Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro will be facing each other for the 19th time in their careers when they collide in the U.S. Open final on Sunday afternoon.
Although Djokovic is leading the head-to-head series 14-4, the rivalry is far more competitive and entertaining that those numbers suggest. Seven of their last 10 encounters have required deciding sets and another during this stretch ended 7-6(4), 7-6(2) in Del Potro’s favor (in round one of the 2016 Rio Olympics). Djokovic has won each of their previous U.S. Open meetings in straight sets, but the first came back in 2007 and the second featured one of the most amazing sets of tennis in recent history (during a 2012 quarterfinal contest).
Both Djokovic and Del Potro have recovered from various physical ailments and will be ranked in the top four this coming Monday. Del Potro’s wrist problems have been well-documented for many years, but he is finally back to his borderline best with an outstanding 43-10 record this season. The reigning Indian Wells champion has advanced this fortnight with victories over Donald Young, Denis Kudla, Fernando Verdasco, Borna Coric, John Isner, and Rafael Nadal (via retirement after two sets), surrendering just one set to Isner along the way.
“I cannot believe that I will have a chance to play another Grand Slam final here, which is my favorite tournament,” Del Potro noted. “So it will be special to me…. I think I’ve been doing a good tournament. And in the final, anything can happen. If I win, great. If not, I (have) been playing a great tournament and I will be happy anyways.”
Djokovic’s woes, of course, were more recent and shorter-lived. The 13-time Grand Slam champion missed the second half of 2017 and struggled through the first four months of his 2018 comeback, but he picked up the pace with a quarterfinal performance at the French Open, a runner-up showing at Queen’s Club, and a fourth Wimbledon title. Djokovic is 12-0 in his last 12 matches with a triumph in Cincinnati and U.S. Open wins at the expense of Marton Fucsovics, Tennys Sandgren, Richard Gasquet, Joao Sousa, John Millman, and Kei Nishikori. The world No. 6 dropped sets to Fucsovics and Sandgren but has since raised his level to a significant extent.
“It will be a difficult match because we are close friends,” Del Potro explained. “For sure we both want to win. But Novak has won the Wimbledon already. He’s playing so good. He will be the favorite to win on Sunday. But I don’t know. When I played Roger (Federer) nine years ago he was the favorite to win, as well. I will try to make the surprise again.”
Djokovic won’t be caught by surprise.
“He was always a top-five player in the eyes I think of everyone,” the former world No. 1 said of Del Potro. “Even when he dropped his ranking and started to work his way up, we all knew that he has a capacity and a quality to get to the point where he is at the moment. It was just a matter of time.
“I saw today before the match against Nadal a stat that he’s the player that made most wins against No. 1s of the world. That shows the quality that he has, especially in the big matches. He’s a big-time player; he’s a big-match player; he’s a Grand Slam winner. He’s playing tennis of his life, without a doubt, in the last 15 months.”
Three of Del Potro’s four wins over Djokovic have come while playing for Argentina (two in the Olympics, one in Davis Cup) and a similar atmosphere should be in the cards on Sunday, when Del Potro will undoubtedly be the crowd favorite–led by the “Tandil Twelve,” his rowdy box of fans from his hometown.
While Djokovic is the favorite on paper, Del Potro has been the best and certainly most consistent player in brutally hot conditions throughout this tournament. It just feels like it is once again his time.
Pick: Del Potro in 5
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#14
😂😂😂😂
Djokovic in 3.
Del Potro in 4.
If it goes 5 Novak Wins.
Delpo in four sets. Djoko hasn’t met anyone who could hit through the court the way Delpo could at this USO. It could have been Cilic but Cilic as usual played erratically and lost to Kei. His other opponents played into his hands, engaging in rallies and trying to beat him from the baseline. They don’t have the firepower of Delpo.
I hope you’re right. Go Delpo!
Would be great if Delpo could pull out the win but Novak will not let hin I am afraid…
Novak in 4
I have said all year that if rafa couldn’t win the slam he was competing for then I really wanted Delpo to win. I honestly think he can win and I would love to see him holding his first slam trophy in nearly 10 years!! He absolutely deserves it!
Vamos Delpo!!
Nole in 4 or less.
Correction: Nole2.0
Djokovic in 3 or 4
Will be there to support Delpo. I hope he pulls it off.
On paper, Nole.
Delpo will hold the trophy after gruelling 5 sets.
Ditto.
Nole in 4
JDP in 4…can’t wait to see it…a deserving twosome to meet in the Cship.
