2019 Cincinnati SF - [1] Novak Djokovic vs [9] Daniil Medvedev

Who wins?


  • Total voters
    47
  • Poll closed .

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
nlhYZlw.jpg



Djokovic leads the H2H 3-1, Daniil winning their last meeting earlier this year at Monte Carlo. Their matches are quite hard fought and drawn out, looking forward to this one.

Starts not before 6:00 pm, local time.
 

gn

G.O.A.T.
Medvedev is like that Agut guy with better serve, who never goes away. Djokovic will have to work harder to win this one.
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
Medvedev playing the best tennis of his career in recent weeks + being a tough matchup for Djokovic at the best of times + Novak seemingly not being at 100% healthwise sadly = a disappointing defeat for him tomorrow night(if he even plays). Bit gutted tbh as I doubt he'll ever have a better chance to achieve a Double Golden Masters. Here's hoping it's nothing too serious and that he's back to full fitness in time for the US Open.
 

Rogfan

Professional
The real final. To think the winner plays Gasquet or Goffin, both have been struggling to win a match this year, for the title. Duh
 

mightyrick

Legend
I keep saying it. I think Medvedev is the next ATG. But I do not think he's at the level yet to beat Djokovic on hard court. Even though Medvedev can lay waste to 99% of the field, I think he still needs a couple of tools to take care of Djokovic on hardcourt. Mainly, he needs to be comfortable coming to net to finish points.

Djokovic in 3.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
I keep saying it. I think Medvedev is the next ATG. But I do not think he's at the level yet to beat Djokovic on hard court. Even though Medvedev can lay waste to 99% of the field, I think he still needs a couple of tools to take care of Djokovic on hardcourt. Mainly, he needs to be comfortable coming to net to finish points.

Djokovic in 3.

Now's as good a time as any to begin dethroning the Big 3, if he is the next ATG. Might pick him tomorrow in PPL.
 

Pheasant

Legend
Wow. It’s vote is tied at 3-3. It appears that this Medvedev is not related in any way to the Medvedev that got destroyed by Nadal by a score of 6-3, 6-0
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
This should hopefully be a good one. I hope Medvedev wins this one and wins a deserving masters 1000 for first which he deserves for sure, the type of consistency he is showing.
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
Just saw bits of aus open match between the 2 and Medvedev surely can hang in the rallies with djokovic, infact since djokovic hits more flatter shots med finds it easier to handle them than the loopy spin shots by rafa.Only issue could be Medvedev legs which could breakdown seeing tennis he has played.Still, I expect a strong match.
 
I think if his elbow won't bother him, novak will win in 3, and if medvedev implodes(like against nadal) than he wins in 2. But its totally possible that novak will withdrawal or retire during the match.
 

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
Federer is old, Nadal is injured part time player, Murray is Finnish, Stan is Finnish. If Novak gets injured, there is nothing left...

That said, I think Novak is playing better here than he did in Wimbledon - which was not that impressive tbh.

Medvedev, as strange as it seems, is one of the better prospects for a future player with a pretty consistent level. RBA 2.0 ?

Novak in straights.
 

Roddick85

Hall of Fame
If the elbow is an issue and things get tough, Medvedev will win. I don't see Djokovic aggravating his injury with the USO starting soon in favor of a chance to win Cincinnati.
 

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
I didn't see the match last night. So, I don't know about an elbow scare. He hits really hard, and the elbow joint wasn't meant to take that kind of continuous pressure. I still think Medvedev can take him out in 3.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
The elbow was always in the back of my mind. It seems to be back. Chronic elbow means it might be over. He had a helluva career if so. Medvedev prob will win this.
 
D

Deleted member 765702

Guest
The elbow was always in the back of my mind. It seems to be back. Chronic elbow means it might be over. He had a helluva career if so. Medvedev prob will win this.
Wow, talk about panic attack lol.
 
D

Deleted member 766172

Guest
Panic? Not sure what you are talking about. It is reality. Murrays hip is chronic. Once an elbow goes in tennis it usually rises up again. Ankles hips elbows wrists. Brutal stuff!
I really hope this is not the case. If anybody, I wanted Djokovic to surpass Fed in grand slams rather than Nadal, but if Djokovic is gone, Nadal will pass Fed by a few. It's possible Fed will win the majority of head to heads against Nadal off clay, but anybody has the chance to take Fed out, where Nadal usually only loses to Djokovic and Fed in grand slams unless he gets injured.
 
