Djoko-Sinner to Meet Again Tomorrow? Davis Cup?

[stotty]

What a day at the office for Sinner. Italy on to the Davis Cup Finals.

I missed the game as I didn't have coverage. I felt from the ATP finals that Sinner was right up there. He very much underachieved in the final, dare I say it, from lack of experience playing for the highest stakes. In the final he often pulled the trigger at the wrong times and rushed a few shots here and there when he had golden opportunities. In his group stage victory against Novak he was aggressive, composed and consistent. He somehow lost that form in the final. Sure, we need to put some of that down to Novak, but all the same, Sinner just wasn't the same player in the final.

I bet he wishes he'd dumped Novak out of the event when he had the chance against Rune, but I thoroughly respect him for not doing so.

[jimlosaltos]

I missed the game as I didn't have coverage. I felt from the ATP finals that Sinner was right up there. He very much underachieved in the final, dare I say it, from lack of experience playing for the highest stakes. In the final he often pulled the trigger at the wrong times and rushed a few shots here and there when he had golden opportunities. In his group stage victory against Novak he was aggressive, composed and consistent. He somehow lost that form in the final. Sure, we need to put some of that down to Novak, but all the same, Sinner just wasn't the same player in the final.

I bet he wishes he'd dumped Novak out of the event when he had the chance against Rune, but I thoroughly respect him for not doing so.

Good points but -- as much as I hate to -- one must give the devil his due: I can't remember Djokovic serving better nor ,for the first 4 games, hitting his forehand that hard.

That combo seemed to throw Jannik off his rhythm, which he didn't regain until mid-second set.

[don_budge]

Novak wins his serve at love. He has been in total control of his service game this set. Taking care of his serve diligently. He has had Sinner on his heels a couple of times but Jannik has refused to crack...thus far. Sinner to serve to stay in the match. Pressure...control.

Five excellent posts in a row don_budge. If you could only give yourself a like. A lick. When I left off...Sinner was serving for the match. Just to recap...Sinner won the first set by getting the quick drop on a pretty passive Novak Djokovic. The stakes of this match are a bit anticliimatic compared to the finals of the ATP played a week ago. Hardly enough time for the thirty-six year old multi-multi millionaire to get revamped and retooled. To ramp up the motivation factor, as he had in the finals just a week ago.

So here he was...wrestling the control of the match from an up and coming kid. He totally took control of the second set and now he is faced with the third. He presses Sinner early on for his service game. The game goes back and forth and umpteen deuces. Sinner manages a hold. Novak continues to hold his serve routinely and at least he is pestering the Sinner service game. Trying to maintain some pressure. At every point and juncture of the match. Just clawing away in the third. Looking for that opening. Jabbing, bobbing and weaving. Then he is there. When I left off of my match commentary Sinner was serving to stay in the match. Now Novak sees the opening. A couple of forehand errors and suddenly Sinner is down 0-40 on his serve...match points down. Miracle of miracles...he wins five points in a row to take back the game. Some control in the match. For the first time since the first set.

At this point the feed that I was watching cut off so I didn't get to see him break the Djokovic serve. Nor did I get to see him serve it out. It was a match in the new Davis Cup format. Not the old traditional format. Such an excellent match from the don_budge point of view on tactical tennis. Novak had his A+ game in the finals of the ATP Tour Finals. He made certain of that in his preparation. Afterall...the hallmark of a great tennis champion is preparation, preparation, preparation. Every little teeny tiny minuscule step was measured, calibrated and analysed. Nothing left to chance. Here...well it was what it was. Another tennis match among the thousands that he has played during his career. Not so big. No money on it. It was what it was. It was one that slipped away. Novak brought his C- game to the match in the beginning. He looked rather lethargic against an energized young man. But to his credit...he almost majestically raised his level and certainly was on the precipice of putting the horse in the barn. Somehow, someway the opportuity slipped by him. It happens. That's life.

