Zverev played an ok match, but Djokovic clearly looked like he stopped trying from 3-2 in the second set

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
You don't just suddenly get broken back to love, lose 9 straight points, 8 straight games and 10 of the last 11 games without a) an injury b) not trying. This was after winning the first set 6-1 and 9 of the first 12 games.

He barely looked like he cared in the final set. Wasn't running for balls, was hitting tame balls with no pace, wasn't as expressive on the court as he was in the first set. It was reminiscent of Federer in the final set against Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he looked like he stopped trying. This is very unlike Djokovic.

Zverev played a decent match, but if Djokovic was actually trying as hard as he did in set 1, this would have been a straight sets victory without question.

What do you think?
 
D

Deleted member 743561

Guest
You don't just suddenly get broken back to love, lose 9 straight points, 8 straight games and 10 of the last 11 games without a) an injury b) not trying. This was after winning the first set 6-1 and 9 of the first 12 games.

He barely looked like he cared in the final set. Wasn't running for balls, was hitting tame balls with no pace, wasn't as expressive on the court as he was in the first set. It was reminiscent of Federer in the final set against Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he looked like he stopped trying. This is very unlike Djokovic.

Zverev played a decent match, but if Djokovic was actually trying as hard as he did in set 1, this would have been a straight sets victory without question.

What do you think?
Do you consider him the moral gold medalist?
 

Fabresque

Legend
I don’t think it’s anything to really write home about. He’s had many matches in the past where he gives up because he can’t see himself winning. Zverev really turned another gear to get the second set. I think Novak would’ve assumed he would falter in the third and he’d take the match easily at that point, like so many other times against opponents and even Zverev himself, but when he didn’t Djokovic got increasingly more frustrated and when he went down a double break he basically stopped trying.
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
Dunno if he was gassed, choking or plain old uninspired, but he went away very meekly for a player of his calibre.

Well, age and unexpected losses go hand in hand.

He served crap, that's for sure. Very far from his lofty AO serving peak.
 

tex123

Hall of Fame
You don't just suddenly get broken back to love, lose 9 straight points, 8 straight games and 10 of the last 11 games without a) an injury b) not trying. This was after winning the first set 6-1 and 9 of the first 12 games.

He barely looked like he cared in the final set. Wasn't running for balls, was hitting tame balls with no pace, wasn't as expressive on the court as he was in the first set. It was reminiscent of Federer in the final set against Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he looked like he stopped trying. This is very unlike Djokovic.

Zverev played a decent match, but if Djokovic was actually trying as hard as he did in set 1, this would have been a straight sets victory without question.

What do you think?
Did he not yell out at his camp? That was supposed to do the trick and fire him up? It almost always does. Or he breaks rackets. Except Zv was on fire too. He was beaten by a better player. Heat and humidity played a part but conditions are the same for both.
 

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
The way he lost was something you not expect a guy to lose especially being on a hot streak which included 2 back to back grand slam wins, I thought only a really close one will he lose but losing 8-9 games on the trot didn't saw that coming, that's why I think all this novak wins last 2 months were mentally where he won as game wise he is no way close to peak but today when mentally he was off then he was taken to the cleaners easily, that set point rafa lost at Rg was the catalyst for the slams he won had rafa won that point won't have been surprised him easily running away with the win in 4th
 

big ted

Legend
i didnt see the match but if he was injured wouldnt he just do his MTOs like hes done before??
or does he only use those when hes healthy?
maybe he just ran out of gas
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic was physically SPENT and he almost tanked the match.
His target is the UsOpen. The rest of the ATP needs to be very afraid of the Novak in NYC.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
You don't just suddenly get broken back to love, lose 9 straight points, 8 straight games and 10 of the last 11 games without a) an injury b) not trying. This was after winning the first set 6-1 and 9 of the first 12 games.

He barely looked like he cared in the final set. Wasn't running for balls, was hitting tame balls with no pace, wasn't as expressive on the court as he was in the first set. It was reminiscent of Federer in the final set against Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he looked like he stopped trying. This is very unlike Djokovic.

Zverev played a decent match, but if Djokovic was actually trying as hard as he did in set 1, this would have been a straight sets victory without question.

What do you think?
I think that you should substitute the picture in your avatar for one of another player weeping.
 
