I don't normally use it that way either, but technically it's correct. The point still stands that he received a neck massage before RBA served on two different occasions. Once early in the 2nd set that you referred to and also the time that I'm referring to. Now, maybe it was just so bad that he couldn't wait. I don't know. It didn't look good though imo.
Didn't the neck massage at 4-3 last the normal break time anyway? You can't argue it disrupted RBA's rhythm
I'd argue that knowing that Djokovic was getting worked on is a disruption.
Is it... could it be... has the fabled AndyM returned to grace this unworthy forum with his undying wisdom?
0/10. Djokovic amongst his peers is considered a great sportsman. Numerous players have said that openly.
Yes of course. Winning 20 Majors is achieved by not fighting until it hurts to breathe at times. !!!
First off. Yes, very frustrating.These guys watch the entire match hoping to see Djokovic lose, and then he wins through sheer will. Must be frustrating to be a Novak hater
And if he can't finish it, he just retires...
Ok, say you are right. That makes his opponents mentally weak by being affected by it. Becker would never have been. Neither would Sampras or Courier. Or any of that generation. Basically if players get affected by a timeout then they are too soft. Djokovic was sensational today all credit to him.First off. Yes, very frustrating.
That being said, come on. You know what he was doing, and if DelPo did that during a Djoker match, or Rafa (both do similar things), and I like both of those guys, you would have an issue.
It is right there, clear as day. We saw it last year at the USO until he played Wawa where it simply was not going to work.
Djoker plays mind games when he is struggling. You can argue whether or not it is bad sportsmanship, but it is right there in front of everyone. Announcers see it, fans see it, and other players see it.
Only Djoker fans don't.
But hey, it clearly works.
But to be fair, maybe he is not aware that he is doing it. Maybe it is just his mental self battling, and he usually battles through it. But it sure has become a trend.
That is why Fed has won it 13 times and Rafa 3. While Djoker has... zero.
Why would Djokovic play mindgames? RBA is popular in the locker room, he would chat with other players, why would Djokovic want to wind other players up and develop a reputation for mindgames. Surely would backfire over next two weeks would it not?
How legit is that award though? Is there not rumours it was a bit fixed?
Agreed. Very week. I even think Fed falls for it when he goes in his lulls. Wawa does not however.
Fixed for almost 20 years? Why would it be fixed?
Well lets just say if the locker room takes the same view it has made Djokovics chances at the USO much much more difficult. Very hard for a player if the locker room turns on them. He has always been popular so i am giving him benefit of the doubt as long term i cannot see the benefit of mind games. As an aside put your money on Tsitsipas for Us Open.
I thought some players said the results did not reflect the votes or they didnt get to vote or something. I could be wrong
Why tsits? Isn't his best run a second round at the USO? Did not see his loss though here.
With Murray in second place. And it works, as you said. Thiem is 26 years old and was allowed to be mentally jerked around and owned by Novak in the AO final in January. If these guys are so pathetically weak as to be owned by a 33 year old playing poorly, that's on then.
Obvious and blatant troll, not a Fed fan. Don't waste your time.
And as a person who wants fair play, I'm more upset that it works rather than one particular player doing it. Professional tennis is a multi million dollar cut-throat business and I don't blame anyone doing anything within the confines of legality of the game itself to get an edge.
It is. But if I were Raonic coach and was watching today, the first thing I would tell him is: "If you get up a break or a set, expect Djoker to call a MTO and try to lull you asleep. Ignore it and play like he is 100%... because he is."
I hope nobody actually believes this. If so, then I’m afraid some Fed haters may be even more lost than I thought.
It is Fridge, come on. He throws around racist comments too. Lucky for him they were deleted.
Until today did not lose his serve and was cruising throughout. He is looking fit. His return has long been a weakness but he has returned ok against a number of massive servers. Just think he will breakthrough. Djokovic just does not look fit to me, a neck problem is only going to get worse and he was broken 5 times today. If he plays tsitsipas in a semi i think he will lose due to physical issues. Other side of draw is hard to call. Which side is Murray in?
Djokovic may pull out tomorrow. Dont rule that out.
True, but there are some posts so dumb you immediately have to assume they are parodic. Sorta like Poe’s Law.
If he does, I would eat some of my comments. Some, as this isn't the first time.
Ah, yes, the famous Murray hamstring grab.
Hey man I'm trying to get banned.
Ferrer and Nadal always fought for every point in every match. Fed didn't do that. Djokovic has at times tanked points but so has Fed. Also it is a little differnt when you have 15,000 people cheering for you and 15,000 people cheering against you. Crowd plays a huge role in how much one will fight and Fed never has to play where the crowd is against him. Djokovic has and his fights are more commendable than Fed's "fights"
Context needed. I am no fan of blatant and excessive stalling. Today was not a case of that. He didn't force RBA to play at a different pace or wasted time. One MTO between sets, and massages that didn't last longer than the usual changeover. He literally extended a gruelling three set match by a couple of minutes with his... Things. RBA prolonged just as much with his numerous toss fails, which would have very likely been echoed throughout the forum if Djokovic did that, because it stops the serve clock. You see what you want to see. He took the same treatment earlier this week against the great Berankis, after winning a tiebreak. Clear gamesmanship to stop that guy's momentum too?First off. Yes, very frustrating.
That being said, come on. You know what he was doing, and if DelPo did that during a Djoker match, or Rafa (both do similar things), and I like both of those guys, you would have an issue.
It is right there, clear as day. We saw it last year at the USO until he played Wawa where it simply was not going to work.
Djoker plays mind games when he is struggling. You can argue whether or not it is bad sportsmanship, but it is right there in front of everyone. Announcers see it, fans see it, and other players see it.
Only Djoker fans don't.
But hey, it clearly works.
But to be fair, maybe he is not aware that he is doing it. Maybe it is just his mental self battling, and he usually battles through it. But it sure has become a trend.
Agree to some extent. But I think the difference to me is Fed is trying to fight but sometimes comes up mentally short. Djoker comes up with the goods mentally much of the time.
Exaggerate his struggle is an issue for me. I am not saying he was faking. I do believe he was feeling poor mentally and physically. Felt like he was battling inside whether he wanted to continue or not.
USO 2005, to name one. And that was one of his best forehand displays ever. If you're looking for more clutch matches, I think RG 2012 vs. Delpo would be a close-ish fit (it's also the match where he yelled "shut up" to an annoying Delpo fan); he won that one from two sets down despite being in lackluster form.
Don't forget AO17 which was basically the same thing as WC19.
In that regard, Fed possums the least of any of the Big 3 by a pretty massive margin. Can't remember the last time he did it (maybe it might have been the AO 2017 SF when he took the MTO?).
Yep, and to be fair, he did not show it on the court, and it was more like payback in a way. I think Fed even said something like he did it, so I did it.
Could be, but I can't imagine any player doing that against the likes of Millman and Sandgren. Maybe in the Djokovic match, perhaps.
Yep he did. But he does not possum on the court like what we saw today.
You probably mean QF
Let's put it this way. He was bent over leaning his head against the wall like he was about to throw up. Grabbing his stomach. Then he goes on to win the last 10 points....
In fairness, RBA played some really horrible tennis throughout a few of those games in the last set.
Yep he fell for the possum act. Really was a wild match at times. Djoker was better overall in my opinion and should have won it earlier.