Sinner hung in there. He stuck around. He "defended" his serve in the deciding set to give himself a shot at the match. You want it...you take it...you pay the price.

[don_budge]

When Sinner was down 4-5, love 40 when serving, he won the next point to go to 15-40. He then did a fist pump to his team. That was something, he certainly was not faking his self belief. He believed. Too good. I just saw a stat that Sinner is the first player ever to come back and win vs Novak after facing 3 consecutive match points.

I have always felt that the Sinner fist pump is the most lame that I have ever seen. Constantly looking to his corner for validation. Constant fist pump in their direction...every point. I bit insecure.

[don_budge]

An interesting side bar to this match is that Davis Cup has become a bit of a fiasco. Look for more changes to come in the professional game as it transitions over to the Post Modern Era of tennis. You heard it first here. Post Modern. It started with the big racquets in or around 1980. It has been engineered to what it is at this point in time and space.

[stroke]

I have always felt that the Sinner fist pump is the most lame that I have ever seen. Constantly looking to his corner for validation. Constant fist pump in their direction...every point. I bit insecure.

Sinner was pretty animated in the doubles matches also, at least for him. He played very well with Sonego. Sinner hit some screaming forehands for clean winners in that match, and was to me the best player on the court. He did miss a couple of poaching backhand volleys late in the match. Novak and Kecmonovic really went after Sonego at the net with big forehands, Sonego handled it pretty well and did not back down. Sinner hits the half volley drive forehand very well, somewhat reminiscent of Fed to me. Such a difficult shot, but so effective, not giving up any court. Novak got prickly with the crowd, which is always entertaining.

[don_budge]

Five excellent posts in a row don_budge. If you could only give yourself a like. A lick. When I left off...Sinner was serving for the match. Just to recap...Sinner won the first set by getting the quick drop on a pretty passive Novak Djokovic. The stakes of this match are a bit anticliimatic compared to the finals of the ATP played a week ago. Hardly enough time for the thirty-six year old multi-multi millionaire to get revamped and retooled. To ramp up the motivation factor, as he had in the finals just a week ago.

So here he was...wrestling the control of the match from an up and coming kid. He totally took control of the second set and now he is faced with the third. He presses Sinner early on for his service game. The game goes back and forth and umpteen deuces. Sinner manages a hold. Novak continues to hold his serve routinely and at least he is pestering the Sinner service game. Trying to maintain some pressure. At every point and juncture of the match. Just clawing away in the third. Looking for that opening. Jabbing, bobbing and weaving. Then he is there. When I left off of my match commentary Sinner was serving to stay in the match. Now Novak sees the opening. A couple of forehand errors and suddenly Sinner is down 0-40 on his serve...match points down. Miracle of miracles...he wins five points in a row to take back the game. Some control in the match. For the first time since the first set.

At this point the feed that I was watching cut off so I didn't get to see him break the Djokovic serve. Nor did I get to see him serve it out. It was a match in the new Davis Cup format. Not the old traditional format. Such an excellent match from the don_budge point of view on tactical tennis. Novak had his A+ game in the finals of the ATP Tour Finals. He made certain of that in his preparation. Afterall...the hallmark of a great tennis champion is preparation, preparation, preparation. Every little teeny tiny minuscule step was measured, calibrated and analysed. Nothing left to chance. Here...well it was what it was. Another tennis match among the thousands that he has played during his career. Not so big. No money on it. It was what it was. It was one that slipped away. Novak brought his C- game to the match in the beginning. He looked rather lethargic against an energized young man. But to his credit...he almost majestically raised his level and certainly was on the precipice of putting the horse in the barn. Somehow, someway the opportuity slipped by him. It happens. That's life.

Sinner hung in there. He stuck around. He "defended" his serve in the deciding set to give himself a shot at the match. You want it...you take it...you pay the price.

In reality...this match had all of the weight of an exhibition match. Davis Cup importance in the tennis lexicon has been going steadily downhill for a long, long time. Now they've reduce its weight from best of five sets to best of three. I had to consult the internet when it went to a third set if it was going to be a tie-breaker at six all.

