2018 ATP Finals Final: (1.) Novak Djokovic vs. (3.) Alexander Zverev

[Enceladus]

ATP H2H: 2-1 for Djokovic
H2H at hard surface: 2-0 for Djokovic

In game is a record of the number of WTF titles, that Djoker can equalize. Zverev, on the other hand, may become the 23rd winner of the WTF history.

Djoker can get the 73rd ATP title in singles, 55th on hard surface, 13th in indoor environment and 5th in this season. Sascha will attack the 10th ATP title, 6th on the hard surface, 3th in indoor environment and 4th in this year.

 

[Standaa]

Hopefully Joe in two bagels.

Realistically Joe in two breadsticks.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Smh making this before the SF has ended

 

[Four-ever]

Djoko in 2 tight sets.

 

[tennisfan2015]

Novk 6 : -1, 6: -1

 

[JasonZ]

60 % Djokovic, 40 % Zverev

Zverev serves constantly over 140 mph and is good from the baseline. If he has a high first serve percentage it will be very tough for Novak

 

[tennis_pro]

60 % Djokovic, 40 % Zverev

Zverev serves constantly over 140 mph and is good from the baseline. If he has a high first serve percentage it will be very tough for Novak

Dude Djokovic lost 5 games against Zverev a couple of days ago.

 

[StannisTheMannis]

Novak in 1?

 

[Meles]

Evil triumphed earlier today and now we have pure evil.

 

[tennis_pro]

Going with I don't care in whatever. A boring end of a boring season.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Evil triumphed earlier today and now we have pure evil.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

The Heavyweight Champion to end the season on a high, nothing against Zverev, but if Djokovic continues to play like he has this week so far, he isn't losing.

 

[lud]

Just be careful people, remember last year Rome when Djoko crushed Thiem 61 and 60 i SF. Everybody where sure he will beat AZ in final

 

[I Am Finnish]

Z to shock TTW and the site goes black

 

[Zebrev]

So it's come down to this. The final match of the 2018 season, between a young gun and an old champ. Scintillating prospect of a match, let's hope for a real battle on the court tomorrow to send the year out on a high. Zverev will be ready this time.

 

[veroniquem]

I really want Novak to tie the record although I also really like Sasha. His hair is looking sexier than ever
Overall, it’s a drool-drool final for me.

 

[Red Rick]

“When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When the sun rises in the west, and sets in the east. When the Muzziah returns again, and plays a healthy schedule. Then Djokovic will lose, and not before."

 

[TheAssassin]

Not sure what's going to happen. Focusing on the first set of their round robin match, Zverev gave him the most trouble. Only guy to have break points against Djokovic in London and his serving was the best of all. If he can bring that level again and sustain it for longer this time, we will have a very good competitive match.

I'd prefer if that's not the case and instead see Novak win comfortably. Here is hoping.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Street is gonna get ya.

 

[Zebrev]

Going with I don't care in whatever. A boring end of a boring season.

Sorry to hear that, but I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this match up in the coming months, as Fed and Nadal fall away due to old age. Zverev VS Djokovic will mark the start of a new era, with others like Them and FAA joining down the line.

 

[veroniquem]

Going with I don't care in whatever. A boring end of a boring season.

Looooool so many sour grapes in one post (but keep posting, I’m addicted to your avie)

 

[Meles]

Your typical Fed fan these days.

 

[Zebrev]

Not sure what's going to happen.

Zverev will smash him!

 

[Midaso240]

Everything points to a straight sets Djokovic win,he trashed Z in Shanghai and then won fairly comfortably earlier this tournament. He just has no business losing to the beanpole anywhere if playing 75% or above

 

[Meles]

Sorry to hear that, but I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this match up in the coming months, as Fed and Nadal fall away due to old age. Zverev VS Djokovic will mark the start of a new era, with others like Them and FAA joining down the line.

Diamond Age confirmed

 

[TheAssassin]

Zverev will smash him!

Since I am not a part of ABZ, I'll be among the first to congratulate him if he does. Beating Djokovic in this moment is far from easy.

