Djokovic?

[Wookie]

Anybody think he’s got a chance at the Aussie Open? I think Alcaraz has his number. If not someone earlier. I never thought he would outdo Federer or Nadal. 

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, Wookie said:

Anybody think he’s got a chance at the Aussie Open? I think Alcaraz has his number. If not someone earlier. I never thought he would outdo Federer or Nadal. 

As good a shot as he's ever had.

[El Presidente]

ABK

Anyone but Kyrgios...although I am not sure he is even there 

[JohnS]

Nick Kyrgios lost in straight sets in the first round this year. I'm sure only the TV broadcasters will miss his presence and his drama!

[westg]

Be tough for him. His best tennis is definitely behind him and the younger brigades are still ahead of them. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of dedication, discipline and sacrifice this guy has made in the last 20 years, mind and body. His longevity in the sport at the pinnacle is just mind blowing with others equally as good. Now I know a lot of people don't like Novak. I think he is an incredible champion and out of the four majors this is his best shot. He does have 10. I actually prefer Federer and Nadal, that said, the three of the have taken tennis to another level. Not a fan of Sinner and his reasoning for that failed juice test to me is just BS all day long.

As for our boy Nick, unfortunately he will be remembered as one of the biggest Doodle heads of all time. And not for his tennis. I think its tragic for someone with his ability not having the right people around him. It really is just too bad. Such a flog.

[Li Bai]

I'm not much of a tennis fan but my in-laws are Serbs so Nole is kind of a big deal at home, I think he still has juice so we'll see where he ends up 🤔

This Federer/Nadal/Djokovic rivalry has been a gem for all sports lovers imo, just like the Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo one, too bad it had to end...

[Wookie]

Kyrgios is definitely cringe-worthy. Good to know the Aussies can't stand him either.

[BrightonCorgi]

13 hours ago, Li Bai said:

I'm not much of a tennis fan but my in-laws are Serbs so Nole is kind of a big deal at home, I think he still has juice so we'll see where he ends up 🤔

This Federer/Nadal/Djokovic rivalry has been a gem for all sports lovers imo, just like the Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo one, too bad it had to end...

Sinner looks to be the next "big name" in tennis. Adored in Italy too.

[Wookie]

I think Alcaraz has a higher ceiling than Sinner. He’s built more robustly. Sinner looks like he might break if he doesn’t eat enough of his,“ahem”, vitamins. 

[Ken Gargett]

10 hours ago, Wookie said:

Kyrgios is definitely cringe-worthy. Good to know the Aussies can't stand him either.

he is a human mudslide. i would rather watch a homeless man trim his toenails in a pitch black room than watch that utter tosser. could not be happier he got dumped by an unknown brit who got in because someone else pulled out (love to see the guy go on and win the lot). rarely has any human had more opinions on things about which he knows zero than the tosser. and sadly, he seems to believe we all want to hear them. and never has a person's brain lagged so far behind his mouth. the sooner we never hear from him again the better but watch him join the commentary. that will be the end of tennis for me. 

i think Alcatraz will be odds on favourite. 

good mate of mine was the appeals judge who sent Djokovic packing during covid. public record who it was so not spilling anything. my mate is known as Doc, thanks to his initials. has been since he was a kid. the name was changed by his fellow judges after the decision to Doc-evict. well i thought it was clever. 

[chasy]

I like Federer and Nadal more but have immense respect for Joker. I think he gets better as tournament goes on but Sinner (and Alcaraz) are tough. Alcaraz more talented, Sinner more mature. I think Joker can beat Alcaraz but not sure about Sinner.

Still crazy to me that they kicked Joker out of the country during Covid. 

[westg]

Danielle Collins last night, good heavens. That is one way not to win a crowd. And then thanking the crowd for coming and giving her and her friends a fat pay check for there next holiday in the Bahamas. That antagonistic behaviour will soon come to tears. Guaranteed. Whomever she plays next will be the crowd favourite. Will be tough for her. 

[Wookie]

Funny, if one compares Kyrgios to McEnroe…K is a quitter and an impudent, petulant brat. I grew up watching McEnroe’s tantrums, but he never quit. And he wasn’t a half wit like K. I was a junior tennis player and contemporary of Patrick McEnroe and Aaron Krickstein. Had my ass kicked by both of them in junior tournaments. Then I decided to go to proper school instead of a tennis academy. 

[Ken Gargett]

11 hours ago, westg said:

Danielle Collins last night, good heavens. That is one way not to win a crowd. And then thanking the crowd for coming and giving her and her friends a fat pay check for there next holiday in the Bahamas. That antagonistic behaviour will soon come to tears. Guaranteed. 

westie, she came off as the female version of kygrios although i suspect she has even less talent.

it absolutely highlights one of the major problems i have with tennis. the administrators are utterly spineless. they actually encourage people like her and kygrios to carry on acting without a shred of class. in the old days, think back to Harry Hopman etc, they would not have lasted a second. i remember many years ago at a tournament, the old man was honorary solicitor for QLTA and had various other positions. we had life tickets to part allocated behind the serve which was also for VIPs (dated back to my grandfather though to be honest, never sure why). pat cash was playing and his father was seated among us. was abusing officials and screaming obscenities and so on. carrying on appallingly. just a slob. was a former lawyer - in fairness, no idea if he was always like this or if he was having a bad day. the old man laid into him and they had a massive argument about how to conduct yourself. he was threatened with eviction and finally behaved himself but these days, all over the courts. 

i must admit my first thought when i read of her behaviour last night was that i could not imagine anything worse than being stuck on a boat with a grub like that. 

