For the second straight year, Novak Djokovic is one win away from his first Roland Garros title and the career Grand Slam. In 2015 it was Stan Wawrinka who denied the world No. 1. Now it is familiar foe Andy Murray who will stand in Djokovic’s way on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be facing each other for the seventh time in a major final when they battle for the French Open title on Sunday afternoon.
Overall, they have squared off on 33 previous occasions, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head series 23-10. The Serb had been 12-1 in their last 13 encounters prior to last month’s Rome championship, but Murray ended the skid by pulling off a 6-3, 6-3 upset. Despite that setback, Djokovic is still 4-1 lifetime against Murray on clay and shortly before their Rome showdown he beat the Scot 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Madrid final. In their six Grand Slam title matches, Djokovic is 4-2 (4-0 at the Australian Open, 0-1 at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open).
Murray had never previously advanced this far at Roland Garros, in part because he ran into the world No. 1 in last year’s semifinals. The underdog put up an impressive fight, but Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 before falling to Stan Wawrinka two days later. On the other side of the draw this time around as the second seed, Murray has turned in his best-ever performance on the red dirt of Paris thanks to victories over Radek Stepanek, Mathias Bourgue, Ivo Karlovic, John Isner, Richard Gasquet, and Stan Wawrinka. The two-time major champion needed five sets to get past both Stepanek and Bourgue, but he surrendered only two sets combined in his next four matches.
Djokovic has run into no such trouble en route to his fourth French Open final appearance. The top seed ensured that another chapter in this rivalry would be written after he disposed of Yen-Hsun Lu, Steve Darcis, Aljaz Bedene, Roberto Bautista Agut, Tomas Berdych, and Dominic Thiem while surrendering only one set to Bautista Agut in the process. Djokovic is now 43-3 for his 2016 campaign, which includes five winner’s trophies.
“Now I put myself in a position in which I wanted to be in of course ever since last year’s final,” Djokovic explained. “I was hoping that the clay-court season would be successful in the other tournaments, but mostly in this one. It’s always high on the priority list when I start a season thinking about Roland Garros, and to be able to reach [the final] is really special. I give myself another opportunity to win the trophy.”
“It’s obviously a very big match for both of us,” Murray assured, “(with) Novak trying to win the career slam it’s obviously a huge match for him, and me trying to win my first French Open, as well. Neither of us know how many more chances we’ll have to win here. It took Roger (Federer) a long time to win this one. And Novak, too. It’s a very tough event to win.
“There is a lot riding on the match for both of us. I hope we can both play a good match. We have had some really big battles in the slams before on all surfaces. I’m sure it will be the same again on Sunday.”
Tactically, of course, there are no secrets between these familiar foes. Especially on this surface, they will be content to match strength with strength and slug it out in grueling baseline exchanges. Djokovic, as usual, will look to punish Murray’s second serves as arguably the best returner in the sport–something Wawrinka failed to do on Friday. As for the pressure, the 11-time major champion has been dealing with that since the start of the fortnight and it ratcheted it up when Rafael Nadal withdrew more than a week ago–making Djokovic an even heavier favorite. That added weight has hardly slowed Djokovic down and there is no reason to think it will suddenly affect him in this one. The second time should be the charm.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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WWW?
Djokovic better get it done. Else a ‘mauka mauka” series can be started for Djokovic 😀
Prediction: Murray in 4
Novak 3-1
Ricky, from your lips to God’s ears.
I think it could be a five setter.If their previous matches on clay are anything to go by. But Nole should win unless the pressure gets to him .
Joker in 3….just too tough for everyone else!!!
Wawrinka picked Nole and I picked Nole in 4 but…..
Tough to go against Djokovic here …he is playing his best tennis and looked full of energy against Thiem. Murray has become phenomenal on clay and he has a really good chance here. Would love to see Murray win his first RG title!
Murray might get tired if it goes to a fifth set ….He is supremely fit so hoping that won’t be the case.
Murray’s second serve has vastly improved and I am really impressed with his forehand. His ‘average forehand’ was struck deeper and harder against Stan and he will need that. Murray has really nice variation in his game and unlike Thiem, he won’t give Djokovic that much rhythm.
Novak was scary in the way he consistently spread the court againts Thiem. He was on the baseline and dictated play.
Pressure is on Novak so Andy should play freely.
Nole in four
Things I worry about:
– Murray is retrieving back everything at the moment
– Very few UEs in Murray’s match with Stan
– There’s rain in Sunday’s forecast, which means courts will be even slower. Advantage Andy.
That being said, Novak in 5.
http://www.lachainemeteo.com/meteo-france/destination/previsions-meteo-roland-garros-42-1.php
Forget must be praying the meteo have got it wrong. If not there is the risk the final will end up being carried over to Monday after all.
Rain delays will benefit Djokovic
Not much comment. Murray must beat Djokovic.
So surprised, Novak showed no sign of tired on his match against Them.
But he looked not so fresh and very tired on his previous matches.
What happen to him ?….?…..?
@ Jscky
#Innuendoes everywhere
Nole with 4 consecutive slams, 2 more to go by year end
Novak benefits from rain delays, no doubt about it! In all the fairness both players kind of deserve to win their first RG! Nole for working so hard and being brilliant all these years and Andy for coming back from the injury lay off and beating Nole on clay!
I would say Andy’s draw was more difficult and he had to play some great tennis to beat the inspired opponents!
Wawa predictions usually fail, although all he did was predicting the obvious!
