ATP Finals 2020 RR: Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Alexander Zverev (6)

Who will win?

  • Total voters
    52
  • Poll closed .
Third Serve

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
The two will play to secure the second semifinal spot of Group Tokyo 1970.

Novak-Djokovic-640-AP.jpg


PRI172952653.jpg


Djokovic leads this H2H 3-2 but are tied at the ATP Finals 1-1, with both of those matches taking place in 2018 during Zverev's win at the tournament. Are we in for a repeat of the 2018 final or a repeat of their 2018 RR match?

Make your picks. And may the best man win.

...but ABZ​
 
No idea. It probably hinges on the Nadal match. If Nadal wins, Djokovic may have extra motivation to win. If not, I can see him tanking the match.

So I will wait till after the Nadal match to make the prediction.

edit: now that Nadal has won, I will go with Djokovic in 2 tight sets
 
Last edited:
Third Serve said:
The two will play to secure the second semifinal spot of Group Tokyo 1970.

Novak-Djokovic-640-AP.jpg


PRI172952653.jpg


Djokovic leads this H2H 3-2 but are tied at the ATP Finals 1-1, with both of those matches taking place in 2018 during Zverev's win at the tournament. Are we in for a repeat of the 2018 final or a repeat of their 2018 RR match?

Make your picks. And may the best man win.

...but ABZ​
Click to expand...
Actually their 2018 matches followed the same pattern, which, surprisingly none other than me, on this forum have noticed .
In both matches, there were 4 holds on each side in the first set, then some break points on nole serve in the 9th game.
In RR, zverev couldn't break, whereas in Final he did.
Then the second set was a blowout in both encounters.
If djokovic had saved that break point even in the final match, it could very well have turned out to end as the similar result as their RR match. I certainly don't trust zverev to hold serve at 4-5 against nole in one of his best returning weeks.
 
Hopefully when RR play is finished both old farts will be FINNISH. Go Tsits and Zed, something I thought I would never say (particularly the latter.)
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
From what they've produced so far in terms of sheer tennis quality, nadal may as well manhandle the serb once again shall they meet here at London.
Click to expand...
They can only meet in the finals, which means Novak is in good enough shape to get past Thiem.
The one and only win Nadal holds over Novak on a slow HC is back in IW 07, so that is that too, surface works for Novak in the match-up here.
 
This could be pretty close if Zed manages to keep his head on his shoulders, but that's a tall order these days. I expect Djokovic to soldier on in two sets.
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
Actually their 2018 matches followed the same pattern, which, surprisingly none other than me, on this forum have noticed .
In both matches, there were 4 holds on each side in the first set, then some break points on nole serve in the 9th game.
In RR, zverev couldn't break, whereas in Final he did.
Then the second set was a blowout in both encounters.
If djokovic had saved that break point even in the final match, it could very well have turned out to end as the similar result as their RR match. I certainly don't trust zverev to hold serve at 4-5 against nole in one of his best returning weeks.
Click to expand...
Their rivalry is such that whoever wins the first set wins the match.
 
Hitman said:
It's the first match? Darn...have to take the Mrs out shopping before the weekend. Going to miss it. I thought it was second on since it is the key match...but I guess it is because the winner will play Thiem in the first match on Saturday....
Click to expand...
@Hitman - It's Friday tomorrow not the weekend.
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
I'm not talking about history. I'm talking about form.
Click to expand...
Nadal finds a way to play bad against Djokovic on hards even when he's in good form. You see him doing things against other players with confidence and then suddenly he goes back to his usual shell against Djokovic and doing the same old running and retrieving defensive style. Let's see if he carries his confidence and form into the Djokovic match (If the match happens).
 
TennisFan3 said:
Novak in straights. Zverev's pitiful WTA serving would be exposed and mauled.
Click to expand...

Zverev in 2. Zverev plays similarly to Medvedev, long wingspan and can grind with Novak. Novak looks like he’s been tired of grinding since FO. Zverev has been serving pretty well this tournament.
 
Novak seems to be in a slump mentally, has always been his biggest Achilles heel. Then again Zverev serve could just misfire completely and Novak could win without much effort.
 
zagor said:
Novak seems to be in a slump mentally, has always been his biggest Achilles heel. Then again Zverev serve could just misfire completely and Novak could win without much effort.
Click to expand...
I think it's mostly about how much Djoko was trying to preserve energy 2 days ago and what was really going on. If Djokovic plays decent but not great he should win this 8/10
 
Red Rick said:
I think it's mostly about how much Djoko was trying to preserve energy 2 days ago and what was really going on. If Djokovic plays decent but not great he should win this 8/10
Click to expand...

Maybe, we'll see. To me he seems to be falling out of love with the game lately (again).

Novak is very clutch when he is full on competitive mode but he never had the longterm mental stability of Fedal.
 
zagor said:
Maybe, we'll see. To me he seems to be falling out of love with the game lately (again).

Novak is very clutch when he is full on competitive mode but he never had the longterm mental stability of Fedal.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't surprise me. He's indicated he's mainly still playing just to get the records. I don't think that's the right motivation, especially when some records remain firmly out of his grasp at the moment.

Federer and nadal I feel play much more out of love for the game. I'm not even sure these guys are capable of ever retiring.
 
zagor said:
Maybe, we'll see. To me he seems to be falling out of love with the game lately (again).

Novak is very clutch when he is full on competitive mode but he never had the longterm mental stability of Fedal.
Click to expand...
I feel like Djoko could use an off season yeah
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2018 ATP Finals RR - (1.) Novak Djokovic vs. (3.) Alexander Zverev
4 5 6
Replies
284
Views
17K
junior74
junior74
Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2019 WTF RR: [4.] Daniil Medvedev vs. [7.] Sascha Zverev
6 7 8
Replies
363
Views
25K
Enceladus
Enceladus
Fedeonic
  • Poll Poll
ATP Finals 2018 RR3: (3) Alexander Zverev vs (8) John Isner
2 3
Replies
108
Views
8K
TennisLBC
TennisLBC
Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2018 ATP Finals Final: (1.) Novak Djokovic vs. (3.) Alexander Zverev
24 25 26
Replies
1K
Views
71K
FailBetter
F
Third Serve
  • Poll Poll
2020 ATP Finals RR: Alexander Zverev (6) vs. Daniil Medvedev (4) - Street vs. Sheet
2 3 4
Replies
167
Views
8K
yokied
yokied
Back
Top