Beijing F: Nadal vs Djokovic

[Moxie]

Nadal won both their matches this year that REALLY mattered. This one is almost inconsequential in the longer term and more for bragging rights. I'm sure neither player is losing sleep over it.

That being said, Djokovic's played better in the tournament and now that the pressure is off for #1, I have a feeling he would come firing and win this given the quicker conditions. He does need to do so to stop the bleeding against Rafa.

For Nadal, his next major goal is Novak's home turf in the Australian Open. For now, he just needs to pick a few 100 points for the rest of the year and stay #1. The tail end of the year was never his favorite part of the season, and 2013 shouldn't be any different. Bigger battles loom in 2014 and he would be wide to save himself (more crucially his knees) for them.

I think this "save his knees" talk should really stop, considering that all of his fans basically wanted him to skip every hardcourt event save the US Open after he returned in February, and yet he won 3 MS titles. If his knees were in such terrible condition, he wouldn't have done that.

No one is saying his knees are in terrible condition. The notion of 'saving his knees' is about preventing the kind of over-use injury to them which has side-lined him twice before. I don't see why that's an unreasonable sentiment.

I do think this match is a little tough to call, and everyone has made good points as to why. I'm inclined to think along the lines of imjimmy, quoted just above, overall. I haven't seen Novak hit one ball, but his scorelines have been mostly impressive. Rafa has looked a little less than sharp in the matches I've seen. Still, I'll be rooting for him to win, of course. ¡Vamos, Rafa!

 

[rafanoy1992]

This one is tough to call. This match could go either way really. I do think Djokovic needs to win this match to at least gain some momentum for the rest of the year and over Nadal.

As for Nadal, I think he just wants to play well and hopefully play a competitive match. A loss here against Djokovic should not derail his momentum going into the World Tour Finals.

 

[Front242]

A loss for Djokovic would really be another nail in the coffin. If he doesn't manage to beat Nadal before the end of the year his confidence will be in poor shape even gearing up to his most successful slam.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

12 hour difference pretty much guarantees i am pvr ing this. Any brave souls around waking up at 4 am ? Not me...it was a long week.

 

[Front242]

A loss for Djokovic would really be another nail in the coffin. If he doesn't manage to beat Nadal before the end of the year his confidence will be in poor shape even gearing up to his most successful slam.

@Kieran: You're not supposed to like that (not in public anyway!). That's just nasty! Show some compassion to Djoko's camp :nono

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Wow I'd love to see Nadal win this match. It would be so gravy. Unnecessary gravy, but much appreciated nonetheless. Means a lot more to Djokovic than Nadal, that is for sure.

 

[Iona16]

Not managed to see any of this tournament. Should see the final though. Good luck Rafa.

 

[Moxie]

A loss for Djokovic would really be another nail in the coffin. If he doesn't manage to beat Nadal before the end of the year his confidence will be in poor shape even gearing up to his most successful slam.

@Kieran: You're not supposed to like that (not in public anyway!). That's just nasty! Show some compassion to Djoko's camp :nono

You're the one who said it. And I think your point is well-made. What Djokovic manages between now and the AO will have much to bear on how that final goes, should they meet.

 

[Moxie]

12 hour difference pretty much guarantees i am pvr ing this. Any brave souls around waking up at 4 am ? Not me...it was a long week.

I'm going to get up and watch. Will probably be me and the crickets. Anyone else?

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Spanish beatdown...again.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I picked Nole in 3
He will grab that bull by the horn and teach him lesson!

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Nadal has to be taught a lesson? For real?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Yes, the lesson is that Novak will not easily go away.

I am hoping that's going to happen. We just can't have Rafa dominate the year.
Realistically, Novak gets 1 in 3 chance in my book.

 

[Kieran]

Why did I think this match starts at 8am, Irish time. :nono

Going back asleep, wake me up when they finish all the pre-match rigmarole....

 

[Front242]

Why did I think this match starts at 8am, Irish time. :nono

Going back asleep, wake me up when they finish all the pre-match rigmarole....

I dunno and I even believed you, ya gimp! :nono Got up at 8 eventhough I was sure it was 9 lol! I'll just stay up now anyway

 

[Kieran]

I know, I feel really bad about that, I coulda swore it was at 8, and dunno why. Sorry!

Now I can't sleep so that's punishment enough... uzzled

 

[Front242]

I know, I feel really bad about that, I coulda swore it was at 8, and dunno why. Sorry!

Now I can't sleep so that's punishment enough... uzzled

ROFL! No prob man. I get up at 5:30am each day for work so I don't mind at all

 

[Kieran]

Ah no, so you need your Sunday rest!

I also told J-B in France and my nephew in Madrid, all the wrong times. I might ring someone up in China to complain...their lousy clocks!

 

[Kieran]

So far, Novak is far more alert. Chinese crowd sound like children...

 

[Kieran]

Great set by Novak, a 6-3 that felt like 6-1...