First I thought what Ricky would predict and checked his prediction and I was right! Easy to predict Ricky’s prediction 😉
I too think Nole will take the title! And I am also leaning towards Nole in 4! Would love to see this one going to 5 but even then I see Noke as the winner…
Murray seems content with just reaching his first RG final..,I am afraid he will not want to push himself to the very limit for the win like Wawa did last year…hope I am wrong though…
Criminal how the federazzi media are burying nole’s attempt tomorrow of becoming the first male player since Laver (and first EVER on three different surfaces) to hold all four slams at the same time.
They all talk about the career slam which redirects what he is about to achieve.
If this was federer you can rest assured it would be a much bigger deal.
I have noticed overall that it is not being played up. I remember all the hoopla when Rafa was going for his fourth straight slam at the 2011 AO. The talk was all about whether it would count as the same as Rod Laver’s calender slam. So they ended up calling it the Rafa slam.
Same when Fed was going for it years ago and Rafa stopped him.
I think it’s a real shame. It’s a singular achievement. What is also not being said is that if Novak wins this he will be halfway to the calender slam.
Whether you like him or not, it deserves to be talked about and acknowledged.
I think about how Rafa was going for the double career slam at the 2014 AO. Everyone was talking about that. Thwarted by injury one more time.
Perhaps both Fed and Rafa’s withdrawal have taken out the shine off this FO. Imagine Djoko doing it in 2012 FO, or Rafa in 2011 AO, or Fed in 2006 FO, those were really something.
There’s no reason Federer’s withdrawal should take the shine off this victory, and as for Rafa, I think Novak did his dues by being Nadal’s toughest opponent on clay, beating him last year and winning in Rome in straights this year. Almost as though to make up for it, the schedule was interrupted and he has handled it brilliantly so far. Whether he will handle an inspired opponent remains to be seen.
I’ll always feel some regrets about Rafa’s 2009; its supposed to be his very peak year coming off a very good 2008, winning Wimbledon for the first time and if not for Olympics, he would have a good chance at the USO. His 2009 was really derailed by his knee injury after making some dumb decision of playing at Rotterdam and got himself injured.
I think Djoko and his fans would feel regrets about his 2015 FO,just like Fed’s about his 2006 or 2007, with a real calendar GS in sight. Maybe, Djoko can do it this year?
jim courier going on and on about the disadvantage to nole in playing 4 consecutive days because of the schedule. saying that when nole has lost to andy fatigue has often been a factor, recently in rome, at wimby….
listening to him go on about this and talk also about the pressure nole is under is making me think he isn’t going to win…
when nole is tired and stressed he also gets bad tempered and starts trying to pull the trigger on points with generally disastrous results…
it is going to be a beautiful day here tomorrow and i am thinking of skipping the final…
he didn’t look tired on Friday…
I don’t see Novak being tired. It’s true that the rain delays created havoc with the scheduling. Novak had to play on consecutive days. But he’s really fit.
Murray has had more total hours on the court with his two five setters in the first week and then he had to face Karlovic and Isner and then another tough match with Gasquet. He could have some fatigue.
The good thing is that both guys had a day off. Hopefully, they will both come out and be at their best to give us a great final.
if Nole wins, I think he is GOAT. Nole Slam. 4 GS wins on the trot is just too much
Not even close
I’d say he’s very close, Ricky. Think about what winning this would mean going forward. It doesn’t stop here. Having said that, the task is enormous.
What scares me is that if he gets this, he’ll make it 5 in a row at wimby ! Who’ll stop him?! He is the favourite at every slam…such a pity Rafa is not there at RG …I am glad at least Andy is playing great now! Andy will be there at wimby
vr,
Do we know yet if Fed will play Wimbledon? What kind of shape will he be in? I thought that he pulled out of the French to try and be ready for Wimbledon.
As you said, Murray should be a contender there. He’s better on the grass. So we can’t count him out.
It was a bad break for Rafa to have to pull out win another injury. But I guess we have to hope that someone else will step in until Rafa comes back.
NNY, Fed will surely play and I think he is also going to Halle. He will be a force and can cause problems. Remember his masterclass against Murray last year!
It’s very close.
I would like Novak to win his career slam. Then after this I will root for Andy to win AO and RG for his chance.
what do the odds mean ?
Murray: 11/4
Djokovic: 3/10
I think that head says Novak, heart says murray. Maybe this is novak’s time. It’s Murray’s first final at RG.
I just hope it’s a final that is worthy of the occasion.
it means Djokovic is a heavy favorite
basically it means Murray has a 1 out of 3 chance of winning
I like the explanation of the odds, even though it was a response to someone else’s question. I have to admit that I have never had much of an understanding of them.
Very difficult to predict Novak’s tiredness or freshness. He has looked tired when he perhaps shouldn’t and then fresh as a daisy when he should be tired! He has a level of fitness I have never seen before. A couple of people have said that a rain delayed match will assist Novak………why is that?
The good news is that the rain forecast for late afternoon is not expected now till late evening.
#Guy Forget has placated the rain god.
wonder who he ritualistically sacrificed ed? am sure we could come up with some suggestions!
gachassin would be an excellent first choice for starters…
What are the odds on Nole psyching out Andy with theatrics?
Thereafter what are the odds of Andy imploding?
Pretty good on both I would say.
my hope is Murray in 4-5, but Djokovic will probably find a way to win…but who knows. Just no 3 set yawnfest please
I am between a rock and a hard place – I don’t want either man to win.
Murray is nervous.
Apparently, the Serbs have come down in their droves to RG.
of course they came, to support the GOAT.
vamos Andy! Continues to respond to adversity darn well!
The most aggressive returner on the tour! 15-40 to Muzz… Go Andy! He has the upper hand here.
