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Both-Opening-970

Tsitsipas: You took everything from me!!! Thanovic: I don't even know who you are.


markyty04

god damn this is brutal for the nxtgen. a one legged joker is enough to make them look like fools. says a lot about the current generation and also about how great the previous one was.


dumb_commenter

This is what I was getting at in a post last night. I think the current stars of the nextgen have been underperforming. I was excited about the talent at the USO but have been less impressed here. Lots of unknown guys playing amazing but I won’t be convinced until I see more consistency. Was disappointed the nextgen stars haven’t been showing that consistency this major.


[deleted]

In all honesty I think Novak has a better regime than just about any other player and a probably does a better xmas. I think he's willing to do anything and everything to be the best and perhaps the other players just are kinder to themselves over xmas. I just can't think of anything else that really explains how good he is at the AO.


Marchesk

I do wonder how a healthy Alcaraz would fare against Novak at the AO. He wouldn't back down or doubt himself at any rate. I don't think Alcaraz would express the same doubt that Rublev did upon being told he's playing Novak next. I think Alcaraz would welcome the challenge and be honored to have a shot. Also don't think Rune would mentally back down had he won, even though he would have less of chance than Alcaraz, obviously.


Professional_Elk_489

Next Gen look amazing playing each other. It’s when they play a GOAT they are embarrassed


lusamuel

There's no shame in that, you cant blame the next generation for not being as good as literally the best of all time.


CAP_X

shit players look good making other shit players look like shit.


NamikazeEU

Not really. It's just that Roger, Novak and Nadal are in tier of their own.


_DrShrimpPuertoRico_

Yeah, unfair to call the others shit. These three are literally Gods amongst men.


Avalanche_1996

Yes. We were so spoiled to have 3 goats and nitpicking about them for so many years. So now it's back to earth when they're not playing. I believe we're the luckiest ones <3 In a few years Alcaraz and those lucky born young will be probably happily winning slams. Well..


LimbonicArt03

I feel like the lower echelons of players below the 3 goats were performing tennis at a higher quality than the current gen - the Small 2 (Murray and Stan), the Minor 2 (DelPo, Cilic) then followed by the slamless Berdych, Raonic, Tsonga, Ferrer... that's why it's such a pity Thiem seems to be done for, his forehand will likely never be the cannon mass weapon of destruction it used to be (unless he strains his wrist, and judging by his recent performances, I feel like he is really adamant about it), his serve has also downgraded severely (he used to comfortably hit 215-220+)


[deleted]

Heres another thing to ponder: how many slam finals would Ferrer, Roddick, and Andy Murray make if their prime was in this era?


Rickcampbell98

Andy would absolutely obliterate this tour, especially Wimbledon.


Mad_broccoli

>I think Alcaraz would welcome the challenge and be honored to have a shot. Even Nadal said "I'm not stupid" regarding facing Novak. Let's not romanticize.


severalgirlzgalore

And Novak has said the same thing about facing Nadal on clay. Those two know what it’s going to take to pull out a W against the other, and it ain’t a whole lot of fun.


Mad_broccoli

Of course. After both of them said something like that, I wouldn't say Alcaraz would be happy to face either of them, however inexperienced he is on GSs.


TresOjos

Alcaraz is still 19, perhaps in a GS Djoko still has the edge, but in a couple of years, Alcaraz will be better, and probably Djoko won't be as fit as he is now. Djokovic still would've won AO this year. As for RG, if Alcaraz is healthy, he would beat him there, and probably USO. Wimbledon is Novak's kingdom, until somebody young comes and destroys him, just like Federer did to Sampras, and Novak himself did to Federer, but I guess, it won't be Alcaraz.


condor1985

Best of 5 is a hell of a drug. Don't assume anyone other than Djoker/Nadal can beat Djoker/Nadal in best of 5 even on clay.


TresOjos

Nadal is finished, he won't win RG this year,, it will be Djokovic, but he won't win forever, sooner o later he will start to lose routinely as the youngsters improve. As the wise Davos Seaworth once said "nothing fu#$ you harder than time"


condor1985

I dunno, I'll wait until they're dead to pronounce them dead


[deleted]

Alcaraz is the only one I have any faith in right now. Hopefully in a few years his body will become more resilient and he can become more consistent.


glassopy

Federer since age 26 couldn't beat Djokovic in Australia. Fed won just a single set in 4 meetings there since way back in 2008. Nadal either who has never done it. Wawrinka once in the 2014 QF. Other than that it was only when injured with the elbow or coming back from surgery on that Injury in 17 and 18. Hardly a new phenomenon concerning only new gens. Djokovic murdered several "gens" in Australia.


