Every sportsman should listen to Djoko‘s speech after the game. He suffered a bitter defeat and still has good word for his opponent and a sense of humor. Respect!!!
Tennis channel should be free at this point since its a pickleball channel. Every time I have turned it on... it shows pickleball... they must be getting a lot of pickleball views, right?
@@haitungying7808 No real reason they should be showing pickleball in the tennis channel. Especially after the final was completed. There should be post match analysis from TC commentators, not pickleball. BUt maybe I am missing something and I am clueless. Perhaps, in reality pickleball is getting them a lot of views, which is why they are doing it. Maybe pickleball players are subscribed to the tennis channel?
Why can't we give credit where credit is due? Why can't we admit Djokovic wasn't at his best because of who he was facing across the net? The kid broke Djokovic down. Yeah, he rallied in the 4th, but the kid (sans the 1st) was just way too good yesterday. Djokovic hadn't faced anyone at Alcaraz's level the entire fortnight. Sinner was a shell of himself in the semis (the pressure). Alcaraz deserves ALL the credit. BTW, I agree with your take on The Tennis Channel and pickleball. Why do I continue to pay for that?
@@CJZM7777 Right now I'm not sure who can challenge Alcaraz in the future besides Djokovic. And you're right, Alcaraz will only get better as father time eventually catches up to Djokovic (he always does). Rune maybe? Sinner if can learn to embrace the big moments. I don't see anyone else right now in his league when he's healthy.
You're totally right: Alcaraz neutralized him in the rallies. When the rally switches to crosscourt backhands, Novak normally hits a vicious deep backhand, and this time they came back with greater force against Alcaraz. That never happened to him against Federer or Nadal and he was shocked at that. Alcaraz broke his area of strength
The match was on Alcaraz racquet really and both IBM Watson and UTR had him edging out Djo as the winner. The big difference was Alcaraz amazingly had his confidence and tenacity back to win that second set TB and Djokovic succumbed to the pressure. Not sure why everyone thinks Djo is somehow impervious to it, when it was very obvious that was a key factor. Alcaraz played better in the key moments and Djo wasn't up to it. The same way Alcaraz folded for RG under pressure. It hits everyone. Agree 100% Alcaraz deserve 100% credit.
You're right; this was the first slam final in which Djokovic was truly challenged in about four years, not to mention where he was the lower seed (I think). While players like Kyrgios, Ruud, Thiem, et. al. could have beaten him, Alcaraz should have, and did. Novak did not play his best during the match, but one can only wonder how much of that level was affected by Carlos.
Hey Nick, one observation. During the match, I saw that Djokovic's Box were not engaging with it, or at least to a much lesser extent than in the RG final (even though this one was much more of a thriller). Goran looked like he didn't even want to be there, and they weren't standing up after big points as often. Then, Djokovic didn't acknowledge his box in his speech. He was even asked to say a few words about his box, but he talked about his son, choked a bit and left. To me that was a confirmation that something was going on there. I imagine the team getting tired of 'tortures' that Djokovic himself admits to inflicting on them during slams.. what do you think?
Goran must be getting fed up now, it must be torture working with an egomaniac, that expects you to make them win every Grand Slam, and then yell at them when things aren't going your way, soon Goran will age another 20 years at this rate!🤣
Good and interesting observation. I do also wonder how much his injury (he wore strapping) played a part. He’s an intense individual, on and off the court, and that has to be challenging to work with. The fact his family were there, including his son, was interesting - as they don’t always travel. Maybe reading too much into it as he lost - and we wouldn’t of he had been triumphant - don’t know. Certainly interesting times.
Well said! As a Federer fan, I have developed a lot of respect for Djokovic. As you said he is a gracious loser. Must be tough having the crowd against you every time but I think that made him the mental giant he is now. I think Djokovic’s lack of popularity has alot to do with Djokovic spoiling the Nadal and Federer party. Those guys had such huge fan bases there weren’t many fans for Djokovic. Also I think a lot of his controversial stances and actions have turned people against Djokovic. Plus his parents, the Dad in particular. Some people view Djokovic as fake but I don’t he is ultra competitive but fair and genuine.
Why there are more Nadal and Federer fans than Djokovic fans? I am a big Nadal fan because he is genuine on and off the court. What you see is what you get. Djokovic is a fake, a politician. Everything he does is calculated. Including having his parents criticizing Federer and then saying he had nothing to do with his parents actions. When Nadal came back from his most recent injury and started to win immediately , Djokovic surmised in a interview how serious was the injury. The injury came back and he has missed 2023 Roland Garros and Wimbledon. That’s the answer to Djokovic question. It’s ok to take a stance of refusing Covid vaccine. It’s a bulling action to cheat and intimidate the governments to exempt him. That’s why I am not his fan.
Yesterday's match wasn't as bad as some! There was a large contingent chanting "No-lay!" all during the match, so Novak definitely had his supporters yesterday!
I can’t still believe that Nole made those mistakes.Never see him playing so badly.I’m also sure that will come back stronger than before.Great video👏😍🫶
Why Novak Djokovic deserves the ATP Sportsmanship Award 👉 ua-cam.com/video/MyDN9mM3gig/v-deo.html Many players take wins for granted and place to much importance on losses. Especially matches lost that could have been won. In the trophy ceremony Djokovic gave us a glimpse inside the mind of a champion. He said: “I should have lost some of the Wimbledon finals so it’s even Steven.” I call this the tennis equilibrium. We often only remember the matches that we lost and should have won and conveniently forget the matches that we won and should have lost. 👉 tennis equilibrium ua-cam.com/video/bY-3aNqb1L0t/v-deo.html
Who are you kidding? Djoker broke his racket in front of the umpire on the net post. That's not very unsportsmanlike 😮 He's not even close to Nadal in that regard. For an experienced 36 year old legend that classless 😮
@@pdcdesign9632Times have changed. Tennis needs to shed the posh label, and relatable on court antics are commonplace in leagues like the NBA. That’s the model the ATP needs to follow for growing the sport. Djokovic is best among the big 3 in accepting his defeats and being gracious to his opponents after the match. Federer being the worst of course .
I agree, suddenly the fact that Novak won AO and RG this year doesn't seem to matter. @@pdcdesign9632 It's part of the sport, Safin, McEnroe, both GS champions and former no. 1 had similar behaviors on court.
Thank you, yes I'm in total agreement. I've been playing and watching tennis since the days of Conners, Jean King, Wade, A. Ashe, Borg, and Tanner. People like to jump to conclusions, see great people fall, revel in the change of the guard. Let's wait and see if Alcaraz has staying power. One thing that concerns me about him is how he runs everything down even when there's no hope in hell of getting the shot. Sometimes you have to be smart and know your limitations. He's still bubbling from his youth and great athleticism. Let's wait and see and not jump to conclusions.....
I don’t think he will be as injury prone as Nadal though because even though he does possess that ability and it is very hard on the body, he doesn’t rely on it like Nadal did. He dictates play whenever possible, which allows him to run less
Nadal's forehand scares me because he looks like he's over-extending his elbow constantly but as far as I know, he hasn't had an elbow injury and he protects his joints and ligaments with huge muscles. The thing is, when you're young and vital, you think you're invincible. Eventually time catches up. I was saddened when Federer retired. He was the most graceful tennis player I've ever seen but it caught up with him as well. Again, we'll see. Alcaraz is only 20. He's a baby.
Carlos did to Novak what Novak does to his opponents: get to every ball and make them hit one more shot. Djoko had his chances but unfortunately he hit two backhands into the net in a row that changed the whole match.
if novak missed a few backhands it's also probably that he was physically damaged because Alcaraz mistreated him. all the time that Novak takes on the first and also on the second service ball is to recover. It was very clear on the close-ups of the TV that he looked drawn
the bp Novak couldn't convert in the 5th set is the epitome of what happened. He hit a few good shots that would probably be enough against other players but not against Carlos. Then finally Novak hit the difficult swing volley into the net.
VAMOS ALCARAZ the new generation coming through and is an absolute beast, lets not forget how long novak has been unbeaten on grass and that young man not only held it together but played some of his finest tennis when he needed it. He really is a blend of the top 3 in my opinion. such a special talent... 20 years old!!!
That 25mins, 13 deuce and 32 pt game drain out most of the Novak's confidence and beliefs, thats crucial part of the game which defeated himself in that set. After the toilet break he came back, that was amazing.
I wonder what the list of longest games are. I’ve only seen a select few that have lasted longer than 20 minutes. Ones I can recall are Serena vs Tan Wimbledon last year and Raducanu vs Andreescu at Miami this year.
i think the big 3 were so unique not only bc of their skill and mental fortitude, but theyve fought through injuries only to regain their rankings. i hope Alcarez stays healthy and hungry. he's head and shoulders above the other youngsters, physically and mentally
This takes me back to my childhood, watching the later end of careers of legends like Sampras, Agassi and Rafter. My older brothers were huge Sampras and Agassi fans, so you can imagine their reaction to me gravitating towards Federer and how they would tell me he'd amount to very little. We obviously know the impact he had, but the important thing to remember is who came next and how the sport was so much better for it. I can't say for sure, but I would imagine Alcaraz would have winning one of each slam as his priority over breaking records. For any Federer and Nadal fans should be hoping for a healthy Djokovic at every tournament Alcaraz plays because regardless of slam counts, he is the last of that time who can still play at that level. It will only be better for Alcaraz in the long run should he also stay in good health, but it will motivate the next generation to learn the only way they will succeed at that level in tennis is to keep up with Alcaraz. If he stays healthy, he could win as many as our favourites, but that shouldn't matter. We don't need a Big 3 in the sport again. We need depth of competition and I truly think Alcaraz will encourage it. The same way Roger, Nadal and Djokovic have and continue to do. Whether you like it or not, Djokovic is still the man to beat these days and will be as long as he's able to compete.
Couldn't agree with you more, I think Djokovic is the greatest winner and loser, such a gentleman in defeat. I was rooting for Nole to get #24, not taking anything away from Carlos, he is a phenomenal player and earned this win. But something was off with him this time around, he made mistakes we haven't seen him doing in the past 10 years.
@@marlenebuls9535 too much on the line, 1) equaling Federer's record 8th, 2) #24 to equal all time Slams in both men/women, and 3) the win would be setting up the chance to do the calendar grand slam, it just made him too nervous.
I have to (partly) disagree: Novak played very close to his best level or even reached it. However, in this case, he faced a worthy opponent who consistently held his ground without crumbling mentally and whose abilities are at the same level. For years, Novak has been confronted with younger opponents from the "Next-Gen" who either lack the mental strength and crumble in key moments or have glaring weaknesses in specific areas of their game (Tsitsipas, Berettini: Backhand, Medvedev: offensive play, Zverev/Rublev/Sinner: net play, creativity) When faced with such an almost complete player like Alcaraz, Djokovic does indeed start making a few errors. However, in my opinion, this is due to the quality of the opponent, who has the tools and mentality to sufficiently pressure Novak and put him in a tight spot. And yes, I also believe that it is a sort of poetic justice. In the past, Novak has won matches that he probably shouldn't have won - often due to the errors of his opponents in crucial moments. Now, he has lost once due to his own mistakes.
@@nakmuay5034 Djokovic did not play his absolute best but he played at very good level. With the same level of play he will defeat every body else. He played a very solid first set and won decisively. In the second set except the couple of backhand mistakes in the tie break he played solid. Federer missed critical points in 2019 final, it happens. The third set he was coping mentally with the lost of the second set and only give up after the double break. He came back in the 4 th set and won. The 5 th set Alcaraz just play unbelievably with winners.
