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

[I Am Finnish]

... sangria para todos !

He is not amused

 

[OhYes]

He is not amused

 

[GabeT]

I woke up a bit earlier than usual on a Sunday in hope of catching the last set as I was sure this was going to be a 5 sets marathon. Then I saw the score... This kind of reminds me of Federer at Wimbledon in 2015. Playing some of his greatest tennis in the SF only to get slaughtered by super Novak in the final. I really thought Nadal was going to put up a better fight than this, so I'm stunned. Anyways, congratulation to Djokovic! I just don't see who can stop him on any surfaces right now.

Yes, i thought something similar. I think it also happened in the USO15, where Fed was playing very well until he met Nole in the finals. I think this is simply more evidence of the difference between the Big 3 and the rest.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

LMAO one reason I love Djokovic! The Joker!
What a win @Djokovic_is_the_best#1!
I did not realize Nadal had that bandage on his Ab until yesterday so I tempered the prediction from 5 sets to 4 sets. Figured Nadal could have pulled off one tight set. 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 kinda match,
However 100% Nadal might have taken it to 5 but let us be frank Nadal was never beating Djokovic last night.
He was a machine and I really do not see a serious decline yet. He has adapted his movement already to compensate for any loss of speed if any.
His forehand might be the best all round ever he has had. The reason is he is taking the ball so early in spots. Nadal blasted a high cross court backhand and he stepped up and just blasted it for a winner.
I think that one shot took a lot out of Nadal. You could see he was like wtf?!
His forehand was probably heavier when he was younger but not as dynamic.
He looked like a 2011 2015-2016 Hybrid out there.
Nadal will heal up and you know he will not want to give Djokovic a sniff of the title at the French Open.
Going to be a fun year!

All the shots for Novak were working. His FH CC and FH DTL, BH CC and BH DTL were working like clockwork. He was serving godly like Federer. He was winning short points, long points and dominating the baseline.

His defence was solid too and he moved Nadal around the court like a rabid dog. It was the perfect performance and he blew 17 GS champion Nadal away. Nadal looked unbeatable against the rest of the field playing aggressive and confident on serve, FH and BH but he had no answer to Djokovic flawless tennis.

Yes, I expect a response from Nadal. He’s a great champion, and no doubt he’ll regroup and be all out to defend his RG title. However, with Djokovic in this form, he’s capable of winning anywhere and yep a fun year awaits!

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Suddenly Fed's efforts in 2014-2016 don't look so bad anymore.

Those happened in his best slams while this is RAFA's worst.

 

[Tiki-Taka]

I hope these two won't be playing another marathon 2012 style, I have to drive outside the city later during the day.

Thanks Novak for making it quick, I guess...

I have never seen Nadal look so powerless in a big match. And if anyone was going to do that and deliver a first straight sets loss to him in a Major final, I imagined it would be Djokovic. Huge congratulations to him on a flawless performance and another Slam win. As I said many times, he is undoubtedly Fed's and Rafa's equal. Even though Rafa is most people's favorite here, believe me, there has been plenty of praise towards Novak today.

What really moved me is the part of his speech where he spoke about and thanked his family for unconditional love and all the support and sacrifice. As a really devoted family man I am always touched when someone recognizes the significance of one's closest ones and shows gratitude for what they have done to make a person's life better.

Great guy, Nole. Congrats to him once more...

 

[mike danny]

Those happened in his best slams while this is RAFA's worst.

Damn, Fed has 3 best slams.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Damn, Fed has 3 best slams.

A blessing and a curse.
Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[disgruntledamsel]

Congrats to Novak! Djoker played flawlessly- not even a botched overhead. I think it was just after the first point, with a backhand winner, the camera panned to his face when he was getting the balls from the ballkid and he raised his eyebrows- it was like he knew he was seeing the ball like a basketball. Then he did not one, but two Nishikori jumping backhands, and I laughed at the tv. I rarely see him do that. Yeah, he was feeling it for sure! Extraordinary display with no mental lapses. Way to go Joe!

 

[mike danny]

A blessing and a curse.
Jack of all trades, master of none.

Wimb?

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Wimb?

Asterisk with Cilic's injury.

 

[Dilexson]

I'm DEAD!!

