I think Djokovic has more power and swing. He uses more his whole body and he moves faster his legs. He can change quickly his position on the court and finally he is the more aggressive player.
Much as I marvel at what Murray has been doing on the court, it is very hard to bet against Djokovic, the way he has been playing. think that Murray's movement on the court will somewhat offset Djokovic's tactical advantages, but probably in the end, Djokov's power and reliability on the BH side will not give Murray the opportunities he seeks against other players. If both guys have it going on Sunday, there are going to be some tiebreaks, where I expect Novak to prevail.
I'm a Ferrer fan, but I think he might lose in the semis.
My guess? Novak's in a brittle place right now. We saw it in the first set against Stan and it was there the rest of that night. Djokovic does too many special things for Ferrer to have any chance against him, so that big win ends up being a bit of bad luck for Novak. I think he's set up for a fall. Andy's coming in knowing he's the underdog. If he grits through Novak's first big run of perfect hitting, I think he'll snap a little something in Djokovic and pull it off.
Ferrer's still my guy, though, and here's why. Djokovic and Federer (and the new Murray, too) win by hitting the wrong shot perfectly at any old time. The right shot is cross-court but they go down the line. The right shot is a defensive, deep, backpedalling inside-out looper, but while falling over they hit a winning inside-in drive. They pull out the drive winner from 8 feet behind the baseline. And frankly, they pull the trigger as early as they possibly can. Maybe they're bored? They could hit the "right" shot and force the point into a winning position, but instead they amaze us one more time. They hit the wrong shot perfectly, and when I watch them too much I start trying to do the same thing on court. (I don't mention Nadal because nothing about his game is even remotely copyable. I never find myself thinking I can "do it Nadal's way.")
Ferrer, though …
When I watch Daveed, I see him go inside out six shots in a row. Unless he's playing one of the big three, the ball comes back to him, and he drills it to the same place again until he finally sees something light and fluffy. Only then does he change direction. And when he does, he knows the ball's coming back an 8th time and that's OK. He hits that ball in whichever direction makes his opponent move furthest until eventually his opponent tries to hit that backpedalling fall away inside-in winner and thereby gifts Daveed with the point.
I never play the big 4 players, but I play a lot of people who think they are. When I channel the Little Beast, I go home with the W.
I too truly admire Ferrer, who when I first saw him seemed an anomaly in today's game populated by dynamic athletic types, except that over two years he has cracked the top ten and moved up to a world #5 ranking by just playing outstanding tennis all the time.
I think Novak will win! He's playing unbelievable tennis, he dispatched of Ferrer in 3 lopsided sets, he's 2-time defending champ, his mettle was tested already against Stanislas and he passed and he is just overall a strong player. Murray, while he is at the top of his game and looking really good still shows signs of mental weakness. I was surprised he beat Federer in the 5th set considering his 4th set tie-break collapse, and one of his strengths is staying in and enduring through points but Djoker is also strong in that area. Both very strong, but Novak slight edge in the mental strength department and the experience winning slams department. Novak in 4-sets. Plus I'm a Djokovic fan(slight bias) .
![[Rome] Federer to meet Nadal in finals of Rome for 13th meeting on clay](http://www.essentialtennis.com/wp-content/themes/LondonLive_2/thumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130518fed.jpeg&w=53&h=41&zc=1&q=100)
Aziz
What grip is novak using for his forehand
Ian Westermann
From what I can see it's a somewhat aggressive semi-western…..it's not full western.
Frank
Great insight. I like how you broke the surve & volley into very detailed segments. To the untrained eye this things would go unnoticed.
Viki
I think Djokovic has more power and swing. He uses more his whole body and he moves faster his legs. He can change quickly his position on the court and finally he is the more aggressive player.
Robert
Much as I marvel at what Murray has been doing on the court, it is very hard to bet against Djokovic, the way he has been playing. think that Murray's movement on the court will somewhat offset Djokovic's tactical advantages, but probably in the end, Djokov's power and reliability on the BH side will not give Murray the opportunities he seeks against other players. If both guys have it going on Sunday, there are going to be some tiebreaks, where I expect Novak to prevail.
Kevin
I'm a Ferrer fan, but I think he might lose in the semis.
My guess? Novak's in a brittle place right now. We saw it in the first set against Stan and it was there the rest of that night. Djokovic does too many special things for Ferrer to have any chance against him, so that big win ends up being a bit of bad luck for Novak. I think he's set up for a fall. Andy's coming in knowing he's the underdog. If he grits through Novak's first big run of perfect hitting, I think he'll snap a little something in Djokovic and pull it off.
Ferrer's still my guy, though, and here's why. Djokovic and Federer (and the new Murray, too) win by hitting the wrong shot perfectly at any old time. The right shot is cross-court but they go down the line. The right shot is a defensive, deep, backpedalling inside-out looper, but while falling over they hit a winning inside-in drive. They pull out the drive winner from 8 feet behind the baseline. And frankly, they pull the trigger as early as they possibly can. Maybe they're bored? They could hit the "right" shot and force the point into a winning position, but instead they amaze us one more time. They hit the wrong shot perfectly, and when I watch them too much I start trying to do the same thing on court. (I don't mention Nadal because nothing about his game is even remotely copyable. I never find myself thinking I can "do it Nadal's way.")
Ferrer, though …
When I watch Daveed, I see him go inside out six shots in a row. Unless he's playing one of the big three, the ball comes back to him, and he drills it to the same place again until he finally sees something light and fluffy. Only then does he change direction. And when he does, he knows the ball's coming back an 8th time and that's OK. He hits that ball in whichever direction makes his opponent move furthest until eventually his opponent tries to hit that backpedalling fall away inside-in winner and thereby gifts Daveed with the point.
I never play the big 4 players, but I play a lot of people who think they are. When I channel the Little Beast, I go home with the W.
Ian Westermann
Interesting take, we'll be finding out soon!
Kevin
Ah well. I've been wrong before. (But I'm right about Ferrer.
)
Robert
I too truly admire Ferrer, who when I first saw him seemed an anomaly in today's game populated by dynamic athletic types, except that over two years he has cracked the top ten and moved up to a world #5 ranking by just playing outstanding tennis all the time.
Bryon TM
I think Novak will win! He's playing unbelievable tennis, he dispatched of Ferrer in 3 lopsided sets, he's 2-time defending champ, his mettle was tested already against Stanislas and he passed and he is just overall a strong player. Murray, while he is at the top of his game and looking really good still shows signs of mental weakness. I was surprised he beat Federer in the 5th set considering his 4th set tie-break collapse, and one of his strengths is staying in and enduring through points but Djoker is also strong in that area. Both very strong, but Novak slight edge in the mental strength department and the experience winning slams department. Novak in 4-sets. Plus I'm a Djokovic fan(slight bias)
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