[stroke]

In reality...this match had all of the weight of an exhibition match. Davis Cup importance in the tennis lexicon has been going steadily downhill for a long, long time. Now they've reduce its weight from best of five sets to best of three. I had to consult the internet when it went to a third set if it was going to be a tie-breaker at six all.

It may not be on the level of the Laver Cup, but I enjoyed it.

[jimlosaltos]

It may not be on the level of the Laver Cup, but I enjoyed it.

Agreed. I and several friends and my significant other watched and despite issues with video coverage quite enjoyed it.

Extremely high level of play and team competitions add excitement and crowd engagement.

Four stars.

[jimlosaltos]

Sinner was pretty animated in the doubles matches also, at least for him. He played very well with Sonego. Sinner hit some screaming forehands for clean winners in that match, and was to me the best player on the court. He did miss a couple of poaching backhand volleys late in the match. Novak and Kecmonovic really went after Sonego at the net with big forehands, Sonego handled it pretty well and did not back down. Sinner hits the half volley drive forehand very well, somewhat reminiscent of Fed to me. Such a difficult shot, but so effective, not giving up any court. Novak got prickly with the crowd, which is always entertaining.

Agreed. Sinner makes drive forehands, even running forward, look routine. Great skills.

[jimlosaltos]

Update: And it's official

https://www.daviscup.com/en/news/332862.aspx

Excerpt: "Jannik Sinner (ITA)
AUSTRALIA V ITALY: SENSATIONAL SINNER SECURES DAVIS CUP TITLE FOR ITALY

Italy are world champions for the first time since 1976 after Jannik Sinner produced yet another spellbinding performance to overcome Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-0 and give his country an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 2023 Davis Cup Final in Malaga.

Sinner, who has been in sensational form all week, was just too good for his Australian counterpart in the second singles match, needing just an hour and 21 minutes to cap what has been a perfect week for the 22-year-old.

The Italian, very much the future of the men’s game, not only defeated world No.1 Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles yesterday, but also was undefeated across all five matches he contested in Malaga.

In the opening match, Matteo Arnaldi defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-5 2-6 6-4 to give his teammate the perfect platform to swing freely.


~~~

Looks like Italy has won the Davis Cup (assuming it's best of three ties) since Italy won both singles, with Arnold and Sinner.

Nothing is up in news, or otherwise, but the second match "disappeared" from live and team score is now 0-2 Italy.

Australia finishes second.

[jimlosaltos]

Match 3, doubles is "starting". I presume it is a dead rubber, but ... DC / ITF site still doesn't have an article proclaiming Italy the champ.
Perhaps the scoring is different than I thought?
here are the doubles teams.

Ebden, Matthew Purcell, Max Vs.
Bolelli, Simone Sonego, Lorenzo

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ykfMdvBo8fnxDqMn9

Shot Insights on the Davis Cup Sinner/Novak match. I am liking the Shot Insights. I just wish they would put out the RPM's. And I have never seen the RPM's put out on the 2nd serves. That would be very interesting.

[jimlosaltos]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ykfMdvBo8fnxDqMn9

Shot Insights on the Davis Cup Sinner/Novak match. I am liking the Shot Insights. I just wish they would put out the RPM's. And I have never seen the RPM's put out on the 2nd serves. That would be very interesting.

That's actually for the ATP Tour Finals match ( great stats to see, tho).

My overly simplistic interpretation: Djoko won on the serve and return but Sinner won from the baseline.

I'd be surprised if the ITF has anything remotely like this. Sadly

[stroke]

That's actually for the ATP Tour Finals match ( great stats to see, tho).

My overly simplistic interpretation: Djoko won on the serve and return but Sinner won from the baseline.

I'd be surprised if the ITF has anything remotely like this. Sadly

Yes my error there. I will look for the Davis Cup Shot Quality.