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
He’s not the warrior he’s made out to be. He’s just a human. They lose matches. And Zod knows how to play tennis.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Heat and humidity played a part but conditions are the same for both.
Except that Zverev is a decade younger than Novak. Djokovic is almost certainly the fittest and most flexible 34 year old tennis player ever, but as he gets older, the losses are going to mount up. It's impossible that won't happen unless he retires tomorrow. He's historically had issues in heat and humidity as everyone knows.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
maybe... but meanwhile rafa is fresh as a daisy so we'll see :unsure:
Don't expect much from Nadal. Withdrew from Wimbledon and his game is nowhere it needs to be. On top of that he looks out of shape and put on weight.
Lastly, even peak Nadal's had issues on hardcourts with tons of players. I feel Nadal had better chances at the Wimbledon, as the competition was much lesser there.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
On the contrary, they saw that he can be beaten, and won't **** their pants as much before they even step onto the court. Djoker made his CYGS campaign more difficult.
Let's see. Best of 3 typically says nothing about slams best of 5. I've been more disappointed with next gen. Thiem is AWOL. Titspas is mentally gone after F.O. Med is not playing great as well.
 

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
Do you consider him the moral gold medalist?
Not really. It just looked like he stopped trying and tanked (for whatever reason), or an injury. Saving himself for the US Open perhaps? I'm not sure. Until Zverev beats Djokovic in a best of 5 where Djokovic is trying his hardest, wins like this are irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Djoker made his CYGS campaign more difficult.

It works both ways. Some pressure is off with Golden off the table. But now we have to see how much confidence Zed has gained from this. Looks like Zed may finally be ready for Best Of Five win in NYC.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Not really. It just looked like he stopped trying and tanked (for whatever reason), or an injury. Saving himself for the US Open perhaps? I'm not sure. Until Zverev beats Djokovic in a best of 5 where Djokovic is trying his hardest, wins like this are irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

He announced Gold was important to him. It makes no sense that he would give anything less than 100% effort. He is fighting for his country.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Djokovic: ‘I Can Recover And Win At Least One Medal’

 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
When your opponent hits huge, and deep again and again, and you can't get much going on their serve with your usual piercing return it does certainly create the appearance that you're not trying. You look at the way he played for a set and a half, and look at the fact that he came out and played a mixed match a little bit later, and he certainly wasn't injured. Sometimes anyone can get their ass kicked.
 

Goosehead

Legend
ran out of energy, mental/physical, plus humid weather and being in covid bubble, but also..

since may 10th played 28 singles matches and however fit he is he's still 34yr old..
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Djokovic: ‘I Can Recover And Win At Least One Medal’

Quoting Novak (from the article):
“Tough day, a really tough day," Djokovic said. "I feel so terrible right now. I was leading [by] a set then a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves.

“I [have] got to give him credit for turning (the) match around. He served extremely well. I mean I was not getting too many looks on the second serve. My serve just drastically dropped. I didn’t get any free points from 3-2 up in the second. My game fell apart.

“To play someone of his quality, of his level, it's just too tough to win a match (like that). It’s just sport. He played better.”

That's sports. That's life. Zverev really picked up his game. (The first set score of 6-1 was earned by Novak, but a bit misleading, as Zverev was playing pretty well.)
 

TopspintheTerrible

Hall of Fame
I heard a rumor the morning of the AO final, Medvedev ate a blueberry muffin which contained a rare form of Australian blueberries which made him sick. Medvedev was unstoppable all tournament & then loses in straights? Nope, no way, no how. Joker was playing a sick man who couldn’t give his all.

So as far as I’m concerned, Djokovic is still @ 19 GS. Demz da rules.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Anyone who watched the match up until the point Zverev took over knew the scoreline was misleading. Novak GOATed in the first set and, despite that, Zverev was in every service game and pretty much broke himself with mental lapses the times he lost serve.

As soon as Zverev started zoning, it was looking bad for Novak.
 

SonnyT

Legend
Zverev played tremendous. I knew Nole lost all rhythm when he couldn't find a first serve, and all his forehands went awry. It reminded me of his '20 RG final match with Nadal, when he couldn't find his rhythm at all.

No big deal. If it were bo5, he would've found his rhythm in the 4th set, and the 5th set would decide the winner.
 
I did, I just said, 'Zverev played trememdous.'

Also reminds of the Cecchinato match at '18 RG, where the Italian played a tremendous match. But of course Zed is several rungs above Nato in talent.
Zverev is a multi slam and champ and future no1. Once he fixes his brain and mentality he can dominate the tour I think. He has all the tools and big weapons.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
I agree, and I wish he find his game sooner, rather than later.
As a Novak/Rafa fan...who prefers many other players to Z as well...I wish for "later".
(Now, the pure tennis fan in me would like to see him fulfill more of his vast potential.)
 

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
Zverev is a multi slam and champ and future no1. Once he fixes his brain and mentality he can dominate the tour I think. He has all the tools and big weapons.
He won't dominate anything in his late 20's/30's. He needs to be doing it now, at 24, which is the age at which all the big 3 had won multiple slams. Also I'm going to go out on a limb and say he will never fix his mentality.

I just think this match doesn't tell us anything. Djokovic switched off mentally after the break in the 2nd, it was weird to see. If Djokovic kept that same level from the 1st set, no way he would have lost this.
 
