2020 ATP Dubai Final - [1.] Novak Djokovic vs. [2.] Stefanos Tsitsipas

[MeatTornado]

We can all blame Monfils

Seen this a hundred times with the Big 3 over the years where they're vulnerable in the tournament but survive and then demolish their opponent in the final.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Novak did his job, Rafa soon to do his!

 

[zvelf]

A pretty routine win for Nole.

 

[RF-18]

Finishes it in style!

To Nole!!

 

[Born_to_slice]

That was sweet.

 

[GabeT]

Fed is recovering from an injury and out tilll grass season.
When did you see him on the court??

Age adjusted, what records does Fed still hold?

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Well, Tsitsipas's improvements have been minimal since last year's final.

Actually a reverse of improvement.
Won 1 less game

 

[Hitman]

The reigning...!!!! Defending...!!! Undisputed...!!!! Heavyweight...!!! ATP Mens singles number one player of the world...!!!!! Novak...Djokovic!!!!

21 matches in a row!

 

[mike danny]

A really unspectacular final.

 

[zagor]

Solid match, Novak really upped his game from the match with Guru.

 

[James P]

18-0 for 2020

 

[Breakpointerer]

Congrats to Djok on another title!

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Age adjusted, what records does Fed still hold?

Too many to mention here.

 

[romeo8880]

And it's one thing to say it's not a weapon versus saying it's weak, which clearly it's not.

Sorry for misspeaking. It’s not weak, obviously. But it’s far from a weapon. If he had Federer’s serve, for instance, he would literally be unbeatable.

 

[EllieK]

tsitsipas should have done better than this. Very disappointing result. I would have been fine with a loss, but not this massacre.

 

[NoleFam]

#5 in Dubai. Congrats to Djoko. I think that is his 7th top 10 win already this season. He only had 9 in all of 2019.

 

[TennisFan3]

Well I never believed he would beat Rafa at a slam after he blew the 2018 USO match either. But he did. So I won't write him off completely.

Keep in mind that Nadal is a lot more beatable in Australia. Thiem blew AO 2020 far worse than he did UsOpen 2018. AO 2020 was against a C- Novak. Plus UsOpen 2018 was NoT a slam final. That is crucial. Since it has a bigger impact mentally.

Losing in 3 slam finals makes you doubt yourself. Suddenly it becomes this huge bogey you cannot shake off. Next time Thiem gets into the situation it will be an even bigger problem closing for him.

 

[Indigo]

 

[zvelf]

Don't strongrule here

I love it. His name has become a verb!

 

[junior74]

Leaving before the "I'm sure you will win one yourself"-speach

Sayonara and congrats!

 

[romeo8880]

tsitsipas should have done better than this. Very disappointing result. I would have been fine with a loss, but not this massacre.

Very close match separated by 1 break in each set. Not sure what you were watching.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

What a champion!! Novak Djokovic is 18-0 in 2020. 20 wins in a row! Confirms no1! 5th Dubai title!!

 

[zagor]

And it's one thing to say it's not a weapon versus saying it's weak, which clearly it's not.

It's Romeo's way of posting, he exaggerates.

 

[GabeT]

Too many to mention here.

Not slams, not YE1. Weeks at #1? that won’t last long.

 

[Hitman]

Now get on that plane and head off to Acapulco and get Rafa in that final.

 

[Zebrev]

Things are heating up! Djokovic keeps the winning streak going, with Nadal following later tonight. Makes you wonder who will win the Clay this year, and who will be ranked number 1 at Wimbledon?

This has to be the most intense the Nadal VS Djokovic rivalry has been for a while. Its a battle of just those two right now.

 

[NoleFam]

Sorry for misspeaking. It’s not weak, obviously. But it’s far from a weapon. If he had Federer’s serve, for instance, he would literally be unbeatable.

Ok at least you corrected that mistake. He's a good server, not a great one, but his serve is good enough to do the damage necessary for him to win. He wouldn't have 5 Wimbledons if he had a weak serve.

 

[MeatTornado]

Well, Tsitsipas's improvements have been minimal since last year's final.

2019: 0/2 on break points
2020: 1/2 on break points

#Progress

 

[Enceladus]

Amazing beginning of the year!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1233791367228403712

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1233791324928774150

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Earths mightiest warrior is some man! Heavyweight champion rolls on!!

 

[Djokovic2011]

Congrats to Novak on his 5th Dubai title. This is his 14th 500 title, the 79th of his career(59 on HC) and it's the 8th tournament he's won at least 5 times.

Just wonderful.

