2019 Australian Open Men’s Singles Final (1) Novak Djokovic V (2) Rafael Nadal

[Deleted member 77403]

You know how Nadal once he finds a soft spot in the body he tends to just gut the opponent.
Djokovic can do it too tho!

Yeah, you got that right.

 

[swordtennis]

Good god the Rock is Ginormous gargantuan. lol

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Rock and Roman Reigns...where is this from?

I thought you would know already.

Rock showing again why he is a treasure. Getting Roman involved in the Hobbs and Shaw movie. Roman making his debut on the big screen.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I thought you would know already.

Rock showing again why he is a treasure. Getting Roman involved in the Hobbs and Shaw movie. Roman making his debut on the big screen.

I actually didn't know! LOL

 

[AndyM]

Hitman Hitman I know you Lena won't be there will his parents be there or they never watch the final same person because they're too nervous

 

[alexio]

I actually didn't know! LOL

it will be released on august in US.. spin off to fast and furious series))

 

[AndyM]

It 2012 I ended up waking up and catching the fourth and fifth set live I thought the match was going to be over I thought I was going to watch it on tape but they were still in the fourth-set when I woke up

 

[AndyM]

I'm torn weather to go to bed early and get up around 3:45 or just sleep into around 7 and watch it on tape

 

[Deleted member 77403]

it will be released on august in US.. spin off to fast and furious series))

I knew about the movie, didn't know Roman Reigns was in it.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Hitman Hitman I know you Lena won't be there will his parents be there or they never watch the final same person because they're too nervous

I don't think they will be there. I think its just Novak's team.

 

[AndyM]

Yeah that's what I thought also I've only seen his team there the whole time no family members except his brother I think is there

 

[AndyM]

Well I finally made my vote for Djokovic in four. looks like the pole has about 65% for Djokovic 35% for Nadal

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Don't see it that way regarding the last three points.

I guess you're wrong then, lololol.

0-15 - chose to go with CC forehand after Djokovic his the DTL forehand. It was a tough position for any shot, be he still decided to go with CC (a safer one).

Not much of a choice there given the quality of Djoko's FHDTL, or do you think Nadal should always go DTL even when it's extra risky/difficult?

0-30 - He hit a good serve and got a short reply, was in a good position to go with the inside-out forehand, but he decided to go with inside-in FH to Djokovic's more reliable weapon. That's where he lost the point imo, regardless of him slipping. His court position was already compromised before the fall.

Already tried I/O last point and ended up losing it; even then, Nadal managed to get to the ball despite slipping, though he couldn't control it. Normally he'd have gotten there in time, even if in a slightly disadvantaged position - not close to a sure thing.

0-40 - He was standing on the middle of the baseline after the return and again chose to go CC (to Novak's BH). Got another flat/hard CC from Nole and again went with CC FH (and made an UE).

That's the bad point, yep.

 

[Night Slasher]

I guess you're wrong then, lololol.



Not much of a choice there given the quality of Djoko's FHDTL, or do you think Nadal should always go DTL even when it's extra risky/difficult?



Already tried I/O last point and ended up losing it; even then, Nadal managed to get to the ball despite slipping, though he couldn't control it. Normally he'd have gotten there in time, even if in a slightly disadvantaged position - not close to a sure thing.



That's the bad point, yep.

Regarding 0-30, I was thinking more of a badly constructed point (not going with the inside out immediately after return), not the final shot (the slip), etc.

Anyway, who do you think will win tomorrow (and why)?

 

[Fed881981]

I'm torn weather to go to bed early and get up around 3:45 or just sleep into around 7 and watch it on tape

At 7 am ET, they may still be playing the 4th set.

Djokovic in 4, but I hope in 3.

 

[DRII]

i actually think Nadal's BH is the most improved shot, right in front of the serve...

 

[The_Order]

I got a gut feeling this match isn't going to live up to the hype.

Well it's highly unlikely it'll go 5h 53m like their last final. If people are expecting that, then they'll be setting themselves up for disappointment.

All the signs are pointing to a great match though. They were both playing well leading up to it.

 

[The_Order]

To those thinking Novak in 3 sets, Nadal has never lost a slam final in straight sets. Of course, there's a first time for everything though...

