WTF Final: Djokovic vs Nadal

[Riotbeard]

I am picking Novak in 3, but more because I have not seen much of the play this week. It might be more straightforward, but I don't know. Nadal certainly can win, but I think it's novak here, but it might take him a set to play into form after a long fall. They are both confident right now and will be mentally prepared, and both have match up advantages depending on the surface. This is probably the best surface for Novak against nadal, so I think it's novak. Also guys, Novak has only played two weeks in a row. It's a lot yes, but we have seen him beat nadal in a final after playing two (very tough) weeks in row on clay and two weeks indoors is not nearly as taxing.

 

[Kieran]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

 

[Denis]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

 

[Kieran]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

Oh, I'd take it the other way too - loudly! - but I'd love a nail-biter to finish the season. No more tennis for me until January after this... :cry

 

[tented]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

Why would you ever want to see that? Even as a Rafa fan I have no desire to watch the '08 RG final ever again. What's the point?

 

[Emma]

But I would have thought that's based on personal choice - something he is entitled to? Whether he was right about those predictions he had made in the past is irrelevant. At the end of the day, he is still man of his own choices - right or wrong.

gosh, when personal choice became the issue here?......I'm just pointing this observation out and britbox know this because I have done it in the past as well. it's not a big deal at all and he will tell you that as well

Because you are making an issue on someone's personal choice. It's just not a mere observation on your part but also, an issue. Because if it were, as in, if it was just an observation, you would have not pointed it out because there's no point to that. Pointing it now means, you have now developed an issue. Either you are not admitting it or you are just unaware of your own action. I say you don't want to admit it. Si.

And yes, it's not a big deal but if you can point that out so can I. It's an open forum after all, innit.

 

[Kieran]

Oh, I get the point! I get it completely and agree with Denis - I'd love Rafa to thump him. I'd take RG 2008 every single time.

But I'd take Wimbledon 2008 even more!

 

[Denis]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

Why would you ever want to see that? Even as a Rafa fan I have no desire to watch the '08 RG final ever again. What's the point?

If it would happen I'd probably watch the replay at least a dozen times. Time permitting. I've watched the second set of the Wimbledon 2011 final a couple of times too.

Watching poor Fed loose against Nadal at RG 08 is no fun just because I kind of feel sorry for Fed -- in a way. Not too sorry of course. But feeling sorry for Nadal is not happening. You can take that as a complement if you want.

 

[brokenshoelace]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

Why would you ever want to see that? Even as a Rafa fan I have no desire to watch the '08 RG final ever again. What's the point?

He's a Djokovic fan and doesn't particularly like Nadal.

I'd love to see Rafa win 6-0 6-0 so I can see where he's coming from. There are matches where you're just more invested in the result than the quality of tennis (ie you just want your guy to win). For many, this is one of them.

 

[Didi]

I can see where Denis is coming from. Beating Nadal with that scoreline would require an incredibly thrilling and flawless display of offensive shotmaking which would be worth watching time and time again for tennis reasons alone. In fact to be honest during the winter off-seasons I usually find myself watching matches Rafa has lost over his career on youtube, not because it gives me some delight in seeing him lose but the level required to beat him was always outstanding and automatically one of the highest displayed by any player of respective seasons.

Be it Tsonga in the AO SF 2008, Del Potro in the USO SF 09, Djokovic in 2011, Soderling in Paris, Roger in past YECs, Davydenko, Murray or Nalbandian at times etc. It was always worth watching for shotmaking reasons alone no matter how straight forward the match in itself was. For me that can be just as much thrilling and enjoyable as a close and tense match with the outcome in doubt. Denis was maybe referring to that as well.

 

[Riotbeard]

One thing I think we'll all agree on, whatever our allegiances: we want a classic. We want a tooth & nail, hammer and tongs batter-fest, with incredible gets and outrageous reaches and gaspable passes. The two of these have risen to the occasion so much in the last 3 seasons against each other that it's a bona fide two-way thing, and small advantages make huge differences in the end result. I won't be on the chat later - it's too small to pick-up on the phone and I'll be watching the tennis on the laptop - so everyone enjoy and let's have a good time picking the bones after...

I don't. 6-0 6-0 Djokovic is fine with me. Although that scoreline might be a classic in itself :snigger

Why would you ever want to see that? Even as a Rafa fan I have no desire to watch the '08 RG final ever again. What's the point?

If it would happen I'd probably watch the replay at least a dozen times. Time permitting. I've watched the second set of the Wimbledon 2011 final a couple of times too.

Watching poor Fed loose against Nadal at RG 08 is no fun just because I kind of feel sorry for Fed -- in a way. Not too sorry of course. But feeling sorry for Nadal is not happening. You can take that as a complement if you want.

I like classics, but I also like the type of matches where Novak sends a message.

 

[Denis]

I can see where Denis is coming from. Beating Nadal with that scoreline would require an incredibly thrilling and flawless display of offensive shotmaking which would be worth watching time and time again for tennis reasons alone. In fact to be honest during the winter off-seasons I usually find myself watching matches Rafa has lost over his career on youtube, not because it gives me some delight in seeing him lose but the level required to beat him was always outstanding and automatically one of the highest displayed by any player of respective seasons.

Be it Tsonga in the AO SF 2008, Del Potro in the USO SF 09, Djokovic in 2011, Soderling in Paris, Roger in past YECs, Davydenko, Murray or Nalbandian at times etc. It was always worth watching for shotmaking reasons alone no matter how straight forward the match in itself was. For me that can be just as much thrilling and enjoyable as a close and tense match with the outcome in doubt. Denis was maybe referring to that as well.

Thanks Didi, definitely true (it takes a hell of a game to take out Nadal) but slightly too complementary of my intentions. It's been a tough season at times this year

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

the bbc are mental..they pay for shared tv rights with sky and then they shove the final onto bbc 3 :huh:..
non sky viewers might not realise its not on bbc 2. :nono

 

[Kieran]

the bbc are mental..they pay for shared tv rights with sky and then they shove the final onto bbc 3 :huh:..
non sky viewers might not realise its not on bbc 2. :nono

I know. Maybe that was part of the deal. I hate watching it on a stream because streams run dry at critical moments. However, this is all I have... :nono

 

[ClayDeath]

lets just put it this way:

this is not an easy assignment for the clay warrior.

a lot has to go right for him if he is to do this.

he has to return better and he has to trust his backhand.


you cant give up the court against nole and expect to win.


even against Federer, nadal was running like a fool to his backhand corner to try to hit forehands.

he has to remember what he did at the u.s. open. he has to hold his ground and trust his backhand.


so basically 3 things are key for nadal today:

1. return better
2. trust his backhand
3. try to maintain some control of the center of the court


it is a close match if he can do this today.

 

[tented]

I'm going to turn on the chatroom soon. Please join us there to discuss the match live.

To access it, click on the green plus sign in the bottom left of your browser.

 

[tented]

Everyone ready for the final?

 

[tented]

The doubles match just ended, so Rafa/Novak should be on court in a few minutes.

 

[Kieran]

Enjoy!

 

[tented]

I was hoping they would wait and do the doubles trophy presentation after the singles final.