USO 2020 Top 4 Draws

[TripleATeam]

Djokovic (1):
R1: Dzumhur
R2: Edmund
R3: Struff
R4: PCB/Isner
QF: Shapo/Krajinovic/Goffin
SF: Tsitsipas/Zverev
F: Medvedev/Thiem/RBA

Thiem (2):
R1: Munar
R2: Nagal
R3: Cilic
R4: FAA/Murray
QF: Khachanov/Raonic/RBA
SF: Medvedev/Berrettini
F: Djokovic/Tsitsipas/Zverev

Medvedev (3):
R1: Delbonis
R2: Djere
R3: Pella
R4: Dimitrov
QF: Berrettini/Rublev
SF: Thiem/RBA/Murray
F: Djokovic/Tsitsipas/Zverev

Tsitsipas (4):
R1: ARV
R2: Kovalik
R3: Coric
R4: Lajovic/Garin
QF: Zverev/Schwartzman
SF: Djokovic
F: Thiem/Medvedev

 

[Tenacity]

Djokovic-Berrettini final

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic-Berrettini final

That would be epic.

 

[mike danny]

Tsitsipas has a really manageable draw until the semis. He shouldn't lose before then. Unless he pulls a 2017 Zverev and loses to Coric.

 

[Tenacity]

That would be epic.

Novak gonna slay

 

[NoleFam]

One thing no one is talking about I want to bring up: no crowd. There will be no crowd to distract Djokovic and rile up his opponents. With a good draw and that factor gone, he's a big favorite if he can avoid injury.

 

[Hitman]

Novak gonna slay

Time to get the wings and beer for a Novak v Berrettini final - Will be great tennis!

 

[Hitman]

One thing no one is talking about I want to bring up: no crowd. There will be no crowd to distract Djokovic and rile up his opponents. With a good draw and that factor gone, he's a big favorite if he can avoid injury.

Have you seen how many FH DTL winners Novak has been clobbering in his last few matches? He is timing the ball sweetly. Seriously, these new USO courts look ideal for his game, certainly helping him rather than hindering.

 

[The Guru]

Have you seen how many FH DTL winners Novak has been clobbering in his last few matches? He is timing the ball sweetly. Seriously, these new USO courts look ideal for his game, certainly helping him rather than hindering.

Key is first serve return. That's the only piece that I haven't seen yet in 2020. If he faces baseline guys it doesn't matter but if Med/Zverev serve huge and play solid from the back they could trouble Djoko if his return isn't on.

 

[TripleATeam]

My analysis:

Djokovic looks to be a lock for the semifinal, with a not-bad player in the QF. I don't think Tsitsipas (who will also likely breeze into the SF, maybe with a challenge in the QF) will be super effective against Djokovic, but we will see in the Cincy final (if they make it). Then it'll be down to Med or Thiem to stop him.

Speaking of, Thiem's draw is killer. Not only does he have former champ Cilic in R3, former champion Murray (who played decently in Cincy) or rising star FAA in R4, a well-playing Raonic or RBA in the QF, and last year's finalist Medvedev in the SF. Assuming he gets through all that, he still needs to go through Novak Djokovic, who will likely have had the easier SF. I wouldn't even necessarily call him the favorite against Medvedev.

As for Medvedev, he's got a decent pair of players in R4 and QF, but I expect him to make the semis with Thiem. Thiem might be tired, but he also might have worked himself into form. Will likely be a close match, but if he makes it to Djokovic, he's more likely to win in my opinion - not the least because of his easier draw. He'll be less tired and more able to go the distance against Djokovic.

 

[Hitman]

Key is first serve return. That's the only piece that I haven't seen yet in 2020. If he faces baseline guys it doesn't matter but if Med/Zverev serve huge and play solid from the back they could trouble Djoko if his return isn't on.

