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

[Nadal15thslam]

Nole will win this, but I'll be shocked if the next opponent he plays can't take him out. Everyone left in the draw is a better player than Novak currently, especially on clay

No. Tsitsipas maybe has a small chance but that's it.

 

[InsideOut900]

Actually a good match going on right here tbh

Was expecting the usual FAA muggery, now it’s just FAA muggery mixed with good stuff from FAA

I honestly change my opinion of this match like every 5 secs. Great shots, followed with some of the muggiest misses

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Felix held his own - good effort from him. Nole slowly inching back to his levels.

 

[LetWinner]

For some reason, I thought FAA's BH was better.

It’s SO bad. Everytime he has to hit a BH the point is basically lost. If he had any semblance of a BH this would be a really close match

 

[Indigo]

In contrast to some earlier tournaments this year, Novak is literally destroying the ball right now. The strength of his punches is comparable if not better to his golden days. Ok, there are some stupid mistakes which if not removed now could cause him trouble at deciding matches at RG. I expect him to simply storm RG and play in the finals there with Alcaraz. Let the better man take the King of clay title.

 

[guanzishou]

Gee that's a huge flag,

 

[Mark-Touch]

I feel like FAA is the kind of guy that's going to have one or two great runs at slam level where he's striking the ball phenomenally well and everything is going his way at some point in his career, but it doesn't really look like he has the minerals or the consistency to be a top 3 mainstay. It's a shame because he has a lot of the tools and the physicality but is really lacking technically in a few departments.

It's not just the technical aspect.
His biggest drawbacks are his rather poor point construction (tennis IQ) and stroke consistency.
It's difficult to increase tennis IQ. That's something you're usually born with.
His ball-bashing compatriot has the same problems.

 

[RF-18]

Djoko will choke. I can't see how he can win this when he misses a sitter like that. Congrats to FAA on an amazing win.

 

[Mivic]

Lolwot? How is Foolix capable of striking the ball 'phenomenally well' over a single match let alone a whole tournament? He didn't need that to make a slam SF and almost make another, lol.

I see it coming together briefly for him at some point in his career. A lot of the physical tools are there. He certainly has higher upside than a guy like Medvedev, absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. If his game clicks he definitely has the ability to win a slam in this era. Basically all I'm saying is he's more in the Cilic mould than anything else, which is contrary to what a log of pundits were predicting for him a year or two back.

 

[Bubcay]

Yeah, Djokovic isn’t a fancy shot maker like Wawrinka but he absolutely smothers you with depth. A great example is the 2021 AO final.

Djokovic is like Nkola Jokic in the NBA, often does not have a flashy game, but still an MVP. Efficiency, skills and massive IQ...

 

[The Guru]

CASPER F-ING RUUD is better than Novak??????????

Djokovic is also an awful matchup for Ruud.

 

[TheAssassin]

My man is ascending once more...

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Carlos Alcaraz is hyped to the moon.

Meanwhile Djokovic wins FO and Wimb: Am I a joke to you?

and you think that’s good that these geezers are still bagging slams lol against these mugsters!!!!

 

[Third Serve]

Djoko will choke. I can't see how he can win this when he misses a sitter like that. Congrats to FAA on an amazing win.

jesus h christ…

 

[Ralph]

If FAA’s backhand was like 10% better he’d win this. It’s just so awful. He can’t do ANYTHING with it

Apart from reach no.9 in the world.

 

[LeungD]

I see it coming together briefly for him at some point in his career. A lot of the physical tools are there. He certainly has higher upside than a guy like Medvedev, absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. If his game clicks he definitely has the ability to win a slam in this era.

Comedy.

 

[Bubcay]

Really? He can’t keep up with novak‘s consistency especially on the serve. That has been his problem.

Still playing well. Djokovic is just playing better.

 

[ojo rojo]

Novak putting the children to bed.
I will update this to an Alcaraz version for RG

 

[mike danny]

Wimb probably. FO probably not

His chances are pretty high. I feel his chances are better now than they were this time last year.

 

[TheAssassin]

Novak putting the children to bed.
I will update this to an Alcaraz version for RG

Take all my money and teach me this art lol...

