ATP 500: Beijing, Tokyo

OK, silly time  
(read: crystal ball prediction)

I say Nole in two stormy sets, he'll huff and he'll puff and he'll blow Nadal's house down!!!!

LOL, just checking in as I have not been here in a while. So people are still in denial about Nadal I see. When I told you guys months ago that Nadal was going to go on a tear and beat Djokovic several times in the process many here did not believe me. Is it sinking in yet now that he is back to number one? Or do you still need more proof? 

The final of the most important tournament in the year is still left (ATP500 Beijing) and Djokovic is on the verge of winning that, so in a way NITB and Tenez were right.

luvsports! wrote:Obviously JS didn't see nole in aus, dubai or monte carlo.

Who cares about Dubai or MC? How many slam finals did Djokovic win this year?

He won 1, against Murray who sustained blisters after going a set up.
But who cares anyway, he is on the verge of creating history by winning ATP500 Beijing for the 246th time, a real big game player who raises his game when it matters  

Julia Santamaria wrote:He won 1, against Murray who sustained blisters after going a set up.
But who cares anyway, he is on the verge of creating history by winning ATP500 Beijing for the 246th time, a real big game player who raises his game when it matters  

  

Oh and it's a shame you've been away from this forum for a while BC, you have missed some outstanding displays of logic and precision.

NITB has said that she hates doping in sport, while simultaneously saying that she thinks Djokovic is doping. Then triple-simultaneously (if that's even a phrase) reassured that she is still a Djokovic fan, despite the first two statements being true.
Bizarre hypocrisy in it's purest form, but let's not let logic get in the way of anything

I think its going to be close 3 sets with in TB. There is nothing much to chose between the two, they both play the same kind of game ( let me say but 'differently' before I get pounded  for saying it). They both lack creativity and skill to pull great shots, but make it up for it with super speed, fitness and power.

Confidence plays a major part in deciding the winner in their duel. Right now, Nadal is having some major upper hand. Even if Djo wins, Nadal still should keep it up.

IDEMO NOLE MAJSTOREEEEEE!!!!     

Good start Nole! 2-0
Not only he's bossing Nadal around, i like his facial expression too. He really should win this match quite easily.

Let's see if Nadal can again hang in and hang in and hang in and..

3-0
Total domination so far

ah, i guess NAdal picked up some of the advices from his box, he's much more agressive right now: 3-1

4-1, that was an impressive game by Nole.

Funny how this H2H has evolved: they both don't want to rally any longer

Excellent start from Nole, warmed up his groundstrokes very nicely now and hitting them with a lot of confidence.
Serving very good, too.
I liked how he responded ultra confidently and raised the pace in this 4:1 game after Nadal won his first service game at 3:1 strutting his USO tennis.
Keep it up Nole

And another love-hold. These true conditions should help Nole to sustain this level. If so: there's not much Nadal can do to stop him

good start for Djokovic. But I tell you, Nadal won't give in easy. Or perhaps he might since he has got the very last thing he could ever want  ... i.e. be ATP#1. Isn't it, JS?

gallery play wrote:4-1, that was an impressive game by Nole.

Funny how this H2H has evolved: they both don't want to rally any longer

Yes that's the funny part.

Crucial game here: Nole serves for the set.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:good start for Djokovic. But I tell you, Nadal won't give in easy. Or perhaps he might since he has got the very last thing he could ever want  ... i.e. be ATP#1. Isn't it, JS?

Sure, we know his ego and he doesn't want to lose his first match as no.1, but this is really in Nole's hands

pff, linesmen are very pro Nadal

Too many lets in this match this far. 

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

gallery play wrote:4-1, that was an impressive game by Nole.

Funny how this H2H has evolved: they both don't want to rally any longer

Yes that's the funny part.

I reckon Nadal will want shorter rallies much more than Nole.
Nole is considerably more energy efficient, helps when you don't have to whack the ball like a nutcase all the time, not to mention having to carry all that extra weight while sprinting all over the court, and esp around it  

Set1 for Djokovic.. he was quite good actually.

HAve to say: that was a fantastic set played by Nole.
Total points:
Nole 28 NAdal: 16

Did anyone other than me saw the Tokoyo final??. Very good match indeed. Raonic only half blinked serving at  5*-5 in 2nd set and Delpo played some of the most sublime tennis to get the break and then serving it out.

