ATP Finals

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Novak has come out on high alert, deeply aware of the damage Carlos do, hitting big second serves and desperately trying to find a length to keep Carlos at bay. Novak plays so incisively straight out of the blocks against Carlos. I think he is more fearful and wary of Carlos than he ever was of Roger, which is saying something.

4-3 to Novak.

Clinical 1st set by Novak. I see what you are saying about Novak on high alert vs Carlos, but he has made a career out of showing what he is all about vs Roger and Rafa, in the highest of high alert matches. Novak to me is just loving things post Roger.

[stotty]

Clinical 1st set by Novak. I see what you are saying about Novak on high alert vs Carlos, but he has made a career out of showing what he is all about vs Roger and Rafa, in the highest of high alert matches. Novak to me is just loving things post Roger.

It's kind of different with Carlos. Novak was third to the party against Roger and Rafa and playing catch up for a lot of the time. Novak was the threat. Against Carlos, it's Carlos whose the threat. Novak is so alert to it.

As you say, Novak just loves it out there. At the moment he has Carlos by the throat.

6-3 3-1

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Games 5, 6, and 7, 2nd set, showed what these guys are up against with Novak perfectly. Alcaraz played amazing tennis, trying to impact the match, just was not enough. Novak was squeezing.

[stotty]

Comprehensive in the end. Just 7 or 8 points in the heart of the second set which were riveting. Just for a second I thought Carlos might catch light, then Novak snuffed him out. He didn't even need the down the line backhand in the end.

[stotty]

To top it all my wife (who is Italian) says Novak's Italian is pretty close to perfect.

[jimlosaltos]

Clinical 1st set by Novak. I see what you are saying about Novak on high alert vs Carlos, but he has made a career out of showing what he is all about vs Roger and Rafa, in the highest of high alert matches. Novak to me is just loving things post Roger.

Yup. Bit disappointing semifinal to me.

Carlos 0/4 on BPs. Hit 10 aces vs 2 and 22 winners vs 14 but couldn't convert the big points.

IMHO Djokovic's first serve is the key. Just not giving opponent's a sniff on big points.

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To top it all my wife (who is Italian) says Novak's Italian is pretty close to perfect.

Novak definitely loving life. Sinner certainly not the favorite, but he is probably the only guy out there that has the firepower in combination with MAYBE error containment to possibly beat a full flight Novak.

[stotty]

Novak definitely loving life. Sinner certainly not the favorite, but he is probably the only guy out there that has the firepower in combination with MAYBE error containment to possibly beat a full flight Novak.

I will be rooting for Sinner but two back to back wins against Novak in the same tournament would seem a big ask. He's hardly put a foot wrong so far but I think Novak will be waiting for him with his jaws wide open this time.

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I will be rooting for Sinner but two back to back wins against Novak in the same tournament would seem a big ask. He's hardly put a foot wrong so far but I think Novak will be waiting for him with his jaws wide open this time.

Novak the favorite with an implied winning probability of 63%.

[stotty]

6-3 Novak

Suffocating...

[stotty]

6-3 6-3 Novak

Disappointing final.

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Novak just a better player. We have seen the highest level of tennis we are going to see in the foreseeable future with the 3. It has been quite the ride. This upcoming year will probably be the last one for Novak winning Majors. Father time is even more consistent, more of a force, than Novak.

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https://www.oddschecker.com/us/tennis

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/J82HVtwyYi9z1FUF8

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https://open.substack.com/pub/hughclarke/p/djokovic-v-sinner-atp-finals-recap?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1t7zzc