2019 ATP Madrid SF: Djokovic [1] vs Thiem [5]

Winner


  • Total voters
    67

3fees

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic in 2 or 3,,Djokovic is defending 2 Master 1000's from 2018....

giphy.gif


Cheers
3Fees :)
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Earth's Mightiest Warrior, it's time to step up if you want RG.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Earth's Mightiest Warrior, it's time to step up if you want RG.

Djokovic could lost tomorrow and still win in Paris. I think you know, better than anyone, that Novak is a different beast in slams.
People were doubting Novak when he looked shaky before the UsOpen. And again when he didn't look all that great at year end. But then he won AO.
I'm not prepared to write off Novak until he actually gets beaten in Paris. And I think that can only be done by a peak Nadal.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Would not look good for Thiem if he lost to Djokovic.

Thiem losing to the current dominant World #1, the holder of the last 3 slams and quite possibly one of the greatest players ever. How is that bad?
Everyone starts out as an underdog against Djokovic.
All that being said, Djokovic doesn't really care about smaller tournaments, so Thiem beating Djokovic tomorrow wouldn't say much for Paris.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Thiem losing to the current dominant World #1, the holder of the last 3 slams and quite possibly one of the greatest players ever. How is that bad?
Everyone starts out as an underdog against Djokovic.
All that being said, Djokovic doesn't really care about smaller tournaments, so Thiem beating Djokovic tomorrow wouldn't say much for Paris.
It would look bad because if he can't beat even Djokovic on his weakest surface, then he has no claim as a RG contender.

At this stage of their careers, Djokovic is a player Thiem MUST beat on clay if he wants to be taken seriously as the second best behind Nadal.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
It would look bad because if he can't beat even Djokovic on his weakest surface, then he has no claim as a RG contender.

At this stage of their careers, Djokovic is a player Thiem MUST beat on clay if he wants to be taken seriously as the second best behind Nadal.

I don't disagree. But Thiem is NOT second best behind Nadal. That is Djokovic.
Thiem won't be mentioned in the same breath as Djokovic, even on clay, unless he actually wins RG.
Djokovic has won RG, beaten Nadal at RG and pushed the Spaniard close to the brink a bunch of times. Thiem is just overrated at this point, until he actually wins a slam.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
I don't disagree. But Thiem is NOT second best behind Nadal. That is Djokovic.
Thiem won't be mentioned in the same breath as Djokovic, even on clay, unless he actually wins RG.
Djokovic has won RG, beaten Nadal at RG and pushed the Spaniard close to the brink a bunch of times. Thiem is just overrated at this point, until he actually wins a slam.
In the past 2 years Thiem has been better than Djoker on clay and it's not even close. Djoker has no right to be called the second best behind Rafa on clay at the moment.

I don't put too much importance on Djoker's win over Nadal at RG. That was the worst ever Nadal on clay. Thiem has faced better versions of Nadal at RG these past 2 years. And Djoker has only pushed Rafa once at RG. All their other encounters were no better than the Fedal RG matches.

So I stand by what I said that if Thiem doesn't beat Djoker tomorrow, it will be a bad look on him. Especially after he struggled to put away a near 38 year old Fed today.
 
Last edited:

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
In the past 2 years Thiem has been better than Djoker on clay and it's not even close. Djoker has no right to be called the second best behind Rafa on clay at the moment.

I don't put too much importance on Djoker's win over Nadal at RG That was the worst ever Nadal on clay. Thiem has faced better versions of Nadal at RG these past 2 years. And Djoker has only pushed Rafa once at RG. All their other encounters were no better than the Fedal RG matches.

So I stand by what I said that if Thiem doesn't beat Djoker tomorrow, it will be a bad look on him. Especially after he struggled to put away a near 38 year old Fed today.
Thiem never took a set off Nadal at RG, which I heared about a hundred times. Djokovic bad spells on clay coincided with him losing everywhere. Now he's won the last 3 Slams. Thiem just almost lost to a 37 year old in his first clay tournie in 3 years.
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
odds almost 50-50

bit surprising to me but I ain't mad. Don't be shocked to see either man win, whether in two or three.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Would not look good for Thiem if he lost to Djokovic.
This is the truth. I love it how some think the Rome 2017 SF will happen again.:-D

16/2018 R16 Monte Carlo Masters Clay Dominic Thiem Novak Djokovic 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3 2.20 - 1.66
21/2017 QF FO - RG Clay Dominic Thiem Novak Djokovic 7-6(5) 6-3 6-0 2.63 - 1.44
19/2017 SF Rome Masters Clay Novak Djokovic Dominic Thiem 6-1 6-0 1.01 - 14.00

2017 set the bar and Thiem playing considerably better now and Djoko "doesn't care about Masters 1000s"
tumblr_nwswg8387z1rpduwho1_500.gif

