One down, one to go.
I can see a Tsitsipas win going in. Fresher, better form as of QF.
I can see a Tsitsipas win going in. Fresher, better form as of QF.
Tennis 2022
- Thread starter saivet
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Sorry to bring it back to Djokovic again but the BBC are now running the story which casts doubt on his positive test. I think it was brought up a while back in this thread.
If this comes out as true it’s really a very bad look for him. Probably criminal as well.
https://www.bbc.com/news/59999541?piano-modal
Doubts have emerged over the timing of the positive Covid test Novak Djokovic used to enter Australia to try to compete in the Australian Open.
It was provided to exempt him from rules barring unvaccinated people.
However, the serial number on his test on 16 December appears out of sequence with a sample of tests from Serbia over this period gathered by the BBC.
It is also higher than for his second (negative) test result from six days later.
If this comes out as true it’s really a very bad look for him. Probably criminal as well.
https://www.bbc.com/news/59999541?piano-modal
Doubts have emerged over the timing of the positive Covid test Novak Djokovic used to enter Australia to try to compete in the Australian Open.
It was provided to exempt him from rules barring unvaccinated people.
However, the serial number on his test on 16 December appears out of sequence with a sample of tests from Serbia over this period gathered by the BBC.
It is also higher than for his second (negative) test result from six days later.
It always seeemd more likely it was a forged test rather than his claims that he went to public events after testing positive.
He'd probably come out better than knowingly interacting with children while having Covid-19.
As for the criminal aspect, he's like God in Serbia so they won't touch him.
If Medvedev makes the final he will be attempting to be the first mens singles players to win his first two slams in back to back tournaments.
There's been a few women who have done this, including Osaka a few years ago.
There's been a few women who have done this, including Osaka a few years ago.
This is stuff a lot of people had questioned some weeks ago but good to see the BBC has gone and checked out multiple samples. I think everyone knows he faked it but if it can ever be proven, he'll be in trouble.
You are probably right on the first bit I guess.
As for the second bit I didn't mean in Serbia. If this is proven true, he tried to enter Australia with a fake test. I meant the Australians should try to deal with him.
Nadal now 4th in all time wins on hard court in the open era. That was his 500th win, becoming the 4th man to reach that milestone after Agassi, Federer and Djokovic. Not bad for a clay mug.
If it’s proven he faked it surely that’s a crime in Australia using falsified information to gain entry and he won’t be getting back in to the country in future?
High level stuff from these two so far.
So who do we think Nadal would rather face out of these two?
Wow!
I hope Tsitsipas can win this!
Great game so far!
I hope Tsitsipas can win this!
Great game so far!
Tsitsipas, me thinks. As he can target the backhand. On the other hand, Nadal is a competent net player and Medvedev seems to have a weakness against that sort of game. Similar to how he played him in the US Open win towards the end.
Feel like Medvedev is the type of player someone like Federer would make very short work of. Not anywhere near as resilient or accurate as Novak yet.
I think Tsitsipas, on his day, is the far more dangerous player but he is also the one who is more likely to implode and show nerves in a final. Medvedev doesn't have the tools to cause damage that Tsitsipas does but his base level and consistency is a lot higher than the former's and is less likely to display nerves. So, I don't think I care who makes it. Both will be difficult.
I agree, Medvedev is also a much better returner than Tsitsipas and if Nadal serves well Tsitsipas may struggle.
Medevdev takes the first set..
Big first set from Medvedev. Tsisipas played great, let's hope he doesn't mentally break from this.
Tsitsipas really should have done better from 4-3 up in the tie break. Ah well, looks like Medvedev will win now.
Medvedev-Nadal final would be a more interesting watch.
To be honest, I can't help but feel Tsitsipas is one of those who is where he is in the men's game largely due to the relative lack of quality compared to the last 10 years or so. Berrettini the same.
If he was competing alongside fit/prime Wawrinka/Murray/Tsonga/Del Potro/Ferrer/etc, I think you'd rarely see him in the second week of slams.
To be honest, I can't help but feel Tsitsipas is one of those who is where he is in the men's game largely due to the relative lack of quality compared to the last 10 years or so. Berrettini the same.