D

Deleted member 629564

Guest
Djokovic: ‘I Can Recover And Win At Least One Medal’

It smells like Djokovic is smartly shifting the discussion: it's not an individual tournament, it's the countries competition.
That's one thing.

The another thing is how Fedal people react to this. They are supposed to make another goalpost shift and since now start claiming that Olympics are very important: Nadal has gold medal, Federer has gold medal, Djokovic nothing more than bronze.

Interesting times ahead of us.
 
He won't dominate anything in his late 20's/30's. He needs to be doing it now, at 24, which is the age at which all the big 3 had won multiple slams. Also I'm going to go out on a limb and say he will never fix his mentality.

I just think this match doesn't tell us anything. Djokovic switched off mentally after the break in the 2nd, it was weird to see. If Djokovic kept that same level from the 1st set, no way he would have lost this.
Got to give Zverev some credit for turning it around though. We still have to see what he does in the best of 5 format. You right he did benefit a bit from Djokovic level dropping but other opponents couldn’t punish this like Zverev did today. We will see what happens at us open.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
It smells like Djokovic is smartly shifting the discussion: it's not an individual tournament, it's the countries competition.
That's one thing.

The another thing is how Fedal people react to this. They are supposed to make another goalpost shift and since now start claiming that Olympics are very important: Nadal has gold medal, Federer has gold medal, Djokovic nothing more than bronze.

Interesting times ahead of us.
I don't know that Novak shifted anything; I do think he's a little crushed to not have a shot at gold, but a bronze or two would salvage some pride.

Ihear you, but s for shifting goalposts, after about three years here, lazy talking points have never been intetesting.
 

R. Schweikart

Professional
You don't just suddenly get broken back to love, lose 9 straight points, 8 straight games and 10 of the last 11 games without a) an injury b) not trying. This was after winning the first set 6-1 and 9 of the first 12 games.

He barely looked like he cared in the final set. Wasn't running for balls, was hitting tame balls with no pace, wasn't as expressive on the court as he was in the first set. It was reminiscent of Federer in the final set against Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he looked like he stopped trying. This is very unlike Djokovic.

Zverev played a decent match, but if Djokovic was actually trying as hard as he did in set 1, this would have been a straight sets victory without question.

What do you think?

Reminds me of Navratilova at the AO 84 or Serena at the USO 15.
Both "froze" because the Grand Slam was too big a mental mountain for them.
We saw the same today with Nole.
 

Jack the Hack

Hall of Fame
Quoting Novak (from the article):
“Tough day, a really tough day," Djokovic said. "I feel so terrible right now. I was leading [by] a set then a break and he managed to turn the match around. He served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves.

“I [have] got to give him credit for turning (the) match around. He served extremely well. I mean I was not getting too many looks on the second serve. My serve just drastically dropped. I didn’t get any free points from 3-2 up in the second. My game fell apart.

“To play someone of his quality, of his level, it's just too tough to win a match (like that). It’s just sport. He played better.”

That's sports. That's life. Zverev really picked up his game. (The first set score of 6-1 was earned by Novak, but a bit misleading, as Zverev was playing pretty well.)

If he wants to win the CYGS, Djokovic needs to pay me immediately to join his team.

I have figured out that Novak pretty much only plays well and wins when I am watching. This usually only happens when I am cheering for his opponent, but eerily, I've discovered that it's all the time. For example, at the French this year, I saw online that he had lost the first two sets against Musetti, so I tuned in... and then Novak won almost every game after than. The same thing happened in the final. I decided not to watch, but when I saw the live scoring showing that Tsitsipas was up two sets to love, I decided to watch, and then Djokovic turned the match around and won in 5 sets! This same thing has happened countless times, so it's proven!

Last night, I stayed up late to see the match. I watched the first set and then when Novak went up a break at 3-2 and Zverev broke his racquet in frustration, I thought "well, this match is done" and turned off the TV to get some sleep.

"My serve just drastically dropped. I didn’t get any free points from 3-2 up in the second. My game fell apart."

This is not a coincidence that his game tanked right after I stopped watching.

I'm sorry Novak. I got tired and it was almost 2:00 AM, so I couldn't watch anymore. But I'll watch every US Open match if you pay me. How much is the CYGS worth to you?

Alert to any Djokovic opponents: The offer goes both ways. You can pay me to NOT watch you play Novak, thus guaranteeing that he will play poorly. Let me know and I'll send you the wire transfer details. I'm magic.
 

merwy

G.O.A.T.
Wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out later that he sustained an injury during the match. The drop in level and attitude is too much for it to be a natural fluctuation during the match
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
That would seem very plausible.

Wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out later that he sustained an injury during the match. The drop in level and attitude is too much for it to be a natural fluctuation during the match
 
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