Madrid 2022 QF: Novak Djokovic VS Hubert Hurkacz

[Legend of Borg]

I'm just about ready to close the Amazon tab if there's an early break in this set.

 

[ewiewp]

This annoys me so much. Why cant Nadal improve his serve placement like Djokovic. I mean whats stopping him. Nadal would have such an easier time with a better serve placement

cause he is a righty.
i think placement is fine. djokovic's has a bit more varieties and better managed.

 

[Bubcay]

He didn't look sick to me.

Something to do with his eyes or headache. Maybe just bothered by sun?

 

[Mivic]

Still a lot of work to do for Djokovic but at least his ball looks a fair bit heavier than it did in the previous round (although that could partially be the result of the heat today), although his apparent lack of fitness is still pretty concerning even with the tough conditions.

 

[Legend of Borg]

If Joker is sick then Hubz must have multiple arm and finger fractures.

 

[Beerus]

Something to do with his eyes or headache. Maybe just bothered by sun?

He wears lenses so could be that.

 

[ArcspacE]

He wears lenses so could be that.

He's a cyborg from space

 

[Bubcay]

Hubi holds...

 

[Legend of Borg]

Djoker also seems kinda subdued.

Couldn't even kick off to start chasing that last forehand winner just sort of let it pass him.

Might just be because he was caught off guard but he normally gets a racket on those.

 

[junior74]

'Djoko Djokovic' season is getting close

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Still a lot of work to do for Djokovic but at least his ball looks a lot heavier than it did in the previous round, although his lack of fitness is still pretty concerning even with the brutal conditions.

There was no 'previous round' for Djokovic to play

 

[Mivic]

There was no 'previous round' for Djokovic to play

You know what I meant. Previous match.

 

[Bubcay]

He's a cyborg from space

https://twitter.com/x/status/580395826624753665

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

You know what I meant. Previous match.

I have this funny feeling Monfils is a better baseliner than Hurkacz even now. (HH has a much better serve to keep him up of course.)

 

[phl92]

Best tactice against Djokovic: high balls he needs to smash…

 

[Legend of Borg]

'Djoko Djokovic' season is getting close

StrongRule told me that the French was being renamed to the Gioco Open so Rome is gonna need a new name this year.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Gawd, Hubi! Terrible!

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Positives from Djokovic: He is serving well and his FH has been great

Negatives: Return and Defense have been mediocre af. He looks so slow while defending

 

[phl92]

Average of a winner when hitting an overhead is 61% on tour. Nadal is 72%. Djokovic is 40% LOL

 

[Nadal15thslam]

That's why they didn't have any questions for Hurkacz after that win some time ago. No one cares about such a boring and uninteresting player.

 

[ewiewp]

hurkacz's forehand is a bit of liability.

 

[Mivic]

I have this funny feeling Monfils is a better baseliner than Hurkacz even now. (HH has a much better serve to keep him up of course.)

On clay possibly, but both opponents don't give you much pace in neutral rallies (maybe Hurkacz even less so, one of the commentators mentioned that the guy has the third slowest average forehand speed in the top 50) and it's pretty apparent that Djokovic is hitting a heavier ball and generating more pace off the forehand today than he was against Monfils. Although like I said that could partially be a result of the conditions today.

 

[GabeT]

Average of a winner when hitting an overhead is 61% on tour. Nadal is 72%. Djokovic is 40% LOL

This is just the probability of hitting a winner? Do we know what’s the probability of winning the point? Novak has a weak overhead but maybe he wins more points with it than we think, it’s just that it takes him longer.

 

[ewiewp]

Average of a winner when hitting an overhead is 61% on tour. Nadal is 72%. Djokovic is 40% LOL

I also thought his forehand on short high balls is also not so commanding or error prone.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

I can’t agree with these commentators opining that Hubi’s shirt color should not be allowed. Yes it’s the same color as the ball - how’s an opponent going to be thrown off by that? I don’t think so. Course I could be wrong!

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

This is just the probability of hitting a winner? Do we know what’s the probability of winning the point? Novak has a weak overhead but maybe he wins more points with it than we think, it’s just that it takes him longer.

