Talk About Tennis 2.0

You know who feels even worse than Berrettini right now? Shapo.

I won't be able to see the match here on the US West Coast and I have to work all morning tomorrow. I so so so so so want Matteo to win but I highly doubt he can come out on top.

Kevin

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 5:27 am You know who feels even worse than Berrettini right now? Shapo.

And you know who feels worse than Shapo? Novax.

Kevin

I love how seriously Berrettini takes himself.

Totally outplayed for two sets and in a bad matchup, he hung in there and took full advantage of Nadal's slip in form. Don't like his chances to win the match, but he did the exact same thing against Djokovic at Roland Garros last year, including the same set scores for the first two sets, and came darn close to taking it to five sets.

Rafa does not look fresh. I am not sure he has more energy than Matteo right now.

Medvedev should beat Tsipsi quite comfortably, I feel..that topspin isn't very effective on this surface, especially against a giant like Medvedev..he will enjoy the nice chest-high bounce...

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:02 am Rafa does not look fresh. I am not sure he has more energy than Matteo right now.

His energy seems to be hitting a wall about the same time as it did last time. Wonder if he's not back to 100% from his bout with covid. Matteo is far fresher and holding very easily.

I'll take Nadal in any match in any Major vs. any active player with the exception of Djokovic. Versus Djokovic, it's a toss up.

I think Medvedev will beat Tsitsipas because he's the most intelligent player on the tour at figuring out what he must do to win and adjusting his game to do what's necessary - while Tsitsipas is still quite dependent on others to figure the match out for him.

Nadal found that last bit of energy to finish this in four. It must be a bit concerning for him in case the final goes very long.

Really don't know how he pulled that one out in four.

Deuce wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:32 am I'll take Nadal in any match in any Major vs. any active player with the exception of Djokovic. Versus Djokovic, it's a toss up.

I think Medvedev will beat Tsitsipas because he's the most intelligent player on the tour at figuring out what he must do to win and adjusting his game to do what's necessary - while Tsitsipas is still quite dependent on others to figure the match out for him.

I consider Djokovic a heavy favorite against Nadal outside clay. On clay it is close. Nadal certainly not a heavy favorite anymore.

Deuce wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:32 am I'll take Nadal in any match in any Major vs. any active player with the exception of Djokovic. Versus Djokovic, it's a toss up.

I think Medvedev will beat Tsitsipas because he's the most intelligent player on the tour at figuring out what he must do to win and adjusting his game to do what's necessary - while Tsitsipas is still quite dependent on others to figure the match out for him.

That's a silly statement. Nadal has not won a set against Djokovic on any hard court in more than eight years, but you say it would be a toss-up. OK.

I do not think Nadal will win the final unless the winner of the second semifinal is drained by a long match, which is certainly possible. Neither Medvedev nor Tsitsipas has gone more than eight years without winning a set against Nadal on this surface.

You do realize Nadal has lost the Australian Open final from a break up in the fifth set twice, right? He's incredibly tough mentally, but not impervious to pressure.

Will. Desire. Perseverance. Drive. Determination. Persistence. Tenacity.
Call it what you want - but Nadal has more of it than any other player. And that's a huge advantage to have.
Of course, he possesses some decent physical ability, as well...
But it's his incredible level of determination that gets him to and across the finish line.

He may just be the greatest competitor that tennis has ever seen.
Connors had a phoniness about him - like secretly, he was doing it to be liked by the crowd. But Nadal does it simply because it is inherent within him. And, as competitive as he is, he's genuinely humble about it - which makes him even more worthy of admiration.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:41 am Really don't know how he pulled that one out in four.

Me neither. Was trying to figure out if I should stay awake and watch the 5th set or go to sleep and hopefully wake up early enough to catch the end of Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas if it goes long. Didn't see a way this was ending in 4 with the way Matteo was serving.

I don't understand how any tennis fan who has watched Nadal play for years could possibly be surprised by anything that he does.
Really.
I can say something similar about anyone who is surprised when Djokovic pulls a match out.

Love them or hate them, these two guys possess enormous resolve and will. To me, Nadal has more of it, while I view Djokovic as being more like Connors - his will to win is more rooted in a desperate desire for approval from others. But still - it propels him forward and over seemingly every obstacle he encounters on the court.
How many times must these two players show what they are capable of for people to cease being surprised???