Friday - 8:45 AM ET
This is the matchup I've been waiting all year for, it should've been a Final but Semis is good enough.
Djokovic and Nadal are tied with the most Grand Slams at 22. It's felt inevitable for a while now that Djokovic will eventually have sole possession of the most ever. But standing in his path is the current #1, the youngest year-end #1 ever, the defending US Open Champ, the future of the sport.
This feels like a rare opportunity where two legends from different eras have their careers overlap while still being really good. Brady vs. Mahomes type of vibe.
Djokovic in 5 is always a safe bet. Maybe the most resilient athlete I've ever seen. Alcaraz is the #1 but he did only turn 20 just a month ago. Is he truly ready for a 5 set War against the guy most consider the GOAT? I'll be rooting for Alcaraz but it feels like a toss-up.
The fact that Alcaraz is the favorite in terms of odds says A LOT though. Very excited for this one.
So, I see good reason to make CA the chalk. I mean, he destroyed Tsitsipas, who is a very good clay player. And he's younger, faster and just as talented...
Hey Stan. I honestly would’ve been interested in your thoughts on Alcaraz now since you weren’t buying him last year. I’m guessing you still wouldn’t be a big fan lol.
Both players are hitting the ball very cleanly.
The good thing is he's young. The bad thing is he's playing Joker, who is the master of grinding an opponent down...
Alcaraz's body wasn't ready for the war of attrition.
Djokovic is just so damn tenacious.
Alcaraz's body wasn't ready for the war of attrition.
Djokovic is just so damn tenacious.
It is inexcuable to not be ready. Federer and Nadal went toe to toe with this guy for hours on end at much older ages. Alcarez is a fraud until proven otherwise.
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Alcaraz's body wasn't ready for the war of attrition.
Djokovic is just so damn tenacious.
It is inexcuable to not be ready. Federer and Nadal went toe to toe with this guy for hours on end at much older ages. Alcarez is a fraud until proven otherwise.
He's won a Grand Slam already and is the youngest #1 ever?
Today showed he needs to get his fitness level up. But I remember Djokovic having fitness issues as a youngster too, it happens. Alcaraz was not ready for the 5 set Djokovic challenge today.
But Fraud? Sorry but that's just dumb.
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end like this.
Alcaraz's body wasn't ready for the war of attrition.
Djokovic is just so damn tenacious.
It is inexcuable to not be ready. Federer and Nadal went toe to toe with this guy for hours on end at much older ages. Alcarez is a fraud until proven otherwise.
And it's not like Alcaraz had a rough road to the semis, either. He dropped one set before today. And that was in the second round.
Again, the definition of fraud has context. People were saying he is a successor to the Big 3. In that context, his performance was fraudulent. He is talented, but I do not think people get what made the big three great. They came to play every match and even when they lost it was titanic struggles. This was total capitulation. Would overrated make you feel better than "fraud"
Ironically, Joker struggled with cramping early in his career. But then he changed his diet, based on a series of different tests (I believe he had serious gluten issue), and he eventually was able to solve that issue.
After that ridiculous 2nd set, today is a complete disappointment. We'll see how the rest of the tennis season goes.
Jesus...did Zverez mail it in?
I’ll be rooting for Alcaraz. I get why people are ripping him now. I wrote him practically a love letter in my OP and everyone is hyping him, only for him to go out 1-6 1-6 in his first showdown with Novak.
I get it. But this kid will be a force for a long time imo.
I’ll be rooting for Alcaraz. I get why people are ripping him now. I wrote him practically a love letter in my OP and everyone is hyping him, only for him to go out 1-6 1-6 in his first showdown with Novak.
I get it. But this kid will be a force for a long time imo.
I'm with you. He'll be back and on top for a long time. He's tenacious. Takes years to reach Big 3 level of fitness.
I’ll be rooting for Alcaraz. I get why people are ripping him now. I wrote him practically a love letter in my OP and everyone is hyping him, only for him to go out 1-6 1-6 in his first showdown with Novak.
I get it. But this kid will be a force for a long time imo.
Agreed. Alcaraz has all of the tools. Forget this board, the entire tour know CA is going to be great.
Once he gets his fitness right and continues to mature, you are looking at a guy who has what it takes to win 5+ majors.
Beating #1 hyped favorite Alcaraz here is big because it’s yet another era he’s killing it in.
It’s ironic the health is what gets called out on. Because his fitness and tenacity are just about as good as I’ve ever seen out of anyone.
25+? Where will he put this record? We all know it “could’ve” been more already.
Beating #1 hyped favorite Alcaraz here is big because it’s yet another era he’s killing it in.
It’s ironic the health is what gets called out on. Because his fitness and tenacity are just about as good as I’ve ever seen out of anyone.
25+? Where will he put this record? We all know it “could’ve” been more already.
Winning each major 3X or > is a huge differentiator.
By surface, I think Sampras is the king on grass. Nadal is the king on clay. And Joker is the hardcourt king.
I am a huge Nadal fan, but I put him behind both Djokovic and Federer. He was a clay court king and a hall of fame player on other surfaces as well but I don't think quite as good. Amazing to watch, but inflated stats due to having a game tailor made for clay and without any real other rival on that surface during his prime.
Federer was handcuffed by his one handed backhand, others may disagree but I think a two handed backhand is the superior shot technically. Hybrid is probably best, but there are times when you need a two hander and he didn't have it. Federer's return suffered the most in that regard. Give Federer Agassi's backhand and he may never have lost a match imo (hyperbole, of course).
Happy to see Djokovic keep winning these, what an absolute legend and a joy to watch all these years.