Dubai Championship ATP 500

[auto-pilot]

Wow horrible line calls the last couple of games, especially this one.

 

[Federberg]

That tennis from Djokovic was down right phenomenal. Berdych was not playing poorly. He just wasn't able to get to some of Djokovic's shots and Djokovic turned some of Berdych's actually really solid shots into great defense. Just amazing. I cannot stress how amazing that set of tennis was. I love Roger, and this is his house. But he doesn't stand a chance tomorrow if Novak plays like that. If Novak plays even close to that. Yeah he's better than Berdych even at 33 or 34 but what Novak just produced is unstoppable. I hope I'm wrong. And we'll see in this upcoming set and against Roger if he can replicate it. But my bet is that he can. Crazy amazing.

I can understand where that sort of thinking comes from. I've made the same mistake before. But when these top guys play each other they do such different and subtle things to each other that you'll find that Novak probably isn't able to do the same things or look quite as good tomorrow. I'm not saying he isn't favourite, it's just impossible to use how he looks playing against Berd-man as a guide to how he'll perform against Roger...

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Djokovic hits one wide to give away one match point. But he's got another.

 

[nehmeth]

Thank you for stinking in the clutch moments Tomas. On to the finals Nole!

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Wide serve draws the return error into the top of the net. Djokovic goes through in the end. Fed stands a chance if Djokovic plays like he did in the latter two sets. He doesn't if first set Djokovic shows up. Hopefully Fed can summon up his best and we'll see if that's enough.

 

[auto-pilot]

Even in that AO quarter-final vs Nadal, Berdych had a 5-1 lead in the 3rd set tie-beaker and it ended up being tied at 5-5 with Nadal serving.
Berdych won the next 2 points, but just saying, Berdych is really dicey when it matters (unless he's playing Federer).

 

[auto-pilot]

Wide serve draws the return error into the top of the net. Djokovic goes through in the end. Fed stands a chance if Djokovic plays like he did in the latter two sets. He doesn't if first set Djokovic shows up. Hopefully Fed can summon up his best and we'll see if that's enough.

Federer's always got a chance vs Djokovic, no matter how well Djokovic plays.
Even last year, Federer beat Djokovic 3 times, and very nearly at Wimbledon too.
Federer beat Djokovic in straight sets TWICE last year.
Djokovic never beat Federer in straight sets, in fact one of them was a 3rd set tie-breaker and the other was 6-4 in the 5th set.

 

[herios]

After such a stellar set, Novak's game dipped to abysmal.
I had hard time watching it.
:cover

 

[Fiero425]

After such a stellar set, Novak's game dipped to abysmal.
I had hard time watching it.
:cover

It happens a lot; inexplicably! All you have to do is remember Nadal against Fognini! It just turned around and all you can do is shake your head! :nono uzzled :angel: :cover

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I left the match with Novak in complete control?
I will have to watch a replay,anyway Tomas made a match of it in the end
Should be a interesting final....Novak v Federer,who seem to get the best out of each other when they play.Hoping for a Novak win.

 

[DarthFed]

Fast court so Roger definitely has a decent shot. For him it is serve well and dictate with the forehand, obviously he has to do both of those well. #7 for Roger or #5 for Nole at Dubai.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Roger would do well to leave the chip and charge bull$hit at home tomorrow.

 

[Fiero425]

Roger would do well to leave the chip and charge bull$hit at home tomorrow.

You think the old man can win from the baseline? :nono uzzled :angel: :cover

 

[brokenshoelace]

Roger would do well to leave the chip and charge bull$hit at home tomorrow.

You think the old man can won from the baseline? :nono uzzled :angel: :cover

That's got nothing to do with what I said.

 

[Federberg]

Roger would do well to leave the chip and charge bull$hit at home tomorrow.

what strategy do you recommend?

 

[El Dude]

Fast court so Roger definitely has a decent shot. For him it is serve well and dictate with the forehand, obviously he has to do both of those well. #7 for Roger or #5 for Nole at Dubai.

Roger's won their last two and three of their last four best-of-three match-ups, so I think he has more han a "decent shot." I'd say it is pretty even going in. Both are playing quite well.

 

[Riotbeard]

Fast court so Roger definitely has a decent shot. For him it is serve well and dictate with the forehand, obviously he has to do both of those well. #7 for Roger or #5 for Nole at Dubai.

Roger's won their last two and three of their last four best-of-three match-ups, so I think he has more han a "decent shot." I'd say it is pretty even going in. Both are playing quite well.

Novak won their last two setter at the WTF final. Then Fed won the two before that. But I agree. Given the surface and format, it's a toss up. I lean towards Novak because of the confidence of having won the AO, but who know.

 

[Federberg]

Fast court so Roger definitely has a decent shot. For him it is serve well and dictate with the forehand, obviously he has to do both of those well. #7 for Roger or #5 for Nole at Dubai.

Roger's won their last two and three of their last four best-of-three match-ups, so I think he has more han a "decent shot." I'd say it is pretty even going in. Both are playing quite well.

Novak won their last two setter at the WTF final. Then Fed won the two before that. But I agree. Given the surface and format, it's a toss up. I lean towards Novak because of the confidence of having won the AO, but who know.

Lol! Are you referring to the w/o?

 

[Kirijax]

Tried to stay up for the match (started midnight my time) but my cold finally did me in. What an odd score line. I'll have to watch the match later to see what went on. Judging from the comments, it looks like a lot of you wrote off Berdych a bit too soon. :snicker Maybe Djokovic was in the zone and came back down to earth in the 2nd. Still, good to see Berdych put up a fight. He only won two games in the second set last year after being bageled in the first. So there's some improvement. Looks like he and his coaching staff will have to sit down and figure out how to keep the Djokovic Express from blasting out of the station from the gitgo.
And so we get Djokovic vs. Federer Chapter 37! Don't want to miss that one.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

fedster in another quick match 55mins, amazing week for coric getting his 2nd 10top victory then playing mr 17timesmajorwinner.