Australian Open 2020

of course it is Nadal's worst surface also - he has only won 1 slam here

still good to see Thiem finally win a GS match against him and he didn't bottle his chance.

Floppybits

I thought Thiem was going to bottle it, fair play he held his nerve and seen it out. If it went to a 5th Nadal would have won.

lostcat

[QUOTE=yerwanthere123;112386488....I actually think Zverev now probably has the best shot at stopping Djokovic....[/QUOTE]

not sure, Thiem did beat him in last years FO, and he has the power to potentially blast Djokovic off the court (ala Stan).

i'm not sure where Zverev is at, I haven't got a good look at him in ages as he kept loosing early..but if his game is now clicking he is a handful, an Djokovic maybe hasen't played him often enough to have a good read on his serve..

this is Djokovics sitting room however, it will take a serious effort to oust him, an I don't think Federer has it in him to win three sets.

yes, Djokovic looking like his tittle to take at this point.

it would be a big surprise to me to see Fed troubling him greatly here and for a newbie not be beaten down by his consistency in the final.

josip

Djokovic was the firm favourite in the Wimbledon final last year also but Federer exceeded all expectations to nearly take it.
Admittedly their forms are very different in the AO.

Djokovic is also a tougher proposition in general on this, his best surface

Out of four meetings vs Fed at this slam, Djokovic has won three; the only time Fed won was way back in 2007 when he was at his absolute peak and Djokovic still pretty inexperienced so shouldn't really be counted imo

Aside from that Djokovic has only dropped 1 set against Fed in his three 5-set match victories over him in Melbourne

In relative terms he has battered Fed here.

elmolesto

lostcat wrote: »

not sure, Thiem did beat him in last years FO, and he has the power to potentially blast Djokovic off the court (ala Stan).

i'm not sure where Zverev is at, I haven't got a good look at him in ages as he kept loosing early..but if his game is now clicking he is a handful, an Djokovic maybe hasen't played him often enough to have a good read on his serve..

this is Djokovics sitting room however, it will take a serious effort to oust him, an I don't think Federer has it in him to win three sets.

I totally agree with you here, Thiem has the speed, athleticism, consistency and power to take the racket out of Djokovic’s hand.
But out-rallying Djokovic in Melbourne is going to be very hard.

The surprise for me is Zverev, I’m still shocked how quickly he turned things around after the atp cup fiasco. I have no idea what he is able to do.

I know Roger can draw confidence from his win over Djokovic at the atp final but I think it will very difficult for Federer to win on Friday, after his marathons. Also his level did not improve during the tournament.

Hector Savage

Ironically this could bite me in the ass, Djokovic would have a hell of a lot better chance v Nadal then he would v Thiem (or Zverev for that matter)..

Anyway, I do like Djokovic but I think it's time for a new young fella to win a slam.

I hate the stat that the youngest slam winner is 31 !!

Hector Savage

And of course the good news is now I can enjoy the rest of the tournament - nothing but rocks of sense from me now :P

Slashermcguirk

Thiem is the biggest threat to Djokovic now. I see Thiem taking out Zverev in 4, more weopans and he leads that head to head.

1st set is crucial for Federer vs Djokovic tomorrow. I just think Novak might have too much for roger.

If it’s a djokovic vs Thiem final, I think it would be very 50/50. Djokovic is a better player but Thiem has the firepower to really hurt him.

I am a djokovic fan but if anyone else is to win I hope it’s Thiem. Never particularly enjoyed watching Zverev play

walshb

I think Thiem can beat anyone who makes the final...

I’d make Nole only a slight favorite..

dominatinMC

walshb wrote: »

I think Thiem can beat anyone who makes the final...

I’d make Nole only a slight favorite..

Tend to agree. Thiem is 26 and should be near, if not already at, his peak right now. He has improved immensely on HCs in the last 2 years, and has the firepower to blow anyone away on the surface - al a prime Stan. I'd also argue that he is now the fittest on tour, and the long matches shouldn't be a problem should he make the final. His biggest issue is still the momentary lapses in concentration, which were evident yet again today. Eliminate those and he will be tough to beat. Would love to see him do it.

Rikand

Really hope this means that when Thiem meets Nadal in the French he can finally take him out. Hes been pushing him the last couple of years at Roland Garros. Think this is his time now to win it

mzungu

Those two mens semi-finals should be good. Fed is up against it so the smart money is on Djokovic. Thiem and Zverev could go either way, especially as Zverev seems to be a man reborn the past 10 days.

dominatinMC

Rikand wrote: »

Really hope this means that when Thiem meets Nadal in the French he can finally take him out. Hes been pushing him the last couple of years at Roland Garros. Think this is his time now to win it

As we all know too well, Nadal at the FO is a different animal. I think this narrative that Thiem has "pushed" him at the FO in the last few years is a bit misleading. Yes, he took a set off him in last years final, but Nadal steamrolled him after that included two 6-1 sets to finish it. I'm not saying that Thiem can't win it, but at the same time, today's match shouldn't be used for evidence that he can imo.
Anyway, this is a topic for another day - 4/5 months time to be specific!

