Novak Djokovic is two wins a way from pulling off a third consecutive Indian Wells-Miami double. Standing in Djokovic’s way of the Miami final on Friday is an in-form David Goffin.
Novak Djokovic and David Goffin will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Miami Open title match on Friday.
All three of their previous encounters have gone the way of Djokovic, who is 2-0 against Goffin on hard courts and 8-1 in overall sets. Two of their tilts, however, have been competitive. Prior to a 6-2, 6-0 beatdown at the 2013 Cincinnati Masters, Djokovic got past the Belgian 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-5 in round one of the 2013 French Open. Their most memorable meeting came last summer in Cincinnati, where Goffin led by a double-break at 3-0 in the third set only to lose the last six games of the match and succumb 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
It’s safe to say that both men are playing the best tennis of their careers right now. That is especially scary when it comes to Djokovic, who compiled an 82-6 record that included three Grand Slam titles last season. So far this year he is 26-1 and has not lost by anything other than retirement (to Feliciano Lopez in Dubai). The top-seeded Serb punched his ticket to the Miami semis by taking out Kyle Edmund, Joao Sousa, Dominic Thiem, and Tomas Berdych in straight sets.
“He (has) won almost everything this year,” Goffin commented. “He’s playing unbelievable tennis at the moment. But I played a great match against him last year in Cincinnati. I have nothing to lose; just going to enjoy the moment.”
Goffin has been enjoying just about all of his moments on the court in recent times. The 15th-ranked Belgian is through to consecutive Masters 1000 semifinals, having reached the same stage in Indian Wells. He had to save two match points in his opener in the desert against Frances Tiafoe, but he did that and eventually upset Stan Wawrinka before falling to Milos Raonic. Goffin’s trek through the Miami draw has been more straightforward. He has defeated Marcel Granollers, Viktor Troicki, Horacio Zeballos, and Gilles Simon while dropping only one set to Simon in the process.
“(He’s a) very confident player,” Djokovic assessed. “He’s been playing very, very efficiently. I think he’s one of the quickest players; very good footwork from back of the court (and) very aggressive. His transition is impressive from defense to offense. Obviously having confidence playing so well and having the career-high ranking allows him to swing freely on the court. That’s what he has done so far, and he’s going to be very dangerous. I know that. I like my chances if I get to play the way I played so far in the tournament.”
Who wouldn’t like Djokovic’s chances? In addition to his amazing current form, the world No. 1 is the two-time defending champion of this tournament. There is no reason to think a third straight title will be denied; but if it is, it will likely be by someone like Milos Raonic or Nick Kyrgios who can serve huge and at least have a shot to take matters out of Djokovic’s hands.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing seven games or fewer
[polldaddy poll=9368933]
Boris agrees:
Boris Becker @TheBorisBecker 50s51 seconds ago
Because of umpires insensitivity regarding time violation , he inspired our man …@DjokerNole @SkySportsTennis
he is a monster now! and his tennis scares the hell out of me….wonder whether Rafa will be ever to turn things around against him. I haven’t lost hope at all but to be honest I have my doubts too… Djokovic is incredible
if the old rafa was around he could beat nole…
but whether the old rafa will ever be back is somewhat moot right now..
Sadly, Rafa will abdicate his GOAT crown eventually.
But this is always the way for all GOATs as it was for Fed and Sampras before Rafa.
It’s evolution baby.
Great win By Djoker.
A match he would have lost a few years ago.
A true complete fighter now.
bravo nole!!!kudos!
Respect from Boris…
Boris Becker @TheBorisBecker 3m3 minutes ago
Well done @DjokerNole but great respect to @David__Goffin ! David will be top10 soon…@SkySportsTennis
Novak was close to give up.He was breathing like fish out of water.
Noval is destroying himself on court for nothing, he wants to win everything and puts his body under torture.,. I am afraid it will soon cost him.,,
Great win for Novak although generously assisted by mental midget approach from Goffin….
Novak is not destroying himself on court at all. Oh and it’s not for nothing! He is chasing greatness and the record books. Novak wants his place in history, so the hard work and sacrifice is worth it.
How long have we been hearing that it’s only a matter of time before Novak burns out or ruins his body. Meanwhile, he just keeps doing his thing and keeps in winning.
For myself, I wish that Rafa was himself again and still competing for titles and challenging Novak the way no one else can. But the reality is that Rafa has been in a prolonged slump from which he may never recover. It makes me sad to see it. I wish that it wasn’t so.
Novak is going to take advantage of the current void at the top of the men’s game. I can only hope that the other top players can start plating the way they should and make this a competitive year in men’s tennis. But anyone engaging in wishful thinking about Novak falling apart, is going to be sorely disappointed.
+++++++1
Wow! That!
You’re on a roll nny!
great thinking, nny! that comes from a true Novak’s fan!
?
Nats is getting gussie disease also known as octobrina syndrome.
Judging others is beneath you.
I find your syndrome being much worse…good I did not catch that one… 🙂
Do your worst nats and I’ll do mine.
octobrina?
Don’t ask.
#ItGetsEvenWorse
#FandomaniaRunAmuck
hawk has had is own desease/syndrome:
[hawkeye63 MAY 20, 2015 AT 6:29 PM]
https://tenngrand.com/social/player-pages/rafael-nadal/comment-page-96/#comment-63196
Yet another original post about Rafa.
natashao,
Nice try with the nasty dig about me being a Rafa fan. You selectively read my posts and cherry pick only what you choose to and ignore the entire context and meaning. Nothing new there! Also echoing nadline’s tiresome and somewhat cliched nonsense about me being a Novak fan.
However, unlike you and the others in your little clique, I actually am following in the spirit of rafa’s generosity and class in acknowledging what Novak has done. I always try to follow the example of my favorite player, my one and only favorite, the one whose picture happens to be in my avatar. That way whenever I post, everyone can see that great picture of Rafa holding the winner’s trophy at the 2013 Cincy masters!
Maybe you just decided to ignore it!
Oops! Sorry that I forgot to include the word “NOT” in the first sentence of my last post. Maybe it was a Freudian slip, considering that I am a true blue forever Rafa fan who merely is willing to give credit where credit is due regrading novak’s achievements! Following Rafa’s example of being classy! No sour grapes from Rafa!
Nativenewyorker (AT 12:03 AM),
The ATP players are obliged to be polite towards each other.
The ATP Rulebook, page 178:
¤¤… it is an obligation for ATP players and Related Persons, to refrain from engaging in conduct contrary to the integrity of the game of tennis.
a) Conduct contrary to the integrity of the game shall include, but not be limited to, publicized comments that unreasonably attack or disparage any person or group of people, a tournament, sponsor, player, official or the ATP. … ¤¤
.
Fans are under no obligation to praise every player.
Something’s fishy about the scheduling. Yesterday they put Nishi over Novak in evening session, fine… However, scheduling him another 1pm afternoon match (4 straight) in this heat is ridiculous. Shouldn’t both semi-finals be played during prime-time?
Would never happen to fed.
Nick is right. Tennis is biased.
Gosh Kei is so good. In complete control from what I see.
Up a set and a break!
You’re a beauty Kei!
#Nick-at-Nite
#Correction
#NISHI-at-Nite
#FreudianSlip
Too much Sponge Bob for me!
hahaha hawk ?
This is the wrong thread for Nick…
O-Kei.