Rome Masters 2015 final: Djokovic - Federer

[Great Hands]

The decisive point in the match was for me Nole's winning CC FH return when Roger was serving at 4-5 30-30 all.
That was a blitzer reminiscent of Nole's famous return on MP down at the USO against Roger.
This point set up Nole's first BP-SP he converted.

Each player has disappointed the fans of the other; those MP's at cons. USO's has to wear on Roger after all these years! Roger has also been a thorn in Nole's side in Dubai on that fast court and his worst defeat coming in '11 FO semi when he was on a 41 undefeated match winning streak up to that point! :clap :angel: :dodgy:

Yeah, but at the same time I think that is the beauty of the game. You really never know who is going to win until the last point is played and the ump says: game, set, match........I know Nole has had quite a few of those matches where he seemed on his way out, only to find some extra something to pull it out and win it at the end: the matches vs Federer at USO those 2 years, against Tsonga in Paris, against Murray in China, the most memorable to me. I am sure other players' fans have their own exciting examples.

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

 

[Fiero425]

Each player has disappointed the fans of the other; those MP's at cons. USO's has to wear on Roger after all these years! Roger has also been a thorn in Nole's side in Dubai on that fast court and his worst defeat coming in '11 FO semi when he was on a 41 undefeated match winning streak up to that point! :clap :angel: :dodgy:

Yeah, but at the same time I think that is the beauty of the game. You really never know who is going to win until the last point is played and the ump says: game, set, match........I know Nole has had quite a few of those matches where he seemed on his way out, only to find some extra something to pull it out and win it at the end: the matches vs Federer at USO those 2 years, against Tsonga in Paris, against Murray in China, the most memorable to me. I am sure other players' fans have their own exciting examples.

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

Here it is: [video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKDydv8_CM4[/video]

Update: This was a perfect example of what I've been saying for years; that defensive minded playing has cost Murray many a match! After that lob went over Nole's head, Andy should have been closing in on the net to cut off that "tweener!" Idiot! :cover :nono :eyepop :cry

 

[Billie]

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

I am sure that Andy winning USO a month earlier softened the blow.

We've all had highs and lows when following our aces. Sometimes people here talk negatively about Nole-Andy match ups, I think that every match can provide something for fans to enjoy. Some of the matches between the two were just incredibly physical and full of special shots, sometimes I feel like they are playing cat and mouse game. For both of their sakes I hope they shorten the points and don't exhaust each other.:angel:

 

[Great Hands]

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

I am sure that Andy winning USO a month earlier softened the blow.

We've all had highs and lows when following our aces. Sometimes people here talk negatively about Nole-Andy match ups, I think that every match can provide something for fans to enjoy. Some of the matches between the two were just incredibly physical and full of special shots, sometimes I feel like they are playing cat and mouse game. For both of their sakes I hope they shorten the points and don't exhaust each other.:angel:

I agree about looking to shorten points if possible, but it's not always easy to do when these two play each other. And I have to say I do like those rallies that you get when two great defenders play each other, which are my favourite type of rally, where you think someone has won the point, but then the other player manages to get it back and extend the point, and then there's this great tension in the rally that comes from the question: will the person who 'almost' won the point win it anyway, or will they lose it and thus it will be a mental blow? It is these rallies with great defence, when the point seems over but then it is not, sometimes multiple times in one rally, that are the ones that routinely get the crowd ooing and aaing - and Novak-Andy matches have a lot of these.

I realise that the Novak-Andy match up is not that popular. But I am unusual, because I like it!

 

[Great Hands]

since 102, murray has made aconcertd effort to be more aggresive in amtches. but it si not always easy to do when you have splut seconds to make decisions on the court. i would not call that being an 'idiot'!



[I like it because:

They are both amazing defenders, so you get those rallies, which are my favourite type of rally, where you think someone has won the point, but then the other player manages to get it back and extend the point, and then there's this great tension in the rally that comes from the question: will the person who 'almost' won the point win it anyway, or will they lose it and thus it will be a mental blow? It is these rallies with great defence, when the point seems over but then it is not, that are the ones that routinely get the crowd ooing and aaing and Novak-Andy matches have a lot of these.]