There is no such thing as "won a match he shouldn't have won". Whatever the circumstances, whether it's errors by opponent or windy conditions etc., the end result has to be accepted. It is not right that Djokovic himself mentioned this in the post match speech. Maybe this was his way of coping, but this match was not as close as the 2019 Final, even if it were, there was no reason to equate this match to that 2019 Final and say that maybe I should have lost that one, so it is fair that I lost this match. I think Novak is devastated by this loss and he is coping hard. Even in the post-match press conference, he gave all the politically right answers, hid the disappointment well, but something seemed off.
@@nakmuay5034agreed… it was kind of shocking seeing how many first serves he was missing. But I’m a fed fan so it was kind of nice not seeing him hit an ace or unreturnable every breakpoint haha
Seriously, I see you're a Djokovic fan. If not for the injury suffered by Alcaraz, he would have won the French open. Alcaraz mental fortitude is so formidable, and his adaptation on all the surfaces is just exciting to watch. Tennis is in good hands.
Seriously i see you dont like Novak. Djokovic was not at his best in that final and he almost won so when he comes back at us open and he plays at his top level he will beat Carlos. Nothing against Carlos great player but after one win on djokovic people and media are making him the player to beat. Not yet djoker is the one to beat still.
@@mikevesten57No Djokovic didn't almost win and it's an excuse saying he wasn't at his best, he got his ass kicked completely throughout that match 69 winners to 62 and had him falling more times than I can count with Carlos' ridiculous play... Djokovic lost 6 US Open finals that's not his best surface and with Carlos defending his title he will most likely win it again this year
So good Nik ! Excellent analysis of the various aspects of the match, never forgetting the ever so important pedagogical side. Thanks my friend for the tip about the position of the wrist when breaking the racket to avoid the risk of injury.
Great analysis. Agree that Djokovic wasn't at the top of his game. Wasn't getting his first serve in on key points. Also agree that Djokovic's ability to play throughout his career when the crowd is against him needs to added to his legacy. Still have to give a lot of credit to Alcaraz. He seemed to make very few errors.
Yeah what happened to all those aces? Huge let down for Novak who has the most effective serves of all times. Truly think results would've been different.
If Carlos can stay healthy and play until his mid 30s then he definitely has a chance to become the all time leader in Grand Slam titles. He already has two under his belt.
Yeah, I believe so specially when the new and young players can't catch up Carlos level of play. Once Novak and Nadal totally retired Carlos will sweep all the Grand Slam if his rival don't play as good as Carlos.
@@NamesAreRandomso I have this theory that lack of current competition is going to hurt his longevity there is no one that can compete with him from the next generation rudd and sinner are not at his level the bracket from 25-27 isn't very strong mendenev is probably the standout and then the cherry on top is there are really no top players in the 29-31 age range without top rivals to push his game and fitness I think complacency could set in and he may return around 30 like Sampras
Excellent comments on all aspects that you covered. Myself I'm a Novak fan. Being from Serbia it's not hard to imagine why. Besides the usual attributes I think that the time after he retires will show an element of his play and character that will be missed in future, regardless of who'll arrive at the tennis scene. But, as for the match, yes it could've gone the other way but the strongest point I think that you've made is that with Alcaraz tennis has a bright future. Novak and Nadal might win a few more GS but I am happy to see in Alcaraz what it actually takes to be better than either one of them (excluding Roger because they've never met on court). And now that I've seen in someone the qualities as a player and also as a person, I'm happy for tennis, and I'm happy for Alcaraz just as much.
@@IntuitiveTennis That is absolutely true only because by then most people would have forgotten his on-court antics just like Johnny Mac. Most of his on-court antics during his playing time was very cringy to be honest. Doesn't take away from the fact that he was a great player and generally well loved especially by Americans. Now that he's a well regarded commentator, his view influences many viewers which is somewhat defensive towards players who don't behave too well on-court. It's ok to be subjective because that's the job, but he should also not forget the facts, such as rule of the game and sportsmanship because that's one of the responsibilities for someone who is a legend in the sport and still work as a professional in the industry. First of, it's disrespectful to the opponent and there's nothing one can do after the match to erase the disrespect during the match due to such behavior. Secondly, most players keep behaving such way usually because it pays off for them in one way or another, either in publicity or in Novak's case, he plays better after outbursts. While I don't typically care for it either way because it's unreasonable to expect the professional athletes to behave while the stakes are so high in the sports. But that's what the rules are there for, at least on the court, there needn't be double standards.
Great analysis. I'm from Spain originally but hold US citizenship as well. After living in both countries I'd attribute the fact that Spain has so many champions to many factors; nice weather (can play most sports year round), a good infrastructure, strong mentality, creativity, and humility (they hate cocky people in Spain.) One of the main differences here are the Spartan like training methods. I still don't understand why in the US we can't produce more champions...
Most serious athletes don't play tennis in the US if they have the intention of going pro. There are more lucrative sports with easier access like basketball, baseball, football, and even soccer. We have an entire infrastructure to get little kids into those programs that feed into elite colleges and then pro with great coaches. If you were physically gifted, you'd need a sponsor to go train at an elite tennis academy. Even those tennis players that are fairly good, if they don't make it to the top 20 can barely make a living. Lots of people wrote about why a lot of US kids don't go into sports like golf or tennis more. Most kids in the US would rather be a Brady or Michael Jordan than a Nadal and Federer.
you forgot the most important attribute: doping, it's a little weird that those athletes can't win many golden medals in the olympics (olympics are very strict with doping tests), also spain hasn't many champions, tennis and maybe a little bit of basketball and padel if you want, usa has more variety in other sports success
Olympics are not a main thing in Spain. But Spain literally has world Champions in every sport so i dont understand the logic of what ur saying. They are world cup winners in football (the real one) basketball, the BEST tennis players, F1 world Champions both women and men (Fernando alonso and Marta García now) and even on Racing in the US, With Alex Palou dominating Indy Car. Also on cycling so Many world Champions (the last tour de France winner is spanish) and Also world Champions in Pádel and Bádminton which are similar. The only thing we are missing are combat Sports and we have european champion Sandor Martín in boxing and Ilia looking to win our first UFC title. No country has this much presence in every Major sport
@@ezelegui7901 What??? Spain dominates in all major sports in Europe and the rest of the world. I think you are unaware that except for basketball, American sports in Europe are little or nothing important. Baseball, American football or ice hockey in Europe and the rest of the world are very minority. The main team sports in Europe are, in this order, soccer, basket and handball, and in all three of them Spain is a world power. And in Europe the most considered individual sports and with the largest audiences are tennis, golf, motor racing, motorcycling and cycling, and in these five sports there are Spanish dominants in the elite. And what you say about the medals in the Olympics is true, but the fact is that a large number of Olympic medals are awarded for very minority sports which, to be honest, do not arouse any interest in Spain. The Olympic medal table is very unbalanced. A massive world sport such as basketball or soccer have three Olympic medals to win, while sports practiced by a few thousand people such as archery have 20 medals to deliver. And sports such as swimming, gymnastics or athletics accumulate dozens and dozens of medals to award in each Olympics, when these sports will never get medal winners to have continuity in that sport, that is, at the age of 20 or before they must look for their professional future in other fields except for rare exceptions. Therefore, measuring the sporting power of a country by the number of Olympic medals is quite ridiculous today, it does not represent reality. Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica or Barbados can win many medals in athletics for the Olympic Games, but do you really think that the sporting level of Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica or Barbados, with all due respect to those countries, is higher than that of the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand or the same Spain?
It’s a shame that no big broadcast networks cover ANY tennis in the USA. You need cable TV or a streaming service to see any tennis coverage. “Breakfast at Wimbledon” on NBC was ubiquitous, but now a fond memory. Your comment about “seeking approval from the coaches box” was spot on. Maybe unintended consequences for allowing coaching now during play. The team psyc’s need to rein that stuff in. F’ pickleball!
@@IntuitiveTennis Just know that I cannot be objective because I am a Nole devotee - big time. But it's for a reason. He is a magnificent man, athlete, son, husband, father, brother, humanitarian, advocate for his fellow players (PTPA), and it galls me to no end when everyone is always bashing the "knucklehead" side of him (like smashing the racket yesterday). It's part of a very complicated human being, who should be recognized as arguably the greatest athlete of all time (in any sport) - and a person who is extraordinary in every way. You just validate my thoughts, which is why I commented. Thank you again!
I root for anyone playing against Djokovic. My way of respecting him. Things he's done outside of the court for the sport of tennis make him a even much bigger person than a legendary player. An absolutely admirable role model.
You have to put him away. That's what Carlos did. Hammered him. Djokavic is most dangerous when his back is against the wall. Federer could not close him out a few years ago...2 match points on his serve.
@@rkymtnchi503 This is an excuse. What if I also say Alcaraz wasn't at his best too given how he started. Alcaraz simply outplayed him and stuck in there mentally with Djokovic
An amzing match by all standards. Enjoyed it so much and cried at the end when my man lost😭. Alcaraz is the real deal no doubt about it. In the words of Tony Nadal: "other than Djokovic, I see nobody ese who can stop him on tour right now". Well done Alcaraz - definitely a tennis player whose future seems bright. He has barely any weaknesses and his athleticism is second to none. Now back to Novak. I have kept asking myself the following question for the past ten years: "Where is the love for Nole?" I really don't understand why people, I will use the hardest possible word here, hate him. I mean I have been on Roland Garros twice and I remember when he was booed just upon entering the court. I almost cried when I saw that. Same thing has happened repeatedly on all major events - from Australin Open to US Open. There were these reasons that he couldn't be loved as much as Roger and Rafa. Those guys had been on tour way eralier when Novak appeared. But now that those two greats are absent, the majority of the crowd would support whoever is playing on the side of the net. He yells sometimes in the heat of the moment and smashes a racket or two every now. I simply cannot take that as serious explanations. He hadn't done that for quite some time and had been respectful, talkative and jovial to the Wimbledon crowd and still they couldn't wait to see him burst to take it down on him. Novak Djokovic is the kindest person out there, somebody who always finds nice words for his opponents, dignified in defeats, hugs his opponents at the net after the match. Other than being not willing to get vaccinated, have you ever heard or seen Novak insulting anyone. He has given serious monetary contributions to an Italian clinic (in the citiy of Bormio I think) in the middle of COVID pandemics, helped people who lost their homes due to severe floods in the Balkans in 2014 or 2015, regardless of their nationality and religion. His good deeds are countless - just look into it if you want. Now a question for you guys to comment on: Why is Novak seen as a villain when he is not? Why is the crowd always behind anybody else who is facing Novak especially in the later stages of the major tournaments? Novak Djokovic, tennis legend and the possibly the GOAT, receives very little or no appreciation by tennis spectators. I have been there, seen and heard it all. I am still sometimes speechless when it comes to justifying it. It looks like that the peope in stands want to see anyone but Novak to win a Slam. Thank you Nikola for bringing it up😎. I just hope people will start questioning themselves and appreciate Novak more. I guess we can love whomever we want but let's not hate Novak for what he is - a genuine person and an athlete worhty of praise.
@@davereiter8433those were his reactions on negativity that had been present throughout the tournament[s). Quite funny ones if you ask me. I can barely understand people who come to watch the tennis legend such as Novak is and disturb him while serving, shout out inappropriate remarks pre and during the point, utter smirky remarks during the breaks between games, etc. Novak is such a gracious human being who doesn't deserve anything like that.
I believe it is largely because he is from the Balkans- it is anti Eastern European, anti-Slav bigotry raising its ugly head. Goran Ivaneisovich has spoken about it , as has Anabelle Croft, the English tennis writer and commentator. There are so many bigoted people in the tennis world, full of hatred.Just look at all the toxic comments regarding Novak - it is totally dismaying.
Why do you think the fans are still against him? Yesterday he smashed his racket against the post again. It's rare for an athlete of his caliber to have the fans against him all the time.
Yes, this Wimby showed why fans don't like him. Just look at how he reacts to the crowd-crying face & blowing kisses sarcastically, not to mention the striking the net post...Gracious champions don't do that...
