Djokovic v Nadal Final - Live

First topic message reminder :

*Now Live Final Discussion Here*

I am quite looking forward to the final at the moment. Opinions were mixed about their last gruelling meeting here, which made their US Open career head to head 1-1, but I personally thought it was their best match. The faster court encourages even defensive players to try a few aggressive shots, and the rivalry between the two is also in better balance than before, than when Djokovic was dominating it. We used to talk about Djok in Rafa’s head, mentally dominating, it’s not quite so clear cut now Rafa has a win on hard and won their last slam meeting, admittedly on clay and only just.

To my mind, whoever wins this is #1. Whoever wins it will be the only player with 2 slams in the calendar year. If Djokovic wins it he will be able to point to the official rankings, holding both hard court slams as well as the world tour finals, being perhaps a net touch away from the French Open as well, and a Wimbledon final.

If Rafa wins he will be clearly the best player in 2013, in both masters series (5-1 in such tournament wins vs Djokovic in 2013) as well as slams, and will be second in the rankings purely because of time out through to injury. He will be locker room #1 with the official rankings just needing some time to catch up to the truth. Djokovic cannot realistically claim to be the locker room #1 if he has only won the least important slam in the last 2 full years.

The rankings battle is now being engaged in terms of total weeks at number 1 as well, with Djokovic on course to catch Rafa up in a few weeks (both have about 100, Djokovic just under, Rafa just over).

10 Reasons Why Djokovic will win tomorrow:
1. The faster hard court should suit Djokovic a little more as he is relatively more aggressive – the fast speed makes it that bit harder for Nadal to chase down forehands struck out wide from the middle of the court, for instance.
2. Rafa hasn’t beaten him in a non-clay slam since 2010. Djokovic has come out on top in last three non-clay slam meetings.
3. The better backhand and the 2 hander response to Rafa’s high, spinny shots.
4. He is the number one player of the last 12 months.
5. His best on a hard court is better than anyone’s since 2011 - he has won 3 hard court slams since Rafa won one, and has a career total of 5 hard court slams compared to only 2 for Rafa.
6. He has often worked Rafa out tactically in the rivalry.
7. When Djokovic gets behind or has match points against him, he gets even better. The stadium of “the shot” could inspire again.
8. Djokovic very nearly beat him at the French Open, with the change of surface, Djokovic should be able to convert that into a victory.
9. New (since 2011) Djokovic leads the head to head 8-5. Results before then are when he was a lesser player.
10. Djokovic leads the career hard court head to head 11-6. Even the old, pre-peak Djokovic tended to beat peak Rafa on hard court at least half the time.

10 Reasons Why Nadal will win tomorrow:
1. He has won their last two slam meetings.
2. The better forehand.
3. Djokovic’s smash still slightly looks dodgy to me even though it hasn’t been exposed yet in this tournament, just one or two lost points can be costly in a tight match. It cost him last time, and he still hasn’t fixed it. You can bet Rafa will test it.
4. He is the number one player of 2013.
5. Nadal leads 21–15 in the rivalry. In Grand Slams, Nadal leads 7–3. In best-of-five matches, Nadal leads 8–3.
6. Rafa is much more the form player, having not lost on hard court this season.
7. He won their last head to head meeting on a hard court.
8. He has lost only one set on his way to the final, while Djokovic has last three. 6-7 is his worst set, but Djokovic’s losses were 2-6, 3-6 and 3-6 again.
9. Rafa had the easier semi final (although he did play second), so may have a little more energy for a 5-hour marathon.
10. Rafa has won double the number of slams in his career that Djokovic has (12-6).

Bookmakers are making Rafa the 60/40 or 55/45 favourite, but I am not sure about that, I think it is more like 50/50 and Djokovic’s hard court record and recent years head to head still counts for a lot.

I said Nole would bring his A game at some point. Think this is going to 5, guys

kingraf wrote:Dont have an aneurysm now, HM.  

Believe it or not, I'm laughing! I just knew that would happen and that it would probably involve a DF!

HM Murdoch wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:Of course, he'll probably break straight back...

Told you! If anything was predictable, it was Novak would have a brain fart,

HMM, why you quoting yourself? thats looks ridiculous . 

Monday Night Football about to start, and with it goes the ratings.

