Finally the final World Tour Finals Final Thread

[JuliusHMarx]

First topic message reminder :

You heard it hear first. Popcorn available in the lobby.

[CAS]

Rafa saves 2 virtual match points

[Danny_1982]

If Rafa hangs on here... You just never know!

He's dragged himself through sheer force of will before.

[socal1976]

Nadal really having trouble reading Djoko's serve tonight

[Johnyjeep]

What Fed would give for a Rafa performance like this! Psychology must be so important for Rafa. Been so poor.

Novak is on fire and making him look poor, the better question is what would fed give to have novak's two handed backhand and Novak's return of serve.

Lol true. But Nadal has served 4 DFs in the first set. That's in the mind. A lot of errors have been so basic. Djokovic is playing better clearly but also has many gears he could go through if necessary. Possibly Nadal wants this too much?

No I don't know about a big match player like Nadal wanting it too much not his first rodeo. Novak is playing a blindingly good second set, he just feels the ball much better on the strings today and on current form

But Socal, this is pretty much his first Rodeo here. I think this is the 5th most important trophy in tennis. Certainly from an individual pov. It's so hard to win. And this is only the 2nd time he has made the final? He's in the form of his life (for this part of the year). I think this maybe his best chance of winning this trophy.

[Guest]

Brilliant point.

[socal1976]

Lot of 40-0 and 40-15 holds for Djoko tonight against a great returner and defender

[socal1976]

What Fed would give for a Rafa performance like this! Psychology must be so important for Rafa. Been so poor.

Novak is on fire and making him look poor, the better question is what would fed give to have novak's two handed backhand and Novak's return of serve.

Lol true. But Nadal has served 4 DFs in the first set. That's in the mind. A lot of errors have been so basic. Djokovic is playing better clearly but also has many gears he could go through if necessary. Possibly Nadal wants this too much?

No I don't know about a big match player like Nadal wanting it too much not his first rodeo. Novak is playing a blindingly good second set, he just feels the ball much better on the strings today and on current form

But Socal, this is pretty much his first Rodeo here. I think this is the 5th most important trophy in tennis. Certainly from an individual pov. It's so hard to win. And this is only the 2nd time he has made the final? He's in the form of his life (for this part of the year). I think this maybe his best chance of winning this trophy.

I don't think he is that nervous one guy just is hitting the ball better that is what this rivalry is about who brings it on the given day and Novak is bringing it. Also Novak is just a better indoor player he has won every big indoor tournament at least twice.

[Guest]

That was a really interesting second serve to win the game.

[socal1976]

Match point come on Novak,

[socal1976]

Nadal is one tough nut to crack

[Johnyjeep]

What Fed would give for a Rafa performance like this! Psychology must be so important for Rafa. Been so poor.

Novak is on fire and making him look poor, the better question is what would fed give to have novak's two handed backhand and Novak's return of serve.

Lol true. But Nadal has served 4 DFs in the first set. That's in the mind. A lot of errors have been so basic. Djokovic is playing better clearly but also has many gears he could go through if necessary. Possibly Nadal wants this too much?

No I don't know about a big match player like Nadal wanting it too much not his first rodeo. Novak is playing a blindingly good second set, he just feels the ball much better on the strings today and on current form

But Socal, this is pretty much his first Rodeo here. I think this is the 5th most important trophy in tennis. Certainly from an individual pov. It's so hard to win. And this is only the 2nd time he has made the final? He's in the form of his life (for this part of the year). I think this maybe his best chance of winning this trophy.

I don't think he is that nervous one guy just is hitting the ball better that is what this rivalry is about who brings it on the given day and Novak is bringing it. Also Novak is just a better indoor player he has won every big indoor tournament at least twice.

All true, just expected a bit more from Rafa to be honest.

[Guest]

Well saved from Nadal

[socal1976]

Who are these aholes with the flash photos?

[kingraf]

Having realised I actually have no idea as to where cool kids hang out on Mondays, I've returned to the beauty that is the couch to watch the last rights. Been a super performance from Djokovic second set, anyone but Nadal and it would have been a bagel.

Only real bright side to this as a Nadal fan is that Grand Slams aren't played indoors!! Sets up an interesting 2014, with these behemoths ending 2013 3-3.

[Guest]

Great point from Nadal. Can Djokovic serve this match out.