Great video mate. As a Federer fan I always loved how he hardly looked at his players box as I don’t like professional players feeling the constant need for attention and reassurance from their box, they look like they’re in juniors when they do. The one and only thing that I didn’t like so much with Federer is how bad of a loser he was lol, especially as he got older and already had so many wins, it was like someone died every match he lost lol. This is where Djokovic shines above even his game play, he loses this tough final and still has a smile for Alcaraz and is just genuine in his speech, and I’ve never warmed to Novak at all throughout his career but I can’t deny how great he is even or especially in his losses
Great analysis. I think the turning point of the match was when Alcaraz got the mini break back in the second set tiebreak, which went on to win. Had Djokovic won the second set then his prospects of winning the title would have been massively bolstered. From the second set onwards Alcaraz was a beast. I admire Djokovic and feel he has contributed much to the sport like Federer and Nadal. He received unwarranted boos from the Wimbledon crowd at times, which as you said he handles very maturely. I also think it was childish and disrespectful of the crowd to boo Victoria Arazenka earlier in the tournament when she had done nothing wrong.
Absolutely right. He started to shake his wrist after breaking the racket. Other players are not so gracious like him when they win, imagine when they lose. Djoko started to win championships when the majority of the people were already in love with Rafa or Roger, and most of these people, still today, can't handle watching djoko breaking all the records that once belonged to their beloved ones. New people to tennis however , are more sympathetic to djoko , due to the reasons explained on the video. Djoko actions after the match finished, were simply sensational.
Man, we are always on the same wavelength, you and I. Our affection for Monica, love for Pete and Andre, and you absolutely called it right that The Brothers McEnroe along with Chris Fowler are the GOAT squad. As far as I’m aware, Fowler was more of a football guy, but I loved when he first started doing tennis because he asked a lot of questions that the average sports fan would ask. His tennis knowledge has grown exponentially over the years and man, you can tell he really studies for matches.
Another great episode Nick. Can you comment on the no of faulty line calls which had to be challenged ( more successfully) by Novak? The number of such faulty calls ( and in some cases not calling clear Outs) seemed unusual for a wimbledon final and it seemed to also have played with the tempo of the game especially in the 4th set .
Thanks for making that observation. Djokovic appeared fatigued from the crowd always against him, the chair umpire always out to get him, the line calls missing the out calls, to the point that he completely lost trust and was challenging frequently. All that takes severe mental toll and takes away from the focus of strategy in such a crucial match
As always, brilliant work Nick!!! I often see Carlos in a position sticking his chest outward which is a power position and it’s subtle but shows an undeniable self confidence. Go back and watch his seminal post match press conference - he predicted (win or lose) the finals was going to be the greatest day of his life. Nick, Carlos is a master of self belief. It’s truly remarkable at 20!!!! F@ck pickleball 😂
Completely agree that Djokovic was not at his best yesterday. Far too many unforced errors, hitting backhands and forehands into the net. Alcaraz deservedly won the match and varied his returns but Djokovic clearly didn’t trust his shotmaking to go for the passing shots that he’s been so good with.
Yeah blaming unforced error and saying he didn't play well is actually bullshit. If you look up all stats from first serves, 2nd serves as well as percentage. He actually did better than all of his previous 3 games. This is the best he could have played at his age and he lost. Lost is lost which is fine.
Excellent review . As a novak supporter , appreciate the acknowledgement of novaks mental strength against adversity. Perspective on novak's career. Came in against the two goats , overtook them even though the all the crowds and media are against him. Bogus bans and now he has to take on this freak of a talented carlos. Can novak ever get a break ..... bring on the rest of the season. Novak will once again silence the critics
Glad you bring that pickle ball situation. Alcaraz brought love passion and interest back to tennis. People are excited to watch tennis again.true joy indeed.
Nick you don't have to do this. It's not a good look. We all know how knowledgeable you are, so saying "Djokovic should have won" just to entice more viewership is beneath you.
I didn’t notice that at first. But I wouldn’t worry about it- everyone has to advertise. I just enjoy his content cause he knows what he’s talking about it. Regardless of what it’s advertised as, I know he’s got something worth saying. There’s a lot of crap tennis content on UA-cam; be grateful for Nick!
Your insight resonates strongly here, I agree with everything you've covered. Very accurate reading. As a huge Djokovic fan, I have developed much respect for the young Alcaraz.
I admired Djokovic. One of the greatest athletes ever seen. Undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players of all times. It is hard to understand why he is unpopular among some people. Jealousy and unfairness from media coverage and other tennis players have created a so hard environment for Novack.
Amazing points! I'm new to tennis, and I respect Novak alot. It's quite challenging to play against the crowd in any sport. I wish him at least 3 more Grand Slams before his retirement. With Alcaraz, the future of tennis looks bright 🌞
Something that seems to go almost unnoticed is the strong gusts of wind on the day. It really annoyed Novak because it affects his game more than any other player. His game is built on control and precision more than anyone else’s. His control is phenomenal, but is impacted by adverse weather. He’s a great champion and didn’t mention it in his press conference preferring to give the credit to Alcaraz, who is of course a fabulous player and a new worthy champion.
Very good content!🤜🤛 Ditto!! Alcaraz is a breath of fresh air for tennis. You are absolutely right about proclaiming him as a GOAT. Too early but what he is bringing to the court is a whole new package that excites every tennis player around the world. Love it!! Bull with pickleball 👎😡 Long live tennis 🎾😀
I think one thing that contributes to Djokovic’s humbleness, is unsurprisingly, because he rarely performs badly or below a certain point. He understood that he had tried his best, and at the opponent just happens to outplay him at that particular match, which is what happened in this Wimbledon Final
I ll be an Alkaraz fan after he turns 30 and continues winning BIG. Now, myself and my family for Novak. It was sad that commentators supported Alkaraz and tried to bite the old Lion. Anyway. I m not a fan of Alcaraz. Novak did not play his best. I respect him. I believe he ll win next time.
Totally agree with you. I wanted Djokovic to win! He is my favourite for now. He did not play 100% and he did not take Alcaraz seriously 😢Djokovic will be back better than ever!
S well your entitled to your opinion the whole 2 weeks the media and commentators said this and this about Djokovic even right before the final they said carlos had no chance in best of 5 against him so give me a break and u think carlos play his best tennis in 1st set and 4th lol it works both ways
So silly to say Nole is done for. He didn't even play his best. And he's making finals, which no other players can say... Until we see Nole failing to run deep, he is the dominator.
First, super good channel. Thanks! Second, I had not yet watched the final so your headline poped up as I was doing something else on my phone and spoiled the ending for me. Since you are not a news channel, maybe keep in mind some of us work late and cannot stay current.
Fantastic video. I can see that you are a Novak fan but your fantastic and objective video shows your true love for the sport . Tennis is a meritocracy and the best player wins on the day.. Much respect to you 👍🙏👏
As Pete Sampras' friend, Federer's and Nadal's fan, I seem to grow more and more respect for Djokovic and above all, he always shows a class act on the court. He is only man and possibly Nadal from the APT tour who complements his opponent's great shots on the court. I understand not too many people like him but when it is all said and done, people will regret on why they did not appreciate his game and treasure skill set while he was playing. And when he is done, that is the day our eyes have seen the glory. That day is not today since he is finding ways to fight back stronger and to once again be the king of tennis. Thanks for sharing your impeccable thoughts.
Nice shot man ! Djokovic's speech on court was a pattern of fairplay. Far from the usual jargon. Agree about Alcaraz body linguage : no pain...but gain. Millenium's privilège ? We'll see, as you say... Bravo for your video and bonjour from Paris !
Thanks for these interesting comments. I agree with much, but not with the central statement. Djokovic did not fail, in my opinion, because he was not at his best. He failed because for the first time in a long time he faced an opponent who didn't let Djokovic’s nimbus crush him. Djokovic is certainly an absolutely exceptional player, but even he makes "stupid" mistakes from time to time in every match, even in important moments. But his opponents can hardly ever take advantage of them at the decisive moment, because they freeze. For example, he was down 6:3 against Hurkacz in the first tie-break. Hurkacz missed an easy forehand from an excellent position, which should have secured him the first set. The same happened to Sinner, who also missed set points. Djokovic has a fine sensorium, he felt that Alcaraz stayed on even after clearly losing the first set. Two simple backhand errors in a row by Djokovic in decisive moments are not simply coincidence or bad luck ... The mental strength of Alcaraz, who brought Djokovic to his knees in the second set after winning 15 consecutive tie-breaks at Grand Slams, upset the Serb so much that he collapsed in the third set. He said himself that he was not "himself" in that set. The extent to which Alcaraz also challenged him mentally is shown by his freak-out after the break in the 5th set. Djokovic himself had the greatness to acknowledge the incredible performance of Alcaraz. He knew that he himself had also played at top level. One should not belittle Alcaraz's performance by saying that Djokovic had a bad day, or at least not a really good day. Anyone who watched the match with an open mind would have to conclude that this was not the case. In this match, Djokovic was shown his limits. The fact that he recognizes and accepts this is a sign of greatness.
Thanks for the rant. I will disagree on one thing though. On court Djokovic has a history of overacting almost to the point of 'clowning'. For example, Djokovic vs Del Potro Shanghai 2013. What was Djokovic doing? It isn't against any rules (that I'm aware of) and he never gets called for it by umpires but it HAS to be a distraction for his opponent. The fact that Novak does it whenever he is losing feels like gamesmanship - not sportsmanship. I'm happy to go watch examples of Roger and Rafa doing it if you know of any. To be clear - I don't mind angry moments / arguments. I'm talking about repeated, clumsy or sulky gestures/actions during a match when losing. It was evident in the final yesterday again until he started winning the fourth set of course. By contrast, Carlos' body language was more positive, calmer when losing and hence more mature by far. The contrast undermines the arguments of how great Djokovic's mental toughness is.
People keep saying that Djokovic wasn't at his best, but when a lot of players (Sinner recently) suddenly play subpar against Novak it's because Novak 'causes' people to not play well. If we're staying consistent here we have to acknowledge that Alcaraz being someone who could legit stress Novak is part of why he didnt play at his peak
You have the best videos relative to tennis, Nick. The Monday morning tennis rants are a great addition to the instructional stuff. One point of contention however….djokovic actually threw his racquet into the net post. It was just more of his theatrics when he started fidgeting with his wrist.
Too soon to say whether he will break all the records, although I think he's capable of 10+ slams. Firstly it depends on whether he can stay injury-free and body conditioning. Secondly, it depends on what kind of rivalry he will have e.g. Rune, Sinner etc. If it's a Big 2 instead of Big 3 that will be a huge factor.
@@hayesmaker64 So? Several players of different sports have started what could've been an amazing career and then end up disappearing. So many things could happen, from severe injuries to just losing it complete in the mental department. Maybe a real freak of nature (say Big 3 prime level) pops up and he can't win more than 3 more GS... Who knows.
I will not be surprised if the boy will be able to achieve the most elusive record of all, the one held by the living legend, Rod Laver that will overshadow those 20,21,22,23 GS. Even the serbian has not done it.
. Carlos has already had some injuries. Paris Bercy 2022, 2023 in South American tournament, (which enabled Norrie to beat him), earlier this year when he had to withdraw from the Australian Open, and the French Open where he cramped so much. I hope he has a long, healthy career as we need stars in tennis to save it from pickle-ball. It is ridiculous how popular it has become and how so many sports clubs in the USA are turning tennis courts into pickle-ball courts!
