The Paris title will come down to Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on Sunday. Murray is No. 3 in the world but will climb to second on Monday and be seeded No. 2 in London regardless of this result.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be squaring off for the 30th time in their careers and for the seventh time this season when they meet again in the BNP Paribas Masters on Sunday.
Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series 20-9, including 5-1 in 2015. The top-ranked Serb lost to Murray at the Rogers Cup this summer but crushed him 6-1, 6-3 in last month’s Shanghai semis. They faced each other for the first time at this Paris Masters event in 2014, when Djokovic rolled through a quarterfinal encounter 7-5, 6-2.
Like his opponent, Murray has played only Shanghai and Paris so far this fall. But the third-seeded Scot still has the World Tour Finals and the Davis Cup championship tie against Belgium remaining on his schedule. Despite those upcoming responsibilities, Murray is looking extremely focused on Paris. He punched his ticket to the final by defeating Borna Coric, David Goffin, Richard Gasquet, and David Ferrer–surrendering just one set to Gasquet in the process.
Djokovic is one away from a third consecutive triumph at this tournament. Challengers who have come and gone this week are Thomaz Bellucci, Gilles Simon, Tomas Berdych, and Stan Wawrinka, However, the No. 1 seed did not exactly coast in the quarters and semis. Djokovic edged Berdych in two tiebreakers with no breaks of serve before holding off Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 on Saturday.
With nine wins in their last 10 meetings, Djokovic is clearly a massive favorite in this one. Murray’s recent victory came when the reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open champion was visibly out of sorts during the Canada-Cincinnati stretch.
To say he is out of sorts no more would be an understatement.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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They’re going to have to make new rules for him, maybe 1 vs 2 or something like that
I think a handicap system. e.g. he has to play left-handed in the Slams and Masters.
Llodra is racist.
He is mentally the strongest, physically the strongest , best baseliner, best returner, and has a great serve (both first and second).
How do you stop him?
Rafa, you are the only hope for 2016!
May be, Fed at the WTF can beat nole …. stan is just not good enough indoors .
Maybe Fed. I thought so too. But only if Nole is not at his best.
He’s about the only reasonable challenge for Nole ATM.
I dont think Rafa, even if he gets back to his normal good level, is able to stop this Novak; maybe at the FO only, not even at the clay Masters. Fed will be 35 next year so even on the quick HCs he may not even be able to stop Novak. Stan? Only on slower surfaces and must play his best tennis on the day.
The world is Novak’s oyster now, unless some brilliant youngster out of nowhere comes challenging the top guys and like young Rafa, wins a slam or two; there simply isnt anyone who can stop Novak consistently.
The weak era talk continues…..
How djokovic has distanced himself from Murray is staggering.
The win for Novak is NID. Novak has to do so many things, like learning to speak French, to try to win the hearts of the spectators, poor soul has to try so hard.
Congrats to him anyway. The standard between no.1 and no.2 can be so much different, unbelievable! Looks like Novak is on his way to outdoing Fedal in every department. I wonder how do Fed and his fans feel, after trying so hard to thwart Rafa from winning more but in the end the one who benefits from it is not Fed but Novak!
He carries the same air of entitlement that was (sometimes still is) the trademark of TMF.
Success begets success. BUT it doesn’t last forever. He has matured in many ways however his body language when outwitted by an opponent is inappropriate for a long time No.1 who, we are reminded ad nauseum, is the greatest player in the world.
A routine win sees Djoker break his own record in Masters Series wins in a calendar year. He now joins Federer in winning titles on grass, clay, indoors and on outdoor hard courts this year. The outright Masters Series record remains with Nadal, for now. But the Spaniard won no titles this year, the Serb six, and it seems to be only a matter of time before that record, too, falls to the tour’s leading player.
There is always the possibility of a shock result at WTF but the round robin system certainly plays into his hands. After that, we’ll see who else makes up the last four – not that any player exactly fills him with dread. Federer is the only player to beat him twice this year, but he has solved that particular conundrum in the slams.
Funny how his easiest result following a strangely tough week came against the world no. 2, Murray. For the plucky if sometimes foul-mouthed Brit, a big result against Goffin suggests that DC glory will be his before long. With the drubbing he got in today’s final, he could be forgiven for keeping his powder dry throughout WTF.
A little off topic – will Novak’s winning everything under the sun drives both Fed and Rafa into early retirement ( early as in not originally planned or intended by them)?
No.
A friend was saying that the law of averages would ensure djoko comes back to earth. However considering his under achievement in 2012 to 2014, it seems like the law of averages is just kicking in
Three slams – six Masters titles and two Finals. 14 consecutive finals.
WTF win or lose is just icing.
Best. Year. Ever. Of all time.
1969.
No hard court slams back then and tour was not as demanding. What Nole has done is more impressive imo.
what was this in response to
Top,view, thanks Ms. 63. I stand by my own, admittedly linear, view: 1969 tops all efforts since in the men’s game.