D

Deleted member 765702

Guest
Panic? Not sure what you are talking about. It is reality. Murrays hip is chronic. Once an elbow goes in tennis it usually rises up again. Ankles hips elbows wrists. Brutal stuff!
Maybe it was just some muscle tension. Why did you instantly think of the worst possible scenario? Djokovic has avoided such problems better than pretty much everyone as well.
 

3fees

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic in 2. The Tennis Courts are Fast and favor Djokovic's game. Medvedev does not have the weapons to challenge Djokovic.

Cheers
3Fees :)
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Maybe it was just some muscle tension. Why did you instantly think of the worst possible scenario? Djokovic has avoided such problems better than pretty much everyone as well.
Well as someone who has been battling severe chronic injuries since july 2017 and finally am nearing recovery where i can walk run and hike again possibly next summer when one of these joint injuries that had surgery on it it says to me this might be chronic. Prob was lost in translation i wasnt implying he was done right now but he had a hell of a ride if this thing keeps flaring. Seeing him shake that thing out was not a good sign. Also if there is tightness around those joints that might mean he has some type of weakness going on in there. Chronic is the worst. Better if he broke his arm in all seriousness.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
I keep saying it. I think Medvedev is the next ATG. But I do not think he's at the level yet to beat Djokovic on hard court.
This is a novel thought, since all ATG's (without any exception) were already great players at Medvedev's age: 23. If Medvedev is going to become an ATG, he'd better get started winning major titles. He's never come close to winning anything major. At the age of 23, many of the ATG's already had 5-6 slams won.
 

Goret

Rookie
At the age of 23, many of the ATG's already had 5-6 slams won.
At Medvedev's age (23 years and a half), Federer had 4 slams (not "5-6")... and Djokovic had 1.
I don't know if Medvedev will become an ATG, I'd think it's not already too late. Players tend to mature later, and they also have longer careers.
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
Well as someone who has been battling severe chronic injuries since july 2017 and finally am nearing recovery where i can walk run and hike again possibly next summer when one of these joint injuries that had surgery on it it says to me this might be chronic. Prob was lost in translation i wasnt implying he was done right now but he had a hell of a ride if this thing keeps flaring. Seeing him shake that thing out was not a good sign. Also if there is tightness around those joints that might mean he has some type of weakness going on in there. Chronic is the worst. Better if he broke his arm in all seriousness.
Improved serve never comes for free.
I think he has had that injury, and yes it’s been chronic, starting 2016.
 

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
This is a novel thought, since all ATG's (without any exception) were already great players at Medvedev's age: 23. If Medvedev is going to become an ATG, he'd better get started winning major titles. He's never come close to winning anything major. At the age of 23, many of the ATG's already had 5-6 slams won.
Federer didn't have 5 or 6 slams at 23. He had 3.
Djokovic won his first slam in 2008 and he was 20 or 21 at the time. He didn't win another until he was 24 and then he won 3. So, he didn't have 6 slams by that age. He had 4. (Still remarkable, of course).
Rafa is the only one to have 5 slams by that age, but to be fair most of those were on clay.
Laver had 2 slams at 23. But, to be fair, he won a grand slam at 24.
Sampras had at least 6 slam titles by age 23. Won his last slam at 31.
Borg had at least 6 or 7 by the time he was 23.

So, of these ATG players only 2 fit into your analysis.
 

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Federer didn't have 5 or 6 slams at 23. He had 3.
Djokovic won his first slam in 2008 and he was 20 or 21 at the time. He didn't win another until he was 24 and then he won 3. So, he didn't have 6 slams by that age. He had 4. (Still remarkable, of course).
Rafa is the only one to have 5 slams by that age, but to be fair most of those were on clay.
Laver had 2 slams at 23. But, to be fair, he won a grand slam at 24.
Sampras had at least 6 slam titles by age 23. Won his last slam at 31.
Borg had at least 6 or 7 by the time he was 23.