There is an old saying in Spanish that reads: "En la mesa y en el juego se conoce al caballero" Which more or less translates as: "The real gentleman is known at table and at games". And according to this saying Djokovic is certainly no gentleman at all, no matter how nice he looks or he is when the match has finished. And, by the same token, neither is your praised McEnroe a gentleman. He was in fact the one who opened the Pandora's box of bad behaviour in tennis. A complete disgrace for our sport. And I'm not talking here about excellence in tennis, which both mentioned players have in excess but of sportsmanship and example to our young ones. In my opinion Nadal, who perfectly combines gentlemanship and excellence is the best player of all times, with Laver's permission of course. Thanks for your videos which I find superb.❤
Alcaraz was god sent to all Nadal fans as a consolation, there are so many similarities between them, such a joy to watch. However, it's ridiculous to talk about him breaking the Big 3 records at this point, let him win at least 10 majors and stay in a good shape with no serious injuries before start doing that. He's my fav player to watch out of the new gen right now, but I don't see him breaking even Fed's records, let alone Novak's. The bar has been raised insanely high by the Big 3, and Novak will most likely win at least 2-3 more majors before he retires.
Djokovic is a great guy. And he is beyond the crowd which didn't support him. He will again win the Wimbeldon but many more Grand slams and other International Tournaments
Kudos to Carlos for this incredible win. As a Djokovic fan I lament the 2 big opportunities he let get away, which was that set point in the second set tie breaker. And then the missed forehand swinging volley on break point in the 5th set to go up 2-0. But after Alcaraz won that game and then broke Djokovic in the next game, I was super impressed with Alcaraz serving out each game until the last to win the title. That is really tough to do against in the 5th set in a Wimbledon final. Djokovic mentioned that afterwards as that being very impressive from the young Spaniard. But this loss was ultimately good for Djokovic, it got him refocused to win Cincinnati (against Alcaraz in the final) and then the US Open. Amazing year so far. And looking forward to the Australian Open in January!
Wouldn't it be great to have McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as tv commentators. I have heard Lendl make observations about tennis and he is usually spot on great wit also.
I didn't know you had such good analysis yourself! So many things must go your way to get 20 slams. Besides incredible health for 10 plus years there are many up and coming players. I'm real excited for Shelton and I think Eubanks can be usa#1 next year. Might be a leap of faith but damn he is good, although already 27. Anyway great job, I would certainly like to hear more analysis from you
Carlos played amazing when it mattered most. Djokovic played uncharacteristically poorly when the contrary mattered most. The difference between him winning and losing this match lay in a few points, notably in that 2nd set tie break. While we can't rescript the past, I think we can all agree that had Nole played like the match winner we know him to be when he was 6-5 up in the 2nd set tie break, that would've tightened his hold on victory and likely cast significant doubt in Carlos' mind about his chances of overcoming Djokovic in a final on the centre court of Wimbledon. Djokovic netted a no-pressure rallying backhand on a match-defining shot. So alien to see based on his consistency and results esp. in GS! Nole's inner left thigh also seemed to restrict his ability to internally rotate and stabilise effectively when hitting his backhand and when stretched out wide to his forehand. Despite these setbacks, the real possibility of winning the match remained very much right there for him to realise. However, the more unforced errors Nole made, the more belief returned to Carlos' prefrontal cortex and waking memory that he could indeed win. And so he did!
Agree. The Serbian press were worried about Novak, due to the strapping on his leg- the same leg he injured in Australia. The injury flared up again. It is now chronic- not good for the upcoming summer US tournaments
Are you kidding me? Even after his 1st major win, Joker was and is known for faking injuries & taking sus med timeouts when he was losing. He stopped losing, so he stopped faking injuries. It's easy to be a good sport when you are clearly the best, which he has been for the last several years. This is a lot of the reason he doesn't have the fanbase of the other top players.
I think there is a lot of hype, especially during times of financial prosperity. Pickleball might have been that shiny new thing people put money into. But as soon as the money is harder to come by, those hypes decrease, and endeavors survive that have the right fundamentals. I am very happy that tennis has and is continuing to endure. And I am happy that Carlos has shown that he will be here to stay for the long run.
So silly to say Alcaraz will break the records. He hasnt even had to play with the stress of high expectations. It's one thing to dream run as the underdog. Its another thing to have a target on your back and overcome high expectations and your opponent gunning harder for you than anyone else... The mental aspect is huge and changes the dynamic big time.
So did Federer in his day. So do most athletes who are passionate. What's your point? You make it sound like he cracked some old lady over the head lmao...did you buy him that racquet or something?
Coach we need to talk about the elephant in the room. There is a worldwide propaganda on the media against Djokovic. And that affects also the fans. It's an incredible shame how AUS OPEN handled him. And the media circus continued afterwards like the vultures they are. I love Novak and wish him strength. He's alone vs a (corrupted) world.
The more Djokovic speaks, the more puzzled I am. Why does this guy who is so intelligent and mature in the press conference room have such unhinged behaviors on court? Don’t tell me he is faking. The wisdom in his speech cannot be faked. Yet the inability to control his anger on court is also so real. Edit: For those who said he is an egomaniac, what is the explanation of him applauding good shots from the opponent?
That’s sports for you. Imagine combat sports where the goal is to inflict maximum damage to your opponent but some of these combatants are quite intelligent and kind outside of fighting
that fire is what propelled him to 23 GS, it better stay lit, or it is time to pack up and go home. it is not anger, rather coping mechanism for frustrations. Murray used to chew out his box, others scream, some break racquets, few had/have a habit of going after the umpire, it is not that deep. I would be worried if Novak had no emotions after a stinging loss such as the one yesterday.
Good video as always! I totally agree with Nic that Djokovick is an incredible sportsman and is very gracious in loss. I think he takes the Kipling quote to heart. Every kid could learn from this. Novak will not be slowed by this loss. He is in amazing form. The racket break was not good to see,but it happens.
Re: Djokovic's sportsmanship and how he talks about other players; the problem here is that good behavior is erased when he melts his racquet against the post. maybe that's not fair, but it's what people remember.
@@petershort936 pretty sure he'd be breaking more if he was actually playing lmao. He has been fined many times for screaming and swearing at officials, breaking his racquet, etc...yet he is known for his class. You guys are funny. You look for reasons to hate on Djokovic and ignore the fact that most professional players have broken their racquets in frustration at some point in their careers. God forbid the guy is passionate about winning and gets mad at himself when he makes mistakes that cost him a win. What a terrible person.
Rune, Medvedev, Sinner and Alcarez will be winning all the majors probably when Djokavic and Nadal retire. They are fun to watch imo. also, Kyrgios and Bublik are fun to watch. Tennis isn't dying any time soon imo.
The bar has been set very high to be considered one of the greats like the Big 3: - 20+ Grand Slams - 1000+ Match Wins - 81%+ Match Win Rate - 90+ Tournament Titles Carlos needs to stay healthy for the next 15+ years in order to achieve greatness.
Thanks for your analysis I could not agree more Djoko should not have lost. His unnecessary missed drop shot at 3-2 in the tie break is a big reason for his loss in my view. I can think of Lendl as a player who was truly disliked by so many throughout his career for no real reason whatsoever.
carlos also miss a lot of important point with error So stop trying the excuses of "Novak shouldnt have lost " in sport its not work like that Carlos wanted to win he won that is all Also if novak do more errors is because of carlos on front of him .... Carlos play to beat his opponent not to let his opponent beat themselves
1. ESPN owns the rights to Wimbledon. The Tennis Channel couldn’t show the live Wimbledon match. 2. The big 3 had to compete with each other for majors. Alcaraz won’t have that problem, so he could potentially win more majors.
One of the best videos I've seen in a long time regarding Novak and other players. I agree that Novak will play possibly 5 or 6 more years before his done. I think it would be hard for anyone to even beat Pete Sampras record let alone the other top 3 holders
Every sportsman should listen to Djoko‘s speech after the game. He suffered a bitter defeat and still has good word for his opponent and a sense of humor. Respect!!!
Great recognizes great
Novak is amazing person
Excuseme. Djoko's speech after the game was a must. He had to recognize that he was defeated by a very good opponent.
@@enrique9432 agree - but you can do it so and so
Also compare Novak speech about Carlos to Federer speech about Novak after 2011 us open final when he said Novak was lucky to win 🤮
Pickleball during an epic Wimbledon final , I couldn't believe it. Thanks for calling out how ridiculous this was.
Tennis channel should be free at this point since its a pickleball channel. Every time I have turned it on... it shows pickleball... they must be getting a lot of pickleball views, right?
It’s okay, pickle ball will run out of money very soon and this will all go away
Wimbledon broadcast rights are shared by ESPN and Tennis Channel. The latter only broadcast when ESPN didn’t.
@@haitungying7808 I get that . Still, they should show tennis in some form during the final, just on principle alone.
@@haitungying7808 No real reason they should be showing pickleball in the tennis channel. Especially after the final was completed. There should be post match analysis from TC commentators, not pickleball. BUt maybe I am missing something and I am clueless. Perhaps, in reality pickleball is getting them a lot of views, which is why they are doing it. Maybe pickleball players are subscribed to the tennis channel?
Why can't we give credit where credit is due? Why can't we admit Djokovic wasn't at his best because of who he was facing across the net? The kid broke Djokovic down. Yeah, he rallied in the 4th, but the kid (sans the 1st) was just way too good yesterday. Djokovic hadn't faced anyone at Alcaraz's level the entire fortnight. Sinner was a shell of himself in the semis (the pressure). Alcaraz deserves ALL the credit. BTW, I agree with your take on The Tennis Channel and pickleball. Why do I continue to pay for that?
@@CJZM7777 Right now I'm not sure who can challenge Alcaraz in the future besides Djokovic. And you're right, Alcaraz will only get better as father time eventually catches up to Djokovic (he always does). Rune maybe? Sinner if can learn to embrace the big moments. I don't see anyone else right now in his league when he's healthy.
You're totally right: Alcaraz neutralized him in the rallies. When the rally switches to crosscourt backhands, Novak normally hits a vicious deep backhand, and this time they came back with greater force against Alcaraz. That never happened to him against Federer or Nadal and he was shocked at that.
Alcaraz broke his area of strength
The match was on Alcaraz racquet really and both IBM Watson and UTR had him edging out Djo as the winner. The big difference was Alcaraz amazingly had his confidence and tenacity back to win that second set TB and Djokovic succumbed to the pressure. Not sure why everyone thinks Djo is somehow impervious to it, when it was very obvious that was a key factor. Alcaraz played better in the key moments and Djo wasn't up to it. The same way Alcaraz folded for RG under pressure. It hits everyone. Agree 100% Alcaraz deserve 100% credit.
You're right; this was the first slam final in which Djokovic was truly challenged in about four years, not to mention where he was the lower seed (I think). While players like Kyrgios, Ruud, Thiem, et. al. could have beaten him, Alcaraz should have, and did. Novak did not play his best during the match, but one can only wonder how much of that level was affected by Carlos.
Hey Nick, one observation. During the match, I saw that Djokovic's Box were not engaging with it, or at least to a much lesser extent than in the RG final (even though this one was much more of a thriller). Goran looked like he didn't even want to be there, and they weren't standing up after big points as often. Then, Djokovic didn't acknowledge his box in his speech. He was even asked to say a few words about his box, but he talked about his son, choked a bit and left. To me that was a confirmation that something was going on there. I imagine the team getting tired of 'tortures' that Djokovic himself admits to inflicting on them during slams.. what do you think?
Goran must be getting fed up now, it must be torture working with an egomaniac, that expects you to make them win every Grand Slam, and then yell at them when things aren't going your way, soon Goran will age another 20 years at this rate!🤣
I noticed the same exact thing. Every time the camera went to Novak's box, Goran and team did not seem happy or pleased at all for the entire match.
Good and interesting observation. I do also wonder how much his injury (he wore strapping) played a part.
He’s an intense individual, on and off the court, and that has to be challenging to work with. The fact his family were there, including his son, was interesting - as they don’t always travel.
Maybe reading too much into it as he lost - and we wouldn’t of he had been triumphant - don’t know. Certainly interesting times.