Delpo to hit through djokovic in 5 insane sets
Djoker in four
How ppl underestimate Novak, nothing new in fckng Western Mainstream medias. Djokovic in 3, maximum 4 sets. History will be written. Djoksa on his way to GOAT.
I really hope Del Po wins. It would be so satisfying to see him win his second US Open a whole nine years later after all he’s been through with the injuries. I’ve always been of the opinion that Del Po would have been #1 in the world at some point if he hadn’t been injured. The level he displayed to beat Nadal and Federer at US Open 09 at just 20 years old was ridiculous. The awesome thing is that he is still 29 so still has time to do so many great things (on top of all the incredible accomplishments he already has). Vamos Del Po!!!!
No, he will be 30 this end September,so he’s not young anymore.
I’m not saying he’s young. I’m saying he still has time. Just look at what Stan has done in his thirties.
Delpo in 4
DelPotro is one of my favourite players. I have to admit my mistake, by predicting that A.Zverev will advance further than Delpo at this slam.
It’s hard to see the Argentine winning against Djoko. I hope he’ll have a great day and fight with the same dedication he did at the Olympics.
I love Delpo, nearly as much as Novak 🙂 My fav. 2 of the last ten years. The Nole against Nishikori reminded me of the Novak of 2014-2015. Unfortunately for Delpo, I feel when Novak is playing like this it will be very very tough to beat him. Nole is gonna go to Delpo’s backhand as much as he can. Nole in 4.
Nole in 3 , but I hope you are right about the prediction
I will go with Nole in 4…Nole’s mental strength is almost at the level of his dominant years…And he’s healthy….I think it is a tough task for DelPo to face this Nole…he’s too good…. But of coz i’m happy if DelPo win….God knows,they’re both totally deserve it!….C’mon!Bring it on!!
Second Slam final in a row with no Fedal …Djoko in four though Id be happy for Delpo to win
Djoker in four. BH DTL is back. Djoker to win and reignite GOAT debate.
I’m leaning towards Delpo for the win in 4 sets. If it goes to 5 then it would favour Djokovic.
Delpo in 4
Yeah agree, that Delpo has to finish the match within four sets if he wants to win it.
I think we can’t underestimate Delpo’s desire to win, esp after watching how he saved MP against Fed at IW and ended up winning. Delpo is not Cilic, he’s consistent and never gives up, calm and determined and will fight till the very end.
The Wimbledon QF vs Rafa comes to mind, I doubt Djoko would have it easy vs Delpo; if Delpo was so formidable at Wimbledon, I think he would be even tougher to beat at the USO.
Also the 5 set sf at wimby where he almost beat nole on one leg!! He is playing better now, is physically stronger and has had loads of rest. The only thing I worry about is that because he hasn’t been in a slam final for so long that he will want it too much and be nervy or over hit and end up donating the first set.
Normally i would agree that Delpo has to finish it before the fifth but this year he had 2_days rest and then only had to play 2 sets against Rafa. So he has plenty of gas in the tank. I worry more that he hasn’t been in a slam final for so long that he will want it too much and be nervy/go for too much in the first set and give it away.
Still he held up really well in the Olympics when he was in worse shape beating Nole Rafa and getting very close to Andy…If he hadn’t been so tired he would probably have won. That was on a slow hard court as well as I remember. It may have been bo3 but he is playing a lot better now and is stronger. There is no question he can win.
Vamos Delpo!!
i dont think you get what you deserve in this world, only what you earn ….
Vamos Delpo!! 💘
Please come out strong and calm delps!
Either winning in 5 sets.
Over should be the best and safe winner here.
Will root for both and enjoy the game as both are great players. Period!lol
Am all set under the roof at ashe. Hoping for no14
How nice VMK1! Lucky you!
And set one in the bag👍🏾
How did Delpo get broken from 40-0?? My computer has packed up so I can’t watch!!😕
Feel like Delpo needed to win the first set a lot more than Nole did!😕
I don’t know either — seems like not a lot of tension in this match like there would be if Nole was playing Fed or Rafa.
Feels routine by Nole. I started doing my WTA brackets and eating Nachos.
Time to pay more attention I at least want Delpo to get his fans going and put up a good fight. Vamos Delpo — get a set. Definitely louder cheers when Delpo wins a point – which is what I’d expect but I don’t like it. Delpo over-hitting the FH. About ready to get broken by Nole again….
Yes, Nole gets the break. But Delpo should try to be more patient. I can see why he feels he has go for his shots but I was hoping set 2 would go to a TB and Delpo would scrape by with the set.
