2021 US Open SF: [1] Novak Djokovic vs. [4] Alexander Zverev

[UnforcedTerror]

I'm not really sure anymore what's going to happen in this match but I'd still take the field over Djokovic.

I just don't believe he can get through Berrettini, Zed and Mad back to back to back. Seems like mission impossible but if there was one man who can do it, it's Djokovic.

Zverev needs his serve, Djokovic needs both his serve AND return.

Vote and discuss.

 

[TennisFan3]

Novak in STRAIGHTS.

 

[Cortana]

I'm more confident now. 26/28, what an amazing year for Djokovic!

 

[Jokervich]

Djokovic in 4. The last 3 sets against Berrettini gave me confidence.

 

[kishnabe]

Zeverev will expose the Avocado in 3.

 

[SteffiGoat]

Zverev in 4!

 

[ChrisRF]

I just don't believe he can get through Berrettini, Zed and Mad back to back to back. Seems like mission impossible but if there was one man who can do it, it's Djokovic

Well, no need to exaggerate. Djokovic is the overwhelming favourite against any of them, and only Zverev is a potential challenge from now on. But then again, this is the same guy who never beat a Top 10 player in a Slam.

 

[James P]

A selfish part of me, and I'm not meming, wants Djokovic to win this match at this point. If Medvedev is going to get the title, he should have to beat Novak. I do think Novak beats Zverev, but I'm not as confident in that as some are in here.

 

[BGod]

Novak in 4 again, why expect straights if this shtick is working for him?

 

[TennisFan3]

A selfish part of me, and I'm not meming, wants Djokovic to win this match at this point. If Medvedev is going to get the title, he should have to beat Novak. I do think Novak beats Zverev, but I'm not as confident in that as some are in here.

If you want Med to win, you better hope that Novak does not get to the final.
No one gets their first slam final win by beating a 20 slam winner the putative GOAT.

And I don't know what it would do to Med to lose a 3rd straight slam final.

 

[tudwell]

Novak in 4, probably. Maybe straights if he comes out swinging, maybe 5 if he’s really off, but one way or the other, he’s winning.

 

[RG GOD]

Zverev has a very good BH and a monstrous serve.
I think that he will beat Djokovic that keeps losing sets in every match.

 

[TennisFan3]

Zverev in 4!

It's touching to see your faith in a player who has a pi$$ poor record in slams vs top 10.

 

[James P]

If you want Med to win, you better hope that Novak does not get to the final.
No one gets their first slam final win by beating a 20 slam winner the putative GOAT.

And I don't know what it would do to Med to lose a 3rd straight slam final.

Nope, he's gonna have to go through Novak as Serbian pyramid religion demands.

 

[FedrMatt]

Going with Zverev in 4

Olympics 2.0

 

[Kralingen]

Zverev will punish anything but Djokovic’s high level ground game and serving. I really have never seen him in better form. Proving the Olympics was no fluke.

Match will come down to BPs, both will get opportunities to take control of the set and I do think the big moments favor Novak.

however Zverev is not going to fall apart like Berrettini or Brooksby did in the 3rd set. He has stamina and impressive power.

Zverev in 4 if we see UE hitting crap Djokovic, Djokovic in 4/5 otherwise.

 

[Midaso240]

If you want Med to win, you better hope that Novak does not get to the final.
No one gets their first slam final win by beating a 20 slam winner the putative GOAT.

And I don't know what it would do to Med to lose a 3rd straight slam final.

Records are made to be broken, Safin and Hewitt beat Sampras in their first grand slam finals. It doesn't mean they're better players overall, just on the day

 

[TennisFan3]

Records are made to be broken, Safin and Hewitt beat Sampras in their first grand slam finals. It doesn't mean they're better players overall, just on the day

They beat a declining Sampras on his last legs.
This is peak Novak. And he had trounced Med in Straights before.
I'm actually worried for Medvedev. Another beat down in a final may permanently destroy him mentally. It's happened to a lot of players.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Can’t believe anyone is voting for Zverev. It doesn’t matter that he’s supposedly in such “awesome form,” he’s a choker who couldn’t beat Djoker in BO5 if his life depended on it.

 

[duaneeo]

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Zverev in advance of his win over Nole, and for doing in 2021 what his sorry contemporaries couldn't do.

