The first four months of Novak Djokovic’s season earned an incomplete grade to put it generously and a disappointing one to put it more accurately based on his lofty standards.
But with the most important part of the year coming up (three majors in a little more than three months), Djokovic appears to be heating up at just the right time.
The top-ranked Serb won a title for the first time in 2022 by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0, 7-6(5) in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on Sunday afternoon. Djokovic recovered from a break down in the second set to triumph after one hour and 36 minutes.
“I pleasantly surprised myself, I can say,” the 34-year-old said. “I had a clear game-plan and I knew what to expect, so I knew what I had to do. I did play a perfect first set. After that it was a little tighter. At this level, one or two points can turn a match and he was then back in the game at 4-1 up.
“The match could easily have gone to a third set but I managed to find the right shots at the right time to come back into the match. The tiebreak I was maybe an inch better, but it was a tight, tight tiebreak for both of us.”
This is Djokovic’s sixth Rome title and his record 38th Masters 1000 title overall. By far his best week of the year from start to finish sets him up nicely for the season’s second Grand Slam, which begins next Sunday.
“Two days ago (in the quarterfinals against Felix Auger-Aliassime) I played great,” the 20-time major champion assessed. “I have been building my form for the past couple of weeks and I knew that my best shape on clay usually comes around Rome time, so it could not be better going into Roland Garros with a title.”
is he the favorite for the French?
Absolute favorite for French esp with rafa n his wobbly foot ..draw will be key
Djoko is obsessed with rafa n staying ahead of him. He has completely given fed the cold shoulder
https://mobile.twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1525895645973839877
Djoko has already said he’s one of the favs https://mobile.twitter.com/ozmo_sasa/status/1525905525384400896
BTW hid fans have already given him 21 at rg this year..they are sure it’s his
Nonsense its far too early to tell . Early pressure going on as usual
Djoko as usual will be one of the favourites but this time, I’ll put Djoko and Alcaraz as top and co-favorites.
Based on what I’ve seen so far about these top players on clay, I’ll rule out both Tsitsipas and Zverev winning the FO.
Zverev could argue about the match scheduling for all he want, but a young guy like him should still have enough energy to put a fight in a final, at least do your best to put up a good show when it’s a Master’s final. All those rain delays at Barcelona didn’t prevent Di Minaur from putting up a good fight Vs Alcaraz in the SF, I expect the same or more from Zverev in the Madrid final.
Tsitsipas is so error prone these days, his matches are always with ups and downs, winning matches by going the distance when he could’ve won in straight sets (sounds familiar right, like a Rafa of late!) He’s spending energy unnecessarily, not good at the slams when you have to play BO5 and seven matches to win the title.
Alcaraz, unlike both Tsitsipas and Zverev, perhaps because he’s still very young and eager to win, could do better Vs the greats Rafa and Djoko. I admire his tennis acumen, his anticipatary abilities and his determination and fearlessness, all these in addition to his almost complete game.
I mean Alcaraz just knows what shot to play and at the right time, and knows where the ball is going and is quick enough to get there. He’s energetic, has no fear and full of eagerness to win. He will be a tough opponent at the slams even for the two seasoned greats.
As for Rafa, depending on which Rafa turns up to play, he can win it, loses or simply not playing at all, depends very much on his body conditions.
I’m sure many won’t like it that it’s still injury talks that surround Rafa, but after so many years, we have to get used to it.
Believe it, Rafa fans are worse off than the non Rafa fans, for they’re so worried about Rafa and his fitness and health all these years, and are afraid that he may call it quit anytime, unexpected by his fans.
Lucky, did you see the match? Djok targeted Tsit’s backhand constantly and it often produced errors. I wondered if you think it’s a disadvantage in the modern game to have a one hander? I’ll take Stan out of the equation and Thiem, in his prime, had the most powerful, rock solid backhand I’ve ever seen. saw him live at 02, when he beat Djok. You are very knowledgeable and I’d appreciate your thoughts. BTW new name is because I too have been trolled!
Hi Margot, I tried posting my reply to you earlier on but my post couldn’t get through (several times).
If you’re talking about technics here, then I think vamosrafa is the best person to answer your question.
I can only comment based on what I observed about all these players when they played their matches. I think a SHBH is still able to ‘survive’ in the modern day game, as Stan the Man has proven.
