Eight Things I Think I Thought About Novak Djokovic’s Underwhelming Win Over Stan Wawrinka

I think Murray has more left in the tank, has played better than Novak and wants this title more. If Murray can, as someone else said, keep his head while all around him are losing theirs, I see him winning this. There isn’t anyone in the world (..other than a 27 year Federer or a 26 year old Nadal) that match up favorably against Novak but I think that Murray is pretty close.

He serves big, moves very well, returns almost as well as Novak, is solid from the ground and has impeccable feel. Why Murray? I say, Why Not?

January 30th, 2015 at 7:54 pm

@Sean Randall:

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant write up and I absolutely agree with every bit of it! You have hit the nail on the head in such a breezy, precise fashion, I have nothing more to add on that front.

Going forward:

In the final Novak will step up. He cannot play any worse than that so it’s a given he’ll up his game. The onus is completely on Andy Murray and I see it simply like this:

Serve crappy 2nd serves? Your butt will get whupped.

Play passive tennis, engage in a ‘woe is me’ sulk? You are going to get schooled- again!

Not be aggressive, looking to force the issue and be happy just chasing balls? You are going to lose!

He’s got to step up. Period.

He has to force the issue and attack Novak. Carry the fight. On this court NO ONE will out-defend, run down the ball better than Novak so he has no choice but to play with controlled aggression, but firmly maintain the aggression.

It’s his 8th Grand Slam final, 4 th AO final, 5th GS final v Novak, 13 months injury free, brilliant off season, 2 days rest, confidence flowing- put simply:

There are no, can be no excuses and now is the moment to strike. This is his prime, the greatest period in his career: he absolutely has to make it his moment!

My verdict on the Andy front:

His mentality will dictate his fate in this one. Play strong, be determined, focused and driven: he’s got the game to walk away with the title.

Sulk around, mop, feel sorry for yourself as soon as it gets a little tough, spend more time whinging about your problems than dealing with them: he’s going to get beat. Beat pretty badly.

Novak will definitely bring the heat on Sunday, question really is:

Which Andrew Murray will turn up? One who is determined to seize the moment or one who is all to happy to sulk when it gets tough since it surely will?

Destiny has given him a unique opportunity to beat a truly great player, on his turf, his kingdom, his domain, during his peak:

Will he step up to this most unique of opportunities and establish his greatest moment, one that can earn universal respect from him and shut up the doubters?

Or will he crumble under the pressure and toe the line again to the Fedal, Djokovic’s of his career?

I firmly and completely believe his attitude will determine how far he can go in this one and I really hope he does himself- not his fans or i- justice and walks onto the court with a steely determination.

Good luck Andy!

January 30th, 2015 at 7:56 pm

I think Djokovic in 4 sets. This is Murray’s biggest match in a while, and this is Djoker’s domain and his time, so I think he wins it. We will see though! :)

January 30th, 2015 at 8:01 pm

fun write up sean, although in my case it wasn’t boring because of all the vicissitudes and given that i was invested in the outcome, in the middle of the night. also, while not so much in this match, in general, i find nole to be highlight-reel worthy, but that’s me of course.

did anyone else realize that “the fabulous fognini” is in the men’s doubles final with bollelli? they play herbert/mahut after sharapova loses to serena. ;)

January 30th, 2015 at 8:26 pm

“after sharapova loses to serena” lol.

Did you see the stat that last time Sharapova beat Serena Nadal had no FO titles?

January 30th, 2015 at 8:28 pm

^yes, i saw that on twitter i think.

January 30th, 2015 at 8:30 pm

Likewise. But now I just saw Tignor’s article that the tweet was responding to and, oh my god, that picture of Dimitrov…

January 30th, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Speaking of Hawkeye and bad line calls, Abrams the tank should have challenged that last shot which was clearly out!:-)

January 30th, 2015 at 8:38 pm

Go Djokovic. This is yours to take.
Please not the Murray. Please not him.
Thanks in advance Novak.

January 30th, 2015 at 10:30 pm

Maybe he hasn’t fully shaken the virus? Maybe he has but he just has doubts?

Absolutely ridiculous. He seems to be all fine.

January 30th, 2015 at 10:48 pm

I love reading Tennis X it is fun. I am commenting because I think there is one thing all you guys that have ads between breaks of serve have missed. Murray has a boat load of notes from Amelie, keeping his game in check. Not sure if it will make much difference, but somehow I think it will. If Murray keeps reading the notes he beats Djokovic :-)

January 30th, 2015 at 10:57 pm

Sorry didn’t mean breaks of serve, I mean’t between change overs DOH!

