AO Mens Final: Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal

[atttomole]

I am going with Djokovic in 4. Djokovic does almost everything better on other surfaces than Nadal except on clay, as has been stated. Nadal has been looking like a juggernaut of late, but I think if Djokovic can pressures his serve, Nadal will get nervous. To me that is key to this match. In addition, Djokovic serves better and his backhand seems on again. Nadal will not be able to exploit the backhand and I expect him to slice a lot, as usual, to try to regain control of the point. Tactically and technically, this is a complicated matchup for Nadal.

 

[nehmeth]

Nadal's dismembering of Tsitsipas reminded me a little of the way he was playing during his US Open 2010 campaign. After that final against Djokovic I turned off feeling that the Serb was going to have his work cut out ever beating Nadal in a major final again. I clearly got that pretty badly wrong... and I hope I'm wrong that Nadal wins on Sunday!

Honestly it seems Stefanos was given too much credit after his win against Roger. It’s the only match I watched all of. Fed played erratically. Only some of it was forced by the Greek. His win against Agut should have been the tell that Ralf was going to kill him. Anyway, we’ll soon see whether the Spaniard’s level of fitness is at Ivan Drago’s.

 

[Carol]

I hope Rafa won’t make the same bad mistakes that he made at the last game in the semis of Wimbledon and of course he paid so badly, it was the only tournament on grass that he played after to win almost everything on clay but this time he looks much better in all the ways so if he keeps his confidence and his good level he has a very good chance to win

 

[Jelenafan]

This is a tough one.

Novak crushed Pouille and looked so solid. Rafa schooled Tsitsipas.

It’s not as if either guy has exhausted himself getting to the finals so I “demand” a five set match to make them earn their keep.

Novak in five excruciatingly close sets.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is a tough one.

Novak crushed Pouille and looked so solid. Rafa schooled Tsitsipas.

It’s not as if either guy has exhausted himself getting to the finals so I “demand” a five set match to make them earn their keep.

Novak in five excruciatingly close sets.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO,I was therre live for the last time at the AO Novak and Rafa met and it went five sets,it took years off my life

 

[Jelenafan]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO,I was therre live for the last time at the AO Novak and Rafa met and it went five sets,it took years off my life

LOL, it seemed it lasted 6 days....

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

LOL, it seemed it lasted 6 days....

And then some

 

[Front242]

Novak in 3 or 4. He's dialled in and peaked at the right time. Didn't expend unnecessary energy in the early rounds and poses a pretty big match up problem for Nadal everywhere except RG. None of the opponents Nadal has faced so far had return of serve anything like Novak who will frustrate him. The more in form player at Wimbledon was clearly Nadal given Novak was just back from elbow surgery and look how that panned out. He lost to a poor version of Novak who was pushing more than we've ever seen.

That Novak is a thing of the past and should have the edge here and, while he may still get nervous and push a bit, he'll definitely be playing at a higher level than at Wimbledon and Novak at his best is simply a better player.

 

[Moxie]

In preparation for this match, I'll be rewatching the 2013 USO final, and I suggest that Rafa do the same.

 

[Jelenafan]

And then some

I thought both guys were sooo relieved when it was over...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I thought both guys were sooo relieved when it was over...

Indeed,so were the crowd,I forget what time it finished,as you previously stated it seem to go on for days.

 

[Front242]

In preparation for this match, I'll be rewatching the 2013 USO final, and I suggest that Rafa do the same.

Totally different surfaces so they can't be compared at all. The one thing in Nadal's favour to some degree compared to say last year is the heavier balls but after the result of Novak's match today I'd say they suit his game just fine so maybe not after all.

 

[Moxie]

Totally different surfaces so they can't be compared at all. The one thing in Nadal's favour to some degree compared to say last year is the heavier balls but after the result of Novak's match today I'd say they suit his game just fine so maybe not after all.

"Totally" different? Like ice and sandpaper. Come on.

 

[Front242]

"Totally" different? Like ice and sandpaper. Come on.

Well, obviously no but the USO has become slower and slower over the years with very poor air circulation whereas the AO has become a good deal faster since 2017 but they used heavier balls this year so this is still a medium/fast hard court since 2017 (AO) v pretty damn slow hard court at the USO.

 

[Jelenafan]

"Totally" different? Like ice and sandpaper. Come on.

Maybe oil and vinegar?

I laugh because their is Nadal’s 2nd final in 3 years here so in two “ totally different surfaces” with 2 different balls he’s done just fine.

 

[Moxie]

Maybe oil and vinegar?

I laugh because their is Nadal’s 2nd final in 3 years here so in two “ totally different surfaces” with 2 different balls he’s done just fine.

Plus, I thought everyone was telling us that the USO and the AO essentially traded surfaces in the intervening years. That the USO has slowed down and the AO sped up. So wouldn't that mean that the 2013 USO final IS a better gauge?

 

[Front242]

^ He lost once in the final and once in the 1/4 final in 2 of those 3. Depends on your definition of just fine but, generally speaking, champions play and want to win, not lose.

 

[Denis]

No two players know each other better.

Btw: Novak won 8 out 10 most recent matches and Novak leads 18-7 on hardcourts.

 

[imjimmy]

Plus, I thought everyone was telling us that the USO and the AO essentially traded surfaces in the intervening years. That the USO has slowed down and the AO sped up. So wouldn't that mean that the 2013 USO final IS a better gauge?

I believe that is not the right way to gauge the surface. They are 2 very different surfaces even though both are hardcourts. One if plexicushion and the other is decoturf. There is no empirical data on the speeds of the courts. People just anecdotally say that the AO has sped up and the UsOpen has slowed down. But there is no direct comparison between the speed of the 2 surfaces. It's like saying Wimbledon is slower than AO, where empirically grass is always faster. UsOpen has been usually considered medium to fast hardcourt where as AO has been slow to medium hardcourt.

The biggest difference in both surfaces is how they handle spin and bounce. It is more difficult to hit through the court at the AO. It doesn't spin and bounce as much. This is why Nadal's ball sits up a little bit and he ends up playing more defense. It is also why Novak is so good here. He controls the center of the court and it almost impossible to hit through him on this surface. Personally, I've always felt that Nadal's game translates better to the UsOpen surface.

Also it is a myth that Nadal plays better on slower surfaces than faster surfaces. He has himself clarified that repeatedly. Nadal's game is harder to handle on surfaces that take more spin and bounce, because his forehand is more effective there.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think they will kill each other and it will go to 5 sets and Rafa is going to win. Because I think Rafa is in better shape. I may be totally wrong here but I just do not like how Nole looks . He looks like he needs at least 15 more pounds of muscle on those bones. Obviously people much smarter than me are working with and for him but I just do not get it...