@@pauljohnson6019 Looks like you are part of the Novak team and full of inside details :)
Looked more like they knew Novak was dealing with something undisclosed. They knew they couldn’t help him and he had to fight through it.
Well said! As a Federer fan, I have developed a lot of respect for Djokovic. As you said he is a gracious loser. Must be tough having the crowd against you every time but I think that made him the mental giant he is now. I think Djokovic’s lack of popularity has alot to do with Djokovic spoiling the Nadal and Federer party. Those guys had such huge fan bases there weren’t many fans for Djokovic. Also I think a lot of his controversial stances and actions have turned people against Djokovic. Plus his parents, the Dad in particular. Some people view Djokovic as fake but I don’t he is ultra competitive but fair and genuine.
Why there are more Nadal and Federer fans than Djokovic fans? I am a big Nadal fan because he is genuine on and off the court. What you see is what you get. Djokovic is a fake, a politician. Everything he does is calculated. Including having his parents criticizing Federer and then saying he had nothing to do with his parents actions. When Nadal came back from his most recent injury and started to win immediately , Djokovic surmised in a interview how serious was the injury. The injury came back and he has missed 2023 Roland Garros and Wimbledon. That’s the answer to Djokovic question. It’s ok to take a stance of refusing Covid vaccine. It’s a bulling action to cheat and intimidate the governments to exempt him. That’s why I am not his fan.
You forgot the hate tennis media and corporations have against someone from a non western country 😢
As a Federer fan, I happen to like Djokovics off court personality. I just really don't like him on court.
Agree
Yesterday's match wasn't as bad as some! There was a large contingent chanting "No-lay!" all during the match, so Novak definitely had his supporters yesterday!
I can’t still believe that Nole made those mistakes.Never see him playing so badly.I’m also sure that will come back stronger than before.Great video👏😍🫶
Why Novak Djokovic deserves the ATP Sportsmanship Award
👉 ua-cam.com/video/MyDN9mM3gig/v-deo.html
Many players take wins for granted and place to much importance on losses. Especially matches lost that could have been won. In the trophy ceremony Djokovic gave us a glimpse inside the mind of a champion. He said: “I should have lost some of the Wimbledon finals so it’s even Steven.”
I call this the tennis equilibrium. We often only remember the matches that we lost and should have won and conveniently forget the matches that we won and should have lost.
👉 tennis equilibrium ua-cam.com/video/bY-3aNqb1L0t/v-deo.html
Agreed, that even Steven speech was so inspiring😊
Who are you kidding? Djoker broke his racket in front of the umpire on the net post. That's not very unsportsmanlike 😮
He's not even close to Nadal in that regard. For an experienced 36 year old legend that classless 😮
@@pdcdesign9632Times have changed. Tennis needs to shed the posh label, and relatable on court antics are commonplace in leagues like the NBA. That’s the model the ATP needs to follow for growing the sport.
Djokovic is best among the big 3 in accepting his defeats and being gracious to his opponents after the match. Federer being the worst of course .
I agree, suddenly the fact that Novak won AO and RG this year doesn't seem to matter.
@@pdcdesign9632 It's part of the sport, Safin, McEnroe, both GS champions and former no. 1 had similar behaviors on court.
Lol, couldn't agree more, pickleball is an abomination. GET OFF OUR DAMNED COURTS. 😂
Thank you, yes I'm in total agreement. I've been playing and watching tennis since the days of Conners, Jean King, Wade, A. Ashe, Borg, and Tanner. People like to jump to conclusions, see great people fall, revel in the change of the guard. Let's wait and see if Alcaraz has staying power. One thing that concerns me about him is how he runs everything down even when there's no hope in hell of getting the shot. Sometimes you have to be smart and know your limitations. He's still bubbling from his youth and great athleticism. Let's wait and see and not jump to conclusions.....
I don’t think he will be as injury prone as Nadal though because even though he does possess that ability and it is very hard on the body, he doesn’t rely on it like Nadal did. He dictates play whenever possible, which allows him to run less
Nadal's forehand scares me because he looks like he's over-extending his elbow constantly but as far as I know, he hasn't had an elbow injury and he protects his joints and ligaments with huge muscles. The thing is, when you're young and vital, you think you're invincible. Eventually time catches up. I was saddened when Federer retired. He was the most graceful tennis player I've ever seen but it caught up with him as well. Again, we'll see. Alcaraz is only 20. He's a baby.
Alcaraz reminds me of Pete Sampras. When in full fledge, no body can even have a chance.
Time for Djoker to retire...thanks
Carlos did to Novak what Novak does to his opponents: get to every ball and make them hit one more shot. Djoko had his chances but unfortunately he hit two backhands into the net in a row that changed the whole match.
True
if novak missed a few backhands it's also probably that he was physically damaged because Alcaraz mistreated him. all the time that Novak takes on the first and also on the second service ball is to recover. It was very clear on the close-ups of the TV that he looked drawn
@@jacqueschaumet9172 yeah, playing against Carlitos must be extremely tiring even for a cyborg like Novak.
the bp Novak couldn't convert in the 5th set is the epitome of what happened. He hit a few good shots that would probably be enough against other players but not against Carlos. Then finally Novak hit the difficult swing volley into the net.
@@JuanAMatos-zx4ubcarlos plays to beat his oppoent no to let his opponents beat themselves
Carlos wanted to win so he won that it ...
VAMOS ALCARAZ the new generation coming through and is an absolute beast, lets not forget how long novak has been unbeaten on grass and that young man not only held it together but played some of his finest tennis when he needed it. He really is a blend of the top 3 in my opinion. such a special talent... 20 years old!!!
That 25mins, 13 deuce and 32 pt game drain out most of the Novak's confidence and beliefs, thats crucial part of the game which defeated himself in that set. After the toilet break he came back, that was amazing.
I wonder what the list of longest games are. I’ve only seen a select few that have lasted longer than 20 minutes. Ones I can recall are Serena vs Tan Wimbledon last year and Raducanu vs Andreescu at Miami this year.
@@jgunner94 Yes, for. The game time maybe similar but the intensity is totally different. Tan is a super slicer☺.
i think the big 3 were so unique not only bc of their skill and mental fortitude, but theyve fought through injuries only to regain their rankings. i hope Alcarez stays healthy and hungry. he's head and shoulders above the other youngsters, physically and mentally
Especially mentally, he just doesn't choke in big moments- he's broke the Novak spell!
Has to stay hungry and healthy....over the long haul
I just got this in my home page and I thought I had somehow missed something and it was over and Alcaraz won again
This takes me back to my childhood, watching the later end of careers of legends like Sampras, Agassi and Rafter. My older brothers were huge Sampras and Agassi fans, so you can imagine their reaction to me gravitating towards Federer and how they would tell me he'd amount to very little. We obviously know the impact he had, but the important thing to remember is who came next and how the sport was so much better for it. I can't say for sure, but I would imagine Alcaraz would have winning one of each slam as his priority over breaking records. For any Federer and Nadal fans should be hoping for a healthy Djokovic at every tournament Alcaraz plays because regardless of slam counts, he is the last of that time who can still play at that level. It will only be better for Alcaraz in the long run should he also stay in good health, but it will motivate the next generation to learn the only way they will succeed at that level in tennis is to keep up with Alcaraz. If he stays healthy, he could win as many as our favourites, but that shouldn't matter. We don't need a Big 3 in the sport again. We need depth of competition and I truly think Alcaraz will encourage it. The same way Roger, Nadal and Djokovic have and continue to do. Whether you like it or not, Djokovic is still the man to beat these days and will be as long as he's able to compete.
Couldn't agree with you more, I think Djokovic is the greatest winner and loser, such a gentleman in defeat. I was rooting for Nole to get #24, not taking anything away from Carlos, he is a phenomenal player and earned this win. But something was off with him this time around, he made mistakes we haven't seen him doing in the past 10 years.
I don't think Novak played that well all during Wimbledon. I don't think he has played his best since the Australian Open
@@marlenebuls9535 too much on the line, 1) equaling Federer's record 8th, 2) #24 to equal all time Slams in both men/women, and 3) the win would be setting up the chance to do the calendar grand slam, it just made him too nervous.
@@marlenebuls9535He was pressured a lot by Carlos pressure
I have to (partly) disagree: Novak played very close to his best level or even reached it. However, in this case, he faced a worthy opponent who consistently held his ground without crumbling mentally and whose abilities are at the same level. For years, Novak has been confronted with younger opponents from the "Next-Gen" who either lack the mental strength and crumble in key moments or have glaring weaknesses in specific areas of their game (Tsitsipas, Berettini: Backhand, Medvedev: offensive play, Zverev/Rublev/Sinner: net play, creativity)
When faced with such an almost complete player like Alcaraz, Djokovic does indeed start making a few errors. However, in my opinion, this is due to the quality of the opponent, who has the tools and mentality to sufficiently pressure Novak and put him in a tight spot.
And yes, I also believe that it is a sort of poetic justice. In the past, Novak has won matches that he probably shouldn't have won - often due to the errors of his opponents in crucial moments. Now, he has lost once due to his own mistakes.
Novak played far to his best level... Except first set... Bad service (only 2 aces in 5 sets), bad net game, too much neutral balls, bad backhand,...
Well said. It was also because of Alcaraz that Djokovic Made some uncharacteristic errors.
@@nakmuay5034 Djokovic did not play his absolute best but he played at very good level. With the same level of play he will defeat every body else. He played a very solid first set and won decisively. In the second set except the couple of backhand mistakes in the tie break he played solid. Federer missed critical points in 2019 final, it happens. The third set he was coping mentally with the lost of the second set and only give up after the double break. He came back in the 4 th set and won. The 5 th set Alcaraz just play unbelievably with winners.
There is no such thing as "won a match he shouldn't have won". Whatever the circumstances, whether it's errors by opponent or windy conditions etc., the end result has to be accepted. It is not right that Djokovic himself mentioned this in the post match speech. Maybe this was his way of coping, but this match was not as close as the 2019 Final, even if it were, there was no reason to equate this match to that 2019 Final and say that maybe I should have lost that one, so it is fair that I lost this match. I think Novak is devastated by this loss and he is coping hard. Even in the post-match press conference, he gave all the politically right answers, hid the disappointment well, but something seemed off.
@@nakmuay5034agreed… it was kind of shocking seeing how many first serves he was missing. But I’m a fed fan so it was kind of nice not seeing him hit an ace or unreturnable every breakpoint haha
Seriously, I see you're a Djokovic fan. If not for the injury suffered by Alcaraz, he would have won the French open. Alcaraz mental fortitude is so formidable, and his adaptation on all the surfaces is just exciting to watch. Tennis is in good hands.
Seriously i see you dont like Novak. Djokovic was not at his best in that final and he almost won so when he comes back at us open and he plays at his top level he will beat Carlos. Nothing against Carlos great player but after one win on djokovic people and media are making him the player to beat. Not yet djoker is the one to beat still.
@@mikevesten57No Djokovic didn't almost win and it's an excuse saying he wasn't at his best, he got his ass kicked completely throughout that match 69 winners to 62 and had him falling more times than I can count with Carlos' ridiculous play... Djokovic lost 6 US Open finals that's not his best surface and with Carlos defending his title he will most likely win it again this year
@@mikevesten57 People have the right to like (or dislike) anyone they choose to. You don't get to decide. Only abusing someone is unacceptable
So good Nik !
Excellent analysis of the various aspects of the match, never forgetting the ever so important pedagogical side.
Thanks my friend for the tip about the position of the wrist when breaking the racket to avoid the risk of injury.
That shot Novak missed in tie break having 6-5. With two sets up would be over
Great analysis. Agree that Djokovic wasn't at the top of his game. Wasn't getting his first serve in on key points. Also agree that Djokovic's ability to play throughout his career when the crowd is against him needs to added to his legacy. Still have to give a lot of credit to Alcaraz. He seemed to make very few errors.