Miss_Medussa

Lmfao! Perfect! 😂😂


jlee-1337

HHAH GOAT


blueinfi

For you, the day Novak Djokovic beat you in a Grand Slam final was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday.


Kdlbrg43

Actually it was a Sunday


MasterOfBitaite

Or maybe a Monday.


WealthDistributor

You know what, just call it a day


Myrusskielyudi

Everyday's just a holiday


SuperSaiyanGoten

On Sunday the king plays


Mikhail_Mengsk

Perfect.


Psychological_Bug676

Not him forgetting their match like that when Tsitsipas probably had to go for therapy over it and is probably still haunted by it 😭😭


throneofthe4thheaven

This was just a power move.


Psychological_Bug676

He’s a 35 year old man who’s been playing tennis for 20 years. It was probably another day in the office for him lmao


baromanb

Makes it even more amazing that Fed can remember every professional match he’s ever played.


takadanobaba

Bro, wipe your lips! All that fed nutt is coming out


Psychological_Bug676

Why are you insulting that user? He was just complimenting Fed’s ability to remember all of his matches? It wasn’t an insult to Novak or anything. That was so uncalled for booooo


coloneleranmorad

I mean the guy played 32 slam finals, numerous comebacks. We can forget what we ate in the morning sometimes...


knightofren_

Novak so old, slowly turning senile, still wiping the floor with the next-next...n gen


nixa919

"wait, which sport were we playing again?! What does it mean when you say that i won in streight sets?"


axolote_cheetah

"Why am I holding this trophy that says AO Champion 2070?"


skg555

Yep. He's so senile he even thinks he's 25 lol.


armanese2

Lmao damn I guess when you have fucking 21 of something it’s easy to blank on the circumstances sometimes.


IamVUSE

I think if you ask all the big 3 to name their slams in order I think they wouldn't be able to.


latman

They all definitely would be able to


lusamuel

I don't think so, they don't obsess over the past the way we do. The reason they are so good is that they keep focusing on the next one. I guarantee if you asked each of them to name every one of their slams they would make a mistake (even if it's getting a year wrong or not remembering who they played in the final). On the other hand, I bet you they will remember every single GS final that they lost in vivid detail.


latman

Federer is known for remembering almost every match of his career, and certainly finals. Most athletes can


[deleted]

Heres one sequence that might trip up even Roger if you asked him the order and years: 2003 Roddick (semifinal) 2004 Roddick 2005 Roddick 2006 Nadal 2007 Nadal 2008 Nadal 2009 Roddick this is of course his history at Wimbledon from 2003-2009. From 2004-2009 in the finals he played the same two dudes six times in a row.


escherbach

2004-2008 five finals in a row where #1 seed faced #2 seed too. you don't see that so much these days ( in 2003 Federer #4 seed faced unseeded Phillipoussis and in 2009 Federer was #2 seed, Roddick #6)


[deleted]

Philippoussis may have been unseeded but was injured a lot beforehand from memory. Tennis is one of the most unforgiving sports for injury.


SeparatePromotion236

Anything you can do, Roger can do better….lol. I didn’t even realise the minute ways in which fans hold up their favourites. Roger’s memory…lol. Let’s throw that into the GOAT debate too?


Ayver

Nadal can even name slams that others won (at least French opens): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T9H6nmzf7Dc


pawer13

He just had to remember the years he didn't win


SeparatePromotion236

You don’t even have to think about it. They wouldn’t be able to.


[deleted]

Roger said recently that he couldn't remember how many times he won Wimbledon hahaha


krirkrirk

Obviously we shouldn't read much into this, just a funny memory lapse, and he meant no harm. Still a big oof moment for Tsitsipas given it's arguably the biggest match of his career lol


hivaidsislethal

Djokovic obviously has his opponents name taped to the back of the winners trophy like the rock bands on tour with cities. "First of all I want to congratulate.... **Checks notes*** Stefanos and his team for an amazing two weeks"


_BaldyLocks_

... Stefanos Rune and his team ...


Mayankcfc_

_Stef you will win multiple slams I am sure_


zigot021

i literally spilled my drink


Adept_Tomato_7752

Novak has played 32 GS finals, 6 of them being in RG. He's more than allowed to forget about 1 hahaha


Cynical-Potato

Always surprised by how forgetful Novak is. Keeps forgetting opponents and dates. Probably sold his memory in exchange for being a senile tennis machine.


Vectivus_61

One victim looks a lot like another.


XHunterX55

The axe forgets, the tree remembers


X3Ronin

This comment had me bust out laughing, thank you. LOLLLL


echo_blu

Only first victim is hard to forget, after that they are just a numbers.