Just like Novak never losing an AO final...

 

[I Am Finnish]

Whoa 14 pages the match is not even started

 

[Mike Sams]

Good god the Rock is Ginormous gargantuan. lol

He's bigger now in his late 40s than he was 20 years ago.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

To those thinking Novak in 3 sets, Nadal has never lost a slam final in straight sets. Of course, there's a first time for everything though...

Just like Novak never losing an AO final...

Yeah and Nadal had never lost in the 2nd week of Wimbledon.

 

[joekapa]

Reservoir Dogs.

 

[DRII]

Yeah and Nadal had never lost in the 2nd week of Wimbledon.

and if the roof wasn't artificially closed when the sun was shining for an historical outdoor slam; that would still be the case!

 

[StannisTheMannis]

Unfortunately for Rafa the one thing he improved upon was the one thing that wont phase Novak at all. This Novak is better than the one at Wimbledon. 3 tight sets and then Novak runs away with it in the 4th

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Anyway, who do you think will win tomorrow (and why)?

The one who chokes less. Dunno who would prove clutcher this time. Level seems close enough so mentality should be key.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

What time will the match start? I.e. after the warm up

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I am the Batman. Have a great match.

What time will the match start? I.e. after the warm up

8:30

 

[upchuck]

Interesting fact coming into this match: Djokovic has won a greater percentage of service points than Nadal has.

 

[TennisFan3]

What do you mean with weakest part of his game? Is Djokovic's forehand the weakest part of his game despite being impressive?

Nadal is one of the greatest returners of all time. He is the greatest returner ever on clay, and the 15th greatest returner ever on hard courts:

https://www.atptour.com/en/stats/le...r&surface=hard&versusRank=all&formerNo1=false

The Return Rating is calculated by measuring 4 factors:
1) % 1st Serve Return Points Won
2) % 2nd Serve Return Points Won
3) % Return Games Won
4) % Break Points Converted


Even Djokovic himself stated that Nadal is a great returner.

"I will have pression on my serve because Nadal returns well" (7:40)

The Nadal-Djokovic matches are full of mutual breaks!! I have no problem to admit that Djokovic's return is better, but it doesn't mean Nadal's return is not great as well. They have different styles by the way. Djokovic is a more aggressive returner which typically goes for the return winner, while Nadal focuses more in returning a high percentage of serves to later win the point form the baseline.

Did you read my previous post properly. Nadal's return stats are biased because of his strong ground game. I'm just talking about that one shot - the serve return. Don't mix it with what happens afterwards in the point where Nadal because of his excellent movement forehand and backhand can still win points. For ex: Nadal has a very good serve % hold rate. Among the top. Does that mean he has the best serve? Would his serve be considered better than someone who serves bigger but holds less because their ground game sucks. Again a lot of players have more forehand winners than Nadal. Does that mean their forehand is better than Nadal's?

For the 100th time, Nadal's ROS is not bad per se. It is just the weakest part of his game given how strong the other things are. We might say that Fed's backhand is the weakest part of the game. Does that mean his backhand is bad? No. But it does mean that his forehand, serve etc are far superior to his backhand. Ditto for Novak's forehand. His forehand is not bad at all. But not as strong as the other things in his game and perhaps the only area he might be vulnerable.

Why Nadal struggles to return offensively is well understood. It's because of his long followthrough and the grip change between the backhand and the forehand. He also doesn't block and chip the return. Happily, he has a strong ground game to compensate for the deficiencies in his return of serve. Which is why his stats are still good. But he still struggles against big servers.

Imagine if Nadal were to return like Novak/Murray. Given how good the rest of his game is, he would be breaking everyone left and right and be almost unbeatable.
Every player has a weakness. Even an ATG does.

 

[swordtennis]

and if the roof wasn't artificially closed when the sun was shining for an historical outdoor slam; that would still be the case!

 

[Sport]

Did you read my previous post properly. Nadal's return stats are biased because of his strong ground game. I'm just talking about that one shot - the serve return. Don't mix it with what happens afterwards in the point where Nadal because of his excellent movement forehand and backhand can still win points. For ex: Nadal has a very good serve % hold rate. Among the top. Does that mean he has the best serve? Would his serve be considered better than someone who serves bigger but holds less because their ground game sucks. Again a lot of players have more forehand winners than Nadal. Does that mean their forehand is better than Nadal's?

