French Open 2021

forumdedum · 12-06-2021 11:37PM

glasso wrote: »

If and when or if ever Djokovic gets to 20 then he'll certainly be out in front due to all the other stats and head-to-head records.

Some may not like him but he'll be obviously the G.O.A.T

I used to like Djokovic a lot but he bores me s&$#less

No one will ever touch Federer no matter how many or what they win imo

lostcat · 13-06-2021 10:26AM

Hard to see Djokovic letting it slip today, but if Tsitsipas comes out aggressive and is painting the lines it will be very interesting. I don't think he will be able to keep it up for 3 sets however

13-06-2021 11:45AM

Orange Slice wrote: »

Yea but he had already been beaten in straight sets by Djokovic at the French Open so those other stats are fairly arbitrary and meaningless.

he's won the last 4 titles in a row and had only dropped one set in the championship so far

and when he lost or withdrew before he was either sick (Soderling), injured or off-form bigtime and lost in earlier rounds

neither of which was the case this year

it's the fooking hardest thing in sports to do

98.5% win record on clay over 5 up to that match

meaningless indeed.

nobody is saying that

everything now is "better than ever"

which is simply bs paraphrasing on your part

Djokovic said that he played HIS best match at RG which is entirely possible given the challenge and the circumstances.

MisterAnarchy · 13-06-2021 12:05PM

Orange Slice wrote: »

A lot of people have a weird need to believe that everything now is "better than ever".

Unfortunately thats the melodramatic era we live in.
Too many people in the media cannot seem to tell the difference between reporting the news and creating propaganda.

Girly Gal · 13-06-2021 12:07PM

Orange Slice wrote: »

A lot of people have a weird need to believe that everything now is "better than ever".

It's the same in every sport, the media drives this idea that all sports are getting better year on year, the truth is all sports go through peaks and troughs. In tennis we've just gone through the greatest era of the game, the level has already dropped from it's peak and will drop further once Djokovic and Nadal retire or lose form as the next gen guys play at a much lower level. It'll peak again sometime in the future, unlikely to get to the highest peak of the Federer, Nadal, Djokovic era, but, higher than what the next gen guys are capable of.

No doubt in the future we will have people say and believe that tennis is being played at a much higher level than the peak of the Federer, Nadal & Djokovic era, which is near impossible to see happen.

13-06-2021 12:12PM

Orange Slice wrote: »

He most definitely didn't play his best match on Friday, he's played better in the past at Roland Garros.

Yes the five set stuff you're talking about is meaningless. Djokovic beat Nadal before at Roland Garros, and now he's done it again. Nobody said it's easy to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, beating him there is a tough task, not as tough as it used to be though as he's old now, slower around the court and makes more unforced errors. His stamina has considerably declined too, Nadal seems to struggle now over long matches.

Nadal hadn't lost a match there since 2015 (withdrew in 2016), had won the last 4 on the trot and was steamrolling (one set lost) through the tournament

was still a massive massive task

Djokovic said himself that he played his best match (not his best ever tennis there - maybe you missed the distinction perhaps) there - you can choose to believe him or not - whatever....

13-06-2021 12:17PM

second day in a row with a "random new poster" - no coincidence

pathetic behaviour in fairness

13-06-2021 12:32PM

Orange Slice wrote: »

I choose not to believe him, especially when emotions are high just after the victory, people say irrational things in such moments.

he also achieved another stat never ever achieved before

nobody had ever beaten Nadal after losing the first set to him on clay over 5

so a first

the way Nadal came out of the blocks like an unplayable monster would have broken the spirit of any other player perhaps

maybe another reason why Djokovic would then come out and claim that it was his best match here and he also said one of his top 3 matches of all his career

but sure what the hell would he know say some?!

Djokovic will certainly say if he played well but does not throw these sort of comments about.

Girly Gal · 13-06-2021 01:31PM

Hopefully it'll be competitive today, expect Djokovic to win, but, want to see Tsitsipas make him earn it, the worst thing that can happen today is a one sided win for Djokovic, nothing against Djokovic just the game in general needs Tsitsipas (and the other next gen guys) to step up and really challenge at GS level now.

13-06-2021 01:50PM

Girly Gal wrote: »

Hopefully it'll be competitive today, expect Djokovic to win, but, want to see Tsitsipas make him earn it, the worst thing that can happen today is a one sided win for Djokovic, nothing against Djokovic just the game in general needs Tsitsipas (and the other next gen guys) to step up and really challenge at GS level now.

these "next gen" can't just decide to "step up" and beat a player like Djokovic

Djokovic is still very very very good - no matter that he's 34 (just) - as if that was ancient or something in a game where you have to provide short bursts of activity (points) with a rest after each one

He can easily go for 4 hours plus as shown the other day and is probably the best clutch points player ever

He could easily be the best for another 2 years the way that he takes care of himself and manages to keep the level

Having that challenge there may push them which is a good thing but it may or may not happen this year or next year if Djokovic is able to keep playing so well

Tsipsitas may well have it to be a good GS finalist performer straight out of the blocks and he has a game that can work against Djokovic (recent results on head to head are not great but he had chances in those matches so it doesn't tell the whole story there)

fair play to him if he is a great first time finalist but he's facing a superb player here - there is no "step up" button

hoping for a good match and it's not beyond the bounds of possibility for Tsipsitas to do it as he has the game that works against Djokovic as said - a very damaging "serve plus 1" game - e.g. the serve and next shot to finish the point

13-06-2021 02:11PM

Tsipsitas has to hope that Djokovic expended so much "emotional energy" on the previous match and the resulting huge high that he got from it afterwards