 

[I Am Finnish]

I wonder Djokovic had saw his reaction

 

[OhYes]

I wonder Djokovic had saw his reaction

I don't think anybody did. I mean....what was that ???

 

[mike danny]

Asterisk with Cilic's injury.

Because otherwise Cilic would have won a slam final against in form Fed.

 

[uscwang]

As Rafa himself said, he is back (from a 4 month injury leave). That's what is important.
A few things i take away from this final.
Rafa is in good shape but not 100% yet. Nobody would put an icebag on their belly for no purpose. He is half-step slower than his younger self, which could be due to precaution taken after his ankle surgery rather than aging.
Rafa is not ready to challenge Novak on hard court. His god aweful competition sent him suddenly in front of Novak without testing him. Novak got the wrong signal and played to fight a peak Nadal, and ended up overkilling the final.
Nadal's serve has improved. But it is not Federer-good. It may work against lesser players, but means little to the best ROS, except disrupting his own habit/rhythm.
He will need more time, and clay, to get back to his top level
Rafa is still Novak's biggest rival this year, on clay, possible on grass and fall hard court. They will likely take all Four major titles in 2019.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

Nadal ran into the glass doorframe today.

 

[Rosstour]

I'm very surprised that Rafa finished the match and didn't take any MTOs.

 

[Tshooter]

Djokovic is a monster. If he keeps playing like this he's gonna have a 3 slam year.

Which 3.

 

[NuBas]

Anyone catch Djokovic giving away his racquet and shoes to audience members?

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Would he have added another notch on the belt at AO’17 if he hadn’t forgotten his anti-Istomins??? I think they were on opposite sides of the draw, no?

10/10

 

[joekapa]

He is not amused

Those grimaces are what send other players packing.

 

[joekapa]

Anyone catch Djokovic giving away his racquet and shoes to audience members?

And jacket.

 

[abmk]

Nadal will be better on clay for sure but I do think if Djokovic is in form he'll be able to expose the same weaknesses in Nadal's game - just to a lesser degree.

higher bounce, different movement...nadal's topspin will be more effective on clay obviously.
and Nadal has found ways to counter/improvise on clay significantly better in 17/18 than I thought he would.

Having said that Djokovic's ballstriking in the SF/F was impressive and he could very well be a force on clay this year (I wasn't convinced that he would be until this year's AO SF/F).
@Gary Duane

 

[NuBas]

And jacket.

Either he's taking this "love me" thing more seriously or he is really being that generous lol

 

[Mr Feeny]

Those happened in his best slams while this is RAFA's worst.

Federer was 6 years older, against peak Novak, and didnt get straight setted.

 

[sbengte]

@abmk clearly said "draw to the final." And he's right, ofcourse.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...e-given-a-difficult-draw.176494/post-13040736

 

[alexio]

Federer was 6 years older, against peak Novak, and didnt get straight setted.

(it was much worse situation at US 2011 than at W SF 2018)..US 2011 against peak novak as well ..he was leading 5-3 in 5th..and 40-15 two match points on his serve..so is it a difference in ages the reason why he managed to lose that match?

 

[Mr Feeny]

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...e-given-a-difficult-draw.176494/post-13040736

Haha I see both sides of the argument. The final itself does count in the draw but in some cases, posters are referring to draws to the final, as was the case here.

 

[Gary Duane]

higher bounce, different movement...nadal's topspin will be more effective on clay obviously.
and Nadal has found ways to counter/improvise on clay significantly better in 17/18 than I thought he would.

Having said that Djokovic's ballstriking in the SF/F was impressive and he could very well be a force on clay this year (I wasn't convinced that he would be until this year's AO SF/F).
@Gary Duane

Also, I think Nadal said that he tried to bluster his way through AO on aggression because his return game is not fully back, first tournament after five months. I don't think that's an excuse. I think it's accurate. No way he was beating this Djokovic, this year, but I'll still back Nadal to win RG if he gets to the end, just as I weakly back Djokovic to win this AO.

I think RG 2019 is going to be the big question this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Also, I think Nadal said that he tried to bluster his way through AO on aggression because his return game is not fully back, first tournament after five months. I don't think that's an excuse. I think it's accurate. No way he was beating this Djokovic, this year, but I'll still back Nadal to win RG if he gets to the end, just as I weakly back Djokovic to win this AO.

