I also predict at least 10 DF's from Zverev as the pressure gets to him. In any case, Zverev has about a 5% chance and then only if Djokovic sustains a serious injury. But even hobbling on crutches he'd beat Zverev in any BO5 match.LOL AZ has 2 chances, slim and none. Djoker in 3 easy sets.
considering how bad he choked in the Final last year against Thiem, I'd give him 2% chance max, expect lots of 65 mph second serve DF's indeed.I also predict at least 10 DF's from Zverev as the pressure gets to him. In any case, Zverev has about a 5% chance and then only if Djokovic sustains a serious injury. But even hobbling on crutches he'd beat Zverev in any BO5 match.
Serious question: name one thing Medvedev does better than Djokovic. ONE thing. Djokovic has the superior serve percentages and accuracy, better movement by far, mental strength of a beast, better BH, better volleys (the 3 times per match he comes forward) and better everything. He's the more experienced player by far on the big stage and the better player in every conceivable category.I don’t think Zverev can beat Djokovic, but I think he can soften him enough for Medvedev to make the kill.
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.
I think Medvedev have a better serve when zoning and his "Simon times 10" wonky backboard game can probably frustrate Djoko on fast hardcourt.Serious question: name one thing Medvedev does better than Djokovic. ONE thing. Djokovic has the superior serve percentages and accuracy, better movement by far, mental strength of a beast, better BH, better volleys (the 3 times per match he comes forward) and better everything. He's the more experienced player by far on the big stage and the better player in every conceivable category.
How can anyone honestly pick Med? It's like picking Tiafoe over Nadal in an RG final.
I checked the stats of all 4 players in the semis and Zverev and Medvedev have the best stats. If the Zverev that shows up is the one who played against Ramos-Vinalos this will be a 3 set win for him. Still, he has been consistently hitting 68% and 69% first serves - 80% in the Ramos-Vinolas match - getting huge numbers of serves in, facing few break points, dropping only one set - anyone who thinks he has no or little chance is deluded.
Serious question: name one thing Medvedev does better than Djokovic. ONE thing. Djokovic has the superior serve percentages and accuracy, better movement by far, mental strength of a beast, better BH, better volleys (the 3 times per match he comes forward) and better everything. He's the more experienced player by far on the big stage and the better player in every conceivable category.
How can anyone honestly pick Med? It's like picking Tiafoe over Nadal in an RG final.
Novak's 120 MPH serve lands in most of the time. Med foolishly goes for 133 MPH bombs (like Berrettini) and gets them in 15% of the time. Give me Djokovic's reliable, accurate serve any day of the week. Djokovic also is a great pressure server whereas Mad Lad is decidedly not.I think Medvedev have a better serve when zoning
Great... how many times in a match is Medvedev or Djoker compelled to hit an overhead? He's scarcely at the net unless to retrieve a drop shot, so no overheads are necessary.Daniil has a better overhead smash than Novak!
I checked the stats of all 4 players in the semis and Zverev and Medvedev have the best stats. If the Zverev that shows up is the one who played against Ramos-Vinalos this will be a 3 set win for him. Still, he has been consistently hitting 68% and 69% first serves - 80% in the Ramos-Vinolas match - getting huge numbers of serves in, facing few break points, dropping only one set - anyone who thinks he has no or little chance is deluded.
Perhaps - it is always true that the better the player you are playing the more there is a possibility of your stats from the earlier rounds will go down, but that's the same for both players when both are at the top of their game.i'm a little confused..
if Novak returns far better and getting balls back, wouldn't that lower Zverev's stats? even if Zverev serves and plays great, Novak will lower those numbers anyhow..
no?
It's not new. Davydenko and Nalbandian were the same. Davydenko even talked about it. Won masters and WTF but couldn't break through in slams.Zverev is 24. He is a slam finalist, and was a couple (?) of service holds from the trophy, and this is his fourth slam semi. He has several 1000 titles, first won back in 2017 and most recently a few weeks back. He is a WTF champion. He has an Olympic Gold. He has beaten Djokovic 3 times and lost 6. Those wins have been in an ATP 1000 final, the WTF final and the Olympics. Not too shabby.
Yet, Zverev has NEVER beaten a top ten player in slams.
Fact is Zverev does not know how to win in five sets versus players of his status. We know he can beat Djokovic. We know he has a slam winning game. Yet, his five set ability- to win three sets for crying out loud- versus top tenners is non existent.
It can only change. But even then, for now, there is something SERIOUSLY wrong in mens' tennis when its supposed greatest prospect cannot beat players he matches up decently against over five sets. Especially when five set tennis is said to be the pinnacle of the game.
What is the tour supposed to be getting these guys ready for? A round of uno in the locker room while they caress their runner up plates?
Perhaps - it is always true that the better the player you are playing the more there is a possibility of your stats from the earlier rounds will go down, but that's the same for both players when both are at the top of their game.
LOL, because at the time Federer was in his mid-30s, right?It's not new. Davydenko and Nalbandian were the same. Davydenko even talked about it. Won masters and WTF but couldn't break through in slams.
But hey, guess what, it was not interpreted as "what's wrong with the tour" then, it was all about "Federer is such a genius"
What's that called again? Oh yeah. Double standards.
This is not about age but about the fact that some players are much better in best of 3 than in best of 5 (or vice versa ) and that has always existed. It's not a new phenomenon.LOL, because at the time Federer was in his mid-30s, right?