That 50-shot rally cost Djokovic the next game. He was catching his breath throughout most of the game, while Rafa didn't look even slightly tired. And sad to lose it also on a double fault which according to the commentary team was on a bad call.

Also, what is the deal with calling it "best break point ever". What silly hyperbole..

MNF at THIS time of night kingraf? What can they be showing? theres no PL this weekend...

invisiblecoolers wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:Of course, he'll probably break straight back...

Told you! If anything was predictable, it was Novak would have a brain fart,

HMM, why you quoting yourself? thats looks ridiculous . 

Because what I said referred back to my first comment!

Nadal's inside out forehand is beating Djoko's backhand at the moment.

If Nole loses this set, Im going to watch me some football

kingraf wrote:Monday Night Football about to start, and with it goes the ratings.

Nah, anyone turning this off doesn't deserve it

4-4, bug game Rafa, lets do this

Don't do it kingraf, you know you don't want to miss it

Two great forehands on either side of an unforced error of the wing.

big, not bug

OMG, Nadal's girl friend is damn beautiful, now WTA will lose to ATP in this aspect as well.

Eurosport pls don't show Rafa's girl friend again.  

Now Djoko's forehand is making big noise out there.

Makes a huge difference when Novak's swinging freely, his topspin is pretty underated

COME ON DJOKO!

best break point EVER!

I am gonna give this, Djoko's double hand backhand could be the best ever, I am finally falling in love with a double hand backhand.

While his forehand was deadly this game, its his backhand that finished the game.  

seriously EVER ! I watched every match in tennins history so I know that.

Novak is slowly and steadily starting to intimidate Rafa out.

Come on!

WAHOOOOO!!!

Nadal was being pushed back to way behind the baseline at the end of that set, needs to reassert himself in set 3!

Novak holds to make it 1-1, it seems more like Fed-Rafa cincy quarters, Fed was more powerful and skillfull yet didn't have the energy to finish it out when mattered, Djoko for me looks the similar, might just bow out if it goes 5.

So it becomes a three set shootout

Very nice standard set but for me Djokovic is in trouble with physical conditioning. Rafa looks like he could play 7 sets while Novak looks like he would struggle for 5. Not sure if Rafa has the best fitness or if it's the Warwinka effect or what. I think if it goes 5 Rafa might take it. I think Djokovic needs to be careful managing his fitness here.

The viewers are allowed a little nap in between the match, can we let Rafa and Djoko have a small nap before the start of the 3rd?  

Well that's the best Novak has played for months. Can he sustain it? Recent form suggests not but who knows?!

We have a game though!

posted at the same time IC but similar thoughts

Oh god, I'm not getting to bed am I?

falzy21 wrote:MNF at THIS time of night kingraf? What can they be showing? theres no PL this weekend...

NFL in the US I guess.

Breath taking forehand cross court return.

IC, Djokovic could do with a rest after Rafa's service games. This set however it will switch I think and the change of ends will be after Rafa's service games. Those are the ones with the titanic effect required and then let down risk afterwards due to gasping air, so maybe that could help him.

Bed time for me. Wow im going to regret this in the morning

Of course, fair enough we have a "soccer" programme of the same name

Now Djoko's double hand backhand is winning the contest vs Rafa's inside out forehands.

Henman Bill wrote:Very nice standard set but for me Djokovic is in trouble with physical conditioning. Rafa looks like he could play 7 sets while Novak looks like he would struggle for 5. Not sure if Rafa has the best fitness or if it's the Warwinka effect or what. I think if it goes 5 Rafa might take it. I think Djokovic needs to be careful managing his fitness here.

Doesn't Djoko always look like that though? Then he keeps going.

Where did this come from? thats 3 break of Nadal's serve in a row.

Breaks to love!!!

Rafa broken once all tournament and now Novak does it 3 times in a row!

NickisBHAFC wrote:Bed time for me. Wow im going to regret this in the morning

Not to panic, it might be on till u wake up in the morning  , so go for a quick nap.

Novak is a fantastic returner. Bit scared now

stop the bleeding!

Is this the greatest hold ever?  

Djoko clearly intimidated Rafa with that small passage of play from the mid of 2nd set, Rafa is either nervous or tired, he is breathing very hard in between serves.

Rafa's forehand is bowing and worshiping Djoko's backhand.

Rafa's backhand looks pale in comparison to Nole's backhand and now Nole's forehand has stepped it up to go equal with Rafa's forehand.