More brackets ?? Oh gosh, I forgot all about them for this week .Maybe Ill take a well earned break.
No no, Big Al. Just a couple easy WTA ones ;D
Hiroshima – a new one
Quebec
If you look at the draws you just let yourself get drawn it lol
Yeah, I got drawn into the Hiro one!
Remember watching the Tokyo one last year with a lot of the same players .
At least we get a break from the ATP this week , Im predicted out
It’s programmed into my weekly routine – completely habitual to do brackets at this point.
Picked Q.Wang for Hiroshima but might switch it
Sabalenka is in Quebec 😀
Comparing Delpo and Stan, I think Stan has the firepower from both wings be it CC or DTL. Delpo hasn’t a good BH that he could hit it DTL and he slices it CC most of the time.
It’s no wonder Stan gave Djoko plenty of problems in a slam final, simply overpowered Djoko from both wings. Delpo could only rely on his FH, and yet he’s engaging in CC BH exchanges with Djoko most of the times.
Oh dear, it may turn out to be a straight sets win for Djoko! I think I’ve overestimated Delpo’s ability here. It seems that only a Stan at his best has the firepower to overpower this Djoko. Rafa OTOH will have to engage in a grind fest with this Djoko.
Anticlimax final .
Prove me wrong , Delpo!
Hello RC hope your well, and are enjoying the tennis 🙂
Hello Dear Alison. Nice to read you here. I’m fine – busy. My energy is full on into helping get the Democrats to flip the Congress – fighting against Trumps nominee for Supreme court justice. Lots of work will go into the mid-term elections, I tell ya. We got to try to get this lying creep nominee for Scotus to go away.
Are you enjoying the evening/ night 😀
Oh golly, Delpo has another bp…second serve coming again….shoot to impatient again by the big guy. Still deuce
Delpo was magical in Rio. And Delpo plays his heart out for Davis Cup. The chemistry between these two is a bit flat.
But Delpo finally has a break point…
Ah but just like the last time, he over-hits it.
Lucky break Nole gives him another bp. Okay 2nd serve..
And Delpo gets it! Yay, amy. You’d have like that.
At least it’s even again. Now come on hold your serve, Delpo. Stay alert. Bring the serve weapon out. Every shot has to be perfect or Nole will get it back…so far.
Nole irritated by the Delpo chorus boys.
momentum shift
Delpo heard me
I had high hopes for this final. Hope it gets better than it has been so far.
Yep. You can feel it. Now the crowd is getting into it to cheer on Delpo. I also think Delpo is playing smarter now. He was just trying to hit as hard as he could, but now he is opening up the court and being more accurate.
I want to see a good match.
Things looking up at last.
The crowd going crazy. Delpo has another bp. Focus Delpo.
Second serve…S!@#% Delpo over-hitting, keeps blowing his chances.
Ah it would be huge if Juan Marteen could get this break.
Nole giving him enough chances!
RC Good on you girl if i was there id join you, im sure your doing an amazing job, all fine here hun, just got back earlier in the week from one of our camps, my favorite one too, USO hasnt been televised here in GB so havent seen any matches unfortunatly, so just following live scores, i would like Delpo to win this one, as id like to see him get the 1 slam title off his back, but Novak is looking very good again, we will see, have work in the morning so i need to go to bed, take care and enjoy the rest of the match, may the best man win 🙂
My thoughts are with you, always alison and I wish I was at the autumnal camp 😀
Sweet dreams…
Gosh that was was a tough game for Nole to win. Delpo really fought – Nole fought him off.
Anyone knows what is Djoki mad about? Looks like he was saying something to his wife…
crowd
Well I know he doesn’t like all the Delpo chorus I’m hearing. Novak is super sensitive to everything going on around him. Sights, smells (maybe someone smoking pot), annoying drunk fans.
Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Delp-oh Delp-oh.
Hold your serve. At least take it to a tie break!
Del Po turning things around here. Vamos!!
It’s a TB.
Djokosmash makes it 3-3
Vamos
Delpo is hopeless with BP conversion in that long Djoko service game; he would’ve won the set already had he taken one of those BPs.
Djoko’s level has gone down, he’s just grinding out there to win points, but Delpo just couldn’t capitalise. From 3-1 in the TB to 4-5, Delpo is losing it.
😭 Soon to be down 2 sets, Delpo is. Just can’t win hitting baseline to baseline with Nole.
