Novak Djokovic will be looking for back-to-back Masters 1000 titles when he goes up against Andy Murray in a second straight final on Sunday in Rome. Djokovic needed a third-set tiebreaker to get past Kei Nishikori in the semis.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be squaring off for the 33rd time in their careers and for the second time in as many weeks when they battle for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia title on Sunday.
Djokovic is leading the head-to-head series 23-9, including an even more dominant 12-1 in their last 13 encounters. The top-ranked Serb won eight in a row at Murray’s expense, lost to the Scot in last summer’s Montreal final, and has now picked up four more victories in succession. The familiar foes most recently faced each other in the Madrid title match last Sunday, when Djokovic triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
If nothing else, Murray does own the advantage of having enjoyed an earlier and much simpler semifinal contest. Going up against Lucas Pouille in the afternoon, the second seed crushed the lucky loser 6-2, 6-1 in 59 minutes. He preceded that victory by taking out Mikhail Kukushkin, Jeremy Chardy, and David Goffin all in straight sets. Murray is a decent 21-5 for the season, but he is still in search of his first title.
Djokovic has wobbled from just about start to finish this week, but he has somehow found a way to maintain momentum after lifting the Madrid Trophy. Rome’s No. 1 seed held off qualifier Stephane Robert 7-5, 7-5, got bageled by Thomaz Bellucci before prevailing 0-6, 6-2, 6-3, battled past Rafael Nadal 7-5, 7-6(4), and recovered from another set deficit to outlast Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) on Saturday. Djokovic is 37-2 for his 2016 campaign with five titles (three of the Masters 1000 variety in addition to the Australian Open).
The four-time Rome champion needed needed three hours and one minute to survive against Nishikori, but bouncing back from grueling efforts has never been a problem for him–at least not since his reign at the top of the game began. Conditions in Rome should suit Djokovic better in a match with Murray than those in Madrid, as the underdog will struggle to hit through him on a slower court. In all likelihood, the impenetrable fortress that is Djokovic’s defense will once again be too tough for Murray.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Rafa.
IF Murray can not beat a tired and exhausted Djokovic-he will never ever beat him again.
I think Djokovic is more dangerous when he comes after a tough game like he had against Nishikori (or Nadal..).
That wakes him up in a way. And I really doubt he will be tired. He played 31 games and 3hs, but that’s the normal duration of a difficult win in straight sets in a GS.. 63 64 75.
Nole looks gassed but he may pull this one out.
I think Novak will win, but I also believe Murray will take a set. Novak looks really stressed out. Maybe the FO is getting to him?
I think Novak in 3.Yesterday I thought he would lose but he came back to life again…as usuall….the same senario. Nishi was not playing good…if he was 100% he had very good chances to beat that robot
Amazing mental strength of Nole in this Nishi match! Worth admiration! I also admire Nishi’s refusal to surrender! Great match!
Murray has a shot but he will most certainly find the way to lose! Novak is mentally stronger than Andy and will have all the right answers..,
I think Murray has an opportunity here. I am not sure if having such an easy draw is a good thing or not. I think Novak seems to thrive on tough matches. He raises his level of play. Then when he wins a tough match, that seems to give him even more confidence and belief.
Nishi played some brilliant tennis and did not give up in that match. He took it to Novak and didn’t quit. But Novak seems to find a way to win.
Andy has been playing very well but has not been tested. Suffice to say that playing Novak again in a final will be a test! But I can’t pick Andy to win yet. I still think that Novak will find a way to get this win. The only thing I am not sure about is if it will be 2 or 3 sets.
Novak just been through 2 grueling back to back matches.
Murray got to win here (or be involved in 3 very close sets) to build up confidence and be taken as a serious contender for RG.
Agree with Laak.
Andy will give it his best shot.
Murray’s winning odds are as high as never before. Shall he fail now – he will never beat Novak. Read our match preview here:
http://bit.ly/1ZSJ4Zh
No. You are wrong Murray,s odds was a much higher in Madrid, last week.