[Ken Gargett]

11 hours ago, Wookie said:

Funny, if one compares Kyrgios to McEnroe…K is a quitter and an impudent, petulant brat.  I grew up watching McEnroe’s tantrums, but he never quit. And he wasn’t a half wit like K. I was a junior tennis player and contemporary of Patrick McEnroe and Aaron Krickstein. Had my ass kicked by both of them in junior tournaments. Then I decided to go to proper school instead of a tennis academy. 

no one in any universe is ever comparing kygrios and McEnroe. light years apart. one, McEnroe actually won things. he is a thoughtful commentator and actually seems a good bloke. kygrios is none of that. 

only time i ever saw him do something dumb was miscounting the warnings during the Aussie Open and being kicked out. sure, a bad temper and some of his abuse of officials was unforgivable but absolutely right, he never quit. if he had an injury, i'll bet it was kept very quiet so opponents did not know. kygrios trumpets it to the world, oh poor me, i broke an eyelash. however will i play. i can't be expected to play and win with such bad luck. and then, after he capitulates like a politician chasing popularity, see, i told you i was injured. i am the only person on tour with such bad luck as to have an injury. no wonder i was beaten in straight sets, round one, by a bloke ranked somewhere in the thousands. 

he will not be missed. 

[chasy]

Don’t look now, but Djokovic surging…

[JohnS]

Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev in one of the semi-finals. Djokovic has an overall 8-4 record but they've only played each other once since in 2021. In the other semi-final, I would bet that Jannik Sinner or Alex de Minaur wouldn't mind facing the winner of the Ben Shelton-Lorenzo Sonego quarter-final.

[westg]

What a superstar.  He climbed some mountains in that match. He was definitely injured and prevailed in an epic game of tennis. Now if you didn't watch it you might look at that score line and think fairly easy after the first set. Far from it. God knows how many games where at deuce and we had multiple rallies from 20 to 30 shots played. 37 years old up against an absolute weapon 16 years younger with 4 grand slams at only 21. Always humble in victory. I can't play tennis, but it's because of players like Novak that I love watching it. He just doesn't give in. I have watched this guy played in countless matches that he had no right to win and prevailed. Roger was just beautiful to watch, Rafael would just bully you off the court. This guy at 37 and what he did tonight makes him the greatest in my book. What a thrill. 

[chasy]

Not to mention that Australian reporter looked like such a dumbo. Heckling the Serbian fans. Novak refuses an interview, goes straight to X where he explains himself. Increases the already large chip on his shoulder and defeats Alcaraz. Nobody wants to play Djokovic in this draw.

[Wookie]

I didn't see the match...heard it was amazing. Did not see that coming against Alcaraz. Hope he has enough gas left for the rest of the tournament.

[Chucko8]

It was a cracking match. Love or hate him, you can’t not admire Novak’s ability and determination. I was rooting for Carlos but had to appreciate the level both players produced and that Novak prevailed. 

[Wookie]

I saw about 60% of the replay yesterday afternoon. Novak's serve-return was on fire. They both played beautifully. Hope it doesn't take too big a toll on his 37yr old body, which is ancient for tennis. Hard to deny he's the GOAT.

[JohnS]

Well, despite how well Novak played in the quarter-final against Carlos, if you saw the "drubbing" that Jannik Sinner gave Alex de Minaur, then you'd know that Zverev and Djokovic both have a fight on their hands to stop the world No.1 should they meet in the final this weekend.

Alex de Minaur played very well this tournament, having dropped only one set and still lost in straight sets in less than two hours.

[westg]

13 hours ago, JohnS said:

Well, despite how well Novak played in the quarter-final against Carlos, if you saw the "drubbing" that Jannik Sinner gave Alex de Minaur, then you'd know that Zverev and Djokovic both have a fight on their hands to stop the world No.1 should they meet in the final this weekend.

Alex de Minaur played very well this tournament, having dropped only one set and still lost in straight sets in less than two hours.

His physio has the magic potion power. The fact that his physio had a banned substance in his possession makes Sinner guilty by association at the very least if you ask me. To fail a doping test twice and the flimsy excuse given as to how it entered his system is just mind blowing! Still he is somehow given a pass and allowed to continue playing. 

 

[Wookie]

Sinner is disgusting off both sides, truly sick stuff and right there with Alcaraz. But he was a stick figure before his “vitamin” regimen. He and Alcaraz are the future so far. I don’t see how Novak can get through two more rounds. Wish they were both as beautiful as watching Federer play. But I’m a sucker for a one handed backhand, which is probably, effectively, gone forever. IMHO.