 

[TennisFan3]

Can’t believe anyone is voting for Zverev. It doesn’t matter that he’s supposedly in such “awesome form,” he’s a choker who couldn’t beat Djoker in BO5 if his life depended on it.

Read this article by Tignor. Says everything about Zverev

Alexander Zverev won his 16th successive match, but were the signs all good for his potential US Open semifinal with Djokovic? | Tennis.com

“The match was a little bit strange,” the Olympic champion admitted after advancing past Lloyd Harris, 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-4, on Wednesday at Flushing Meadows.

www.tennis.com

In other ways that don’t show up in the stats, though, this match may have been worrying for Zverev

In the commentator’s booth, Jimmy Arias talked about Zverev’s psychology, which is unusually up-and-down for a top player, especially one on a 15-match win streak.

Everyone feels tension, of course, but Zverev is affected by it in obvious ways. He decelerates on his second serve, as well as on his forehand, and he did both when he had to close out the last two sets today.

If Zverev does play Djokovic on Friday, and he builds an early lead, will his serve-and-forehand woes reappear?

 

[fundrazer]

I believe in Zverev and his diamond hard abs.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

Street was raised to hate Eastern Europe.

Nobody tell the Joker Brigade.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Street was raised to hate Eastern Europe.

Nobody tell the Joker Brigade.

Then why does he go by Sascha instead of Alex.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Come on Big Z it's your f*cking time right now, Zverev in 4 or 5

 

[DIMI_D]

Zedzilla in 4-5 put your bets in

 

[Bubcay]

If Djokovic plays like in the last three sets against Berrettini, he will win. That was some seriously good tennis. I still feel that Zverev won in Tokyo just because Djokovic was completely exhausted due to his silly singles/doubles schedule and merciless Tokyo heat/humidity. He looks really clutch and in really good physical shape here. And the weather is ideal.

 

[DIMI_D]

Med vs Zed finale

 

[roysid]

Zverev needs to be up there physically, skillwise and mentally with Djoker in a 5 set match.
Thats what required to win

 

[Raul_SJ]

Everyone feels tension, of course, but Zverev is affected by it in obvious ways. He decelerates on his second serve, as well as on his forehand, and he did both when he had to close out the last two sets today.

Zed used to serve 130mph on first and ridiculously slow on second. He has not fixed that problem yet? Will our Djoker feast on his second serves?

 

[Midaso240]

They beat a declining Sampras on his last legs.
This is peak Novak. And he had trounced Med in Straights before.
I'm actually worried for Medvedev. Another beat down in a final may permanently destroy him mentally. It's happened to a lot of players.

We don't know when the decline for Djokovic starts though, you could turn it around and say well if Djokovic loses to Zverev (Or Medvedev, and remember Medvedev smoked him the last time they played on a really fast court) then maybe Djokovic will be mentally fried against Zverev now. And that version of Sampras was still good enough to win the 2002 USO and then retire, the ultimate mic drop.

 

[Red Rick]

A selfish part of me, and I'm not meming, wants Djokovic to win this match at this point. If Medvedev is going to get the title, he should have to beat Novak. I do think Novak beats Zverev, but I'm not as confident in that as some are in here.

I thought that if Botic wins it he should do it vs Novak too

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Pls zebra pls , u must win

 

[The Green Mile]

I do give Zverev a decent chance, something like 65-35 or 70-30 for Novak.

 

[McGradey]

Physically, game-wise, Zverev has a great chance here. He's in outstanding form and is riding a wave of confidence supported by Olympic gold and a memorable victory over Djokovic.

But mentally, Zverev will not be able to withstand the pressure of playing Djokovic in a 5-er, once again. We saw how he crumbled in last year's USO final—even with total control and a two-set lead, and that was against Thiem who is one of the most nervous players of all time. That will be in the back of Zverev's mind, and it will be exacerbated by seeing Djokovic across the net. At some point, Djokovic will get that 'not happening' look in his eyes, and Zverev will fold.

And remember how that Olympic win happened. Zverev was getting beaten down by Djokovic who then completely shat the bed, for some reason. That won't happen here.

 

[MurraysMetalHip]

First time I have ever wanted Zverev to win a match.