The man got beaten, and all of a sudden, he's not on top of his game. Alcaraz is the new deal.
The guy on the other side of the net has a lot to do with that.
Same could have said for federer in 19 final, accept it that better player won.
Yeah what happened to all those aces? Huge let down for Novak who has the most effective serves of all times. Truly think results would've been different.
Be quiet you Noletard he got his ass beat, deal with it!!!
If Carlos can stay healthy and play until his mid 30s then he definitely has a chance to become the all time leader in Grand Slam titles. He already has two under his belt.
Too early to say that. Roger dominated in his early years then came Nadal and later Djokovic.
Yeah, I believe so specially when the new and young players can't catch up Carlos level of play. Once Novak and Nadal totally retired Carlos will sweep all the Grand Slam if his rival don't play as good as Carlos.
he has 2 Grand Slams and we're having this convo already? Let's bring it up if he gets to 20
He should get on a plant based diet like Djokovic.
@@NamesAreRandomso I have this theory that lack of current competition is going to hurt his longevity there is no one that can compete with him from the next generation rudd and sinner are not at his level the bracket from 25-27 isn't very strong mendenev is probably the standout and then the cherry on top is there are really no top players in the 29-31 age range without top rivals to push his game and fitness I think complacency could set in and he may return around 30 like Sampras
Excellent comments on all aspects that you covered. Myself I'm a Novak fan. Being from Serbia it's not hard to imagine why. Besides the usual attributes I think that the time after he retires will show an element of his play and character that will be missed in future, regardless of who'll arrive at the tennis scene. But, as for the match, yes it could've gone the other way but the strongest point I think that you've made is that with Alcaraz tennis has a bright future. Novak and Nadal might win a few more GS but I am happy to see in Alcaraz what it actually takes to be better than either one of them (excluding Roger because they've never met on court). And now that I've seen in someone the qualities as a player and also as a person, I'm happy for tennis, and I'm happy for Alcaraz just as much.
Novak will unfortunately be more appreciated once he is gone
@@IntuitiveTennis That is absolutely true only because by then most people would have forgotten his on-court antics just like Johnny Mac.
Most of his on-court antics during his playing time was very cringy to be honest. Doesn't take away from the fact that he was a great player and generally well loved especially by Americans. Now that he's a well regarded commentator, his view influences many viewers which is somewhat defensive towards players who don't behave too well on-court. It's ok to be subjective because that's the job, but he should also not forget the facts, such as rule of the game and sportsmanship because that's one of the responsibilities for someone who is a legend in the sport and still work as a professional in the industry.
First of, it's disrespectful to the opponent and there's nothing one can do after the match to erase the disrespect during the match due to such behavior. Secondly, most players keep behaving such way usually because it pays off for them in one way or another, either in publicity or in Novak's case, he plays better after outbursts. While I don't typically care for it either way because it's unreasonable to expect the professional athletes to behave while the stakes are so high in the sports. But that's what the rules are there for, at least on the court, there needn't be double standards.
Great analysis. I'm from Spain originally but hold US citizenship as well. After living in both countries I'd attribute the fact that Spain has so many champions to many factors; nice weather (can play most sports year round), a good infrastructure, strong mentality, creativity, and humility (they hate cocky people in Spain.) One of the main differences here are the Spartan like training methods. I still don't understand why in the US we can't produce more champions...
Most serious athletes don't play tennis in the US if they have the intention of going pro. There are more lucrative sports with easier access like basketball, baseball, football, and even soccer. We have an entire infrastructure to get little kids into those programs that feed into elite colleges and then pro with great coaches. If you were physically gifted, you'd need a sponsor to go train at an elite tennis academy. Even those tennis players that are fairly good, if they don't make it to the top 20 can barely make a living. Lots of people wrote about why a lot of US kids don't go into sports like golf or tennis more. Most kids in the US would rather be a Brady or Michael Jordan than a Nadal and Federer.
Too many athletic choices in America. Only a slice play tennis...
you forgot the most important attribute: doping, it's a little weird that those athletes can't win many golden medals in the olympics (olympics are very strict with doping tests), also spain hasn't many champions, tennis and maybe a little bit of basketball and padel if you want, usa has more variety in other sports success
Olympics are not a main thing in Spain. But Spain literally has world Champions in every sport so i dont understand the logic of what ur saying. They are world cup winners in football (the real one) basketball, the BEST tennis players, F1 world Champions both women and men (Fernando alonso and Marta García now) and even on Racing in the US, With Alex Palou dominating Indy Car. Also on cycling so Many world Champions (the last tour de France winner is spanish) and Also world Champions in Pádel and Bádminton which are similar. The only thing we are missing are combat Sports and we have european champion Sandor Martín in boxing and Ilia looking to win our first UFC title. No country has this much presence in every Major sport
@@ezelegui7901 What??? Spain dominates in all major sports in Europe and the rest of the world. I think you are unaware that except for basketball, American sports in Europe are little or nothing important. Baseball, American football or ice hockey in Europe and the rest of the world are very minority. The main team sports in Europe are, in this order, soccer, basket and handball, and in all three of them Spain is a world power. And in Europe the most considered individual sports and with the largest audiences are tennis, golf, motor racing, motorcycling and cycling, and in these five sports there are Spanish dominants in the elite. And what you say about the medals in the Olympics is true, but the fact is that a large number of Olympic medals are awarded for very minority sports which, to be honest, do not arouse any interest in Spain. The Olympic medal table is very unbalanced. A massive world sport such as basketball or soccer have three Olympic medals to win, while sports practiced by a few thousand people such as archery have 20 medals to deliver. And sports such as swimming, gymnastics or athletics accumulate dozens and dozens of medals to award in each Olympics, when these sports will never get medal winners to have continuity in that sport, that is, at the age of 20 or before they must look for their professional future in other fields except for rare exceptions. Therefore, measuring the sporting power of a country by the number of Olympic medals is quite ridiculous today, it does not represent reality. Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica or Barbados can win many medals in athletics for the Olympic Games, but do you really think that the sporting level of Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica or Barbados, with all due respect to those countries, is higher than that of the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand or the same Spain?
It’s a shame that no big broadcast networks cover ANY tennis in the USA. You need cable TV or a streaming service to see any tennis coverage. “Breakfast at Wimbledon” on NBC was ubiquitous, but now a fond memory.
Your comment about “seeking approval from the coaches box” was spot on. Maybe unintended consequences for allowing coaching now during play. The team psyc’s need to rein that stuff in.
F’ pickleball!
Cable is kind of ubiquitous now. I suspect ESPN coverage is nearly as widespread as a "major" network.
@@bigalexg the game was broadcast on their website yesterday. It's not a "major" network but it's easily accessible online
Here in Germany you can only see Wimbledon on Sky, a pay channel. Otherwise Eurosport has good coverage on most tournaments.
I am sorry they brought in coaching from the box. I would rather the players be left to their own devices when on the court.
Very measured and accurate comments. I love your level-headedness.
Thank you kindly!
@@IntuitiveTennis Just know that I cannot be objective because I am a Nole devotee - big time. But it's for a reason. He is a magnificent man, athlete, son, husband, father, brother, humanitarian, advocate for his fellow players (PTPA), and it galls me to no end when everyone is always bashing the "knucklehead" side of him (like smashing the racket yesterday). It's part of a very complicated human being, who should be recognized as arguably the greatest athlete of all time (in any sport) - and a person who is extraordinary in every way. You just validate my thoughts, which is why I commented. Thank you again!
@@garysaint-laurent6524 well-said
I root for anyone playing against Djokovic. My way of respecting him. Things he's done outside of the court for the sport of tennis make him a even much bigger person than a legendary player. An absolutely admirable role model.
You have to put him away. That's what Carlos did. Hammered him. Djokavic is most dangerous when his back is against the wall. Federer could not close him out a few years ago...2 match points on his serve.
@@davereiter8433 Djokovic played poorly. Many unforced errors, not his typical level of play
@@rkymtnchi503 you don't think Alcaraz had something to do with that?
@@keith6032 I think, no.
@@rkymtnchi503 This is an excuse. What if I also say Alcaraz wasn't at his best too given how he started. Alcaraz simply outplayed him and stuck in there mentally with Djokovic
Finally someone with a realistic representation of tennis. Well done.
An amzing match by all standards. Enjoyed it so much and cried at the end when my man lost😭. Alcaraz is the real deal no doubt about it. In the words of Tony Nadal: "other than Djokovic, I see nobody ese who can stop him on tour right now". Well done Alcaraz - definitely a tennis player whose future seems bright. He has barely any weaknesses and his athleticism is second to none.
Now back to Novak. I have kept asking myself the following question for the past ten years: "Where is the love for Nole?" I really don't understand why people, I will use the hardest possible word here, hate him. I mean I have been on Roland Garros twice and I remember when he was booed just upon entering the court. I almost cried when I saw that. Same thing has happened repeatedly on all major events - from Australin Open to US Open. There were these reasons that he couldn't be loved as much as Roger and Rafa. Those guys had been on tour way eralier when Novak appeared. But now that those two greats are absent, the majority of the crowd would support whoever is playing on the side of the net. He yells sometimes in the heat of the moment and smashes a racket or two every now. I simply cannot take that as serious explanations. He hadn't done that for quite some time and had been respectful, talkative and jovial to the Wimbledon crowd and still they couldn't wait to see him burst to take it down on him.
Novak Djokovic is the kindest person out there, somebody who always finds nice words for his opponents, dignified in defeats, hugs his opponents at the net after the match. Other than being not willing to get vaccinated, have you ever heard or seen Novak insulting anyone. He has given serious monetary contributions to an Italian clinic (in the citiy of Bormio I think) in the middle of COVID pandemics, helped people who lost their homes due to severe floods in the Balkans in 2014 or 2015, regardless of their nationality and religion. His good deeds are countless - just look into it if you want.
Now a question for you guys to comment on: Why is Novak seen as a villain when he is not? Why is the crowd always behind anybody else who is facing Novak especially in the later stages of the major tournaments?
Novak Djokovic, tennis legend and the possibly the GOAT, receives very little or no appreciation by tennis spectators. I have been there, seen and heard it all. I am still sometimes speechless when it comes to justifying it. It looks like that the peope in stands want to see anyone but Novak to win a Slam.
Thank you Nikola for bringing it up😎. I just hope people will start questioning themselves and appreciate Novak more. I guess we can love whomever we want but let's not hate Novak for what he is - a genuine person and an athlete worhty of praise.
Making faces and mocking the crowd does not help
Well said Milan
@@davereiter8433those were his reactions on negativity that had been present throughout the tournament[s). Quite funny ones if you ask me. I can barely understand people who come to watch the tennis legend such as Novak is and disturb him while serving, shout out inappropriate remarks pre and during the point, utter smirky remarks during the breaks between games, etc. Novak is such a gracious human being who doesn't deserve anything like that.
Bravo👌 Love him, hate him or ignore him, u can't deny what he's sacrificed for the sport 👍
Trust me, those hecklers r purely salty Fedaltards.
I believe it is largely because he is from the Balkans- it is anti Eastern European, anti-Slav bigotry raising its ugly head. Goran Ivaneisovich has spoken about it , as has Anabelle Croft, the English tennis writer and commentator. There are so many bigoted people in the tennis world, full of hatred.Just look at all the toxic comments regarding Novak - it is totally dismaying.
Why do you think the fans are still against him? Yesterday he smashed his racket against the post again. It's rare for an athlete of his caliber to have the fans against him all the time.
Who cares? Racket smashes happen sometimes and that was one of the biggest games of the match.
Yes, this Wimby showed why fans don't like him. Just look at how he reacts to the crowd-crying face & blowing kisses sarcastically, not to mention the striking the net post...Gracious champions don't do that...