 

[NoleFam]

Now get on that plane and head off to Acapulco and get Rafa in that final.

Can he make it there in time?

 

[StrongRule]

As I said, Tsitsipas is just a mug. This match was never going to be close.

 

[romeo8880]

Things are heating up! Djokovic keeps the winning streak going, with Nadal following later tonight. Makes you wonder who will win the Clay this year, and who will be ranked number 1 at Wimbledon?

This has to be the most intense the Nadal VS Djokovic rivalry has been for a while. Its a battle of just those two right now.

Don’t forget about Zverev! He is ready to come bulldozing in it’s just a matter of time!

 

[MeatTornado]

Keep in mind that Nadal is a lot more beatable in Australia. Thiem blew AO 2020 far worse than he did UsOpen 2018. AO 2020 was against a C- Novak. Plus UsOpen 2018 was NoT a slam final. That is crucial. Since it has a bigger impact mentally.

Losing in 3 slam finals makes you doubt yourself. Suddenly it becomes this huge bogey you cannot shake off. Next time Thiem gets into the situation it will be an even bigger problem closing for him.

Historically Rafa's been worse in Australia. But that 2018 USO version was no good. He was ground to dust and still outlasted the then 24(?) year old Thiem both physically and mentally. Rafa was playing much better in Oz last month but Thiem shockingly came up clutch in the big moments.

 

[Hitman]

Can he make it there in time?

Let Rafa know that Novak is getting on that plane and is coming.

 

[Nole14_15NoPressure]

Sorry for misspeaking. It’s not weak, obviously. But it’s far from a weapon. If he had Federer’s serve, for instance, he would literally be unbeatable.

Nole's serve wins him match points. I don't know about FraudtyFifteenerer's...

 

[MeatTornado]

As I said, Tsitsipas is just a mug. This match was never going to be close.

And yet you'll still predict a straight set win for the Greek the next time he's in Rafa's draw.

 

[StrongRule]

Seen this a hundred times with the Big 3 over the years where they're vulnerable in the tournament but survive and then demolish their opponent in the final.

Djokovic didn't "survive" though. Monfils brought another pathetic choke. I mean, how is it possible to lose when you lead 6-2 3-1 in a match, then 6-3 in the tiebreak with 2 matchpoints on serve? Djokovic got another undeserved title.

 

[TennisFan3]

Sorry for misspeaking. It’s not weak, obviously. But it’s far from a weapon. If he had Federer’s serve, for instance, he would literally be unbeatable.

Nadal would be unbeatable with Fed's serve too. As Djokovic is.
Djokovic would also be unbeatable with Fed's forehand.

However with one shot from someone else, the rest of your game changes too.
If Novak had Fed's serve his ground game would have been far more offensive. So it's hard to look at one shot in isolation.

I mean give Nadal the ROS of Novak and Nadal gets unbeatable. But then Nadal's court position would have been different and it changes other things.

 

[zagor]

Who's this lady singing? I wasn't following?

 

[StrongRule]

And yet you'll still predict a straight set win for the Greek the next time he's in Rafa's draw.

This is because current Nadal is very bad, not because Tsitsipas is good or something. Prime Nadal would destroy any version of Tsitsipas.

 

[zagor]

Djokovic didn't "survive" though. Monfils brought another pathetic choke. I mean, how is it possible to lose when you lead 6-2 3-1 in a match, then 6-3 in the tiebreak with 2 matchpoints on serve? Djokovic got another undeserved title.

Such is life, Clarky.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Djokovic didn't "survive" though. Monfils brought another pathetic choke. I mean, how is it possible to lose when you lead 6-2 3-1 in a match, then 6-3 in the tiebreak with 2 matchpoints on serve? Djokovic got another undeserved title.

That is surviving

 

[RF-18]

Sorry for misspeaking. It’s not weak, obviously. But it’s far from a weapon. If he had Federer’s serve, for instance, he would literally be unbeatable.

His serve is a weapon IMO.

 

[Mkiske]

Djoking rules!
The streaks continues.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Djokovic didn't "survive" though. Monfils brought another pathetic choke. I mean, how is it possible to lose when you lead 6-2 3-1 in a match, then 6-3 in the tiebreak with 2 matchpoints on serve? Djokovic got another undeserved title.

I can taste your tears from here SR and oh boy are they bitter!

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Cmon Novak start belly dancing! xD

 

[rUDin 21]

His favourite score 6-3 6-4, I already knew after the first set that the second will be 6-4.

 

[Hitman]

So have Djokovic beaten all of the younger generation in his last couple of encounters with them?

Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Thiem, Khachanov, Shapovalov....any others?