2020 French Open

yerwanthere123 · 11-10-2020 2:57pm

Had no plans to watch this but suddenly I'm interested. Long may the Djokovic bagels continue :pac:

yerwanthere123 · 11-10-2020 2:59pm

Djokovic could well come back and win this easily, but Nadal in 4 was my original prediction and I'll stick with that.

11-10-2020 3:01pm

Djokovic has to win this set to have a hope.

One does simply not come back from 2 sets down against Nadal on clay in Paris.

MisterAnarchy · 11-10-2020 3:02pm

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Djokovic could well come back and win this easily

Nothing is easy against Nadal on clay

A bit off topic but Nadals shorts look a size too small for him.

yerwanthere123 · 11-10-2020 3:05pm

Triple bagel watch off.

MisterAnarchy · 11-10-2020 3:06pm

42% first serve percentage by Djokovic in the first set, that is appalling.

11-10-2020 3:07pm

Huge just to win that game there

Getting anything from Nadal right now is mega tough

11-10-2020 3:08pm

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

42% first serve percentage by Djokovic in the first set, that is appalling.

not that important really - nothing was going to stop Nadal winning that first set.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 3:12pm

glasso wrote: »

Djokovic has to win this set to have a hope.

One does simply not come back from 2 sets down against Nadal on clay in Paris.

Be very like Djokovic to hang on and win this set, but, you're right no coming back from 2 down

EagererBeaver · 11-10-2020 3:14pm

If he does lose it, would be very like Djokovic to throw the towel in. Not before a few dramatic outbursts to the skies and his coaching box though.

mzungu · 11-10-2020 3:19pm

Great stuff from Nadal so far.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 3:20pm

Vamos Rafa!

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 3:22pm

mzungu wrote: »

Great stuff from Nadal so far.

A very high standard.

Interesting the analysis re his serve placement compared with the 2015 contest.

He's coped well with the Djokovic drop shot.

Too many unforced errors from Djokovic.

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 3:30pm

Wonderful point.

11-10-2020 3:33pm

That's the end of that.

Djokovic making errors but Nadal quasi-unplayable - forcing a lot of errors and forcing the opponent to try to push the risk percentage on shots.

mzungu · 11-10-2020 3:36pm

Great forehand from Nadal.

wonski · 11-10-2020 3:37pm

Looks like it is going to be short match...

Was hoping for a more challenging game.

Happy for Rafa, though. He is solid, Novak very sloppy and ignorant at times.

HeidiHeidi · 11-10-2020 3:37pm

That unforced errors stat is unreal

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 3:41pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

That unforced errors stat is unreal

28 versus 3 says it all.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 3:42pm

Djokovic needs to have a decent 3rd set, to put some respectability on the score board. Another pasting in the 3rd set could do long term damage to Novak when playing Rafa again.

MisterAnarchy · 11-10-2020 3:43pm

glasso wrote: »

That's the end of that.

Djokovic making errors but Nadal quasi-unplayable - forcing a lot of errors and forcing the opponent to try to push the risk percentage on shots.

Whats startling about it is that the conditions aren't in Nadals favour.
Its on a slow cool court, indoors and with a heavier ball than normal.

In my opinion Djokovics tennis has become too negative in the last few years and he hasn't been aggressive enough.
That won't do against Nadal in Paris.

11-10-2020 3:43pm

Nadal past his best mi hole

MisterAnarchy · 11-10-2020 3:46pm

glasso wrote: »

Nadal past his best mi hole

Who said that ?

mzungu · 11-10-2020 3:46pm

wonski wrote: »

Looks like it is going to be short match...

Was hoping for a more challenging game.

Happy for Rafa, though. He is solid, Novak very sloppy and ignorant at times.

I would not count Djokovic out just yet. If Nadal lets up for even one service game in the third, he could find a way back in.

That said, Nadal is like a man possessed out there. He is hitting winners for fun.

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 3:47pm

Djokovic let Nadal off the hook with that final set point.

Not surprised with Rafa's warning.

11-10-2020 3:48pm

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Who said that ?

That banned / multiple rereg "Roland Garros" username poster was all over "past the best" statements today.

Read back a bit.

This has been so far one of Nadal's best-ever performances at Roland Garros.

HeidiHeidi · 11-10-2020 3:48pm

mzungu wrote: »

That said, Nadal is like a man possessed out there. He is hitting winners for fun.

This.

It's unreal!

wonski · 11-10-2020 3:48pm

mzungu wrote: »

I would not count Djokovic out just yet. If Nadal lets up for even one service game in the third, he could find a way back in.

That said, Nadal is like a man possessed out there. He is hitting winners for fun.

Of course, but from what we can see so far if Rafa stays focused, he can end it quickly.

30-6 in unforced errors. Unbelievable.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 3:50pm

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Whats startling about it is that the conditions aren't in Nadals favour.
Its on a slow cool court, indoors and with a heavier ball than normal.

In my opinion Djokovics tennis has become too negative in the last few years and he hasn't been aggressive enough.
That won't do against Nadal in Paris.