RobertKK

Some excellent matches overnight, tomorrow morning.

I will wake up for the Halep v Muguruza match.

Hego Damask

Im watching the McEnroe brothers play Santoro + Bahrami in legends doubles.

That Bahrami lad is hilarious!!

Joe_ Public

That was disappointing. From two set points, barty just folds. Service totally collapsed. Nerves got better of her today.

whiterebel

elmolesto wrote: »

She is really impressive but so is Muguruza. I think Barty will choke.

Good spot. Do you have the lotto numbers?:p

RobertKK

It was fine margins in the Halep v Muguruza match.
Muruguza just closed it out better when the opportunity arose in both sets. There was nothing between them.

josip

Federer a break up already in the 1st set (2-0)
That after saving a game point in his first service game.

josip

And Djokovic breaks back.

This is going to be fun.

josip

And eh Federer breaks again for 3-1.

whiterebel

FEd 4-1 and was 0-40. ND back to advantage.

Hector Savage

What a joke!!!

Federer should be out, he has faced 10 match points (or 11) in this tournament so far ..... and now he is beating Djokovic ...

Total joke

elmolesto

Hector Savage wrote: »

What a joke!!!

Federer should be out, he has faced 10 match points (or 11) in this tournament so far ..... and now he is beating Djokovic ...

Total joke

7 “only”

Hector Savage

elmolesto wrote: »

7 “only”

Millman had some too ...

elmolesto

Hector Savage wrote: »

Millman had some too ...

No he was 2 points away

Hector Savage

elmolesto wrote: »

No he was 2 points away

ah true true...

anyway, if Djokovic can't beat Federer he doesn't deserve the AO.

Only advantage is at least it will put 2 between Nadal and Federer again ...assuming of course Theim or Zverev can't finally step up..

walshb

Not watching, but is Fed playing better overall?

josip

Oooh, nurse. Federer broken to love (5-4, Djokovic on serve)

elmolesto

walshb wrote: »

Not watching, but is Fed playing better overall?

He upped his game compare to the last 3 matches but there is not much between them.

Hector Savage

Ivanisevic in the Djokovic box ?

josip

Hector Savage wrote: »

Ivanisevic in the Djokovic box ?

Yep, that's why his service speeds have increased this year

elmolesto

Hector Savage wrote: »

Ivanisevic in the Djokovic box ?

He has been part of the coaching team for the past few months now. Djokovic average second serve speed has increased by 10kph as a result.

josip

1st set Djokovic.
That's gotta hurt, given that Federer was 4-1 up and had 3 break points to go 5-1 up and then be on serve.

elmolesto

Djokovic tie-break win ratio is unreal against the elite.

NoviGlitzko

Federer losing that first set is a heartbreaker. Had so many opportunities to close it out. Wimbledon final 2.0

lostcat

At this stage, honestly, I'm starting to think that Djokovic just does this tie break stuff against Federer to piss people off..

elmolesto

29% points won behind second serve, that is an appalling figure for Federer.

whiterebel

Shocking stuff now from Federer. Gone completely off the boil. Serve gone, FH gone.

josip

He took a medical timeout for his back after the 1st set.

Federer mentally broken after that.

This match will be three sets most likely, maybe 4 if Djokovic fancies a bit more of a knock-up.

MisterAnarchy

lostcat wrote: »

At this stage, honestly, I'm starting to think that Djokovic just does this tie break stuff against Federer to piss people off..

There used to be a time Federer would never lose a tie-break ,it would be inevitable if a set went to one.
For the last 10 years its the exact opposite ,he is a bundle of nerves in most of them especially against Rafa and Novak.
No excuse for throwing away that first set.

josip

2-0. What a shot to win the set with.

Floppybits

Sounding like Hector here but this match is over. Can't see Federer coming back from this. The first set loss was a killer for him.

Hector Savage

Floppybits wrote: »

Sounding like Hector here but this match is over. Can't see Federer coming back from this. The first set loss was a killer for him.

all he needs is to win this set and then momentum is with him, tennis it's never over till it's over - yes I am aware of the irony of this coming from me...

Fed has now only taken 1 set off Djokovic in their last 4 matches in Melbourne.

Most likely the last time that they will face each other here, certainly at the semi final stage.

whiterebel

I think Fed will go this year. Last tilt at Olympics and goodbye at the US.

NoviGlitzko

No way Federer retires this year bar injuries when he's still competing for majors. Djokovic was top class today but Federer wasn't 100%. Hope Theim takes the title now.

Delighted for Gabby. Should be a fun final.