Madrid 2022 QF: Novak Djokovic VS Hubert Hurkacz

[zuluzazu]

Does someone else think that Goffin unironically played better yesterday than what Hubi is playing today?

 

[GabeT]

First time Novak reaches deuce while serving in this match?

 

[Bubcay]

That ball just changed direction so much... Dangers of playing on clay..

 

[Bubcay]

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."

I guess we will see in the semis if my theory holds water..

 

[Deleted member 762343]

Didn't know the match had started and now I see it's almost over lol.

 

[zuluzazu]

I guess we will see in the semis if my theory holds water..

LOL no way Novak is winning against Carlos in the SF but will decimate Nadal

 

[Legend of Borg]

Hurk's forehand is awful.

 

[TennisFan3]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

 

[zuluzazu]

How many UEs will Hubi make lol

 

[GabeT]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

I choose to believe you!

 

[zuluzazu]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

Yes we know Novak will win the next 25 slams and will retire with 50 slams to his name

 

[Bubcay]

Hubi firing some rockets in this service game and saves two match points..

 

[Cupcake]

what a disappointing match.

 

[TennisFan3]

Novak c

I choose to believe you!

You know Novak peaks at slams.

 

[JaxTeller]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

Lmao....This version of Novak would be lucky to take a set off against the likes of Nadal and Tsitsipas

 

[Bubcay]

what a disappointing match.

Way below average for sure..

 

[zuluzazu]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

Are you watching this match from the beginning?

 

[ewiewp]

novak's serving perf is near his top form.

 

[Bubcay]

Super easy win for Novak in straight sets. Hubi did not have anything to offer today.. 6:3 6:4

 

[Wesling]

Novak taking out the polish trash

 

[ArcspacE]

Great win

Some Spanish pigeon next

#30-28

 

[RF-18]

Goatovic

 

[Beerus]

At least Djokovic is straight-setting his opponents in Madrid.

 

[ewiewp]

At this level , Novak is winning RG 2022.
Only an A game Nadal can stop him. But at 36 and cooler conditions of RG, Nadal is not the player he used to be.

Remember Almagro said Rafa will win RG in his 60s ?

 

[zuluzazu]

How can Hubi have such low shot tolerance lol. Even Artem Bahmet had made UEs after 3-4 shots lol

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Does someone else think that Goffin unironically played better yesterday than what Hubi is playing today?

It's pretty obvious he did. Sure, Nadal let him off the hook, but Goffin also took it to him while HH was completely clueless off the ground.

 

[Arak]

what a disappointing match.

Not even a Djokoroar

 

[Deleted member 762343]

Yes we know Novak will win the next 25 slams and will retire with 50 slams to his name

How normal people see Djokovic :

Spoiler

How TennisFan3 sees Djokovic :

Spoiler

 

[Bubcay]

Tomorrow night will be a real banger. Either player winning in Rafa vs Carlito match later will be a great pairing with Novak.. Can't wait..

 

[Arak]

It's pretty obvious he did. Sure, Nadal let him off the hook, but Goffin also took it to him while HH was completely clueless off the ground.

Goffin had a match point and missed that ridiculous inside in forehand that even me could have easily made it lol

 

[Rattie]

Does someone else think that Goffin unironically played better yesterday than what Hubi is playing today?

Lol only leagues better.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Good interview with Joker.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Goffin had a match point and missed that ridiculous inside in forehand that even me could have easily made it lol

Lack of understanding is apparent. It was an unforced error of course but not so easy as you paint it. Anyway, the match is way more than one point.

 

[Cupcake]

Tomorrow night will be a real banger. Either player winning in Rafa vs Carlito match later will be a great pairing with Novak.. Can't wait..

One would hope. It will be a well rested Novak (walk-over, Hubi match) vs either Rafa or Alcaraz , both having played a prior 3-setter and then the match today against each other, which could be grueling.

Even though he won easily, I didn't think Novak looked all that good physically without being stressed very much. Could still be rust. The next match will be very interesting on several levels.

 

[Arak]

Lack of understanding is apparent. It was an unforced error of course but not so easy as you paint it. Anyway, the match is way more than one point.

I’m only lamenting the fact that the match was on his racket and he missed. And when you have a match point, the whole match boils down to this point. It doesn’t matter what happened before. Anyhow, I’m not making fun of Goffin as you seem to think. I believe he had a great match and played some unbelievable tennis at times. He would have deserved to win, had he won.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

I’m only lamenting the fact that the match was on his racket and he missed. And when you have a match point, the whole match boils down to this point. It doesn’t matter what happened before. Anyhow, I’m not making fun of Goffin as you seem to think. I believe he had a great match and played some unbelievable tennis at times. He would have deserved to win, had he won.

I'm sure most people expected Goffin to lose in straights, I sure did. Hence, not pissed that he missed MP, he's done way better than I had expected and actually played some good stuff rather than Nadal just gifting a megaton of errors (although of course he made quite a lot too).

 

[Bubcay]

Does someone else think that Goffin unironically played better yesterday than what Hubi is playing today?

Goffin played 10 times better. That match had 50% more intensity than this one.. Djokovic will need to significantly increase his level tomorrow regardless who he plays in the semi final..

 

[Bubcay]

One would hope. It will be a well rested Novak (walk-over, Hubi match) vs either Rafa or Alcaraz , both having played a prior 3-setter and then the match today against each other, which could be grueling.

Even though he won easily, I didn't think Novak looked all that good physically without being stressed very much. Could still be rust. The next match will be very interesting on several levels.

Yes, Novak did not play amazing, but he had no need for it anyway... He will not have it this easy tomorrow, that is a fact..

 

[Rattie]

I'm sure most people expected Goffin to lose in straights, I sure did. Hence, not pissed that he missed MP, he's done way better than I had expected and actually played some good stuff rather than Nadal just gifting a megaton of errors (although of course he made quite a lot too).

Rafa said himself he should have won the match in straights and the chance to do so, but errors are not a surprise given he lacks match practice and that’s what he’s there to get essentially.

 

[NoleFam]

I couldn't watch but how did Djokovic play?

 

[TheNachoMan]

I want Nadal
31-28

 

[I Am Finnish]

I want Nadal
31-28

The Nadal might tank

 

[Mivic]

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.

I don't think overhead success rate is a fair statistic when talking about Djokovic because there are so many points where he might not necessarily miss an overhead but he nevertheless let's his opponent back into the point and ends up losing it, unless you're talking about percentage of points won in which you hit an overhead or something like that, but even then Djokovic's baseline abilities are going to skew that statistic, because you might have a guy who has more success on the overhead itself than Djokovic but because of his inferior baseline abilities loses a lot more points in which the opponent is able to weasel his way back into the point, thus possibly leading to a lower percentage of points won in which you hit an overhead, although this has nothing to do with the quality of the overhead itself.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Nole in 2 straightforward sets.
Kind of like his match here with Raonic in 2016.

East or west, Carl is the best