Stan’s BH is rock solid and it’s his main attacking weapon, just like Gasquet’s SHBH is also Gasquet’s main weapon. Their BH hardly breaks down when under consistent attacks, unlike Tsitsipas’s. Both Stan and Gasquet have their BH > their FH imo, even though Stan also has a strong FH.
I like to talk a bit about another player, Shapo. Shapo is a lefty and he has a SHBH. His lefty SHBH is lethal, could go CC or DTL and he’s hitting it with power. His only problem is hitting it with precision which he sometimes could do but when he’s on the run, he couldn’t hit it with precision (unlike the big three plus Murray, they could hit their shots with precision even on the run!).
Shapo also has a strong FH and I really couldn’t figure out which is the better shot – his FH or his BH. I feel if Shapo could improve on the precision of his shots, he’ll be really very hard to beat!
Back to Tsitsipas, he’s a bit like Fed in that they both have a stronger FH than their BH. Fed’s FH is lethal with precision, his BH isn’t as lethal. During Fed’s peak years, his peers just couldn’t do anything to take advantage of Fed’s relatively weaker BH, until a certain Rafa Nadal appeared and exposed Fed’s BH weakness especially when playing on clay.
Tsitsipas has a good enough FH but he’s usually not making full use if it, and he’s often camped at his BH corner (maybe not by choice but being forced by his opponent?). He usually hits his BH CC, and even when he sometimes run around to hit his FH, he still hits his FH CC! To me, that’s frustrating to watch, I mean if he could hit his FH, why didn’t he hit it DTL to change the hitting pattern, by forcing his opponent to hit a CC shot to his FH, that way he would be able to use his FH to control the rallying.
Tsitsipas’s BH is error prone, tends to mis-hit when under pressure and that’s why Djoko could take advantage by attacking his BH consistently.
Imo, if Tsitsipas wants to win a slam, he has to be more aggressive and takes control of points by using more of his main weapon, ie his FH, oh, plus his clutch serving. I also question Tsitsipas’s mindset, I wonder why he couldn’t close out matches in straight sets when he’s obviously the better player but let them slipped into a final set and had to fight so hard to win.
approved
Please don’t let Joker win at RG this year…..PLLLEEEZZZEEE!!…let it be Carlos A, or Rudd, or Sinner, or Tpas….or RAFA!!!
Djokovic fans on twitter have already given RG to djoko ..
So any rafan here having any hope for Rafa or it’s all up in the air ..btw he practised today but no foot movement ..just feel of racquet .standing still n hitting balls
Is this no foot movement -> https://twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1526196755951505408/photo/1
Is this supposed to be some kind of joke? Because Rafa has said plainly that the foot can be good one day and bad the next! Do you read? We all know what this is about. An incurable injury which can flare up unexpectedly.
Please stop with this nonsense. It is insulting. Seeing him practicing dies not mean everything is fine and dandy!
NNY, don’t bother with them. Those people are just sour that Rafa has won the AO this year and is leading in the slam race. Rafa is always being criticised for his injury/injury breaks and yet after that he’s still winning. They’re just unhappy that Rafa is still around and competing!
They pass all sorts of rumours about him, remember his 2012 long injury break? His critics even passed rumours that he was banned from competition and was serving his ban! I have never heard of rumours of Fed or Djoko serving any ban despite of their long absences.
I think it’s because of Rafa being the main rival of first Fed and now Djoko; their supporters are wary of him and the challenge/ threat he could pose to their hero and their records.
Just to be clear, I’m referring to those people posting at that Twitter post mentioned above, not the regular posters here.
Lucky,
Thanks. I do have to remember what we are dealing with when it comes to fans of other players. I realize that there is resentment for Rafa winning the AO and the double career slam. Oh how dare he get ahead of Novak?
I do remember now about the long injury break and the rumors that were started. I had almost forgotten about it. That was awful. It’s unfortunate that he has to be criticized when he is living with this very rare and terrible condition with his foot. Being incurable and not really knowing how to deal with it because it is so unpredictable.
Rafa has done well to achieve what he has in this sport. He still wants to play but the foot seems to be acting up more. I would hate to see him forced into a decision to retire instead of choosing when he wants to call it a day.
