Nitto ATP Finals 2023, Turin, Italy

[kskate2]

@MargaretMcAleer You have to wonder w/ all the scouting that Killer did why wasn't Sinner more prepared to block that jab he had to know was coming today?

 

[don_fabio]

well winning the calendar slam would've made it better

Sure, but at this age to win this much...I was hoping he would win 1 slam this year, maybe 2. He won 3, plus 2 masters and ATP finals.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

@MargaretMcAleer You have to wonder w/ all the scouting that Killer did why wasn't Sinner more prepared to block that jab he had to know was coming today?

Maybe nerves had something to do with it, though it wasnt the Sinner that played Novak before in this tournament, where he executed a good game plan against Novak, I felt for Sinner to have any chance he needed to win the 1st set, Novak was on Fire, in zone, Sinner didnt have a chance quite frankly., he did have chances in the 2nd set, but he could not convert them.

 

[nehmeth]

Maybe nerves had something to do with it, though it wasnt the Sinner that played Novak before in this tournament, where he executed a good game plan against Novak, I felt for Sinner to have any chance he needed to win the 1st set, Novak was on Fire, in zone, Sinner didnt have a chance quite frankly., he did have chances in the 2nd set, but he could not convert them.

Novak wasn’t going to go out and play tentative tennis again.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak wasn’t going to go out and play tentative tennis again.

No I think he sent that message in the first couple of games didnt he...and on this fast HC tentative tennis dosent win

 

[nehmeth]

No I think he sent that message in the first couple of games didnt he...and on this fast HC tentative tennis dosent win

Yesterday and today.

Alcaraz was a perfect hitting partner to prepare for today’s match.

 

[Front242]

Yesterday and today.

Alcaraz was a perfect hitting partner to prepare for today’s match.

Yup, after that scoreline yesterday it was clear before this started it'd be more of the same today.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yesterday and today.

Alcaraz was a perfect hitting partner to prepare for today’s match.

Yes, lets remember this point, both Charly and Jannik it was their first appearance in the ATP finals, Charly making a SF and Jannik going undefeated till the final, is very good in my book, Novak has been here a few times before and has the experience and it showed

 

[Kieran]

I must say that in all my years watching tennis, I never seen a player literally gifted so many big titles. He'll make hay while he can, in these conditions, and why not? I give him great credit for his fitness. We haven't seen anything like it in tennis. And he's obviously a great champion.

The rest of the field are in transition, not quite ready to take advantage of their chances, but we got some good indicators of the state of them this week. There are youngsters who improved this year on last...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Do you think Rafa is a cheat?

No no .my point is yes Sir there are men and women of honor . Yet no one remembers the person who overruled an incorrect call against their opponents.. however we have seen numerous of players who purposely tank sets but we don't go back to crucify that player. All we remember if the player E.g. Agassi won or lost the match. Gang , let's not make this a mean post by AP but let's be honest. The smart play would have been loose to Holger Rune and get Novak out of the weekend group of players to advance to the semis which increases the chances of everyone else..nuff said.

 

[the AntiPusher]

now wait one damn minute, I never said there was no integrity in sports. I said there was also an integrity argument for setting yourself up for success.

No I never said that. Let's not bastardized my post . Novak won. There's no more discussion

 

[atttomole]

For sure - and he still wouldn't have won the tourney.

But you know, they'll ask Novak after this match what he'd have done and he'll lie and say he'd have done what Jannik did. Novak would serial-killer the lines-people to win a set, so tanking a match would be nothing to him...

I think it’s unfair to Djokovic. He just happens to be dominant with his imposing game. .

 

[kskate2]

No no .my point is yes Sir there are men and women of honor . Yet no one remembers the person who overruled an incorrect call against their opponents.. however we have seen numerous of players who purposely tank sets but we don't go back to crucify that player. All we remember if the player E.g. Agassi won or lost the match. Gang , let's not make this a mean post by AP but let's be honest. The smart play would have been loose to Holger Rune and get Novak out of the weekend group of players to advance to the semis which increases the chances of everyone else..nuff said.

I said the exact same thing earlier. So on that we do agree...

No I never said that. Let's not bastardized my post . Novak won. There's no more discussion

Jannik didn't owe anybody anything on Thursday. IMO I liken these meaningless RR matches to a dead Davis Cup rubber because it only really matters to one opponent..

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Big mistake Sinner for not tanking in order to eliminate Djokovic. You had the title in your hands but now it will be Djokovic def. Sinner 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Congratulations Sinner, you are so smart. Not!

 

[Fiero425]

I must say that in all my years watching tennis, I never seen a player literally gifted so many big titles. He'll make hay while he can, in these conditions, and why not? I give him great credit for his fitness. We haven't seen anything like it in tennis. And he's obviously a great champion.

The rest of the field are in transition, not quite ready to take advantage of their chances, but we got some good indicators of the state of them this week. There are youngsters who improved this year on last...

Gifted? So you don't think Djokovic worked hard to win this 98th Chp. of his career? Wow; so it's back-handed compliments til the end?

 

[Kieran]

Gifted? So you don't think Djokovic worked hard to win this 98th Chp. of his career? Wow; so it's back-handed compliments til the end?

Gifted bro. You’re watching tennis at least as long as me…but the compliment was genuine..

 

[Kieran]

Big mistake Sinner for not tanking in order to eliminate Djokovic. You had the title in your hands but now it will be Djokovic def. Sinner 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Congratulations Sinner, you are so smart. Not!

Just another little detail on the tanking topic: throwing professional tennis matches is illegal. It’s match fixing. People bet on tennis. Even if Jannik had lost the match legitimately, it still would have been scrutinised for lack of effort, given what’s at stake. Trust me, it’s not easy to deliberately lose even a club tennis match - let alone a top level pro match - without it being somewhat noticeable and suspicious…

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Gifted? So you don't think Djokovic worked hard to win this 98th Chp. of his career? Wow; so it's back-handed compliments til the end?

Yes, his titles were all gifted, like when Oprah gifts her audience:

 

[nehmeth]

So you don't think Djokovic worked hard to win this 98th Chp. of his career?

9 more to tie Connors. 10 more to break that record. ESPN called the win over Carlos a ’rout’. Against Sinner, they used the word ’dominates’.

 

[MikeOne]

No-one has has it harder than djokovic. First, his parents had no money and still managed to invest in his training. He had to deal with poverty and a war. When he made it to the pros, he has to contend with federer and nadal. One was a master technical purist and then other a gladiator who used his physicality to dominate opponents. To add to the challenges, he had physical issues, allergies which didn’t allow him to maximize his gifts. He still managed to beat fedal as early as 2007, both at their peaks and novak far from it. This was a sign of things to come.

He then finally, through diet and physical training, got it together and since 2011, has owned tennis. Record after record and even bested the so called goats in H2H

To add to the challenges, the world turned against him and he was banned from big tournaments. His character assassinated in public as his detractors rejoiced, like fedal fans here.

Then carlos alcaraz rises and the talk begins - ‘he’s like nadal, djoker, fed combined, it’s over for novak’. Carlos beats novak at wimbledon and the talk intensifies - ‘novak finally looked his age, carlos will be unstoppable now’

And then.. here we are. Novak gets USO, two masters and eoy cup after everyone thought he was going to let carlos take over. Carlos and sinner didn't give him anything, they poked the bear and got thrashed.

No-one has had it harder than novak and this has fueled his burning desire to prove everyone wrong. He is the GOAT. Highest peak ever (he has highest elo rating and won 4 slams in a row) and he has the longevity too. The GOAT.