You’re quite welcome madame.
Haha
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTTQEh-U8AEou79.jpg
#SpellingBee
TennisTV tries to rationalize his “fuax” pas..
TennisTVVerified account
‏@TennisTV
Merci/Bercy wordplay from @DjokerNole! Is there no end to his talents on and off-court?!
Subtle humour is not his forte. His is more the music hall slapstick variety. Same goes for the French. The damage limitation exercise would have floated over the heads of most of them.
I spell French much better than I can speak it.
Am guessing Nole is the opposite.
I didn’t get up to see the match. But I see the result was as expected. I caught up reading all the comments and it’s kind of scary how easily Novak was able to beat the now #2 player in the world. There was a time when their matches were competitive, but that hasn’t been the case since Murray had the back surgery. He did get it done in Montreal, but that’s about it.
I don’t like Novak. That’s a given. But I will not refuse to acknowledge how much his game has improved and also his mental strength. In every tournament, I read comments in the early matches to the effect that Novak isn’t looking that good. But it should be obvious now that he has this formula down. He does enough to win early on and then goes to another level when he gets in the semis and finals. He’s conserving his energy and effort quite well.
I am wondering if Rafa can get back to a good enough level to battle Novak again. He was the one player who could take it to Novak. It’s true that nothing lasts forever, but for right now Novak is the one who’s dominating in the men’s game.
I think for the most part, Novak was the only one who could take it to Rafa and not the other way around. Novak still has a few things to do to surpass Rafa, and Nadal has really only had trouble with one top player consistently through his career. No one else has come close to touching him in their matchups.
Strange way of putting it by Mikkers. So who’s the top dog now, Novak or Rafa? We’re talking about the current Rafa, not the Rafa of 2008 or 2010.
You’re saying there’s one player who consistently trouble Rafa through his career (not true as earlier on Rafa had no trouble vs Novak on clay, and grass) but Novak seems to have trouble with Rafa too; so it works both ways. Also, Novak has trouble with another player too through his career and only managed to level their H2H lately when that player is well past his prime.
Depends on how you define prime.
I would say it’s mostly because Rafole took him out of his prime.
The Rafa of 2010 wasn’t massively different to the version we saw in 2011; just that maybe he served much better in the US Open 2010. Djokovic dealt with him quite easily, and it took a drop in Novak’s level for Nadal to regain the ascendancy.
And Mikkers, you know how many BPs Rafa had in that 2010 final, compared to 2011? The 2010 Rafa would handle the 2011 USO Novak in four sets too imo, Rafa wasnt even serving as well in 2011. Also, Novak wasnt great during USO2011 tbh, its just that Rafa wasnt playing with the right strategy and was aggressive too late in the match after losing two sets. Fast forward to 2013, Rafa came out all guns blazing and see who won in the end?
Novak’s level dip? Well isnt that always the case? He’s not one who could play consistently well over a BO5 sets match and so he would have his dips, and that may explain why he isnt was successful at the slams than at the BO3 tournaments.
What an excuse by saying Novak’s level dipped and so Rafa had the ascendency. In the 2010 final, Novak’s level hadnt dipped in the third set and Rafa served well in his last service game to win the set and made it 2-1 in sets won. Novak’s level only dipped mid way through the fourth set.
In the 2011 final, they went toe to toe in the third set and Rafa won that to make it 1-2. Its Rafa who ran out of steam in the fourth but its Novak who took an MTO.
You have to be kidding if you think Novak of 2013 was similar to the Novak of 2011. By the same token, Djokovic made some very costly errors in the third set of the 2013 US Open which cost him the match; he seemed to be handling Rafa’s guns quite well for a while.
Doesn’t matter now. His 2015 level is now superior to his 2011 level in terms of pure ball timing, and until that dips, he will be top contender in 3 of 4 slams.
4 of 4 slams you mean
And you think that USO2011 Novak was all conquering? He had to save MP vs Fed in the SF. Neither the 2011 or 2013 Novak was all conquering at the USO, the difference was that the Rafa of 2011 wasnt a confident one, unlike the 2013 version. Yep, he could only handle Rafa for just a while, thats about it. Everyone makes costly mistakes at times, Im sure I can say that about Rafa too when facing Novak.
I do agree about the 2015 Novak though but something has to be said about the competition…
It will need a group effort to bring down Novak – Stan at AO; Stan/Rafa at FO; Fed + Murray one after another against Novak, at Wimbledon; any one or two of them combined at the USO.
As for the Masters, we need Fed at Cincy and Shanghai; the others Novak can beat anyone to get them. WTF – most probably Novak’s for the taking. Too bad Delpo isnt around to stop Novak indoors.
How much did Del Potro actually beat Novak indoors when he was around? Once at the Davis Cup? There is nothing to suggest he would “stop Novak indoors”.
