2021 In Between Grand Slam Thread

Girly Gal · 29-07-2021 4:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117678298#Comment_117678298

Would agree Zverev is the only one left that has any chance of beating Djokovic, both have had a straight forward run to the semi, Djokovic in particular has really swatted away the opposition, Zverev should at least make it competitive, but, you'd have to strongly favour Djokovic. It's bonus territory for Khachanov and Carreño Busta, neither will trouble Djokovic in the final. The Golden Slam is very much on.

30-07-2021 9:20am

Djokovic / Zverev on now

Goatovic takes the first set 6-1

no commentary on Eurosport is a bit annoying alright

barring a huge turnaround not really looking like Djokovic is going to be troubled here

josip · 30-07-2021 9:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117681452#Comment_117681452

After the first few games of that set I thought it would be closer. Watching in Greece, so we can't cheer too loudly in case they are still upset after Roland Garros. Knowing the Greeks they probably got over their disappointment after 10 minutes and continued on enjoying life. They truly are a wonderful people.

Meanwhile Schmiedlova (Osaka FO bageller) dispensed with the top seed Binkova yesterday and is rewarded with a semi against World No. 203 Sramkova. Schmiedlova must be very keen to put together a few good tournaments and get back into top level tennis.

30-07-2021 9:59am

Poor service game from Djokovic to allow Zverev break back to 3-3 in the second

30-07-2021 10:07am

Suddenly Zverev is swatting away winners at will

Has a break up and will serve for the 2nd set

30-07-2021 10:11am

and it's one set all

Zverev is playing very well right now

Djokovic put it up to him in that service game with good winners but he was able to come back from 0-30 and then a deuce to take it

josip · 30-07-2021 10:22am

Djokovic not playing well. He even came into the net to try to shake things up. His first serve isn't firing at all.

30-07-2021 10:24am

Zverev breaks Djokovic in the final set to go 1-0

Serious challenge for Djokovic now

30-07-2021 10:33am

wow

some game there - how long was that?

2-0

a real battle

fascinating stuff right now

Djokovic is seriously rattled

another break and it will be over

30-07-2021 10:37am

Djokovic's serve is not going in on the first serve and Zverev is on song in all departments

Very hard to see Djokovic coming back here from two breaks down at 3-0

30-07-2021 10:41am

it's 4-0

Zverev's serving is too good

Djokovic can't get any depth on the returns

30-07-2021 10:46am

Djokovic somehow finds a hold

Zverev is playing as well as I've ever seen him though

most times Djokovic comes to the net Zverev just whips a passing shot that gives Djokovic no chance

whipping winners out of back court defensive positions also

it's now or never really for Djokovic to get a break back

has to hope that Zverev's serve level goes down

30-07-2021 10:51am

5-1

Zverev just not making mistakes and belting out the winners from everywhere

And Djokovic poor by his standards for sure

Djokovic did a really poor lob attempt at 30-30

this match is done surely

Golden slam is a gonner

30-07-2021 10:56am

and it's done

at least Djokovic didn't get bagelled in the final set!

If Zverev could play like that final set consistently he'd have multiple slams by now

His serving was almost unplayable and he was ripping out vicious forehand winners and his backhand was also excellent.

30-07-2021 11:00am

Djokovic's serve went to crap in the 2nd and 3rd sets

If he had maintained his serve for the second set he would most likely have taken it in two but didn't happen

https://www.flashscore.com/match/IFo6mCKH/#match-summary/match-statistics/2

look at the set 1 vs 2 and 3 first serve in and won - some fall off

either way Djokovic won't fancy meeting Zverev at the US Open with that sort of form that he rose to

But then again Zverev has had problems doing it over 5 sets where Djokovic is a different proposition

Surely Zverev will take the gold now unless he bottles the final

won't have the GS pressure on him really so I say that he should do it

30-07-2021 11:09am

And it's Croatia vs Croatia in the mens' doubles final - remarkable.

klr87 · 30-07-2021 11:21am

Djokovic must be kicking himself, a set and a break up, Khachanov waiting in the gold medal match. Zverev was unusually aggressive in the closing stages.

Yet another bronze medal match for Novak: He beat James Blake in 2008, but lost to del Potro in 2012.

30-07-2021 11:23am

it was lights-out stuff from Zverev in the final set

Djokovic's serve in the 2nd set was the killer as said - he should have wrapped it up then but didn't

He wasn't in the final set at all after game 2 where Zverev resisted the break back

much better to lose there than at the US Open really

The "Golden Slam" is of much less importance vs the "Calendar Slam" really

I wonder how much that will affect Djokovic though

yerwanthere123 · 30-07-2021 12:00pm

Good man Zverev 😎 Presume Djokovic is still in the mixed? That might offer some small consolation. With Paris only three years away another shot at singles gold isn't an impossibility, but yeah he wanted to win this.

Hector Savage · 30-07-2021 12:08pm

And that is the moment when it becomes 100% certain Nadal will win the USO.

Shambles.

Hector Savage · 30-07-2021 12:15pm

Money in the bank ...

josip · 30-07-2021 12:15pm

The concern for Djokovic would be that Zverev didn't just beat him, he made him look old and tired in that 3rd set.

30-07-2021 12:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117682347#Comment_117682347

I don't think that it was as dramatic as that

Zverev's serve was pretty much impossible to return for most of that set with any depth and every winner was going in and he wasn't hitting the net

But Djokovic was off his game obviously - his serve had gone to pot (as well as most of his game compared to Zverev)

The key game was the second game in that set.

Longest game of the match by far

After that Djokovic was a beaten man really

Also the service game where Zverev held to take the second set was crucial

Djokovic hit some nice winners in that game to get to 0-30 but Zverev hit the zone really just about then to come back and take the game and set

It happens

Still think that Djokovic is favourite over 5 sets at the US Open

It won't be as stifling in terms of oppressive heat and humidity there either which of course didn't really suit anybody but possibly was a factor

Royale with Cheese · 30-07-2021 12:35pm

The Djoktards won't be too happy with that result.

I don't think much of Zverev but on his day in best of 3 (that's the key) he can beat anyone.

30-07-2021 12:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117682475#Comment_117682475

Djoktard - doesn't really have much of a ring to it!

Nah it's the Fedtards who really lose the plot and have to resort to this sort of pathetic effort to put off his opponents in big tie-break points - so pathetic that it's very sad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT7qEFDK3HA&t=177s

The Goatovic is still in with a good chance of a Calendar Slam.

Federer has more chance of being hit by lightning than ever doing that

yerwanthere123 · 30-07-2021 1:14pm

I miss when this thread was moderated 🙁

yerwanthere123 · 30-07-2021 2:04pm

Djokovic out of the mixed now too. Can still walk away with two bronze medals, which wouldn't be a terrible haul.

Russia having a good tennis Olympics, guaranteed gold in the mixed, at least silver in the men's singles and will compete for bronze in the women's doubles.