Expert picks are back one last time at the 2021 French Open for Sunday’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Ricky: I wouldn’t pick a non-Big 3 player over any member of the Big 3 in a Grand Slam final even if the Big 3 player was coming off an 11-hour semifinal match and had to be brought onto the court for the final in a wheelchair. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. I’ve seen enough in recent years to know that. Dominic Thiem should have won the 2020 Australian Open but crumbled at the end against Novak Djokovic. Daniil Medvedev was pretty much an even betting favorite with Djokovic in this year’s Aussie final and got blown out. Medvedev had a much better chance against Rafael Nadal at the 2019 U.S. Open, but Nadal was too tough. Other examples are Kevin Anderson (against Djokovic at Wimbledon and Nadal at the U.S. Open) and Marin Cilic (against Federer at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon). Those non-Big 3 failures don’t automatically mean that Stefanos Tsitsipas will roll over on Sunday. But they do indicate just how tough the Big 3 are in these situations. Tsitsipas vs. someone other than Nadal is actually the most competitive matchup we could get…but it still won’t make a difference. Djokovic was incredible against Nadal in the semis and on the stage of a Grand Slam final he will surely be just as good if not better. Djokovic in 4: 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Cheryl: Tsitsipas was in tears after his five-set semifinal win over Alexander Zverev, the importance of having earned a spot in his first Grand Slam final not lost on the Greek. But what he finds when he gets there will be an inspired Djokovic, who dethroned Nadal in a semifinal epic for the ages in their evening match on Friday. Tsitsipas and Djokovic have met seven times already. The world No. 1 lost two of his first three matches against the Greek, but since the 2019 Shanghai Masters it’s been one-way traffic-all going Djokovic’s direction. If the Serb wins on Sunday, he’ll have secured a double-career Grand Slam (at least two titles at each major). Tsitsipas has played well all clay season; he even took out arch rival Medvedev en route to the final, But on Sunday he runs into the unmovable wall that is Djokovic and his record-breaking ambitions. He is just two slam titles away from equalling the record of 20 shared by Nadal and Federer. A first-time slam finalist doesn’t seem like a likely candidate to keep Djokovic from adding No. 19. Djokovic in 5: 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4.
Pete: Djokovic, following a 5-0 deficit to begin his semifinal match against Nadal, then steadied his game to win 22 of the next 34 games to advance to the final against Tsitsipas. This euphoric momentum will be able to be carried forward against a first-time major finalist. Tsitsipas will feel fortunate to be in the final after appearing to be in complete control of his semifinal before recovering just in time in the fifth set to withstand a valiant effort by Zverev. Djokovic and Tsitsipas met in the semis of Roland Garros last year, as well as in Rome this year, with the Serb winning both matches despite having to go the distance each time. Match play experience in finals will be on display from Djokovic, as well as his amazing ability to quickly recover from the last three grueling matches. Tsitsipas will have to settle for a string of six impressive consecutive wins and the runner-up trophy, as Djokovic gets within one major title of both Federer and Nadal by winning No. 19. Djokovic in 4: 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
I can’t think of anyone who plays more like a robot than Djokovic. It works, but god it is dull to watch
Novak is a versatile player one of the best.
Even though I wanted him to defeat Nadal which he did in the most amazing way 😉😂, I also want him to win the title if he can but if he doesn’t that’s ok tsitsipas deserves it if he can win my a fan of both players.
Stefanos is leading in the tiebreak of the 1st set.
Nny please calm down sweetheart stop being so vicious and combative against Novak fans or anyone who isn’t a rafan, I understand what you’re going through but you going about it the wrong way so please calm down my darling 😍 and be nice even if it’s just for a day.
Stanley , do you understand how impolite is to try and be a nice guy after all you said earlier? And also posting under that nickname.. Where does this need to be accepted comes from? Your behaviour is bipolar… If that’s the case with you, I can only empathize.
Eugene,
Again thanks for your response. But I think we are dealing with a sociopath or a psychopath. He is misogynistic and sexist, angry and intolerant and above all, ignorant.
