2022 ATP Finals SF: [7] Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz [8]

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Even after yesterday's battle I definitely wasn't expecting Novak to look this lacklustre tbh.

I was. He’s 35 and played over 3 hours yesterday. Then back under 24 hours was always a tough ask against someone in their prime.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Djoko needs another bathroom break. He’s flagging at moment.

Or net play.

 

[Hitman]

Even after yesterday's battle I definitely wasn't expecting Novak to look this lacklustre tbh.

I was.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

I was. He’s 35 and played over 3 hours yesterday. Then back under 24 hours was always a tough ask against someone in their prime.

Imagine if he was playing Zverev instead of Fritz.
Would've been a massacre lol.

 

[alexio]

Med probably thought: "If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me".

djoko shoulda been a bit smarter and outplayed meddy kinda..ok, if you think so i will make it like training session instead, only problem djoko didnt do it lol he fell into meddy skillfully set trap

 

[jl809]

I don’t remember Djoker looking this thicc before. Is it just the outfit?

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Djoker and his 2nd set meltdowns.

 

[Mivic]

I was. He’s 35 and played over 3 hours yesterday. Then back under 24 hours was always a tough ask against someone in their prime.

Fritz isn't good though. Novak can win this at 80%. He's not even playing semi decent tennis by his standards rn though.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Djokovic getting too tired too quickly, weird for bo3 indoors. hopefully hes just under the weather otherwise this is concerning for the future

He’s not played much physical long matches this year and it shows a bit. His fitness a slight concern. However, it’s more the scheduling here and he shouldn’t have expended the energy against Meddy.

 

[RF-18]

Now he starts serving well...

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Why can't Fritz make those 20 errors against Nadal?

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Imagine if he was playing Zverev instead of Fritz.
Would've been a massacre lol.

It would have been.

 

[The Guru]

How tf has Fritz broken Novak twice?

 

[junior74]

Djoker and his 2nd set meltdowns.

Novak doesn't care about second sets anymore

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

How tf has Fritz broken Novak twice?

He is a fairly good returner and has never had a problem breaking Novak serve since 2021, the problem for him is to hold his own against the Serb.

 

[InsideOut900]

Fritz isn't good though. Novak can win this at 80%. He's not even playing semi decent tennis by his standards rn though.

He is tired. You can see it in how much he opens his shoulders up during his groundstrokes.

He was a lot more explosive in the first 2 matches and 1st set against Med

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Novak doesn't care about second sets anymore

 

[The Guru]

lol this match sux

 

[jl809]

all these hold to love games suit Djokovic very nicely here

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Fritz is the favourite now if he can handle the pressure. He’s dictating the play. Not sure Djoko has the energy to turn the tide this time.

 

[Carax]

Fritz has been serving great. Will get himself broken when he serves for the set.

 

[InsideOut900]

Fritz is the favourite now if he can handle the pressure. He’s dictating the play. Not sure Djoko has the energy to turn the tide this time.

He holds serve rather easily. Justs needs to not give away free breaks like so far

 

[Mivic]

He is tired. You can see it in how much he opens his shoulders up during his groundstrokes.

He was a lot more explosive in the first 2 matches and 1st set against Med

Yeah well no doubt yesterday's level would have been more than good enough here. As stupid as yesterday's grindfest seemed from an outsider's perspective I honestly still just assumed that Novak knew what he was doing pushing himself to the extent he did yesterday. If he knew his legs would be this dead and there was no chance at semi adequate recovery which it looks like is the case then I thought he'd know better than to push through against Med given what's at stake. He really just needed to be at 80% to win here.

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic has lost every rally in the second set. He needs sleep.

 

[Bubcay]

Awesome BHDTL by Novak..

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Djokovic gets out of a little jam with some timely shots.....still down a break at 3-4.

 

[Kralingen]

Pretty sure Fritz takes this

 

[The Guru]

This is frustrating because this match could've been so easy if not for the let up at 3-2.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Fritz is the favourite now if he can handle the pressure. He’s dictating the play. Not sure Djoko has the energy to turn the tide this time.

How many times does he need that to make you believe?

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

rebreak coming.
0-15.

 

[jl809]

Djoker is still going to break back, Fritz is Le Roi des Mugs

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

0-30.

 

[MeatTornado]

Pretty sure Fritz takes this

Goes down 0-30 as if on cue

 

[jl809]

here we go!

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

0-30....chance for Djokovic perhaps here.

 

[pj80]

Is that the same girl that was in Rublev corner?

 

[alexio]

40-30 already

 

[jl809]

oh **** what a volley from the big man

 

[alexio]

Is that the same girl that was in Rublev corner?

no

 

[roysid]

Oh god. Fritz struggles against Djokovic, even a injured Djokovic

 

[jindra]

Pretty sure Fritz takes this

What's wrong with watching the match and seeing it develop?!

This match is on Djokovic's racquet and that's not gonna change. He's got another level and Fritz doesn't.

 

[Hitman]

Too good from Fritz at the net. What a point!

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Some good serves and timely shots for Fritz - nice net winner there.

 

[rUDin 21]

Fritz's serve bailed him out perfectly so far.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Djoko-weak.

 

[sometennisdot]

Wow Fritz, didn't know he had that in him

 

[Kralingen]

What a save from Fritz!!!

A clutch set of two volleys and he holds from 0-30!

Djokovic is cooked now

 

[TripleATeam]

Damn that ball just died.

 

[junior74]

Good hold from Fritz

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Djokovic trying to do a Federer there.