Have to keep in mind that he wouldn't be playing those guys until possibly semi or final, by then he will be rounding into form. As good as he is, he can still get better, and with the draw ahead of him, he had every chance of that.

 

[Deleted member 774223]

Bottom half looks stronger at first glance. Djokovic and Tsitsipas will be pleased with what they got, especially having gone far in Cincinnati already.

Part of me wants to see Thiem lose early just for the laughs after all the tennis he played during the lockdown. But it would be boring if Djokovic gets to the final and faces someone a lot worse than him there.

 

[Hitman]

My analysis:

Djokovic looks to be a lock for the semifinal, with a not-bad player in the QF. I don't think Tsitsipas (who will also likely breeze into the SF, maybe with a challenge in the QF) will be super effective against Djokovic, but we will see in the Cincy final (if they make it). Then it'll be down to Med or Thiem to stop him.

Speaking of, Thiem's draw is killer. Not only does he have former champ Cilic in R3, former champion Murray (who played decently in Cincy) or rising star FAA in R4, a well-playing Raonic or RBA in the QF, and last year's finalist Medvedev in the SF. Assuming he gets through all that, he still needs to go through Novak Djokovic, who will likely have had the easier SF. I wouldn't even necessarily call him the favorite against Medvedev.

As for Medvedev, he's got a decent pair of players in R4 and QF, but I expect him to make the semis with Thiem. Thiem might be tired, but he also might have worked himself into form. Will likely be a close match, but if he makes it to Djokovic, he's more likely to win in my opinion - not the least because of his easier draw. He'll be less tired and more able to go the distance against Djokovic.

You put Medvedev over Djokovic in the final?

 

[TripleATeam]

Bottom half looks stronger at first glance. Djokovic and Tsitsipas will be pleased with what they got, especially having gone far in Cincinnati already.

Part of me wants to see Thiem lose early just for the laughs after all the tennis he played during the lockdown. But it would be boring if Djokovic gets to the final and faces someone a lot worse than him there.

Definitely bottom half is stronger, but quarter 4 in particular. Quarter 3 seems about as strong as (slightly more, but in the ballpark) of both quarter 1 and 2. Quarter 4 is just a quarter of death.

Plus, Medvedev is at least on the level with Thiem, especially with what we saw in Cincy.

 

[TripleATeam]

You put Medvedev over Djokovic in the final?

No, definitely not. In my eyes, he's just the most likely to push Djokovic this tournament. I'd take Djokovic over Med maybe 75-25, varying depending on what I see in the final rounds.

 

[Breakpointerer]

You put Medvedev over Djokovic in the final?

Think he meant that Med has a better shot than Thiem.

 

[Hitman]

No, definitely not. In my eyes, he's just the most likely to push Djokovic this tournament. I'd take Djokovic over Med maybe 75-25, varying depending on what I see in the final rounds.

Agree. I think Djokovic has become an absolute mental rock in the slam finals now, even more than before. Beating him will require an incredible day of quality tennis.

 

[NoleFam]

Have you seen how many FH DTL winners Novak has been clobbering in his last few matches? He is timing the ball sweetly. Seriously, these new USO courts look ideal for his game, certainly helping him rather than hindering.

Yea some of those forehands he hit against Struff were crazy, especially those ones where Struff hit a backhand down the line and then Djokovic crushed a forehand down the line behind him. I definitely think faster hardcourts are better for Nole than slower ones at this point in his career. He's less likely to be drawn into a grindfest with a much younger opponent plus they accentuate his serve and ability to absorb pace and redirect it into a shot that's hard for his opponent to handle.

 

[StrongRule]

Agree. I think Djokovic has become an absolute mental rock in the slam finals now, even more than before. Beating him will require an incredible day of quality tennis.

In his last 2 slam finals he was vulnerable. The problem is that nobody in the current field can take advantage of that. He will win USO and RG this year even if he breaks a leg.

