Cincinnati Quarterfinal: Djokovic/Isner

[Kieran]

Didn't see that coming - fair play to Isner! :clap

 

[DarthFed]

well thats that. i think rafa might be the USO fav

I think Djokovic is a distant 3rd favorite, no doubt about that.

 

[calitennis127]

When it rains it pours. Djokovic is in the major funk I mentioned, not good ahead of the last slam.

I also don't think he has ever been fully comfortable with the ultra-fast conditions of Cincinnati either.

 

[secrettennisjunkie]

ATTA BOY BIG JOHN!!! That's 2 careers wins over Djokovic, not to mention that epic DC 5-set loss.

 

[tented]

When it rains it pours. Djokovic is in the major funk I mentioned, not good ahead of the last slam.

Kudos to you, Darth. You've been saying this for a while now, and you're being proved correct each tournament.

 

[Riotbeard]

Noooo! Now it's up to delpo to save my week. At least Isner and delpo are both guys who can potentially beat rafa or andy in a final.

 

[Kieran]

I wouldn't go writing Novak off on the US Open based on this match. He's still #1 and can't be disregarded so easily. A lot can happen in 3 weeks...

 

[ftan]

Nole was completely out of sorts, though John did return well..
but there were just soooo many DF's from Nole

 

[DarthFed]

When it rains it pours. Djokovic is in the major funk I mentioned, not good ahead of the last slam.

I also don't think he has ever been fully comfortable with the ultra-fast conditions of Cincinnati either.

He is damn good on fast courts and has made the final 4 times, each time going against the only 2 guys better in such conditions. This was just a loss due to a few recent bad losses. They build on each other and before you know it a bunch of these "WTF" matches happen.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Congrats to Big John.. He is having a great summer.. I think he will beat JMDP..
Btw.. We have a gringo back in the top 20 .. whew:clap

 

[tented]

well thats that. i think rafa might be the USO fav

I think Djokovic is a distant 3rd favorite, no doubt about that.

I agree. Rafa and Murray are the top 2, then Djokovic, then Federer, or maybe JMDP.

 

[nehmeth]

Shades of pre-2011, the return of the Nole fold. Ugly tennis.

 

[tented]

I wouldn't go writing Novak off on the US Open based on this match. He's still #1 and can't be disregarded so easily. A lot can happen in 3 weeks...

He's lost one key match after another since winning Monte Carlo. This was the last thing he needed before going into a GS. Also, technically he's still No. 1, but he's losing points on a steady basis, except for MC. That fact isn't lost on him, either.

 

[nehmeth]

I wouldn't go writing Novak off on the US Open based on this match. He's still #1 and can't be disregarded so easily. A lot can happen in 3 weeks...

He's out of it Kieran. On the crucial points he is pre-2011. Lack of motivation? Lack of confidence? I don't know what it is, but the resulting play is pretty ugly. Those backhands were almost as bad as Nole's serves were under Todd Martin. :blush:

 

[crystalfire]

well thats that. i think rafa might be the USO fav

I think Djokovic is a distant 3rd favorite, no doubt about that.

I agree. Rafa and Murray are the top 2, then Djokovic, then Federer, or maybe JMDP.

feds not even in the picture imo. hes like after jmdp and berdych. if he plays isner he probably loses

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Not a chance Kiu :snigger

After Big John won, we better be buddies!
:hug

 

[the AntiPusher]

well thats that. i think rafa might be the USO fav

I think Djokovic is a distant 3rd favorite, no doubt about that.

I agree. Rafa and Murray are the top 2, then Djokovic, then Federer, or maybe JMDP.

I still have Djoker, Rafa Murray, Fed\JMDP.. as long as Djoker is healthy.. its gonna take a brilliant effort to beat him at USO.

 

[Kieran]

Kiu, you should do the lottery. I still haven't forgotten how you predicted Murray to bust the Big 3 last year at the slams....

 

[nehmeth]

He's just not sharp. Couple things I'm noticing - Nole (when he's playing well) has his head so still through the shot. Too many times today, he's picking his head up early and the ball is floating long every time.

Hitting a needless double fault at deuce down 5-6 in the 3rd set?

Welcome to the world of a Nalbandian fan.

OUCH. :cover

 

[Asmodeus]

It's always nice when "the greatest returner of all time" loses. I guess it's the end of the line for him: Nadal is resurgent and Murray is looking to make his mark.

BTW, I turned on tennis for the first time in a bit today and every commentator was discussing this "greatest returner of all time" stuff. Did someone send a memo directing everyone to start with this nonsense? Come on! The guy's career is in obvious decline and everyone is starting with this stuff.

I guess you can tell I don't care for him much.