Tokyo Olympics SF: [1] Novak Djokovic vs. [4] Alexander Zverev
- Thread starter UnforcedTerror
- Start date
Checkmate
Legend
Tennis just evolved in that game.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
I kind of knew he would break back...
Krish0608
G.O.A.T.
Can't believe all this handwringing for a match that's so NID. Esp after that 1st set.
Terenigma
G.O.A.T.
I'm a firm believer that if the Big 3 had retired in their early 30s and all 3 were retired now. Zverev would be the best of the current gen. Tsitsipas and Thiem are overrated in my view, Medvedev is good and would do well occasionally but i truely think Zverev would be able to adapt and get his mind focused quicker against them. The game is there, the mind isn't.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
If it was the USO I would understand it more but this is only the Olympics? I thought TTW largely didn't care about the Olympics?
Tennis_Freak99
Legend
Yup Zverev is back in this match. Novak hasn't had an easy service hold till now
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
It was 2 points.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Let's give him all 4. I am feeling charitable this morning.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Zverev's problems have little to do with the Big 3. He started off as a lame slam player and then couldn't beat Thiem to save his life.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas have a better H2H against him in the past few years.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
That break back might cost Novak.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Tsitsipas would mop up the French if the Big 3 had retired, to be fair.
Dominic & Andrey
Legend
Zverev played very high level rallies throughout all the match
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Might cost him just an extra few minutes in the ice bath.
Krish0608
G.O.A.T.
In my opinion, It doesn't matter if you have the game, if you lack the mentality. We have seen that time and time again. I agree with Novak that Tennis is 90% mental. Everybody can hit great FHs and BHs at this level. But can you keep it together when it matter the most. Zverev has never been able to do that.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
He's played some decent points but has made some bad errors on any half big point before that break of serve.
If this is really the 'best' of Next Gen it isn't good enough.
UnforcedTerror
Hall of Fame
8 points in a row for Zed!!
Next game is huge.
Next game is huge.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Zverev is back into thhe match with that break now. You might think it's nid but it isn't.
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
Lol when other fanbases are more confident in Novak's ability than Nolefam.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
Novak needs to hold and stop the bleeding.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Big difference in the mental tenacity so far this set.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
A Bo3 is rarely if ever NID because all it takes is one sustained momentum swing to turn the whole match around.
That said, I don't think panic is really justified unless he actually levels this match.
Tennis_Freak99
Legend
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
2 BPs.........
UnforcedTerror
Hall of Fame
OMG!!! Break and Zed serving for the second 
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
TTW is a fickle beast. The frontrunner brings more doubt than belief when the opposite would be expected. Same thing happened with Fed after his 2017 resurgence. Suddenly, he wasn't allowed to lose anymore.
Now Djokovic is in that spot.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
Ok...that escalated quickly. Damn.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
On cue he goes to the dropper to avoid another rally.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
What is a "clutch", other than the third pedal in my car?
Its disingenuous
Tennis_Freak99
Legend
Zverev is winning this match guaranteed. Congrats Fedal fans
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Checkmate
Legend
Thanks mate!
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Ty. Wait. I don't even want Zverev to win. I just want a good match.
Terenigma
G.O.A.T.
That's kinda my point tho, i think the Big 3 are so far ahead of these next gen players that is has destroyed their belief and mentality in tight moments. Thiem has managed to push through that occasionally but he doesn't have the game Zverev has and i feel like if Zverev's last 4-5 years had been minus the Big 3 and he was playing the likes of Tsitsipas/Medvedev/Thiem in the latter stages. He would have adapted and come out on top faster maybe.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Djokovic is not losing to a Next Gen player.
He just lost a set, big deal. He can't win every match in straights. Even lost a set to Berrettini.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Alright Zverev did his duty we can go back to rooting for him to lose now.