I love that all the pressure is on Novak and Alcaraz for RG!! Shaping up nicely as I want it too!!! I want ppl to believe that Rafa has absolutely NO chance so that he can focus on his game and he will not have a target on his back like them two!!! Let pol believe he is washed up and injury riddled. He then can play his game with no expectations and just play his aggressive game on the courts that he so loves!I Ireally wish I could afford to go to RG again this year!! Sigh!
Anyway, Vamos Champ!!
Yes, let the mind games begin ! Everywhere you read Djoko is now the favourite.
Last week it was Alcaraz.
Its as if theres no point playing matches when theres a massive favourite- the only way they will lose, is by injury or some miracle. if it happens, the result will always be asterisked anyway. Just hand the trophy to the rightful champ!
Rafa had experienced that kind of pressure year after year at RG; for once he would have a break this year. But still, if he happens to get injured during his match and loses, he’ll be criticised again for feigning injury when he loses!
I mean, Rafa can lose at the FO, he’s already 35/36 years old, he can play badly and loses, or he can really get injured during a match and loses.
Rafa had lost at the FO when he’s not playing well (2009, 2015, 2021) and withdrawn after winning R2 (2016). It’s not like he has not suffered any losses there at the FO, so he can ‘afford’ to lose there again without giving any ‘injury’ excuse.
Of course he is a front runner, and he would have been whether or not he won Rome, though he met all too little resistance. He was never injured — just playing games — and he is the defending champion. There was never any reason to think he’d be anything less than that if he played.
But being a front runner is a guarantee of nothing. Draws, weather, illness, pressure, even little twists of fate can change everything in a second. And you can also just get beaten fair and square by someone playing better on the day.
So, bring on the matches and we’ll see.
I agree with that assessment Ruby! But with Rafa”s history of injury he just can’t win: when he’s injured he’s criticized and when he loses due to injury he’s feigning it!!! Rafa has never needed any reason for his losses, he still wins when injured or unfit!
However, as I’ve stated I suppose Rafa has to participate at RG if he feels he’s fit enough but for me, I’d much rather if Rafa wins another Wimby, hands down!!! He has cemented his legacy on clay enough that if he loses there it would simply be a blimp!!! I want another Wimby and I can’t c that happening if he goes deep at RG with the level of competition that now exists and at his age!! However, I just hope that Rafa”s fit enough to compete and bring his best game! Vamos!!!
It would be lovely indeed if Rafa won another Wimbledon but there are just a larger number of players who have a game built for grass. To get to 22, his best odds will surely be the French, though maybe not this year if his body won’t cooperate. Unclear if he didn’t play the French because of the foot if he could play Wimbledon. It’s possible the foot will need more treatment or …worse, but not ready to go there yet.
I don’t think it’s likely that Rafa would play at Wimby given the issues with his foot at this time. The grass is always slippery the first week of the tournament. I can’t see Rafa being able to play on grass when his foot is flaring up.
His odds would be much better at RG. But the food issue has thrown everything into doubt.
FOOT issue!
Well whatever will be will be!!
Rafa is practicing as per someone who saw it at RN academy…however he is in pain n had to stop during movements not sure what to expect at RG…maybe best to have zero expectations
Read this for updates about today
https://mobile.twitter.com/bluemathilde
Could the draw have been any worse for rafa
https://mobile.twitter.com/RaphaelDabadie/status/1527339000440422414
I tried posting some comments earlier on several times but they just couldn’t get through!
Regarding Rafa’s draw, well , if he’s going to win his 14th RG this time, he will have to do it the hard way again. It’s not unlike 2013 or 2014, where he had to get past the likes of Stan, Djoko and Ferrer, or Murray, Ferrer and Djoko to win.
Of course Rafa now is not the same as Rafa of 2013 or 2014, but Djoko is also not that young anymore. Rafa will have 50/50 chances vs Djoko imo, but of course following that will most likely be Alcaraz in the SF. Well, will have to hope that Zverev could at least make their QF more competitive should they meet there; so that Alcaraz may not be as fresh as a rose in the SF!
As for the final, it will most likely be Tsitsipas again vs any of the top guys who survives the draw to reach the final!
I don’t see Zverev giving Alcaraz a competitive match. I think he has a mental block when he is in slams.
The very worst scenario, Novak and then Alcaraz.
I can see Tsitsipas getting through in the cakewalk that is the bottom half of the draw. It’s bad for tennis when the draw is so ridiculously unbalanced.