AO Mens Final: Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal

[Federberg]

in my opinion you're completely missing the point about match ups. When Novak looks up across the net and sees Rafa, he feels comfortable. You can't underestimate something like that. And it's easy to overestimate what that means when he faces someone else

 

[DarthFed]

Play Dubai, IW, Halle and Wimbledon is my hope

 

[Federberg]

agreed DF. Dubai and IW. Then Halle and Wimbledon. Fk the clay

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Yeah definitely. He lost a close against Tsitsipas here. And a close one against DelPo in IW last year. Or was that Miami. Idk. Novak at this level is the favorite. He's been better there until his fall than Fed was. And that's saying something.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

But Fed definitely has a chance there.

 

[DarthFed]

Yep! He's shown signs of major fatigue late in years without clay, why play now?

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

IMO he's playing for points.Hopefully he gains a lot in Dubai-IW-Miami and changes his mind about playing clay

 

[tenisplayrla08]

No Federberg. I get it. Which is why I said the dynamic would be completely different. It's just like Rafa feeling comfortable when he looks across and sees Fed. And, even with his revamped backhand and the bigger racket. Roger will always have some mental scar tissue against Rafa. And Rafa will always gets free points from that. And Roger will always feel more comfortable against Novak.

 

[Federberg]

correction... Rafa used to look comfortable seeing Roger across the net. That's over now

 

[DarthFed]

I don't think he's playing for points. I think he will have a chance for top 4 seed at Wimbledon. That's about the only ranking-type consideration

 

[Federberg]

I haven't seen Roger look uncomfortable playing Rafa for years

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Compared with how he feels against Rafa. But that only gets you so far. IF... again, because of their different matchup, there's no guarantee Djokovic would have played this well because he wouldn't have been this confident. But IF he plays as well as he did tonight. Fed's not winning that match.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

He might get a set. Maybe take it to five. But Novak is winning.

 

[Federberg]

we agree to disagree. Matchups matter

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Again. He feels less uncomfortable now because he's finally playing with a larger racket that can give him a touch more power to offset the power he lost with age and can withstand the Rafa forehand better.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

But Rafa is still always gonna get some free points just from how dominant he was against Roger for so long.

 

[tented]

Just woke up to see my guy lost. I voted Novak in 4, but apparently it was a beatdown. Congrats to Novak & his fans!

 

[Federberg]

I don't recall Rafa getting free points in 2017 mate. I think you're thinking of 5 or 6 yrs ago

 

[tenisplayrla08]

And you says "years" like it didn't just start at the beginning of 2017. That's only 2.

 

[britbox]

Hey tented... yeah, this was all one way.