Halba
Hall of Fame
Djokovic only 1.5 year younger than Rafa.
2021 Wimbledon SF - [1] Novak Djokovic - Denis Shapovalov [10]
- Thread starter RF-18
- Start date
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G.O.A.T.
More like 1.
Halba
Hall of Fame
That one year feels like 5 years right now. Especially with rafas constant injuries.
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
Yeah if he wasn't an injured man playing tennis he'd already have 30+ Slams.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Scary match.
Should be some ball bashing fun.
Just keep pounding that OHB Novak and you should get through in 4 or 5!
Should be some ball bashing fun.
Just keep pounding that OHB Novak and you should get through in 4 or 5!
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
No, a bit less than 12 months difference actually
In my opinion, true tennis fans should be cheering for history making potential. I’d love to see a male player achieve the CYGS in my lifetime. This is my best chance to witness it.
prairiegirl
Hall of Fame
In 1975, the late Arthur Ashe played against Jimmy Connors for the Wimbledon title. Ashe was well past his prime and had only won 1 slam title in his career in 1968. I watched this match. Connors was the overwhelming favorite and I recall how the announcers were worried about Ashe being humiliated. But, he played a brilliant match to overcome Connors and take his only Wimbledon title. This is a great precedent for what could happen tomorrow.
Nadal_King
Hall of Fame
It's 2nd semi tomorrow
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
Yeah true. Novak needs to play it consistently to his BH as much as possible to try break it down.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
No he doesn't. His average first serve speed in 2021 is 116 MPH (ancient Fed is also at 116 MPH average). Denis does have an effective lefty serve, but he's facing the greatest returner since Andre which will likely frustrate him. Djokovic returns balls that nobody else can return. A huge serve is Sampras, Nick or Raonic. Denis has never been anywhere near that level.
Picmun
Hall of Fame
I'll actually have to say something.If I have to see Djokovic giving the crowd his heart one more time...
And he wonders why he's universally disliked in comparison - Sad.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Happiest Wimby moment for me back in the day. True respect for Arthur to design and enact that upset, one of the all-time upsets of a #1 player due to the finals stage it occurred on.
Minor factoid correction: it was Ashe’s third slam: USO’68, AO’70 and then this one.
But where is the parallel for it to be a precedent? It's not even the final yet...
stringertom
Bionic Poster
It might be more tolerated if there wasn’t other “chest work” baggage to go along with it:
Picmun
Hall of Fame
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I guess it's all about whether Shapo can win a set or not. No one actually believes he can actually win the match. 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 the scoreline prediction for Novak.
Dennis has some technical deficiencies on the backhand which causes the low shot tolerance from that wing. That would put more pressure on the forehand as well.
Novak will make Dennis play that extra ball, move him around and take time away. Not to mention the 5 setter vs Kachanov would compromise Shapo mentally and physically.
Dennis has some technical deficiencies on the backhand which causes the low shot tolerance from that wing. That would put more pressure on the forehand as well.
Novak will make Dennis play that extra ball, move him around and take time away. Not to mention the 5 setter vs Kachanov would compromise Shapo mentally and physically.
Last edited:
romeo8880
G.O.A.T.
I don’t think he will win a set. What do you think?
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I guess it would depend more on how well Novak plays. If Novak plays at his GF slam level, then no Shapo won't win a set.
If Novak is a little bored, Shapo might sneak a set. If you have low shot tolerance, and often mistime the ball, Novak is literally the worst opponent to face.
I've seen Shapo matches vs Kohls, Murray,Agut and Kachanov. Honestly, not been impressed.
uscwang
Hall of Fame
I think the key for Novak to win this match is to attack. If he relies too much on his defense and the Canadian youngster has a Stanimal day, it could get complicated.
Overall, this late stage match is less dangerous for Novak than an earlier round match against Shapo, when the kid can really play with nothing to lose. Now he is in the unfamiliar territory of major semifinals and big reward in sight.
Overall, this late stage match is less dangerous for Novak than an earlier round match against Shapo, when the kid can really play with nothing to lose. Now he is in the unfamiliar territory of major semifinals and big reward in sight.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
A 19 time slam champion and 10 time Semifinalist at Wimbledon, will handle the occasion 10x better than Shapo does. Shapo will be the one under pressure of the first GS SF and likely to choke.
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
He needs to be very secure but not passive. Well actually he might not need to be much of anything because he can win this match in a few different ways anyway. I have to imagine he'll believe though that making Shapo just play shots will cause an implosion.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
The essential difference here is that in 1975, Connors was not playing the 3rd major of the year being on a mission to win the Grand Slam (in fact, he had not won any that year). Djokovic--whether he says it or not--is on that mission, and being two matches away from #3 has to be a level of motivation and energy no opponent should want to face.
Sparlingo
Hall of Fame
Tell me Hitman, was it you that started the Shapo as a Jedi thing? It's great.