For the 100th time, Nadal's ROS is not bad per se. It is just the weakest part of his game given how strong the other things are. We might say that Fed's backhand is the weakest part of the game. Does that mean his backhand is bad? No. But it does mean that his forehand, serve etc are far superior to his backhand. Ditto for Novak's forehand. His forehand is not bad at all. But not as strong as the other things in his game and perhaps the only area he might be vulnerable.

Why Nadal struggles to return offensively is well understood. It's because of his long followthrough and the grip change between the backhand and the forehand. He also doesn't block and chip the return. Happily, he has a strong ground game to compensate for the deficiencies in his return of serve. Which is why his stats are still good. But he still struggles against big servers.

Imagine if Nadal were to return like Novak/Murray. Given how good the rest of his game is, he would be breaking everyone left and right and be almost unbeatable.
Every player has a weakness. Even an ATG does.

I disagree. But hey! It's OK to interchange different views here, and I enjoy reading your posts.

In my opinion, Nadal's biggest weakness always was his serve. Now that he has improved it, I think both Nadal and Djokovic are pretty much like robots without any particularly big weakness.

It will be an interesting match tomorrow.

 

[upchuck]

A look at their groundstroke MPH coming into this match:

Djokovic forehand/Backhand speed: 79/74
Nadal forehand/Backhand speed: 77/75

I'm somewhat surprised by this.

 

[Halba]

any comment on the weather forecast? Cooler, Cloudy but windy.
the first two help novak- conditions will be a bit slower(helping novak), but the wind helps rafa?

 

[Halba]

A look at their groundstroke MPH coming into this match:

Djokovic forehand/Backhand speed: 79/74
Nadal forehand/Backhand speed: 77/75

I'm somewhat surprised by this.

novak's shots are flatter.

 

[AndyM]

I don't think it's going to be that that windy with the inside the stadium

 

[AndyM]

I think I was more nervous for the Wimbledon semi-final because we didn't know exactly joko's form being just after who made the comeback

 

[AndyM]

Hitman how you feeling about all this

 

[JJGUY]

the official AO youtube is streaming the 2012 final now, help to kill some time while waiting

 

[Deleted member 688153]

If anyone else is on the grounds today I'll be at Pastuso off Flinders Lane from 12:15-ish until, I dunno, about 2:30 if you wanted to have a chat about the final? I'll also be at RLA tonight if anyone else here is going and wanted to meet up before or after

 

[AndyM]

How's the weather their first serving man

 

[Fintft]

Unfortunately for Rafa the one thing he improved upon was the one thing that wont phase Novak at all. This Novak is better than the one at Wimbledon. 3 tight sets and then Novak runs away with it in the 4th

You must be blind, if you can't see Rafa's attacking more with his FH etc.

 

[CYGS]

Will Fed be watching this match?

 

[AndyM]

The dew point is 50 degrees Fahrenheit which is low for their summer does that help Joko or Nadal the dryer the conditions

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

To those thinking Novak in 3 sets, Nadal has never lost a slam final in straight sets. Of course, there's a first time for everything though...

Just like Novak never losing an AO final...

Will there be a renaissance in the final?
Something new?
In that case its Rafa winning in straights.
Which I doubt.

 

[AndyM]

Hitman must be sleeping before the final but since it's only 8:30 where I am can't go to sleep

 

[AndyM]

Does fed watch any final that he's not in?

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Very funny for a Fed fan seeing the arguments between Nadal and Djokovic fans. They're both great players; may the better player (on the day) win!

 

[EugeneVDebs]

First of 4 slams between them this year. Nads takes 3 of the 4.

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Slept in a bit last year. No chance this time. Body full of too much hype.

It starts at 330 here on a Saturday night(Sunday morning). 0 percent chance of me sleeping before.

 

[BeatlesFan]

It starts at 330 here on a Saturday night(Sunday morning). 0 percent chance of me sleeping before.

Starts at 12:30 am my time in California. Obviously not a fan of either guy, but the only thing making me miss this match is nuclear war, Ebola or a vague pandemic.