Only one Big 3 member has advanced to the Australian Open final, but Sunday features nothing less than an absolute blockbuster of a matchup. It’s Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.
Ricky (The Grandstand): Djokovic will be confident because of the past. He is an eight-time Australian Open champion and is 8-0 lifetime in finals at this event. Medvedev will be confident because of the present. He is on a 20-match winning streak and is a hard-to-believe 12-0 in his last 12 matches against top-10 opponents. As tough as it is to pick against Djokovic in Melbourne, I’m leaning toward the present in this one. Medvedev has quite simply been the best player on the planet dating back to last fall and nothing has changed this fortnight. The world No. 4 has won five of his six matches in straight sets, including against eighth-ranked Andrey Rublev and sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic, who at times was less than 100 percent physically, has required five sets once (vs. Taylor Fritz) and four sets on three other occasions. And it’s not as if the past entirely favors the world No. 1. He is a less than dominant 4-3 in the head-to-head series and has lost three of his last four matches against Medvedev. My pre-tournament final pick was Medvedev over Djokovic and nothing we have seen so far gives any reason to waffle. Medvedev in 5: 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4.
Cheryl (The Grandstand): These were the two players I picked for the final from the start of the tournament. It’s tempting to just assume that Djokovic is a slam dunk for his ninth Oz title, but there isn’t going to be anything simple about this match. First, the intimidation factor isn’t there for Djokovic; Medvedev isn’t afraid of him in the least. In fact, the last time they met (at the Nitto ATP Finals), Medvedev dismantled the Serb. Also, although Medvedev hasn’t won a slam title yet, he’s been in a final (U.S. Open 2019) and he wasn’t scared there against Rafael Nadal, either. So this is going to come down to straight form, and surprisingly that favors the Russian. Djokovic has mostly been good enough this fortnight–not actually good. Medvedev, on the other hand, was sizzling against Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. At present, he looks like a very long-tentacled octopus wielding at least six racquets. He seems to be everywhere all at once. Medvedev in 4: 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3.
Pete (Tennis Acumen): All of the sudden, a Djokovic-Medvedev matchup could very well be considered the most intriguing H2H on the ATP Tour. In a bit of a surprise, it is Medvedev that has won three of the last four meetings. This run includes the 2019 Cincinnati Masters semifinals, in which the Russian threw down the hammer and concurrently announced that his brand of tennis was consistently capable of defeating Djokovic–and defeating all others near the pinnacle of the ATP rankings. However, this match will take place Down Under where Djokovic is king. Despite concerns that he may not have been able to continue during this fortnight, the Serb always has answers and paths to victory, especially serving his way out of jams. No matter what Medvedev throws at Djokovic in Melbourne, the world No. 1 will send a return coming back with interest. Medvedev will eventually claim his first major and most likely more to follow, but not just yet. Djokovic wins his ninth Australian Open and “La Decima” will once again make its way into tennis conversations leading into the 2022 AO. Djokovic in 5: 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
who ya got?
Djoko in 4. He’s just too good in an Australian open final. Never lost one. Medvedev is a mini djokovic. Everything he does, djokovic does better. Djoko always brings his A game in an Australian open final. If djokovic’s return game is in full flow, he’ll be more difficult to beat. Medvedev’s 5 sets match in AO that he won in 5 sets tells me he can have lapses in concentration even though he’s playing great. Djokovic will capitalize on that if med falters and he’ll be very unforgiving. If Djoko plays the way he did in AO19 final or even better, he’ll win and I think he will. Med will win slams in the future but not this one right now.
Med in four
Sticking with my pretournament winner
Nole is going to get his 18th along the way to his eventual 26th career slam, never a doubt.
26. Now thats a lot..8 slams after 34…u kidding 🙂
N rafa ?
Rafa would at least win 4 to 5 more RG
He’s not going to be playing until he’s 40! 😀
With endless victory in RG, he would not stop to climb his mountain.
Nole wins 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
But how many MTO’s?
4 or 5 MTO’s. One for each set and probably 2 for the last set before he wins and that’s if he wins in 4. If it goes 5, there’ll be several more 😁
MTO’s will have no impact in this match, either will yelling midpoint during defensive play to put off his opponent. Medvdev is Russian and not susceptible like Murray or Federer. If Djokovic tries any of that Medvedev will punish him.
Djoko in 4.. the king of australia is not losing this.. hope it is entertaining though
Med in 4.
I read Nole’s statements to the Serbian press…very confident and very optimistic, no signs of injury…his words: ” I am very confident, I feel great, I am healthy and playing well, If he wants this he will have to work hard for it, These youngsters want to dethrone us but it hasn’t worked so far, has it”…and so on…so Novak is either playing mind games with Med or he is really quite sure he is going to win…
I do think Med has chances but not in 5…I think he needs to win in 4 if Nole let’s him…
I wish Med wining this title, but…he will have to be mentally strong as ever. Also, if he lets Novak drive him into long rallies he stands no chance…
I think the same statements were made before french too if not by novak but by Goran. No chance in hell for rafa was told I guess..novak too seemed very confident for that one. We know how that ended…ppl can say anything
Hi! I had Nole and Rafa going out in the semis. Well…50% right!