How big as asset is Andy Murray’s backhand slice!
There are intruders in Rafa’s palace whilst he is off sick.
Djokovic is clearly feeling the pressure..he is not entirely at ease…
…and long may that continue.
Terrible by the umpire. That point should have been replayed. Djoko gets the short end yet again
You could not be more wrong.
Murray is now very relaxed and Djoker is not a happy bunny. 🙂
things will change very quickly 🙂
What is actually troubling Novak?
Seems all bottled up.
Gotta get loose man!
Never seen him this quiet in a match!
Djoker wants it too much.
he’ll get it in the end.
Sounds painful.
I mean Stan had to play an amazing level of tennis to beat him last year.
Muzz has hardly been made to play even at a good level.
Murray is playing some GOOD clay court tennis…
A great second serve followed by a DF… Andy’s level has been dropping since 4-1 set 1
I just started watching to see that Andy won the first set. I forgot to record it.
Well, we have a match!
It’s still weird to see Nole not pumping himself up. He needs to really rile himself up if he wants to make a match of this.
Wow! What rally!
Nole just missed a virtual set point there!
Focus, man! FOCUS!
Andy did so well to hold from 15-40 down in the last game…Must keep fighting to get the break back…. Keep holding your serve and have a go at Novak’s two servie games
At least we have a real match! I am just sorry that I missed the first set.
I wonder if Novak started a bit tight because of the pressure to win this.
It will be a lot tougher from here on for Murray…. Djokovic getting more and more comfortable out there.
Murray has used the backhand DTL sparingly. He must employ it more…
Novak seems to be playing well now and raising his level of play,
This set looks like it’s over.
Thanks for updates ?
This match is done and dusted.
Murray had his run in the first set like fed used to start strong against Rafa only to get stomped on in the end.
Hey let’s not give up on Murray yet. It’s just one set. Murray has to make adjustments. That’s the way it was with Rafa and Novak. A lit of ups and downs.
hawkeye, that also came to my mind!
But, I am still hoping Andy can do something here. He knows he can’t play worse than this…. He will improve but a lot depends on Novak as well.
He has the benefit of serving first and one set apiece against Novak is not such a bad scenario. He must give it his all in this set.
Murray has WILTED in this set!! even after giving himself such a good launching pad. Novak is more comfortable now…Andy must raise his level from the first point of set 3
Nole gave him that launching pad but launch aborted.
Noles first set nerves are done and dusted and Murray as always is no match physically.
#GSM
Order restored.
Murray has to do deep here if he wants to win.
3rd set key. If djoko wins it he runs with match
agreed.
This hold was CRUCIAL for Andy… had to stop the bleeding.
I meant to say dig deep! Right now Novak has all the answers.
The quality of Novak’s ‘average groundstroke’ has improved.Clearly.
But Novak was never just going to go away. Murray has to respond.
Where was that aggressive returning in set 2 ! Make him feel your presence, Andy.
Novak is pushing Murray around now.
Finally, the match (and this blog too) has come alive.
Let’s see who survives this dogfight!
Novak’s backhand DTL is a killer shot at the moment and Andy is not even going for his DTL one
It was never going to be easy for Murray. So let’s see what he’s got.
It’s frankly not a dog fight. It’s a boring match
Secondly Andy is already tired
Uh oh! Novak with break points. He’s taking the match away from him if he can’t hold here.
Murray had to hold here!
Oh, he missed that volley! Novak breaks. In control now.
Not necessarily. I voted 5 sets.
rc,
Well I hope you are right. But for the moment unless Andy breaks back, Novak is dictating the action.
Let’s see now how Nole handles the pressure of playing with the lead.
He can serve better to start with.
you are very rational, abhirf!
This is the 1st slam final (not featuring Roger) that I’m really emotional about.
So perhaps, yeah, the rationality might be thrown out of the window at the moment 🙂
you are doing well! better than me, anyways lol
Very my last gasp! barely breathing…
What a gift from andy
Andy is looking a bit gassed now.
Murray can’t do what Wawrinka did. He won’t be able to constantly hit through Novak so this match is basically Novak’s to lose imo. Not looking good for Murray after that awful volley miss as Djoker has a break in this third set.
I mean what Wawrinka did last year
career slam…nole slam…congrats to him
Nole owns Murray almost as much as Rafa owns fed.
No contest.
The worst FO final ever!
On paper Stan would have been the better opponent, but he just hasn’t been as consistent this year.
If there are nerves from Novak, I am not seeing it now. He seems to really be focused and wants to make history.
the best FO ever!
It’s not done!
Hope we never have to watch another muzzole slam final.
Still happy to watch history being made.
#Zzzzzzzz
One thing that Muzz hasn’t really learned is- that you can’t rally out rally Nole now. No one can.
You just need to go for broke or go broke
Oh my. What a damp squib. Someone said that murray busts his gut against rafa and rolls over for others. Rings true now. How many times
Murray just stepped up to take that return early. More of that
Murray just needs to break back to shift the momentum.
Nole winning is a lot more exciting than Murray
But viewers have been cheated from an exciting final.
Murray is no match.
The moment Rafa retires, I’m cancelling my Sky Sports subscription. It costs an arm and a leg and no way am I paying that for this nonsense.
as far as i am concerned you can do it even today.
That’s why I preferred Stan….the Stanimal at least controls the tempo of the match.
Anyway, Andy must hold here and try to get one break back… needs momentum heading into set 4 if he is to have any chance
Yes, on paper Stan would have been the better opponent, but he just wasn’t able to get there.
