Novak Djokovic is one win away from going through the Asian swing undefeated. Standing in his way of both that feat and the Shanghai title on Sunday is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Djokovic crushed Andy Murray in the semis, while Tsonga outlasted Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be squaring off for the 20th time in their careers when they collide in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Sunday.
Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 13-6, but Tsonga is 6-7 lifetime against the Serb on hard courts and 6-6 in hard-court matches that did not end in retirement. While all of those numbers are encouraging for the underdog, this one is not: Djokovic has won 11 of the last 12 at Tsonga’s expense after once trailing the series 5-2. Tsonga finally ended an 11-match losing skid by rolling over Djokovic–and everyone else–6-2, 6-2 en route to the Rogers Cup title last summer.
Shanghai, though, is not exactly the spot where the Frenchman would choose to face Djokovic. The world No. 1 is 23-3 lifetime at this event following victories this week over Martin Klizan, Feliciano Lopez, Bernard Tomic, and Andy Murray and only Tomic has been remotely competitive. Djokovic is also 16-0 in his last 16 matches with titles at the U.S. Open and in Beijing.
Tsonga is invoking memories of his run to the 2014 Toronto title. The competition has not been as strong, but the mental fortitude it has required is commendable. The 15th-ranked Frenchman, a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open and champion in Metz, survived consecutive three-set thrillers against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Kevin Anderson, and Rafael Nadal. He preceded those victories by taking out Tommy Robredo and Victor Estrella Burgos.
“All along the season I worked hard to be able to play these matches,” Tsonga commented. “When it happens, I’m really happy to have worked hard because I know I can count on my body. It’s something great for me because it was not always like this. Today I’m a lot stronger than I was maybe few years ago. I think it’s good for me.
“I feel good. To be honest, the season was difficult with a lot of ups and downs. This surface is one of my favourites. I know I’m able to play good tennis. Before I came here, I didn’t know if I will be able to play that good. I hope it’s going to continue.”
It may continue later this fall, but not on Sunday. Tsonga’s Toronto upset of Djokovic was an obvious aberration as opposed to the rule. Speaking of ruling, that is just what the top seed has been doing in Asia and there is no reason to think he is descending from the throne anytime soon.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 5-7 games
[polldaddy poll=9131953]
Haha the poll. I’m hoping Tsonga wins but that just seems not likely at all. I say Nole in 5-7 games but it could be like 2-4 to be honest. A win for Tsonga would be amazing. I’m rooting for Jo but Novak should be too locked in to be honest.
Djokovic has won the last 20 sets he has played, obviously Djokovic winning this one is a no-brainer.
Who are the people who voted for Tsonga to win? Twelve people voted for Tsonga to win. Are they kidding?
It would be a shocker if Novak does not prevail. I believe I voted for 5-7 games.
Ricky, what is the maximum points that a player can accumulate over one year. If djoko wins this he must have just dropped 1600 points ,800 at french and 800 at the two summer masters over the past one year, no?
A player can accumulate 21,000 points (4 GS, 9 Masters, 5 ATP 500, WTF).
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Nah, he also lost at QF at Doha so he got 45 instead of 250 points. To me, the greatest beneficiary of Rafa’s slump is Novak, who has no problem now at the USO where he only managed one title in the past despite reaching five finals. Fed is done winning slams as long as Rafa or Novak is still around waiting to meet him. Fed has lost all three recent slam finals to Novak.
Its now left with Stan who still can really beat Novak at the slams, if Rafa can’t get back to his old winning ways.
I vote for Novak to win this one losing 5-7 games, maybe only 4 games.
Everyone discounting tsonga too much I feel, Tsonga has been serving really well and been quite solid at the baseline. I feel Novak will still win but it won’t be as routine as everyone thinks, novak in 3 for me.
No way
nothing suggests Tsonga will be able to trouble him
I agree that we may be underestimating Tsonga here and he could make this close but I’m taking Novak in straights nonetheless even if one set is tight.
Nole is a terrible matchup for Wilfried
Nole on HC is as sure a thing now as Rafa on clay once was. INcredible by Nole. Making the Tsonga serve look so ordinary
Tsonga plays without using his brain. Hes not going to beat Novak from the back court. Why don’t add in some S&V instead?
Agree. His brawn without his brains doesn’t cut it with the likes of Djokovic. I’m still cross with Rafa for not getting a grip on the first set yesterday 🙁 As a final this is a damp squid.
