Cincinnati Quarterfinal: Djokovic/Isner

[GameSetAndMath]

Is it the pressure of Career Golden Masters that made Djoker go down?

 

[DarthFed]

I agree Nehmeth, this is certainly his worst tennis since 2010 and it is beginning to look more and more LIKE 2010. We should wait for the draw at the USO but I think he is in desperate need of a kind one.

 

[Tennis Miller]

I agree Nehmeth, this is certainly his worst tennis since 2010 and it is beginning to look more and more LIKE 2010. We should wait for the draw at the USO but I think he is in desperate need of a kind one.

I don't think it's going to get much kinder than Rafa, Roger and Andy all in the opposite half...!

Cheers,

TM

 

[nehmeth]

I agree Nehmeth, this is certainly his worst tennis since 2010 and it is beginning to look more and more LIKE 2010. We should wait for the draw at the USO but I think he is in desperate need of a kind one.

uzzled He had a pretty kind draw here. He's going into NYC with very poor form and if he doesn't get the problems ironed out in the next three weeks, he could make an early exit at Flushing Meadows.

 

[tented]

I have to say, though, that Djokovic playing like this makes the sport, in general, less interesting. As much as I hated 2011, I have to respect what Novak accomplished, and the heightened sense of competition he brought with it.

 

[El Dude]

"End of the line" for Novak? Come now. He's in a rough patch but he'll be there in the top three for years to come. Actually, this could be very interesting with him, Nadal, and maybe Murray swapping #1 over the next year or two.

 

[Front242]

Just got home and saw the score. As I mentioned earlier, thought Isner had a good shot here. Good win for him although I can't stand his game and wanted Novak to win. Had a feeling he'd lose though.

 

[lindseywagners]

I agree Nehmeth, this is certainly his worst tennis since 2010 and it is beginning to look more and more LIKE 2010. We should wait for the draw at the USO but I think he is in desperate need of a kind one.

uzzled He had a pretty kind draw here. He's going into NYC with very poor form and if he doesn't get the problems ironed out in the next three weeks, he could make an early exit at Flushing Meadows.

3 weeks... It's 10 days away.

 

[Didi]

I have to say, though, that Djokovic playing like this makes the sport, in general, less interesting. As much as I disliked 2011, I have to respect what Novak accomplished, and the heightened sense of competition he brought with it.

For me it's quite the opposite to be honest and I'm saying that as a huge admirer of the player Novak Djokovic is. If he was at the peak of his powers right now, in my opinion he would have swept the field in NYC except for Murray. His current slump makes the upcoming US Open as open a field as it possibly gets these days. It's close to a cointoss between him, Murray and Nadal right now with Del Potro, Berdych and Federer lurking behind. Nadal getting the year end #1 is now almost a formality which maybe could help Nole to finally start swinging freely without the pressure of being the hunted.

 

[nehmeth]

I agree Nehmeth, this is certainly his worst tennis since 2010 and it is beginning to look more and more LIKE 2010. We should wait for the draw at the USO but I think he is in desperate need of a kind one.

uzzled He had a pretty kind draw here. He's going into NYC with very poor form and if he doesn't get the problems ironed out in the next three weeks, he could make an early exit at Flushing Meadows.

3 weeks... It's 10 days away.

worse yet. :cover

 

[Front242]

Missed this match but did the Todd Martin serve of doom return?

 

[nehmeth]

Missed this match but did the Todd Martin serve of doom return?

In a way... but it somehow slithered down into the backhand. :blush:

 

[Front242]

Missed this match but did the Todd Martin serve of doom return?

In a way... but it somehow slithered down into the backhand. :blush:

 

[ftan]

It was the double faults and the backhand and he just looked out of sorts...
I am quite sure this will pass come US Open.. we know our champs just take the slams too seriously to have these kinda slumps affect them

 

[Mog]

This US Open is becomimg more and more open and interesting.
And Delpo, Berdych and few others will create some upsets of the top three at the USO.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I have to say, though, that Djokovic playing like this makes the sport, in general, less interesting. As much as I disliked 2011, I have to respect what Novak accomplished, and the heightened sense of competition he brought with it.

This is true.. But you know the odds of beating this guy at the USO the best of 5 before the quarterfinals is ultra slim.. He will regroup and get refocused.. He isn't the world's number 1 by default..

 

[rafanoy1992]

I think the one shot that is letting Djokovic in these tight matches is the serve. If you look at this loss and last week loss against Nadal, he was serving double faults on crucial moments. Even at the Wimbledon final against Murray, his serve was "patchy."

I do think he will still reach the semifinals of the US Open. He is too good and consistent not to reach at the very least the semifinals. He better hope that he doesn't get Nadal and Federer on his draw because that would be a tough order for him.

 

[ClayDeath]

nole is a slightly shaken man. he has pressure from all sides now:

1. nadal wants his #1 spot

2. andy just wants to beat him again at the u.s. open


and nole knows they are coming.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think Djokovic has to worry about improving his tennis before he worries about specific players. The real problem for him is not simply losses to Murray or Nadal (or even Isner), it's that he's not playing well at all. That said, I agree, I don't see him losing in a best of 5 set at the US Open before at least the quarters, and by then he could very well have played himself into good form.