I also think that Novak would have had the answers this time. He said that he didn’t have the right strategy. But Stan is the tougher matchup these days.
Can Murray find a second wind here!
Kei would have done better than this. Andy struggled from the first round so he’s spent. He should have gone out in R2.
nope he wouldn’t.
Who is going to stop djoko in the other slams? Hard to know or see where his next loss is going to come.
I don’t even want to think about it.
The match clearly showing WHY Novak is a superior baseliner on a clay court. Murray’s problem is that his ability to to put away mid court balls or punish relatively short balls is clearly inferior. As long as Novak keeps counterpunching and retrieving consistently, the Serb will always win enough points. What made Nadal so great all these years on clay is his ability to punish not only mid court balls but any balls even remotely short… Murray finds it hard to generate his own pace with his forehand on a regular basis. On grass he gets pace but here he doesn’t. That’s one of the major factors.
So that is why Rafa was more successful against Novak. Also, his fierce mental strength and ability to find another level against Novak.
yes, NNY….Rafa’s mental strength of course. Plus, Andy doesn’t hit with much topspin which is ESSENTIAL on clay. You’ll find it very very tough to find RG champions from the past who hit flat groundstrokes from the baseline.. you need HEAVY strokes on clay. Agassi comes to mind and Noah had a diff style.
Novak’s had andy’s inside out forehand for lunch today…the shot doesn’t have much spin on it and when it is not deep, Novak’s clubs it down the line with his backhand. Contrast this with Rafa’s CC forehand!!!!! How much tougher for Novak to change direction on that and hit through it.
As boring as this match has become (dullest final of all time Weak Era excepted), what Nole has done is historic and puts him right in the top with fedal in the great GOAT debate.
Roger is arguably third best ever.
haha! 3rd best indeed
He has a strong case now, I agree. What worries me is that who is there to stop him at Wimby, USO and next year’s AO … Murray can do better on grass but Djokovic is a much better big match player.
Anyway, this looks like it is over but we still have some tennis left.
AO 2012 SF anyone? Muzz looked down and out but stole set 4? Very unlikely but not impossible..
Ironically murray gassed in set 4 there too after winning sets 2 and 3?
How good is Djokovic’s ROS …the most complete returner ever in my view….
It is the best ROS that I’ve seen, anyways.
But it’s not over!
I’d feel the same way if it was Rafa with that lead lol rc as I did in the 08 final until the very end. But it is.
I never thought it was over with Rafa when he played Novak. Not until the final ball was struck.
Oh dear. Why am I still holding my breath?!!
Because you are a huge Nole fan I’m guessing.
I feel the same was about Rafa regardless of the score especially when it’s against a good player.
Felt that way when Sampras had big leads on Agassi.
Mine too.
Very happy for Nole today.
First player ever to hold all four slams at the same time on three different surfaces.
Tennis history being made and fedrerazzi media ignoring the moment. Only jmac made any mention of it.
Ajde Nole!
Epic moment in sports.
yeah it is not over. If Andy can manage to keep holding his serve, Novak might get a bit tight as the finish line gets close? Who knows. As I type this, Andy is down 0-30 and he played a good point. TOP-LEVEL movement from Djokovic
Andy does look gassed out now…
He looked gassed from the second set on.
Hit me with some O2, please somebody.
I think that just may be it. Andy had been getting broken early and that’s been enough for Novak. His ROS puts so much pressure on his opponents.
They just posted the stats for the last eight slams, going back to the 2014 RG. Novak has either won or been a semifinal or finalist.
That’s impressive.
And the worthy part is that djoko has done everything to win this. He beat rafa and he is beating a fellow big 4 unlike roger who sneaked one in
Vmk1, remind me in which round did Nole beat Rafa to this final?
obv last year whch rog has not doe
rafa chickened so it was sometime before the quarters.
Post set 1 its reminiscent of the 2008 final?
Even though Fed only won 4 games against Rafa in the 2008 final, the match wasn’t boring.
Am sure this is not boring for nole fans. And 2008 was for them and it was probably torture for roger fans?
Novak beat Rafa last year in the quarterfinals. I think that was the point. Fef has never beaten Rafa at RG in any year.
Fed! Stupid autocorrect!
nny, I wasn’t asking you, and that’s not the question I asked Vmk1. Kindly allow Vmk1 to answer my question.
clearly Novak winning this is hurting you a lot…lol
Yes, someone has her nose out of joint! Too bad!
don’t be so nervous.
This is such a horrible final. I mean it is such a crap match. Andy does not deserve to contest a GS final match. He is not even making Novak play
Who is more deserving?
I am sure Stan or Rafa or even Fed or even Kei would have given a tougher fight.
But none are more deserving than Murray.
it was a great match mate what are you talking about.
In a few short weeks Nole can become the first men’s player ever to win five slams in a row.
That’s a daunting prospect!
??
In the open era I mean.
If all are thinking no one to stop Novak, it may not be true. It can very well happen Novak reaches a crescendo here and starts cooling off here on.
Rafa has been the only one who can beat Novak in a slam until he had his slump last year.
Without Rafa, who is going to do it? Fed can’t do it anymore. Murray can’t do it. That leaves Stan.
Novak may start beating himself..you never know..
Vmk1, as far as I know, when Djoko beat Rafa last year Djoko didn’t win the title.
Yes he did not but thats moot. Djoko has not been given this on a silver platter is what i am saying. He has suffered enough to be in this position. So he deserves it
so won it today.
I mean full marks and more to Nole but the highlight reel is gonna be very short for this match. 08 final had many more entertaining points and was just a better mix as fedal always has been. Murray vs Nole does not highlight reel make.