 

[Rozroz]

First time I have ever wanted Zverev to win a match.

i will never want him to win a match...
what made this your 1st time?

 

[Wesling]

Djokovic is gonna attack the second serves and that suspect forehand deep - I dont think zverev is able to cope.

 

[Stercules]

Zverev in 3 or 4 unless his back is a serious issue. He is the better player right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a mental lapse but I wouldn’t predict that with how he is serving now. Djokovic looked amazing in sets 2-4 tonight but he was also playing someone without a serious backhand. That’s different with Sascha. I’m super excited for this match though feels like this is the final (although I know Medvedev would have something to say about that).

 

[Krish0608]

First time I have ever wanted Zverev to win a match.

ABZ forever in my case. I won't actively root for Novak, but I will actively root for Zverev to lose.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Djokovic played great sets against Berrettini, however Zed's movement and BH are LEAGUES above the Italian, not even in the same world.
Anyway, I don't care who wins between the four guys left really, I just want three great matches to end an entertaining tournament.

 

[Bubcay]

Physically, game-wise, Zverev has a great chance here. He's in outstanding form and is riding a wave of confidence supported by Olympic gold and a memorable victory over Djokovic.

But mentally, Zverev will not be able to withstand the pressure of playing Djokovic in a 5-er, once again. We saw how he crumbled in last year's USO final—even with total control and a two-set lead, and that was against Thiem who is one of the most nervous players of all time. That will be in the back of Zverev's mind, and it will be exacerbated by seeing Djokovic across the net. At some point, Djokovic will get that 'not happening' look in his eyes, and Zverev will fold.

And remember how that Olympic win happened. Zverev was getting beaten down by Djokovic who then completely shat the bed, for some reason. That won't happen here.

He shat the bed due to being completely exhausted by a stupid schedule of singles/doubles matches back to back and Tokyo sun/humidity. He won't do this here.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I am predicting Zverev will win in 4 or 5 sets. I think he will be up to the challenge. I have felt since the draw came out two weeks ago that the final would be Medvedev vs. Zverev. That is a final I would look forward to with great interest!

 

[junior74]

First I take Zedraffe's legs
Then I take his soul

 

[Stercules]

He shat the bed due to being completely exhausted by a stupid schedule of singles/doubles matches back to back and Tokyo sun/humidity. He won't do this here.

It’s not exactly cold in NYC right now though? And Djokovic looked good in the lead up to the match vs Zverev in the Olympics as well until he didn’t

 

[Jack the Hack]

I know it's sports, so anything can happen... but...

Zverev has never beaten Djokovic in a best of 5 set match and he is 0-10 verses top 10 ranked players in Slams.

 

[Bubcay]

It’s not exactly cold in NYC right now though? And Djokovic looked good in the lead up to the match vs Zverev in the Olympics as well until he didn’t

It's not cold but it is nowhere near the heat/humidity that day. Plus the nighttime slots he is playing here compared to mid-day in Tokyo.

 

[Jack the Hack]

It’s not exactly cold in NYC right now though? And Djokovic looked good in the lead up to the match vs Zverev in the Olympics as well until he didn’t

It's predicted to be high 70s and low 80s with humidity in the 55% range for the remainder of the tournament. That's almost perfect weather.

In contrast, at the Olympics, it was in the mid 90s with humidity levels in the high 80s and low 90s, with almost no wind. Some players complained that it was "brutal" conditions for tennis and had heat related issues. As a result, they even had to change the schedule to move matches into the evening instead of midday.

Plus, at the Olympics, Djokovic had no break days between matches because he was playing mixed doubles as well as singles, so there was no downtime for recovery, unlike at the US Open, where he has at least 1 day break between matches.

And finally, at the US Open, his wife is with him, so he's not out at night trying to chase down some strange... (just kidding)

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Zverev in straights!

 

[Nadal_King]

For tennis this is a huge match, if it's biggest prospect for future when in top shape on a 16 match win streak cannot beat a 34-35 year guy who although is too good but well off his prime which was GOAT level it's really a sad thing for tennis. Murray after lifting gold in 2012 defeated Djokovic at us open if Zverev couldn't do it does it mean tennis hasn't even found a player of calibre of Andy murray let alone Big 3