2019 Rome FINAL: Novak Djokovic (1) vs Rafael Nadal (2)
- Thread starter Noleberic123
- Start date
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
HAHAH try again!
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
Yep also rafa on chatrier is just so hard to defeat even if he had lost here imo I'd still place him a favorite because like you said between the two Novak is more likely to get knocked out by someone else.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Should have been straight sets.
Nadal and Djokovic both know now that Nadal has trouble even with an exhausted Djokovic.
King No1e
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, as much of a crowd draw Federer and Djokovic are in Rome, Nadal always gets the shaft when it comes to scheduling. Give him at least one night match next year. Regardless of popularity, he's the greatest champion the tournament has ever seen, and the organizers should respect that.Horrible way to finish lol. Tbh a part of me wanted Nadal to win comfortably in straight sets as a lesson to the organisers to start scheduling better in future.
Oh well, still a pretty good week for Novak. Reaching a 9th Rome final is a fantastic achievement in itself, he's scored another win against a top 10 opponent(and produced one of the best matches of the year) and also increased his lead in the rankings by another 240 points. Moreover if 2016 is anything to go by then winning Madrid and being RU in Rome isn't such a bad pattern to follow.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
VamosBrigade volume off the charts compared to the entire clay season before today. Shocking.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
This also puts Djokovic on good position as well heading into RG. He won Madrid and took a set off a good Nadal despite not bringing his best. The stage has been set and I hope we get the match we want.
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
Maybe idk? Tbh I just want to move over to grass now, clay on the mens side was exciting for like a second
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Well with nadal and fed fans djookovic wins never count. Never was the "real" fedal. Lol. Its nutso.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, Novak some days does fine with that. But other times he just blotches it. Same with the drop shot. Can't believe he was doing it so much today.
Nadal's ROS is pretty bad. People look at this return stats and say it's ok. But Nadal's very strong game hides his deficiencies int the ROS. Even if he can get the ROS into a neutral situation he can dominate rallies.
Fact is Nadal doesn't have an aggressive ROS (like Novak/Murray/Fed), and he usually misses more first serves and has more serve winners/aces against him than any other players. He has some technical deficiencies in the ROS as well with the huge followthrough and hacking on grip change.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
eat it, along with some bagel-sticks.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Yes. I predicted a Nadal win today, the same way I said Djokovic was going to straight set Nadal at AO. I am little surprised that this went three sets though, a dead tired Djokovic taking a set from a fresh healthy Nadal on clay is not good, but it could be a prelude to what we may see at RG also, should they play. Novak will likely have the tougher path.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
True but I still feel the final shouldn't start 'til a few hours later. The organisers should take into account that not all night matches will be over in an hour and a half. Of course if both semifinals were back to back that would solve the problem completely.
Pheasant
Legend
I will say this. You don’t even have to be a fan of Nadal to appreciate how insanely great that he is on this surface. This was fun to watch.
Sure, Novak was a little fatigued. But he served incredibly well today by getting 78% of his first serves in. He hit a lot of corners and even managed 7 aces. But Nadal handled them like a champ.
One stat that I look at is return points won. The winner of this stat almost always win the match.
Today’s return points won: Nadal 46, Djoker 20.
Djoker will be a force at RG. Let’s see how the draw pans out. I have a feeling that Fed playing RG is going to force Thiem into Djoker’s bracket, which could make things very interesting.
Congrats to both players for a great tourney.
Sure, Novak was a little fatigued. But he served incredibly well today by getting 78% of his first serves in. He hit a lot of corners and even managed 7 aces. But Nadal handled them like a champ.
One stat that I look at is return points won. The winner of this stat almost always win the match.
Today’s return points won: Nadal 46, Djoker 20.
Djoker will be a force at RG. Let’s see how the draw pans out. I have a feeling that Fed playing RG is going to force Thiem into Djoker’s bracket, which could make things very interesting.
Congrats to both players for a great tourney.