[TopoftheChops]

vamos rafa

[socal1976]

Agree KR, what a fight it will be next year. Plus lets not count our chickens novak has not won yet.

[HM Murdock]

Novak's break point conversion has been poor this year but I have to admit that tonight Rafa is saving them rather than Novak blowing them.

[TRuffin]

Nadals best chance to win WTF is slipping away IMO...

[Guest]

Who are these aholes with the flash photos?

Didn't HawkEye say she was going to the match (not to say that ...)?

[CAS]

Andrew Castle saying over and over again Rafa isn't moving well as his knee is obviously hurting him, I wish Rafa could lose a match without it getting mentioned. No fault of his own here though

[socal1976]

One down three to go

[socal1976]

Andrew castle is an idiot, two down two to go

[LuvSports!]

Don't agree with that at all KR. All nadal has done is run.

[LuvSports!]

Sack AC! Sack AC! Sack AC!

[socal1976]

He looked like he moved pretty well on that running passing shot on the dead sprint

[Guest]

Bit of Nadal magic there.

[TopoftheChops]

great forehand

[Guest]

Well played Nadal 30-30

[socal1976]

Match point great slicer out wide, nice serve Nole on a big point

[socal1976]

Nadal really fighting hard credit to him

[kingraf]

which part didnt you agree with, LS?

[TopoftheChops]

fight rafa fight

[Guest]

Awesome from Nadal to save the second championship point (fantastic return)

[socal1976]

Eat that ace says Djokovic, get that sucker

[LuvSports!]

Come on Nole, this scoreline flatters Rafa so much. End it now!

[Guest]

Brilliant

[kingraf]

I have lost my feed!!!! Twitter down as well... all on you 606, to guide me through the last point or so

[LuvSports!]

YAY!

[socal1976]

Great defense by Djoko on match point Nadal hit a great return and had novak slicing the forehand. Congrats Nole

[Guest]

Well done Djokovic  

Good luck for 2014. If he keeps focused he could have a chance for a calendar slam - but maybe Rafa will have something to say on that (but not many others have).

[socal1976]

Two desperate slice forehands by djoko to stay in that point and Nadal pulls the third inside out forehand wide, state of the match 70 percent of second serve points won for djokovic to 50 percent for Nadal. 19 winners v. 21 errors for Novak. 6 aces to 0 aces for Nadal. Comprehensive victory.

[CAS]

if he wins the Davis Cup as well, what a response from losing Wimbledon and US Open finals, would have broken most men. He has been a hair away from almost winning everything! Credit to Nadal for doing the same

[Johnyjeep]

Listening to Castle is painful. His need to go into hyperbole is embarrassing.

'Absolutely, undeniably, the best player....er er this week'. You almost heard him stutter when he realised he's not currently number 1 in the world. Or had the best season out the two. He got stuck with where to go with it.

[kingraf]

great season. Sets things up night nicely for 2013. Will in all likelihood be off 606 until about February unless by some miracle Ethiopia has some internet connection in the two weeks I'm there, or I'm not arrested again in a Mozambican/ Zimbabwean/Angolan prison. Happy holidays to you all, and stay safe.

[invisiblecoolers]

Congrats Nole on winning the title 3rd time and defending it successfully.   

[Guest]

Great celebrations from Djokovic - finishing on a great high. He won a slam but could have won four - so a disappointing season compared to the opportunities he made for himself.

[invisiblecoolers]

great season. Sets things up night nicely for 2013. Will in all likelihood be off 606 until about February unless by some miracle Ethiopia has some internet connection in the two weeks I'm there, or I'm not arrested again in a Mozambican/ Zimbabwean/Angolan prison. Happy holidays to you all, and stay safe.

  

[socal1976]

Tough year for Novak, was so close at RG again this year but 1 slam, WTF finals win, 7 tournaments and two slam finals is nothing to shake a stick at. Davis Cup win and ending the season 24-0 should certainly be a great springboard for next year.

[socal1976]

great season. Sets things up night nicely for 2013. Will in all likelihood be off 606 until about February unless by some miracle Ethiopia has some internet connection in the two weeks I'm there, or I'm not arrested again in a Mozambican/ Zimbabwean/Angolan prison. Happy holidays to you all, and stay safe.

Take care KR, I will miss you, don't bend over to pick up the soap.

[Sponsored content]