 

[Hitman]

Yea some of those forehands he hit against Struff were crazy, especially those ones where Struff hit a backhand down the line and then Djokovic crushed a forehand down the line behind him. I definitely think faster hardcourts are better for Nole than slower ones at this point in his career. He's less likely to be drawn into a grindfest with a much younger opponent plus they accentuate his serve and ability to absorb pace and redirect it into a shot that's hard for his opponent to handle.

Good to see relatively faster courts at the USO again. Djokovic bringing out his attacking tennis, breathtaking to watch at times.

 

[Hitman]

In his last 2 slam finals he was vulnerable. The problem is that nobody in the current field can take advantage of that. He will win USO and RG this year even if he breaks a leg.

He was vulnerable from a game perspective, but mentally he was still rock solid and that is what I am saying, to beat him the consistency in high quality play needs to be there for whole duration of a match, which isn't easy, because Novak isn't going away mentally.

 

[NoleFam]

Good to see relatively faster courts at the USO again. Djokovic bringing out his attacking tennis, breathtaking to watch at times.

Likewise and yea it is. I hope the show courts don't play too slow though.

 

[Hitman]

Likewise and yea it is. I hope the show courts don't play too slow though.

They might play a little, but I doubt it. Novak has been practising on them already, and his timing isn't off at all on the outside courts. Normally you can see the differences, he's doing just fine.

 

[tennis_pro]

That would be epic.

it sure would, Hitman, it sure would

 

[Hitman]

it sure would, Hitman, it sure would

Would you in the match thread, it would slay.

 

[Tennisbg]

Which half will start first ?

 

[Hitman]

Which half will start first ?

Normally it's been the top half of the mens and bottom half of the women.

 

[Nadal_Django]

Key is first serve return. That's the only piece that I haven't seen yet in 2020. If he faces baseline guys it doesn't matter but if Med/Zverev serve huge and play solid from the back they could trouble Djoko if his return isn't on.

His return position was very unusual against the big serving Struff. Watching Djokovic for so many years, i've never seen him standing so deep behind the baseline like he was doing yesterday, waiting for the opponents first delivery. I don't know if that was just an one off, or some future tactics deployable against the big serving opponents...

 

[tennis_pro]

Would you in the match thread, it would slay.

I would be waiting on the previous match to finish to create that final match thread like a pro beta male waiting on a 30+ year old single woman posting a pic of her duck face on instagram.

 

[Hitman]

I would be waiting on the previous match to finish to create that final match thread like a pro beta male waiting on a 30+ year old single woman posting a pic of her duck face on instagram.

LMAO - If anyone else makes a similar thread, we'll get it deleted.

 

[tennis_pro]

LMAO - If anyone else makes a similar thread, we'll get it deleted.

thank you it means a lot

 

[Deleted member 774170]

I would be waiting on the previous match to finish to create that final match thread like a pro beta male waiting on a 30+ year old single woman posting a pic of her duck face on instagram.

I would proudly simp for Don Berrettini

 

[Deleted member 629564]

Thiem (2):
R3: Cilic
R4: FAA/Murray
QF: Khachanov/Raonic/RBA

Thiem's got the hardest draw.
Triple: Cilic-Murray-Raonic between Saturday and Wednesday could make him quite tired. Departure before SF highly probable.

 

[DSH]

Let see if Thiem can bring his A- game to the Open. If not, he can be in trouble if he face someone like Cilic who has nothing to lose.

 

[Federev]

Djokovic (1):
R1: Dzumhur
R2: Edmund
R3: Struff
R4: PCB/Isner
QF: Shapo/Krajinovic/Goffin
SF: Tsitsipas/Zverev
F: Djokovic

Thiem (2):
R1: Munar
R2: Nagal
R3: Cilic
R4: FAA/Murray
QF: Khachanov/Raonic/RBA
SF: Medvedev/Berrettini
F: Djokovic

Medvedev (3):
R1: Delbonis
R2: Djere
R3: Pella
R4: Dimitrov
QF: Berrettini/Rublev
SF: Thiem/RBA/Murray
F: Djokovic

Tsitsipas (4):
R1: ARV
R2: Kovalik
R3: Coric
R4: Lajovic/Garin
QF: Zverev/Schwartzman
SF: Djokovic
F: Djokovic

Fixed it for you.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Thiem's draw is brutal.