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, having a tougher time with the field on clay is definitely a bonus at an upcoming clay tournament
I agree. Novak has more of a problem vs the field than Nadal does.
Nadal will be there on the second Sunday most likely. Can Novak be there as well? If Novak is, then he is the favorite against Nadal.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
I do too. If djoko loses at the french he usually is pumped up for the grass too. Nadal is just too bunkered in on the french clay when he is in form. The aura is a huge part of that too. Expect the worst hope for the beast!
TheAssassin
Legend
Great effort to win a set, and I thought it was harsh that he received two bakery products, difference wasn't that colossal between them.
Hopefully Novak plays better than this if they face in Paris too. What I feel confident in is him doing well in the 2nd half of the season, which would be great.
Hopefully Novak plays better than this if they face in Paris too. What I feel confident in is him doing well in the 2nd half of the season, which would be great.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Is Mustard back yet?
MugOpponent
Hall of Fame
Wow the glass is definitely half full for Djoker fans(not necessarily saying it shouldn't but this seems wildly optimistic).. He won one game in the other two sets, I guess I don't really see the silver lining here.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Where were you after AO final?
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Do you understand why I'm being so pessimistic now? Nadal is just mentally bad against Djokovic. Because let's admit it, the second set was more a choke from Nadal than Djokovic being clutch. When Djokovic is winning due to playing very well on big points (like the second set in MC 2013 as a classic example) I admit it.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
right here, taking it!
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Does Rafa actually speak Italian or is he just relying on the Spanish/Italian similarities and cobbling sentences together?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
No one is the favorite against nadal at the FO lol, stop trying to kill our joy
this is the one tournament a year where I ain't having it
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
Tbh I still hope for a miraculous surprise winner lol. I already anticipate a djokodal final in which case my mind is already on grass though I get the importance/enjoyment for you and many others. For me it's just meh at the moment
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
He spoke Italian during the Rome 09 ceremony, I remember that day like yesterday
surely he knows more now than 10 years ago
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Well he's hit the overhead and dropshot well the whole tournament so it probably was just fatigue. He also kept trying to take them out of the air in the sun when he should have let them bounce, so when you are tired you tend to make poor decisions.
Maybe on other surfaces but on clay, Nadal's ROS is the best. I actually think his ROS is efficient enough even on other surface.s
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Not the "real" Nadal. Lol.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Congrats on the win. I know Nadal has rarely experienced them in the last few years of this rivalry so it must feel wonderful.
davced1
Hall of Fame
That's right the Thiem - Nadal final is what we all want to see!
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
That was a big swig of champagne Rafa
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Come on, not always. In 2014 Nadal had the night sessions for example. And almost every match was tough.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Nowhere to be seen, That's were you were.
Boasting about a Rome title win when Djokovic has crushed Nadals dreams two consecutive times now at Wimbledon and AO. You won't come far with those pictures, cause they mean zilch compared to what Djokovic has done to Rafa lately
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Nice to see Rafa win another singles title after some setbacks in 2019!
Sephiroth
Hall of Fame
Now you guys know what it feels like playing on multiple clay court finals and Novak found that out the hard way and his fans were complaining about tiredness while Rafa's been doing it for years on end and he actually wins up winning Roland Garros at the end of it too. It's not easy and it's why it makes Nadal so special but people take him for granted just because he's Nadal on clay.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
This choke worries ahead of RG.
Yoeri Tennis II
Rookie
Highlights of the Djodal final are here >>>
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Well in 2016, Novak lost early in MC, won Madrid, lost in the final of Rome. Guess what happened this year? Just saying.
It would be awesome if history repeats itself. We shall see.
MugOpponent
Hall of Fame
Only because Djoker wasn't there to get sufficient payback in 2017.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
He deserves it!That was a big swig of champagne Rafa
George Turner
Hall of Fame
That was the most one sided three set final ever.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
If you're a Rafa fan sure because Thiem has no chance to beat him. Lol.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Imo he just needs to serve a bit better and be crispier on his BH DTL/CC
