Michael Jordan did it too. A lot of the greats will invent narratives in their heads to motivate themselves more.
Tennis 2023
- Thread starter GuybrushThreepwood
- Start date
It's 100% deliberate, moreso I'm sure for himself but it is also causing Alcaraz to lose rhythm and snatch a bit, a lot of long returns on 90mph makeable serves.
Because if it's working against you... it'll work on occasion against opposition. All about being annoying at any cost, even if sometimes the opponent isn't remotely bothered, it's just routine now.
Alcaraz gifting Djok a way through that game
Alcaraz needs this set badly. he had too many chances besides that break.
Sure he's gone over the time allocation. He definitely did the other day.
He's been out of the shot clock more than a few times already though, even without a bad toss having happened at all.
Ultimately Umpires haven't been consistent with dealing with it in the entire tournament so pointless to complain now re Djoko
The quality in this set has been pretty good from both and much more like what we were hoping for.
It's a must win set for Alcaraz though.
It's a must win set for Alcaraz though.
Great tennis this set though!
Great point.
Would be insane if he wins a tiebreak after Novak won 15 straight. The game deserves it. He regained himself so well after that horrible first set.
Great stuff from Alcaraz this service game. Now lets hope he can finally take advantage of these openings he's getting on Novak's serve.
I don't know who I've got on my commentary but they just cannot stop complaining about Novak's timing on serve.
4.75/1 on Carlos to break this game. Give us a break, Carlos!
Cameraman pots a lot of emphasis on the serve clock as well 
good thing he doesn't face Nadal anymore. I can do his hair behind the back-touch nose-rearrange headband-fix hair again routine from the top of my head.
Edit: back of his ears.
good thing he doesn't face Nadal anymore. I can do his hair behind the back-touch nose-rearrange headband-fix hair again routine from the top of my head.Edit: back of his ears.
Good old days where they'd both take 25-30 seconds per serve.Cameraman pots a lot of emphasis on the serve clock as well
Think Novak breaks here.
Commentators really want Alcaraz to win
Djok averaging 33 seconds between serves. Would love to know the real time of that first set. 35 mins felt generous to Alcaraz.
Jheez so many salty comments about shot clock. People forget Nadal patented the slow, long wait for the serve.
And it was annoying then too!
Seem impartial to me, UK at least, they absolutely wax lyrical about all the good stuff Djokovic pulls off and respect Alcaraz's supreme talent, for his age and time at the top.
They just want an actual contest
Novak really lucky to avoid any major injury there! You do get flashbacks of Zverev at RG last year when you see players go down.
I've never really understood the constant whining about the shot clock and its getting particularly annoying today also.
Probably want 4 or 5 sets more than anything.
Id say most of tennis/viewers want Alcaraz to win, commentators possibly included!
I always feel for these umpires, they hit absolute rockets. It's hard to see sometimes. I would've been kicked on the street after half a set if I was sitting there.
Whose game would you lot say Alcaraz is similar to? To me his game looks similar to Djokokic. He doesn’t have that lovely serve like Federer nor the top spin forehand or unbelievable retrieval skills of Nadal.
He's some unit that Alcaraz.
Has he any chance of winning
Has he any chance of winning
It was a big topic of conversation for Nadal too. I'm personally of the view that while not ideal it, isn't that big a deal. Umpires simply have to enforce the rule more strictly if it's a big problem.
Delpo. But with greater athleticism.
It’s kind of boring having the same people win all the time, in any sport.
Heaven forbid people have an opinion different than your own. As long as they are expressing themselves reasonably, little reason to get annoyed at people having an opinion.
The Novak grass slide is something else.
I don't really think he's like any of those three. Pretty unique player imo.
Not for me personally because he doesn't have the patience or point construction of a Novak. I do think he has the retrieving skills which are a mix of Novak and Rafa but also the attacking mindset of Federer but he's (understandably) not better at those parameters than the Big 3. His serve is very Rafar esque.
Meh big point and Alcaraz doesn’t seize it
the fitness levels, flexibility and power of these guys is just insane. In awe of them and on par with elite marathon runners for endurance, yet power of boxers.
How the hell do you whiff on that, Carlos?