If he was competing alongside fit/prime Wawrinka/Murray/Tsonga/Del Potro/Ferrer/etc, I think you'd rarely see him in the second week of slams.
I think that's a bit harsh on Tsitsipas, he's proved to be a very good player on both clay and hard courts over the past few years and he's still young. To me his return of serve is an obvious weakness but he has a pretty well rounded game in my opinion. I'll give you Stan, Murray and Del Potro for the time being but you have to recognise that he's only 23 and he's made a RG final, a few AO SFs, won the ATP finals and has a Masters 1000 title.
Medvedev has lost his mind - "I'm talking to you!"
You would think the result would be a permanent ban. Who knows though
Fun match so far. 1-1.
I've only caught moments of this match but it seems to be pretty high quality.
I was sleeping during Nadal's opening two sets against Berrettini but was he playing at a high level as in this match or was Berrettini not very good?
I was sleeping during Nadal's opening two sets against Berrettini but was he playing at a high level as in this match or was Berrettini not very good?
Nadal was pretty good as he often is early on in games and Berrettini struggled with his backhand, as expected. The third set, Nadal missed a very easy volley at 2-2 30-30 which would have given him BP. After that, he lost the next 20 points on Berretini's serve. Recovered by the 4th though as you saw.
Medvedev stepped up big here.
I really dislike Tsitsipas, hopefully, Medvedev advances to the final.
Tsitsipas needs babysitting from Dad to compete.
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That's fair, and you're right about his age. Wawrinka hadn't achieved anything close to what Tsitsipas has at his age, although I do think there is an overall dip in quality in the men's game currently. But that's not Tsitsipas' fault.
What is overwhelmingly his fault is how unlikable him and his team/box are, which looks like it could be proving an issue again today.
No coaching no win 
I don't mind Tsitsipas, even if he is a bit odd but his dad is like this all the time unfortunately.
Bit of anti climax this.
Tsitsipas's level dropped a lot, although it must be said that there is something Djokovic-esque about this performance from Medvedev, against the crowd.
Tsitsipas's level dropped a lot, although it must be said that there is something Djokovic-esque about this performance from Medvedev, against the crowd.
Looks to be a repeat of the 2019 US Open final.
Medvedev prevented Djokovic from getting 21 and the calendar slam and now he'll be competing to prevent Nadal from 21. He's also looking to be the first man to win his first two slams on the bounce. Murray the only one to reach the final at the next slam, so matches that record at the very least.
He was the favourite prior to the tournament in my eyes (less so before Novak was deported) and still the favourite in the final I think.
Medvedev prevented Djokovic from getting 21 and the calendar slam and now he'll be competing to prevent Nadal from 21. He's also looking to be the first man to win his first two slams on the bounce. Murray the only one to reach the final at the next slam, so matches that record at the very least.
He was the favourite prior to the tournament in my eyes (less so before Novak was deported) and still the favourite in the final I think.
Final played with roof closed, the heavier condition should favor Nadal. I think this is dead even honestly.
Too easy for Medvedev. Hard court specialist vs clay specialist, expected.
Medvedev is rightly favorite but Nadal has exceeded expectations so hoping for a good game. If Nadal had beaten the likes of Zverev on the way to the final, I'd have backed him to win. I still think he has a good chance but he's going to need step up his game and kick out all the errors and lapses of concentration he's prone to right now.
Medvedev is a funny character
Medvedev should win this because Rafa at his age now has no stamina for 5 sets against someone like medvedev. Although, if Rafa can get 2-0 lead then he has good chance to win but these days Rafa tends to drop massively in second set.
Think Nadal going into this as the slight underdog will help him. Also the fact that for the first time since his US Open win 2,5 years ago he has played properly well on hard court and he has exceeded expectations already should take a bit of pressure off him. Despite the potential 21 it has been a successfull tournament already.
Still, if Medvedev plays his best tennis I think he'll win.
Still, if Medvedev plays his best tennis I think he'll win.
I think Nadal beats him comfortably. Old dog for the long road and all that.
This is Nadal's 6th Slam final in Australia and he has just one title to his name. He's going to need to overcome the bad luck he's usually faced here and the heartbreaking final set losses in 2012 and 2017. It'll probably one of his greatest achievements if he wins this given how written off he was and how poorly he was playing earlier.
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