Zverev’s back is fine, I have no clue what you people are on about with the back stuff
Zverev’s back is fine, I have no clue what you people are on about with the back stuff
7pm local timeWhen do they start the match?
It's not new. Davydenko and Nalbandian were the same. Davydenko even talked about it. Won masters and WTF but couldn't break through in slams.
But hey, guess what, it was not interpreted as "what's wrong with the tour" then, it was all about "Federer is such a genius"
What's that called again? Oh yeah. Double standards.
Zverev is playing WORSE than he was in the AO. And UsOpen surface suits Novak's game better. Zverev liked faster and lower bouncing AO surface.Zverev is the only player who can beat Novak at this USO. I've known it from the start, which is why I was not happy with Novak's draw even though everybody said it was easy.
Because the only thing relevant in terms of Novak's draw was to avoid Zverev for as long as possible (meaning having Zverev in the other half of the draw).
Now saying Zverev "can" doesn't mean that he will, especially in a best of 5, I still have Djoko as the favorite, but the AO match was quite tight and it was obvious to anyone who watched it
that it could very easily have turned out differently.
Thiem was 27 when he won his slam title.Yes, Nalbandian was a disappointment for me in a way. I found him very likeable so there was some bias of my 'tolerance' of it.
I get your point about double standards. However, I don't think then and now is exactly comparable. For one thing, my point is more about the generation now, of which Zverev, aged 24 is part of, if we accept that aged 23-27 is a time the best players should be winning slams. But Zverev is not breaking through. I think Federer was the generation now in the days of Davydenko and Nalbandian. Also, Federer was not alone. He had Nadal who was bettering him at Roland Garros, pushing him in Wimbledon finals.
So, I still think there is a point to be made about what is wrong with the tour. No one under 28 has a slam title, and there is just one guy under 30. You see no problem here?
We disagree. Medvedev can win in the final as well as Zverev in the semi-final.Zverev is the only player who can beat Novak at this USO. I've known it from the start, which is why I was not happy with Novak's draw even though everybody said it was easy.
Because the only thing relevant in terms of Novak's draw was to avoid Zverev for as long as possible (meaning having Zverev in the other half of the draw).
Now saying Zverev "can" doesn't mean that he will, especially in a best of 5, I still have Djoko as the favorite, but the AO match was quite tight and it was obvious to anyone who watched it
that it could very easily have turned out differently.
I don't see it personally. Everything's possible in tennis of course but we've already witnessed at AO how much harder it is for Djoko to defeat Zverev than Medvedev.We disagree. Medvedev can win in the final as well as Zverev in the semi-final.
is that Carlos Alcaraz on the right?
Thiem was 27 when he won his slam title.
Cilic won 1 too. What I see is that the big 3 (or 4) are crushing the rest of the tour in slams. That's not a matter of age, that's about how exceptional those players are . It's also about progress in maintaining players ultra fit for longer. When they retire, you'll see lots of different players winning slam titles lol (and probably more the younger ones, they're the ones reaching the latest stages right now, if you've been paying attention. The older players other than big 3 are not: ie Medvedev #2, FAA in USO semi, Tsitsi in RG final, Zverev gold medal)
ETA: I should really say big 2 at this point with Fed turning 40
It's not the same Medvedev. Everyone has a bad final once in a while. Djokovic has been slaughtered in several finals, and Rafa and Roger have too. It's rare but it happens. Medvedev is playing at a much higher level right now and is playing great tennis in this tournament.I don't see it personally. Everything's possible in tennis of course but we've already witnessed at AO how much harder it is for Djoko to defeat Zverev than Medvedev.
BTW, rinse and repeat, same actors at USO than AO, definitely the 3 best hard court players atm. After that it's a question of matchup.
That is not how tennis works. You don’t break everything down and compare each category. Even if you do, Med is younger. If he doesn’t win Sunday assuming djokovic beats Zverev, he will one day beats djokovic in slams. However, if he does which is like thirty to forty percent according to bookmakers, you will look like a clown on SundaySerious question: name one thing Medvedev does better than Djokovic. ONE thing. Djokovic has the superior serve percentages and accuracy, better movement by far, mental strength of a beast, better BH, better volleys (the 3 times per match he comes forward) and better everything. He's the more experienced player by far on the big stage and the better player in every conceivable category.
How can anyone honestly pick Med? It's like picking Tiafoe over Nadal in an RG final.
I’m trying really hard to, but no lol. Gonna be 0-5,000 soon.Can you imagine Zverev's first top 10 win in a slam coming tomorrow?
I checked the stats of all 4 players in the semis and Zverev and Medvedev have the best stats. If the Zverev that shows up is the one who played against Ramos-Vinalos this will be a 3 set win for him. Still, he has been consistently hitting 68% and 69% first serves - 80% in the Ramos-Vinolas match - getting huge numbers of serves in, facing few break points, dropping only one set - anyone who thinks he has no or little chance is deluded.
Depending on when the match starts, I wonder when the match will end? I am not expecting a long match between Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime (could be wrong, but I am not expecting it), but I think this semi will be a long fierce epic battle (although I hope for an easy win for Zverev, of course).
Zverev is playing WORSE than he was in the AO. And UsOpen surface suits Novak's game better. Zverev liked faster and lower bouncing AO surface.
Also Zverev has back issues constantly here and he might be injured/not in top shape.