heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
He didn't read the Russian's serve too well and the return is one of the keys to his game.
Would djokovic playing at his top level have beaten medvedev in the usopen?
- Thread starter Djokovicfan
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The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
He did play at his top level. This Joker has waaaay moar practice And experience than the 2011,2015, and 2016 versions did. He also said he was playing his best tennis ever and was super confident going into the F. The Mad Lad just peaked higher than absolute peak Peakovic.
Nuff said no excuses!!!
Nuff said no excuses!!!
It seemed to me that his 1st serve percentage was way down. His 2nd serve has not been the same since the wrist injury, less kick. Hence less 2nd serve points won and more DFs. Overall his serving performance was below par. I don't think Nadal would let it drop that much, his lefty slice is usually there when he needs it.
Medvedev did a good job using the pace of Djokovic. The speed of the court and lighter balls helped him. I believe it helped Nishikori to some extent as well but he is less resilient than Med and does not put the ball in awkward places like him. Kei also has a much worse serve and Djokovic was able to come through. But he did give away the first set as he did in every match.
Strategy wise Djokovic abandoned one shot that was working for him in AO21, which is the short slice. He used it to move Medvedev around at AO so why change it for USO? Not only does it make Med come forward but it also changes the pace.
Medvedev did a good job using the pace of Djokovic. The speed of the court and lighter balls helped him. I believe it helped Nishikori to some extent as well but he is less resilient than Med and does not put the ball in awkward places like him. Kei also has a much worse serve and Djokovic was able to come through. But he did give away the first set as he did in every match.
Strategy wise Djokovic abandoned one shot that was working for him in AO21, which is the short slice. He used it to move Medvedev around at AO so why change it for USO? Not only does it make Med come forward but it also changes the pace.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
yes he would have for sure. But Sasha did his job and took away the energy and will from novak before being taken out like choking german automoton tennis player. Did medvedev send him a present yet... ? maybe a new Suez 52 airplane or hypersonic missile.. or something like that
Open Stance
Professional
In the post match interview he said that Med played great, hitting all his spots and he (Novak) didn't have his legs. He was tired for sure.
Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
Great post, basically the only analysis in the thread that isn’t either BS or an agenda lol
Tennisgods
Hall of Fame
So poor if this is true. I mean, no shame in being outlasted by Djokovic at his physical best, because he’s got the best endurance level on the tour. But this was not that Djokovic!
The Fedfather
Legend
Medvedev at the beginning of the match was quite nervous. Had Djokovic come out strong, not breaking himself plus putting at least some pressure on Daniil's serve, the match could definitely play out differently. The 1st set and then a couple of games in the 2nd let Daniil settle in nicely. Djokovic in his SF form, for example, probably doesn't let that happen.
EllieK
Hall of Fame
He beat Nadal at ‘21 RG because Nadal wasn’t 100%. He ended his season for crying out loud. At the end of the day, that’s tennis. Do we believe Thiem and Zverev would both have made the final last year had Djokovic not been defaulted? I don’t
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Maybe. But Nadal playing his top level would beat anyone at the USO. However, every player only gets to face the opponents he is given at the time they play, so it is on the looser to deal with the lack of performance for any reason. Djo lost badly, so all props to Med for sticking it to him and saving tennis.
EllieK
Hall of Fame
But Med, while not exactly excellent, has drastically improved his forecourt prowess since AO
ForehandRF
Legend
I had the same feeling.Medvedev showed some guts there
ForehandRF
Legend
The question is how many times has Djokovic played at the top level in a USO final ? Only in 2011 and 2015 perhaps.Nadal fans might include 2010 also
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hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
I thought Djokovic played pretty well, but Medvedev played much better.No excuses. Medvedev was too good and fully deserved the win.
Plus Mededev had an excellent strategy and was able to execute it fully.
Brain Game: Inside Medvedev's Winning Tactics v Djokovic | ATP Tour | Tennis
Learn how Daniil Medvedev made Novak Djokovic play the game the Russian wanted in the US Open final.
www.atptour.com
zagor
Bionic Poster
This, one of the key factors.
