NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Yea I heard he hit his ankle with his racket and bruised it. Some said it hampered his movement for a bit in the first set. Not a good time to do that with RG looming.
Djokovic (1) vs Nishikori (6) - 2016 Rome Masters semifinal
- Thread starter Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
- Start date
Yea I heard he hit his ankle with his racket and bruised it. Some said it hampered his movement for a bit in the first set. Not a good time to do that with RG looming.
Livedeath
Professional
Lechuck will not have its final say, his vodoo magic wont work on Gurbrush, Gurbrush will spray root beer on him.ARRRGGH, ME HEARTIES!
(Someone photoshop Novak's head onto the Guybrush Threepwood voodoo doll.)
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
uscwang
Hall of Fame
Lets relax everyone, and enjoy the revisit to this wonderful semi.
@Tiki-Taka you wanted them to be posted. Here they are.
Wow, great tennis.
What struck me most is how clutch Nishikori was. He must have saved 20 BPs (?) in the match, including the first 10 BPs (?), 3 MPs, while forcing a tiebreak from 0-30, 1-4 down in the 3rd set. The match could have gone either way.
Glad to see that Nishikori's body seems to hold up and expect him to win big titles soon.
The world No. 1 is beyond words. I hope he oversleeps tonight and miss tomorrow's final
Don't peak in Rome.
Levi_Ackerman
Legend
Gary Duane
G.O.A.T.
I finished work and only looked at the match when I got home.You better work Gary
To be honest I actually felt sorry for both players. What a horrible way to lose (Nishi), but I've had days just like the one Novak had. Couldn't buy a BP for almost two sets, probably hit himself in the ankle, and at one point he didn't eve know he snapped a string. Mo had to tell him.
I don't know about you but I have really cranky days and try to hide it, not always successfully. Pressure is building, much like what Serena went through last year. I don't envy him facing this pressure!
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I finished work and only looked at the match when I got home.
To be honest I actually felt sorry for both players. What a horrible way to lose (Nishi), but I've had days just like the one Novak had. Couldn't buy a BP for almost two sets, probably hit himself in the ankle, and at one point he didn't eve know he snapped a string. Mo had to tell him.
I don't know about you but I have really cranky days and try to hide it, not always successfully. Pressure is building, much like what Serena went through last year. I don't envy him facing this pressure!
Hopefully the RG draw is what I need it to be
Gary Duane
G.O.A.T.
Who is going to be the Grinch?!?Hopefully the RG draw is what I need it to be
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Who is going to be the Grinch?!?
I have a feeling Rafa will get the short end of the stick and probably be in Ultron's quarter and have tougher first rounds, while Player 2 gets a bunch of easter bunnies. I hate waiting until the draw, another 5-6 days right?
junior74
Talk Tennis Guru
A final is the last stage we can expect Djokovic to lose, regardless of opposition.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
I am not so sure this week though, he has been pushed very hard, and the tournament he really wants starts in exactly one week. If Murray extends it, I honestly don't know how far Djokovic would want to go without risking something negative happening days before the big event in Paris. Of course, if Murray decides to implode, Novak will pounce, don't see it happening this week though.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
This shows that Novak is beatable. he is not as good as he was last year. RAFA to beat Novak in straight sets at French open
junior74
Talk Tennis Guru
Looks more like his way of tuning in, if you ask me.
Let him worry about his royal fitness. Should stop punishing himself with his racquet
The level last night was A LOT higher than the match against Rafa. Best clay court match since RG15 final.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Looks more like his way of tuning in, if you ask me.
Let him worry about his royal fitness. Should stop punishing himself with his racquet
The level last night was A LOT higher than the match against Rafa. Best clay court match since RG15 final.
Fair enough, I just think he is tuned in enough. Has a Cincinnati 2011 feel about it to me. Did enough in Canada, and Cincy by getting to the Murray match, losing one tough set, and then decided to call it quits. Goes on to win USO. Got no issues with him winning of course, but I think his primary objective was beating Rafa on clay, and he did that. If he wins this title, especially after that epic semi, and yes, best clay court match since last season, then all the more power to him.
junior74
Talk Tennis Guru
He looks extremely good right now. That old "No one can beat him"-feeling...
We´ll see. Who are the threats in your opinion?
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
For RG? I dont really expect any surprises. Rafa, Andy, Novak are the favs. One of these three. Stanimal is unknown. Kei will do well, but can't see him winning. Roger already has eyes on SW19.
JonnyMac
Hall of Fame
Ah ... Expectations expectations ....In this wonderful circus ring of Murray hate so many respectable contributors have said the same.
As people keep reasonably pointing out - The result is always the same ...
Above - A picture of Smug Ball Kid Bulling Git.....( SBKBG )
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Ah ... Expectations expectations ....In this wonderful circus ring of Murray hate so many respectable contributors have said the same.
As people keep reasonably pointing out - The result is always the same ...
