Nitto ATP Finals, London

[MargaretMcAleer]

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!

I am sure he would like to tie with Federer with most wins here at the finals.Anyway he needs to more engaged in his matches,he was below par today,his serve needs attention asap.

 

[Andy22]

while Nadal barely lost because of his age, Djokovic just got owned by Medvedev today, outplayed in everywhere on the court its like Djokovic was Medvedev doormat today. Djokovic is clearly getting owned by Medvedev and thiem these days.

 

[Kieran]

Novak really has to address his 1st serve

It was addressed “return to sender..”

 

[Moxie]

I am sure he would like to tie with Federer with most wins here at the finals.Anyway he needs to more engaged in his matches,he was below par today,his serve needs attention asap.

And if he wants to pass Roger, as we know he'd like to, since he's made no bones about trying to get his name on the top of the GOAT list, he really can't afford to be complacent about this one. Someday, or sometimes, the youngsters are going to step up, as they increasingly do. I can see why he lost his motivation in Vienna after capturing YE#1, though it was a pretty shockingly poor loss to Sonego. On the heels of a thrashing by Nadal at RG. I don't buy lack of motivation here.

 

[Moxie]

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

So who are you rooting for?

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

both groups now have 1 dud match and 1 qf shootout match.

moorhens and gerbils everywhere are thrilled by this news..maybe.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I think it’s safe to say that Djokovic will not be reaching 20 slams.

 

[Jelenafan]

I finally figured what Medvedev reminds me of. He looks like a kid whose been suddenly awakened forcibly from his nap. Even the disheveled hair fits!

 

[Moxie]

I finally figured what Medvedev reminds me of. He looks like a kid whose been suddenly awakened forcibly from his nap. Even the disheveled hair fits!

Fair enough, though I still like my romantic 19th C. Russian lieutenent version of him. What you see as sleepy, I see as slightly tragic. Anyway, I'll keep picturing him in a military uniform, while you picture him in a onesie, if you like.

 

[El Dude]

I know they're counting part of 2019 in the YE rankings but it just seems rather silly that Roger will likely finish #5 when he's played all of six matches this year.

 

[Moxie]

I know they're counting part of 2019 in the YE rankings but it just seems rather silly that Roger will likely finish #5 when he's played all of six matches this year.

Clearly no one knows what to do with the rankings this year. Right? Wrong? Who knows, and maybe this belongs in the rankings thread. But who do you like to win the YEC? I'm still curious.

 

[Moxie]

both groups now have 1 dud match and 1 qf shootout match.

moorhens and gerbils everywhere are thrilled by this news..maybe.

Thiem v. Rublev is a "dud" only in the sense that it's a dead rubber. But they are h2h 2-2, and Rublev has won the last 2. Could still be interesting, for the sake of pride, on the part of the Russian.

Nadal v. Tsitsipas: h2h 5-1 in favor of Nadal. Tsitsipas is defending here, but not trending. Nadal, though he doesn't tend to look ahead must see a lame Djokovic. Hopefully he pulls out all the stops, goes after that 1HBH, and forces the baseline and the net.

 

[Moxie]

Novak after his match:

“Well, I was, to be honest [not feeling well] a little bit, especially towards the end of the first set, beginning of the second,” said Djokovic, 33. “I kind of regrouped and felt better… towards the end of the match. But, yeah, just unfortunate 15, 20 minutes for me that resulted with seven games in a row lost… I made some unforced errors. I dropped the level of [my] game and fitness just in general. I struggled to… find the right rhythm for 15 minutes or so…You know, against a player like Medvedev, the match is done.”

So, no excuses. Except, that he was unwell. Otherwise, no excuses. @Bonaca

 

[El Dude]

Clearly no one knows what to do with the rankings this year. Right? Wrong? Who knows, and maybe this belongs in the rankings thread. But who do you like to win the YEC? I'm still curious.

Medvedev. Novak on paper, but that was a poor performance. I think Nadal and Thiem also have a shot. Not feeling Stefanos or Sascha.

 

[Kieran]

There is a question for Thiem today, of how much he puts into the match against Rublev, especially if he loses a tight first set. He has a good reason to relax and conserve energy if that happens, but against this, he doesn't want to break a run of wins in the tournament. He's won the group and will play Zverev/Djoker in the semi, so I think he'd like to maintain his level. And of course, you don't want to give a player like Rublev a notch on his belt.

Tanking in tennis is a rare, low level event, usually committed by lowlifes like Tomic and Nick, but there are examples of the best players letting a set go to conserve energy for the next set, or even letting a match slide when they don't feel the gains outweigh the loss.

EDIT: he's rapidly gone 0-3 with two breaks of serve so I wonder if he's put his feet up already?

 

[Moxie]

Rublev first set: 11 W to 0 UFEs. Thiem seems to be lacking somewhat in motivation, maybe? But if you've got some great momentum, why let that go?

 

[Moxie]

Rublev had a pretty brilliant day...tightened up right at the end, got broken, but then finished it out. Thiem, for his part, really wasn't very good.

 

[Fiero425]

That's great for Rublev making that $$ & pk'n up the pts to pad his ranking! He's had an amazing season and I can't be happier for him!

 

[Jelenafan]

Rublev was in godlike mode.
Team Theim was low energy.

 

[kskate2]

@Moxie You also win the maximum prize $$ if you go undefeated 5-0. So he's not going to get that now if he does win the tourney. So some $$ lost