I think RG 2019 is going to be the big question this year.

Pretty much.

Except I was pretty darn big on Djokovic for this AO. Seeing Fed being the 2nd favorite in betting odds made me chuckle.

Clay tune ups will be very interesting this year.

I hope Federer plays clay, simply because we won't be talking during the 2nd week of RG about how he didn't play. And I kinda want him to suck just to show he wouldn't have done anything in 2017 anyway

 

[alexio]

Seeing Fed being the 2nd favorite in betting odds made me chuckle.

those people who play these games with odds are not as smart as you unfortunately, and these odds are written for them for the most part

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Pretty much.

Except I was pretty darn big on Djokovic for this AO. Seeing Fed being the 2nd favorite in betting odds made me chuckle.

Clay tune ups will be very interesting this year.

I hope Federer plays clay, simply because we won't be talking during the 2nd week of RG about how he didn't play. And I kinda want him to suck just to show he wouldn't have done anything in 2017 anyway

Him playing now shows that he would have sucked during that time when he played well?

 

[Red Rick]

Him playing now shows that he would have sucked during that time when he played well?

Him being much worse on clay will.

But then again there will be mental gymnastics.

 

[icedevil0289]

Pretty much.

Except I was pretty darn big on Djokovic for this AO. Seeing Fed being the 2nd favorite in betting odds made me chuckle.

Clay tune ups will be very interesting this year.

I hope Federer plays clay, simply because we won't be talking during the 2nd week of RG about how he didn't play. And I kinda want him to suck just to show he wouldn't have done anything in 2017 anyway

most likely because he was defending champion

 

[icedevil0289]

here's hoping fed trolls all the haters and does well on clay

 

[rh310]

He is not amused

Weird.

 

[rh310]

So he says he wasn't 100%. Of course.

 

[Mainad]

He is not amused

That's a "I want to rip you apart with my bare teeth, you ****ing little Serb ****ard" look!

 

[Deleted member 764118]

Didn’t watch much of the tournament but this was a dominant display by Novak. Rafa looked rattled from the start and he was never really in it.

I think this is a 3 slam year for Djokovic. I still expect Nadal to win RG.

 

[alexio]

 

[Berasategui94]

Didn’t watch much of the tournament but this was a dominant display by Novak. Rafa looked rattled from the start and he was never really in it.

I think this is a 3 slam year for Djokovic. I still expect Nadal to win RG.

Nadal will probably in a better form physically by the French Open, but if Djokovic will maintain his current form I think he'll beat Nadal even there this time. I doubt that Thiem can beat THIS Djokovic at RG, either. But we'll first have to see how it all pans out come the clay season, things can change quickly in tennis as we've seen in the last couple years.

 

[BeatlesFan]

A blessing and a curse.
Jack of all trades, master of none.

Sure.

 

[Shank Volley]

I'm not sure if any of you have seen this yet. Tournament highlights of Djokovic with some great spliced interview audio. Definitely worth a watch.

 

[3fees]

I'm not sure if any of you have seen this yet. Tournament highlights of Djokovic with some great spliced interview audio. Definitely worth a watch.

i seen a few Highlights of the match,, thanks for sharing

Cheers
3Fees

 

[I Am Finnish]

Didn’t watch much of the tournament but this was a dominant display by Novak. Rafa looked rattled from the start and he was never really in it.

I think this is a 3 slam year for Djokovic. I still expect Nadal to win RG.

Actually you want to say: Anyone But Zverev

 

[uscwang]

Sure.

What is a Djokovic-Nadal AO final thread without Federer winning Wimbledon pictures in it?

 

[Rosstour]

That's a "I want to rip you apart with my bare teeth, you ****ing little Serb ****ard" look!

Did he actually make that face at Djoker? We need the story.

If he is showing a Baboon aggression face to his opponents that is a serious conduct issue IMO.

 

[StannisTheMannis]

Sure.

Lol he looks older in his first one than any other one

 

[TruthIncarnate]

Did he actually make that face at Djoker? We need the story.

If he is showing a Baboon aggression face to his opponents that is a serious conduct issue IMO.

Pretty sure it was to his box.