Garhi Shot First
Hall of Fame
Maybe he got them all out of the way early?Wow, just tuned in the stats...
> 100 unforced errors
2016 AO R4 - [1] Novak Djokovic vs. [14] Gilles Simon
- Thread starter The Green Mile
- Start date
Doflamingo
Professional
Maybe he got them all out of the way early?
I hope so because that was a horrendous performance
If he didn't have some decent number of winners to back it up then he would have lost this match but... glad he's just through, just forget like this match ever happened lol. He'll have his work cut out for him against Nishikori no doubt, hopefully Novak raises his level as the 2nd week rolls on
If he didn't have some decent number of winners to back it up then he would have lost this match but... glad he's just through, just forget like this match ever happened lol. He'll have his work cut out for him against Nishikori no doubt, hopefully Novak raises his level as the 2nd week rolls on
Garhi Shot First
Hall of Fame
He has a way of responding excellently under pressure, especially of late, so I feel confident for him.I hope so because that was a horrendous performance
If he didn't have some decent number of winners to back it up then he would have lost this match but... glad he's just through, just forget like this match ever happened lol. He'll have his work cut out for him against Nishikori no doubt, hopefully Novak raises his level as the 2nd week rolls on
He probably went right back to work after this match, studying his performance and trying to fix what went wrong. I love Nishikori's game, too, so I'm hoping for a great battle between them, but I think Djokovic will make it through. 
Boom-Boom
Legend
Simon is very smart player who got his tactics right: pushing long balls in the middle of the court not giving any pace nor angle to Novak for hours under the heat...
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Imagine monfils was playing instead of simon
Meles
Bionic Poster
Its looking really tough. If Nishikori can take him 4 sets or more that is a lot of court time before the arch nemesis and then Murray or Wawa likely waiting in the final relatively fresh. See French Open and Toronto last year.
All respect for Simon - he played really well by his standards and executed a tactic of deep no pace flat balls - consistently for most of the match. Plus he was able to chase down some really difficult balls (late 4th set and facing break points towards end of set) - which would have ended the match at 4.
Djokovic didn't play his best, lost some patience (all credit to Simon) and ROS was missing from most of the match, but the way Simon played, with that depth consistency, I think anyone would have had trouble with him yesterday.
On a side note - I find it pretty offensive when people on this board bad mouth other players because they style doesn't suit them - Simon has been around for a long time and is a very smart and difficult player to play against - and a lot of players/fans can learn a lot about tennis tactics if they watch him - when he is on (as was last night) he is trouble for anyone. If he had a better serve, I think he would easily be in the top 10.
P.S. he will make an excellent coach one day
Djokovic didn't play his best, lost some patience (all credit to Simon) and ROS was missing from most of the match, but the way Simon played, with that depth consistency, I think anyone would have had trouble with him yesterday.
On a side note - I find it pretty offensive when people on this board bad mouth other players because they style doesn't suit them - Simon has been around for a long time and is a very smart and difficult player to play against - and a lot of players/fans can learn a lot about tennis tactics if they watch him - when he is on (as was last night) he is trouble for anyone. If he had a better serve, I think he would easily be in the top 10.
P.S. he will make an excellent coach one day
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Capulin Zurdo
Hall of Fame
Whoa, a darn good match. Simon really hung in there with Djokovic, especially in the second set. Great of Simon to push the match to five sets and not give up. Some of the points were incredible, such as Simon's great defense, his putaway two-hander down the line, awesome gets from Djokovic himself; really good ball striking.
Also, @The Green Mile, if I'm not mistaken, you're a big supporter of Simon; is he your favorite player at the moment?
Also, @The Green Mile, if I'm not mistaken, you're a big supporter of Simon; is he your favorite player at the moment?
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Novak was very bad by his standards, but here are the highlights for those who can watch through the whole video.
mightyrick
Legend
Devvarman also has no weapons, great anticipation, and excellent movement and patience. No weapons. However, he doesn't have the fitness that Simon has... so he usually tires out in the middle of the match. Also, Devvarman hits more loopy with a little more spin... which the opponents love. But his game plan is exactly the same as Simon.
