Nitto ATP Finals, London

[Moxie]

Chrissie, Martina and Mac have been saying it for years. When you get older (in your 30s) it gets harder and harder to close sets and especially matches out. Just ask Serena, Fed, Venus and now Nads.

Not just "now" Nadal. I absolutely believe that, and he's been there for some time. Look at the USO final 2019: up 2 sets and a break, and it ended up going 5. Roger had 2 CPs on his serve at Wimbledon F last year, and he lost the match. Which wasn't the first time that started to happen to him. (IW 2019 F v DelPotro, as an example.) With the greats, I think they start to lose it not all at once, but by increments.

 

[Moxie]

It was a definitely one of those “coulda, woulda, shoulda” matches which doesn’t take away from Theim’s well earned victory. I’ve yet to see Federer fans not bitch or wet their shorts if Federer lost a set after having set points, one on his serve...

Losing 2 TB’s when you had a lead in both sets is definitely a nail biter.

I'm still mad it didn't at least go 3.

 

[El Dude]

Rafa has to beat Stefanos to keep alive his chances of not becoming a footnote in the Fedokovic Era.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa has to beat Stefanos to keep alive his chances of not becoming a footnote in the Fedokovic Era.

You wish.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak really has to address his 1st serve

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Help me DF for Novak and Danni wins the 1st set 63.....actually there were 3 and one facing SP
Someone find Novak's serve please and return it to him ASAP
Credit to Danni he has been returning well and deserved to win the 1st set.

 

[kskate2]

Med is all over Djoke like a rash. His defense is phenomenal today

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Med is all over Djoke like a rash. His defense is phenomenal today

Also going up the centre of the court to cut off the angles from Novak

 

[Moxie]

Novak seems to be pretty low motivation, and I have no idea why.

 

[Moxie]

Well, that was both quick AND surprising. Medvedev has gotten over his nerves in serving out against a top player, it seems.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well played Danni winning 63 63....considering last year you did not win a match in London.
Novak was below par today,though that is not taking anything away from Danni's win.
Novak looked disinterested for some unkown reason.

Danni 20W UFE12
Novak 19W 28UFE

 

[kskate2]

Well played Danni winning 63 63....considering last year you did not win a match in London.
Novak was below par today,though that is not taking anything away from Danni's win.
Novak looked disinterested for some unkown reason.

Danni 20W UFE12
Novak 19W 28UFE

He was engaged the first 5-6 games of the 1st set. Once his serve got broken, he seemed to lose all interest in rallying. Tried to play short points and force the issue and that's a no go against Med.

 

[Moxie]

Med is all over Djoke like a rash. His defense is phenomenal today

He also served great today. He definitely frustrated Novak, and he can be a frustrating player when he's on. Daniil is through to the SFs.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He was engaged the first 5-6 games of the 1st set. Once his serve got broken, he seemed to lose all interest in rallying. Tried to play short points and force the issue and that's a no go against Med.

Yep,very strange reaction from Novak,he just wanted to end the points quick and then ended up with a UFE

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

So Novak plays Sasha for the second s/final spot? is that correct.

 

[kskate2]

So Novak plays Sasha for the second s/final spot? is that correct.

That's correct. Whoever wins that one will move on to the semi's

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If Danni can keep up this level I feel he is the one to beat this year.He really found his form in Paris.

 

[kskate2]

If Danni can keep up this level I feel he is the one to beat this year.He really found his form in Paris.

He found his form and his confidence in Paris. Before that he was slumping like a lost dog looking for home.

 

[Fiero425]

Yep, very strange reaction from Novak. He just wanted to end the points quick and then ended up with a UFE.

He had no real dog in this hunt! His YE #1 ranking was secure! He'll hold onto it for the foreseeable future & be over 300 wks by the the AO!

 

[Moxie]

He had no real dog in this hunt! His YE #1 ranking was secure! He'll hold onto it for the foreseeable future & be over 300 wks by the the AO!

No dog? I'm sure he'd like to tie Fed for most titles here. Plus, this is one of the few places he can add points for quite a while. With the weird 2020 rankings that will roll into 2021, they're practically gifting him the most weeks at #1, but he should be careful about becoming too cavalier.