That is true. Rafa and Fed were always aesthetically pleasing and entertaining.
Miss Fedal so much. Those were the days. Even Rafa Novak and Fed Novak so much better .
Can’t believe Andy has made such a poor effort even after winning set 1.
Murray is an embarrassment in this match. He should have just let Bourgue beat him and make a name for himself.
murray played as much as he could. fafa wouldn’t have done any better.
It’s because of Murray that Rafa will return to the top 4 tomorrow.
Bourgue would have beaten Nole and become the champion the French crave so much.
How does Rafa do so horribly in slams for the past year and still manage to be #4?!?! Consistency the rest of the time, I guess? Maybe we should be grateful to Djokovic for scooping up most of the slam points.
still trying to tell myself it’s okay if Andy makes a comeback and wins…
Yep I completely understand.
Barring an injury he won’t. 🙂
one thin break of serve is what it is. phhark
Yep I’ve said same in Rafa matches lol.
Correction: two breaks lol.
Graf won five in a row and Court won six in a row during the open era.
He is gassed out but still..very poor effort..
Yes, I have to agree.
Finally kinda sorta watching.
15-0. 15-15. drop shot fail. 15-30. excruciating. can’t serve. DF. 15-40. Shjiiise…
Dang
One game away!
Who would have thought after Andy won the first set that he would win only five more games!
Car crash match by Mooray. I didn’t want either of them to win anyway but I wanted Djoker to lose more.
karma is a bitch.
Ok checking out to enjoy this moment in tennis.
Even Nole is smiling now rc!
So well done #NoleFam and well deserved.
Murray is still doing the fist pump……….give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it’s too little, too late. But Murray gets a break back.
Had Andy held serve in the last game, he could have taken adv here!! Nole got tight as the finish line approached! too little too late. This will be 6-3 or 6-4 of course
Andy broke back!
Good thing he had the double break!
Delaying the inevitable even though it probably doesn’t seem that way for Nole fans.
I think Nole will break to win.
Same happened at USO final vs fed last year before Nole won.
Broke while serving for the title I mean
Yeah, now all Murray has to do is break Novak again! I don’t see that happening.
Only an attack of nerves to Nole can make this 5-5
5:5 would be nice.
no, it wouldn’t
I can’t take a 5fh set. Turning it all off any minute….
Andy putting extra behind his shots! 0-15…. IF nole can’t find first serves could be an interesting game…
Djokovic’s chased drop shots like a leopard today!!
overheads my nightmare
Double Fault.
nerves!
Deuce
Buddy hell, he made it.
👿
New goat in town
Novak STILL didn’t beat Rafa for the title.
I’m so upset, i can’t breath, I’m sooooo not happy to see Rafa’s crown go to Nole.
Like rafa did not beat nole for ao09. Just let it rest nadline. We all love rafa but it is noles time now. Give credit where it is due
Vmk1, you can’t tell me how to feel.
Ok then why are you letting people know how you feel
Well said!
Lol. Vmk1 gets it. 🙂
Too funny.
probably not as great as when you rip off english students who rent at your place.
Dont you mean Stan?
stay presses hater.
novak would’ve beaten fafa hadn’t fafa chickened out, have no doubts. he is owning your idol. please don’t choke, we wouldn’t want lesser number of haters.
Thank you, Novak Djokovic. ?
Well done Nole.
Breathe easy rc!!!
#History
Big congrats to Novak.
Congrats to Nole! Great achievement! He deserves it after all he has done all these years!
True and deserved No1! Respect!
Rafa is the King of Roland Garros.
Was
You HAVE to beat Rafa in the final for the RG title for the full effect.
Bull
No, just no!
Novak won RG after trying for years. It’s not his fault that Rafa got injured and wasn’t there to play him.
He won RG fair and square. It’s a tough moment for this Rafa fan, but this is novak’s time and he deserves all due credit.
Rafa would feel the same way.
fafa chickened out, it is not nole’s fault. bye now.
CONGRATS to Novak and his fans! Huge moment in tennis…
+1
And I won the TX bracket for the first time hahaha, ty, vr. You are all class.
Congratulations to Novak fans on this historic win!
your man deserves it RC! Even though I would have loved to have Rafa in the semis to try to stop him but this is sport and Djokovic deserved a title here.
Congrats rc!
I going to get stuck into women’s tennis until Rafa is fit to compete. I can’t pretend that any of this gives me any joy tenniswise.
please do. we can’t pretend we enjoy your posts. and fafa will never be fit enough for novak.
Heartiest Congratulations to Nole for achieving tennis immortality!
#AjdeNOLE!
So well done Andy giving credit to Nole for all four slams. The federazzi media failed to recognize the historic moment.
#TrueClass
In 12 months I mean.
RT @jon_wertheim: Remarkable that it’s been 24 years since a man won the first two legs of the Slam…
Missed the point.
#NoleSlam
NoleSlam. Fedal could not do it. Calendar Slam still on. Wait Golden Calendar Slam still on.
Wimbledon gets it.
RT @Wimbledon: Djokovic’s record in the last 4 Grand Slams:
WWWWWWW ?
WWWWWWW ?
WWWWWWW ?
WWWWWWW ?
He’s the first man to hold all 4 titles since 1969 ?
I don’t feel like crowing but thanks, Hawks! If I did wish to be obnoxious, I’d be over on Tennis-X ?
Hello, ratcliff. I am glad you’re not obnoxious here, only on T-x. Anyway, just wanted to congratulate you for winning the Bracket Challenge.
BTW, no need to use the lakie pseudo any more.