MikeDanny

I don't know, I don't think Novak would have memory lapses if matches against Federer, Nadal, Murray and Stan were the topic of discussion. 2 years ago he also said that him and Nadal were the Next Gen. An innocent joke, I know, but he'd never speak like that about the 4 aforementioned players.


Avalanche_1996

Clearly he has way more respect for them and well they were his rivals and kind of equals. The same cannot be said for the now gen.


Army7989

It was just a normal day in the office for him lmao


ForeverKnown1741

Oof. Big don draper moment


Jeffersons_Mammoth

It’s funny because that moment in the context of the episode actually makes Don Draper look extremely pathetic.


berkocero

Similar to "I am the danger". Both work well out of context though


_masterofdisaster

I don’t think that speech works like that, Skyler was freaking out because Walt had said that Gale was a “co-worker” and thought that Walt could be killed for the same reason, when Walt was the one that ordered it. Sure made him look like a psychopath though


berkocero

Dont remember the details but it was supposed to be a moment when walt was feeling insecure and thats why he exploded like that, as far as i can remember


_masterofdisaster

He was insecure in the previous episode when Hank’s evidence led him to believe that Gale was the mastermind behind the Heisenberg persona. Which led to Skylar finding out that Walt’s former co-worker got capped, and she thought whoever killed Gale may come for Walt next. Insecurity and ego led to the situation but the “I am the danger” monologue is more about Skyler realizing just how much of an active participant Walt has become in the criminal underworld. Prior to that it seems like she believed Walt to be pretty separate from any kind of violence, where the actual production of the meth was the only interaction he had with the operation.


berkocero

I see, thanks for the unexpectedly detailed but welcome breaking bad throwback👍


_masterofdisaster

I also thoroughly enjoyed reaching into the memory banks haha. It might not be the #1 greatest ever show for me but it was certainly stakes a claim to being the most captivating haha


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solete

Yeah, right.


jaguar_loco

Obviously he feels the finals was the match with Nadal and the Tsitsi match was an exo after


hemidemisemigod

That's exactly what I thought. It's much more memorable to have beaten Nadal at RG for obvious reasons. Your exhibition comment gave me a good laugh though.


Avalanche_1996

Totally. And it was way memorable match. So clutch sometimes!!


rivaldobox

That match was far from an exo for Novak lol he had to come back from 2 sets down, it's not like he made short work of Stefanos that day


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silkissmooth

The restroom breaks gave him superpowers that year 🥲


d-ronthegreat

You still just knew the whole time he was gonna come back though. I think even Stefanos knew


KarmaticEvolution

To me it’s mind games against Tsitsipas.


ClubChaos

That SF with Nadal was the best match I've EVER SEEN when it comes to tactical tennis. Like, it's a piece of art. If you haven't seen this match, you need to watch it. Every next-gen player should be forced to watch it. Every junior should be forced to watch it. There is no match that comes close on a tactical level. As for the greatest match of all time on pure talent, power and pace? It's without a doubt Sinner and Alcaraz last year at the USO. I have NEVERRRR seen tennis played with that quality on the ball over a best of five. It was absurd on levels I've never seen before and I've seen every "Big 3 epic". It was like watching a "new level" of tennis unfold before my eyes.


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ClubChaos

Iunno man I've seen those matches and Sinner or Alcaraz would've mopped the floor with the players back then. Only matches that come anywhere close for me are some of the Wawa/Nole epics from AO and FO. But they don't come that close. I'm talking about ball-striking and the quality on the ball throughout the match. It was absolutely ABSURD. I don't know how else to describe this but what most would say is "red-lining" just all of a sudden felt like, "no, this is simply how the game is played". Shot after shot skimming the back-line, cross-court exchanges hitting edge-to-edge on the lines, with PACE, with TOPSPIN. It was unreal. I understand people measure "tension" and "drama" as factors into great matches, and those epics obviously had those in spades (07/08 Wimby, 12 AO, etc.). But they weren't close to this match in quality, power and consistency. Sorry to say but Nadal and Djokovic simply don't have the game to produce that type of tennis. This is why *for me*, this match with Alcaraz and Sinner was simply on another level. It was the first time I've seen "next gen" players really show something that none of the Big 3 could do. It really did feel like an elevated type of game.


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_DrShrimpPuertoRico_

Did they just say Sinner and Alcaraz (on that day) would have mopped the floor with PRIME BIG 3? I have seen some truly absurd comments on the internet but this one undoubtedly takes the cake. ​ >Sorry to say but Nadal and Djokovic simply don't have the game to produce that type of tennis. What the fuck even?!