I enjoyed that!
Good to see Nole taking the ball early at last, that's the way to have fun in tennis  

GO NOLEEEEEEE !!!!!    

Good to see Nadal fears Nole's DTL FH, that makes it easier to wrongfoot him

gallery play wrote:HAve to say: that was a fantastic set played by Nole.
Total points:
Nole 28 NAdal: 16

 I think its going to be closer than this in the 2nd set.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Did anyone other than me saw the Tokoyo final??. Very good match indeed. Raonic only half blinked serving at  5*-5 in 2nd set and Delpo played some of the most sublime tennis to get the break and then serving it out.

I just saw the score, really happy for Delpo, apparently he is back in top 5, at last, he's played so well this year, will be tough to beat this autumn and even if you pass him, you'll be dead for the next one, like Nole was in Wimbledon.
Hope he stays healthy now.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Did anyone other than me saw the Tokoyo final??. Very good match indeed. Raonic only half blinked serving at  5*-5 in 2nd set and Delpo played some of the most sublime tennis to get the break and then serving it out.

Unfortunatly i didn't see it, but i'm very happy with the result. Delpo can be a real strong player the last part of the season

And Nole grinds his way to  break.

On a different note, does anyone think our old Fed has some titles left in him this year? Any title would be fine for me. 

Nadal doing really well on his second serve here.

Nole is on serve in Cincy 2008 mode

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:On a different note, does anyone think our old Fed has some titles left in him this year? Any title would be fine for me. 

Basel?  

Lesson: How not to hit second serves

By Rafael Nadal

ATP Beijing to Djokovic is a bit like Barcelona to Nadal- virtually unbeatable.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:On a different note, does anyone think our old Fed has some titles left in him this year? Any title would be fine for me. 

I'm not the most optimistic one when it comes to Federer chances but i actually believe he'll do better than you might think after the year he had. Indoors he's still the best, if he's fit

Julia Santamaria wrote:Lesson: How not to hit second serves

By Rafael Nadal

No amri, its not that. Its the sheer unwanted burden of being the #1 player is holding him up bad. He didn't want it as you would know, but unfortunately he has been bestowed with it. Poor fella.

Nadal plays all or nothing right now, he has no choice

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

Julia Santamaria wrote:Lesson: How not to hit second serves

By Rafael Nadal

No amri, its not that. Its the sheer unwanted burden of being the #1 player is holding him up bad. He didn't want it as you would know, but unfortunately he has been bestowed with it. Poor fella.

Good point.
He should stay out until Djokovic reaches number 1 again.

Looking at the stats, Djokovic has served well, while Nadal has done well on his first serve.
However the difference is shown by Nadal's second serve.
Nadal has been too passive on those and let Djokovic attack.

gallery play wrote:Nadal plays all or nothing right now, he has no choice

A few more games like that and his tank will be drained. I just hope Nole has learnt his lesson ONCE AND FOR ALL not to ever let him back in the match again.
Come on Nole swat Nadal's despair /enthusiasm now!!!

Beijing and Shanghai have some of the most loud female fan base.

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:Nadal plays all or nothing right now, he has no choice

A few more games like that and his tank will be drained. I just hope Nole has learnt his lesson ONCE AND FOR ALL not to ever let him back in the match again.
Come on Nole swat Nadal's despair /enthusiasm now!!!

Don't haste. Nadal may not be GOAT but he could well be the toughest to beat ever.  This set is going going to be easy I suspect.

That was a brilliant hold from Nole, esp that last poin, so important!!!!

GO NOLEEEEEEE!!!!

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:Nadal plays all or nothing right now, he has no choice

A few more games like that and his tank will be drained. I just hope Nole has learnt his lesson ONCE AND FOR ALL not to ever let him back in the match again.
Come on Nole swat Nadal's despair /enthusiasm now!!!

Don't haste. Nadal may not be GOAT but he could well be the toughest to beat ever.  This set is going going to be easy I suspect.

Yes, he is a monster competitor to put away, I'll give him that!

What's making this tensed is the certainty of Nadals "hanging in skills",  but overall Nole is much better than NAdal today. The scoreline is actually quite flattering for Nadal.

Who's the real number one?  

GSM
And of course no signs of nerves while he was serving it out, he felt he was too good for NAdal

total points:
Nole 62 Nadal 44
Zero bp's for NAdal, all in all this was a one-sided match