So, of these ATG players only 2 fit into your analysis. It's utterly ridiculous for us, as mere fans, to state what a person should or should not achieve by a certain age. Many writers achieve greatness early, yet many don't begin achieving until well into their 50s or 60s, and some even later. Achievement is a very personal journey, so let's not judge.
 

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Well as someone who has been battling severe chronic injuries since july 2017 and finally am nearing recovery where i can walk run and hike again possibly next summer when one of these joint injuries that had surgery on it it says to me this might be chronic. Prob was lost in translation i wasnt implying he was done right now but he had a hell of a ride if this thing keeps flaring. Seeing him shake that thing out was not a good sign. Also if there is tightness around those joints that might mean he has some type of weakness going on in there. Chronic is the worst. Better if he broke his arm in all seriousness.
Yes, this is true. I've dealt with chronic back pain for decades. Some years it's been better than others, but the last two years have been hell. So, I understand chronic pain very well. I agree with you, in that a chronic, nagging injury is far more difficult to deal with. A break can be mended more easily, and tends to have a more complete healing. But, injuries that begin to cause chronic pain are nasty. And, since we all know the old "the knee is connected to the..." song, IF Nole is having chronic issues with his elbow again, then it will only intensify as he ages. Even though he's relatively young in general, he's getting old for a tennis player. And, he could potentially do damage to his shoulder and his wrist as well as other areas of the body if he continues to play with these difficulties. It all depends on the nature of the problem, its severity, and the various treatments available for him.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Knees too.
True. However knees can be a bit different and forgiving. Example nadals knees compared to say career ending knee injury like james blake and other players. The wrists and elbows have a short rope. Once they go on a player it is usually the end. Nadals ankles are good so he can still play top level tennis even with his strange knee issues.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Yes, this is true. I've dealt with chronic back pain for decades. Some years it's been better than others, but the last two years have been hell. So, I understand chronic pain very well. I agree with you, in that a chronic, nagging injury is far more difficult to deal with. A break can be mended more easily, and tends to have a more complete healing. But, injuries that begin to cause chronic pain are nasty. And, since we all know the old "the knee is connected to the..." song, IF Nole is having chronic issues with his elbow again, then it will only intensify as he ages. Even though he's relatively young in general, he's getting old for a tennis player. And, he could potentially do damage to his shoulder and his wrist as well as other areas of the body if he continues to play with these difficulties. It all depends on the nature of the problem, its severity, and the various treatments available for him.
Ugh my condolences. Welcome to the club. I have been swimming and performing water therapy and it finally spurred the final healing jolt the damaged and degenerative tissue needed. Djokovic has the top medical teams so if he did not blow anything out he might be ok. He might need to take some time off if it is acting up. Pushing chronic injuries will make them far worse.
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
True. However knees can be a bit different and forgiving. Example nadals knees compared to say career ending knee injury like james blake and other players. The wrists and elbows have a short rope. Once they go on a player it is usually the end. Nadals ankles are good so he can still play top level tennis even with his strange knee issues.
Many careers been ended w the injury Nadal has got. I’m one of them.
 

upchuck

Hall of Fame
True. However knees can be a bit different and forgiving. Example nadals knees compared to say career ending knee injury like james blake and other players. The wrists and elbows have a short rope. Once they go on a player it is usually the end. Nadals ankles are good so he can still play top level tennis even with his strange knee issues.
How many professional tennis careers have ended because of elbow?
 

mightyrick

Legend
This is a novel thought, since all ATG's (without any exception) were already great players at Medvedev's age: 23. If Medvedev is going to become an ATG, he'd better get started winning major titles. He's never come close to winning anything major. At the age of 23, many of the ATG's already had 5-6 slams won.

3/10

You know, I had a long post ready, but instead I'll just say that you're wrong. You troll way too hard for longer responses.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
How many professional tennis careers have ended because of elbow?
That is a good question. I know wrists have been a problem with pros like del potro. I do not think there are many players who have gotten elbow injuries. We need someone to find out who has had elbow problems in the past. I do not know of any off the top of my head. Djokovic is the only one i know of. Agassi and pete had back issues. Did becker have injury issues? Lendl bad back. Hmm now who had a bad elbow...
 
Top