Above - A picture of Smug Ball Kid Bulling Git.....( SBKBG )
Murray pushes Djokovic hard on clay, always goes the distance. Djokovic played four very tight matches in a row, Murray fresh as a daisy. Djokovic less time to recover, more mentally and physically drained. It seems some reasonable fans say Djokovic will win, so that if he does, the loss won't sting as much, because they already accepted it. If Kei had lost in straights, I would give Djokovic the edge, but a hard fought match like that with less time to recover for inform Murray and with RG one week away, it wont surprise me to see Muzza win.
JonnyMac
Hall of Fame
Well no one listens when I say they need to change the tennis scoring system ....
I think they should decide who wins on a Poll of TW contributors !
JonnyMac
Hall of Fame
Yes very reasonable balanced and sensible analysis.
But do you know Mr A Murray ? At all ? By being himself Murray will give the Joker every chance he can.
To Win ( LOL! ) Murray will have actually hold on to his serve more than occasionally.
AND
Forget who he is playing !
Being in Murray's head does not begin to describe it !
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Yes very reasonable balanced and sensible analysis.
But do you know Mr A Murray ? At all ? By being himself Murray will give the Joker every chance he can.
To Win ( LOL! ) Murray will have actually hold on to his serve more than occasionally.
AND
Forget who he is playing !
Being in Murray's head does not begin to describe it !
Oh, if Murray decides to implode, Djokovic win pounce for sure. If Murray is in Montreal 2015 mode, I am not fully sure Djokovic would want a fifth tough match in a row, and potentially sabotage his chances for RG. Had RG not been been days from now, like if this was a Miami or Shanghai final with no slam on the horizon Novak would go all out. I think he will see what kind of Murray he is playing in the final and decide how much he truly wants it from there. We will see.
JonnyMac
Hall of Fame
We will - thanks indeed !
I think Nole will have slept in his recovery egg last night.......
JonnyMac
Hall of Fame
Can this be made Sticky !
It's so frustrating in moments like this. Two players just played their hearts out, but all some fans and media will do is look at the bottom line of who won and who lost and, on that basis alone, call it boring. Whatever happened to the experience of a match? Sitting wherever you are, at home or in person, watching the points unfold and watching two players trying their hardest to win--sometimes struggling, sometimes soaring. It's this emotional experience of a match that cannot be reduced to numbers, that reminds me again and again during matches like this why I will always be in love with tennis. It doesn't matter, to me, at the end of a day if the expected person won and the other lost. Did they thrill me during the match? Was I enthralled by the drama of their tennis itself and by their fight to win? If so, that is quality tennis, and I thank them for it. It's that part of sports that is irreplaceable, and the beauty of it is that it doesn't matter who is playing--two "nobodies" in DC or two of the Big 4 or a big name vs an "other guy." It doesn't matter whether or not the result will make a significant difference in the ranking points, to the legacy of this or that player, or in the history of the sport. The experience itself of incredible tennis is what it's about, and you can find that in any match at all.
All respect to Kei and Novak for this amazing match tonight.
junior74
Talk Tennis Guru
Kyrgios and Thiem are capable of beating everybody but Djokovic.
Gurufils and Cuevas may surprise.
Nadal does not look strong enough. His forehand is not back and his serve just cries to be broken.
Stan, well, his chances are even more poor than last year.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Cant see either Kyrgios or Thiem winning here, they are not ready imo, I was hoping for a bit more from Thiem in the masters, did not happen. Nadal can beat anybody, and is only less favored against the one guy who stands atop as the heavyweight champion. I will be very surprised to see anyone other than a big four member win it.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
The one concern Djokovic's fans should be having is that he tires himself mentally before RG.
Winning Madrid and the lineup from hell in Rome is going to take its toll.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
The one concern Djokovic's fans should be having is that he tires himself mentally before RG.
Winning Madrid and the lineup from hell in Rome is going to take its toll.
Exactly. As far as I am concerned, mission accomplished already for Djokovic as far as preparation for RG. He doesn't really need another battle with Murray.
at this point in time i think he needs to be treading on necks,including Murrays.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
neck foundation?Doesn't Djokovic have a foundation?
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Not at the expense of destroying himself days before the one slam he wants more than any other, especially after winning last week and have a brutal draw with several in form players this week without a rest, and a fresh untested Murray in the final. The Madrid match between them carried more weight for me. If Murray doesn't have his head together, then of course Novak will happily oblige, but if Murray wants a war of attrition, Novak really does need to think about if the risk is worth it.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
lad needs a stylist!
Tennis_Hands
Banned
his plumage needs attentionI find him very British.
Is that what you mean?
Garhi Shot First
Hall of Fame
5555
Hall of Fame
He gets on your nerves, that's for sure.
Levi_Ackerman
Legend
Go and watch the women's final and stop arguing over a match that's already done.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
no
Meles
Bionic Poster
French Tennis Federation will be if they make a draw to match Rome.Who is going to be the Grinch?!?