January 30th, 2015 at 11:03 pm

Gael Monfils, Benoit Paire?

Lol. Two clowns you mention!

Another grindfest for the final. Nothing great to expect with this match-up.

January 30th, 2015 at 11:12 pm

If Andy win this, he will be above than Hewitt in my perspective.
Come on, Andy!

January 30th, 2015 at 11:14 pm

It was not a good match but not as bad as everyone is presenting.

Wawrinka hit the best volley I’ve ever seen to save a break point, and his backhand is exquisite even when it is misfiring.

Djokovic’s defense was incredible at times, too.

I guess I think Djokovic will win, but it did not surprise me that his level dropped against Wawrinka. He had not faced anyone who could challenge him to that point, although Sean doesn’t realize it yet because he has not learned to adjust his absurdly high view of Raonic downward to match his excruciately awful return game.

If Murray plays as well as he did against Berdych, he should win, but I doubt he will maintain that level against Djokovic. I’d love to see the old Djoker return–the one that could rip down-the-line backhand winners whenever he wanted and took control of points when he needed to. He’s been far too defensive in big matches for more than three years now.

January 31st, 2015 at 12:46 am

@funches, agree, whenever Nole is in defensive mood he is struggling, but keep one thing in your mind, AO RLA court is playing differently in last two year and it is a fact. Court is faster and new balls (they changed balls too) are different as Hewitt pointed out last night (he was third commentator), they fly faster and bounce lower. Nole has to adjust his game, he prefers higher bounce.

January 31st, 2015 at 1:04 am

@Bertie
Andy’s seeing a sports psych so I did wonder if they were from him.
Don’t care where they’re coming from as long as he STAYS CALM!

January 31st, 2015 at 1:17 am

Ever since that extraordinary moment when Nole didn’t know the set was over, I have had a nightmare scenario lurking in my mind: might Djoker withdraw at the last minute? Very unlikely, but if such a thing did happen, he would be the most likely player to be involved.

January 31st, 2015 at 1:17 am

Sean jinx Nole. Horrayyy Andy is safe. Hahahaha

January 31st, 2015 at 2:05 am

Lol metan!
Dunno why so many are writing off Andy tbh. Que sera.

January 31st, 2015 at 2:43 am

I for one won’t write off Andy. It’s gonna be a nail-biter. It took Nadal three tries to crack the Fedcode at Wimbledon. Is it going to be so for Andy to crack the Nolecode at AO ? Hard to say.

It’s going to be a tough match. It’s actually 50-50, but got to support Nole.

After all, I’m a Nole fan.

January 31st, 2015 at 4:27 am

This could go to the wire. Respect for Novak as he’s seasoned at the AO, but Murray does have a chance! Murray is much better in his psyche these days, so that’s half the battle….

January 31st, 2015 at 7:41 am

Sean got that bang on. It was really a boring match with both the players playing far below their best and their supremacy was only relating to who was playing worse than the other ? I was really perked up for this semi final encounter and was waiting it with great anticipation and finally I was very very disappointed with the quality of this match which was even worse than a club level match. I am not sure what was bothering both the players. But Stan’s lethal back hand was occasionally showing some variety and brilliance. However, this was more than compensated by his woefully poor display for most part of the match. Novak too looked totally lost and also appeared fatigued. Nevertheless, he came alive in the fifth set. As I said, if Andy had watched this match, he would have been greatly encouraged and fancied his chances in the finals. The only question is whether Novak has reserved his best for the finals and in that case, Andy will feel the heat. I expect an entertaining marathon finals and may the best player win.

January 31st, 2015 at 8:03 am

I can’t believe Sean perfectly outlined all of the reasons the Novak match was utter pants and still endorsed Novak as if he had been shot in the head and now has 3 second memory.
He probably will later write Novak in 3 or 4 if he’s a bit cold.
Novak has either been poor or unchallenged in this slam.
When he has been unchallenged he has looked good!
It goes without saying I don’t draw the same conclusions as he does from the given evidence.
And no highlight reels for Andy (who basically gets a shot of the day every other day he is in a tourney)but one for….Benoit Paire?!
hahahahahahaha!

January 31st, 2015 at 8:40 am

Don’t understand why do many are saying this was a boring match. I was excited the most part of it, a lot of drama, momentum swuings and until 4-0 fifth set the match was not over. Ok there wasn’t a bunch of winnera and a lot of errors but they wete exchangeing a lot of ball. Wawrinka made some excellent DTL passing shots from both wings, that amazing impossible drop volley, Djokovi won a point with suberb defense. To me any 5 set isexciting just fir the sheer drama of having players going to the edge.