@@bournejason66 THE EDUACTED PEOPEL LIKE THOSE IN WIMBELDON WHO BOOED AZARENKA FOR NO FAULT OF HERS THANK FULLY ALL WORLD ISNT THIS EDUCATED
@@bournejason66 ah yes, and cringe roars, "VAMOS" yells like an ape - those are super intellectual from Alcaraz
It's like, who's the mature person in that match? The 20 year old was. Imagine that.
Great video mate. As a Federer fan I always loved how he hardly looked at his players box as I don’t like professional players feeling the constant need for attention and reassurance from their box, they look like they’re in juniors when they do. The one and only thing that I didn’t like so much with Federer is how bad of a loser he was lol, especially as he got older and already had so many wins, it was like someone died every match he lost lol. This is where Djokovic shines above even his game play, he loses this tough final and still has a smile for Alcaraz and is just genuine in his speech, and I’ve never warmed to Novak at all throughout his career but I can’t deny how great he is even or especially in his losses
Yeh 100% agree
Great analysis. I think the turning point of the match was when Alcaraz got the mini break back in the second set tiebreak, which went on to win. Had Djokovic won the second set then his prospects of winning the title would have been massively bolstered. From the second set onwards Alcaraz was a beast. I admire Djokovic and feel he has contributed much to the sport like Federer and Nadal. He received unwarranted boos from the Wimbledon crowd at times, which as you said he handles very maturely. I also think it was childish and disrespectful of the crowd to boo Victoria Arazenka earlier in the tournament when she had done nothing wrong.
Thank you Sir. What you say about Novak Djokovic is pure justice.
So glad to fall on this channel. Finally an analyst who prones facts and critical thoughts over personal bias. Thank you sir
Absolutely right. He started to shake his wrist after breaking the racket. Other players are not so gracious like him when they win, imagine when they lose. Djoko started to win championships when the majority of the people were already in love with Rafa or Roger, and most of these people, still today, can't handle watching djoko breaking all the records that once belonged to their beloved ones. New people to tennis however , are more sympathetic to djoko , due to the reasons explained on the video. Djoko actions after the match finished, were simply sensational.
Man, we are always on the same wavelength, you and I. Our affection for Monica, love for Pete and Andre, and you absolutely called it right that The Brothers McEnroe along with Chris Fowler are the GOAT squad. As far as I’m aware, Fowler was more of a football guy, but I loved when he first started doing tennis because he asked a lot of questions that the average sports fan would ask. His tennis knowledge has grown exponentially over the years and man, you can tell he really studies for matches.
Another great episode Nick. Can you comment on the no of faulty line calls which had to be challenged ( more successfully) by Novak? The number of such faulty calls ( and in some cases not calling clear Outs) seemed unusual for a wimbledon final and it seemed to also have played with the tempo of the game especially in the 4th set .
Thanks for making that observation. Djokovic appeared fatigued from the crowd always against him, the chair umpire always out to get him, the line calls missing the out calls, to the point that he completely lost trust and was challenging frequently. All that takes severe mental toll and takes away from the focus of strategy in such a crucial match
As always, brilliant work Nick!!! I often see Carlos in a position sticking his chest outward which is a power position and it’s subtle but shows an undeniable self confidence. Go back and watch his seminal post match press conference - he predicted (win or lose) the finals was going to be the greatest day of his life. Nick, Carlos is a master of self belief. It’s truly remarkable at 20!!!! F@ck pickleball 😂
Completely agree that Djokovic was not at his best yesterday. Far too many unforced errors, hitting backhands and forehands into the net. Alcaraz deservedly won the match and varied his returns but Djokovic clearly didn’t trust his shotmaking to go for the passing shots that he’s been so good with.
Yeah blaming unforced error and saying he didn't play well is actually bullshit. If you look up all stats from first serves, 2nd serves as well as percentage. He actually did better than all of his previous 3 games. This is the best he could have played at his age and he lost. Lost is lost which is fine.
When your getting your ass kicked it makes you so you don't play your best.
Love your Monday morning rant series. Found myself agreeing with all your takes once again! Keep it up!
Glad you like them!
Excellent review . As a novak supporter , appreciate the acknowledgement of novaks mental strength against adversity. Perspective on novak's career. Came in against the two goats , overtook them even though the all the crowds and media are against him. Bogus bans and now he has to take on this freak of a talented carlos. Can novak ever get a break ..... bring on the rest of the season. Novak will once again silence the critics
Glad you bring that pickle ball situation. Alcaraz brought love passion and interest back to tennis. People are excited to watch tennis again.true joy indeed.
Nick you don't have to do this. It's not a good look. We all know how knowledgeable you are, so saying "Djokovic should have won" just to entice more viewership is beneath you.
I didn’t notice that at first. But I wouldn’t worry about it- everyone has to advertise. I just enjoy his content cause he knows what he’s talking about it. Regardless of what it’s advertised as, I know he’s got something worth saying. There’s a lot of crap tennis content on UA-cam; be grateful for Nick!
Terrible comment - Nick is knowledgeable about tennis and what he said was true. Who are you to question it??
Your insight resonates strongly here, I agree with everything you've covered. Very accurate reading. As a huge Djokovic fan, I have developed much respect for the young Alcaraz.
I admired Djokovic. One of the greatest athletes ever seen. Undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players of all times. It is hard to understand why he is unpopular among some people. Jealousy and unfairness from media coverage and other tennis players have created a so hard environment for Novack.
Cause he obviously is fake imho
Nah, I think it’s just because Nole’s fans are so annoying. It’s not his fault tho.
Amazing points! I'm new to tennis, and I respect Novak alot. It's quite challenging to play against the crowd in any sport. I wish him at least 3 more Grand Slams before his retirement. With Alcaraz, the future of tennis looks bright 🌞
Totally agree on the sportsmanship. The crowd gives it to him, he gives it back and he loves it and post match total class.
Something that seems to go almost unnoticed is the strong gusts of wind on the day. It really annoyed Novak because it affects his game more than any other player. His game is built on control and precision more than anyone else’s. His control is phenomenal, but is impacted by adverse weather.
He’s a great champion and didn’t mention it in his press conference preferring to give the credit to Alcaraz, who is of course a fabulous player and a new worthy champion.
That. Was the same against Thiem FO2019. Nobody goes for the lines like Djokovic.
@@mavric4048 yep I remember that one too. Terrible wind on semifinal against Thiem.
did anyone count how many times the Djoker bounced the ball preparing to serve during that 25mins, 13 deuce and 32 pt game ?
Very good content!🤜🤛 Ditto!! Alcaraz is a breath of fresh air for tennis. You are absolutely right about proclaiming him as a GOAT. Too early but what he is bringing to the court is a whole new package that excites every tennis player around the world. Love it!! Bull with pickleball 👎😡 Long live tennis 🎾😀
I think one thing that contributes to Djokovic’s humbleness, is unsurprisingly, because he rarely performs badly or below a certain point. He understood that he had tried his best, and at the opponent just happens to outplay him at that particular match, which is what happened in this Wimbledon Final
I ll be an Alkaraz fan after he turns 30 and continues winning BIG. Now, myself and my family for Novak.
It was sad that commentators supported Alkaraz and tried to bite the old Lion. Anyway. I m not a fan of Alcaraz.
Novak did not play his best. I respect him. I believe he ll win next time.
Totally agree with you. I wanted Djokovic to win! He is my favourite for now. He did not play 100% and he did not take Alcaraz seriously 😢Djokovic will be back better than ever!
S well your entitled to your opinion the whole 2 weeks the media and commentators said this and this about Djokovic even right before the final they said carlos had no chance in best of 5 against him so give me a break and u think carlos play his best tennis in 1st set and 4th lol it works both ways
Rety lol
So silly to say Nole is done for. He didn't even play his best. And he's making finals, which no other players can say... Until we see Nole failing to run deep, he is the dominator.
First, super good channel. Thanks! Second, I had not yet watched the final so your headline poped up as I was doing something else on my phone and spoiled the ending for me. Since you are not a news channel, maybe keep in mind some of us work late and cannot stay current.
Fantastic video. I can see that you are a Novak fan but your fantastic and objective video shows your true love for the sport . Tennis is a meritocracy and the best player wins on the day.. Much respect to you 👍🙏👏
Thank u. I’m Rafa fan 💯
@@IntuitiveTennis So am I 😄, but nevertheless I love your video 👍🙏. Cheers
As Pete Sampras' friend, Federer's and Nadal's fan, I seem to grow more and more respect for Djokovic and above all, he always shows a class act on the court. He is only man and possibly Nadal from the APT tour who complements his opponent's great shots on the court. I understand not too many people like him but when it is all said and done, people will regret on why they did not appreciate his game and treasure skill set while he was playing. And when he is done, that is the day our eyes have seen the glory. That day is not today since he is finding ways to fight back stronger and to once again be the king of tennis.
Thanks for sharing your impeccable thoughts.
🙏
Nice shot man ! Djokovic's speech on court was a pattern of fairplay. Far from the usual jargon.
Agree about Alcaraz body linguage : no pain...but gain. Millenium's privilège ? We'll see, as you say...
Bravo for your video and bonjour from Paris !
Was waiting for this RANT!! 🫡
🔥
What is your take on Hurkacz’s serve vs. Djokovic ?
One of the best
Thanks for these interesting comments. I agree with much, but not with the central statement. Djokovic did not fail, in my opinion, because he was not at his best. He failed because for the first time in a long time he faced an opponent who didn't let Djokovic’s nimbus crush him. Djokovic is certainly an absolutely exceptional player, but even he makes "stupid" mistakes from time to time in every match, even in important moments. But his opponents can hardly ever take advantage of them at the decisive moment, because they freeze. For example, he was down 6:3 against Hurkacz in the first tie-break. Hurkacz missed an easy forehand from an excellent position, which should have secured him the first set. The same happened to Sinner, who also missed set points.
Djokovic has a fine sensorium, he felt that Alcaraz stayed on even after clearly losing the first set. Two simple backhand errors in a row by Djokovic in decisive moments are not simply coincidence or bad luck ... The mental strength of Alcaraz, who brought Djokovic to his knees in the second set after winning 15 consecutive tie-breaks at Grand Slams, upset the Serb so much that he collapsed in the third set. He said himself that he was not "himself" in that set. The extent to which Alcaraz also challenged him mentally is shown by his freak-out after the break in the 5th set.
Djokovic himself had the greatness to acknowledge the incredible performance of Alcaraz. He knew that he himself had also played at top level. One should not belittle Alcaraz's performance by saying that Djokovic had a bad day, or at least not a really good day. Anyone who watched the match with an open mind would have to conclude that this was not the case. In this match, Djokovic was shown his limits. The fact that he recognizes and accepts this is a sign of greatness.
Thanks for the rant. I will disagree on one thing though. On court Djokovic has a history of overacting almost to the point of 'clowning'.
For example, Djokovic vs Del Potro Shanghai 2013. What was Djokovic doing? It isn't against any rules (that I'm aware of) and he never gets called for it by umpires but it HAS to be a distraction for his opponent. The fact that Novak does it whenever he is losing feels like gamesmanship - not sportsmanship.
I'm happy to go watch examples of Roger and Rafa doing it if you know of any. To be clear - I don't mind angry moments / arguments. I'm talking about repeated, clumsy or sulky gestures/actions during a match when losing. It was evident in the final yesterday again until he started winning the fourth set of course.
By contrast, Carlos' body language was more positive, calmer when losing and hence more mature by far.
The contrast undermines the arguments of how great Djokovic's mental toughness is.
People keep saying that Djokovic wasn't at his best, but when a lot of players (Sinner recently) suddenly play subpar against Novak it's because Novak 'causes' people to not play well. If we're staying consistent here we have to acknowledge that Alcaraz being someone who could legit stress Novak is part of why he didnt play at his peak
spot on!
Great reaction. As a Nole fan, a lot of sense on every word. Cheers man.
