2019 French Open SF: [1] Djokovic vs. [4] Thiem

[Rago]

Live feed from the basement of all Bullzillions right now.

Nadal to win another dark ages slam in straight sets.

Good job by the tournament organizers and ATP to keep the slam race going.

 

[Lebsta]

Praise the lord and heavens. Well done Thiem - you've saved men's tennis today. Enjoy your victory

 

[Sambuccashake]

Thiem will maul some of these, take an ice bath and come out to bash the ball mightily.

May he slay the Dragon Of Filth, in 5!

 

[jm1980]

Nadal in 3, 4 tops

 

[NoleFam]

Congrats to Thiem! He is not the strongest when it comes to holding up under pressure but it is all the more commendable that he managed to overcome the nerves. I think Nadal vs Thiem at RG will be a more interesting encounter this time around.

Djokovic needs to unwind himself a bit. One of his weaknesses is that he seems to pile up stress. There comes a point where he needs to reset and now with Wimbledon coming is just the time for that.

I agree with the second part but as far as the first part, I am just not interested in this final. Sorry. I just have a strong feeling that Nadal is going to pulverize Thiem. About the second part, totally. I didn't like his attitude in this match and he had piled on so much stress trying to do the Nole Slam again that he couldn't relax and actually play. Plus he was just had a negative mindset and didn't bring the level he needed in this one. The loss is good though and the best sometimes need a reality check. I think he will be back at Wimbledon.

 

[arvind13]

nadal

What? I want to have your optimism! Nadal can reach 21 with French Opens alone from now on. And I’m also quite sure he will win at least one other Slam, if not more, until he’s done.

Federer has to win more by himself, at best he starts at Wimbledon.

maybe i'm wrong but nadal is clearly declining much more than djokovic. he doesn't have another another 4 french opens in him. next year he'll be 34. nadal isn't federer. he's not going to be playing till 37. way more wear and tear on body. way more physical style that is unsustainable in late age. so i agree with tennis addict. djokovic is more of a threat than nadal, and djokovic lost today so its a breather for federer fans.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

I just like saying Egg

 

[Artificial Grass]

I think Thiem takes this in 5. Last year was his tune-up. This year he'll be ready to take it.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

6-3 6-2 6-4 hafa! Let’s move on to the greener stuff.

 

[a10best]

won't be 6-0 sets but great job to get there Thiem. I predict Thiem to go after Rafa's FH and Rafa to go after Thiem's BH. so yeah, maybe a 6-1 set in there.

 

[NoleFam]

How about RG 2006 when Novak only won 8 total games?

You are spinning there. Djokovic won 8 games in two sets and then retired. 6-4 6-4 sets which were close. That's not the same as winning 8 games over a whole BO5 match.

 

[Rago]

I think he will be back at Wimbledon.

I'd love to watch another Fed-Novak Wimbledon encounter.

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

Djokovic preserves his h2h advantage over Fedal.

hehe great consolation

 

[abmk]

Thiem accomplishing several firsts this year :
1. Winning a masters title.
2. Using his head while winning CC match vs Nadal.
3. Managing to close out a close slam match vs a slam winner at a slam. (lost 17 USO vs delpo and 18 USO vs nadal)

 

[BeatlesFan]

Well the 2011 peak Djokovic was beaten by Fed.

Fed is the greatest player to ever play the game, Thiem isn't even in the discussion. My point was about age and the decline in players past 31-32. Novak will have periods where he can play as well as his peak, but they will probably be sporadic and his level will fluctuate a lot more. Age also affects players mentally. You could see today how desperately Novak wanted the Noleslam and the pressure negatively impacted his play. However, his volleying was great to see! He brought it all out at the end, but it wasn't enough.

 

[Incognito]

How about RG 2006 when Novak only won 8 total games?

Yepp, and That’s the match he was in total control of FYI

 

[Sartorius]

Nadal is certainly good enough to beat a number in brackets, no?

 

[Rina]

So, I said Thiem in 4, which I hope he can do. It would be really awesome to have a new player win a grandslam. He can do it, and as Jokovic isn't in the final, better to have a new kid take it. Thiem can beat Nadal, question is does Thiem know that?

 

[Meles]

@Meles Gimme a beat,

 

[Feather]

This win, hopefully, helps Thiem to improve his confidence

 

[TennisFan3]

When will the CYGS happen?
Maybe after Nadal retires? That is the biggest problem. Players can't win French.
Novak also failed in 2019.
Will he get anothe chance in 2020 or 2021?

 

[-NN-]

My fave Mr. Bungle song.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Although I expect Rafa to win tomorrow, I would much prefer for Thiem to win than Djokovic so I am beyond thrilled!

 

[StrongRule]

Djokovic can't reach Nadal in RG for a few years now. Nadal reached him even in 2015, his worst year. Just shows how meaningless the head to head is.