As you outlined above everything really was set up as perfectly as could be for Djokovic at the beginning of the game, should never back against Rafa at RS

11-10-2020 3:50pm

Roland_Garros wrote: »

Federer peaked in 2006, Nadal 2010 and Djokovic in 2011. All three are way past their best.

....

11-10-2020 3:52pm

Roland__Garros wrote: »

This version of Djokovic is severely diminished. His intensity and athleticism is well under par.

Djokovic has not lost a match this year so far

He has been disqualified once

Augme · 11-10-2020 3:53pm

It's been a long time since I've anticipated a sporting event so much and been so let down by it. I'm really surprised by the lack of fight in novak. No fight, no aggression, no frustration, no shouting. Just nothing.

josip · 11-10-2020 3:54pm

Djokovic has held his serve.
It was rope a dope for the first 2 sets

11-10-2020 3:55pm

Augme wrote: »

It's been a long time since I've anticipated a sporting event so much and been so let down by it. I'm really surprised by the lack of fight in novak. No fight, no aggression, no frustration, no shouting. Just nothing.

Nadal has simply been too strong.

Nobody could live with him today in the first 2 sets, nobody.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 3:58pm

glasso wrote: »

Djokovic has not lost a match this year so far

He has been disqualified once

2020 has been truncated a lot, plus I think Tsitsipas was first top 10 player he played since AO
He's still not out of this yet

Coneygree · 11-10-2020 3:58pm

Djokovic has a real chance to win here...if Nadal hits an umpire.

11-10-2020 4:01pm

Girly Gal wrote: »

2020 has been truncated a lot, plus I think Tsitsipas was first top 10 player he played since AO

winning 36 matches , 1 disqualification is still his record

1 loss coming up.

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 4:06pm

Roland__Garros wrote: »

Yes because he's one of the best players in the world, if not the best. But he is still a shadow of his 2011 self. Perhaps covid finished him even further.

A point that you keep repeating ad nauseam.

lostcat · 11-10-2020 4:06pm

Wow just turning this on, looks like Nadal hasn't forgotten the Aussie open final from 2019, wants to return the favour

11-10-2020 4:10pm

mzungu wrote: »

I would not count Djokovic out just yet. If Nadal lets up for even one service game in the third, he could find a way back in.

That said, Nadal is like a man possessed out there. He is hitting winners for fun.

Djokovic has actually hit more winners in the match than Nadal

Nadal made very few errors and forced a lot.

EagererBeaver · 11-10-2020 4:12pm

This is every bit the spanking Djokovic gave him in Melbourne two years ago, although Rafa came from nowhere to make that final and was never going to live with him.

This is more akin to the destruction of Federer in the 08 final.

11-10-2020 4:16pm

Second set stats

Novak Djokovic - 14 winners, 17 unforced errors

Rafael Nadal - 11 winners, 4 unforced errors

Nadal has hit 6 errors in two sets. In a slam final.

First set stats:

Novak Djokovic - 42% first serves in, 27% points won on first serve, 67% points won on second serve, 36% receiving points won, 0/3 break points won, 11 winners, 13 unforced errors.

Rafael Nadal - 76% first serves in, 63% first serve points won, 67% second serve points won, 62% receiving points won, 3/6 break points won, 10 winners, 2 unforced errors.

2 (two) unforced errors.

seligehgit · 11-10-2020 4:19pm

Roland__Garros wrote: »

Yes, recency bias is strong in the masses, people have short memories.It needs to be repeated.

2011 Djokovic was possibly the highest level of Tennis ever seen so it should never be forgotten how good he was.

Usain Bolt peaked in 2009 at the age of 22, if there was no timer people would have been saying he was at his peak in 2016 after his Olympic win based on euphoria and excitement of the moment. People have short memories. 2009 Bolt was peak Bolt.

Well the stats do not back up your assertion.

4 grand slams up to and including 2011.

The remaining 13 post 2011.

Anyway I won't derail this thread any longer with discussing same.

2015/2016 with 4 consecutive slams and 5 consecutively pre the US Open disqualification expose the weakness of your argument.

I do agree with your general argument re age/biology etc but the pretenders to the throne have failed to truly challenge the big three.

mzungu · 11-10-2020 4:20pm

glasso wrote: »

Djokovic has actually hit more winners in the match than Nadal

Nadal made very few errors and forced a lot.

Interesting. As I had typed that he had whipped a forehand down the line. Must have gotten carried away!

mzungu · 11-10-2020 4:22pm

Djokovic breaks back.

EagererBeaver · 11-10-2020 4:22pm

Some fight from Djokovic when things aren't going his way. Interesting. Pre his gluten free diet he'd have long since retired.

Girly Gal · 11-10-2020 4:22pm

Is the comeback on?

EagererBeaver · 11-10-2020 4:23pm

Djokovic is forcing the drop shot too much when it's not there for him.

walshb · 11-10-2020 4:24pm

My prediction still on..Nole in 5..

11-10-2020 4:27pm

walshb wrote: »

My prediction still on..Nole in 5..

It's on serve in this set and he's two sets up - relax a bit :P

Nadal's serve has fallen off a bit giving Djokovic a glimmer

2020 French Open

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