 

[Zebrev]

Everything points to a straight sets Djokovic win,he trashed Z in Shanghai and then won fairly comfortably earlier this tournament. He just has no business losing to the beanpole anywhere if playing 75% or above

A beanpole with extremely impressive, penetrative game if the match today was anything to go by. Zverev has this one in the bag. I think it will be a high tempo match with lots of passion and intensity. They both kinda have the same court presence, so it's easy to predict how things will play out. There's potential for a racquet smash on either side of the net, for instance.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Lets keep in mind, this is Djokovic's court. He has won the tournament a record four straight times here, he loves the conditions and is playing well.

If this is the diamond age, well, remember that diamonds are formed under extreme pressure, and you can bet that Djokovic will be bringing the pressure tomorrow.

Zverev will have to play even better IMO to win this, can be done, but it will need to be a very special performance.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Perfect conclusion to the season if you ask me, Present vs Future of tennis.

Contrary to majority of TTW, I hope Sascha eventually has an all time great career. But more than anything now, I want Novak to crown his unreal comeback tomorrow. And if he can play again like he has done so far this week, it would be truly special.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Heart says Djokovic, head says Djokovic, so probably Zverev.

 

[JasonZ]

Dude Djokovic lost 5 games against Zverev a couple of days ago.

That doesnt matter. Sampras was destroyed by Agassi in RR 1999, and then destroyed him in the final.

Of course Zverev is not comparable to Pete, but that shows that anything can happen. Nole is favored, but i would never say a guy with such a big serve has no chance

 

[TheAssassin]

We know the top 10 for the end of 2018 now. Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Zverev, Del Potro, Anderson, Cilic, Thiem, Nishikori, Isner in that order. Khachanov and Coric are just below, knocking on the door.

 

[NoleFam]

The bad news for Zverev is he served lights out in the first set of their match in RR while averaging 135 mph on the 1st serve and over 70% 1st serve percentage. He lost the set 6-4 and Djokovic didn't even play that well. He played about 2 notches above that level in his last two matches. If Djokovic plays like he did against Cilic and Anderson, he is a heavy favorite. I just hope for a great and competitive match.

 

[Red Rick]

I think the Germans will be considering drastic solutions tomorrow

 

[Red Rick]

The bad news for Zverev is he served lights out in the first set of their match in RR while averaging 135 mph on the 1st serve and over 70% 1st serve percentage. He lost the set 6-4 and Djokovic didn't even play that well. He played about 2 notches above that level in his last two matches. If Djokovic plays he did against Cilic and Anderson, he is a heavy favorite. I just hope for a great and competitive match.

Zverev's problem is that he has a very weak +1 on his serve. Vs Federer that didn't matter that much, cause all he had to do was pin him down in the backhand corner, and not score.

When Zverev actually has to hit multiple good balls to construct a point, it gets a lot harder for him quickly, and Zverev isn't very experienced at playing matches where he's normally gonna lose more than 60% of baseline exchanges. Djokovic puts an insane amount of pressure on Zverev to do stuff he doesn't want to.

The other massive problem for Zverev is his 2nd serve return. It's so damn passive, he'll never even start a point ahead on Djokovic' serve.

 

[Zebrev]

Perfect conclusion to the season if you ask me, Present vs Future of tennis.

Contrary to majority of TTW, I hope Sascha eventually has an all time great career. But more than anything now, I want Novak to crown his unreal comeback tomorrow. And if he can play again like he has done so far this week, it would be truly special.

All signs point to him having a great career, based on what we have seen so far. Many ABZers point to his performance in slams as a pitfall, but then once you look at his peers, few even match him. Some youngsters are making semis, but they never maintain that level for a longer period like Zverev. He's been top 5 for like 2 years now, and Roger and Rafa are aging quickly. The only real block between Sascha and number 1 in 2019 will be Novak, which is why I think this is a match up we will be seeing more of. Tomorrow is a taste of things to come.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Beatings.

 

[NoleFam]

Zverev's problem is that he has a very weak +1 on his serve. Vs Federer that didn't matter that much, cause all he had to do was pin him down in the backhand corner, and not score.