He did use it pretty successfully against Zverev in semis though. Think he tried it a few times against Med but got burned.
I think the cramps were due to nerves when he was serving for his first major. Don’t think he was going to totally collapse had he been broken.
duaneeo
Legend
Not many. Even in 2015, Nole faced a gazillion break points. He was lucky that he was facing slamidous-suffering Federer instead of nemesis Wawrinka (who Roger took out in the semis).
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Medvedev was serving out of his mind in the USO final. Even 2011 and 2015 Djokovic would have struggled to return those serves, but I still think 2011/2015 Djoker would have beaten Med in four sets. Possibly even in three tight sets.
Bubcay
Legend
That was not an absolute peak Peakovic by any stretch of the imagination. Not even close. In fact, he was not close to his actual peak the whole year. His super improved serve helped him all along in 2021.
That was because his body wouldn't wake up, not that he was tired.
It seems a little pathetic that until someone wins they can apparently never beat the reigning champion and then when they do win once they’ll never lose to them again!
ghostofMecir
Legend
“Hardly move.”ROTFLMAO
Djokovicfan
Professional
Its not that simple you a-hole
Djokovicfan
Professional
I get the feeling alot of ppl here think that peak djoker wouldve outdone uso21 medvedev. But why? What is it about peak djokovics game that wouldve beaten medvedev? Because meds raw credentials- long arms for huge reach, 6’6 for huge serves, and for his size an unbelievable amount of speed.
it would be interesting to see if medvedev can grow his endurance. More muscle would help.
it would be interesting to see if medvedev can grow his endurance. More muscle would help.
Bubcay
Legend
Just my opinion, but I will give it a go. The strength of his shots is weaker than 2011 or 15. A lot less confidence in using BHDTL which was his major weapon then. I have been re-watching a ton of Big 3 matches during the past several weeks (so it is fresh in my mind) and the difference is obvious. He has improved serve and plays smarter now (using every opportunity to shorten the points), but in pure shot strength, placement (almost every single shot in peak period was landing on or near the lines) a and even mobility, the 2011/15 version is way better than 21 Djokovic.
Djokovicfan
Professional
it would be crazy if med went on a slamstreak and shut down fed nadal and djokovic at 20 each.
Bubcay
Legend
Not going to happen. He would need to upskill a lot to be able to be competitive enough on clay and grass.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
that was Djokovic at his top level
No way!
Tennis is always evolving, or haven't you received the memo?
Because if you had, it would tell you that ...
Tennis has evolved ;D
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic's fans go on about Nadal fans making excuses for his losses but reach for the ridiculous excuse of Djokovic not being at his best.
This is where his luck comes in.
He ran out of luck at the OGs and the USO. Djokovic wins a lot of matches that could go either way through sheer luck.His fans have not yet thought of an excuse for him losing two Bo3 matches in the space of one week to Zverev and PCB in Tokyo. LMHO
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Biotic
Hall of Fame
The question is how many times has Djokovic played at the top level in a USO final ? Only in 2011 and 2015 perhaps.Nadal fans might include 2010 also
The answer is 2011 and 2012, with 2015 and 2018 just sligthly below. Pity he got fckd up by the wind in 2012. Talking about the whole tournament not only finals.
Swingmaster
Hall of Fame
I think we should have a place on here called "lock it" where you can "lock in" your most confident predictions for the future and whenever the relevant outcomes occur it automatically gives us notifications about people's lock it predictions turning out to be true or false. Do you hear me Warehouse?
He'd have beaten Nadal at '20 RG, if he had got into any kind of rhythm.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic was being taken out by PCB, hence his outrage leading to his disqualification.
ForehandRF
Legend
How about only the finals though ?
Biotic
Hall of Fame
Not too many obviously, though I suspect 2018 final level could've been enough.
fishpiefriday
Semi-Pro
Looked tired to me, mate.