Thiem in 2
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Your last sentence pretty much emphasized why Thiem has to beat Djoker tomorrow to make a statement ahead of RG.
LULZ. Frauderistas. Madrid plays very fast and is well suited to Fed's game. I love the struggles to beat Federer and all the other nonsense.:-D Thiem beat a red hot Federer in form from Miami and very game on clay in Madrid as he's no dummy who think's Nadal is going to dominate this year on clay. The Real Madrid final already happened for this year.;)
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic in 2. Thiem did not play that good against Federer (before the tie-break and third set, where he raised his level).
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
LULZ. Frauderistas. Madrid plays very fast and is well suited to Fed's game. I love the struggles to beat Federer and all the other nonsense.:-D Thiem beat a red hot Federer in form from Miami and very game on clay in Madrid as he's no dummy who think's Nadal is going to dominate this year on clay. The Real Madrid final already happened for this year.;)
Fed is almost 38 and he is not a contender for RG. Thiem has to beat Djoker to send a message, not Fed.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
odds almost 50-50

bit surprising to me but I ain't mad. Don't be shocked to see either man win, whether in two or three.
Odds reflect the betting market which is always going to favor Big 3 headliners due to popularity effect.

Djokovic really does have an advantage for both Madrid and Rome with the Cryic walkover because he's got a lot more mileage left on his tires now than the rest of the top contenders, save Federe with his early exit against Thiem. Doubt three sets with Fed has taken much out of Thiem, nor the Opelka match. For this match Djoko probably at the disadvantage because he's got to really jump his game up a level without the Cilic match to get the juices flowing. But Nole fans can take heart as the Cilic walkover will help immeasurably in Rome as will his early exit to Thiem in Madrid.

Other Djoko positives are his bit better first serve game in this reincarnation. He'll need his best serving to mesh with fast conditions at Madrid to keep Thiem at bay, but it is conceivable. And of course Novak's return has been quite nice so he could break Thiem.

Madrid has not been Djoko's best clay event to say the least with only two finals (2016 a three set victory over Murray.) Thiem going for his 3rd final in a row.o_O

If Djokovic gets this to three sets, he's going to have his stamina put to the test despite the day off. Nole faded badly against Medvedev in Monte Carlo after some impressive form in the 2nd set. He'll need to win this in straight sets, but expecting Thiem to win perhaps a close first set and then walk away with it.

Big, big match so maybe Nole will surprise and prove Rome 2017 was not due to a gassed Thiem, but don't count on it.;)
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
I wouldn't underestimate Thiem here, especially this Massu'd Thiem.

At the moment, I have Thiem second after Nadal, and Djokovic third on clay.
Going up against a player with a guy named "El Vampiro" pulling the levers does sound troubling for the weak of stamina.;)
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Going up against a player with a guy named "El Vampiro" pulling the levers does sound troubling for the weak of stamina.;)

Well so far Thiem has been the man to beat on clay for me, even though I still give the edge to Nadal at RG.
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Fed is almost 38 and he is not a contender for RG. Thiem has to beat Djoker to send a message, not Fed.
Djoko is no spring chicken on clay either
O2e77Dd.gif


As usual your Fraudulent views on Federer denigrate his every achievement (and diminish his greatness overall) all in an effort to pump up the Vacuum Era of 2003-2007. Adapterer has done something very special the last few years and you just fail to see it.:cry:
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Well so far Thiem has been the man to beat on clay for me, even though I still give the edge to Nadal at RG.
Hopefully, Nadal and Thiem come through to Madrid final. The high altitude conditions do result in some good kick like RG, so Madrid would give a peak at whether the El Vampiro'd Thiem has a solution from the ground for Nadal at his heaviest. Given the closeness of their 2017 Final, this betterer Thiem would have to be favored in final as Nadal showing decline once again from his 2017 resurgence to peakish levels.

This also is a bit of stamina test for Thiem here and in Rome. The last two years he's stumbled in Rome after the Madrid finals, but this year Thiem seems much strongerer.

I'm in a slightly dark mood for some reason after how awful Wawrinka looked against Nadal. Looks like he and Clayikori really B league this year on clay. Good news for Nole fans as post knee surgery Diesel (Stan) appears to run out of gas quickly.:(
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
Before the tournament started, I actually believed Thiem was the man to beat (considering Rafa & Novak's forms).

But after struggling to survive the old man today, I can't say I'm very excited about his chances against a well rested Novak.
 

tennis4jags

Semi-Pro
Guys.. anticipate loads of sarcastic laugh from Djokovic after his silly mistakes. He thinks that like him no other cant play good matches while see good shots from opponent.
I really hate this guy!
 
Top