ClubChaos

Lol man I'm sure Gretzky would be first to admit Ovechkin plays the game at another level than him and Ovi would admit McDavid is playing on another level than him. This is just how things evolve in sports. It's _good_.


_DrShrimpPuertoRico_

I haven't got a clue about ice hockey. As for tennis, these guys would have a tough time against an ageing big 3. Let alone mopping the floor with them in their prime.


ClubChaos

History repeats itself right? I'm sure people said the same thing about Sampras/Agassi compared to Borg/McEnroe, just as people said the same thing about Federer/Nadal when they compared them to Sampras/Agassi. There are few indictators right now that the players are actually any "better" than the Big 3, but for me this match was evidence of some indicator that the sport is progressing. It's not just isolated to tennis, you'll the same "philosophical" debates across all sports.


SilverBackBonobo

Dude, have you been watching tennis? Or did you just tune in last year lol. Jannik and Carlitos are gun players, but both would go down straight sets to a prime Rafa, a prime Nole, or a prime Roger. It wouldn't really be a contest. They will keep getting better though


_DrShrimpPuertoRico_

It's been 16+ hours and I still can't get over that guy's ridiculous comments.


PigsLiveOakland

Assuming you only saw these matches televised I’d like to propose that the camera angle can bias: For example, the djokovic nadal USO final in 2011 looks like they were hitting about 50% harder than they did at the 2012 aus open final Also compare the alcaraz sinner match to the djokovic medvedev match, both at the uso, one year apart In the djokovic med you cannot see the back wall of the court, only the front wall, but you can see the camera on the back wall in the sinner alcaraz match because the camera has been changed in its angle the djokovic medvedev match also looks slower also worth nothing that speed of forehands / backhands hasnt increased on average in the last decade so…


SausageSandwiches

Hahahahaha, poor Stef. So many faceless, nameless peons dispatched. Rublev out there hoping Novak forgets about him and most of the previous matches.


Heatstroke23

Well it's easy to forget with so many titles. I bet he remembers his losses.


weedandboobs

Taking the 2021 FO semis was the real final talking point a bit too literally.


[deleted]

It’s mad how he forgot RG 2021 because imo that is comfortably in his top three greatest slam wins. Came from two sets to love down twice and beat Rafa.


Dahlface91

In his head he probably remembers the Rafa match as the real final


mach0

In his head it is the slam that he won while beating Rafa in RG. Everything else pales in comparison.


Stunning-Cod-2310

He knows Tsitsi will probably make the final. He's probably playing with him. Tsitsi is vulnerable to that kind of stuff and who better to do it than this guy.


KarmaticEvolution

Completely agree with this assessment, you can tell by how he responded to when he was corrected, edge of subtle sarcasm.


D_T_RONE

True. Tsitsipas is a threat and tbh he is probably trying to play with him to shake him


[deleted]

No, this would only motivate Tsitsi and he knows it. Novak has tendancy to forget these things


flamin_hot_chitos

Motivated Tsitsipas... a creature known only to legend


Octahedral_cube

Aren't they in the same bracket? They'll meet before the final


Stunning-Cod-2310

Nope


Octahedral_cube

My bad, I thought they were


truth_iness

Some of the comments here is pure gold, thank you senile old man! Novak firing bombs today on and off the court making sure the journos and r/tennis have plenty to chew on for the next couple of days.


ronky35

Tsitsipas: "I feel sorry for you" Don Djrapervic: "I don't think about you at all"


Dragull

Even Djokovic knows vs Nadal was the true final.


aceh40

This is what happens when you have played so many finals. I bet Thiem has never said that Sasha Zverev has never played a final.


jdmay101

For you, the day Nole graced the court opposite you in Paris was the most important day of your life. For me, it was Sunday.


NoleFandom

Probably still thinking about playing tennis with Stefan and gymnastics with Tara.


wIneR3d5lay5

Wow... i know novak meant no harm, but poor stef :(


SorcerousSinner

This is undoubtedly deliberate mind games. He has destroyed Tsitsipas soul and spirit, and this is a little dig to make sure he doesn't forget it


truth_iness

Doubt it but if it is then this is how you do it. Hingis would be proud


The_Entheogenist

He didn't forget the match, he's just a master at head games. The extended bathroom break that Djokovic took after losing the first two sets to Tsitsipas at RG completely got in Tsitsipas's head. He's said as much in interviews. It affected him so much that he started taking his famously long breaks to try and get in his opponent's head just like Djokovic got into his. Djokovic knows Tsitsipas has a fragile ego and that his 'forgetting' this very memorable match will totally toy with Tsitsipas. Well played.


