2022 Rome QF: [1] Novak Djokovic vs Félix Auger-Aliassime [8]

The outcome?


  • Total voters
    43
  • Poll closed .

wangs78

Legend
FAA seems really bad at point construction. The guy has the power, speed, consistency and a good enough slice to win more points from the baseline on his own terms. But time and again, Novak just yo-yo'd him around. Alcaraz and Shapo are waaaay better at ending points (although Shapo also self destructs a lot). FAA just seems to just want to rally and play defense out there.
 
T

TheNachoMan

Guest
Good match and what a dominant tiebreak!

I still doubt Djokovic beats Ruud and Tsitsipas back to back. The schedule is not favorable to him and too much choking when serving out sets.
Not worried about Ruud or Sissypas really. It’s Z who can beat him.
Maybe I’m wrong.
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Lol, the amount of respect I gained (and subsequently lost) for Felix tonight is basically a sine curve. Up and down and up and down.

Still comes out with his head held high for me though, that was definitely better than I expected from him.
 

Gt86

Professional
Good match and what a dominant tiebreak!

I still doubt Djokovic beats Ruud and Tsitsipas back to back. The schedule is not favorable to him and too much choking when serving out sets.
Not sure Novak needs to be leaving it all out there now given the clueless scheduling yet again.
I think he is primed and good to go.
 

ACE of Hearts

Bionic Poster
FAA seems really bad at point construction. The guy has the power, speed, consistency and a good enough slice to win more points from the baseline on his own terms. But time and again, Novak just yo-yo'd him around. Alcaraz and Shapo are waaaay better at ending points. FAA just seems to just want to rally out there.

Reminds me of a young gael monfils minus the muscle. Not aggressive. Passive.
 

TheAssassin

G.O.A.T.
All bets are off for the remainder of Rome. Other guys are no pushovers. And I feel like he needs to move up one more gear if he wants to achieve his goal at Roland Garros. But this is encouraging no doubts about it. There is that stunning thrill of competing again, and that's all you can ask for right now.
 

Gt86

Professional
Lol, the amount of respect I gained (and subsequently lost) for Felix tonight is basically a sine curve. Up and down and up and down.

Still comes out with his head held high for me though, that was definitely better than I expected from him.
Faa at Wimbledon could be a story in making. Just a hunch.
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
Felix will be a force on grass maybe this year itself, that serve and his forehand will be amazing. If he can stretch Djokovic on clay like this then on grass for which his game suits to the T it will be a match to savour
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Tsitsipas would give this Djokovic a very good match right now.

He's not in totally amazing form, but his serve+FH are looking back to where they were a year ago and he has gotten a little smarter at using slice and touch shots.

Depends on how long their respective SFs go but that one would be close to a toss-up for me right now. Tsitsipas is a great player on clay.
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
Tsitsipas would give this Djokovic a very good match right now.

He's not in totally amazing form, but his serve+FH are looking back to where they were a year ago and he has gotten a little smarter at using slice and touch shots.

Depends on how long their respective SFs go but that one would be close to a toss-up for me right now. Tsitsipas is a great player on clay.
Tsitsipas is so mentally weak, it isn't even funny. He will never beat Djokovic on clay.
 

Gt86

Professional
Tsitsipas would give this Djokovic a very good match right now.

He's not in totally amazing form, but his serve+FH are looking back to where they were a year ago and he has gotten a little smarter at using slice and touch shots.

Depends on how long their respective SFs go but that one would be close to a toss-up for me right now. Tsitsipas is a great player on clay.
You know I think RG could be one of Tsitsipas Or Alcaraz. Is it me or does it look like Tsitidipas has been building all the last 12 months to rectify last year.
That Dimitrov match could be a career changer. Just felt big watching it how he kept calm and saved those MPs.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
FAA seems really bad at point construction. The guy has the power, speed, consistency and a good enough slice to win more points from the baseline on his own terms. But time and again, Novak just yo-yo'd him around. Alcaraz and Shapo are waaaay better at ending points (although Shapo also self destructs a lot). FAA just seems to just want to rally and play defense out there.
Basically correct. But Shapo is probably even worse at point construction.
 

Tiki-Taka

Semi-Pro
Such an entertaining second set. Both guys giving it their all. Novak has his lapses but recovers so quickly and brilliantly. Felix never stood a chance in the tiebreak.

Not like there was any doubt it would happen, but he is definitely back.
 

Bubcay

Legend
I think we just have to accept and expect mid match brainfarts from now on. Certainly in best of three format at least. The improvement is there though and that's great news with the Slams just around the corner.
I just hope that those brainfarts won't be costly for Novak... He is definitely on the right path and looks miles better than just a few weeks ago..
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
I think we just have to accept and expect mid match brainfarts from now on. Certainly in best of three format at least. The improvement is there though and that's great news with the Slams just around the corner.

Yea this is true. At least the level is miles better than where it was in Monte Carlo. We'll take the brainfarts and all as long as he's not playng at that level anymore. Lol.
 

Pandaman

Semi-Pro
I think we just have to accept and expect mid match brainfarts from now on. Certainly in best of three format at least. The improvement is there though and that's great news with the Slams just around the corner.
Yep. People are forgetting he was doing this a lot last year while serving for sets, matches, or in tiebreakers with match points...I was complaining a lot about it. Sissy in '20 Paris, Berry in '21 Paris, Nadal 3rd set Paris '21, Fritz in '21 Rome, Berry at '21 Wimby.... Just part of age. As much as want to believe so, he's not the same player he was in his 20s or early 30s. Still a boss, though
 
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Visionary

Hall of Fame
FAA seems really bad at point construction. The guy has the power, speed, consistency and a good enough slice to win more points from the baseline on his own terms.
This has been my point as well. He seems to "construct" and "construct" when he's already supposed to start hitting it. Perhaps, he lacks confidence to get that ball well in the corner. Anyhow, Felix ends up running and defending when his opponents cannot wait "constructing" anymore.
 

maratha_warrior

Hall of Fame
When the tour resumes to normalcy and there are no Vaccination restrictions , Young guys will want to become number One and 35+ aged Djokovic will make it too difficult for them to become number one or maintain their number 1 ranking .

Greatest Number One for a reason and one of the greatest athletes ever.
 
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