Massive Respect to Djokovic

[Beckerserve]

I love Nadal and always root for Djokovic to lose. No point lying about it.
He could easily have not invested much effort today given the scheduling and the risk of perhaps another beat down by Rafa if he ended up having hours on court. When he lost 2nd set v Sonego it was obvious he would end up around 5hrs on court today and he knew Rafa awaits in the final.
It is not a grand slam. No ranking is on the line.
To fight like he did today was the hallmark of a legendary champion . We have seen the same from Rafa this week and Federer numerous times over past 2 decades. They have 58 Majors between them. They do not spend hours on insta.
Even if people do not like Novak surely today deserved massive kudos. The mentality is fantastic. He may well get bagelled tomorrow as he will surely be very sore but it does not really matter. He showed today why he is a sporting legend.
I admire that kind of attitude hence why Rafa is my fav player so i cannot be a hypocrite and not show huge respect to Novak. Total respect for today.

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

He likes being the underdog and Nadal hates being the favorite, so tomorrow Djokovic will have the upper hand.

 

[SinneGOAT]

Also good job beating the shrieker

 

[Beckerserve]

Also good job beating the shrieker

Yeah he grunted very late a few times!

 

[TheAssassin]

Like I said many times, he's too competitive and too much of a champion to give up when the going gets tough. I just can't grasp how some of his own fans still expect or wish for him to have a different mindset than that. 1% chance is still better than none at all.

 

[Sephiroth]

Rome has been defined by these two for the last 12+ years

9th match and 6th final in just Rome alone, damn

 

[Winner]

Like I said many times, he's too competitive and too much of a champion to give up when the going gets tough. I just can't grasp how some of his own fans still expect or wish for him to have a different mindset than that. 1% chance is still better than none at all.

Very good point. That's what I think when someone posts like "he should lose (to duck someone) to not give him a boost before (the next slam)", I think being so afraid of someone to avoid playing him is already worse that a loss against the same player.

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Good thread, bud.

 

[Deleted member 770948]

He likes being the underdog and Nadal hates being the favorite, so tomorrow Djokovic will have the upper hand.

Nadal has been the biggest favorite in the history of tennis every time he sets foot on Roland Garros clay.
Nobody has ever faced more pressure than Nadal........and you know the results, 13 French Opens and 20 Slams.
There was also maximum pressure on hardcourt in 2013 when Nadal won Canada and Cincy........he went on to win the US Open too.

 

[duaneeo]

Kumbaya

 

[Hitman]

Good thread, bud.

Yep.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I admire that kind of attitude hence why Rafa is my fav player so i cannot be a hypocrite and not show huge respect to Novak. Total respect for today.

I agree, almost anyone else would have just tanked the match once he had to play a third set against Sonego, after already playing 2 sets against Tsitsipas. He's almost 34 - total respect from me too for Novak. If he actually wins the final tomorrow it will be even more amazing. Give credit where it's due.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I agree, almost anyone else would have just tanked the match once he had to play a third set against Sonego, after already playing 2 sets against Tsitsipas. He's almost 34 - total respect from me too for Novak. If he actually wins the final tomorrow it will be even more amazing. Give credit where it's due.

I agree, almost anyone else would have just tanked the match once he had to play a third set against Sonego, after already playing 2 sets against Tsitsipas. He's almost 34 - total respect from me too for Novak. If he actually wins the final tomorrow it will be even more amazing. Give credit where it's due.

Plus with Novak winning today he now levelled his H2H with sonego too. Novaks good streak of always beating a player after they beat him first continues.

 

[TripleATeam]

Props. Takes guts to be consistent.

 

[EddieChang]

He likes being the underdog and Nadal hates being the favorite, so tomorrow Djokovic will have the upper hand.

The seven times they played at Roland garros nadal was the favorite. Nadal won all of them. Djokovic was the favorite in 2015

 

[I Am Finnish]

Well said

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

The seven times they played at Roland garros nadal was the favorite. Nadal won all of them. Djokovic was the favorite in 2015

Nadal always says and really believes he's not the favorite but this time even him will have a hard time denying the reality: tomorrow he will be the favorite.

 

[EddieChang]

Nadal always says and really believes he's not the favorite but this time even him will have a hard time denying the reality: tomorrow he will be the favorite.

If you checkout the odds, surely this time is a lot closer than the majority of their meetings on the surface

 

[threehandedbackhand]

He likes being the underdog and Nadal hates being the favorite, so tomorrow Djokovic will have the upper hand.

Actually nowadays there are only two cases of Djokovic being an underdog:
1) physical handicap (like muscle tear in Melbourne 2021)
2) vs. Nadal on clay

 

[Beckerserve]

I agree, almost anyone else would have just tanked the match once he had to play a third set against Sonego, after already playing 2 sets against Tsitsipas. He's almost 34 - total respect from me too for Novak. If he actually wins the final tomorrow it will be even more amazing. Give credit where it's due.

Yes im totally chilled about tomorrow as whoever wins is a win for sport. Two shining beacons who have this weak led by example.
And Federer back next week. So tennis is still worth watching. Hope all 3 make semis in RG as longer all 3 in more exciting it is for us all. Problem is who the heck is the 4th that is any good. Probably Sinner!! He is 19 but at least he does show something.

 

[Beckerserve]

Actually nowadays there are only two cases of Djokovic being an underdog:
1) physical handicap (like muscle tear in Melbourne 2021)
2) vs. Nadal on clay

His ros today had me spell bound at times.

 

[Texas Tennis Fan]

I know we bug each other about our favorites, but you have to respect how hard Nadal and Djokovic fight for wins. (Not counting first Sonego match.

 

[Beckerserve]

I know we bug each other about our favorites, but you have to respect how hard Nadal and Djokovic fight for wins. (Not counting first Sonego match.

It is awe inspiring. This week both have shown why they are 2 of the 3 greatest ever. Neither needed Rome for their legacy. They have left it all out there during a pandemic and it just is awe inspiring and shows what is needed to dominate a sport for 15 years.
Ill bet Tsistipas was back on Insta after he lost today. Therein lies a crucial difference

 

[beast of mallorca]

Nadal always says and really believes he's not the favorite but this time even him will have a hard time denying the reality: tomorrow he will be the favorite.

Nadal always says he is not the favorite even if he's going to play Suresh. Get on with the program, bud

 

[Tennisfan339]

Rome has been defined by these two for the last 12+ years

9th match and 6th final in just Rome alone, damn

It's a record, isn't it? 9th match in the same tournament. I canlt think of another duo accomplishing this... Not in the ATP anyway.

 

[tudwell]

I was thinking the same at the two Masters events last year. Novak could have easily phoned in a return game when RBA was serving for the match and been happy with the match play he’d gotten before the US Open, but no, he wanted to win. He fought hard to win both Cincy and Rome, and is fighting hard again here. As is Nadal, of course. The narrative that they don’t care about non-slam tournaments is just wrong. They’re not going to prioritize them, and are less hesitant to skip them, but once they’re there they want the silverware. They can’t just turn off that competitive drive. It’s too deep inside.