And to suggest that a group effort is needed to bring down Novak so that he will win 0 slams in 2016 is laughable at best. Tennis draws rarely fall in place for this kind of thing.
Now who says Novak is to get zero slam? You said it yourself, tennis draws rarely fall in place, so why you think anyone is suggesting he’ll get zero slam in 2016? Delpo has the firepower to beat anyone, Novak included.
He can beat Novak, but going by previous records, its unlikely that he would be the one to “stop” Novak indoors. And if your hypothesis pans out as planned, Novak would win 0 slams. Not going to happen.
Still dont understand??
Tsk, tsk, I’m not the one fantasizing here.
You are, when you think its Novak’s level that dipped and allowed Rafa’s ascendency in their USO match(es). Watch their USO matches again.
Delpo beating Novak wasnt a fantasy; he did beat Novak, I dont think Novak want to meet a Delpo who’s firing on all cylinders.
No, Mikkers, Novak couldn’t go without slams next year because since 2011 he’s been a robot who sleeps in a pod. Novak has had his fill of slamless years, after all he turned pro in 2003 and it was 5 years later in 2008 that he won his first slam which served him for another 3 years before he took a liking to the Egg.
Rafa won his first slam when he was still a teenager beating the world #1 in the process and kept that up for 10 straight years. Barring injury, Rafa would be streets ahead in slams now. He has missed a good many slams through injury.
Rafa is 123-53 against the top 8 players in the world. A much better h2h than Nole’s. So Nole has a long way to go.
Rafa’s h2h vs Novak in slams is 9-4.
Just saying.
lucky,
I agree. It also means that the above mentioned players need to be at their best. I don’t know that Delpo will even be able to come back. He’s been out so long. It’s a shame because he had such a dynamic game.
I don’t want to think that Novak will just dominate next year, too. So we will have to wait and see if any of these players can step up.
he certainly won’t be a factor again at the top of the game. will he come back? hopefully.
Murray fires f-bomb at ball girl
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/11/08/16/2E3E8E6700000578-3309235-image-a-24_1447000304945.jpg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3309235/Hilarious-video-shows-moment-Andy-Murray-comes-fire-ball-girl-shockingly-ungallant-response.html
epic
Alas, Ms. 10, all I can hear is a beep. However I can all too easily believe that it masks another salty outburst from the demanding Brit. He has such high standards and knows that a blue streak will guarantee perfection henceforth into perpetuity.
Meanwhile in the Balkan corner, the breaking of rackets is the mature response to an unexpected set-back. And when you win, you can always take part in a firing-squad video. Stay classy, eh?
Hey, I haven’t passed any judgement, just posted it. I provided the link so anyone interested in the story can go and read the article for themselves.
Quote right you do not stand in judgment. All the same, you point out that he fires the f-bomb at a ball personage. Still, this does not in any way, shape or form amount to editorial and my reply in no way gets into this.
Heaven forbid that you should stand accused of being less than loving towards your fellow Brit. Indeed it is one of your more laudable qualities – among a sea of defects, I have to lament – that you reserve a special loathing for Andy Murray. Not on this occasion, of course. You are merely reporting.
Keep it up!
Among a sea of defects.
Is this really necessary? Cmon Ricky.
It is a provocation simpliciter. Watch and learn. And stop running to Ricky to fight your battles, pal.
Let’s see no personal insults against the players, and then you may consider extending that across the board.
I have no loathing for any player I’m just support one player no matter what.
Vamos
Nole definitely the best season by any player ever. Unbelievable dominance.
very hard to argue against that….
What if he goes three and out at the O2 next week failing to win a match against the other top 8.
It’s a shame they don’t do match previews and picks for women’s tennis too as their picks are really good.
maybe one day
but my women’s picks wouldn’t be as good!
Mikkers,
So was the Rafa of 2013 better than the Rafa of 2010, because Rafa 2013 dealt with Djerk at the USO. Rafa said he was burnt out in 2011, so yes, he was a different Rafa to the one of 2010.
Nadal feels like he’s been ‘playing for 100 years’
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011 /by TENNIS.COM
Print
Rafael Nadal says the tour’s non-stop schedule is exhausting him and there are days when he sees playing tennis as a job, rather than a sport. The Spaniard added that all his playing years have taken a toll on him and that even with the shortening of the calendar this year, the season will still be too long.
“It’s my ninth year on the tour, and its completely the same feeling every year,” Nadal told reporters. “You don’t have the chance to stop, never. I think for that situation we have a shorter career. So having a different model of ranking, of competition, I think we can have longer career, no? I [am] almost 25, but seems like I am playing for 100 years here on the tour. I didn’t spend a weekend at home since the week of Davis Cup before Indian Wells. That’s too much. Tennis is a very demanding sport mentally and physically. I won Roland Garros five times, but next Monday I am practicing on Queen’s. So that’s makes the career shorter for everybody.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/05/nadal-feels-like-hes-been-playing-for-100-years/29712/#.VkMBwbfhDrc