Involving last two AO champions with third straight fifh set match I rabk this match as top 5 of tournament. If you have to say whcih ones were better? Not all QF with straigt set. Maybe only Murray x Berdych, Murray x Dimitrov and Seppi x Federer.
You guys are to demanding thinking players will go 3 and half hours of high quality tennis all the time. They were hitting some intense shots and the contrast of Wawa attackijg and Djoko defense was interesting even tough it was not sublime by both.

January 31st, 2015 at 9:53 am

Considering that Andy x Berdych was less one set, Berdych had 56 errors as well so if they had played a fifth set his error count wold be close to Wawrinka. So he made murray look greater than he actually played that match in my view. He served 5-3 first set and had he closed that set he could had the momentum in the second instead of playing 1 h and 17 min only to lose tamely. Merit to Murray but Berdych didn’t sustain the level he had against Nadal.

Murray played great last tow matches but both Dimitrov and Berdych had chances to bring the match to fifth, Against Dimi Murray was a bit lucky. Novak is a far better player than Dimi and Berdych and I bet if Murray have some lapses as he did against those two Djoko will capitalize.

All seems to think Murray si playing out of this world but I see same vulnerabilities as in the past. He is in great form But assume just because Djoko had one bad match where he actually won 6-0 fifth set (not that bad in the end) he will repeat that is uncertain.

Final will probably be an even match, Djoko usually raises his game in later rounds, and finals usually they are all tense in beginning.

January 31st, 2015 at 10:03 am

`Don’t understand why do many are saying this was a boring match..`

We didn’t say it was boring, we said it was terrible.
Car crashes arent boring but this came close.

thread closed!

January 31st, 2015 at 10:34 am

Thought it wasn”t terrible”
Thread reopened.

January 31st, 2015 at 11:22 am

Really?

What was good about it (and yes i expect novak to be much better tomorrow)?
I’m for once with the overwhelming majority.

Thread RECLOSED

January 31st, 2015 at 11:28 am

calmdownplease, do you really think nole has always been poor or unchallenged? i’d agree that he has faced predominately big servers so he hasn’t played a lot of long rallies, other than in the verdasco match 3rd round, which, although only 3 sets, was well contested. he looked poor at times in the stan match for sure. but his stats over 6 matches are almost the exact same as andy’s actually, and just going by numbers, the average ranking of andy’s opponents is 79 whereas nole’s is 47. i realize dimitrov might’ve offered more of a challenge than raonic, in a way, but the same can be said of stan/berdych. anyhow, after the semi, i am skeptical of nole’s chances, but i still think that throughout the event he has done well, maybe not his best, but not poor/unchallenged. what he’s lacked is players who give him rhythm, but big servers offer a different kind of challenge imo.

January 31st, 2015 at 11:54 am

^CDP,
Lol you cannot police a thread. No dictating here.
I am glad u feel majoritized.
Seriuosly I can think of many more GS Semis that were a lot worse than that.

January 31st, 2015 at 12:03 pm

I’m joking about the thread closing obviously FFS
hahaha!

January 31st, 2015 at 12:14 pm

`but his stats over 6 matches are almost the exact same as andy’s actually, and just going by numbers, the average ranking of andy’s opponents is 79 whereas nole’s is 47..`

That clearly means little objectively when the individual matches are taken into account.
And Andy beat both Berdych AND dimitrov playing at a higher level than Novak has been at in this tournament.
He could still crank it up of course.
But I really don’t think Novak has been under the cosh previous to the semis, AT ALL.
Actually including the semis if I’m honest.
But you should know if he does beat Andy tomorrow I’d be surprised, but I wouldn’t mind too much because I’m a Novak fan too.
:)

January 31st, 2015 at 12:22 pm

hope Murray wins I don’t think this match will be a 5 setter more like FO 14 or USO 13

January 31st, 2015 at 12:27 pm

Agree with Daniel about Andy being made to be look better or credited with more than deserved: kyrgios got schooled, but remember he’s not top 20, and he only just about beat seppi. Dimitrov and Berdych both were on top at times, but typically faded also. Per usual with those 2. He’s not beat a Federer, Nadal, wawrinka or nishikori, ie the par elite outside Novak he can face. So I think his form level needs to be tempered. Like Daniel: I still see him making his usual mistakes and I fully expect him to be punished if he repeats them v novak since after all: there is a colossal jump from berdych to Novak quality wise. Plus Novak is more match sharp I’d say: wawrinka to murray is not a vast difference challenge wise so he’ll know the level as he’s experienced it already this event.