IMO, Nishi is just not in the top tier, at least not yet. How often when he had his top class opponent(s) on the rope but failed to deliver the killer blow! Against Rafa at Barcelona, he went for too much and overhit, he seemed to falter where it mattered and so against the top players, he rarely reached the finishing line before them.
Murray was like that too pre Lendl, reached the later rounds of slams but couldnt deliver when facing Rafa/Fed/Djoko. They (Kei and pre Lendl Murray)just need that bit of self belief to cross that barrier before beating the top guys to win big titles.
Murray should be the one having the upperhand here as he’s well rested; he played well too this tournament, the way he handled Goffin was impressive, able to conquer the tough swirling conditions in that match.
Of course it also depends on which Murray snd which Djoko come out to play; slight edge to Murray imo.
Agree but we all know that the tough matches makes a player like Nole tick. He just gets better and is so strong mentally and always manages to find a way to win.
Has proven many times in the past that he comes through matches like this with the odd blip.
Nole in 3
Novak said he played better yesterday than he did against Rafa.
I hope Murray can come out and play red-hot tennis. His first serve has been a real weapon since Madrid he would need it badly today.
I am banking on Novak being slightly jaded.
Novak also said that he had been in the situations like this before and managed to win, and that he would do his best although not having sufficient time to recover….
Remember Rome 2011? After a brutal semifinal with Andy he still won the final in straights. Nole for the win here.
He is more than capable of doing it here .. physically he should be fine. I feel he is emotionally drained a bit. Let’s see.. But yeah he will most likely be fit and ready to rumble.
Agreed.
juan jose vallejo says that annacone rates kei’s backhand over murray’s and he agrees! a bit surprising no?
that probably means Murray’s is better
so you don’t rate annacone’s and/or vallejo’s opinion ricky?!! (or is this one of your jokes?) i really like vallejo’s twitter feed – it’s very witty and full of gems. lots of witty tennis writers including you….
i remember ferrer saying he thought murray had the best backhand on the tour..
Muzz has a better backhand…but Kei’s is very close. Muzz surely better if you include the slice… talking about the backhand drive only, they have a lot of similarities. Both have a very flat backhand drive and prefer it cross court but Kei changes the direction a bit more frequently. In terms of firepower, surely it has to be Muzz. Kei is equally adept at taking balls on the rise on his backhand though.
In terms of defending, again, quite similar. Both defend with a closed stance backhand unlike Rafa and Novak who hit open stance backhands when on the run/full stretch.
Overall, one adv kei has is that his ‘average backhand’ is a bit more aggressive and Muzz has the tendency to float mid court balls.But, Murray’s is a bit more consistent and when he is intent on taking a ball on the rise, he keeps moving forward into the short (not just standing in ground) and is able to drill it in either direction. This is something not even Novak does as well. Literally takes jogging steps into his shots when in full flight.
Muzz has the most penetrative backhand drive among the top players. Rafa can hit with even more penetration but he generally likes to hit with more spin.
Soderling used to have a humongous CC backhand
gr8 analysis as always vr! i love to hear your technical analyses….
seem to remember your saying that in relation to nole murray’s backhand was more aggressive but that nole’s capacity to defend with the backhand was unrivalled by anyone! or do i misremember???
thanks amy and yes, you remember it right. Novak’s taken defending from the backhand to a whole new level. I like to call it ‘aggressive defending’. He is always looking to turn defense into offense. Rafa is second best but the adv he has over nole is having a better backhand slice when defending. A peak rafa has the best ‘balance’ of defense on a clay court…knows exactly which shot to hit
#HerbertWillWin
Novak has surprised me this week, a few times in the first sets against Nadal and Nishikori, he looked like he might not invest in the mental effort needed to win, similar to the round robin at the WTF against Roger last year. He does want this title, question is freshness. I think it will be close but expect Murray to win and make the French more interesting, at least from what the media will tell us.
It’s really, really hard to have expectations from Muzz!
Funny comment from the Serbian commentator last night when Novak won one of the decisive points against Nishi after a long rally…Novak celebrated with feast pump and the commentator said: this was copy paste Rafael Nadal 🙂
Yeah, Novak seems to have mental strength, determination and never give up attitude Rafa used to have…
Corr. fist not feast 😉