Conceivable that that could leave him flat today to an extent coming down off that feeling

But then again he's a mental beast and is cognisant of managing his levels very well

Girly Gal · 13-06-2021 02:53PM

glasso wrote: »

these "next gen" can't just decide to "step up" and beat a player like Djokovic

Djokovic is still very very very good - no matter that he's 34 (just) - as if that was ancient or something in a game where you have to provide short bursts of activity (points) with a rest after each one

He can easily go for 4 hours plus as shown the other day and is probably the best clutch points player ever

He could easily be the best for another 2 years the way that he takes care of himself and manages to keep the level

Having that challenge there may push them which is a good thing but it may or may not happen this year or next year if Djokovic is able to keep playing so well

Tsipsitas may well have it to be a good GS finalist performer straight out of the blocks and he has a game that can work against Djokovic (recent results on head to head are not great but he had chances in those matches so it doesn't tell the whole story there)

fair play to him if he is a great first time finalist but he's facing a superb player here - there is no "step up" button

hoping for a good match and it's not beyond the bounds of possibility for Tsipsitas to do it as he has the game that works against Djokovic as said - a very damaging "serve plus 1" game - e.g. the serve and next shot to finish the point

Obviously no player can decide to step up over night, it takes time, all we're looking for is players to play to the best or their ability and not wilt or have the game lost before they even step on the court just because they're playing a big name e.g. Djokovic or Nadal which is what has been happening in recent years.

13-06-2021 03:00PM

Good so far from Tsitsipas

nearly hugely costly there from ND by putting an easy volley into the net and the miss-hit giving break point

but unreal clutch rally from ND to bring it back

13-06-2021 03:01PM

GustavoKuerten wrote: »

Tsitsipas can win this, beating Djokovic at his advanced age is not the formidable task it once was.

are you trying to break the number of new boards accounts in 24 hours record?

13-06-2021 03:06PM

Djokovic making Tsitsipas's case there that he shouldn't have got a time warning

especially at a key set point

edit - should have kept focus on his own game instead of trying to be sound!

that could be big

had the set for the taking - awful game for him

Girly Gal · 13-06-2021 03:21PM

Tsitsipas needed that

13-06-2021 03:24PM

ND in real trouble I think now

that half-volley winner from the baseline after a good return from ND was unreal

before he hit that I was thinking that's a good return - ND has this set

maybe the "beat Nadal at RG but you don't win the Championship" trend is set to continue

Tsitsipas showing composure and definitely NOT wilting here, so far

but ND lost his focus stupidly there at 6-5 for a few minutes - only himself to blame really

sloppy start here now also 'cos he's kicking himself

mzungu · 13-06-2021 03:26PM

This set will tell a lot. Usually Djokovic comes roaring back in these situations.

Slashermcguirk · 13-06-2021 03:27PM

Djokovic looks gassed. I fear he played his final on Friday

Girly Gal · 13-06-2021 03:27PM

glasso wrote: »

ND in real trouble I think now

that half-volley winner from the baseline after a good return from ND was unreal

before he hit that I was thinking that's a good return - ND has this set

maybe the "beat Nadal at RG but you don't win the Championship" trend is set to continue

Tsitsipas showing composure and definitely NOT wilting here, so far

but ND lost his focus stupidly there at 6-5 for a few minutes - only himself to blame really

You'd still have to expect Djokovic to come through, he's been in much bigger holes than this against better players and turned it around, expect him to do like wise here, but, game certainly needed Tsitsipas to start well as he has done

mzungu · 13-06-2021 03:29PM

Slashermcguirk wrote: »

Djokovic looks gassed. I fear he played his final on Friday

Don't count him out, he has a good bit left in the tank.

MisterAnarchy · 13-06-2021 03:30PM

Slashermcguirk wrote: »

Djokovic looks gassed.

He is playing possum.

Slashermcguirk · 13-06-2021 03:32PM

You see it so often in individual sport, after a massive win it's so hard to back it up again.

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

He is playing possum.

Slashermcguirk · 13-06-2021 03:33PM

Certainly not counting him out but his level is way lower than Friday

quote="mzungu;117411921"]Don't count him out, he has a good bit left in the tank.[/quote]

13-06-2021 03:35PM

Girly Gal wrote: »

You'd still have to expect Djokovic to come through, he's been in much bigger holes than this against better players and turned it around, expect him to do like wise here, but, game certainly needed Tsitsipas to start well as he has done

I think Tsitsipas is huge favourite now

It's possible for ND to come back but honestly think that it's a mental energy deficit from the Nadal game and the "after high" that is bringing ND down here - very uncharacteristic for him to "switch off" there at the tail end of the first set which cost him it

If ND comes back here it would be some turnaround

winning the first set on clay seems to be bigger than on other surfaces also (notwithstanding the Nadal match)

Hector Savage · 13-06-2021 03:36PM

Well done Tsitsipas, fantastic to see a new young lad win a grand slam.

I think that coveted career double slam will never happen - just too difficult - unless Nadal can win AO 2022.

Anwyay, congrats to Tsitsipas!!

13-06-2021 03:38PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

He is playing possum.

this is complete balderdash

Slashermcguirk · 13-06-2021 03:50PM

Shows what a joke the seedings are. The final was on Friday. Djokovic is completely spent, it's a shame for the final. Like watching a different player

Augme · 13-06-2021 03:50PM

Tsitsipas wins this game and it's match over.

13-06-2021 03:50PM

as McEnroe et al saying on tv - ND could actually use a bit of crowd support here to lift his energy levels out of the doldrums but he ain't getting a bit of it.

French Open 2021

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