You have the best videos relative to tennis, Nick. The Monday morning tennis rants are a great addition to the instructional stuff. One point of contention however….djokovic actually threw his racquet into the net post. It was just more of his theatrics when he started fidgeting with his wrist.
Too soon to say whether he will break all the records, although I think he's capable of 10+ slams.
Firstly it depends on whether he can stay injury-free and body conditioning. Secondly, it depends on what kind of rivalry he will have e.g. Rune, Sinner etc. If it's a Big 2 instead of Big 3 that will be a huge factor.
Capable of 10+ slams? he's got 2 already! Do you predict it might rain somwhere sometime in the next year also?
@@hayesmaker64 So? Several players of different sports have started what could've been an amazing career and then end up disappearing. So many things could happen, from severe injuries to just losing it complete in the mental department. Maybe a real freak of nature (say Big 3 prime level) pops up and he can't win more than 3 more GS... Who knows.
I will not be surprised if the boy will be able to achieve the most elusive record of all, the one held by the living legend, Rod Laver that will overshadow those 20,21,22,23 GS. Even the serbian has not done it.
@@ReyN0485too early to predict such things , imo.- maybe when he's 24 or 25.
. Carlos has already had some injuries. Paris Bercy 2022, 2023 in South American tournament, (which enabled Norrie to beat him), earlier this year when he had to withdraw from the Australian Open, and the French Open where he cramped so much. I hope he has a long, healthy career as we need stars in tennis to save it from pickle-ball. It is ridiculous how popular it has become and how so many sports clubs in the USA are turning tennis courts into pickle-ball courts!
What's the secret of Czech tennis that consistently produces top ranking tennis players? It's almost like a production line.
There is an old saying in Spanish that reads: "En la mesa y en el juego se conoce al caballero" Which more or less translates as: "The real gentleman is known at table and at games". And according to this saying Djokovic is certainly no gentleman at all, no matter how nice he looks or he is when the match has finished. And, by the same token, neither is your praised McEnroe a gentleman. He was in fact the one who opened the Pandora's box of bad behaviour in tennis. A complete disgrace for our sport. And I'm not talking here about excellence in tennis, which both mentioned players have in excess but of sportsmanship and example to our young ones. In my opinion Nadal, who perfectly combines gentlemanship and excellence is the best player of all times, with Laver's permission of course. Thanks for your videos which I find superb.❤
Love this kind of content as well!
Alcaraz was god sent to all Nadal fans as a consolation, there are so many similarities between them, such a joy to watch. However, it's ridiculous to talk about him breaking the Big 3 records at this point, let him win at least 10 majors and stay in a good shape with no serious injuries before start doing that. He's my fav player to watch out of the new gen right now, but I don't see him breaking even Fed's records, let alone Novak's. The bar has been raised insanely high by the Big 3, and Novak will most likely win at least 2-3 more majors before he retires.
Time must pass....Carlos has to stay healthy. That physical athleticism takes a toll on the body, Ask Nadal
alcaraz is more similar to federer and djokovic game wise than nadal
@@ezelegui7901 what do you see from federer in his game? alcaraz has a physical game style + a bull mentality as djokovic said it, same as nadal.
Djokovic is a great guy. And he is beyond the crowd which didn't support him. He will again win the Wimbeldon but many more Grand slams and other International Tournaments
Kudos to Carlos for this incredible win. As a Djokovic fan I lament the 2 big opportunities he let get away, which was that set point in the second set tie breaker. And then the missed forehand swinging volley on break point in the 5th set to go up 2-0. But after Alcaraz won that game and then broke Djokovic in the next game, I was super impressed with Alcaraz serving out each game until the last to win the title. That is really tough to do against in the 5th set in a Wimbledon final. Djokovic mentioned that afterwards as that being very impressive from the young Spaniard. But this loss was ultimately good for Djokovic, it got him refocused to win Cincinnati (against Alcaraz in the final) and then the US Open. Amazing year so far. And looking forward to the Australian Open in January!
Wouldn't it be great to have McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as tv commentators. I have heard Lendl make observations about tennis and he is usually spot on great wit also.
Lendl has an almost photographic memory of his scores and details of matches from many years ago. He would be amazing in the booth.
Agree. Bring on Ivan!
Good overall review. Thanks
Great thoughts, well articulated, thanks for sharing
I have been saying the same thing...amazing, amazing talent but lets watch what happens and appreciate his game.
Much respect for Nole. Congrats to Carlos and Novak for a feisty show
I didn't know you had such good analysis yourself! So many things must go your way to get 20 slams. Besides incredible health for 10 plus years there are many up and coming players. I'm real excited for Shelton and I think Eubanks can be usa#1 next year. Might be a leap of faith but damn he is good, although already 27. Anyway great job, I would certainly like to hear more analysis from you
Carlos played amazing when it mattered most. Djokovic played uncharacteristically poorly when the contrary mattered most. The difference between him winning and losing this match lay in a few points, notably in that 2nd set tie break.
While we can't rescript the past, I think we can all agree that had Nole played like the match winner we know him to be when he was 6-5 up in the 2nd set tie break, that would've tightened his hold on victory and likely cast significant doubt in Carlos' mind about his chances of overcoming Djokovic in a final on the centre court of Wimbledon. Djokovic netted a no-pressure rallying backhand on a match-defining shot. So alien to see based on his consistency and results esp. in GS!
Nole's inner left thigh also seemed to restrict his ability to internally rotate and stabilise effectively when hitting his backhand and when stretched out wide to his forehand. Despite these setbacks, the real possibility of winning the match remained very much right there for him to realise. However, the more unforced errors Nole made, the more belief returned to Carlos' prefrontal cortex and waking memory that he could indeed win. And so he did!
Agree. The Serbian press were worried about Novak, due to the strapping on his leg- the same leg he injured in Australia. The injury flared up again. It is now chronic- not good for the upcoming summer US tournaments
3 UE in the last set. Stop telling nonsense.
Are you kidding me? Even after his 1st major win, Joker was and is known for faking injuries & taking sus med timeouts when he was losing. He stopped losing, so he stopped faking injuries. It's easy to be a good sport when you are clearly the best, which he has been for the last several years. This is a lot of the reason he doesn't have the fanbase of the other top players.
I think there is a lot of hype, especially during times of financial prosperity. Pickleball might have been that shiny new thing people put money into. But as soon as the money is harder to come by, those hypes decrease, and endeavors survive that have the right fundamentals. I am very happy that tennis has and is continuing to endure. And I am happy that Carlos has shown that he will be here to stay for the long run.
If you telling me Djokovic will need to be at his best to make those 2 easy backhands 6-5 up in tie break. Then I'm done.
So silly to say Alcaraz will break the records. He hasnt even had to play with the stress of high expectations. It's one thing to dream run as the underdog. Its another thing to have a target on your back and overcome high expectations and your opponent gunning harder for you than anyone else... The mental aspect is huge and changes the dynamic big time.
He will not, of course. However, he can break some. He is lucky never to face the Big 3 in their prime. Particularly, prime Nadal at RG.
Agreed with everything from start to finish! Love these monday rants !
💯🔥
Even worse than pickleball on TC is the fact that the Wimbledon final was not on network TV. What happened to NBC showing Wimbledon, as in the past?
Alcaraz plays with freedom unlike anyone I've seen on tour
You say he's gracious, yet he smashed his racket off the net post and will most likely be fined for it
So did Federer in his day. So do most athletes who are passionate. What's your point? You make it sound like he cracked some old lady over the head lmao...did you buy him that racquet or something?
@@rkymtnchi503😂😂😂👍
Coach we need to talk about the elephant in the room. There is a worldwide propaganda on the media against Djokovic. And that affects also the fans. It's an incredible shame how AUS OPEN handled him. And the media circus continued afterwards like the vultures they are. I love Novak and wish him strength. He's alone vs a (corrupted) world.
What a fantastic video. Great insights, all of which I think are true.
The more Djokovic speaks, the more puzzled I am. Why does this guy who is so intelligent and mature in the press conference room have such unhinged behaviors on court? Don’t tell me he is faking. The wisdom in his speech cannot be faked. Yet the inability to control his anger on court is also so real.
Edit: For those who said he is an egomaniac, what is the explanation of him applauding good shots from the opponent?
He's an egomaniac- he wants 30GS, and will go to any lengths to get it- glad he was cut short this time!
I've asked myself the same thing for many years. His perception of himself is ego driven. Carlos just forced fed him some much needed humility.
That’s sports for you. Imagine combat sports where the goal is to inflict maximum damage to your opponent but some of these combatants are quite intelligent and kind outside of fighting
that fire is what propelled him to 23 GS, it better stay lit, or it is time to pack up and go home. it is not anger, rather coping mechanism for frustrations. Murray used to chew out his box, others scream, some break racquets, few had/have a habit of going after the umpire, it is not that deep. I would be worried if Novak had no emotions after a stinging loss such as the one yesterday.
Good video as always! I totally agree with Nic that Djokovick is an incredible sportsman and is very gracious in loss. I think he takes the Kipling quote to heart. Every kid could learn from this. Novak will not be slowed by this loss. He is in amazing form. The racket break was not good to see,but it happens.
Nikola thank you for your video. I agree on your comments about the tennis channel, Djokovic and Alcaraz.
What, seriously. Thank you for calling this out
Re: Djokovic's sportsmanship and how he talks about other players; the problem here is that good behavior is erased when he melts his racquet against the post. maybe that's not fair, but it's what people remember.
Federer broke his racquets many times. Just haters like yourself who point out that nonsense
@@rkymtnchi503 Pretty sure the last racquet he broke was in 2009 at Miami.
@@petershort936 pretty sure he'd be breaking more if he was actually playing lmao. He has been fined many times for screaming and swearing at officials, breaking his racquet, etc...yet he is known for his class. You guys are funny. You look for reasons to hate on Djokovic and ignore the fact that most professional players have broken their racquets in frustration at some point in their careers. God forbid the guy is passionate about winning and gets mad at himself when he makes mistakes that cost him a win. What a terrible person.
Rune, Medvedev, Sinner and Alcarez will be winning all the majors probably when Djokavic and Nadal retire. They are fun to watch imo. also, Kyrgios and Bublik are fun to watch. Tennis isn't dying any time soon imo.
A lot of useful talking points here. underrated is the fact i now feel like i can settle on ho to pronounce Marketa's last name properly
The bar has been set very high to be considered one of the greats like the Big 3:
- 20+ Grand Slams
- 1000+ Match Wins
- 81%+ Match Win Rate
- 90+ Tournament Titles
Carlos needs to stay healthy for the next 15+ years in order to achieve greatness.
Thanks for your analysis I could not agree more Djoko should not have lost. His unnecessary missed drop shot at 3-2 in the tie break is a big reason for his loss in my view. I can think of Lendl as a player who was truly disliked by so many throughout his career for no real reason whatsoever.
Lendl was the Ivan Drago of tennis during the Cold War era. Never smiling, but Relentlessly beating the „good guys“. Until Michael Chang came along…
carlos also miss a lot of important point with error
So stop trying the excuses of "Novak shouldnt have lost " in sport its not work like that
Carlos wanted to win he won that is all
Also if novak do more errors is because of carlos on front of him ....
Carlos play to beat his opponent not to let his opponent beat themselves
@@victorito07 I understand and didn’t mean to undercut Carlos extraordinary achievement!
Djokovic is a very gracious sportsman and I love him as a player and a person!
1. ESPN owns the rights to Wimbledon. The Tennis Channel couldn’t show the live Wimbledon match.
2. The big 3 had to compete with each other for majors. Alcaraz won’t have that problem, so he could potentially win more majors.
One of the best videos I've seen in a long time regarding Novak and other players. I agree that Novak will play possibly 5 or 6 more years before his done. I think it would be hard for anyone to even beat Pete Sampras record let alone the other top 3 holders
6 more years?! you mean he'll still be playing to win grand slam tournaments at the age of 42? yeah right.