I'm not as fond of wham-bam, short points-style play as some people. I can enjoy that in small doses, but I like a rally that has time to breathe. You can feel the players looking for an opening, the tension is building - who will strike first? Will it win them the point? Will there be a counter-attack? The points can have a rhythm, with changes of pace and spin, different angles, the points can be little stories in themselves. You don't get that with serve, return, forehand winner. Serve, return, volley winner.

you don't that if people are just trying to bashing winners on the first ball, so it's either a inner or an ue on shot 3 or 3. first strike winners or unforced erros.

[Also, most of the time when Novak and Andy play each other, each shot is hit with purpose. The fact that the rallies can go on longer is often because they are both amazing athletes and defenders. They are both hitting shots that would be winners against other players, but the ball keeps coming back!]

[And because both are better returners than servers, a break of serve does not mean very much, so you never know who is going to win a set until the last point, which makes for great drama!]



[soem of my fave novak-andy matches - shangai 2012, olymocsi 2012, rome 2011, ao 2012.



[witrh novak-andy mtaches, you never know who is going to win the point til

[they are both very complete players who can pl;ay all sorts of shots - drop shots, lobs - its nmice to watch a match where any shot could come

i like the fact that they are similar and yet different.]

 

[Great Hands]

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

I am sure that Andy winning USO a month earlier softened the blow.

We've all had highs and lows when following our aces. Sometimes people here talk negatively about Nole-Andy match ups, I think that every match can provide something for fans to enjoy. Some of the matches between the two were just incredibly physical and full of special shots, sometimes I feel like they are playing cat and mouse game. For both of their sakes I hope they shorten the points and don't exhaust each other.:angel:

I agree about looking to shorten points if possible, but I have to say I also like those rallies that you get when two great defenders play each other, which are my favourite type of rally, where you think someone has won the point, but then the other player manages to get it back and extend the point, and then there's this great tension in the rally that comes from the question: will the person who 'almost' won the point win it anyway, or will they lose it and thus it will be a mental blow? It is these rallies with great defence, when the point seems over but then it is not, sometimes multiple times in one rally, that are the ones that routinely get the crowd ooing and aaing - and Novak-Andy matches have a lot of these.

I realise that the Novak-Andy match up is not that popular. But I am unusual, because I like it!

(I am not the only one, though. Novak-Andy matches were voted ATP match of the year in both 2011 (Rome) and 2012 (Shanghai), and I've heard people who don't always like their matches praise certain ones, like their 2012 AO SF.)

 

[Great Hands]

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

I am sure that Andy winning USO a month earlier softened the blow.

We've all had highs and lows when following our aces. Sometimes people here talk negatively about Nole-Andy match ups, I think that every match can provide something for fans to enjoy. Some of the matches between the two were just incredibly physical and full of special shots, sometimes I feel like they are playing cat and mouse game. For both of their sakes I hope they shorten the points and don't exhaust each other.:angel:

I agree about looking to shorten points if possible, but I have to say I also like those rallies that you get when two great defenders play each other, which are my favourite type of rally, where you think someone has won the point, but then the other player manages to get it back and extend the point, and then there's this great tension in the rally that comes from the question: will the person who 'almost' won the point win it anyway, or will they lose it and thus it will be a mental blow? It is these rallies with great defence, when the point seems over but then it is not, sometimes multiple times in one rally, that are the ones that routinely get the crowd 'oohing and aahing' - and Novak-Andy matches are goldmines for this sort of rally.

I realise that the Novak-Andy match up is not that popular. But I am unusual, because I like it!

 

[Great Hands]

That Andy-Novak Shanghai final in 2012 was awesome tennis - voted the ATP match of the year that year. Stunning rallies. I still rewatch that one on YouTube - even though the result did not go the way I wanted! That amazing point from Nole - the tweener and then the drop shot - if your guy is going to lose, you want it to be because of genius like that!

Just about to post this and I see that tweener has already been mentioned!

I am sure that Andy winning USO a month earlier softened the blow.