When Zverev actually has to hit multiple good balls to construct a point, it gets a lot harder for him quickly, and Zverev isn't very experienced at playing matches where he's normally gonna lose more than 60% of baseline exchanges. Djokovic puts an insane amount of pressure on Zverev to do stuff he doesn't want to.

The other massive problem for Zverev is his 2nd serve return. It's so damn passive, he'll never even start a point ahead on Djokovic' serve.

What is a weak +1 on his serve?

Yea Federer wasn't great from the baseline and was pretty passive. I was surprised by how much he let Zverev push him around the court. Zverev will most likely not be able to do that tomorrow.

I thought he returned against Federer better today but his return overall is not the greatest.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I actually predicted Zverev would win this tournament. I know that Djokovic has played amazingly well and will likely win tomorrow but I do think Zverev can win it if he goes for broke and plays his heart out, plays to win. Here's hoping he can do so.

 

[Red Rick]

What is a weak +1 on his serve?

Yea Federer wasn't great from the baseline and was pretty passive. I was surprised by how much he let Zverev push him around the court. Zverev will most likely not be able to do that tomorrow.

I thought he returned against Federer better today but his return overall is not the greatest.

The shot after the serve. Usually serve+1 is the serve+forehand combo

 

[Mainad]

Just be careful people, remember last year Rome when Djoko crushed Thiem 61 and 60 i SF. Everybody where sure he will beat AZ in final

Yes but Djokovic hadn't already schooled Zverev in a round robin match last year in Rome.

 

[jm1980]

Going with I don't care in whatever. A boring end of a boring season.

And the season started so well, didn't it?

 

[tennis_pro]

And the season started so well, didn't it?

2018 AO was pretty boring.

 

[Roddick85]

Based on the last few times they played, this should logically be a straight set affair for Djokovic. Go Novak!

 

[lud]

Yes but Djokovic hadn't already schooled Zverev in a round robin match last year in Rome.

Final and RR matches are two different things. Just ask Federee after WTF 2015 final

 

[Mainad]

Final and RR matches are two different things. Just ask Federee after WTF 2015 final

Oh they certainly can be but I'm just sayin'.

 

[hipolymer]

Djoker in 3

6-4 5-7 6-3

 

[Krish872007]

Novak has been his usual brilliant self from start to finish this tournament and he's probably the most comfortable out there at the O2. Despite Zverev's great run, I think Djokovic in 2 is a very, very likely outcome.

 

[metsman]

Zverev's problem is that he has a very weak +1 on his serve. Vs Federer that didn't matter that much, cause all he had to do was pin him down in the backhand corner, and not score.

When Zverev actually has to hit multiple good balls to construct a point, it gets a lot harder for him quickly, and Zverev isn't very experienced at playing matches where he's normally gonna lose more than 60% of baseline exchanges. Djokovic puts an insane amount of pressure on Zverev to do stuff he doesn't want to.

The other massive problem for Zverev is his 2nd serve return. It's so damn passive, he'll never even start a point ahead on Djokovic' serve.

Zverev is one of the worst point finishers I've ever seen at his level. Even against Federer he had control of so many points (who doesn't vs Federer these days) but still needed Federer to mess up to win a lot of them because he's so uncomfortable in the forecourt and attacking shorter balls. If Federer was serving normally he probably wins in straights despite his crap ground game.

For Zverev to get to the highest level there's a lot of pressure on his serve because he doesn't look much better than Cilic/Berdych types off the ground and those guys' forehands were much better at ending points.

Being tall in tennis is seriously overrated because you basically lose control of like every point once you get on the run unless you are a Safin/Delpo type of mover/ballstriker. Tall guys have an advantage up to a certain level, but their ceiling is always tremendously capped because of this and the fact that we have so many tall lumbering guys at the top today tells you all you need to know about how the talent pool has shrunk, the fact that these guys are able to rise all the way to the top.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

I'd like Zverev to win. On the other hand, you could argue that a WTF win would be the fitting end for Djokovic's season, and that it would be a bit too early for Zverev - he should show he can do the goods at the slams first.

So I'll support Sascha, but am fine with either outcome.

Here's hoping that Roger comes back refreshed and ready to make an impact in Australia next year.