ATP Finals: Nadal, Federer, Thiem, Zverev and Co. - only good grades
The grand finale of the ATP Finals is still to come. But we have already started searching for positive aspects of the past seven games. And have found it with all players.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 17, 2019, 11:19 am
Rafael Nadal fights and fights and ...
The question mark, which hung over Rafael Nadal's start at the 2019 ATP Finals, was at least as big as the trophy the Spaniard received on Friday from ATP boss Chris Kermode for his number one season. The appearance against Alexander Zverev has not calmed the doubters, and also until the 1: 5 in the third against Daniil Medvedev the story did not look like happy ending. The rest is recent tennis history, and this remainder includes the three-set fight against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The next question mark is not only definite, but very soon: How fit will Nadal be for the Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid?
Novak Djokovic shows size
Yes, the ATP finals have gone the way of the Dodo Birds after Djokovic's effortless start against Matteo Berrettini. No semi-final, no number one at the end of the year. And also: only little love from the audience. Thus, Nole has been around for years, the direct comparison in the public favor between him and Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer falls mostly to the detriment of the Serbs. It was no different in London. The fact that Djokovic did not open a keg after losing to Federer, in which the observers' behavior towards Djokovic was considered by some observers to be marginally unfair, speaks to the size of the 32-year-old world ranking second.
Roger Federer defeats Nole
He himself did not know, said Roger Federer after his victory against Novak Djokovic in the last game of the group Björn Borg at the ATP Finals, that he had not won against the Serb since 2015. Yes, that's right. And that the defeat at Wimbledon last summer was associated with the greatest possible pain, had the Swiss own claims to cope much faster than the journalists who asked him again and again. Quintessence: Under certain circumstances, Novak Djokovic is still beatable for Roger Federer.
Daniil Medvedev keeps learning
Three defeats in three matches, of course Daniil Medvedev can not be satisfied with this result. Above all, the failure against Rafael Nadal after a 5-1 lead in the third set did not lack a certain tragicomics. The closer to disaster that inevitably came to Medvedev, the more intense and laconic the exchange between the Russians and his box became. The winner of Shanghai and Cincinnati knows that this path does not lead to success. And formulated this in the PK after the Nadal match: "When I was younger, I was completely crazy on the court. I have not admitted a single mistake, I threw the bat directly over the fence. I worked a lot on that. I've improved, but that's still not enough. "
Thiem agrees with his body
In the middle of the week, Dominic Thiem liked to move through the hall wearing his cap, even changing hotels to get well. The vote in the winner's interview after the match against Alexander Zverev sounded much less than it did after the epic match against Novak Djokovic. It's almost as if Thiem had agreed with his body on the following: You'll let me play tennis for two more days without a hitch. And I treat you then two weeks vacation.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is worth his entrance fee
The Friday afternoon brought the first defeat for Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP Finals. At a time when it was all about the Greeks, whether he moves in as a group first or second in the semifinals. Basically, Tsitsipas played so we are more to cite the Austrian cabaret artist Alex Kristan (probably wrong). Nevertheless, the 21-year-old Athenian worked hard for almost three hours, as well-being and woe to his entire family depended on the outcome of this match. The audience liked it. And Tsitsipas has won the group despite the defeat.
Alexander Zverev plays pure tennis
Apart from his sporting exploits, which are impressive in London, Zverev has to be repeatedly credited for being the only player to completely abandon toweling (the variance in the field ranges from after every rally to every game win). And that the 22-year-old German does not flinch around the page breaks too long. Zverev hardly ever takes advantage of the 90 seconds allowed and is ready to go if his opponent still chews bananas at the last bite.
Matteo Berrettini drives to Madrid with a good feeling
The premiere nervousness against Novak Djokovic Berrettini of course conceded, the following match against Roger Federer has brought for the Italian just a bad match-up. And yes: Dominic Thiem was not in the third game for much more than 200 points for the ATP World Ranking. The Austrian has nevertheless resisted, Berrettini retracted the only victory in two sets. And so it can drive with a sense of achievement to Madrid, where the Italian team with Fabio Fognini, whom one could have imagined very well in London, is already waiting for him.