2019 Rome FINAL: Novak Djokovic (1) vs Rafael Nadal (2)

[onyxrose81]

So ticked how easily Nole lost his first game this set.

 

[Pheasant]

Even if Rafa loses this match, he will be fine for RG. Nadal has improved his play on clay every single tourney this season. Pushing the world #1 to the limit shows more improvement.

Of course, Nadal was outplayed Djoker so far. But I never count Djoker out.

Nadal will be at his best at RG by the time the QF role around.

 

[Tenacity]

What does Nadal keep looking at in his service motion?

Clock, for how much time he has left to serve.

 

[icedevil0289]

No, I can’t off the top of my head. The only one that still stands out to me is the choke against Djokovic at the US Open

i wouldnt say its a matter of mental strength,but to pretend he didn't have a mental block againt those two, particularly nadal imo is bs. istill think that 2011 was partially fed allowing nadals antics to get him, he may have had teh chance to go up 2 sets to nadal, again its nadal on clay so nadal was winning most likely.

US 2015 was another one, novak wasnt even at his best, i think he had like 23 bps, just some stupid decisions and tactics.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

What does Nadal keep looking at in his service motion?

I assume it’s a new OCD. He feels like he has to do it to win the match.

 

[Mr Feeny]

It’s not a stupid comment. I’m sure most everyone on the board would agree that Nadal is mentally stronger than Federer

I think that because of his style of play, he gives the impression of being mentally stronger. And that might in fact be the case. But what I think the other poster meant was that you can't find many examples of Federer losing slams because of a conspicuous lack of mental strength.

He loses because he's outplayed. Which happens. But it's not easy to gauge someone's mental strength, especially someone as perpetually insoucient as Federer, When it comes to style of play.

 

[joekapa]

Djokovic going for the short points. Drop shots, winners. Not enough today.

 

[Raining hopes]

Still better a win than a loss. And believe me, Jokovic will have his doubts if he loses, dice he is giving everything he has here. (He ia not tired as he won the second set.)

One extra day's rest can do wonders in AO 2017. There was a lot of tiredness in Rafa in the final even if he was inches away from the title.

Returning to court barely 12 hrs after your second gruelling 3 setter however doesn't make you tired at all.

God the hypocrisy.

 

[StrongRule]

Feeny is one of the worst posters on this site. Ignore him.

Maybe I will. He wrote he wants me to get banned for stating my opinion which didn't involve any cursing or something. I didn't break any rules.

 

[Feather]

It’s not a stupid comment. I’m sure most everyone on the board would agree that Nadal is mentally stronger than Federer

The point I contested was not whether Nadal or Djokovic is mentally stronger than Roger. It was the extraordinary claim that Roger could have won five, I repeat FIVE more majors if he were as mentally strong as the other two

 

[N01E]

This was worse than '16 championship point

 

[RF-18]

Still better a win than a loss. And believe me, Jokovic will have his doubts if he loses, since he is giving everything he has here. (He is not tired as he won the second set and keeps fighting like an animal in the third.)

Clearly the QF and SF match took alot out of Novak wich has affected him this match. Why Deny that? Novak had no business winning the 2nd set but Nadal got scared of his daddy when he saw that he will give it a go.

 

[jm1980]

Out of all the dumb drop shots, that was the dumbest

 

[onyxrose81]

Djokovic just needs to start swinging and see what happens. Already down a break.

 

[TennisFan3]

well, funny how that has happened after Nadal's physical decline. his current physical peak is about 70% of what it used to be (and thats not counting injury, which still happens alot), which is still enough to add slams to his count, but Djokovic is definitely the one player who could take best advantage of that because he also depends on stamina alot. not as much as Nadal, so if he has that on Nadal, he has an incredible advantage.

actually, Nadal's endurance has always been a big part of his mental strength, which explains why its lacking sometimes later on in his career.

I don't disagree with any of that. Nadal just declined quicker than most of us expected.
Question is can he reinvent his game - just as Fed did with his NEO backhand and uber aggressive style. That is what Nadal needs to have success again.

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal REALLY needs a second break.

 

[BlueB]

Nole has gone insane with drop shots. So stubborn, it's not working and he's insisting...

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[Darwinovic]

Come on Nole. Just lose the game now so I can sleep.

 

[Mr Feeny]

You know you're a limited thinker when your response is the equivalent of "I know you are but what am I?" Touche Einstein.

If this made any sense, I'd respond. But here is s very simple human being making it a goal to follow me around and derail a thread. Like usual. Oddly obsessed and i have told you to seek help for that before.