I knew this is how it would be; I said so yesterday. Payers save their venom for Rafa and give others a free ride.
Not true..maybe the truth is Djoko does not allow them to bring out their venom in full force and Rafa does.
I am sure five years back, Djoko used to feel that opponents roll over for Rafa and fight tooth and nail against him. You can only play as well as your opponent lets you
yup…. how is it even possible realistically that players ALWAYS bring out their best against rafa and not against nole or federer?! lol
Thing is, it is about styles of play. Rafa is allowing players to play the way they want to…. if rafa is playing at his peak powers, he can also prevent a lot of players from playing their best…
It may be a blessing in disguise for Rafa come to think of it. Tsonga is ‘suffering’ out there now. I hope for Rafa to meet Novak only when Rafa is ready for it, not when Novak clearly has the upperhand and would boost his (Novak’s) confidence and add to his legacy even more when he adds another win over Rafa to his own records.
Actually Rafa played well yesterday, just that he didnt change up and insisted on hitting his I/O CCFH when Tsonga was waiting there for it. He should have moved his feet and hit an I/I FHDTL. Im sure Tsonga then would have to rush to cover his BH corner, giving Rafa enough time to move to the net to intercept any return from Tsonga. Rafa in the past would do that with success, maybe hes still not confident to change things up just yet esp at crucial moments.
Back to the final, I hope Tsonga can win a set at least, now that he’s holding serve a bit better.
Sanju,
Regarding your comment @ 10:01 am, I am in complete agreement.
The inevitable comes to pass.
Comies desperately trying to inject some suspense as Djokovic serves for the match. Who are they trying to kid?
Spot on all those who predicted straights sets losing 5-7 games.
Even if it was a no-brainer to predict anything else ?
IN this form, who would bet against him in Paris and WTF! The guy has won all the big titles. Jaw dropping stuff.
I seem to recall that Roland Garros remained resolutely unconquered, and the Olympics, not forgetting Cincinnati. But perhaps it is only a matter of time.
By improving from defeated semi-finalist to irresistible champion, Djoker benefits the most from Fed’s opening-match defeat this week, with Nadal some way behind and Murray after that. True, Tsonga got more than the latter two but he’s not really in the discussion generally.
Very good week for Nadal, with a Top-4 win at last (in commanding fashion against Wawrinka, reversing their last two results) revenge against regular Top-10 player Raonic and a solid challenge against ex-stalwart Tsonga. A solid spell in Asia may yet bear fruit back in Europe. His immediate challenge is to try to win an indoor title before his 20s are up. In common with everyone else, he may need to avoid Djoker if this is to happen.
I doubt that winning an indoor title specifically is a goal for any player let alone Rafa.
Tennis is best outdoors.
Novak wins 5 M1000 twice..Hope someone stops him at Paris so that he does not win 6 and holds that record jointly with Rafa.
He is at 25 Masters..very close to Rafas 27 and 95% will cross that.
Any chance Rafa has to get back to No 4 before AO? I am very sure if he is No 5, as happened in FO & USO, he will land in Novaks qtr.
That is the question that I have been asking myself. There is no way I want to see Rafa in Novak’s part of the draw at the AO.
The way he is playing, he deserves all the glory coming his way. He has been beating the top 10 up at every tourney he has played irrespective of the surface.
Weak field…Fed too old, Rafa with his nerves which are destroying his game, Andy mental case who fails on big stage, Wawa with his private life demons, young guns to slow in progress…this way Novak is nothing but outstanding…
Djokovic’s technique right now is really solid. And he has found some key to timing that makes him better than before; this way, if he has motivation, he can win a lot more. I personally have to rate this season higher than 2011 in terms of level of game, in 2011 Novak was more about physical prowess and unreal confidence on big points. Right now, he just a great formula for winning.
History repeats nats. That’s how Fed won most of his slams. I just want someone to catch him. If it has to be Nole, so be it.
I have a sinking feeling we’re heading for a repeat of the Sampras and Federer era when 90% of matches were NID unless somebody (hopefully Rafa) steps up to the plate to stop the train wreckage.
@vmk
You’re quite right he’s earned his success the hard way. It’s not that I begrudge him the glory but tennis needs competitive matches that bring in the crowds and maintain high TV viewership not endless one-way matches.