2023 Wimbledon F: Alcaraz vs. Djokovic

[El Dude]

Tiafoe is far down the pile of contenders. He’s not even really a contender. We’ve seen no indications that he can win a slam. I’d say there’s more than half a dozen have better odds than Tiafoe. All 4 semifinalists here, for a start..

I was trying to be nice .

But seriously, after Alcaraz, Novak, and Medvedev, it is a bit of a swamp - with about a dozen players who I wouldn't say are more or less likely to win, though I'd probably put Sinner and Rune ahead of the rest of the pack. Maybe Zverev, if he's truly healthy. So while I'd favor, say, Rublev over Tiafoe, we're talking about tenths of a percentage variance.

 

[atttomole]

I'm here! In one of those "dark holes" where the server is dragging! I'm getting errors & "ooops!" Happens once a year I guess! I'm not hurting! From that FO last month, everything's gravy; weeks @ #1, an 8th YE #1, & whatever event or $$ he gets to get a little closer to Connors' 109 ATP wins! I'm not greedy! Djokovic has already served his purpose! He's broken down that pedestal Fedal used to reside on! If he grabs one more USO, that will wrap up the GOAT race!

Nice to see you mate. I hope you are doing OK.

 

[kskate2]

Are they going to fine Djoke for damaging the net post in today's match? This wasn't the final match of the tourney. There was a doubs match played afterwards.

 

[El Dude]

As for the US Open, I'd actually favor Carlos. My rankings:

1. Alcaraz
2. Djokovic
3. Medvedev
4. Sinner, maybe
5. Rune, maybe
6. Zverev, maybe
7-9. Ruud, Tsitsipas, Rublev in some order
10+...everyone else.

 

[Kieran]

I was trying to be nice .

But seriously, after Alcaraz, Novak, and Medvedev, it is a bit of a swamp - with about a dozen players who I wouldn't say are more or less likely to win, though I'd probably put Sinner and Rune ahead of the rest of the pack. Maybe Zverev, if he's truly healthy. So while I'd favor, say, Rublev over Tiafoe, we're talking about tenths of a percentage variance.

I agree, though it all sounds very alt-history, though set in the future..

 

[Kieran]

As for the US Open, I'd actually favor Carlos. My rankings:

1. Alcaraz
2. Djokovic
3. Medvedev
4. Sinner, maybe
5. Rune, maybe
6. Zverev, maybe
7-9. Ruud, Tsitsipas, Rublev in some order
10+...everyone else.

I’d have Rune slightly ahead of Sinner. I think he’ll be faster on the learning curve. Maybe I’m hoping too much but there’s a lot about him that impresses me more than Sinner.

The pity is that players like Tsitsipas and Zverev looked so promising 5 years ago and now they’re virtually a write off..

 

[don_fabio]

Amazing that in a grass court match of 334 points there were only 11 aces.

Djokovic only served 2, across all the sets. It’s indicative of how the game has been changed..

I just noticed it, now that you posted. That is too little free points for Novak on the serve. It is because of the opponent who returned well for the majority of the match.

It's interesting that the king of Tie Breaks actually played poorly today when it mattered the most, in the 2nd set TB. He duffed 2 backhands into the net and then tried to serve and volley down the setpoint and got a passing shot. It happened to him what he normally does to others. I think he got tight there. Alcaraz refused to crack down today and it made Novak uncomfortable and prone to errors.

 

[don_fabio]

OMG. Why didn't ya'll tell me Novak hit a Djokosmash in the decider on BP.

I tought it looked more like a high drive FH volley, no?

In any case he should have made it. It gives me that net cord touch vibe when he played Rafa in RG or Rafa's missed easy shot in the 5th set of AO 2012.

 

[don_fabio]

Nature has it's own way of sorting things. Alcaraz should have RG and Novak Wimbledon, but the opposite happened.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Apart from @don_fabio the Djokolytes have scattered once again, as they do when there’s actual tennis to discuss, as opposed to only singing when their guy is winning.

When he loses they could sing about his opponent. It would be nice to hear that song instead of the usual sound of silence, or gloating..

Don Fabio has always been a fair Novak poster

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Actually the HC suits Sinner more to me than other surfaces, though we shall see
I am nor saying he will win the USO, though he might give it a shake
He did have MP last year in the SF against Alcaraz

 

[Kieran]

Nature has it's own way of sorting things. Alcaraz should have RG and Novak Wimbledon, but the opposite happened.

It definitely was inopportune for Carlos to cramp in that semi, though it was an opportunity for Novak…

 

[kskate2]

I tought it looked more like a high drive FH volley, no?


In any case he should have made it. It gives me that net cord touch vibe when he played Rafa in RG or Rafa's missed easy shot in the 5th set of AO 2012.

I need another replay, but it should have been a drive volley, but he attempted an OH. Looks like he thought it was going out and then decided to play it at the last sec.

 

[Fiero425]

Nice to see you mate. I hope you are doing OK.

I'm ok! Congrats to Alcaraz! Ya never know; this win might have changed his future and record! No update to Djoker's Blog!

 

[Moxie]

OMG. Why didn't ya'll tell me Novak hit a Djokosmash in the decider on BP.

We did, but you weren't watching the thread.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

We did, but you weren't watching the thread.

Actually Novak didnt Djoko his smash a lot in this match

 

[Moxie]

As for the US Open, I'd actually favor Carlos. My rankings:

1. Alcaraz
2. Djokovic
3. Medvedev
4. Sinner, maybe
5. Rune, maybe
6. Zverev, maybe
7-9. Ruud, Tsitsipas, Rublev in some order
10+...everyone else.

Boldly going into the USO predictions...I like it!

 

[Moxie]

Actually Novak didnt Djoko his smash a lot in this match

Just the one, I think, but it was rather critical.

 

[don_fabio]

I need another replay, but it should have been a drive volley, but he attempted an OH. Looks like he thought it was going out and then decided to play it at the last sec.

I've just seen it again. Definitely a poorly executed drive volley. He wasn't positioned properly to execute it with good pace and the ball ended lame into the net.

 

[Moxie]

Nature has it's own way of sorting things. Alcaraz should have RG and Novak Wimbledon, but the opposite happened.

Shockingly. And true.