Australian Open

[superjohn]

What an unbelievable night of tennis in Australia. Alcaraz saved two match points to beat Zverev in a 5.5 hour marathon coming back winning the last 4 games in the 5th set and then 38 year old Djokovic saved 8 break points in the 5th to beat Sinner in a five set marathon.

 

[Marat]

Couldn't watch it, but sounds incredible.

Can Djokovic defeat Alcaraz ?

 

[UConNick]

This feels like Djoker’s 2019 Wimbledon moment. He’s obviously not getting any younger, and Sinner/Alcaraz are probably approaching the peak of their powers. Can he go through the pair of them the way Fed had to try going through Nadal/Djoker one last time?

It still kills me that Fed couldn’t quite finish the job. Had MPs on his racket. Yet, oddly now, I’m rooting for Djokovic to spring the upset on Alcaraz, just one last F-U from the Big Three era I grew up with before Sinner and Alcaraz win 22 of the next 24 majors.

 

[Peacefrog]

I thought it might have broken Djoker when Simmer guessed right on that layup potential match-winner.

 

[superjohn]

Couldn't watch it, but sounds incredible.

Can Djokovic defeat Alcaraz ?

I didn't see the Alcaraz match but glad I was able to watch the last 4 or 5 games of the Djokovic match.

I really don't see any way Djokovic can get through Alcaraz after getting through Sinner. His movement isn't in the same stratosphere as it used to be and he's simply overpowered at this point due to age. Only reason I give him a slight chance is because he seems to be healthy which wasn't the case in recent grand slams and because he's Djokovic, his resilience is unmatched.

 

[dannyHAM]

Djokovic has faired better against Alcaraz than Sinner. Never know what can happen at his best tournament!

 

[ec33]

What a weird run Djokovic has had through this tournament. Musetti had him until the injury after Djokovic had won the previous match by a walkover. If he was going to win one last major, it would be like this.

 

[ConnZag3]

Just hope the final isn't a bit of a letdown given the turmoil and physical stress both of these guys seemed to go through in the semis. Alcaraz should be a lot more comfortable at night than in the heat of the day, but Djokovic is 10-0 in finals in AUS so he gets the job done when the lights are the brightest there. Sounds like a men's basketball team we're all familiar with...

 

[temery]

Gotta root for the old guy.

 

[Peacefrog]

I didn't see the Alcaraz match but glad I was able to watch the last 4 or 5 games of the Djokovic match.

I really don't see any way Djokovic can get through Alcaraz after getting through Sinner. His movement isn't in the same stratosphere as it used to be and he's simply overpowered at this point due to age. Only reason I give him a slight chance is because he seems to be healthy which wasn't the case in recent grand slams and because he's Djokovic, his resilience is unmatched.

He was desparately struggling to win his own serve in that last set and Sinner was winning to love on his serve. And then Djokovic found some magic in one return game to get the break. Sinner was something like 0-12 on break points in the last set.

 

[Zionn]

two amazing matches….. women’s final should also be great

 

[Mike Honcho]

I watched the Alcaraz match. Went to sleep at 1:15 in the morning. Unbelievable tennis. Feel for Zverev, who was playing out of his mind and up a break in the fifth, only to lose 7-5.

 

[Mr. French]

Gotta root for the old guy.

Meh, I hope Alcaraz smokes him

 

[IndyLives]

Sinner has to do a better job closing in long, tough matches. Its the 2nd Major he let "get away" in less than a year. Last year's French & this match/Tourney. So many break points he let slip away after up 2-1 on Novak.

A new coach/strategy may be in order. Relies too much on his finesse and baseline game, which eventually wears down over 3 hours. He needs to get more easy points off his serve. Improve his fitness.

 

[Waquoit]

I've come to realize that the best way for me to handle sports betting is to stick with single-event bets that have profit boost. So I get a 30% boost on any AO bet. I see they offer a bet on Joker to reach the final. I figure maybe he can't beat both guys but he can beat one and I'm pretty sure he'll reach the semis. +910! Best sports pick for me in ages.

 

[Lafayette]

I think Alcaraz takes it - Joker is up against "the wall" of recovery this late in a tourney due to his age. Happened to me, happens to many, many.

 

[HCCForever]

Carlos is now youngest male to win career Grand Slam after four set victory. Djokovic won first set and was vey gracious in award ceremony.

Is there any other sport where the second place winner has to stand there so long to get their award and watch the winner accept their trophy? That could be brutal depending on emotions in match.

 

[temery]

Carlos is now youngest male to win career Grand Slam after four set victory. Djokovic won first set and was vey gracious in award ceremony.

Is there any other sport where the second place winner has to stand there so long to get their award and watch the winner accept their trophy? That could be brutal depending on emotions in match.

This still cracks me up.

 

[Kenny11]

Carlos is now youngest male to win career Grand Slam after four set victory. Djokovic won first set and was vey gracious in award ceremony.

Is there any other sport where the second place winner has to stand there so long to get their award and watch the winner accept their trophy? That could be brutal depending on emotions in match.

No. And there has been tournaments where it was visibly brutal, especially on the women’s side, even as recently as last year when Sabalenka didn’t give Coco credit in her speech. But Novak is so experienced that it was easy for him to deal with today