Tennisanity
Legend
What seems to be lost in this discussion is that Simon has 70 UEs of his own!
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
what a match. Glued to the idiot box for every single point. This was a tactical shot making contest. Simon played prob his best ball. Djokovic is not in fantastic fabulous form 100 UE's says so however Simon was playing brilliant ball mixing up defense with offense. This might be that 5 set match that gets the out of form player in form. One of the rules of law in majors for the top players over the years has been early 5 setter warms the player up and peaks in the final. Noishikori match will tell us all more.
Look people can and should bad mouth simon all they want. You can respect him but you cant tell people to enjoy his style of play. If the majority of tour guys played like simon tennis would be a dead sport and no one would watch.
I still have ptsd from that match no way i can watch highlight.Novak was very bad by his standards, but here are the highlights for those who can watch through the whole video.
uscwang
Hall of Fame
This should have been a straightset win for Novak in 2nd gear, had he converted any of those BP in the 2nd set.
The organizers have done a terrific job keeping the world #1 and defending champion out of night session in RL.
I'm sure if Novak is to play Fed in the semi, they will put Fed in RL at night and Novak in Margaret at noon.
The organizers have done a terrific job keeping the world #1 and defending champion out of night session in RL.
I'm sure if Novak is to play Fed in the semi, they will put Fed in RL at night and Novak in Margaret at noon.
marc45
G.O.A.T.
the guy from the stands let him know that in Djokovic's on-court interview....Novak agreed
http://www.tennisnow.com/Blogs/NET-POSTS/January-2016/Fan-to-Djokovic-No-More-Drop-Shots.aspx?6MCc
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Krish872007
Talk Tennis Guru
Comments like this are why you are truly worthy of Legend status, swordtennis
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Oh well, I missed the match, so the highlights were relatively enjoyable for me, especially since they only have good points.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
It was still a great match imo, quite entertaining and pretty suspenseful until the end. With Simon, one is never guaranteed to hold serve. That's what made things interesting. There are very few players for whom that would be true. If Simon had a bigger serve, he would be very hard to beat. A bit like Ferrer but Simon is sneakier. You never feel like he's playing especially well but he has an uncanny knack for completely derailing the opponent's game and bogging him down in torturous rallies, especially if said opponent likes to attack or paint lines (Fed/Djoko). On top of that, he can lull the opponent to sleep with his grinding style but still hits scathing winners once in a while taking the other guy completely by surprise and causing great frustration/ annoyance. He's like a rattlesnake. Intriguing to watch when the strategy works.Wow, just tuned in the stats...
> 100 unforced errors
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Lol at the end Djokovic asked the crowd to shoosh and has the dude in the stands tell him what he was saying. Cease and desist on the drop shot. lol then Courier made a last jab on his way off the interviewed pulled the mic. Dissed! Djokovic is a lot like connors with the crowd.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic prob should have ended it in 3 tight sets. The blown break point chances were Federer like. Unreal. That prob will not happen ever again.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
That's funny but it's not really true. Djoko can get tired. He did after that monster semi vs Delpo at Wimbledon. Hopefully he will be fine this time around but his draw looks daunting as I can't imagine the Nishi match being an easy one, regardless of outcome (AO is one of Nishi's favorite events) and Fed looks in scintillating form.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
So @veroniquem , the "complete" player makes 100 UFE in a single match and proves his completeness.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Simon is a nightmare to play. He can run for days.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
I think he proved that completeness before.
mellowyellow
Legend
A couple things, Simon put on a retrieving performance of a lifetime, he didnt have any really tough matches to get to Djoko and for him its unusual and he was fresh. Your use of "dominate" is out of context. Their matches have been struggles with Djoko not losing a set. It was closer to beingbover in 4 for Djoko than Simon in 5.
mellowyellow
Legend
The stats dont tell the whole story, half of those were failed dropshots.Wow, just tuned in the stats...
> 100 unforced errors
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Simon already had a 5 setter, in the 2nd round.