 

[Steve0904]

Still better a win than a loss. And believe me, Jokovic will have his doubts if he loses, since he is giving everything he has here. (He is not tired as he won the second set and keeps fighting like an animal in the third.)

Djokovic is giving everything he has left. Not neccessarily everything he has. Not that I think he's the favourite for RG, but as I've said in this thread and based on what I've seen here he has a 50/50 chance at least at RG IMO.

 

[Sephiroth]

Nadal's grunting louder, he can sense blood here.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

How did he miss that ? He’s completely exhausted.

 

[MichaelNadal]

This smoke-food-youtube session is about to be so epic

 

[Raining hopes]

Nole has gone insane with drop shots. So stubborn, it's not working and he's insisting...

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

Maybe he just no longer can play rallies ?

 

[joekapa]

Stupid, easy, miss.......

 

[Mr Feeny]

Maybe I will. He wrote he wants me to get banned for stating my opinion which didn't involve any cursing or something. I didn't break any rules.

Have her do the same please. The stalking is getting weird and she does nothing but follow me around.

 

[tennis_pro]

Ok that's that.

 

[DRII]

When we talk about drop shots only, then Dustin Brown is and always was better than Djokovic.

Schwartzman (sic) has something to say about that against Djokovic in the semis!

 

[StrongRule]

Another BP. But I just don't trust him to convert them anymore.

 

[tennisaddict]

GSM Nadal ?

 

[Mr Feeny]

And that should be that. Double break for Nadal.

 

[davced1]

VAMOOOOS! That must be it surely?

 

[onyxrose81]

Well, good fight from Novak for the second set but just nothing left.

 

[Steve0904]

It should be over now. Can't see Nadal letting go of this lead.

 

[underground]

Finally that should be GSM

 

[weakera]

The narrative writing here from Rafa haters is amazing. If you don't think a win over Nole of any kind gives him confidence, in a final, particularly one in which he has had looks at so many Nole service games and has been broken just once thus far in 3 sets, you're crazy.

If the roles were reversed and Rafa was allegedly tired and bagelled only to fight back meekly and extend the match, he would be picked apart here.

If a bo3 tourney can all of the sudden make Nole tired, Rafa should be thrilled with that implication lol


Anyone who thinks this day isn't an objective mental win for Rafa is insane. He still may not win RG, but a week ago people on the main board here were writing his obituary lol

 

[jm1980]

Just about over now

 

[Mr Feeny]

This smoke-food-youtube session is about to be so epic

That chicken tenders thread is about to be bumped.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

Well, at least he put up a good fight.

 

[Darwinovic]

Wish granted. Good night everyone. Congrats Rafa!

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Nadal fans are like "this does not ***** slip now".

 

[Deleted member 77403]

That should be it, Novak has played way too much here.

 

[StrongRule]

Have her do the same please. The stalking is getting weird and she does nothing but follow me around.

Who? The user I was replying to?

 

[CiscoPC600]

I wish I would've woken up in time for the first set. Was that vintage Nadal? Or was it gassed Djokovic?

 

[Nostradamus]

I told you RAFA can win 3rd set easy. but this inability to convert break points is very worrisome. Can RAFA beat fresh novak at the French open ????? hopefully novak will be super tired by time he gets to the final

 

[Sephiroth]

Djokovic is giving everything he has left. Not neccessarily everything he has. Not that I think he's the favourite for RG, but as I've said in this thread and based on what I've seen here he has a 50/50 chance at least at RG IMO.

No chance. Nadal mauled Djokovic in the first set and now the 3rd set. 2nd set was mental but this will give Nadal a much needed boost. If they meet at RG then expect Nadal to bulldoze Novak in 3 sets.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Djokovic is giving everything he has left. Not neccessarily everything he has. Not that I think he's the favourite for RG, but as I've said in this thread and based on what I've seen here he has a 50/50 chance at least at RG IMO.

Djokovic has a huge chance at RG, but we have to remember too, Nadal ALWAYS plays better at RG than the masters. He lost to Djokovic in 2014 Rome and won RG over him in 4 sets.

 

[Tenacity]

Gotta give to Novak for fighting in second set. Should take it easy on drop shots, lost so many points there.

 

[Backspin1183]

Any Nadal that has bageled and breadsticked players this week coming into the final is not out of form. Low on confidence against Djokovic yes, but not out of form with those one hour beatdowns he gave.

Man, that was supposed to be a joke. Just messing with RF-18.

 

[MeatTornado]

At least Novak made it interesting.