2022 Belgrade Final: Novak Djokovic [1] vs Andrey Rublev [2]

[NoleFam]

Played a crap service game to relinquish the break.

 

[Bubcay]

Well, another sub par game by Novak.. Rublev breaks and we are back on serve..

 

[RF-18]

Good job Djoko. Way to hand everything back for nothing

 

[Beulah Jesus]

Rublev has come to play...Nole is still rusty.

 

[zagor]

Now Rublev is a mug probably

He's not a mug but he's not much more than "good". Novak is giving him too many balls to attack and making errors when trying to pressure him with depth.

 

[junior74]

Novak doesn't care about first sets anymore

 

[NoleFam]

He's not a mug but he's not much more than "good". Novak is giving him too many balls to attack and making errors when trying to pressure him with depth.

Djokovic's serve is also doing little damage and it didn't help his cause that he missed that absolute sitter in the last game.

 

[Bubcay]

Novak doesn't care about first sets anymore

As long as he cares for the second and third... Not shining at the moment..

 

[Ledigs]

Would love to see rublev get this one.

 

[Bubcay]

He just can't outpace Rublev in a forehand exchange... Don't go there Novak... This is not 2011 or 2015.

 

[Ledigs]

Usually Djokovic’s ground strokes are more precise

 

[zagor]

Novak doesn't care about first sets anymore

Oh he does. I'm sure he's quite annoyed at having a slow start every match because he knows it catches up with you eventually.

 

[Bubcay]

Djokovic holds... 3:2

 

[junior74]

As long as he cares for the second and third... Not shining at the moment..

There was a time when he didn't even care about Masters1000s...

He is in pretty bad form.

 

[Kralingen]

the best jinxer in the game at TTW

Lol, I just say what I’m seeing…

A guy like Djokovic loses a set 6-2 quite infrequently so have to give his opponent props.

I think Djoko was leaving the ball exceptionally short in that set though he’s picking his depth and weight of shot up now.

 

[junior74]

Oh he does. I'm sure he's quite annoyed at having a slow start every match because he knows it catches up with you eventually.

I'm sure you recall the TT meme I alluded to Courtesy of @RF-18 , if memory serves...

 

[Bubcay]

Novak needs to use every opportunity to get his serve in order... He barely gets any free points of it nowadays..

 

[Ledigs]

Nice inside out there

 

[RF-18]

Break dance him now

 

[NoleFam]

I feel like Rublev's level only dipped for 3 games in the beginning of the set and Djokovic should have consolidated that break to stay ahead. He's back playing well now.

 

[Bubcay]

Silly positioning by Djokovic... Very unlike him..

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Cmon Novak force a third set!

 

[Bubcay]

Holds barely... Djokovic leads 5:4

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

UE machine

 

[Bubcay]

Novak needs a break here... Drop shots don't work... You can see them from a mile away

 

[TheNachoMan]

i see Novak started terribly as usual. lol
he needs to address that

 

[Bubcay]

Awesome passing shot by Novak

 

[Checkmate]

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??????????????????????

Ridiculous point

 

[MeatTornado]

Did not expect Rublev to have more aces than Novak

 

[Bubcay]

Wow, great point...

 

[Bubcay]

Did not expect Rublev to have more aces than Novak

Yeah, shows that Djokovic needs to fix his first serve..

 

[Bubcay]

What a miss by Nole..

 

[Kralingen]

What a game this is turning out to be. Point of the match there, I can’t believe Djoko didn’t follow that up for BP.

 

[junior74]

A brilliant FH winner by Rublev; three people applaud

Rublev misses a first serve: 100 people applaud

 

[MeatTornado]

No one able to win 2 points in a row

 

[NoleFam]

i see Novak started terribly as usual. lol
he needs to address that

Tbh, he needed all those sets this week. He's pretty undercooked.

 

[Bubcay]

It's like a see-saw, one great point than a crap one by both players...

 

[TheNachoMan]

I don’t believe Novak has ever lost a Belgrade final. This would be the most heartbreaking loss of his career.

 

[Aabye5]

There was a time when he didn't even care about Masters1000s...

He is in pretty bad form.

It's the title he wants, it's the form to beat Rubles.

 

[Checkmate]

Outhitting Rublev?

 

[junior74]

Bread Nose Djokovic!

 

[MeatTornado]

Total lockdown mode from Novak but somehow not enough. Sliding and grunting on every single shot.

 

[Bubcay]

What a point... Djokovic was getting everywhere, but then run out of gas..

 

[_phantom]

Rublev saved the match point. At least his he thought so, and almost celebrated like that.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

A fight to the death here!

 

[Breakpointerer]

This game is brutal, what a hold

 

[RF-18]

So freaking lucky this bleh guy

 

[Bubcay]

Rublev seems tired... Djokovic needs to keep the pressure... 5 all.. What a hold by Andrey..

 

[Beulah Jesus]

Rublev holding steady...clutch.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Novak never stood a chance against the Mickey Mouse master.