RG Final — Djokovic/Tsitsipas

[Moxie]

Wow...break for Novak, then Tsitsipas breaks back and TB we go.

 

[shawnbm]

Odd lapse from Nole in the last few minutes, but I’ve seen him right the ship so many times. Then again, it’s only the first set.

 

[shawnbm]

What a save by stefanos!

 

[shawnbm]

Did not anticipate Nole losing the first set, but there is a long way to go. I picked the Greek lad in four sets, but it was merely a wish.

 

[Moxie]

Novak is for my money the strongest player (mentally) I have seen. He has this self-belief that exceeds anyone, including Nadal and Connors. Sampras had it in spades too. I assume Borg did but he was unflappable all the time so he’s hard to read

Hi, Shawn! You cursed him by saying that, because then he immediately went off the boil, played a terrible game to drop serve, which might have been about arguing with the chair, but who knows. But in any case, I disagree with you. This is a guy that took a two year mental walkabout. This is the guy that puts his fans on what one of them calls the Nolecoaster. He's tough when he's confident, but he can't let himself get distracted, rattled, angry for reasons that are sometimes apparent to no one. I don't call that mental strength.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just tuning in and saw the last few points of the t/break.,yes it is a long way to go,I felt the Young Greek needed to win the 1st set.
BTW The Young Greek looks composed to me good sign.,he might not be inside though lol!

 

[Moxie]

Just tuning in and saw the last few points of the t/break.,yes it is a long way to go,I felt the Young Greek needed to win the 1st set.

Totally agreed about that. Stefanos had a set point at 5-4 on Novak's serve, and then he was up in the TB, so to have lost that set may have gotten to his head, and Novak with confidence could just then run away with it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Young Greek's serve will be imperative as well,he needs to keep his numbers up in this match

 

[shawnbm]

Hi, Shawn! You cursed him by saying that, because then he immediately went off the boil, played a terrible game to drop serve, which might have been about arguing with the chair, but who knows. But in any case, I disagree with you. This is a guy that took a two year mental walkabout. This is the guy that puts his fans on what one of them calls the Nolecoaster. He's tough when he's confident, but he can't let himself get distracted, rattled, angry for reasons that are sometimes apparent to no one. I don't call that mental strength.

I guess you’re right. He certainly wasn’t years ago when he lost a lot of finals in majors, but he has had great grit against Roger and Rafael in many matches over the years. When confident, he is a tough one to bet against. Then again those other two are as well.

 

[shawnbm]

Good to see you’re around still Moxie. I’ve not been following the forum as much lately.

 

[don_fabio]

Novak needs to turn this match around in this set even he is down the break, other way it will be too much to win in 5

 

[tented]

Novak needs to turn this match around in this set even he is down the break, other way it will be too much to win in 5

I suspect you’re right, if only because of the amount of tennis he has played in the last three rounds: 13 sets, which totaled over 11 hours on court.

At the same time, Novak has demonstrated many, many times he’s willing to fight it out for hours.

 

[Moxie]

Good to see you’re around still Moxie. I’ve not been following the forum as much lately.

Good to see you around, Shawn!

 

[dante1976]

Choke-ovic... unfortunately

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

 

[Moxie]

Wow...2nd break. Novak feeling the weight of the occasion or the tiredness from the exertion to get here, or both? Because he looked great up until the end of the first set, after he broke, and then he's gone flat.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Djokovic really fell apart after he got broken to try to serve out the first set. He better figure something out quickly.

 

[don_fabio]

Just by following the livescores and commentary I can see Novak is not fighting and without that he just can't beat the greek I'm afraid. I hope he can turn it around still, but not looking promising.

 

[Moxie]

Just by following the livescores and commentary I can see Novak is not fighting and without that he just can't beat the greek I'm afraid. I hope he can turn it around still, but not looking promising.

Honestly, in that last Tsitsipas service game to take the set, Novak made some errors that just looked tired or like he'd given up on the set. Or both.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak looks tired to me,though this match is not over
Well done to the Young Greek leads 2 sets to none.

 

[tented]

Novak looks tired to me,though this match is not over

He does look as if the last few rounds have caught up to him. Plus, it’s 80 F/26.6 C in Paris, which doesn’t suit Novak.