Djokovic could have easily had a 2-0 lead if he performed a good overhead on the break point at 4-4. He made it very difficult for himself, this was a scare.
mellowyellow
Legend
This could prove useful, save fof the length of time. He will have to perform a little better than this to beat DNish, but DNish not going to run like that for that long either. He has some underlying leg issue. Djoko got into a good rythm of dictating and long rallies doing so. Goid practice IMO, just need to recover.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
One has nothing to do with the other. Complete doesn't mean infallible or perfect or never having a bad day. It just means that he's the player with most versatility and best offense/defense skills combined imo (in general).
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Is it just me or are you being a bit funny with me recently Nathaniel?
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Lol so true. My husband gets so aggravated with Novak's ds in every match!! Keeps rolling eyes and stuff. I swear he could have been that spectator yelling from the stands. He thinks Boris should fine Novak every time he attempts those lame ds ha ha.
uscwang
Hall of Fame
It could, given that Nishikori had issues with his wrist in an earlier match.
I think Nishikori is being hyped here again. He lost to Tomic only two weeks ago, Tomic. And he was pushed by Garcia-Lopez in R3. He did beat Tsonga with style but the latter called a MTO.
mellowyellow
Legend
Yes, but his 3rd round was 1:41 long... he basically had 3 days rest with an extra practice session in the middle.
Never felt Djoko was in danger. He kept composed, knew what he had to do and in the end Simon ran out of gas. He racked up alot of errors in the last set himself. The overhead was good, Simon luckily blocked it back and won the ensuing exchange. I dont think he missed an overhead all match...
mellowyellow
Legend
Though I think I would have gave up on the dropshots in say the 2nd set or so he was picking good balls to attempt them on. Usually close to or just inside and Simon way back. They just never went over.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I hope you're right but I watched part of the Tsonga match. While Tsonga didn't put up a fight (shaky serving in particular), Nishi looked very sharp during rallies, sharper than I had seen him recently. He's very capable of playing so-so in previous events and giving his best at AO. That wouldn't be the first time.
As for the wrist who knows if/when it might become an issue. That's not something anyone can predict for sure.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Is your hubby as big a Novak fan as you vero?
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
It could have been better executed IMO.
Luckily he can only improve from this point and has 2 days rest.
All I am saying is that - I, personally, don't like when people bad mouth players "just" because of how they play and think its poor "fan-ship".
I dont think its poor fan ship at all. His game is horribly boring. Its ok for a fan to say that.
exactly! "If Simon had a bigger serve, he would be very hard to beat. A bit like Ferrer but Simon is sneakier." I am not a fan, but I feel like he has one of the higher IQs on the tour... he grinds, yes, but somehow I always find his matches against top players interesting as he puts a lot into strategy given he does not have a serve as a weapon.
yes wrong thread, but let me ask: who is more boring Simon.. or say Raonic?
I think thats a matter of opinion. For me simon. But i can see people saying raonic or isner. I dont think its poor fandom to say either is. Its just an opinion. And if either of them dominated tennis with their style of play tennis would go into a tailspin.
exactly, its all personal - for me its great there is that much variety in players so you can watch different styles compete against one another.
But its not poor fandom to not like a players playing style.
Gary Duane
Talk Tennis Guru
It was a good match, but more than 4 hours of this kind of tennis is just too much for me.
There should be a different way of tracking UEs. When points go that long someone finally has to miss, so a lot of Novak's UEs were pretty much semi-forced.
It's still fairly early in the tournament. Novak has two days to rest. I think he'll be back to his usual Ultron self.
It was interesting watching someone making Novak impatient. That's mostly why the match went on so long. Novak wanted to win faster and was irritated at being out-Ponged!
There should be a different way of tracking UEs. When points go that long someone finally has to miss, so a lot of Novak's UEs were pretty much semi-forced.
It's still fairly early in the tournament. Novak has two days to rest. I think he'll be back to his usual Ultron self.
It was interesting watching someone making Novak impatient. That's mostly why the match went on so long. Novak wanted to win faster and was irritated at being out-Ponged!
The Green Mile
Bionic Poster
2nd behind Fed