 

[EzekielTennis]

He was vulnerable from a game perspective, but mentally he was still rock solid and that is what I am saying, to beat him the consistency in high quality play needs to be there for whole duration of a match, which isn't easy, because Novak isn't going away mentally.

Novak is mentally tougher than any player. That's why I admire him. It must be taxing though to be mentally tough. It's probably why he meditates.

 

[Hitman]

Novak is mentally tougher than any player. That's why I admire him. It must be taxing though to be mentally tough. It's probably why he meditates.

At the moment, that is unquestionable.

 

[MichaelNadal]

At the moment, that is unquestionable.

Never seen anyone give less of a toss about being down match points. It's ridiculous. Had he been 5% less clutch, Nadal would have won Wimby 18, Fed Wimby 19, etc. That last point is the hardest one to win against him.

 

[Hitman]

Never seen anyone give less of a toss about being down match points. It's ridiculous. Had he been 5% less clutch, Nadal would have won Wimby 18, Fed Wimby 19, etc. That last point is the hardest one to win against him.

Incredible that both Nadal and Federer took him to basically the edge in back to back years and here he is, with those two slams that SHOULD have been theirs, in his trophy cabinet because he just turns into Rambo when he is MP down.

Strange to think, those two passes against Fedal could be what brings him the slam record...Inches...

 

[MichaelNadal]

Incredible that both Nadal and Federer took him to basically the edge in back to back years and here he is, with those two slams that SHOULD have been theirs, in his trophy cabinet because he just turns into Rambo when he is MP down.

Strange to think, those two passes against Fedal could be what brings him the slam record...Inches...

I wish I didn't like the Wimby 18 match so much lol. Those blown set points really hurt. Nadal winning Wimby again after 8 years would have been epic af.

 

[Hitman]

I wish I didn't like the Wimby 18 match so much lol. Those blown set points really hurt. Nadal winning Wimby again after 8 years would have been epic af.

You know me, I have been cheering Djokovic on here before his breakout 2011 year, and I will say it honestly, Rafa should have won that match. That was his title. I saw the match again about three week ago, had it running in the background while I was doing other things, and seriously was shaking my head how Rafa didn't win it.

 

[Milanez82]

In his last 2 slam finals he was vulnerable. The problem is that nobody in the current field can take advantage of that. He will win USO and RG this year even if he breaks a leg.

Did you just write Djoko would beat Rafa on one leg on clay???

 

[StrongRule]

Did you just write Djoko would beat Rafa on one leg on clay???

Nadal is not going to play this year.

 

[MusterCoriaKuerten]

Smells like a Djokovic versus Medvedev final

 

[MichaelNadal]

You know me, I have been cheering Djokovic on here before his breakout 2011 year, and I will say it honestly, Rafa should have won that match. That was his title. I saw the match again about three week ago, had it running in the background while I was doing other things, and seriously was shaking my head how Rafa didn't win it.

lol He was playing crispy, first strike tennis.

 

[TripleATeam]

Thiem's got the hardest draw.
Triple: Cilic-Murray-Raonic between Saturday and Wednesday could make him quite tired. Departure before SF highly probable.

Easily. Quarter 4 is the quarter of death. Thiem will be lucky to make the SF, and then he's got at best a 25% chance at the title.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Hard for me to see Thiem or Medvedev making the final tbh

 

[Lleytonstation]

Smells like a Djokovic versus Medvedev final

That would be fine.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Hard for me to see Thiem or Medvedev making the final tbh

Djoker vs Lajovic final incoming....