Some serious money to be made for whoever bets on Novak right now. He's a break down in the 4th.
Tennis 2024
- Thread starter Jippy
- Start date
We'll circle back to this in an hour. I'll be absolutely stunned if Novak loses.
Won't take half an hour. Djokovic is cooked
Are you watching? Cerundolo isn't playing out of his mind, but very solid and good on the returns. If he can manage the nerves, expect him to see this through.
Musetti to his credit was playing at a very high level, for a few sets and he couldn't keep it up / got tight. Djokovic needs to up his level big time, I don't think he can rely on a Cerundolo crumble.
Djokovic’s movement looks compromised. Though, I still think Cerundolo will blink close to the line if he stays alive long enough.
Yep, watched this entire match. I fully expect Cerundolo to get tight when serving it out. I think Novak will get through this match but if he does have serious fitness concerns, can't see him doing it vs Ruud/Zverev.
Well, he got tight there!
There you go. The guy choked with the double fault there.
It is so blindingly obvious. Novaks injuries will disappear in the 5th.
What a bottler
Outside of points, definitely. He's had some rallies with short steps, sprints, stretching and slipping and not really looked in pain so it's difficult to know what the injury is.
Novak looks in some form of pain in every match he plays. He still wins them all.
Djoker lucky to be playing Choker today.
This is going to be a 6-0 or 6-1 final set, at best.
Not sure what Cerundolo was thinking there at 0-15.
The amount of chances Cerundolo has had this game. Hes going to regret that break point.
Bad forehand miss there
Been some really poor misses from both these guys in this game.
@wr8_utd You were right buddy. This freakin guy Djokovic. Suddenly started moving normally and chasing every ball again.
Like I was saying.
I've stopped falling for this years ago tbh. No matter how dead and buried he looks, all his injuries disappear the deeper the match goes on.
What a fascinating fifth set that was.
Who won?
Are you suggesting he’s deliberately losing a set and a half? To what end?
Fourth, sorry! Djokovic took it to five.
I don't think he fakes it. I just feel the effects are exaggerated and that for some reason fans and commentators fall for it. Just how many times have we seen Novak look completely dead and buried and fatigued and disinterested only for him to be fresh as a daisy and win in the 5th?
He was literally not moving for balls that were within reach but suddenly went hulk mode. Running for drop shots now whereas before he wasn't even making the attempt. It's weird and kinda suggests he was exaggerating( but at the cost of giving up points?)
I mean, we're watching him right now. Does he look unfit? He's 37 and looks way fitter. He's going to win this set to love.
There's only two players on tour, besides Novak, who have any sort of mental strength and unfortunately they're on the half other of the draw. Expecting more of the same from Ruud and Zverev when they face Novak. They'll have their chances but be incapable of taking them.
@wr8_utd fair play, you called it. I don't think this will cut it potentially vs Ruud (QF) or Zverev (SF). He can beat the others to make the final though
Ruud, I don't think quite has the weapons to beat him but if the Zverev who showed up vs Rafa in 22 shows up again, he's got a chance.
You would think this guy is doing it on purpose at this point.
I don't think Ruud's peak is higher than a lot of the top players, but he's fairly reliable at the top level and if Djokovic plays like he has today, I'd expect Ruud to beat him.
Watching Ruud struggle vs Fritz right now, I'm suddenly not very sure he'll trouble Novak
Cerundolo looks a bit more relaxed now he's not close to winning.
I think the only chance he has is if he breaks for the match. No chance he can actually serve this out if it comes to that.
Novaks level this tournament has been about as poor as it has been all year.
I said early in the season that I suspected a steep decline had started. I don’t think he has another Slam in him. He’s looked vulnerable all year and it’s getting to a point where it’s been going on for too long to be just a bad patch.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the 5 set format, he's just too strong mentally for any of the others. Only Carlos and Sinner can take him out and with the luck of the draw, he likely won't even need to face them both to win Slams. Still expect him to win 1 or 2 Slams this year.
Well, let’s see how well your overconfidence ages in about a half an hour