 

[RF-18]

Close this out

 

[ffw2]

Novak putting the children to bed.
I will update this to an Alcaraz version for RG

Skip Alcaraz. Need one of these for Willem Dafoe.

 

[flyingboris]

Their first meeting!

A belated "thank you for getting the order of the poll right!"

 

[LeungD]

FINISH HIM!!!

 

[mike danny]

Take all my money and teach me this art lol...

@ojo rojo is Fed

 

[TennisFan3]

Novak is so winning RG 2022.
He ALREADY looks in IMPERIOUS form.
In RG 2022 he will be 3x better.

Novak's GREATEST threat - Nadal -is injured. #21, #3 F.O coming up.

 

[LetWinner]

Apart from reach no.9 in the world.

Man you know what I mean. His backhand exists purely to put the ball back in play. He can’t inject pace on it with any sort of accuracy or angle it well, and thus anytime he hits a backhand he can’t dictate the point. He just has to hope Nole plays it back to his forehand or hits an error.

You don’t need an even decent backhand to make the top 10. Look at Berretini

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

I see it coming together briefly for him at some point in his career. A lot of the physical tools are there. He certainly has higher upside than a guy like Medvedev, absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. If his game clicks he definitely has the ability to win a slam in this era. Basically all I'm saying is he's more in the Cilic mould than anything else, which is contrary to what a log of pundits were predicting for him a year or two back.

FAA is a puny spinbot compared to Cilic and his mighty peak missiles...

 

[ACE of Hearts]

His chances are pretty high. I feel his chances are better now than they were this time last year.

Anybody’s chances are high with the current field. Nadal being injured. Federer on a rocking chair etc.

 

[RF-18]

jesus h christ…

@StrongRule

 

[Beerus]

Take all my money and teach me this art lol...

Surpassed Nuclear.

 

[Noleberic123]

His chances are pretty high. I feel his chances are better now than they were this time last year.

Hmm maybe. Nadal was better last year

 

[Third Serve]

me whenever FAA hits a BH:

 

[mike danny]

Apart from reach no.9 in the world.

I mean, FAA has made the top 10 thanks to his other qualities, not his BH.

 

[LeungD]

Novak: watch this... I'll hit to his FH and he'll hit an UE

Felix: you're welcome!

 

[Kralingen]

Anybody’s chances are high with the current field. Nadal being injured. Federer on a rocking chair etc.

Fed hasn't been close to a threat on clay for over a decade though, tbh.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

You don’t need an even decent backhand to make the top 10.

Funny how true that is if 'decent' is taken to mean 'capable of attacking'. Oh tennis.

 

[TheAssassin]

@ojo rojo is Fed

Knowing Fed has a goofy side it's not unimaginable that he might use his spare time like this...

 

[tudwell]

One more game for 370 weeks at #1. I think.

Biggest match of Djokovic's career.

 

[Mivic]

FAA is a puny spinbot compared to Cilic and his mighty peak missiles...

This era's version.

 

[onyxrose81]

Djokovic to serve it out…welp. Let’s see how this goes.

 

[mike danny]

Hmm maybe. Nadal was better last year

Exactly. With Nadal's form being an uncertainty, don't know who to put above Djokovic.

Alcaraz is still unproven in BO5 to an extent and he's only 19 and I've seen what the Next Gen can do.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Fed hasn't been close to a threat on clay for over a decade though, tbh.

2015 Fred would've been in the mix today lol.

 

[Bubcay]

Djokovic will have to serve this out..

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Fed hasn't been close to a threat on clay for over a decade though, tbh.

Well i am talking in general. This current field is like that.

 

[LeungD]

40-15 quality of FH approach shot there...

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

This era's version.

If these mugs let FAA win a slam, post-covid tennis results should be officially voided o:O

 

[Kralingen]

I swear Djokovic is doing this intentionally. No other explanation for him to play stupid shots like this when serving out the match.

He has FAA on a string in rallies if he wants to but decides to try ridiculous drop shots lol.

 

[mike danny]

Fed hasn't been close to a threat on clay for over a decade though, tbh.

2012 and 2015 Fred would've beaten the Next Gen at RG and I'm not even joking.

 

[Indigo]

Novak should be whipped 20 times by Goran every time he tries another drop shot.