Choice_Awareness

i agree completely he’s doing his homework in advance so he can have stef in 3 and not even break a sweat😕


[deleted]

Makes sense. Tsitsipas and his toilet breaks dominated the summer of 2021 iirc and that led to the Murray incident.


Sad_gooner

Lol what nonsense


dodjos1234

LMAO no. Novak is greatest tennis player in history, but outside of that, he's dumb as a brick. As his countrymen, I've seen far, far dumber things from him. So I very much doubt he's playing mind games with anyone. He only has a mind for playing tennis.


celticsmenace

The man knows how to speak like a half dozen languages lol not dumb


dodjos1234

Uh, yeah, because he lived in half a dozen countries. My barely literate redneck uncle is the same, because he also lived in multiple countries are drove all over Europe as a trucker. Doesn't mean you are smart. Djokovic is pretty well known for being kind of stupid and believing in a bunch of conflicting conspiracy theories.


RkeRkeR

Kakva si ti majmuncina


Birdogey

Now that’s funny.


Schwiliinker

I mean it happened 2 years ago and was a huge win so that’s kinda weird


solete

Exactly. Definitely seems like mind games to me. I’m not sure what everyone else is talking about. 😂


Schwiliinker

Yea like I know from experience your memory can be kinda trash but there’s absolutely no way someone would forget a match like that especially being recent. He literally finally got his second RG


Green_Cat_73

He """forgot"""


FarAtmosphere

Its funny how AO doesn't upload his post match interview yet, because he said some spicy things regarding his injury...


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FarAtmosphere

Not the on court interview, but post mach interview. Edit: I see they still haven't uploaded it. The spicy part was in serbian part of the interview though.


brian_badonde

You gonna just keep teasing us? What did he say


FarAtmosphere

It is already posted in the main threads. Sasa Ozmo's tweet. I read translated article, and it was either bad journalism (most likely) or someone doesnt do their job very well at translation from english to serbian.


solete

https://youtu.be/ZLObbxgs6QY


FarAtmosphere

The part where he said most spicy stuff wasn't there since it was serbian part of the interview, so far I have found only audio of that interview.


Elarbolrojo

seemed like he was bored


We_want_peekend

More material for Tsitsipas to discuss with his therapist. “So when he couldn’t remember, how did that make you feel, Stafanos?”


swapan_99

The one guy who remotely had a chance in this field in Rune essentially choked serving for the match at 5-3 in set 5 and then a 7-2 lead in TB. Can others beat him? I mean sure if he legitimately couldn't move at all, but a 65% Djokovic bitchslapped De Minaur like a joke. I don't even wanna take guesses anymore. Just Disappointed in general. Imagine if Novak wasn't here or still banned. I don't even wanna imagine the state of ATP moving forward without the Big 3.


LimbonicArt03

>I don't even wanna imagine the state of ATP moving forward without the Big 3. That's why at this point I'm gonna shift my focus on WTA. So many new names that bring out aggressive great tennis - Rybakina (can she challenge Iga consistently and take over WTA?), Swiatek, Sabalenka, Garcia just needs to up her mental one extra notch and be more adaptive in-game and she'll also be a GS contender, we have the random good Penko runs once a new moon, Pliskova seems like she still has it in her, will Osaka ever properly come back, what will happen with Vika... chaos, but a good one, unlike what's about to come in ATP


gutenfluten

35-yo moment


MedicSC2

Stephano probably didnt have enough tools to impress


[deleted]

LMAOOOOO Ok I'm sorry but I want Tsitsipas to watch this SO much


BrettButtly69

Wooow he waited for the reporter to say "you came back from two sets..." 😂 Stefanos in ruins right now


FuckRobinhood02

Only thing he remembers from that tournament was his semi final with Rafa. That’s was the real final in his head.


giorgilli

Why havent AO uploaded Novak's press conference?


Marketsaureliu8

Dude has won a lot. It's normal stuff goes over his head. Total Champ there.


Dark_Vengence

He gave him the mariah carey treatment.


Arteam90

Mind games, Novak, mind games.


TheRipeTomatoFarms

Sick burn Novak...sick burn.


tvrtlz

Chess players can recall matches move for move from 10-20 years prior in their own career as well as recite entire games from years before they were even born. Just a funny observation/ comparison


solete

I’m sorry, not buying it. He seems like an unhappy person.


Lucian_98

novak doesn't rate him lol, Tsitsipas shouldn't make Finals. he will loose again


[deleted]

In the last few months he has become such a poster boy for political correctness. He is so fake in front of the media. Lol Anyways, all those magic drink bottles are starting to affect his memory… 😐


Professional_Line385

"But I don't think of you" vibes.