Expecting a 6-3 6-1 score line for the next two sets now but credit to Ruud for doing far better this set than anyone would have expected.
Tennis 2023
- Thread starter GuybrushThreepwood
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If he was facing someone like Rafa, maybe. Against Ruud though, this level is also just about enough.
If he was facing Rafa today - that first set would have been 6-1 Rafa.
Congratulations Djokovic
Where have these two gone? This is a long break 
These new kids just figured out how to utilise the juice just yet.
broken already.
Immense from Novak
Poor Casper, doing his best but Novak too good.
Poor Casper, doing his best but Novak too good.
Casper isn't poor. He is playing his 3rd grand slam final. He is playing against 2 goats and possibly future all time great. He needs to remain consistent and chances for him will come against someone who is at his level. This is far from over anyway.
Of course he's not poor. Doing really well but Novak is just great..... nothing Casper can do about it.
He's a set and a break down against Novak Djokovic. This is the very definition of done
To be honest, that first set Novak was quite terrible by his standards and Casper HAD to take advantage. He stood absolutely no chance after that.
Yes I know, but have to and taking advantage of the opportunities against Novak is very very difficult to do in a grand slam. Seen it too many times.
Only Rafa can really do it and even then he's had to work very very hard to be in that position.
More rattled than a beggars tin.
ND on a different level last few points
Too good.
Congrats to Novak on @ No 23. What a great achievement. History on this Sunday evening. Respect.
Casper did all he could but could do nothing against the great Djokovic.
Casper did all he could but could do nothing against the great Djokovic.
Ruud is giving me David Ferrer vibes a bit. he will constantly beat the ones he's supposed to beat, but don't see him ever troubling Djoko or Alcaraz. they can do what Ruud can - just much better. and he isn't a big hitter like Soderling, Del Potro or Waw. it's actually incredible he keeps getting to these finals. 3 major finals already + world tour final and honestly I don't see him as talented as Tsitsi or Thiem, or Zverev even. not even close actually, yet he's here.
anyways, congrats to the goat.
anyways, congrats to the goat.
Yep. And to be honest it's an amazing achievement to be able to squeeze as much as he has from his talent level. Hope he can eventually knick a GS or two.
Huge congrats to Novak. Massive achievement from him. Would expect him to win Wimbledon comfortably and then it will be onto the US Open to see if he can complete the calendar slam.
Think that's a bit harsh on Ruud. He's very versatile with a good touch, and his forehand is very, very good and powerful.
Ruud is a solid player but the Ferrer comparison is quite apt. The only difference though is that Ferrer had to face the Big 3 so winning a Slam was impossible whereas Ruud will get some years without a GOAT on the field.
Got disqualified from USO because he accidentally hit the line judge, got kicked out of favorite slam, second favorite slam got cancelled, was not allowed to USO... So 4 missed slams in his second prime and still got on top... Legend!
Just a few years ago, I said that Roger Federer was the best of all time.
And now, we have a new GOAT.
The crazy thing is that he'll go into Wimbledon and US Open as favourite to win. So he is still close to the peak of his powers.
And now, we have a new GOAT.
The crazy thing is that he'll go into Wimbledon and US Open as favourite to win. So he is still close to the peak of his powers.
Zero unforced errors in tiebreaks entire tournament. Not too bad.
I remember Djokovic already having a hugely impressive tiebreak record in 2007 (when he 'announced himself' as a major contender on the tour), including at Wimbledon that year (when he won an open era record equalling 8 tiebreaks at that tournament).
I said elsewhere that his victory over Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon final, was absolutely pivotal in terms of him going on to become one of the greatest players in history (rather than merely great), while his victory over Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final convinced me that he would ultimately win the 'grand slam race'. Before that win in 2014, he had a 6-7 record in grand slam finals, losing 5 out of his last 6 (plus his 2013 RG semi-final against Nadal which was as close to a de-facto final as possible). But from then, he has had a 17-4 record in grand slam finals (2 of those 4 defeats were against Wawrinka which reflects well on him).
I said elsewhere that his victory over Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon final, was absolutely pivotal in terms of him going on to become one of the greatest players in history (rather than merely great), while his victory over Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final convinced me that he would ultimately win the 'grand slam race'. Before that win in 2014, he had a 6-7 record in grand slam finals, losing 5 out of his last 6 (plus his 2013 RG semi-final against Nadal which was as close to a de-facto final as possible). But from then, he has had a 17-4 record in grand slam finals (2 of those 4 defeats were against Wawrinka which reflects well on him).
Alcaraz is improving on grass, but not enough to win Wimbledon, I'm afraid. Recovered the #1 position, at least.
Federer record of consecutive time as #1 of ATP ranking will not be surpassed anytime soon too, I guess.
Let's hope he's competitive at Wimbledon or it's going to be another procession for Novak. Also, rankings don't really matter anymore tbh. Novak and Rafa in recent years have rarely saved their best for non-Slam events.
That's because nowadays media and fans give more importance to GS than #1 postion. Things were different on other eras, where holding #1 position was the most precious prize on the sport.
Not that Novak wouldn't beat a stacked field but the state of tennis right now is a bit poor. Novak's projected draw to win Wimbledon is just hilariously easy. Nick would have been tough but given he's not played for a year, unlikely he even faces Novak.
As in 2021 and 2022, I'm hoping someone can stop Djokovic from racking up yet another grand slam title win (if he does win then his grand slam count in his 30s would be the same as that in his 20s). ut the level of competition overall and especially on grass is not overly great, and so I'm not overly optimistic IMO.
Murray reaching the 4th round / 2nd week would be wonderful - he reached the 3rd round in Melbourne and with his ability on grass compared to many other players doing better than at Wimbledon should be seen as realistic. And while I think Alcaraz despite his Queen's title might not be ready to win Wimbledon just yet, I hope he could reach the latter stages and build up his grass court experience. And I want Tiafoe to do well.
I bash Djokovic a lot so I will say 2 positive things about him to mix things up:
1) IMO he has clearly been more gracious after defeats than either Federer or Nadal (his handshakes following defeats have certainly been much warmer)
2) he has definitely done more than they have to support and boost the earnings of lower ranked players than either of them.
Murray reaching the 4th round / 2nd week would be wonderful - he reached the 3rd round in Melbourne and with his ability on grass compared to many other players doing better than at Wimbledon should be seen as realistic. And while I think Alcaraz despite his Queen's title might not be ready to win Wimbledon just yet, I hope he could reach the latter stages and build up his grass court experience. And I want Tiafoe to do well.
I bash Djokovic a lot so I will say 2 positive things about him to mix things up:
1) IMO he has clearly been more gracious after defeats than either Federer or Nadal (his handshakes following defeats have certainly been much warmer)
2) he has definitely done more than they have to support and boost the earnings of lower ranked players than either of them.
Since taking Nadal to five sets at RG last year, FAA's form has fallen off a cliff. Consecutive R1 defeat at Wimbledon
I'm rubber, you're glue Threepwood!
Gauff at risk of being dumped out by 126th-ranked Kenin...
Yay! Guaff out!
Well played Kenin.
Well played Kenin.
Disappointing but a tricky R1 opponent to be honest. From what I saw, it was more about Kenin being good than Gauff being bad.
Only caught the last set, Kenin was exceptional but Gauff wasn't helping herself. Some of her returns were horribly misjudged.