January 31st, 2015 at 12:33 pm

it’s true calmdownplease that numbers don’t tell the whole story, and i have thought andy looked strong all tournament, especially his second serves, which has often been a liability. as for nole i’ve thought he’s served very well and handled some game opponents. i don’t really know what “under the cosh” means, but i get your drift. i think the final will be close! as i said on the other thread, i just feel like intangibles are in andy’s favour this time, if that makes sense.

January 31st, 2015 at 12:40 pm

What a stupid, tone deaf comment.
The Wawrinka of yesterday compared to the Murray of the day before IS a vast difference.
Or a considerable one at least.
That much is clear.
It remains to be seen however who will `turn up` from either side.

January 31st, 2015 at 12:41 pm

`i just feel like intangibles are in andy’s favour this time, if that makes sense..`

Me too.
And many of the the `non intangibles` (to me) as well.
However Sunday really is another day and Novak is a beast in Melbourne. And Andy has some serious Ghosts to vanquish.
mmm

January 31st, 2015 at 1:10 pm

It might have been dramatic but it was not a high quality match. Too much ebb and flow – and not in a good way. Neither player could maintain their form for more than 2 consecutive games. And this the most shocking statistic: Nole hit 0 winners in the 4th set. When was the last time that happened? The juniors I’m guessing.
However, a new day = a new match. But I can’t imagine that Nole won’t have a lingering remnant of that SF performance in the back of his mind tomorrow. We shall see.

January 31st, 2015 at 1:36 pm

Brando,

agree.
Good for Murray is that he hold his opponents and was the mentally better player, but Dimi had set points to force a fifth and Berdych could have served better when leading first set 5-3. Had he confirm he would drain himself to collapse int he second the way he did.

Djoko is a much more stronger player mentally than they are and will put a to of balls back in play.

Also, Andy was aggressive but there were several points when he missed being aggressive, FH and BH DTL trying to change direction. Till today he misses way too many of that shot in the net. Maybe he should develop a BH DTL with more spin sometimes, even tough his natural BH DTL is a thing of beauty. But I just sense that he could cut some erros from that wing.

As usually his first serve percentage or how he is serving second serve may prove the difference. Novak was not going for winners against Wawa but he sure will put a lot of balls back in play. Both will as they are best returners in the game.
Alsto this courts are not Wimbledon where Andy is more natural and to win 3 sets of Novak is herculean effort. Hope we get a competitive match with both playing their full capacity and going for their shots instead of both playing not to miss. That would be the worst scenario,

January 31st, 2015 at 3:28 pm

I agree that Novak was not going for winners against Stan, partly b/c he knew that Stan would (and he did end up w/ more winners in the match). The problem is he also had a lot of UE, which meant he couldn’t get his game going.

The match was bizarre and both looked shell-shocked at times at what was happening. They weren’t rallying or playing their games, and maybe they fed into each other’s poor play (though that Stan volley at break point was the best one I’ve ever seen him hit).

Everyone was disappointed, but I don’t think we’ll see either of them play that kind of match again against each other, especially at a grand slam. This final, like many people are saying, will be a mental battle and Nole’s more comfortable playing Andy. If Andy is as passive as he was at the US Open, Novak will win for sure. Should be interesting.

January 31st, 2015 at 4:15 pm

emily “If Andy is as passive as he was at the US Open”… do you mean last year? andy was hitting monster forehands versus nole at the USO last year; here’s a quote from NYTs “Andy Murray blasted forehands as he had perhaps never blasted forehands before. He played with fire and conviction…”.

January 31st, 2015 at 4:38 pm

He blasted his forehand for one set, and then it disappeared. Watching it in person, the entire crowd knew the outcome was inevitable. No offense to Andy and I was impressed with the 2nd set, but it was clear he wasn’t going to keep up that level. Maybe he was tired, but the 3rd and the 4th were foregone conclusions, definitely no fire or conviction, and Andy was being passive for most of the match. Half the crowd left and I knew Andy had given up when he stopped caring about the crowd yelling during his serve motion.

I’m referencing this match b/c it was their last grand slam match and I saw it in person, but I’m sorry if you don’t like what I saw. Maybe it will be different this time, I really have no preference.

January 31st, 2015 at 5:09 pm

Just to be clear, I’m not trying to attack Andy. I just know that he can’t play that same match if he wants to win, which is very possibly the case.

January 31st, 2015 at 5:15 pm

i think he was possibly in pain later in the match emily, but i thought he played aggressive tennis through the first two. how cool that you were there! :)

January 31st, 2015 at 5:23 pm