Wooohoo! Unbelievable how nole manages to keep the crowd out of the equation. It is not as bad as 2015 when fedfawns went crazy but there is a lot of support for delpo
One set away
So heartbroken for Delpo. Why is he so desperately going for the winners while Djoko waits for his mistake… 3 bp lost and then 3 FH missed in the tb. You can’t win like that. Djoko is not looking invincible at all. Meak from Delpo…
because he cant outlast him in rallies if he is just dinking the ball
My thoughts exactly! Delpo just plays one dimensional tennis, no varieties, just hitting from the baseline! He’s no Stan Wawrinka, he’s not going to win the baseline war against Djoko, esp when he doesn’t have a proper BH.
It’s sad, that after nine years he’s into his second slam final, yet he doesn’t have a proper game plan against this Djoko, and Djoko is not even playing all that well, just grinding and waiting for errors! Delpo needs a tactical coach, someone who can help him to formulate good game plans against the TOP players. Had Rafa not been injured, I believe he would also grind out a win against this Delpo!
Djoko’s service games are unbearable, how many times he bounces the ball, during first serve and second serve? This is not a good quality match imo.
Its unfortunate for Delpo that the conditions suit Noles game more than his.
who needs 2 dimensions when your one is this good?
Yeah, I think Delpo would win this on a faster hardcourt or even grass.
Yeah. So far Nole has not been pushed to pick it up a level.
The fire and confidence isn’t in Delpo or he would have converted some bp’s. He had plenty of chances.
Wish I has T-shirt like Noles..
Like the kit, too. BA
It looks good in the green or white but the teal blue is the best on him.
He’s giving his wide-eyed look too – super focused. Dang it Delpo – that was a ridiculous point for Novak. He raises his level at will. And eyes on the prize.
Anyway, this final might be over soon , disappointing , but Ive enjoyed listening to Jimmy Connors ,seems he’s a lovely guy now, mellowed with age.
I’m getting sick and tired of the way Djoker keeps trying to get the crowd behind him. And as for the ball bouncing – ugh. I thought there was a time limit between 1st and 2nd serve? If so it’s not being enforced.
Oh Delpo has another bp.
And ED…Nole just got a time violation. He’s had a couple on this NA Swing.
He just waiting till these morons shuts up
Yes I think that’s one of the reasons he bounces.
I thought there was a time limit between 1st and 2nd serve? If so it’s not being enforced.
Sorry for the double post.
Hope this will go to 4th or 5th….Easy said..another epic!
There you are, MA 😀 Good Morning sunshine.
Hahahaha…..Good evening RCKovic!!….Opps!…This is 4 u babe!
https://www.goodeveningsms.com/images/quotes/english/general/good-evening-miss-you-so-52650-18304.jpg
Ratclifovic? hahahha
Thanks MA. Miss you always.
Nole is going to win #14 and tie Sampras GS title count. ❤️
Now with Fed going downhill, Rafa injured again, Stan not yet back to his previous good level, the young guns are well, the young guns, I see no one is able to stop this ‘not so great but still can win his matches by grinding’ Djoko.
If Djoko is going to dominate again playing this way, I’m really sad that the atp tours has turned into a joke, first two senior members winning everything and then the third one joined them this year and he may even dominate again playing not so great tennis!
Poor Delpo, first Rafa and now Djoko, he’s not going to win any slam with those two blocking his way. It makes me admire Stan a bit more, for not letting those two stopped him from winning his slams, and during their prime or even peak too. Stan is really the man!
That’s one way to look at it about the state of ATP. Novak is not going to dominate like he did before…I don’t think. The young guns will get going – they do certainly suck at the GS’s, though. But there’s plenty of tournaments and time for some of them to make some waves. And Stan will be back soon – maybe not full on until AO. But he’s looking good. I still hope for Andy Murray too.
This is not the most fired up Delpo. Maybe he is depleted from days playing in that hot weather. He’s just not looking even close to his best. Too many forehands into the net. Not enough aces. Not playing clutch like we’ve seen him.
It is disappointing from Delpo, poor guy. Shoot…he’s done.
RC, he will dominate at the slams and need not dominate at the smaller events or the masters, just concentrates on winning the slams, and what I said earlier about him being the ultimate G___ will come true, perhaps sooner than four or five years time!
Sour grapes .
Sorry, that was to Luckystar, no credit to Djoko for winning Wimby-US Open back to back.
dulltards are known to like nole when he beats roger and hate nole in any other occasion. now that djoker is at #14 they feel threatened he’ll overtake dull (and of course he will). dull can only win clay events from now on.
fleurturd knows that Federer is P.E.D.erer.