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
He has a week to rest before the FO, what are you talking about? You guys are hilarious and act like Djokovic isn't the most well-conditioned tennis pro on the circuit. He doesn't get tired from a couple of long best of three sets, he can go for five-six hours in back to back best of five matches as we have seen often. Don't make excuses. He'll want to win this one and make sure he keeps his positive momentum against his main rivals (if you can call them that) for the FO. He won't want to give Murray any kind of mental edge so if Murray wins this one it's fair and square and it makes it a bit more interesting for the FO.
T
Tiki-Taka
Guest
To be fair that happened once, and it was over 4 years ago. It really isn't weird to think his level of condition has dropped over that period...
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Ok, fair enough.
Meles
Bionic Poster
You are comparing apples and oranges talking Laver. Sampras vs Agassi was a horrible rivalry. I'd take Murray vs Djokovic any day where Murray likely has the advantage on grass and is very close on clay. A lot of really bad Sampras vs Agassi matches. Murray is uncompetitive on hard courts versus Djokovic, but at least he stole the 2012 US Open. Refresh my memory if Agassi ever had such a glorious victory over Sampras.
Actually as far as fields, this is incorrect as Federer likely would have won the last three majors without Djokovic around. Like it or not, Federer has revived his game and the Fedberg service game is probably the best he's ever had with 81% points won on first serve hard courts points. Federer was in fine form in Australia. Unfortunately on clay, despite the great serve game his losses due to age have made him less effective on clay, but his 2015 on clay was as good as any year since 2009 and the competition (Nadal excepeted last year) is quite a bit stiffer on clay with all of the top players being extremely proficient on clay (this was not the case during the prime Federer years where Roddick, etc. were a nonfactor on clay.)
Murray is exceptional on grass and now clay. The clay field is off the chart this year. Djokovic could be taken down by Nadal, Nishikori, Murray, or possibly Thiem on clay. We are seeing this depth of field in Rome.
Djokovic may have been a bit lucky in parts of 2015, but he has been in supreme form that boggles the imagination since the US Open. The next three majors are far from assured as he's never taken a set from Murray on grass and let's face it, if Federer served like he did against Murray last year and brought that to the final, he may well have won. The US Open had hugely favorable conditions in the final for Djokovic. The aura of invincibility and confidence of Djokovic are supreme and sublime, but he's far from assured of anything in the upcoming majors. That is a very high level of competition against a player clearly playing the best tennis of his career.
Its hard to argue that 2015 on clay was not a weak year due to the state of Nadal's game, but it was a much higher level than 2009 on clay with the strong form of Nishikori and Murray. Djokovic had yet another walkover at the Australian Open where he has Sampras like dominance, but the competition level is off the chart for the rest of the year and building with Kyrgios, Thiem, and Raonic very likely moving into the top ten. Berdych and Ferrer are thankfully in free fall and Stan is clearyl past peak now, but these three plus Zverev likely next year will continue to make for incredible fields, far superior to 2005-2010 and much more interesting than Federer and Nadal dominating everything.
Meles
Bionic Poster
See my above post. Nalbandian? Please. You are living in a fantasy world. Neither one of these players could make it through the deep fields of today.
Meles
Bionic Poster
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x06zG-FODxo
Dude, Nalbandian was no pushover.
gn
G.O.A.T.
I finished work and only looked at the match when I got home.
To be honest I actually felt sorry for both players. What a horrible way to lose (Nishi), but I've had days just like the one Novak had. Couldn't buy a BP for almost two sets, probably hit himself in the ankle, and at one point he didn't eve know he snapped a string. Mo had to tell him.
I don't know about you but I have really cranky days and try to hide it, not always successfully. Pressure is building, much like what Serena went through last year. I don't envy him facing this pressure!
That match was very tight. Nishi was about to fold 5-1 by getting broken for 2nd time in the 3rd set. But he saved 2 BPs, then held serve to break Novak and leveled it up 4-all. Quite a good performance from someone who is not 'mentally' strong. Really feel for Nishikori.
Hope he gets some respect here. Among all, he is the only one whose game is quite exciting to watch when Federer is not around. He will have a shot at FO if things falls in his favour. His body is getting stronger and he is consistent as well. Wishing he ends up as year end No.4. As for Novak, he is not only solid but luck is on his side as well.
Meles
Bionic Poster
Yeah it happened again with the DF, etc. in the tiebreaker, but look at the broken string incident in the match. Nishikori let that disrupt him on his first break opportunity, but he still came back to break. Ninja is learning. He is in top form right now. He improved what he did versus Madrid and many would say that Madrid was a more favorable surface for Nishikori. Many said Nishikori would not compete well at Rome and French Open because not his best clay surface. The progress is amazing. Ninja may yet put a throwing star in the neck of someone's French Open hopes.