I don't think he wonders why he's "universally disliked". It's just a narrative people like you create to rationalize your unfounded contempt. Sad.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
The Untold Story of Djokovic v Shapovalov....
As Darth Djokovic 2011 unleashed the darkside after eliminating Nadal Windu, one by one all the top ten players were vanquished by order 66, a run of 40 plus matches, everyone fell until he met Obi-Fed Kenobi on the red clay of Mustafar. Djokovic overloaded with power took on the more...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
How is the force with Shapo? He is the least impressive next gen. I'd rate Titsp, Med, Zed - over this guy.
His backhand is flashy and technically suspect. His tennis acumen is very low. His shot selection leaves a lot to be desired, and so too his shot tolerance.
I'm pretty sure Shapo will NEVER win a slam.
I agree with a lot of this. Some good points were made by @gogo and @Hamnavoe yesterday as to why this could slip out of his hands if he doesn't play well. Him mentioning the wind in his presser would go a long way in explaining the safety of his shots the last few rounds. He could also just be tired. Who knows.
I think people other than the users I mentioned intensely want him to lose (understandably so) and are trying to fabricate scenarios where it happens, even going so far as to bring up unrelated topics (e.g., celebration) as to why hes a bad person. Desperation is a funny thing. We'll find out who came to play tomorrow.
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
Hurkacz has already saved tennis
James P
G.O.A.T.
I think Shapo sounds very confident about the match and i think this is going to be epic.
I hope i am wrong and he under performs and Novak is on his A game.
I remember the 91 S/F between Stich and Edberg where Edberg was overwhelming favourite. Stefan never lost his serve once in entire match but lost 3-1 sets as Stich won 3 successive tie breakers.
If Shapo is on his serving game i think this is going to be a tough match
I hope i am wrong and he under performs and Novak is on his A game.
I remember the 91 S/F between Stich and Edberg where Edberg was overwhelming favourite. Stefan never lost his serve once in entire match but lost 3-1 sets as Stich won 3 successive tie breakers.
If Shapo is on his serving game i think this is going to be a tough match
He was serving plenty of 120 plus bombs the other day right up to last game of match
Hitman
Bionic Poster
I never said he would be the first to break through, or he will win before others. I just see something in him, the way I saw it in Pete, Fed, Novak and Rafa before him. Now, I certainly am not saying he will reach anywhere even remotely close to what they did, but the point is, I kind of always get a sense with young players where I can see what their ceiling is to a degree. Shapo has a wider range of shots to choose from than anyone else among his peers, nobody has as many tools, for him it is about bringing it all together, I do think at some point he will. I see glimpses of his true capabilities sporadiacally, the question is about consistency and maturity now.
In regards to the actual match, Earth's Mightiest will be coming in all guns blazing, he knows the threat in front of him, so I expect him to enter his legendary form very quickly to halt the potential barrage of hard shots Shaps will throw at him at some point in the match. Novak's big match mentally is still supreme over everything else.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
But not consistently and not at a high percentage. His average first serve speed since the 2020 USO is 116 MPH. Obviously that means he can (and does) serve 128 sometimes, but also will serve 111 to make an "average."
Picmun
Hall of Fame
I feel bad for you
NiCo515
Rookie
It's kind of pathetic that people post that skewed perspective video of Novak yelling at his box and try to pass it off as him yelling at the ball kid. That video is as fake news as it gets. The kid is standing to the side of him and gets spooked by Novak screaming at his box. And the photos of Novak and that Indian actress were taken at the #1 celebrity/paparazzi spot in LA. Everyone who goes there is trying to get photographed by the media. If he was trying to cheat on Jelena, that's literally the last place he would ever go. Some of you people are so pathetic in your attempts to smear him that you literally resort to making things up.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
Did he beat Borevak in the final?
Sparlingo
Hall of Fame
I don't know if he does or doesn't, but I do know that he might have it.
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
Nole 3-1
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G.O.A.T.
Picmun
Hall of Fame
gogo
Legend
Interesting that his mother is there, but not attending his matches. He seems happy with that.
Perhaps Bopanna will be back in his box tomorrow as Bopanna lost his mixed doubles match. They seem like a great 'odd couple' and a good boost for each other.
It wasn't in this interview, but I saw somewhere in the last few days that Denis said that he had matured, and, to paraphrase badly, he said that he used to yell after every point a couple of years ago, but now he only yells after every third point. He was happy to make fun of himself and recognize his impatience and need for an emotional outlet.
gogo
Legend
I'm with you.
I absolutely understand that Novak is the favourite, as he should be. And, I think he will very probably win. BUT, I wouldn't be shocked if Denis pulled an upset. He has had a couple of close matches with Novak.
Denis has belief in himself and that is the right attitude.
nolefam_2024
G.O.A.T.
Nole better finish this guy. We have talked big game..
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