I think it’s easier to pick not having a dog in the fight, TBH. I always felt so disloyal if I picked against Andy!
Was just reading espn picks. Cahill writes, and I quote:
“Novak goes into any tournament knowing his tennis is better than anyone else’s, especially… in Australia”
Excuse me but just f-off! Yes he is the player to beat in Australia but Rafa has 4 USOs to 3 for Nole ( and Rafa has beaten Nole twice in the final there) and he has 13 titles at RG. This kind of over hyping of Novak is very common and it really gets on my nerves.
It’s extremely disrespectful to both Rafa and Fed.
Cahill’s brand of commentary is superficial so wouldn’t worry too much about what he says. He’s more worried about trying to sound good and hyping it up rather than being factually correct.
It’s not his fault, that’s what happens when you lack quality insight, you have to stay interesting somehow.
Tear Djerker has been the best player overall for much of the last decade and certainly in Oz. But when Cahill coaches Halep he doesn’t try to get her to be like Djerker. He wants her to emulate Rafa. They watch his practices, his matches and even his pressers. 🙂 I know because he’s said so, more than once.
Probably because Rafa was a better role model when she needed to improve her mental attitude to the game.
Another Cahill quote on Rafa: (this is from the 2018 USO qf with Thiem, a very, very close 5 setter – during a lull the commies were debating a silly presser question when Rafa was asked, aside from his arms and legs, which body part was most important. Rafa picked core strength) Darren said “wonderful tennis physique, but I’d take his brain and his heart”.
Nothing against Darren, he’s probably a good guy, he just doesn’t click me with for some reason. I was a big fan of Stolle, Newcombe and Trabert and they set a pretty high benchmark.
I just noticed Tony Trabert passed away this month also. Great guy. May he rest in peace.
i see nadal tards are already sh1t*ing their pants from the prospect of Nole getting his 18th slam. what a sad bunch of pathetic characters, bringing up MTOs, knowing that the spanish faker is one of the biggest in sport.
#EufemianoFuntes
nadal fans bringing up MTOs, lol.
Rafa is so overrated. Just watch the match against Stefanos. What kind of “legend” blows a 2-0 set lead?
Rafa will win one more Slam at most, probably at RG this year. By the end of it, Roger and Novak are on a different tier than Rafa.
You mean like Fed did against Tsonga at wimby 2010?
Or when Fed lost to Nole at USO 2011?
Both Fed and Nole have had disastrous losses and blown matches they should have won..
In my bracket i picked Meddy…err..that was b4 Thiem chickened out(hehe..sorry M!)..i thought,there is no way Novak will survive Zverev,Thiem & Medvedev..but now,i think Novak is slightly the favourite(only slightly) …but Meddy has a big chance to win it too!..
But…despite his confidence..i do think Novak is a bit ‘afraid’ of Daniil…He’s a little bit fragile against young guns…Everyone knows that..Hope Daniil don’t repeat a mistake by Thiem last year..
I also very curious to see how Novak will behave this afternoon..if he will suffer again a so called a ‘lack of energy’ like last year or the infamous 2015 against Andy?..(Patrick Mouratoglou words: ‘he likes to pretend he’s giving up’!) esp if he is 1 @ 2 sets behind…let’s see!
I also wondering why it always happened at AO?and not at other slams?🤔🤷♀️
Hi MA! Good question. Tear Djerker behaved impeccably at RG this year when Rafa hit him off the court. Maybe it’s the close matches that bring out the worst in him? He usually does behave well vs Rafa and Fed, come to think of it, barring the occasional racket smash, of course.
Cheeky! 😉 Naughty Nick did for Darling Dom 🙁 I also think DD has an injury, which of course he is keeping schum about.
Most of us on challenge went for Med, I think. We shall see, hope it’s a good one!
Hey Ramara!…Yeah!…i noticed about his good behaviour against Rafa & Fed too!…And i think u were right too about the close matches bring the worst in him…
But the way he’s behaved is very unGOAT!…considering his GOAT status & calibre…i respected his tennis very much actually..but it’s a shame!
Medvedev is willing to take the top players head-on at their own mind games. Medevdev is quite happy with the underdog tag which is smart.
Slowly their odds are converging. Will be interesting to see who starts fav.
poor start by the Russian.
Wow! Djoko out of the blocks like a hare
And novak makes a meal of an overhead surpassed only by rafas shockers in the tsitsi tiebreaker
Novak!! What a beaut of a game! Goating on the return as usual
Djokovivc was always a high probability of taking the first set.