 

[Bertie B]

Horrible match but at least it's over. Djoker still a clear favourite at Wimbledon still.

No sis, this match was a watershed moment for Djokovic. The young guys are beating him in big matches...matches where she should be motivated to win.

With how psychology works, if Thiem can beat Novak why not the other young ones.

 

[Meles]

Well the 2011 peak Djokovic was beaten by Fed. Do you think the current Thiem would beat that Fed?
Tennis is all about matchups, In a way the 2019 Djokovic isn't as bad, even though he is not prime.
His serve is far better and skill at the net too.

On clay?

 

[StrongRule]

Will be very hard for Nadal. Thiem beat him in Barcelona this year.

 

[Sarzy]

I've always thought Thiem could win in it this year but it will be very tough. I'd love to see him win.

 

[Gazelle]

Who's Nadal's opponent? Murray?

 

[MeatTornado]

On clay?

Did you miss Madrid and Rome that year?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Fancy Nadal.

 

[romeo8880]

Odds are out. Nadal -475 favorite and thiem +380.

 

[alexio]

Today illustrates how age impacts a player. 2011 or 2015 Djokovic is never even taken to 5 sets by Thiem and closes it out easily. At 32, his losses will mount and his level will fluctuate a lot more than at his peak. That's normal and happens to them all.

yeah and where was another age excuse from you before the match when predicting an easy 3-0 djok win

 

[Dan Z]

Tiiiiim!

 

[Centrius]

How many volleys did Djokovic lost !? Drop shots also were awful.

 

[Zardoz7/12]

Beating post 2010 Djokovic in a slam hasn't been easy for anyone, look at the stats they speak for themselves, Thiem might not win tomorrow but at least he can say he stopped a juggernaut going for his 2nd "holding 4 slams at once" accolade.

I hope Thiem can win tomorrow, I hope he just swings for the fences and goes for it, he has nothing to lose.

 

[clayqueen]

Thiem made 60 UEs and still won the match. Djokovic made 53.

 

[TennisFan3]

With how psychology works, if Thiem can beat Novak why not the other young ones.

Maybe because the other ones are NOT good enough?
It took Thiem 5 sets to beat Novak on Novak's WORST surface. Even then Thiem had to play the match of his life.

Do you honestly expect other players to beat Novak on hards and grass? Fed is getting old. Nadal is not the force he was outside of clay.
Thiem sucks on grass and not great at hards. TsiTsiPas is overrated. Z is perennial underperformer in slams.
Others are not even worth mentioning. So who will stop Novak at Wimbledon and the UsOpen?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Djokovic:
"When you’re playing in hurricane conditions, it’s mostly about survival. One of the worst conditions I’ve ever played in.

I don’t want to find excuses, he took it, well done. "

 

[RF-18]

Thiem has piled enough experience to put up a fight here.

 

[Meles]

CLUTCH at the net

Martina said in Thiem's shoes she'd be laughing every time Novak had to abandon the baseline for the net as it showed he was taken out of his game and desperate.

 

[SonicNirvana]

Although I expect Rafa to win tomorrow, I would much prefer for Thiem to win than Djokovic so I am beyond thrilled!

yeah it would be better for tennis to have another player win a GS. although i'm still obviously still pulling for RAFA

 

[Zardoz7/12]

Cue Ken Rosewall to mock Thiem at the end of the match.

 

[Centrius]

Nadal in straights.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Younger players take a few years to figure things out - this was true for both Novak and Roger. Only Rafa won Grand Slams within his first year or so, so the younger players CAN develop and start to win soon, esp. since the big 3 are getting older.

 

[DRII]

Djokovic has never got annihilated at RG by Nadal. You're getting him confused with Federer.

is this the solace you need today?

 

[NatF]

Been out so missed this whole day's play. Sounds like it was quite hilarious at times. Glad Thiem won hopefully he can recover.

 

[TheAssassin]

Oh well. Good fight but not good enough.


Congrats to Thiem. Handled the conditions and the occasion well. Good luck to him in the final.

 

[arvind13]

Maybe because the other ones are NOT good enough?
It took Thiem 5 sets to beat Novak on Novak's WORST surface. Even then Thiem had to play the match of his life.

Do you honestly expect other players to beat Novak on hards and grass? Fed is getting old. Nadal is not the force he was outside of clay.
Thiem sucks on grass and not great at hards. TsiTsiPas is overrated. Z is perennial underperformer in slams.
Others are not even worth mentioning. So who will stop Novak at Wimbledon and the UsOpen?

um sam querrey? NICK KYRGIOS? djokovic has lost to lesser players at slams than tsitsipas. how bout denis istomin? i bet you were saying in 2016 after djokovic won french, calender year slam guaranteed nobody can stop djokovic. wawrinka looks like he's back in form. he can beat djokovic if they meet at wimbledon

 

[Gazelle]

How about RG 2006 when Novak only won 8 total games?

But he was in control there!