Fancy a 5 set win for Delpo? Let’s dream a bit
I’m calling it a day and going to bed.
Yeah!….I thought DelPo at least could drag Nole to 4th at least….I knew Nole is really good..But win in straights against also the very good DelPo???My God!!
Very happy for him, MA.
Hey don’t forget to look at the WTA Hiroshima draw. I like WTA Quebec too 😉
Oh…Delpo. I’m sorry he couldn’t do it. Maybe there’s still a chance for him. Vamos Delpo!
Bravo Nole ole!
RCKovic!!….Ole!Ole!Ole!….Wooohoooo!!….R U HAPPY NOW????
I know i am happy for ya RC!!
Oh RC!!…Hehehe..I totally forgot about TDC!!Hehe….But,i’m really sucks nowadays!!….And congrats to Big Al too for winning the Bracket!….
LOL, you don’t suck any worse than I do! One of these days MA …when we are really smart, sharpened up from studying the players, we gonna follow Ricky’s hints, place some well-planned bets and win Big. Then I go to Malayasia to visit you! Or we fly to FO or Wibledon 😀
Good night from Idaho. I’ll see you later.
Hey hey hey!…Go to bed already RC???Awwwww no!!….I still very much in dire need to chat with u!!….But i understand!…U have a busy day….Marching???
Haaaa!….If we win big,i can go to Idaho & whisk u away to globetrotting together!!Hehehehe….Such fantasy!!Hehehe…
Good nite RCKovic!!…From Malaysia with love!!
Delpo 💗
Nole speech, the part to Delpo – that was wonderful! Lots to love about Nole and Delpo.
Nole might collect 4slam trophies by may next year if Rafa is not back.
this guy collects slam at will, really amazing…
Exactly! He’s dominating at three of the four slams, not unlike Fed during his heydays.
Fed had 4 AOs, 1FO, 6 Wimbledon and 5 USOs, total 16 slams in eight years from 2003-2010.
Djoko has 5 AOs, 1FO, 4 Wimbledon and 3 USOs, total 13 slams in eight years from 2011-2018. And, Djoko doesn’t look like he is stopping anytime soon to win some more!
Yeah!…If he’s healthy & don’t have any injury,i don’t see why he can’t add another 2,3,4 or even 5 slams in the future…For those of u who said he will never dominate again,i hope u guys hold that thought for now!…Nole meant business atm!
I expect more, Mira. He may win three or even four next year, and then maybe two the following year and so on. As long as he’s fit and healthy he could play his grinding game to beat anyone including Rafa, as Rafa will get injured grinding. Djoko will outgrind Rafa and anyone else.
If Rafa wants to beat Djoko, he has to stop grinding and plays a more varied attacking game. We saw how Delpo playing a one dimensional attacking game still couldn’t do the job. Stan at least has his raw power and could attack from both wings in all directions and with depth and precision, and he’s a very fit guy so could go toe to toe with Djoko for as long as necessary.
Fed is too old now to grind it out with Djoko, and his first strike tennis may not work as well now that he’s even older. So to me, it’s only a fit Rafa or a fit Stan who could still beat Djoko, unless someone from the young guns could start playing sustainable unbelievable tennis to beat him.
Cherry picking eight year period to discredit Federer’s Slam count. At least you’re giving some credit to Nole here.
That was to LS.
Congrats to Djokovic and his many fan here. Happy for you rc!
Gonna be an interesting AO.
Long way to go before then
Nole does play a grinding game , but whats wrong with that? Rafa often does, but only gets criticised when its not working for him.
nole the real #1, ties with the great pistol pete! now, that dull is ‘flash in the pan’ YE #1 is within his sights. go nole.
pick against djoker at your own peril!
Federer was P.E.D.erer but eventually nothing works.
Rafa is the GOAT and one could argue that Nole has already passed Federer putting Federer 4th best of all time.
Hawks, while I know you are hitting back at grassgoat (which I fully support), I’m just wondering, do you really believe Roger uses PEDs? Or do you just say that to get under the skin of assgoat?
What do you think Benny?
Hahaha sorry Hawks I feel dumb now 😂😂. You just use that a lot when responding to assgoat. Please carry on though it’s quite enjoyable.
Exactly Benny. It’s meant to lampoon.
Why put any effort into coming up with something new when she doesn’t. Ironically, rather “dull” (in more ways than one).
Looking forward to the Asian swing .
Djokovic is a machine again. He was something else out there today.
Hey people..let’s all become dull flash in the pans…we will have 105 m USD in our bank accounts too 🙂