Roland Garros R16: Novak Djokovic vs. Francisco Cerundolo

[UnforcedTerror]

Each round feels like a nightmare. A claycourter after another.

Disgust.

 

[DSH]

Each round feels like a nightmare. A claycourter after another.

Disgust.

Joker in five sets and another 4 hours of play.

 

[FernandoBiH]

Another loser vs Novak.

 

[dking68]

Joker in five sets and another 4 hours of play.

Djokovic in three!

 

[Midaso240]

Will be a tough turnaround for Djokovic, I expect him to have a sluggish start before prevailing something like 2-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[Jonas78]

Nole might win the whole thing now...

 

[tennisjedi]

Djokovic in 3 straightforward sets.

Twosetti awakened the beast.

 

[KantenKlaar]

Foot in door for Djokovic - I can not see him lingering longer than 3 sets for this.

 

[Arak]

It’s funny in this tournament how difficult opponents are followed by easy ones.

 

[DonutBoy1128]

Djokovic isn't beating Cerundolo without going to five, have you seen how tommy paul was obliberated by cerundolo?

 

[DonutBoy1128]

Realistically cerundolo ain't winning

 

[tudwell]

The tournament favorite will continue to coast after a brief interruption against inspired Musetti.

 

[JFK_32]

Cerundolo know Djokovic will be tired, so he will be too confident before match and lose easily 3-0. Djokovic likes this kind of matches, when everybody think he will be beatable

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I think this will be another tough grind. I see another long 4 or 5 setter. Djokovic might survive again. Not sure he survives much further after this. Djokovic in 5!

 

[TennisFan3]

Novak in straights.
Expect him to win RG without losing too many sets.
The level that Novak produced in last two sets is better than anything Sinner or Alcaraz can do.

 

[ojo rojo]

 

[junior74]

The Strongruling is strong.
First time I've heard Cerundulo presented as a nightmare

 

[travlerajm]

The two highest swingweights left in the draw.
Djoker 370 vs. Cerundolo 380

Rest of field in 330 to 340 range, based on best available sources. Edit: forgot about Grigor at -360.

Also intriguing: Cerundolo has a higher dominance level than Djoker thru R3:

Objective Look at RG24 contenders thru R3

Dominance Level Thru R3 (Total return points won / total serve points lost). 1.73 - The Sinner 1.71 - Carlitos 1.69 - Philosopher 1.66 - El Cerundolo 1.55 - Djoker 1.53 - Med-Evil 1.49 - Zed 1.48 - Incredible Hurk 1.38 - Baby Fed 1.36 - Dane Brat 1.21 - Casper 1.19 - Moutet 1.15 - Demon 1.07 -...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[MichaelNadal]

Fantastic lol

 

[travlerajm]

He looks hungry.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I could just look at Cerundolos face all day lol it’s so intriguing

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I could just look at Cerundolos face all day lol it’s so intriguing

He’s got a beautiful tennis game for clay too.

 

[paolo2143]

Make no mistake Cerundolo is a very capable and tough opponent on this surface. I watched him at RG last year and against Tommy Paul this year and he has a great game for clay.

Novak is going to have to be at his best or he could be in real trouble. I am going for Novak in hard fought 4 setter, however, it depends on how much he has recovered from the other night.

 

[Hood_Man]

Is that a photoshop, or does he really have a mouth like Andy Murray?

 

[UnforcedTerror]

First time I've heard Cerundulo presented as a nightmare

Cerundulo has a beautiful style of tennis and that forehand he's got is glorious to say the least.

You probably have never seen him play before but let me tell you this. When he is on, this guy is capable of upsetting any top player on clay.

Djokovic is going home if he doesn't bring his best into this match imo.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Each round feels like a nightmare. A claycourter after another.

So true. Facing a titan like Cerundolo might as well be like playing 2010 clay Rafa.

 

[dapchai]

So true. Facing a titan like Cerundolo might as well be like playing 2010 clay Rafa.

Cerundolo is (one of) the greatest clay courters in the world of men's tennis, having won a grand total of one clay title (250 level) in his illustrious career. Must be a nightmare to play him tomorrow!

 

[UnforcedTerror]

So true. Facing a titan like Cerundolo might as well be like playing 2010 clay Rafa.

That's not how draws work. As the #1 seed, you can't play 2010 Bull at R4. :facepalm:

 

[junior74]

Cerundulo has a beautiful style of tennis and that forehand he's got is glorious to say the least.

You probably have never seen him play before but let me tell you this. When he is on, this guy is capable of upsetting any top player on clay.

Djokovic is going home if he doesn't bring his best into this match imo.

I've seen Ceru in at least 10 matches.

He is not "a nightmare" in any way.

 

[The Green Mile]

A well playing Cerundolo could make it an interesting match for sure. I've seen him play unreal tennis before.

 

[MichaelNadal]

A well playing Cerundolo could make it an interesting match for sure. I've seen him play unreal tennis before.

We know the script though lol, Novak will both be beatable and look beatable until the inevitable big point where Cerundolo cracks, and Novak will roar and then win.

 

[Rina]

So Novak is having the morning match?

 

[Halfdan]

I can't really see Djokovic having too much trouble in this match.
A bit strange that they've never met previously in the six years Cerundolo has been on the tour.

 

[Kralingen]

Am I the only one who wouldn’t be shocked if Cerundolo really works the old man here? He was up until probably 6am on Saturday night, bit of a brutal turnaround for him. The issue is I think he lacks the high end serve.

 

[nolefam_2024]

First time Novak is playing without roof this RG

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Am I the only one who wouldn’t be shocked if Cerundolo really works the old man here? He was up until probably 6am on Saturday night, bit of a brutal turnaround for him. The issue is I think he lacks the high end serve.

I would not be totally shocked. Unfortunately I cannot watch the match due to previous commitments. Enjoy the match, everyone.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Cerundolo is 6-3 vs top 10 players on clay.

 

[djokovic the conqueror]

It's gonna be another tough match for Djokovic because he has to play a morning match instead of getting a night match.

 

[onyxrose81]

It's gonna be another tough match for Djokovic because he has to play a morning match instead of getting a night match.

It’s after 4:00 pm in Paris. Don’t be ridiculous. This is the best time he could get, so he wouldn’t go late again.

 

[Sentinel]

Djokovic looking fresh as a daisy.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Perfect conditions for tennis

 

[junior74]

Djokovic makes two overheads in a row!

(not able to put them away, but two not missed in a row is huge)

 

[RF-18]

Good hold after 2 BPs down

 

[Kralingen]

Djokovic stretching his neck as if he’s trying to be a chiropractor or summat.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Djoko serve saved him there. Cerundolo close go early break.

 

[djokovic the conqueror]

Djokovic gets the important hold.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Djokovic stretching his neck as if he’s trying to be a chiropractor or summat.

I remember air wss RG 2020 where he had the neck issues before. He had a heat patch on.

 

[Hood_Man]

I sympathise Novak, I too get a bad neck when I wake up these days.

 

[heninfan99]

I love the drop shot but it's getting out of hand. lol