@Eugene Yesterday you were upset because I said your style of reasoning is like a drunk or junkie now you write this trash if you have nothing better to say just zip it.
As for nny we go back years ago we express our love for each other differently ❤❤❤😂😂😂, I don’t hate I actually like her and troll her a lot just for fun.
As for my nickname that’s between me and Ricky who is well… let’s just say a liberal hack worse than that who can’t handle honesty or truth.
None of this has anything to do with you so plz don’t be a busybody if I’m not referring to you.
Lucky to have such a psychology expert here.
Djokovic is struggling with the high ball from Tsitsipas. He cant get anything on it.
I knew he has the resources. Has to stay gutsy and take his chances. Come on Stefanos!
This match is over. No way Djokovic comes back from this.
Take the 1.45. Free money.
1,000,000 on Tsitsupas @ 1.45 for 450K collect
Against Musetti,Novak went 2 sets down & took bathroom break..and won 3 sets straight..Let’s c whether Tsitsi will lost his momentum like Musetti or not..If he’s able to maintain his concentration & win this match,clearly he’s ready to stand level with the biggest of them all…
MA,
Did he pull the stunt of taking a bathroom break again? I am not watching the match. But I followed the score online.
Very surprising to see Novak down two sets. But then again it seems to be the Rafa curse. He may have taken enough put of Novak to cost him the final. When they played at RG on the semis last time it was in 2013. They were both a lot younger.
Oh yes Nny!..I donno coincidence or not..but Novak leading 4 1 now…AFTER taking bathroom break…Seems momentum broken for Tsitsi..
How do you come out of a bathroom break and suddenly playing so well? So it threw off Tsitsipas.
Err…i donno Nny…it seems Stefanos level has dropped off after that…plus he also got medical time out to tend to maybe some tightness on his hip..and he still not found his early mojo…
Let’s c whether he can make a come back in 4th or 5 sets…if he still has the will & determination that is..
I didn’t know about the MTO. I am not watching the match. Maybe it’s like a rope-a-dope thing. Let them play themselves out and then swoop in for the kill.
The young guys don’t seem to have the conditioning to win these Bof5 set matches.
Tsitsipas has been pretty much flawless this match. Amazing for a first GS final.
But he knew he had a big physical edge going into this match and a strategy he knew would work. He just had to execute it.
Djokovic has raised his game this set though.
Djokovic’s energy levels just increased 10-fold. Wonder what he had at the end of set 2.
Cannot believe how much this match has turned.
This will go down as one of Djokovic’s greatest Houdini acts ever.
no it wont
He was completely gone. Had no answer for Tsitsipas. Didn’t even move to the ball on set point in set 2.
Comes back from toilet break and starts playing like he’s been winning 62 62 62 Lol
That’s not normal, I don’t care what anyone says. This guy has a rare ability in that department.,
Yes he does
He already won the real final , so maybe not .
Yes it will.
There was 2 Djokovic’s in this match and they were like chalk and cheese.
What a battle whoever both players are amazing.
I’m glad Nadal lost 🙂 sorry
The most annoying thing is how all this guys, young one and also Fed and Rafa, just melt mentally and cannot paly at their level. Just gifting to Novak around 6-7 slams. Fyyk that meekness. You play the match of your career and you’re crumbling. break a racket, shout or do meditate, do something to wake your up.
Olé, Olé, Olé Olé, Olé, Novak, Novak
Olé, Olé, Olé Olé, Olé, Novak, Novak
Vamooooosssss
Listen you sick mushroom, in 2 hours after having enjoyed the match, I’m returning to my life and feel good about it. You don’t know what’s that, loser. Vamos!
Junkie you don’t have a life you pathetic miserable loser in all things.
Get help and get a life dumbtard.
pet your cat you lifeless retard
The biggest mistake was to let people off the court in the QF. Who knows what Berettini might have done.
Tsitsipas must be peaking. Had this match in the bag,