Alcaraz falls to Pressure

All of the hype around Alcaraz put a lot of pressure on him. It's not helping him. The tennis media and establishment make him seem the inevitable winner and odds-on favorite. Novak came in as the underdog taking lots of pressure off of him.

 

 

 

Keep Poltics out of Tennis - Losing player refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka

 

Marta Kostyuk gets HEAVILY booed by the French crowd 

She refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka.

 

 

 

Connors - Novak deserves RG after the last couple of years

 Connors on Novak at RG

Rafa drops out of Rome

 Will he play the French Open?

Rome

Nadal Close to Retirement before Wimbledon

 Tennis Buzz - in his words

At some point, the question has to be asked, is this precisely the situation, or is it overstated? He keeps coming back and playing and shows no noticeable reduction in function. I doubt how bad it is, so when do we call BS?

Casper Rudd - Norwegian

 

Novak Djokovic vs Rafa Nadal in Quarter Final - Match Scheduling - Draw Politics

Schedule in Progress

I suppose at least we'll have a face-off between the two best players on this surface.

They put the three strongest players against each other in the top half of the draw, thus leaving the lower half an easier run to the final.  It also means the two or three most likely final players have been forced down to one of them.

Whoever set the draw had a plan, and it turns out much like they hoped I suspect, and it wasn't to get the two best players a chance to reach the final. This will weaken the winner of this contest in the semi-final match, and the final presuming one of them makes it through. 

I've reached the conclusion that they're trying to level the field by forcing them to face each other earlier than they should. Plus, putting the two best against each other earlier means they might be worn down for a final against the younger side of the draw.

 As for Nadal mentioning his time preference for play, it doesn't hurt to ask. I favor Novak in this match-up, but I do understand that Rafa has a preferred time of play. Not mentioning might cost him an edge.

 

Novak Booed at French Open - Mac comments

 Novak

It's unfair to receive this type of treatment.   Mac was disgusted with the crowd. It may be that they wanted an underdog to win, but unkind fan behavior often fuels Novak to excellence.

I can think of only one reason a crowd might show anger toward a player who is always respectful to his opponent, officials, and the audience. Like in Australia, much of the French population has been under pressure to submit to experimental vaccines, which has made them angry at those who show some individuality and courage not to surrender their beliefs. If not that, maybe they wanted the underdog to win which makes many of the fans just partisans.

Nadal Injured Again

 

 

 It's a well-worn strategy. Your opponent may fall for the feigned weakness ploy, plus you get virtue signal points for battling through adversity.

 

Is Nadal's Aura gone?

 

Next Gen Draw at the French Open 2022

 

 This draw appears odd, so I have to assume that someone in charge has an agenda more important than running a great tournament. It seems they want Rafa and Novak out since if they meet early it might also reduce the winner's chances in the next round due to recovery. Tsitsi appears to be the organizer's preference in this draw. It could be that they want to see an Alcaraz vs Tsitisi final. I'll describe this as the NextGen draw.

French Open: Novak back in Form - Iga read to Dominate

Novak-Iga

 

 

Macci on Alcaraz - Prediction

 

 

 

Macci on Alcaraz: My own theory is that you're one injury away from also-ran status and early retirement, so predictions of the best ever are always premature until you are within striking distance of the record. Worse yet, is when the player makes that prediction. Alcaraz appears restrained on that unlike some others just starting out.

 

He has all the tools including a great attitude. Making predictions about the future as a best-ever always leaves me cold. Too many superb players have not gone the distance for many reasons. He will probably win some slams, but until he has a stack of slams to his name and is close to the now heralded 20-plus mark, this is pure folly to me. My view is that you're one injury away from also-ran status and early retirement, so predictions of the best ever are always premature until you are within striking distance of the record. Worse yet is when the player makes that prediction. Alcaraz appears restrained on that unlike some others just starting out. Jannik Sinner has also gotten accolades as a future great champ with many slams in his future. We could have a few future-great showing up every year so how many slams could any of these young men accumulate with the unknown of another prodigy on the horizon.

 

There seems to be no doubt that Nadal recognizes that he's facing hard challenges from younger players like Alcaraz. This is a breakthrough, but before it's called a changing of the guard, I think that it has to happen at one of the slams and preferably in the final. The past is littered with seeming upsets from unknowns, yet in most cases, the big names ended up in the finals of the slam events. When Alcaraz takes a big prize away from an expected winner, he's announced a clear changing of the guard. He's banging on the door of the Imperial Palace right now. 

First Slams and Tallies

 

Goran says Novak will be Ready to Defend his Title at the French Open

 Goran

Tsitsipas on the three set change for Slam Events

 Tsitsi

Novak has Option to Play the French Open

 Nothing Stands in the Way

Russians Too 

The mandates are gone in France and the French Open Direction confirms that Novak can play.

Novak - the most dominant player of the last decade

 The numbers prove it.   More wins combined than Fed and Rafa.

This is the best way to measure dominance rather than a popularity contest.

Novak Wins Final after two set deficit - Proves his Mettle and Settles all Questions

Congratulations to Novak Djokovic on an amazing comeback in a pressure filled final where his reputation was again on the line.   

I think this article from the French Open is superb and describes the challenges he has faced very well.

RolandGarros.com

Impressive: Novak wins over Rafa in the 2021 French Open Semifinal

 

With all the celebration for Novak fans,  keep in mind that this victory has to be followed up with a win over Tsitsipas to make the victory complete. 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10005490-novak-djokovic-beats-rafael-nadal-to-advance-to-2021-french-open-mens-final

French Open 2021 - Tennys vs Novak

Tennys went for broke gambling on many shots to take points he normally wouldn't have won. He was playing very well. The article states it was effortless for Novak as if he just lolled around on his side of the net instead of the superb effort he applied to finish the job.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-9642199/Djokovic-marks-mens-night-session-Court-Philippe-Chatrier-effortless-victory.html

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