could be another 15 /16 year old wannabee GOAT lurking even as we speak.

OK, Maybe I am the voice of pessimism.

 

[Front242]

You may think he's been around awhile, but he's just 22. I don't even think it will take him as long as it did Stan to figure out how to win big. Even Cilic won a Slam, and that in the era of the Big 3-4. And that era is ending, either sooner or later, but, as I mentioned, Denis has the time to wait them out.

Cilic was doping and back then at least ('cos he's gone well downhill of late) he had a WAY better serve and was deadly off both wings that USO. Not like he was the only one obviously but they actually exposed him. They're too cowardly to expose the very top but he was quite highly ranked at the time and caught. Denied it as they all do but guilty until proven innocent when you ingest a banned substance in sports.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

"He came up to me in the locker room.Told me,he knows how difficult it is for me right now but that it'll come along.He dosen't have to do it,it's very nice from him to do it.He isn't praised enough".
Shapovalov about Djokovic.

 

[Fiero425]

"He came up to me in the locker room.Told me,he knows how difficult it is for me right now but that it'll come along.He dosen't have to do it,it's very nice from him to do it.He isn't praised enough".
Shapovalov about Djokovic.

You get stories like this about Djokovic all the time! I remember at the AO final presentation; how Medvedev gushed about how Nole spoke to him a couple years ago and really seemed to listen!

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think out of everyone Shapovalov has a huge upside. He and FAA have largely flown under the radar where everyone else is under this microscope of do something already. He is at that point where a coaching change would probably do him wonders. He has some good solid wins against players. He has a great first serve and solid ground strokes. He just needs some focus on when to use his power and when to reel it in.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You get stories like this about Djokovic all the time! I remember at the AO final presentation; how Medvedev gushed about how Nole spoke to him a couple years ago and really seemed to listen!

Well I have witnessed Novak's kindness at a Rome final,a little boy was knocked over by an adult mind you,waiting to get Novak's autograph,Novak went over to the little boy picked him and gave him a hug,autographed his hat and waited for his mother to get to him.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think out of everyone Shapovalov has a huge upside. He and FAA have largely flown under the radar where everyone else is under this microscope of do something already. He is at that point where a coaching change would probably do him wonders. He has some good solid wins against players. He has a great first serve and solid ground strokes. He just needs some focus on when to use his power and when to reel it in.

Denis just needs to know when to play 'percentage tennis' for starters.,getting to the s/final is a great learning experience for him,he will learn from this,hopefully

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Denis just needs to know when to play 'percentage tennis' for starters.

To be fair though, that is what players like Djokovic and Nadal do they convince you that you have to do something ridiculously extra to win a point against them rather than pick your spot.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

To be fair though, that is what players like Djokovic and Nadal do they convince you that you have to do something ridiculously extra to win a point against them rather than pick your spot.

Well they put pressure on you for starters,they play every point like a match point.Novak was 'clutch' when it mattered,they both play the big points well.
Denis has youth on his side,he can only learn and get better in vital points of a match he was 1/11 on BPs in the match

 

[Carol]

I felt sorry for Shapo but he has to blame himself, he has a very good game and service but that head.........worse than Verdasco. I never remember to see a WB sooooo bad and decaf. Hope Berrittine can do something better

 

[Moxie]

Cilic was doping and back then at least ('cos he's gone well downhill of late) he had a WAY better serve and was deadly off both wings that USO. Not like he was the only one obviously but they actually exposed him. They're too cowardly to expose the very top but he was quite highly ranked at the time and caught. Denied it as they all do but guilty until proven innocent when you ingest a banned substance in sports.

Oh, you love to insist that folks were doping, but definitely Cilic was flying under the radar in that USO. And Djokovic, probably looking ahead before he should, got skunked by Nishikori. Nothing Roger could have done about that serving display by Cilic. You know what...sometimes it happens. Which is why I'm saying that Shapovalov has many more years to figure out his margin game, and turn that talent into seriously winning tennis. By the margins, this match could have gone 4 or 5. Everyone who says that Shapo doesn't play the big points and Novak does. Correct, and duh. I don't think cleaning that up is out of his purview.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

shapo choking in set 1, what a floppy flopfest that was. i didnt watch after that, ive seen these next gen bozofests too many times before, it is just annoying, no drama. oh look djokovic won in 3, same flopping in fo final and ao inal. blaaaaaaaahh. bleurrrrghhhh.

i hear shapo choketh away some big points in set2 as well..oh shame i missed that then, oh wait tho..sounds like a replay of set1. so really i did see it after all.

 

[Moxie]

shapo choking in set 1, what a floppy flopfest that was. i didnt watch after that, ive seen these next gen bozofests too many times before, it is just annoying, no drama. oh look djokovic won in 3, same flopping in fo final and ao inal. blaaaaaaaahh. bleurrrrghhhh.

i hear shapo choketh away some big points in set2 as well..oh shame i missed that then, oh wait tho..sounds like a replay of set1. so really i did see it after all.

I couldn't decide about giving that a "like" or an angry face or a laughing face. I stopped watching after the first set, too. Completely maddening the inability to capitalize on a less than top Djokovic. Hope he learns from it, etc. but that seems like a lot of pablum to a baby. Where were the balls? (By which I mean tennis balls, of course.)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Some good news for Canadian fans,

Denis will be No10 when the new rankings come out and FAA will be No 15

 

[Fiero425]

Some good news for Canadian fans,

Denis will be No10 when the new rankings come out and FAA will be No 15

Denis has a chance to make the YE Final; esp. if a couple players like Nadal don't want to play or give injury excuses!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Denis has a chance to make the YE Final; esp. if a couple players like Nadal don't want to play or give injury excuses!

Lets see how he plays in the HC season,he does have a good chance