Australian Open QF: Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz

[Terenigma]

1 hour played and we're still only 4-5 in the first set. Strap in!

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fritz is actually returning pretty darn well. Smacking deep, neutralizing returns near the baseline. Not missing too many makeable ones. It’s just that he’s so outmatched from neutral positions he still hasn’t made much headway on Novak’s serve.

Shocked how well he's playing, he can't keep this up.

 

[Terenigma]

Fritz might break, Novak donating points right now.


Well... Not if you don't punish a powderpuff serve Fritz, good lord.

 

[socallefty]

Especially when you are older you get mentally weaker. The brashness of youth under pressure is a good thing. Fear of losing against younger opponents gets bigger when you get older and it makes you choke. Djokovic will not have the reputation for mental toughness in his late thirties.

 

[GabeT]

Why Make It Easy When It Can Be Difficult: The Djokovic Autobiography

 

[MeatTornado]

Novak's in bored mode. He's just waiting for something to wake him up.

 

[Tshooter]

How many times has Eggvax dropped the first set to a mug.

 

[junior74]

Most important point of the set and Fritz can't return a soft central 2nd serve

 

[MeatTornado]

Butchered slice and now a 2nd serve return miss.

This set was there for the taking if Fritz took this game more seriously.

 

[SteffiGoat]

Fritz gave this away

 

[MichaelNadal]

Terrible movement from Fritz there.

 

[Pheasant]

Djoker is WAY off his game right now. He’s missed a ton of first serves.

 

[socallefty]

Why are they both serving such a low %? Is it the sun and glare?

 

[Icsa]

Most important point of the set and Fritz can't return a soft central 2nd serve

He looks like he is not putting any effort in the return game. Disappointing.

 

[GabeT]

Give up Fritz!

Damn kids, no respect for their elders

 

[Aussie Darcy]

1 hour and 5 minutes for only 5-5!

This could be a longgg match!

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

How many times has Eggvax dropped the first set to a mug.

Maybe 24 times at slams.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Obviously Taylor's resistance will fade soon enough but it's a miracle he's at 5-5 with how it's played out so far

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Novak's in bored mode. He's just waiting for something to wake him up.

Needs a dumb heckler from the crowd to yell at him again to get vaxxed or something.

That might stir him up again.

 

[Terenigma]

Crowd feels like its starting to side with Fritz, momentum shifting in the audience. Maybe that will motivate Djokovic? Because he looks completely uninterested right now.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Djokovic's 4-5 service game, Taylor Swift makes 4 WILD unforced errors and still the game was at 30-30.
America will NEVER win a Slam, if this is the best they have....
But, its clear that Djokovic has no hope of beating Carlos.

 

[SteffiGoat]

Well at least, Fritz has guaranteed himself a first set TB.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Crowd feels like its starting to side with Fritz, momentum shifting in the audience. Maybe that will motivate Djokovic? Because he looks completely uninterested right now.

He needs to feel hated or oppressed and he'll show up

 

[abmk]

6-5 Fritz with love hold.
Much better performance so far here than at USO where he had lot of home crowd support.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nick: "if this goes to a TB, I'm favoring Fritz with the way Djokovic is serving."

 

[Dwell]

He needs to feel hated or oppressed and he'll show up

there he goes. screaming at his box for no reason at all

 

[socallefty]

Obviously Taylor's resistance will fade soon enough but it's a miracle he's at 5-5 with how it's played out so far

Djokovic keeps beating younger players because he usually plays well. If he serves and plays like today so far, they are perfectly capable of winning sets and possibly the match. Hard to feel you deserve to win the set when you serve below 50% and blow so many break points. The odds are in Fritz’s favor to win this set right now.

 

[MeatTornado]

Is he already out of magic juice the 1st set?

 

[SteffiGoat]

Worst I've seen Novak serve in a while. Fritz looking good

 

[Move]

Novak desperately waiting for sundown

 

[Breakpointerer]

Djokovic keeps beating younger players because he usually plays well. If he serves and plays like today so far, they are perfectly capable of winning sets and possibly the match. Hard to feel you deserve to win the set when you serve below 50% and blow so many break points. The odds are in Fritz’s favor to win this set right now.

Sets, yes. Not the match.

 

[Terenigma]

Fritz has hit 19 winners to Djokovic's 9

 

[Dwell]

milagro will feast on this novak

 

[tudwell]

Wowza. This is some good stuff from Fritz. Very composed and intelligent play.

 

[SteffiGoat]

Not looking good at all for Nolefam. Two set points for Fritz

 

[djokovic the conqueror]

40-15. Will Fritz let this opportunity slip?

 

[BeatlesFan]

Winners:

Fritz: 19
Novak: 8

 

[Pheasant]

Wow. Double set point

 

[Ray Mercer]

Wow ballsy shotmaking from Fritz. Good on him for going for it. I’d happily eat a **** load of crow to see Fritz pull this off.

 

[Terenigma]

2 SPs for Fritz! Can he show Novak how its done?

 

[junior74]

Two chances... :O

 

[Mivic]

Absolute powderpuff from the baseline on Djokovic’s end so far in this match. Giving Fritz so many opportunities to tee off from the back of the court.

 

[onyxrose81]

Novak has not been Novak this tournament.

 

[MeatTornado]

Kind of don't want Fritz to win this set, because then I'll feel obligated to keep watching even though it's 2 AM my time.

 

[Hitman]

The winner has two days off to recover.

 

[GabeT]

Djokovic's 4-5 service game, Taylor Swift makes 4 WILD unforced errors and still the game was at 30-30.
America will NEVER win a Slam, if this is the best they have....
But, its clear that Djokovic has no hope of beating Carlos.

Oh, look at what the cat dragged in!

 

[Third Serve]

Ok I woke up

 

[socallefty]

C,mon, Fritz. Make it 20 winners.

 

[djokovic the conqueror]

Clutchovic!

 

[Rosstour]

Let's go Fritz. Please save tennis