2022 Wimbledon R64: [1] Novak Djokovic vs Thanasi Kokkinakis

Your prediction:

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
Kralingen said:
Novak has actually been enjoyable to watch today. No seriously, he has. Coming to net quite a bit, hitting angled FHs, nice passing shots, throwing in lots of droppers and short slices

If only he played like this all of the time
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He used to do so consistently obviously. Although I like seeing Novak continue to play decent tennis and win at this stage, the problem with dominating at the end of your career with a slightly lower level of play that doesn't really resemble your prime form is that that's the way that people then remember you (unlike a guy like Safin for example who had a really brief peak and is remembered as this mythical beast with unmatched level of play at his best). It's really unfortunate that people honestly think of a guy that beat BOAT level players in Fedal many times playing an extremely proactive brand of tennis as some type of pusher. Obviously part of that is intellectual dishonesty from Fedal fans trying to push a narrative but there are people who genuinely believe that also.
 
Mivic said:
He used to do so consistently obviously. Although I like seeing Novak continue to play decent tennis and win at this stage, the problem with dominating at the end of your career with a lower level of play that doesn't really resemble your prime form is that that's the way that people then remember you (unlike a guy like Safin who had a really brief peak and is remembered as this mythical beast with unmatched level of play at his best). It's really unfortunate that people honestly think of a guy that beat BOAT level players in Fedal many times playing an extremely proactive brand of tennis tennis as a pusher.
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Totally agreed.

I do think that, aside from some high profile matches where he was not aggressive enough, the idea of Novak as pusher is one of the most obvious tells that the person you're speaking to doesn't really understand tennis. And that's OK, people see what they want to see.
 
Grassovic is so much more fun to watch than Clayovic these days when he's feeling it. Shame he played so nervous (or whatever the reason was) last year because I really enjoy watching him when he's playing like this. I just hope he keeps it up.
 
Kralingen said:
Totally agreed.

I do think that, aside from some high profile matches where he was not aggressive enough, the idea of Novak as pusher is one of the most obvious tells that the person you're speaking to doesn't really understand tennis. And that's OK, people see what they want to see.
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Novak is not a pusher but he wins a lot of points by doing exactly that- pushing. That doesn't mean he can't play more aggressive, he just chooses not to.
 
Djokovic is also willing to approach the net and has been quite successful - 23/26 (88%).
 
spongebob.jpg
 
The Green Mile said:
I'm not usually one for early winner predictions, but who seriously beats Novak here? I give Rafa about a 25% chance.
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That's pretty generous given Nadal's performances at Wimbledon.
The current Novak is far better than 2018 Wimbledon Novak. The serve is far better for one and so is the net play.
 
Mivic said:
Grassovic is so much more fun to watch than Clayovic these days when he's feeling it. Shame he played so nervous (or whatever the reason was) last year because I really enjoy watching him when he's playing like this. I just hope he keeps it up.
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He was done physically for the Wimbledon last year imo. Totally without juice. That's why he was struggling in the majority of the long rallies.

The clay season was very very long for him.

2 250s 3 Masters 1000,Most gruelling Grand Slam since AO 2012
 
Mivic said:
Grassovic is so much more fun to watch than Clayovic these days when he's feeling it. Shame he played so nervous (or whatever the reason was) last year because I really enjoy watching him when he's playing like this. I just hope he keeps it up.
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He’s much better than the clay season but he was doing pretty well before QF at RG. Diego maybe had a hand in that given that his form has been very low this year.
 
Does Novak move better on grass than Fed? I know it's crazy to think. Fed is a better grasscourt player vs Novak because of better serve and net play.
However, just from the baseline and movement at the back, I've NEVER seen anyone move like Novak does on grass.
Novak is sauntering out there like it's clay. Even Nadal on grass doesn't move as fluidly.
 
TennisFan3 said:
Does Novak move better on grass than Fed? I know it's crazy to think. Fed is a better grasscourt player vs Novak because of better serve and net play.
However, just from the baseline and movement at the back, I've NEVER seen anyone move like Novak does on grass.
Novak is sauntering out there like it's clay. Even Nadal on grass doesn't move as fluidly.
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Federer clearly better.
 
Kecmanovic, Opelka could snatch a set, Carlos is a little bit of an enigma on the grass still and can getter better as the tournament progresses (battle with Otte could be interesting though), and I think it's gonna be either Norrie or Tiafoe in the SF.
 
Nadal15thslam said:
Federer clearly better.
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Not in my opinion. Fed is MORE offensive, better serve, better net play etc.
However movement from the back laterally and forwards/backwards - Novak is moving better than Fed IMO.
Hell, better than anyone on grass. Even Pete and Borg.
Sure Pete and Fed had bigger weapons than Novak - but pure baseline strength on grass and movement - Novak has to be the best.
 
Nadal15thslam said:
Novak is not a pusher but he wins a lot of points by doing exactly that- pushing. That doesn't mean he can't play more aggressive, he just chooses not to.
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This is not a bad point imo. He chooses to play conservatively (that has been the case since 2011 anyway) if he doesn't need to be aggressive (it totally depends on the type of opponent he's playing). But he hits with greater depth and with more pace (while being in that pusher mode) than your regular pusher on Tour, and is a great ball-striker whose technique rarely breaks and all that makes him extremely difficult to handle.
 
Bubcay said:
Yes, but mostly because Djokovic is this good...
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I think I will wait to see him play an opponent with a ranking above 80 something who has a game to offer on grass. In ten years Kokkinakis has rarely got past qualies at any slam and rarely manages an appearance at a Masters, in all of which he loses and only occasionally manages to win a single match. There is a huge gulf between them in terms of ability.
 
TennisFan3 said:
Not in my opinion. Fed is MORE offensive, better serve, better net play etc.
However movement from the back laterally and forwards/backwards - Novak is moving better than Fed IMO.
Hell, better than anyone on grass. Even Pete and Borg.
Sure Pete and Fed had bigger weapons than Novak - but pure baseline strength on grass and movement - Novak has to be the best.
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You're the one who said Djokovic's serve is as good as Sampras, aren't you? Lol
 
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TennisFan3 said:
Does Novak move better on grass than Fed? I know it's crazy to think. Fed is a better grasscourt player vs Novak because of better serve and net play.
However, just from the baseline and movement at the back, I've NEVER seen anyone move like Novak does on grass.
Novak is sauntering out there like it's clay. Even Nadal on grass doesn't move as fluidly.
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No.
 
TennisFan3 said:
Not in my opinion. Fed is MORE offensive, better serve, better net play etc.
However movement from the back laterally and forwards/backwards - Novak is moving better than Fed IMO.
Hell, better than anyone on grass. Even Pete and Borg.
Sure Pete and Fed had bigger weapons than Novak - but pure baseline strength on grass and movement - Novak has to be the best.
Click to expand...
You're spitting facts today TennisFan3. ;)
 
TennisFan3 said:
Does Novak move better on grass than Fed? I know it's crazy to think. Fed is a better grasscourt player vs Novak because of better serve and net play.
However, just from the baseline and movement at the back, I've NEVER seen anyone move like Novak does on grass.
Novak is sauntering out there like it's clay. Even Nadal on grass doesn't move as fluidly.
Click to expand...

Federer's movement at his peak was feather-light though. And his first step was devastatingly explosive.
 
The Green Mile said:
Kecmanovic, Opelka could snatch a set, Carlos is a little bit of an enigma on the grass still and can getter better as the tournament progresses (battle with Otte could be interesting though), and I think it's gonna be either Norrie or Tiafoe in the SF.
Click to expand...
The most complicated draw of all time!
:rolleyes:
 
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