Tennis x people in the house
Yes, he is. And he thinks I’m a Nole hater named ‘lakie’.
I was also on tennistalk, Ricky, under another moniker, but I didn’t post often, although I was an assiduous reader. I often read these pages too, and I listen to you on nochallengesremain the other day.
Good stuff
leave it off Tenngrand, mat4. Ricky won’t allow it, anyway.
mat4 one of the biggest self admitted hater on TX. He’s another of the many ex-fedfans now second wave Nole fans that gave up on Roger prematurely before he played his best tennis last year.
Actually mat4 would agree with you about Federer playing his best tennis last year, hawkeye. He was trying to push that theory and I didn’t agree; but you were there and I thought you’d remember that. He’s an original Nole fan. He and his core group are just suffering a patch of paranoid thinking and they are convinced I’m a sock puppet designed to troll Nole fans named, lakie. According to them, I’m not a ‘real’ Nole fan, just like Nny and Amy are not real Rafa fans. Among, other demands, mat4 wanted me to prove my loyalty and I told him to stuff it. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Not here for that!
If pushed, I’ll just agree: I’m a fanatic of no one! I’m a supporter of tennis.
mat4 is a h8er rc not worth your time. But he’s a closet expat fedfan lol. Not in doubt.
Ask him about doping and who’s doing it lol.
Regardless he won’t stick around. I doubt Ricky will tolerate his bs. Sean protects him on TX because he hates Rafa.
Don’t be too sure ? about the sticking around part.
Hope he does because he won’t have Sean Randall to protect him.
Sean Randall doesn’t protect anybody, and T-x is indeed a harsh place to be sometimes, just like this place, and most open fora.
Ratcliff: I backed you not being lakie, if you remember. And I asked you openly what was troubling me in your posts — which was also an act of trust. It was easy to give a direct answer — it would have been enough, but you avoided it. I am a regular reader of these pages, and when I saw your comments, I was very disappointed, that’s all. You’re a person with many different faces.
And don’t worry. I won’t stick posting here.
And my answer was/is – NO. What’s driving you to follow me around the internet is your problem, not mine. Communication by email was offered as an option – no more of this on a public tennis blog.
As far as Sean goes, you wouldn’t notice for obvious reasons.
T-X harsh? Not the word I’d have chosen unless that’s a euphemism for allowing crapping on Rafa and his fans then, yes, I suppose in that context. You maybe unaware, but yes Sean has treated you like a much beloved puppy.
pretty creepy, rc.
#NothingNew
One more thing: it’s very simple. I don’t post to be a part of a ‘fan base’. I post because i like tennis. And taken as a whole, tennis is FAR MORE enjoyable and interesting over time (imo), when I’m not locked into a one fan club. But, we are all different of course. To each their own. You don’t get me? Fine, move on.
Enjoy Novak’s win! Forget about me!!
mat4 is a fan of one person.
#MirrorMirror
Well played Novak. I’m stunned and speechless. My happiest moment as a fan since Pete won his last slam. Look forward to watching you achieve many great things. Congrats to Ratcliff, amy and other Nole fans.
What a day, huh, Mikkers. Happy for you!
Haha thanks. This takes me back to when Novak lost a match in Cincinnati in 2010 to Roddick, and I thought that’s it, he’s done. But what he’s achieved since then is crazy. I adored Sampras as a kid, but Novak is to me, on his way to surpassing him.
He’s already surpassed Pete by winning the RG title today…at least in my book..
Yes, I agree. The one hole in the resume if Pete Sampras is his failure to win RG and achieve the career slam.
I meant to me. I think Novak is on par with Pete and will surpass him eventually. But I never thought I’d like a player as much as I did Pete. That’s all I’m saying.
Same. And I was a massive Sampras fan.
Same that I think Nole has passed pistol Pete. He’s passed fed too imo.
mikkers and ratcliff!! congrats!! i only found out nole won one minute ago as i was too chicken to watch and went for a walk in the country!!
congrats to nole!!!
and congrats to pat and laak as well and anyone else i forgot….
+1
Thanks Amy.
Don’t know how others viewed this match, for me it was TENSE. Couldn’t breath even up 2 breaks last set.
Gratz to all Nole fans 🙂
rc,
Boy do I know how you feel! It’s really annoying when someone presumes to speak for you and tell you who you are a fan of! Quite galling!
You should just enjoy this day. As you said to me when I was accused one more time of being a Novak fan, we know that you are a Novak fan and anyone who says otherwise is just trolling!
nny gets it.
thanks, you two. I’ve got a headache and I’m tired of it. Was enjoying it until I came to post WTA grass tournaments. I’m going now to go relax and enjoy. cheers.
rc,
Do what you told me to do after I was accused of being a Novak fan yet one more time and even a Rafa hater!
You said the anyone who could say that I was not a Rafa fan was just trolling and to ignore them. Good advice!
I will never understand why some people think it’s their job to tell anyone else who they are a fan of it not! I don’t get it!
I love tennis, as you obviously do. I also love Rafa as my favorite player. But I do appreciate great tennis even if it’s from his rivals or those I don’t even like!
Jmac congratulated Nole on holding all four not done since laver.
John gets it.
RT @jon_wertheim: Djokovic d. Murray – the career slam, the @DjokerNole slam and now officially in the GOAt pasture …
RT @Maheshbhupathi: When the Tennis World debate who the Greatest of this Era is.@DjokerNole holding all 4 slams at the same time could should be the difference
Seems the players get it (just not federazzi media)…
RT @JRBlake: Congratulations @DjokerNole and @GarbiMuguruza Two well deserved champions. Nole slam is truly historic.