Djokovic's overall overhead success is bang average iirc. Not elite like Fedal but not a serious liability either, it's only memorable cause it failed him on some big points historically (2008 Olympics, 2013 RG...). Something like Fed's BP conversion lol.

 

[Legend of Borg]

I can’t agree with these commentators opining that Hubi’s shirt color should not be allowed. Yes it’s the same color as the ball - how’s an opponent going to be thrown off by that? I don’t think so. Course I could be wrong!

He's hoping his boring game and distracting shirt might be enough to pull him through to a GS final.

 

[zuluzazu]

Hurkacz's shot tolerance for a guy with so slow groundstrokes is very very poor

 

[ewiewp]

1 of that 40% just achieved,

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Hurkacz's shot tolerance for a guy with so slow groundstrokes is very very poor

Isner > Hurkacz
lol but true

 

[Legend of Borg]

Yea, Djovak's defending is pretty shizz atm but Hurk is just THAT bad.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Next match pls.

 

[Beerus]

I can't believe this guy somehow bagelled Federer at Wimbledon.

 

[initialize]

This match is painful to watch. It's like watching Nole playing a younger, taller, but even worse version of himself. So boring all around lol

 

[ArcspacE]

Even a semi-blind rusty Djok is no match for Hubi

What a mug

 

[ewiewp]

hurkacz's forehand contact point is so late that it almost looks like hitting with continental grip.

 

[Bubcay]

Well, this is disappointing from Hubi... Lousy match with barely any resistance..

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Feels like a perfect reflection of this era, no? World #1 - who despite his recent form is still at worst one of the top 4 favourites at every slam - versus a borderline top 10 consistent masters performer (HH made QF+ at 6 of the last 8 masters and the two other losses were in R16 to a higher seed) making for a nominally respectable matchup by name but we know what we're seeing, don't we? Peak roflmao.

 

[phl92]

This is just the probability of hitting a winner? Do we know what’s the probability of winning the point? Novak has a weak overhead but maybe he wins more points with it than we think, it’s just that it takes him longer.

I have no idea and cannot backup data because it is what the commentator said. I dont find these data in the internet.
But I can clearly see Djokovic often misses the chance to close out easy points on overheads…

 

[Legend of Borg]

Thiem was un-ironically the only member of the so called Diamond gen and he was 10 times less useless than the current Bronze gen (or Wood gen or cow manure gen or whatever they're called nowadays).

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

On clay possibly, but both opponents don't give you much pace in neutral rallies (maybe Hurkacz even less so, one of the commentators mentioned that the guy has the third slowest average forehand speed in the top 50) and it's pretty apparent that Djokovic is hitting a heavier ball and generating more pace off the forehand today than he was against Monfils. Although like I said that could partially be a result of the conditions today.

This is a poor match, man. Can you see as much?

 

[onyxrose81]

Novak about to give the break back.

What a stank match.

Edit: he didn’t. But this match is still gross.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Thiem was un-ironically the only member of the so called Diamond gen and he was 10 times less useless than the current Bronze gen (or Wood gen or cow manure gen or whatever they're called nowadays).

Still not useful enough to actually deny the ancient ones a slam...

 

[Bubcay]

The fact of the matter is that Djokovic really does not need to play any better then he is. I am sure that he would lift his own game if he needed to..

 

[20 20 20]

A practice session would probably help djo more than this match lol

 

[Mivic]

This is a poor match, man. Can you see as much?

Lol when did I say it wasn't? Am I not allowed to mention an improvement I've noted in Djokovic's game since his previous match considering I'm a fan of the guy? Like I said he still has a long way to go. You need to ease up on the defensive attitude.

 

[zuluzazu]

LOL what is this from Hurkacz. Missing neutral mid court rally balls by more than a metre

 

[Noleberic123]

I am the only one that is pretty satisfied with Djokovic lol

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

The fact of the matter is that Djokovic really does not need to play any better then he is. I am sure that he would lift his own game if he needed to..

That's the perfect justification mantra lol. "I only play poorly cause my opponents are mugs, if they weren't I would've raised my game accordingly and won anyway against whoever I faced."

 

[Legend of Borg]

yikes