We've all had highs and lows when following our aces. Sometimes people here talk negatively about Nole-Andy match ups, I think that every match can provide something for fans to enjoy. Some of the matches between the two were just incredibly physical and full of special shots, sometimes I feel like they are playing cat and mouse game. For both of their sakes I hope they shorten the points and don't exhaust each other.:angel:

I agree about looking to shorten points if possible, but I have to say I also like those rallies that you get when two great defenders play each other, which are my favourite type of rally, where you think someone has won the point, but then the other player manages to get the ball back and extend the point, and then there's this great tension in the rally that comes from the question: will the person who 'almost' won the point win it anyway, or will they lose it and thus it will be a mental blow? It is these rallies with great defence, when the point seems over but then it is not, sometimes multiple times in one rally, that are the ones that routinely get the crowd 'oohing and aahing' - and Novak-Andy matches are goldmines for this sort of rally.

I realise that the Novak-Andy match up is not that popular. But I am unusual, because I like it!

 

[Federberg]

Finally watched the highlights of the match yesterday. No question Novak was superior. But I have to say Roger looks to be playing good tennis. It bodes well for faster courts. I think he'll be a beast at Wimbledon this year. I'm tempted to have an early tipple.

I thought their handshake at the net was very warm. I really think the dynamic between them has changed now. Mutual respect, and didn't sense any antipathy on either side

 

[Fiero425]

Finally watched the highlights of the match yesterday. No question Novak was superior. But I have to say Roger looks to be playing good tennis. It bodes well for faster courts. I think he'll be a beast at Wimbledon this year. I'm tempted to have an early tipple.

I thought their handshake at the net was very warm. I really think the dynamic between them has changed now. Mutual respect, and didn't sense any antipathy on either side

I noticed that too! For quite a while Nole greeted Andy, Roger, and Rafa with a lot of affection and spoke! The last couple years, I check to see if there's some antipathy or resentment; half the time there's tension, but mostly not! It's never Nole who's upset; even if he loses! It's usually all on the other 3 and you can tell sometimes how it's going with them! uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Billie]

Finally watched the highlights of the match yesterday. No question Novak was superior. But I have to say Roger looks to be playing good tennis. It bodes well for faster courts. I think he'll be a beast at Wimbledon this year. I'm tempted to have an early tipple.

I thought their handshake at the net was very warm. I really think the dynamic between them has changed now. Mutual respect, and didn't sense any antipathy on either side

I noticed that too! For quite a while Nole greeted Andy, Roger, and Rafa with a lot of affection and spoke! The last couple years, I check to see if there's some antipathy or resentment; half the time there's tension, but mostly not! It's never Nole who's upset; even if he loses! It's usually all on the other 3 and you can tell sometimes how it's going with them! uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

OMG, I thought I was one of the rare people to check on this. I always look for the handshake at the end of the match. I honestly could never sense any kind of resentment on Nole's part when he loses. I will admit I am sometimes a sour loser, but he never seems to be. One of the nice qualities that I like in him and the proof that he is a better person than I am.

 

[Fiero425]

Finally watched the highlights of the match yesterday. No question Novak was superior. But I have to say Roger looks to be playing good tennis. It bodes well for faster courts. I think he'll be a beast at Wimbledon this year. I'm tempted to have an early tipple.

I thought their handshake at the net was very warm. I really think the dynamic between them has changed now. Mutual respect, and didn't sense any antipathy on either side

I noticed that too! For quite a while Nole greeted Andy, Roger, and Rafa with a lot of affection and spoke! The last couple years, I check to see if there's some antipathy or resentment; half the time there's tension, but mostly not! It's never Nole who's upset; even if he loses! It's usually all on the other 3 and you can tell sometimes how it's going with them! uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

OMG, I thought I was one of the rare people to check on this. I always look for the handshake at the end of the match. I honestly could never sense any kind of resentment on Nole's part when he loses. I will admit I am sometimes a sour loser, but he never seems to be. One of the nice qualities that I like in him and the proof that he is a better person than I am.

The guys aren't as bad as the women though! Every once in a while Serena will go to the net smiling and shakes with no animus, but the other times she touches the girl's hand, barely acknowledges the umpire, then storms off the court after a bad loss! It's getting worse with the ladies unless I'm missing something with them men! :eyepop uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Billie]

No, no, you are absolutely spot on Fiero. Women's tour is terrible. There are some nice, open minded characters in the game, but most of the time the envy is too much for them to overcome. I read this from a lot of female players.