Sorry but can’t resist. Novak became the first player to win 4 slams on the trot across 3 different surfaces. Sets a new ATP points record breaking his own tally. I just hope he keeps his motivation and keeps going. 8rd been a pleasure watching him reach this level. Superior to 2011 by a long way, he simply feels the ball much better now.
+1
Yeah INCREDIBLE stuff from Djokovic….no doubt
If Nadal had not injured his back in AO 2014, extremely likely he would have won double career slam… that would have been incredible too… Fed was stopped by Rafa… Djokovic was held back by Rafa until Rafa was no more there …Rafa was held back due to injuries… feel bad for him.
Anyway, hoping Rafa can make a quick recovery. I pray he is mentaly still there and hasn’t lost hope. The same thing caused him to lose trust in his body in 2015 and created mental problems for him.
While acknowledging novak’s singular accomplishment today, I am also thinking of Rafa and hope that he can come back soon. I also hope that this latest injury doesn’t take away from the progress he’s made.
Hi Ratcliff, this is my first ever post on Tengrand, but as your not posting on tennis-x, just wanted to say congrats to Nole on completing his career GS, from your friend the Green Lady ;-)) ….
Welcome 🙂
good to see new posters!
Hippy Chick in da haus!
Hello, Alison! Happy you are here. There’s music on the non-tennis forum. And you’ll love the Rafa Page!
oh i am so proud of nole!! now to watch it on catch up…
what a chicken i am hey!!
i just saw the scoreline. looks like after the first set nole was completely in control.
i hate nolandy matches…
come back rafa darling, come back soon and show them all how it’s done…
without rafa there is no real rival for nole…
Tennis players and coaches get it (just not the federazzi media)…
Nick BollettieriVerified account
@NickBollettieri
Historic accomplishment by @DjokerNole winning @rolandgarros & holding all 4 grand slam titles at one time. Congrats Nole,
family & team!
Haha #theFederazzimedia, really?
What crap man!
If there was a federazzi media, Rafa wouldn’t have got all those headlines when he was going for RafaSlam or Double Slam.
Both Roger and Rafa are media darlings. Somehow ‘that’ media has not shown the same affection for Nole.
I haven’t really seen any #Rafarazzi media mentioning Nole’s achievement.
Roger Federer…. Clay QF appearance GOAT LOL.
Uhhm, Roger’s been playing significantly longer. The federazzi media are getting more and more desperate.
“Novak Djokovic has been to as many quarterfinals as Rafael Nadal (10) but both are still one short of Roger Federer.”
http://www.si.com/tennis/2016/06/05/french-open-2016-fifty-parting-thoughts
Stan
Carole Bouchard @carole_bouchard 1h1 hour ago
Murray says Novak was just too good, and also he’s at least happy at how he handled the crowd. Said it’s good cause it’ll make him tougher.
The boorish French crowd is indefensible.
I could barely watch…finally.
Former coach and player Paul Annacone gets it…
Paul Annacone @paul_annacone 20m20 minutes ago
great event @andy_murray @DjokerNole holder of all 4 major Titles, career Grand Slam achieved congrats, an historic achievement #history
Thankyou Ricky ;-)) ….
RT @TheBorisBecker: We all get so caught up in the headlines that sometimes we gotta stand still and reflect on what happened today …#history #NoleSlam
Stay humble my friends…
RT @TheBorisBecker: It’s the #NoleSlam and we are humbled to be part of it but great achievement /respect to @andy_murray as well !
I watched the match at a friend’s house on a huge TV screeb beats peering at tennis on my 13″ MadBook.
Forgot tp tale ,my lapstpp with me so ouldn’t join in the chat on Tenngrand. Disappointed Andy. faded after the lst set but at least he went on fighting to the end. and gave a gracious speech at the ceremony.
Talking of which. Did any of you clock he didn’t go near his wife or even mention her in his speech. . I spotted her earlier at his other matches but she was not sitting in his team box or with her in-laws. Nor did she join them when they came down onto the court to see him after the prize ceremony.. Something tells me all is not hunky dory at home. right now. or else I have an over active imagination.
Need to make it clear I was referring to Djokovic in para 3 – not Andy.
Hadn’t noticed. Strange though indeed, especially considering that he didn’t go to his team after he won as most players including Nole traditionally do after the match.
My female curiousity/noseiness is aroused. It doesn’t fit with his statement ‘Tennis is no longer the priority in my life. My wife and future son are more important etc.etc’ But that didn’t last long because he took off to the Far East to play ten days after the birth of their son.
Mikker says she went to the locker room with his team but Eurosport Player didn’t show this and she is not featured in any of the photos I’ve seen.
It will be intriguing to see how this historic achievement will be celebrated in Belgrade. It far exceeds becoming World No.1 which was marked by wild scenes and dancing on the streets all night. A 3-day Mardi Grras perhaps 🙂
One of my friend predicted she will leave him soon. Maybe she is over active too in imagination.
I said no he seems a family man and is always talking about wife and kid. Her reply – anyone who hangs out with Richard branson or has Boris as coach going by his past or goes to celebrity night clubs in L.A. is not a family man by any stretch of imagination 🙂
Anyways it were her observations not mine. Coz ed mentioned it I told what she said.
But who cares. He has made history.
What rubbish, the decision to bring in Becker was a move necessitated by the loss of slam finals and Vajda’s situation. Besides, Jelena was in the house sitting alongside Nole’s brother, uncle and other members of the family including her own. I expect there was a huge entourage there because they felt like he would make it this year.
Novak did mention in his speech that he was being difficult, and thanked everyone for tolerating it. I think he might have been angsty, needed space, and Jelena sacrificed in order to help him get in the zone. This is part of a professional athlete’s life, and not uncommon to see. Seeing the photos in the locker room after the victory suggests that any tension that might have been there isn’t damaging.
And yes, in any case, this is what you managed to see? He just did a few things no one in the history of the sport has managed.
Mikkers,
I appreciate the info you posted to explain jelena’s absence. I do think it makes sense.
I don’t normally like to speculate about players private lives. I just don’t think it’s any of my business.
I can see Novak being difficult as he tried to do something that has not been done since Rod Laver.
I think your explanation makes the most sense. I do hope that all is okay with his family. I do think there are sacrifices that must be made by families of top athletes.
NNY
Fair enough that’s a perfectly legitimate jibe at me. Are you seriously telling me you never read or pay any attention to the gossip columns?
I brought the matter up because I was struck by how lonely and solemn she looked even during his easy matches. Normally she is jumping up and down cheering him on and cannot conceal her joy when he wins. Yesterday she looked relieved but not overjoyed.
Mickker’s explanation doesn’t wash with me at all.
It was also the first slam he’s won in a long time where he didn’t immediately run to his box to celebrate.
No, ed is right. Something was definitely off.
ed,
Oh come on! You should know better than that! I am merely giving my own opinion! Why do you challenge me any time I happen to differ?
Maybe you are right that there is some trouble with novak’s wife. So be it. I mean, it’s not as if we will know for sure. But marriages with professional tennis players can present their own unique challenges. It’s not always easy or sunshine and roses.
I am speaking only for myself. You are free to speculate and say whatever you wish. I really would appreciate it if you just wouldn’t presume that I am somehow disrespecting you. I really didn’t mean it to come off that way at all.
If you recall, I have been pretty consistent regarding players personal lives. Like when Stan walked out on his wife and child to focus on his career. I know you had some strong opinions about it and so did others. I had the same opinion then. I did not get into it because I didn’t feel it appropriate. But that’s me!
I guess that I am going to have to be more careful if I express a different opinion than you. But I did not find your thoughts in any way offensive.
That’s all I can say to try to clear this up. I am not going to make any further comment.
I have no quarrel or issue with you. 🙂
NNY
I was simply acknowledging I understood why I provoked a response from you. Not picking a quarrel. We go back too far for that. I have a naturally suspicious mind whereas you give people the benefit of the doubt.
Peace my friend.
Ed
I wondered this myself. She may have post partum blues but i am just guessing.
The cameramen were aware she was in the house because they kept zooming in on her but the commies didn’t mention her by name
#Embargo?
And yet another great player gets it (while the federazzi media speak volumes with their silence)…
Martina Navratilova @Martina 1h1 hour ago
Novak Djokovic Beats Andy Murray to Claim Elusive French Open Title,-a Novak slam- what a 12 month span- congrats!!!
I have to give my heartiest congratulations to Djokovic for completing the Nole slam. He richly deserves all the plaudits he’s getting from all and sundry.
Many thanks, for all the welcomes, looking forward to some great conversations on tennis, huge Rafa fan, with Andy as my second favorite, but have great admiration for what Federers done, and what Novak completed yesterday, hope Rafa can make a come back at some point ….
And huge congrats to Nole and fans for what he achieved yesterday, only the third man in history to do the 4 in a row, wow amazing ….
hi alison, nice to see you here! hope we get to chat some time soon…
Sure even @pseudoFed gets it…
RT @PseudoFed: Lots of staff members looking for jobs this morning after asking me how I felt about @DjokerNole getting the #NovakSlam – #NowHiring
Thankyou Amy, im sure we will ….
i saw that your second favourite was andy alison….were you upset he lost? was fine for me as i like both rafa and nole, although rafa is my fave.
i think andy could win wimby…
wow it says it all when itv’s catch up for the french open final has a picture of rafa on it!!!! not either nole or andy – this is a british site afterall..
And yet someone here is posting that it’s the Federazzi media ignoring Nole when it’s not really the case.
except that it is.
Didn’t say they were ignoring Nole (just his achievement that fed nor any other player other than Laver could do in the open era).
BTW countless players and coaches DID recognize this achievement, just not the federazzi biased media CLING to Roger desparately LOL.
That is what I’m saying.
They are not mentioning it because even Rafa has not been able to achieve what Nole has achieved.
Must be the media with Rafa-tainted glasses! LOL!
Amy yeah a bit gutted, dont dislike Novak, im just not a fan, respect his achievements though, and what he did yesterday was amazing, will always root for Murray, and would love to see him get another GS, especially a Wimbledon title unless hes playing Rafa lol ….
I was bullied on TX by 3 posters clubbing together, i mentioned to Sean about the moderation, and everytime i did it fell on deaf ears anyway, he didnt seem to care, or want to do anything about it, ce la vie, anyway i do generally like that site, and get on with most posters, and have had many great discussions, so i cant complain about that ….
Yes, and I emailed Sean about it and requested posts be deleted — to no avail. And my own issues there — Deaf ears, again. Hawkeye is right — it depends who you flag. It worked late last summer or maybe it was early fall. I complained about an attack on a respected Nole fan poster and the personal insult posts were immediately deleted. Offending poster left, too. But Zero response to the offenders these past months. Also requested a Rafa fan be taken off permanent moderation considering the inconsistency of fairness. No response or action.
So… moving on… Delpo and Dimitrov match on grass in Germany right now. Delpo serving for the match… And gets it! Have you found the WTA page here? Very excited to see Belinda Bencic back from injury – she won her match but it was shaky at times.